https://www.youtube.com/embed/68M1LTjvJzM If you grew up celebrating Halloween, then you already have a good idea of the main component of Carnaval celebrations in the Netherlands: dressing up in costume! But what about the bar-hopping? Or the insane float parades? And how exactly did this holiday originate?  In this article, we’ll discuss the key aspects of Carnaval in the Netherlands and provide you with a list of useful vocabulary to know for the holiday. Enjoy! 1. What is Carnival in the Netherlands? Carnival (also spelled Carnaval) is a three-day Christian celebration observed in several countries around the world. The Dutch Carnaval is mainly celebrated in the nation’s southernmost regions—especially in... Show more

https://www.youtube.com/embed/y5_eIxM-x4Y Nearly a quarter of the Dutch population identifies as Roman Catholic, making this the most prominent religion in the country. As such, it should come as no surprise that many Dutch people celebrate the Christian holiday Driekoningen (Epiphany), also known as Three Kings Day. In this article, you’ll learn what Epiphany is all about and explore a variety of Dutch traditions for this holiday. Let’s get started! 1. What is Epiphany? Epiphany is a religious feestdag (holiday) on which Christians commemorate the three wise men who followed a bright star to find Baby Jesus. This is not a public holiday in the Netherlands, though it is still an important holiday for Catholic and... Show more

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZRHkqWW5laQ If you have a pet, I’m willing to bet you think of them as part of your family.  You spend quality time with them, feed them from your plate sometimes, and let them get away with things the rest of your family can’t.  Pets are an integral part of life for many people in the Netherlands, and this is reflected in Dutchies’ participation in World Animal Day. In this article, you’ll learn how this holiday got started, how people celebrate it, and more.  Let’s get started! 1. What is World Animal Day? Wereld dierendag ("World Animal Day") got its unofficial start in 1925, when Heinrich Zimmermann proposed a date to focus on the welfare of animals. Originally, he... Show more

Do you remember the moment you fell in love with languages? Do you desire to learn or advance in Dutch quickly and effectively? Then you need a Dutch tutor. A common question that first-time language-learners ask is "Where do I begin?" The answer? Guidance. For native English-speakers who want to learn Asian languages, for example, timelines provided by the U.S. Foreign Service Institute can appear discouraging. However, defeating these odds is not unheard of. If you want to beat the odds yourself, one of the best learning options is a subscription to Premium PLUS from Innovative Language. As an active Premium PLUS member of JapanesePod101.com and KoreanClass101.com myself, I have an enjoyable experience learning at an accelerated... Show more

In the Netherlands, Easter Monday is a public holiday, celebrated just as much as—if not more than—Easter Sunday. The Dutch celebrate this major religious holiday with a range of fun and adventurous traditions, some of which you may be familiar with! In this article, you’ll learn about Easter in the Netherlands, how it’s celebrated, and gain some new vocabulary while you’re at it. Let’s get started. 1. What is Easter Monday? On Easter, Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus three days after his crucifixion. According to Christian belief, he died to take on the sins of the world and then resurrected to prove his triumph over death. Easter Monday is the day following the actual Easter holiday. In the Netherlands,... Show more

Each year, the Netherlands observes Prinsjesdag, or "Prince’s Day." Because this is the day the country officials go over the country’s budget proposals and new bills, many people also call this "Budget Day." In the Netherlands, Prince’s Day is also a special day of celebration, and is the only time many people will ever see the Golden Carriage (which we’ll talk more about later). In the learning about Prince’s Day, you’ll also gain insight into certain aspects of the culture in the Netherlands. And as any successful language-learner can tell you, this is a vital step in mastering any language. DutchPod101.com can make this part of the learning process both fun and informative! Let’s get started with a little more about what Prince Day... Show more

Are you planning a trip to the Netherlands but aren’t so confident in your Dutch language skills? If so, becoming familiar with Dutch gestures can make your upcoming visit much smoother!  Even if you’re nearly fluent in Dutch, it's good to know the country's hand and body gestures. This knowledge will help you understand the people better, allow you to convey meaning without words, and will most certainly impress your Dutch interlocutors. Once you start learning the common gestures and begin incorporating them naturally into your daily interactions, you’ll appear to be even more fluent! So what are the most common gestures in the Netherlands? Does the Netherlands have a greeting gesture? Dive into this fun topic and become more... Show more

Do you use a lot of slang when you talk online or text your friends? English slang words like LOL (laughing out loud), WTF (what the f**k), BRB (be right back), and NVM (nevermind) are quite popular online and you’ve probably used them before.  Using slang is part of every culture, and every country has its own text and internet slang. The Netherlands is no exception!  As a Dutch learner, it may come in handy for you to learn some Dutch internet slang words. This will allow you to understand your Dutch friends online and impress native speakers. However, you should never use these terms in formal situations; Dutch text / internet slang is mainly used between friends.  In this article, we will…  ...discuss... Show more

Have you ever been to a Dutch dinner party and all of sudden the Dutch were praising everything with lekker, talking about natafelen and the need to go uitbuiken…and you just couldn’t understand what they were saying? That's why it's important to study untranslatable Dutch words. You may at first think that there’s no way to learn these Dutch words with no English equivalent, but it's worth making the extra effort.  Exploring these words is a great way to familiarize yourself with Dutch culture, and learning them will make you sound much more fluent, as only true locals use them. They may also make Dutch conversations and television shows easier to understand.  What you'll find here at DutchPod101 is a list of genuinely... Show more

Wouldn't it be nice if you could improve your Dutch by, say, watching movies? Yes, learning Dutch could really be that fun. Supplementing your Dutch language course with Dutch movies could really boost your understanding of the language!  Watching movies in your target language is a unique way to practice your listening comprehension skills in a relaxed environment, without the pressure you may feel in a real-life conversation. Is there something you don't understand? Then just turn on the subtitles or pause the video while you look it up.  In this article, we'll first explain how watching Dutch movies can boost your Dutch. After that, we'll give you tips on where to watch Dutch movies and provide you with a selection of... Show more