Tweet06-01-2010 om 12:19 by Maastricht Region Branding Foundation
The Dutch language can puzzle at the best of times but throw in an acronym or abbreviation and you’re suddenly faced with a riddle, wrapped in a mystery and deep-fried in breadcrumbs. What hope have we uninitiated English speakers got if we can’t tell the difference between a BOB and a TSB? Enter A Dictionary of Dutchness.
The Dutch language demystified
All those quirky Dutchisms that have caught us off guard, drawn blank faces and LOL’d (laughed at loud) at our expense, have been meticulously rounded up by the editors at DutchNews.nl and compiled into a indispensable 400-word paperback that’s as entertaining as it is digestible. The Dutch language demystified, brilliant.
It’s not just newcomers to the Netherlands who’ll find a friend in this unofficial survival guide. What Dutch person wouldn’t care to know what the FNV (trade union federation) stood for or if the CBP is doing what they’re paid to do (protect data)? Some acronyms make perfect sense. Why struggle through Eerste Hulp Bij Ongelukken – and risk passing out - when EHBO (first-aid kit) just trips off the tongue? Then there’s BOB. Poor BOB. He’s that reliable friend who sticks to one beer so he can drive everyone home after a night out.
And BTW, wouldn’t it be nice to know how big your Hollandse Nieuwe were this year? (That’s the mid-May catch of young herring). That just leaves us with GVB, a word that suffers from a split personality, standing for both a golf proficiency certificate and the municipal transport authorities. The list goes on and on, but you’ll easily find yourself going along with it. I certainly did. A Dictionary of Dutchness is a great addition to anybody's bookshelf. Short and sweet, IYKWIM (if you know what I mean).
To get your hands on a copy, go to Dutchnews.
source: www.Iamsterdam.com
Leave a reply
2012- January
- Millions to be invested in Chemelot Campus and Maastricht Health Campus16-01-2012 at 16:50
- GaiaZOO wins all Dutch Zoo Awards10-01-2012 at 10:55
- 2011
- December
- November
- Dutch and German police practice together30-11-2011 at 15:01
- Discarding of fuel tax good for Maastricht Aachen Airport16-11-2011 at 10:18
- October
- Alliance of six hospitals in and around the Maastricht Region25-10-2011 at 11:46
- Sphinx celebrates 175th anniversary17-10-2011 at 11:04
- September
- Start construction Brains Unlimited 29-09-2011 at 15:29
- C-Mill nominated for best Dutch business park 20-09-2011 at 11:23
- DSM continues leadership in Dow Jones Sustainability World Index14-09-2011 at 15:12
- August
- BioActor closes financing round to fund growth strategy 23-08-2011 at 15:56
- SABIC reports record profits for 2Q07-08-2011 at 14:00
- DSM reports strong Q2 results with solid growth02-08-2011 at 11:27
- July
- Introduction of the European 'Blue Card'22-07-2011 at 12:50
- UM School of Business & Economics reaffirmed as leading international business school13-07-2011 at 13:06
- Top Technology Cluster across the borders04-07-2011 at 10:48
- June
- Strong economic growth in Maastricht Region27-06-2011 at 09:47
- Pinkpop: A true feast of culture and artistic auras14-06-2011 at 09:17
- Ambition and vision with new study iArts06-06-2011 at 14:01
- Mai
- Art Elephants in Heerlen raise 355,000 euro30-05-2011 at 13:24
- New Chemelot company Q Chip completes US$6 million funding round20-05-2011 at 13:56
- Agreement on provincial government Limburg09-05-2011 at 11:07
- LIOF report for 201004-05-2011 at 10:51
- Logistic Limburg on the global map with innovative website03-05-2011 at 10:11
- April
- Elephant Parade in Heerlen26-04-2011 at 12:16
- Hotel Adler, Valkenburg: Awarded best hotel in the Netherlands19-04-2011 at 10:36
- Strong growth volumes Maastricht-Aachen Airport11-04-2011 at 14:09
- Maastricht University wins Expat Award 201101-04-2011 at 11:22
- March
- Solid sales at TEFAF 201129-03-2011 at 09:54
- "UM proofs international character by nominating first foreigner as president of a Dutch university"21-03-2011 at 10:52
- Brainport 2020: top economy, smart society14-03-2011 at 09:23
- PVV’s vote receded somewhat in Wilder’s native Limburg 09-03-2011 at 12:11
- February
- Life Sciences Career Event 201128-02-2011 at 11:00
- UM Knowledge Center for International Staff nominated for Expat Award17-02-2011 at 17:13
- Extraordinary Display of Masterpieces at TEFAF 201115-02-2011 at 21:16
- Limburg injects 10 million in 'Brains Unlimited'07-02-2011 at 11:54
- January
- UM's bachelor's at Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences top ranking24-01-2011 at 13:02
- Two CAPHRI researchers in Maastricht nominated for public health award24-01-2011 at 12:45
- Water level in Limburg province to remain high10-01-2011 at 15:09
- Maastricht Magic Mingle a success10-01-2011 at 15:04
- 2010
- November
- Maastricht Magic Mingle: International get-together29-11-2010 at 10:46
- X Magazine for Xpats18-11-2010 at 20:08
- Maastricht University scores well in Elsevier rating08-11-2010 at 21:37
- October
- United Brains Limburg: A gift to Limburg's business community21-10-2010 at 08:54
- 3 billion investment in silicon production chain at Chemelot11-10-2010 at 09:35
- DSM CEO to receive United Nations Humanitarian of the Year Award05-10-2010 at 11:28
- September
- 2010 Global Food Ingredients Technology Innovation Award for Isobionics28-09-2010 at 21:34
- DSM enters era of focused growth27-09-2010 at 09:08
- Onno Hoes to become Maastricht's new mayor17-09-2010 at 15:02
- DSM again amongst top leaders in Dow Jones Sustainability World Index15-09-2010 at 10:55
- First edition TEDxEutropolis in Parkstad Limburg13-09-2010 at 11:02
- UM 'considered one of the best universities in Europe'07-09-2010 at 11:10
- August
- Modern migration policy bill passed by the senate07-08-2010 at 13:22
- July
- Maurer United Architects (Maastricht) wins Environmental Graphic Design Award26-07-2010 at 12:09
- 19% increase in new businesses in the Maastricht Region22-07-2010 at 14:12
- June
- DSM and Roquette to start bio-based succinic acid joint venture29-06-2010 at 16:19
- Vividlinks, the community for Life Sciences professionals in the heart of Europe15-06-2010 at 16:57
- Maastricht Region Expat Guide launched04-06-2010 at 14:36
- Mai
- Sunweb tracker: solar energy innovation from Heerlen/Aachen 19-05-2010 at 09:39
- April
- Eurocontrol Maastricht; upper airspace still impacted by the volcanic ash cloud 19-04-2010 at 10:39
- 9 holiday destinations from Liège Airport13-04-2010 at 16:39
- March
- Foreign nationals rate the services of the IND as very satisfactory31-03-2010 at 21:36
- New English-speaking church in Maastricht: Damascus Road International Church29-03-2010 at 11:35
- Talent-Quest: students meet multinationals in the Maastricht Region25-03-2010 at 16:07
- Sueli Brodin national expatriate of the Year!23-03-2010 at 21:08
- Tefaf fair heist lands thieves $1.3m haul 22-03-2010 at 11:54
- Limburg-based open innovation campus of national and euregional importance19-03-2010 at 10:23
- LinkedIn introduces ‘Maastricht Area’ next to ‘Eindhoven Area’16-03-2010 at 12:12
- Tax System For Progress And Expansion15-03-2010 at 09:54
- Two-day festival for e-culture and creative economy in Heerlen12-03-2010 at 14:11
- TEFAF Tees Off12-03-2010 at 10:54
- EUR 2BN Aachen Campus11-03-2010 at 11:55
- YEAH LIOF! Students: 35 thousand euros for a business plan05-03-2010 at 16:31
- Construction of new AZM building underway03-03-2010 at 20:32
- February
- Chemelot Campus of National Importance28-02-2010 at 21:42
- Ryanair doubles number of routes from Maastricht Aachen Airport24-02-2010 at 15:41
- US Ambassador to the Netherlands visits Maastricht University21-02-2010 at 20:36
- Chemelot is expanding07-02-2010 at 20:55
- Maastricht School of Management: 94 new students from 25 different countries01-02-2010 at 11:42
- January
- Intelligent cane, made in Simpelveld31-01-2010 at 17:32
- DSM and Novomer to develop first CO2-based resin for coatings25-01-2010 at 15:08
- DSM innovation partner Dutch Olympic bobsled team22-01-2010 at 13:14
- Calatrava Campus again20-01-2010 at 20:49
- Jan Mans is Maastricht's acting mayor 17-01-2010 at 18:16
- Maastricht mayor quits over holiday home 17-01-2010 at 18:14
- Maastricht University ranks in the top three best universities12-01-2010 at 12:58
- A dictionary of Dutchness06-01-2010 at 12:19
- Limburg networking in China04-01-2010 at 14:21
- 2009
- December
- Arabic mass in Wittem27-12-2009 at 12:44
- UM Campus Brussels Kicks-off23-12-2009 at 17:49
- Rubicon grant for Peter van Ruitenbeek16-12-2009 at 12:10
- Introducing the Chemelot Newsletter16-12-2009 at 12:06
- Economic growth starts to speed up16-12-2009 at 11:42
- November
- DSM: 2009 Outstanding Corporate Innovator Award27-11-2009 at 09:32
- DSM looks Further in China17-11-2009 at 17:34
- SABIC To Grow17-11-2009 at 17:31
- October
- Shopping across Borders31-10-2009 at 15:34
- Cross-border Policing31-10-2009 at 15:24
- Limburg leases Mitsubishis31-10-2009 at 15:22
- TNT China-Europe Expansion31-10-2009 at 15:19
- Mayor Philipp of Aachen31-10-2009 at 15:15
- Passport Control30-10-2009 at 18:27
- Apostelhoeve wins for White30-10-2009 at 18:18
- AGIT Biz Site Monitoring30-10-2009 at 18:13
- Dr Linden: Culture Tsar30-10-2009 at 18:10
- Tomorrow's Neighborhood30-10-2009 at 18:07
- Charles Landry visits Aachen30-10-2009 at 18:04
- EU Commissioner in Ainsi Debate30-10-2009 at 18:02
- Zuyd Lab at Chemelot30-10-2009 at 17:59
- Shaping Brainport26-10-2009 at 18:00
- Chemtrix Expands International Network 26-10-2009 at 17:25
- DSM wins 2009 ICIS Business Innovation Award20-10-2009 at 09:37
- Martin Buber Award200917-10-2009 at 03:52
- More on Fritures17-10-2009 at 03:48
- Meeting Planners visit Maastricht17-10-2009 at 03:45
- New Publications17-10-2009 at 03:41
- MSM Graduation17-10-2009 at 03:37
- September
- United World College Maastricht Opens29-09-2009 at 13:27
- Liverpool ONE: Another Winner for Maastricht Company29-09-2009 at 13:14
- Road World Championship 2012 in Limburg29-09-2009 at 13:02
- Van Aarsen Wins Limburg Export Award29-09-2009 at 12:47
- Keeping the Customer Satisfied29-09-2009 at 12:19
- Light Rail in the South18-09-2009 at 16:08
- Fuel Cells and the Vertebral Column18-09-2009 at 16:04
- Syncom chooses Chemelot Campus18-09-2009 at 15:42
- Aachen Tops Research Funding18-09-2009 at 15:32
- DSM Biomedical develops polymer platform17-09-2009 at 14:58
- 3D Radiotherapy17-09-2009 at 14:39
- New Train Stop17-09-2009 at 14:35
- Police Aid to Business17-09-2009 at 14:32
- Trying Electric Cars17-09-2009 at 14:28
- Sunday Shopping17-09-2009 at 14:23
- Cultura Nova07-09-2009 at 16:06
- Direct Born-Nedcar Rail Link07-09-2009 at 16:02
- EUR 29m for Cross-border Rail in Parkstad Limburg 07-09-2009 at 15:55
- Tanking up with solar fuel07-09-2009 at 15:30
- Cardiovascular Center07-09-2009 at 14:56
- August
- The pleasures of life30-08-2009 at 17:42
- Margraten Requiem30-08-2009 at 17:39
- Maastricht culinair expands30-08-2009 at 17:37
- Avantis' Rail Future30-08-2009 at 17:35
- Davis Cup30-08-2009 at 17:32
- Meuse-Rhine Leisure Guide21-08-2009 at 20:36
- Filtering Diesel21-08-2009 at 20:30
- 7.000 jobs at Avantis by 202121-08-2009 at 20:19
- Student Success in China21-08-2009 at 18:22
- Historic Heerlen21-08-2009 at 18:05
- Breast Cancer Predictor15-08-2009 at 13:24
- Battery Research15-08-2009 at 13:22
- Dutch Property Purchases up15-08-2009 at 13:21
- Street Artists15-08-2009 at 13:20
- Rieu is Top of the Bill15-08-2009 at 13:19
- Aachen-Maastricht Report08-08-2009 at 09:18
- Rail Platforms for the Maastricht Region08-08-2009 at 09:16
- Lactose Intolerance Advance Award08-08-2009 at 09:16
- EUR 1.3bn for NRW Roads08-08-2009 at 09:15
- School kids to build solar car08-08-2009 at 09:13
- Parkstad Outer Ringroad04-08-2009 at 09:12
- Electric Car in Cycle Race04-08-2009 at 09:09
- DSM & New Chinese Safety Laws04-08-2009 at 09:08
- Oostwegel gets Green04-08-2009 at 09:06
- Trianel Benelux HQ in Maastricht04-08-2009 at 09:05
- July
- Green bio-based Plastic24-07-2009 at 14:54
- Intellectual Property Law and Knowledge Management24-07-2009 at 14:41
- Aachen Urban Agglomeration24-07-2009 at 14:37
- LIOF Green Business Center24-07-2009 at 14:31
- European Creativity and Innovation24-07-2009 at 13:53
- Maastricht University Board17-07-2009 at 16:39
- QUICC, car of the future17-07-2009 at 16:35
- Sabo opens at Chemelot Port17-07-2009 at 16:33
- Tailor-made convention tool17-07-2009 at 16:29
- A walk-in lab17-07-2009 at 16:26
- Throughput capacity at Stein10-07-2009 at 14:37
- Back to Schunck10-07-2009 at 14:36
- Belcompany (B) sold to Telenet10-07-2009 at 14:33
- Sabic Europe CEO to go10-07-2009 at 14:29
- Silicon mine at Chemelot10-07-2009 at 14:26
- June
- Aachen Campus plans22-06-2009 at 14:06
- TiGenix at Chemelot19-06-2009 at 14:05
- Star alliance: Deloitte & Maastricht U19-06-2009 at 14:04
- Go Dutch and save money18-06-2009 at 14:03
- Maastricht Region's Eden17-06-2009 at 14:03
- Aviation Valley Biz Park15-06-2009 at 14:00
- Expat Podcasts10-06-2009 at 14:01
- EUR 35m for CMP08-06-2009 at 13:59
- EUR 12m for BMM08-06-2009 at 13:59
- DSM: Industrial Biotechnology06-06-2009 at 13:57
This project is supported by the European Union.
