mistakes and missing subjects on this website
On this website I ( a Dutchman myself) find some mistakes. Do you speak English = Spreekt U Engels? ( not: Spreekt U het Engels?). Please = Alstublieft ( to an adult) or: Alsjeblieft ( to a youth or child or good friend) The word "alstublieft" also means: here you are ( when an object is handed over). Goodbye or: See you = Tot ziens! ( Vaarwel means: Farewell, and is common in Dutch Shakespeare translations only). More useful words: Help! = Help! ; Ik word bestolen! = I am being robbed! ; de kaart = the map; het kaartje = the ticket; gesloten = closed; geopend = open; verboden toegang (or: geen toegang) = no entry (allowed); de VVV= the Tourist Office; het ontbijt = the breakfast; de lunch = the lunch; het diner = the dinner. de eenpersoonskamer, tweepersoonskamer = the single, double bedroom. Opruiming, or: Uitverkoop ( in Belgium: Solden) = sale ( cheap selling in shops).
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In the 19th and early 20th century, the Flemish speaking people had to speak French in the army, in contacts with officials, in court and police offices, in university, in trains and buses, etc. which lead to many political instabilities and even uproars. Even now, the issue of: where is Flemish/Dutch, and where is French the official language, causes many political problems in Belgium.
Another cultural difference between Belgium and the Netherlands is the cuisine. Belgians like to eat fine food in a restaurant and are willing to pay for it. In Holland, the "haute cuisine" is a tradition just for businessmen, who can deduct 73,5% of the bill of such meals as business expenses, and rich people. Ordinary people go to the Chinese restaurant (a heritage if the period that Indonesia was a Dutch colony), places like Mc Donalds or snack-bars. Both Dutch and Flemish like to eat "patat"or "friet", potato chips in the form of a short pencil, and drink beer. Belgium is famous for its great variety in beers. Even the Dutch often drink a Belgian beer. A typical Dutch luncheon dish is the "uitsmijter", two slices of bread, covered with ham or cheese and with two fried eggs. A croque monsieur or tosti is a fried cheese sandwich. The Dutch use to dine at 18.00-19.00 hours, the Belgians somewhat later. Coffee and tea are popular beverages. Many shopping women go at 10.30 or 15.30 to bakery shops, not unlike the Konditoreien in Germany, to have coffee or tea with some pastry (koffie/ thee met gebak).
The Dutch (more then the Flemish) are not ashamed when they use curses or swear words. They dislike, however, using Dutch curses by foreign guests.
Here follow two Dutch words you will often hear in the Netherlands, please don't follow our bad habit by using them as well ! Maybe the webmaster of this website will delete this text; but cursing frequently is an unpleasant part of our culture you should be informed about, and of which I, a Dutchman myself, are ashamed). "KUT", pronounced a bit like English cut, is a swear word indicating the lower body parts of a woman that should ever be covered, except when a women needs to be naked. Godverdomme , is the Dutch curse meaning: God damn. Please, never use these words when visiting the Netherlands!