Author Archives: Dutch Gurus

Flap

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1. bank note [noun, informal] [de flap, de flappen]

In this translation, the plural “flappen” is most common, but it is only used informally and jestingly. See ‘Examples’ for common usage.

Examples:
– “Heb jij nog flappen? Ik ben blut.”
(<in a club:> “Do you have any money left? I am broke.”)

– “Waar is Marc?” – “Hij is even naar de flappentap.”
(“Where is Marc?” – “He is off to the cash machine / ATM.” The word “flappentap” is informally/jestingly used, don’t go asking for the nearest “flappentap” but use “pin automaat” instead! The word “tap” is commonly used in conjunction with beer: “tapbier” translates to “beer on tap/draught” or “draft beer”.)

– “Waar is Amanda?” – “Zij is even flappentappen.”
(“Where is Amanda?” – “She went off to withdraw some money.” Here the word “flappentappen” is a verb.)

2. flap [noun] [de flap, de flappen]

In this translation the most common appearance of the word “flap” is in the compound “flapoor” which translates to “flap-ear” or “protruding ear”.

Example:
– “Dat jongetje heeft flaporen!”
(“That boy’s ears stick out!” Literally: “… has flap-ears!”)

Extra:
The way to create a diminutive in Dutch is by adding “je” or “tje” to the noun. It is very common to use diminutives in the Dutch language. A specific kind of words even has an extra informal diminutive.
This is also the case with “flap”. The diminutive is “flapje” which is not really used unless of course you are talking about a specific small flap. The informal diminutive is “flappie”.
A child with “flaporen” can be mockingly called “flappie”, but it would be more common to call your rabbit “Flappie”, since rabbits have protruding ears, some breeds even more so than others.

Around Christmas time you always hear the same classic popular songs by Wham, Chris Rea etc. and in the Netherlands there is one popular song by a comedian called ‘Youp van ‘t Hek‘ that gets a lot of air time in the days leading up to Christmas. The song is called “Flappie” and he sings about how he was a young boy and his rabbit “Flappie” went missing on Christmas day. Then later it turns out that “Flappie” is served for dinner! It is both a funny and sad song and you can read the lyrics, as well as listen to the song here.

Misschien

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maybe, perhaps [adverb]

Examples:
– "Zijn we er al bijna?" – "Ik weet het niet, misschien weet Isabelle het!"
("Are we almost there?" – "I don’t know, maybe Isabelle knows!")

– "Ga jij naar het feest vanavond?" – "Ja, maar ik kom misschien wat later…"
("Are you going to the party tonight?" – "Yes, but I may/might be a bit later…")

– "Is Frank er nog niet?" – "Nee, misschien heeft hij een lekke band."
("Has Frank not arrived yet?" – "No, perhaps he has a flat tire.")

– "Heb jij voor mij misschien een velletje papier?"
("Do you have a sheet of paper for me, by any chance?")

– "Wil jij misschien mijn kijkdoos even zien?"
("Perhaps you would like to take a look at my show-box?" This is a line taken from the Dutch song "Mijn kijkdoos" by "Hanny & De Rekels" (see ‘Extra’). In this song the word "kijkdoos" (literally "see-box") has a bit of a sexual connotation as the word "doos" is sometimes derogatorily used for the female genital organ, see also "DWOTD 82. Kijken" and "DWOTD 1. Doos".)

Related words:
– "Wellicht": perhaps, possibly.
– "Mogelijk": possibly, possible.

Extra:
The music by "Hanny & De Rekels" is part of the so-called genre "levenslied". A "levenslied" (literally: life’s song) is a Dutch song, often a bit sentimental, with topics close to the daily life of the ordinary (wo)man. Another often used term is "smartlap" (literally: sorrow rag) . In the city of Utrecht, the "smartlappenfestival" is held annually.
Famous Dutch "levenslied" performers were "Andre Hazes", "Johnny Jordaan" and "Zangeres Zonder Naam" . Today, "Frans Bauer" is very popular. Read the full lyrics of "Mijn kijkdoos" at http://www.lyricsvault.net/songs/14130.html .

Bijeenkomst

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gathering, meeting, session [noun] [de <bij><een><komst>, de bijeenkomsten]

The word "bijeenkomst" consists of the following parts:
– "bij": to.
– "een": one.
– "komst": coming, arrival.

The word "bijeen" then translates to "together", so "bijeenkomst" literally means "together-coming", which of course explains the link to "gathering", "meeting" and "session".
Although two people can get together, the word "bijeenkomst" is more commonly used when a bigger group of people is involved.

Examples:
– "Het genootschap hield ieder weekend een geheime bijeenkomst."
(" The fellowship held a secret meeting every weekend.")

– "De directeur heeft ons officieel uitgenodigd voor de nieuwjaarsbijeenkomst op 2 januari."
("The CEO has officially invited us to the New Year’s gathering/reception on January 2nd.")

– "Een borrel is een informele sociale bijeenkomst waarbij mensen iets drinken."
("A ‘borrel’ is an informal social gathering at which people drink (something)." See also "DWOTD 102. Kerstborrel".)

Related words:
– "Bijeenkomen": to meet, to gather, to get together (formally).
– "Afspreken": to get together (informally).
– "Vergadering": meeting.
– "Receptie": reception.

Kerstborrel

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Christmas reception [noun] [de <kerst><borrel>, de kerstborrels]

The word “borrel” actually does not translate to reception precisely, but it comes close: a “borrel” is a very informal reception, held periodically at work, or to pleasantly conclude a business meeting or a seminar for example.
Of course there is a verb as well: “borrelen”, the activity of participating in a “borrel”.

The Dutch word for Christmas is “Kerstmis”, often abbreviated to “kerst”.

Examples:
– “Dit jaar wordt de kerstborrel gehouden op 14 december.”
(“This year the Christmas reception is held on the 14th of December.”)

– “Ik ga niet meer naar de vrijdagmiddagborrel; hij komt mijn neus uit!”
(“I am not going to the Friday afternoon reception anymore; I am sick of it!” Literally: “…; it comes out of my nose!”)

– “Tijdens de borrel worden vaak belangrijke beslissingen genomen. Zoals: doen we nog een biertje, of niet?”
(“During a “borrel” quite often important decisions are made. Such as: should we have another beer or not?)” Literally:  “…: do we do another beer, or not?”)

– “De toespraak die Frank hield voorafgaand aan de borrel, duurde veel te lang!”
(“The speech that Frank held prior to the “borrel” was way too long!”)

Related words:
– “Vrijmibo”: abbreviation of “vrijdagmiddagborrel”.
– “Kerstmis”: Christmas.
– “Receptie”: reception.
– “Borrelhapjes”: specific Dutch snacks served during “borrels”, like pieces of cheese, or “bitterballen“.

Extra:
“Vrijmibo’s” in progress can very well be observed every Friday in the several bars at the “Plein” in the city of The Hague, the Netherlands. The bars are crowded with employees from the several nearby ministeries. The number of suites and ties is quite high. In the summer season, on rare sunny days, the terraces start to fill up from three o’clock onwards.

Trakteren

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to treat [verb] [trakteerde, getrakteerd]

In elementary schools in the Netherlands it is common for children to treat their teacher and class mates to some kind of candy when it is their birthday (“healthy” candy is encouraged by the way). Usually also a tour around the school is made where all other teachers are treated as well.

The verb “trakteren” is used for any kind of buying drinks or food for others and does not necessarily require a reason.

Examples:
– “Ik trakteer!”
(“It’s my treat! / This one’s on me!” Literally: “I treat!”)

– “Ik ben vorige week jarig geweest en daarom trakteer ik jullie allemaal op taart!”
(“I had my birthday last week and therefore I treat you all to cake!”)

– “Sander en Marc hebben gisteren zichzelf getrakteerd op een tapas etentje.”
(“Yesterday, Sander and Marc treated themselves to a tapas dinner.”)

– “Omdat Frank voor de derde keer te laat was, heeft hij ons op vlaai getrakteerd.”
(“Because Frank was late for the third time, he treated us to flan/pie.” A typical Dutch pie is “vlaai” which comes in many different kinds. Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlaai. A popular store in the Netherlands is “Multivlaai” but you can also buy them at “Hema”. Go here for an overview of “Multivlaai” stores in the Netherlands.)

– “Na de les werd de nerd door de footballspeler op een pak slaag getrakteerd.”
(“After class, the nerd was beaten up by the (American-)football player.” Literally: “…the nerd was treated to a package of beating by…”)

Related words:
– “Traktatie”: treat.
– “Verjaardag”: birthday.

Extra:
“Dutch treat” – or “going Dutch” – is used in the English language to describe the situation that each person eating at a restaurant or drinking in a bar pays for himself or herself, rather than one person paying for everyone. Apparently, the Dutch have a history of being scrooges 🙂 See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Going_Dutch .
We do would like to emphasize that it is definitely not common in the Netherlands that the bill is shared when dating. The one who invited the other should pay. The invited one might offer to pay (all or his or her share), but this should then be refused. However, when you are passed the dating stage and things are more serious, it should no longer be expected that the one inviting the other pays for the bill and you will have to find the equilibrium (as with more things in a relationship 😉 ).

Related Dutch custom is the use of a so-called “pot”, especially among students going out, where every person contributes an equal share of cash money into “de pot”, i.e. the person who manages the collected money (this person is not carrying a “pot” of some sort 😉 ). Subsequent rounds (of beer) are paid from/by the “pot”. This should guarantee that nobody “forgets” to pay for a round. Then again it might lead to “problems” when somebody leaves early before the “pot” is empty 🙂