Going Dutch

Not sure what this site is about, could be hooligans - but they have a lovely Dutch banner

(Sorry, Dutch again). The greatest Dutch hobby (a cultural gene) is, to play themselves down and making fun of themselves. But when foreigners are doing this, the Dutch get cross (like everybody else).

This is a big difference with Denmark that I cannot explain. Both were great and powerful countries. Both their influence end territory were trimmed down by other forces in history. Denmark looks pretty self-confident; they have a law that states that the Danish flag always must hang higher then the accompanying flags. But we Dutch have some lovely stuff too;

Ademnood,
Doutzen Kroes,
Chriet Titulaar,
Dorus,
The Toppers, Euro Songfestival 2009, Moscow ,
Dappere Dodo,
Herman Brood,
Swiebertje,
Rudy Carell,
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelink,
Captain Bontekoe,
Desiderius Erasmus,
Hellentje van Capelle,
The Women Hockey Team,
Patricia Paay,
Ton Sijbrands,
Sylvia Kristell,
Pipo de Clown,
Henk Elsink,
K3,
Max Euwe,
Tante Jannie,
Bernard Haitink,
Guus Meeuwis,
Kabouter Kandelaar,
The Tielman Brothers,
Heintje Davids,
Gert en Hermien,
Jiskefet.
Okkie Trooi,
William the Silent,
Louis Davids,
Katja schuurman,
Ellen Vogel,
Andre Rieux,
Paling,
Hadjememaar,
Robert Jasper Grootveld,

When you give me five minutes more, I could triple this list. Maybe I should start an ADF blog (All Dutch Favorites).

And I just made our national hymn my standard ringtone. And I like our next queen, we had to get her from Argentina (tango country). Few countries have royalty. It gives you that extra spice on these special national days.

I almost forgot Rembrandt. Here is a multi part (tube) documentary from the BBC about Rembrandt. The BBC always delivers top quality. Also in Dutch the genes is to be proud and tickled by foreign compliments - I was in tears by this great documentary).

That is the same reason why we try to stay firmly in the USA asshole (keeping some Dutch troops in Afghanistan) or for the rumors of Dutch PM J.P.Balkenende going for Euro President; God Forbid. Ex UK PM T.Blair is a USA asshole sucker too (he’s my favorite) butt UK is not a part of Europe.

Don’t be misunderstood; there’s nothing wrong with USA ass-licking. But there must be some Euro Power in the ‘follow-throughs’ to agree, correct and support USA initiatives. That will be the job of the new German PM; Angelina Merkel is now one of the most powerful women in the world and also from but she I a Euro-Softy too. Who will clean up the mess in this world? Don’t get any superman/woman fantasies – nobody will. Russia and China deserve a separate blog.

I almost forgot Rembrandt; here is the BBC documentary;
Simon Schama’s Power of Art 1/8
Simon Schama’s Power of Art 2/8
Simon Schama’s Power of Art 3/8
Simon Schama’s Power of Art 4/8
Simon Schama’s Power of Art 5/8
Simon Schama’s Power of Art 6/8
Simon Schama’s Power of Art 7/8
Simon Schama’s Power of Art 8/8

This is a trailer from a recent prize winning Dutch movie. The Storm is a 2009 film about our 1953 Katrina. The south-west of the Netherlands is the Zeeland province. And that is something else than Holland. Zeeland and Holland were just two of the 7 founding provinces of the Netherlands. Just crossed my mind; preaching and teaching and is another Dutch gene. I’m just teaching you something about my low-lands. I’m not very good in preaching. Zeeland was flooded in a big storm in 1953. At last (sigh) we are doing some serious things with our history.

After being on top of the world in the Dutch Golden Age, the Dutch state/nation got into a crisis. The year 1672 is marked in Dutch history as the “Disaster-Year” in international political terms.

The (republican) regents Johan and Cornelius de Wit were lynched by the (royal) common people in The Hague. This story has some sleazy details, but that's for later. This Wiki article gives you a great story about a crucial period in 17th Century Dutch History.

Enjoy Dutch and Euro History, is has great stories