#Dutch Culture

[msfbgraves]

Thinking about Abraham van Helsing and his refusal to even discuss vampirism until people have drawn their own irrefutable conclusion and going, oh, this poor sweet kaaskop (cheesehead, that's what we Dutchmen call ourselves).

You see, Dutchmen, and Hollanders in particular, are almost aggressively opposed to the idea of the supernatural. We're factual and neutral to a fault. The most well known horror story about the Dutch - The Flying Dutchman - was written by the English. We don't do fancy ourselves. Our horrors are aggressively real and mundane (it's flooding. We are obsessed with flood prevention. Scared out of our mind by drowning and storms). Our horrors are tangible and real and out in the open. Dying in a flood. Dying in a coal mine (a more Victorian fear). Dying in a flooding coal mine, to combine the two. Dying at sea. Dying in traffic.

But you can fight the sea. And we do fight the sea. With engineering. Technology. We look at stuff in detail and deal with what is right in front of us (the sea, the universe), and only that. We're bad poets and good scientists, we're great figurative painters. We are, as everyone knows, aggressively literal and straightforward.

Indeed Bram, that sweet man, has a very literal approach to vampire fighting. Lucy is being fed on? Blood transfusion. Aenemia is aenemia. Also, autopsies are autopsies, no matter why they are performed. Medicinal flowers are medicinal flowers, prevention is prevention no matter the circumstances.

He has been conditioned to think that everyone will violently reject anything supernatural that isn't in the Bible and even then. Because that is a what a Dutchman, a Hollander especially, would likely do. "The ordinary is crazy enough", is a close approximation of one of our most well known sayings.

And now imagine Bram van Helsing coming across vampirism somewhere prior to the story. He will have rejected it at first. Maybe he rejected it too long until he either had to choose between the truth of his own perception or the fact that he was insane. He will have self-diagnosed any and all mental illnesses that could afflict him until deciding that he was of sound mind, and this was a vampire attack. What would have taken a citizen of Bistritz minutes to accept and act upon (nothing too far removed from their religion, most likely), would have taken Bram weeks or months of lonely agony and doubt.

And maybe by then, it was too late?

Still, even after Lucy's testimony (in writing!); the punctured neck, the blood loss, the bat, the wolf attack, the physical changes, does he not say to Jack - if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck and acts like a duck, I am going to treat it like a duck, my friend. Instead he waits for Lucy to turn in front of Jack's eyes so he will have to believe in vampires because he saw it himself. To Van Helsing this is the only way to convince him because that is what it would take to convince an educated Dutchman. (I always joke that there are so few supernatural occurrences in The Netherlands because our outright refusal to believe in any of it kills it stone dead.)

This is dangerous, by the way - had he been alone, he wouldn't have let it get this far, I am sure of it. But there is a greater problem, a hunting vampire on the loose and he needs the help of his friends. And he doesn't dare confide in them.

How long has he been alone with this...?

Bram... 😭💔

#abraham van helsing #van helsing #dracula daily #bram stocker's dracula #dutch culture #nederlands

[veiligplekje]

Dutch Traditional costumes photographed by Jimmy Nelson from his 'Between the Sea & the Sky'

From top to bottom: Land van Axel, Marken, Volendam, Arnemuiden, Various Friesian costumes.

#probably the priciest book i have but oh so worth it #obviously i've been immersed in our regional costumes for many years now but the book really reminded me of the stunning variety #especially for so small a country #the netherlands #dutch culture #dutch tradition #folklore #traditional clothing #traditional fashion #folk costume #europe #heritage #jimmy nelson #between the sea and the sky

[everlastingrandom]

swedish hospitality discourse shouldn't squeak by without noting that Zwarte Piet (Black/Sooty Pete) is still prominent in Dutch culture, despite local Black communities protesting it for decades

ID: A screenshot of a tweet by user Jan Maarten (@worldsayer). The caption reads, "Dutch folks seeing #Swedengate on day 2 and hoping the world doesn’t rediscover the whole Christmas blackface “tradition”" The image in the tweet is of a man sitting inside a car and leaning his chair back, so as not to be seen.

ID: A photo of four white Dutch people in blackface and dressed up as Zwarte Piet during a parade.

ID: An illustration of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Pete at a family's house. They are depicted to be stuffing children into a sack. The caption beneath the image reads, "In old Dutch children's books, Zwarte Piet was depicted as Sinterklaas' terrifying dark-skinned helper who punished naughty children. End ID.

ID: Photo of protestors, including Zwarte Piet Is Racisme project co-founder, Jerry Afriyie forming a human barrier in front of the Sinterklaas arrival parade, blocking the path of white men dressed as Black Pete. End ID.

#there was a little traction during the 2020 protests but like. IT'S STILL THERE #LIKE PEOPLE STILL THINK IT'S OKAY #racism #antiblackness #zwarte pete #black pete #blackface #current events #swedengate #food discourse #hospitality discourse #dutch culture #sweden

[eind-goed-al-goed]

Dutch peculiarities: part 2

Miffy/Nijntje

Since I know Tumblr absolutely loves Miffy (we call her 'Nijntje' in Dutch), I figured it would be fun to talk a bit more about the character. Like many other Dutch people of my age, I grew up watching her cartoons.

First her name 'Nijntje' is a shortening of the Dutch word for little bunny/rabbit ('konijntje'). Her age is somewhere between a baby and 4 years old.

The first Miffy book was already produced in 1955, and 4 television series and even a movie have followed. Though most Dutch people might know the character mostly through the easy read books read in kindergarten. The last book was published in 2009.

Like Miffy, most names of the other characters are literal in Dutch. Here is a short list of the other characters and their Dutch names;

Snuffie (dog, literally 'sniff')

Vader en moeder pluis (parents, literally 'fluff')

Opa en oma pluis (grandparents)

Boris en Barbara Beer (bear, friend)

Betje Big (pig, friend)

There are also children's songs made. Some of my favourites;

Titlesong - Nijntje, lief klein konijntje

Ken jij Boris Beer?

Ken jij de seizoenen?

Dans mee met Nijntje

#dutch culture #dutch peculiarities #language learning #languages #miffy #nijntje #miffy the rabbit #nederlands #learning dutch #langblr

[badsciencejokes]

What a Weekend!

This past weekend I was invited to Pella, Iowa from the team at Visit Pella.

 Pella, IA is East, and just a touch South, of Des Moines, IA. It's home to the largest working grain windmill in the country, which you can tour!

 Dutch culture is very strong as many of the early residents of Pella were from The Netherlands. While I was sharing my walk-through town on Instagram stories (now on my highlight reel) I received so many messages from my friends in Europe thinking I was there, too! They said the large trucks gave it away that I was still in America. ;)

 What surprised me the most on my trip to Pella was how much of a foodie destination this can be! We had excellent meals and pastries originating from Europe as well as some American classics. There was not a bad meal here to be found! (And we ate enough to be able to tell if there was...) 

 The desserts over at Vander Ploeg Bakery were scrumptious. Don't forget to get a Dutch Letter when you visit! It's a puff pastry with an almond paste. 

 We had coffee over at Iris Coffee - a scientific take on coffee! Pairing what would taste best to get you the most amazing cup of coffee. 

Big Acai Bowl had loads of smoothies and yogurt options for a midday snack or paring to breakfast! 

Van Veen Chocolates had these spectacular cookie butter dark chocolates. Had to tell ourselves not to eat them all in one sitting!!!

We had some amazing beef jerky and beef sticks at In’t Veld’s Meat Market. It was some of the best we've ever tasted! 

Liberty Street Kitchen was inside our hotel, The Royal Amsterdam Hotel . We had steak and fish and they were absolutely delicious. What really knocked our socks off was the crème brûlée! (Which we ate too quickly to get a picture of.) 

We also had some of the Pella Red wine from The Wijn House . It was a perfect way to relax while at the Royal Amsterdam Hotel after walking around town all day.

 I won't lie to you, by lunchtime on our first day in Pella my husband was already discussing when we could come back with friends and family. 

 We didn't even get a chance to enjoy all the outdoor activities near Lake Red Rock. Although I am fairly certain I will go there to enjoy the next astronomical event! 

 I really could go on and on AND ON about how much my husband and I enjoyed Pella, Iowa. Whether you're visiting Iowa, traveling across the US on I-80, wanting to go to Europe without a passport, or just looking for an amazing place to visit, Pella needs to be on your vacation dream list.  

See more of my Pella trip on the @bad_science_jokes Instagram with a full walkthrough or my little synopsis video.

#partnership #americas dutch culture #americasdutchculture #dutch culture #go dutch for a day #iowa #travel iowa #midwest travel #usa vacations #vacations in the us #america vacations #things to do in iowa #des moines #iowa city #quad cities #omaha #nebraska #michigan #wisconsin #pieter pella #bad science jokes #@bad_science_jokes #visitpella #visitpellaia #godutchforaday #pella ia #pellaia #pellaiowa #dutchculture #iris coffee pella

[somepeoplethinkimadyke]

Me someone obsessed with Jesus Christ Superstar: ‘so it’s just a knock off Jesus Christ superstar but they just turned it into a jukebox musical .’

My partner, a Dutch person who watches The Passion every Easter: ‘No,,, well yes kind of’

Two moments later, my partner: ‘they also do a sequel on Ascension day too! Now shhh let’s watch these clips from the past 5 years of the same scene’

#obsessed w the Dutch thing that is the passion #basically every Easter they televise the story of the passion in a Dutch city with celebrities playing the main roles #and they have songs #they also have a bunch of people carrying a big white cross through the city #it’s insane #it slays #gotta love a good Christian country #Easter #the Netherlands #Dutch culture #the passion #jesus christ #jesus chris superstar #musicals #Dutch

[mydaylight]

Title: Stormy Landscape with Houses

Artist: Frederik van Valckenborch (1566-1623)

Age: ca. 1605–1610

Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest

#art #paintings #renaissance #frederik van valckenborch #17th century #1600s #flemish culture #dutch culture #his landscape paintings have such dynamism in them

[marsuro]

Huetobervember day 8

Hup Holland hup!

#huetobervember #art challenge 2023 #football #soccer #worldcup #love when all dutch people get together and bond over football and go crazy w their outfits #NOT talking about the general hooligans. we got those too but this ain’t for them #but i do love the extreme orange-mania our country is capable of in eurocup/worldcup times #the netherlands #dutch culture

[elaho]

My cultural flower dance outfit for Robin (Dutch ancestry) 

 Her outfit is based on the traditional folk costumes of Urk, a fishing village in the Flevoland Province of the Netherlands. Each Dutch region and village has it's own unique traditional dress with distinct meaning behind each element. The black base of Robin's bonnet means she's a married woman. 

 Interestingly enough, there is major celebration in Holland called the "Tulip Time Festival", where dancers adorn the traditional outfits from all 12 provinces and come together to dance publicly in the streets. 

 Her outfit is based on the traditional folk costume of Urk, with more white incorporated into her design to match the traditional SDV Flower Dance dress.

#stardew valley #stardew valley robin #stardew valley mods #diverse stardew valley #stardew valley culture #stardew valley dutch robin #sv robin #stardew valley flower dance #sv mods #dutch ancestry #personal hertiage #urk netherlands #sdv mods #sdv robin #sdv fanart #upcoming mods #tulip time #dutch dancing #dutch culture #dutch heritage #pixel art #character design

[hexjulia]

every dutch 12 year old boy needs:

one large electric fatbike to vape and app on

unobservant pedestrian.

they need this for their health.

#dutch culture #please respect. they crave that experience

[msfbgraves]

Been following Dracula Daily as a podcast and indeed am at this filled with unspeakable dread... please, please let them have engaged a Dutch actor for Abraham van Helsing.

I really enjoy Jonathan Harker's RP (love how he says 'room'), and Quincey's Texan, it's a beautiful contrast.

Please let them not go with German for Bram. Man's from another country altogether. Please, it's as jarring as casting an Austrialian for an American without comment.

Please, for the love of my poor soul.

Let Abraham van Helsing be a friendly upperclass Dutchman.

This is a German accent in English:

This is a Dutch accent:

(I love the insurance line btw, that is the Duchest thing ever.)

So I wait with bated breath and an uneasy spirit...

#re dracula #dracula daily #abraham van helsing #dutch language #dutch culture #Youtube

[veiligplekje]

Detail of traditional embroidery and costume of Marken on King's day, the Netherlands

#marken #holland #the netherlands #embroidery #dutch culture #dutch heritage #traditional costume #traditional clothing #folk embroidery #folklore #folk clothing #king's day #crafts #marken embroidery

[happymiffy]

#macoto takahashi #art #flowers #tulips #culture #tradional #traditionalwear #dutch culture #illustration #colorful #tulip fields #flower fields

[eind-goed-al-goed]

Dutch poems, part. I

[A new series in which I share my favourite poems in Dutch]

November bij JC Bloem

Het regent en het is november Weer keert het najaar en belaagt Het hart, dat droef, maar steeds gewender, Zijn heimelijke pijnen draagt. En in de kamer, waar gelaten Het daaglijks leven wordt verricht, schijnt uit de troosteloze straten Een ongekleurd namiddaglicht. De jaren gaan zoals zij gingen, Er is allengs geen onderscheid Meer tussen dove erinneringen En wat geleefd wordt en verbeid. Verloren zijn de prille wegen Om te ontkomen aan de tijd; Altijd november, altijd regen, Altijd dit lege hart, altijd.

uit: Het verlangen (1921)

#dutch culture #dutch poem #JC bloem #langblr #language learning #languages #learning dutch #nederlands #nederlands leren

[thethirteenthcrow]

soptify wrapped this, favorite artist that. okay. prove it then. vote for them in the radio 2 top2000.

#zhalia's lil' chit chat #dutch culture

[cutehomeart]

If you've ever been entranced by the depth of human emotion portrayed in a painting, you're likely a fan of Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, even if you don't know it yet. Among his extensive and influential body of work, one piece stands out as an exquisite example of his mastery: "The Jewish Bride."

#art #culture #art history #artwork #painter #painting #artblog #wall art #home decor #dutch golden age #dutch culture #dutch art #dutch artist #the jewish bride #rembrant van rijn #rembrandt