mistake, slip, miscalculation [noun] [de vergissing, de vergissingen] [‘ver-gis-sing’]

"Vergissing" can be translated as "mistake, slip, error". The verb related to it is "zich vergissen" ("vergiste, vergist"). Note that "zich vergissen" is a reflexive verb, e.g. "I’m mistaken" is translated as "ik vergis me".

Examples:
– "Maak het jezelf niet zo moeilijk, iedereen maakt wel eens een vergissing."
("Don’t be so hard on yourself, everyone makes mistakes from time to time." Note that "wel eens" is translated here as "from time to time". It could also be translated as "occasionally".)

– "Het was een grote vergissing om hem dat geheim te vertellen: nu weet iedereen het!"
("It was a big mistake telling him that secret: now everybody knows (it)!")

– "Als ik mij niet vergis, is de eerste wedstrijd van Nederland 9 juni, tegen Italië. Ik heb er nu al zin in!"
("If I’m not mistaken, The Netherlands play the first match on June 9, against Italy. I’m already looking forward to it!")

– "Ik heb me vergist in haar, ik had haar nooit moeten vertrouwen".
("I misjudged her, I never should’ve trusted her.")

– "Ze kunnen beter niet trouwen als ze nu al constant ruzie hebben, ze begaan/maken een enorme vergissing".
("They’d better not marry if they already argue all the time, they’re making a big mistake.")

– "Vergis je niet, een goede opleiding garandeert niet per se een goede baan."
("Make no mistake, a proper education doesn’t necessarily guarantee a good job.")

– "Ik kan me vergissen, maar het lijkt erop dat het dadelijk gaat regenen."
("I might be mistaken, but it looks like it’s going to rain soon.")

Expressions:
-"Vergissen is menselijk."
("To err is human.")

Related words:
– "Zich vergissen": to make a mistake.
– "De blunder": huge mistake, blunder.
– "De misstap": slip, lapse.
– "De fout": error, fault, mistake.

advantage, benefit, profit [noun] [het voordeel, de voordelen] [‘voor-deel’]

As a special request, today’s DWOTD is "voordeel". "Voordeel" always has a positive meaning, either having an advantage or buying something for a good price. In the latter case, the adjective/adverb "voordelig" is used (see Examples). "Voordeel" can also be combined with several verbs, either "zijn" (to be) or "hebben" (to have). The Examples will show you how to use them. The opposite of "voordeel" is "nadeel".

Examples:
– "Hij deed zijn voordeel met de lage huizenprijzen in de jaren tachtig en is nu miljonair."
("He took advantage of the low house prices in the eigthies and is a millionaire now.")

– "Heb je de voor- en nadelen goed bekeken voordat je die belangrijke beslissing nam?"
("Did you take a proper look at the pros and cons before you took that important decision?")

– "Je zou denken dat Hillary’s situatie in haar voordeel werkt omdat zij meer ervaring heeft, maar dat blijkt niet waar te zijn."
("You would think that Hillary’s situation would be to her advantage since she is more experienced but that doesn’t seem to be true.")

– "Wat is de stand?" -"3-0 in het voordeel van Nederland/3-0 voor Nederland!".
("What’s the score? – "3-0 for Holland!")

– "Deze auto is voordelig (in het gebruik) omdat hij op gas rijdt."
("This car is economical (in use) since it drives on gas.")

Expressions:
World famous soccer player and coach Johan Cruijff is known for his selfinvented hands-on expressions to guide his followers through everyday life. One of his most well-known expressions is: "Elk nadeel heb zijn voordeel" (note the conjugation of the verb "hebben" in Amsterdam spelling) or, in proper Dutch: "Elk nadeel heeft zijn voordeel", translated as "Every disadvantage has its advantage". Johan looks at the bright side of life 😉

Other expressions include:

– "Ik kwam haar na jaren weer tegen en we hebben uren op het terras zitten kletsen; ze is echt in haar voordeel veranderd!"
("I bumped into her after years not having seen her and we spent hours chatting in an outdoor café; she’s really changed for the better!")

– "Ondanks zijn slechte prestaties heb ik hem het voordeel van de twijfel gegeven en zijn contract met nog een jaar verlengd."
("In spite of his lousy performance I gave him the benefit of the doubt and prolonged his contract with another year.")

Extra:
In commercials or in stores you might come across words such as "Megavoordeel!" which is translated to something like "huge sale!"

Related words:
– "Nadeel": disadvantage.
– "Nadelig": adverse, detrimental.
– "Voordelig": advantageous, economical, favourable.

fire [noun] [de brand, de branden]  

You might have heard this word on the Dutch news the day before yesterday, when the building of the Faculty of Architecture of Delft University burnt down (see picture). “Brand” is used to describe the unwanted event of a fire. The word “vuur” is used more generally for a fire, either unwanted or wanted, and is also used in a figurative sense. For example, the fire in a fireplace is called “vuur” but cannot be called “brand” (unless it gets out of hand). The verb “branden” means to burn and can also be used in a figurative sense (see “Examples”).

Examples:
– “Door de harde wind verspreidde de brand zich snel naar de linkervleugel van het gebouw.”
(“Because of the heavy wind the fire spread fast to the left-wing of the building.”)

– “De brand kon pas na twee dagen worden geblust.”
(“The fire was extinguished only after two days.”)

– “Brand! Bel 112!”
(“Fire! Call 112”. 112 is the telephone number you can call in the Netherlands in case of an emergency.)

– “Nadat het vuur twee dagen had gewoed, kon de brandweer het sein ‘Brand meester’ geven”.
(“After the fire had been going on for two days, the fire brigade was able to control it”. Lit.: “After the fire had been going on for two days, the fire brigade was able to give the sign ‘Fire mastered’. “To give Sein ‘Brand meester”’ is an expression used by fire extinguishers when the fire is under control.)

– “Zij brandde van verlangen om hem weer te zien.”
(“She burnt with desire to see him again”. This is an example of the verb “branden” used in a figurative sense.)

– “We gingen rond het kampvuur zitten en zongen liedjes tot middernacht.”
(“We gathered around the campfire and sang songs until midnight.”)

– “De vuurzee verwoestte het hele dorp.”
(“The fire (Lit.: “sea of fire”) destroyed the entire village.”)

Related words:
– “Blussen”: to extinguish.
– “Branden”: to burn.
– “Brandweer”: the fire department, fire brigade.
– “Vlam”: flame.
– “Lucifers”: matches.
– “Brandblusser”: fire extinguisher.

beach/seaside [noun] [het strand, de stranden] [‘strant‘] 

As the temperature is rising, Holland’s sandy beaches will soon become filled with people baking in the sun in their swimming gear. Baking in the sun all day long is one of the favourite ways to spend the summer vacation for many Dutch, either on the French, Spanish or Dutch seashore.

Examples:
– "Den Haag ligt aan het strand."
("The Hague is located at the seaside.")

– "Kom, we gaan naar het strand! Vergeet je de zonnebrandcrème niet?"
("Come on, let’s go to the beach! Don’t forget to bring the suntan cream!")

– "Deze maand wordt het jaarlijkse zandsculpturen festival gehouden op het Scheveningse strand."
("The annual Sand Sculpture Festival takes place this month on the beach in Scheveningen.")

– "Afgelopen maart liep het schip Artemis vast op het strand van Les Sables d’Olonnes."
("Last March, the ship Artemis ran ashore on the beach of Les Sables d’Olonnes.")

– "Ga je dit jaar voor een zon-, zee- en strandvakantie of voel je meer voor een culturele vakantie?"
("Are you planning a vacation on the beach this year, or do you favour a cultural vacation?")

– "De Scheveningse boulevard is in de zomer een populaire plek."
("The promenade in Scheveningen is a populair place during the summer.")

– "In de winter maak ik graag lange strandwandelingen."
("In wintertime I enjoy long walks on the beach.")

Related words:
– "Strandjutter": beach comber.
– "Strandstoel": deck chair.
– "Strandboulevard": promenade, esplanade, (sea) front, marine parade.
– "Strandtent": beach tent.