Author Archives: Sander

Kleedkamer

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 changing room, changeroom, locker room, dressing room [noun] [de kleedkamer, de kleedkamers] [‘kleed-kaa-mur’] Iconspeaker_3

Kleedkamer
The
word "kleedkamer" is used for any type of changing room. However, there
are some subtleties. In general a "kleedkamer" is meant for a group of
people, usually in sports. But a theatre also has "kleedkamers" even
though there might be only one performer. If you go to a clothing store
and want to try something on, you will ask where to find the "paskamer"
or "het pashokje". But if you go to the swimming pool, you can usually
choose between the "kleedkamer" and a "kleedhokje": a one person
changing cubicle.
Note that "kleed" is derived from "kleden" (to dress) and "pas" from "passen" (to fit, to try on).

In football, there is the common expression "een speler naar de
kleedkamer sturen": to send a player to the changing room, i.e. "to
send a player off". And that’s how I got to this word in the first
place 🙂

Instead of "kleedkamer" you may also hear "kleedruimte".

Examples:
–"De speler werd naar de kleedkamer gestuurd vanwege commentaar op de scheidsrechter."
("The player was sent off because of criticising the referee." Lit. "… of criticism on the referee.")

– "Als ik naar het zwembad ga laat ik mijn kleren nooit achter in de kleedkamer, want dan worden ze gestolen."
("When I go to the swimming pool, I never leave my clothes behind in the changing room, because then they will be stolen.")

– "Het lukte de twee tienermeisjes om na afloop van het concert van Ricky Martin, de kleedkamer van de zanger te bereiken."
("After the concert by Ricky Martin, the two teenage girls
succeeded in reaching the artist’s dressing room." A "zanger" is
actually a "singer", but "to sing" is "zingen".)

Related words:
– "Aankleden": to put clothes on.
– "Verkleden": to change (one’s clothing).
– "Kleren": clothes, clothing.
– "Douchen": to shower.
– "De handdoek": towel.
– "Het kluisje": locker (lit. small safe).

Opstootje

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(street) row, disorder, clash, disturbance [noun] [het opstootje, de opstootjes] [‘op-stoot-ju’] Iconspeaker_klein

An
"opstootje"
is a physical confrontation between people. It is not
really a big fight but more a little row or relatively short
confrontation. You might read about "opstootjes" on a Friday night, at the football pitch Voetbalopstootjeor during events with a lot of visitors.
And if it’s not the adrenaline during a sport event, it is most likely
the alcohol that plays an important role. But I also remember being
part of an "opstootje" in the school playground when I was young 🙂

"Opstootje" is a diminutive, but "opstoot" is never really used (other
than in boxing, where it means "uppercut"). The base verb of which it
is derived is "stoten": to bump, knock hit or punch.
                                                                                     
Examples:
–"Ondanks de feeststemming en bovenmatige alcoholconsumptie na
de overwinning op Frankrijk, waren er slechts enkele opstootjes in het
centrum van de stad."
("Despite the festive atmosphere and excessive alcohol consumption
after the victory over France, there were only a few disturbances in
the city centre.")

– "De scheidsrechter hield de kaarten op zak en was in staat om de meeste opstootjes in de kiem te smoren."
("The referee did not pull out any cards and was able to prevent most
clashes from getting out of hand." Note that "de kaarten op zak houden"
is a bit of a football/soccer expression: "keep the cards in the
pocket". Literally the second part of the sentence translates to "to
nip the disturbances in the bud".)

– "Hé moet je kijken, volgens mij gaat het daar helemaal los!" – "Nee joh, het is maar een opstootje."
("Hey look at that, I think things are completely getting out of hand
over there!" – "No no, not at all, it is just a little row." Lit. "Hey,
you must look, I think it’s going complete loose over there." The use
of "joh" is informal and it takes some practise to know when you can
use it but it basically strengthens your statement.)

Related words:
– "De vechtpartij": fight.
– "Het geweld": violence.
– "De confrontatie": confrontation.
– "De botsing": the clash, collision.

Oranjekoorts

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"orange fever" [noun] [de oranjekoorts, <no plural>] [‘o-ran-ju-koorts’] Iconspeaker_klein

Dutchsupporters_2 What on earth is "orange fever"? Well, I’m having serious orange fever at this moment, and it all has to do with the European championship football/soccer 🙂 "Oranjekoorts" can occur when the Dutch get excited about any Dutch representative competing in any international sports event when the probability of victory increases, but usually it’s the national football/soccer team at a European or world championship.

People with "oranjekoorts" suffer from increased body heat and adrenaline due to a sudden outburst of unusual patriotism and national solidarity. Usually there is a bit of "oranjekoorts" leading up to the sports event and it will abate when we (there is always suddenly talk of "we") do badly, but it will increase significantly when we do well. Many Dutch people have "oranjekoorts" right now as a result of the unexpected victory against Italy last Monday. This is a bit premature of course 🙂

"Oranjekoorts" can turn into "oranjegekte": orange madness. This is the word for the behaviour and appearance of Dutch supporters, ranging from decorating your street with orange and national flags, to dressing up as an orange lion. It is expected that 50,000 Dutch fans will populate the city centre of Bern when the Dutch play against the French this Friday: there will be "oranjegekte"!

As it is quite unlikely that you will use "oranjekoorts" on a daily basis, I’ll also include examples with "koorts" and "oranje".

Examples:
– "Zelfs Sabina heeft oranjekoorts, en zij houdt niet eens van voetbal!"
("Even Sabina has "oranjekoorts" and she doesn’t even like football/soccer!")

– "Tijdens de aanloop naar het EK, neemt de oranjekoorts toe."
("During the build-up to the European Championship, the "oranjekoorts" increases." The abbreviation "EK" (pronounce "ee-kaa")is commonly used ("Europees Kampioenschap").)

– <The morning after the match of Holland against Italy:> "Ik bel om door te geven dat mijn man niet kan werken vandaag, hij ligt met koorts in bed…" – "Met koorts zegt u? Ja ja, u bedoelt zeker oranjekoorts!"
("I’m calling to report that my husband cannot come to work today, he is in bed with a fever…" – "With a fever you say? Yeah right, you must mean orange fever!" Note that "doorgeven" translates to "to report" or "to notify" in this case.)

– "Leuke kleur heeft die jurk van jou, een beetje oranjeachtig is het niet?"
("Your dress has a nice colour, a bit orange-like isn’t it?" Lit.: "Nice colour has that dress of yours…")

– "Ik voel me niet zo lekker, volgens mij heb ik koorts!"
("I feel a bit under the weather, I think I have a fever!" Here "niet lekker" can also mean "nauseous" or "sick". "Volgens mij" is a common substitute for "ik denk dat".)

Related words:
– "Oranje": orange.
– "Oranjegekte": "orange madness".
– "Koorts hebben": to have a fever.
– "Koortsachtig": feverish, frenetic.
– "Ziek": ill, sick.

Goed bezig!

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nice job, great work, doing well! [Dutch phrase of the week] Iconspeaker_3

“Goed bezig” is actually a shortened form of “<subject> <finite form of “zijn”> goed bezig”: “you are doing well”.

hand-166442_640“Bezig” actually translates to “busy” and “bezig zijn” means “to be
in the act of”. So “goed bezig” means that whatever it is that you are
doing, you are doing it well, or you are doing well for yourself. You
can also use it to encourage somebody, a bit like the “nice job!” that
I frequently hear when I’m in the U.S.

Mind that “goed bezig” is used informally. You will also hear
“lekker bezig” which kind of has the same meaning but is mainly used
ironically, see the last example.

Examples:
– “Heb jij ook gemerkt dat Edyta al veel beter Nederlands spreekt?” – “Ja man, ze is echt goed bezig!”
(“Have you also noticed that Edyta’s Dutch has already improved?” –
“Yeah man, she is really doing well!” Lit. “…that Edyta already
speaks Dutch a lot better?”)

– “Goed bezig mannen!”
(“Nice job guys! / (You are) doing well guys!”)

– “Wist je al dat Pepijn en Anneloes een huis hebben gekocht?” – “Nee nog niet. Maar die zijn dus goed bezig!”
(“Did you know that Pepijn and Anneloes have bought a house?” – “No not
yet. I understand that they are doing well!” Note that “maar” normally
translates to “but” and “dus” to “thus/hence”, but in this case the
“maar <subject> dus” is best translated with “I understand”.)

– “Frank is net begonnen met zijn nieuwe baan en heeft nu al promotie gemaakt!” – “Zo hee, die is goed bezig!”
(“Frank has just started his new job and now he has already been promoted!” – “Wow, he is doing well for himself!” Literally “… has made promotion”.)

– “Er komt weer een reorganisatie aan!” – “Nou, het management is weer lekker bezig!”)
(“There is another reorganization coming!” – “<ironically:> My, the management at its best again!”)

Deurbeleid

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door policy [noun] [het deurbeleid, <no plural>] [‘deur-bu-leid’]  Iconspeaker_3

Deurbeleid_2The
Dutch word for "policy" is "beleid" and it is mostly used in the realm
of politics, civil service and government bodies. However it is not a
formal word per se.
A specific kind of "beleid" to which we might all have been exposed in
our lives is "deurbeleid". It involves you, the doorman or bouncer, and
usually some kind of inexplicable policy or imaginary membership. Then
all that is required in order to get in or change the door policy on
the spot is specialist persuasive powers, a lot of luck, or just good looks
🙂 Or perhaps a bit of bribing and maybe even violence, examples of
which have been reported in recent years in the Dutch news when refused
customers returned with a weapon to "solve the issue".

Although bouncers can get away with refusing admittance based on you
not wearing dress shoes, or being male when there are too many males
inside (this argument usually works for men), it is illegal to
discriminate. Currently the city of Amsterdam is encouraging people to
report incidents where they felt discriminated when they were refused admittance
to a bar or club. There is even a special website set up for this
purpose: www.deurbeleidamsterdam.nl.

Examples:
– "De populaire clubs en bars in het centrum van grote steden voeren vaak een streng deurbeleid."
("Popular clubs and bars in the centre of big cities often pursue a strict door policy.")

– "De uitsmijter werd ontslagen omdat hij het nieuwe deurbeleid niet wilde opvolgen."
("The bouncer was fired because he did not want to comply with the new door policy.")

Related words:
– "Uitgaan": to go out.
– "Uitgaansleven/Nachtleven": night life.
– "Toelaten": to admit, to let in.
– "Weigeren": to refuse.
– "De toegang": entrance, admittance.
– "De entree": entrance, or entrance fee.
– "De uitsmijter": bouncer. From "uitsmijten": to throw out.