This might come as a shock to you, but... there never was a boy in the first place. :o Hans Brinkers never existed, and the whole story of anybody saving this country from flooding by holding his/her finger in a dyke is totally made up.

In fact, you can't possibly stop a potential flooding by holding a finger in a dyke. It would never work.


I think it works better if you pit your finger in a dike.  Dikes are the thingies that are supposed to hold back water.

If the Little Dutch Boy was doing what the prior posts imply, no wonder the place floods all the time. 

;D ;D

In fact, you can't possibly stop a potential flooding by holding a finger in a dyke. It would never work.


All my illusions are now shattered...

You'll be telling me next that there is no mouse living in a windmill in old Amsterdam...

...going clip-clippety-clop on the stair...

...oh yeah!

I think it works better if you pit your finger in a dike.  Dikes are the thingies that are supposed to hold back water.

If the Little Dutch Boy was doing what the prior posts imply, no wonder the place floods all the time. 

;D ;D


I suppose you're referring to the other (Australian/Newzealandish) meaning of the word (ie toilet), or possibly the third meaning that is perhaps best known (lesbian).

I admit I was hesitant to use this specific spelling of the word, but when looking for the proper translation of the Dutch word "dijk", the first word given in my dictionary is dyke. So it turns out there's nothing wrong with that - as long as you're living in UK, I suppose... ???

Have you ever been outside the Netherlands, and if so, where? And if you have, how are those other countries (in your opinion) similar/different to the Netherlands?




Cat

So how come The Netherlands lost last night?

Update:

The true part of this story is that she did release just the three singles I mentioned. But she didn't give up her singing career after that. In fact, she's still touring the country as one of the "Diva's of Dance". The other members of this trio, formed in 2002, are Linda Estelle (formerly with T-Spoon) and Des'ray (formerly with 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor).


oh man Des'ray.  She makes my Dreams come alive ;D

Have you ever been outside the Netherlands, and if so, where? And if you have, how are those other countries (in your opinion) similar/different to the Netherlands?

Cat


I haven't been to that many other countries - just Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg.

Belgium is ugly (well, maybe not all of it), Germany is very German and Luxembourg is... small. ::)

But seriously...although Belgium and Germany are neighbouring countries, you really can't compare them with the Netherlands.
Germany has this strange habit of closing shops during lunch time. :-\\ Not very customer/tourist friendly IMO.
We have this love/hate relationship with Germany, or the Germans. Of course this has to do with WW II, but even more with football.
Germans (in general) love our country, and envy us for our tolerance and frankness. We, on the other hand,  have an unrational aversion of anything German, especially since 1974 (when we were defeated by Germany in the World Cup final). We still want revenge.

Belgium has the strange habit of closing pubs at 23:00... (at least, that was the case when I last visited the country. Come to think of it, that was some 20 years ago... :o) The country also has some very ugly cities, like Li

So how come The Netherlands lost last night?


You want the long version or the short one..? ???




I'll give you the short one anyway: we forgot to score.

You want the long version or the short one..? ???




I'll give you the short one anyway: we forgot to score.
The score answer will do fine, thanks.

How do you specifically, and the Dutch people generally, view Queen Beatrix and the rest of the Dutch Royal Family? :)

How do you specifically, and the Dutch people generally, view Queen Beatrix and the rest of the Dutch Royal Family? :)


This is a tough question. I've never given it much thought, really...it's just one of the facts of life.

I think (both in general and personally) Queen Beatrix is lacking this "motherly" aspect. Her mother, the former queen and late Princess Juliana, was the kind of woman you'd like to have for a (grand) mother, if you know what I mean. Queen Beatrix is more detached, which makes her less popular. She's also a queen that goes "by the book": she seldomly breaches protocol, unlike her late husband Prince Claus, for instance. In his final years he was one of the most popular members of the royal family (and to think he was German...).
Queen Beatrix is very much aware of her duties and restrictions. I'm not sure if she's a happy woman (well, she didn't volunteer for the job...).
Her oldest son, Crown Prince Willem Alexander, used to be a somewhat dopey and slightly overweight ageing student. But that all changed when he met and married Maxima Zorrogueita. It has increased his popularity immensely, and his wife (the queen-to-be) is currently the most popular member of the royal family.
Other members of the royal family live a life of their own, mostly out of the spotlights.
Princesses Christina and Irene (sisters to the queen) are both divorced, and their children are no longer in line for the succession to the throne. They don't get much attention of the press anymore.
Princess Margriet, the queen's other sister, is the only of the siblings still married (the queen being widowed of course). Her husband happens to share his birthday with the late queen Juliana's (April 30), which is still celebrated as a national holiday. On that day (known as "Koninginnedag" or "Queen's Day") the royal family (the queen, her sons & their spouses, princess Margriet & her husband with their sons) will visit a selected part of the country. This is a big national event which takes a lot of preparations and is broadcasted live.
Cities and villages are still very honoured to receive the royal family.

I hope that answers your question... :-\\

^ Thank you, it answers my question just fine. :)

Is it true that most people in the Netherlands don't travel by car that much and use bicycles to get around?

Is tea drinking popular in The Netherlands?

Is it true that most people in the Netherlands don't travel by car that much and use bicycles to get around?


It is true - to a certain extent. The Netherlands are one of the best countries in the world to visit if you like cycling (there's miles and miles of cycling tracks), and I believe there are just about as many bikes as there are inhabitants.
But even though we're a small country, it's hard to commute by bike and/or public transport, so people use their cars instead (I do too - but then, I don't have a bike... :o :-[)

"We" like to cycle around in our spare time, though. :)

Is tea drinking popular in The Netherlands?


Not half as popular as it is in the UK, Philip. "We" are more into coffee drinking.


We do drink tea, but not religiously. ;) And please - no milk. :P

I don't have any inside information and/or facts/figures on the subject. What I do know is that I like a "cuppa" once or twice a day. :)

Not half as popular as it is in the UK, Philip. "We" are more into coffee drinking.


We do drink tea, but not religiously. ;) And please - no milk. :P

I don't have any inside information and/or facts/figures on the subject. What I do know is that I like a "cuppa" once or twice a day. :)
Does the coffee come in a liquor form?

It is true - to a certain extent. The Netherlands are one of the best countries in the world to visit if you like cycling (there's miles and miles of cycling tracks), and I believe there are just about as many bikes as there are inhabitants.
But even though we're a small country, it's hard to commute by bike and/or public transport, so people use their cars instead (I do too - but then, I don't have a bike... :o :-[)

"We" like to cycle around in our spare time, though. :)


So do people in the Netherlands drive cars as much as people in the rest of the developed world, then?

I guess the image of the Netherlands as a car-free, smog-free paradise is a misnomer.  :(