1. belt
[noun]
[de riem, de rie-men]

The most common use for "riem" is in combination with a pair of trousers. To clarify the use of a "riem", its ‘purpose’ is sometimes added, e.g. "broekriem": (lit.) pants belt, or "veiligheidsriem": safety belt.

Examples:
– "Die bruine riem past niet bij die zwarte broek." 
("That brown belt does not go well with those black trousers.")

– "Ik doe even mijn riem los, ik moet even uitbuiken…" 
("I’m just gonna loosen up my belt, I have to sit back and relax for a minute…")

– "Dames en heren, we tonen u nu het gebruik van de veiligheidsriem."
("Ladie and gentlemen, we will now show you the use of the safety belt.")

– "Het slachtoffer dat met een riem geslagen was, heeft tegen de dader aangifte gedaan van zware mishandeling." 
("The victim that had been slapped with a belt, has pressed charges against the perpetrator over severe molestation.")

Expressions:
– "Een hart onder de riem steken": to put new heart into a person.
– "(Een stoot) onder de gordel": (a punch) below the belt.

Related words:
– Band: band, belt, strip, ribbon, tire [noun] [de band, de banden].
– Gordel: girdle [noun] [de gordel, de gordel].

2. paddle
[noun]
[de riem, de rie-men]

Second translation of "riem" is in the context of rowing: "paddle". Synonymous to "riem" in this context is "peddel" (sounds like the English "paddle"…) or "roeispaan".

Examples:
– "De kredietcrisis komt behoorlijk hard aan." – "Ja, we moeten maar roeien met de riemen die we hebben." 
("The financial crisis is a quite a punch in the face." – "Yes, we’ll just have to make shift with what we have." )

Expressions:
– "Roeien met de riemen die je hebt": one must make shift with what one has.

Related words:
– Roeien: to row [verb] [roeide, geroeid].

great, fantastic, terrifc, tremendous [adverb/adjective] [ge-wel-dig]

"Geweldig!" is better than good, it means "great!", "terrific!" or "fastastic". Synonyms are "fantastisch" and "super". Don’t confuse it with "geweld" which means "violence" or "force".

Examples:
– "Vond je het leuk?" – "Ja, ik heb geweldig genoten van de voorstelling!" 
("Did you enjoy it?" -"Yes, I really enjoyed the performance/I thought it was a fantastic performance.")

– "Heb je die baan gekregen die je zo graag wilde? Wat geweldig!" 
("Did you get that job that you wanted so badly? That’s fantastic!")

– "Lieverd, je bent geweldig!" 
("Honey, you’re great!")

– "Ik heb vorig jaar een fantastische rondreis gemaakt door China; het was echt een geweldige ervaring!" 
("I made a terrific journey through China last year; it really was a fantastic experience!")

– "Zijn nieuwste film is een geweldig succes!" 
("His latest film is a tremendous success!")

– "Hij heeft me geweldig geholpen met mijn verhuizing naar Amsterdam." 
("He’s been an enormous help when I moved to Amsterdam.")

Related words:
– Gaaf: awesome, brilliant [adverb/adjective].
– Geweld: violence, force [noun] [het geweld, <no plural>].

Example:
– "De politie gebruikte geweld tegen de krakers."
("The police used violence against the squatters.")

– Tof: great, fabulous [adverb/adjective].
– Fantastisch: fantastic, great, terrific [adverb/adjective].
– Super: super, fantastic [adverb/adjective].

Extra:
The picture is taken from the website ikbengeweldig.nl ("I am great.nl"), a site promoting volunteering for young people. The text says: "you are great!" The site also has a test to measure how great you are 😉

The verb "herinneren" can be used as a transitive (1) or reflexive (2) verb.

1. to remind [verb] [her-in-ner-de, her-in-nerd]

Here you use "herinneren" when something/body reminds you of something/body or when reminding somebody something (or something! 😉 )

Examples:
– "Zij herinnert mij aan mijn oma." 
("She reminds me of my grandmother.")

– "Herinner me eraan dat ik de deur op slot doe." 
("Remind me to lock the door.")

2. to remember, to recall [verb, reflexive] [her-in-ner-de, her-in-nerd]

Here the verb is used in the meaning of still knowing something or recalling something (as opposed to actively not forgetting something, see DWOTD Onthouden). Don’t forget to use the reflexive pronoun!

Examples:
– "Ik herinner me er niks van!" 
("I don’t remember anything (of what happened)!")

– "Als ik het me goed herinner is het hier om de hoek." 
("If I remember correctly, it’s right here around the corner.")

– "Ik herinner me opeens dat ik de deur nog op slot moet doen." 
("I suddenly remember that I still have to lock the door.")

– "Herinner je je je oma nog?" 
("Do you still remember your grandmother?" The three "je’s" are deliberate: the first is the subject, the second the reflexive pronoun, and the third the possessive pronoun.)

Related words:
– Herinnering: recollection, memory [noun] [de herinnering, de herinneringen].
– Geheugen: memory [noun] [het geheugen, <no plural>].

to complain, to lament, to wail [verb] [klaag-de, ge-klaagd]

The Dutch have always something to complain about: the weather, their neighbours, the government. The Dutch word for the verb "complain" is "klagen". The related noun is "klacht": "complaint". If you want to file a complaint, you say "ik wil een klacht indienen".

Examples:
– "Ik klaag niet gauw." 
("I’m not one to complain." Lit.: "I don’t complain easily/quickly.")

– "Frank klaagt al jaren over zijn salaris, de zeur." 
("Frank is complaining about his salary for years, the nag.")

– "Ik mag niet klagen." 
("I musn’t complain.")

– "<dokter tegen patiënt> Kunt u mij precies vertellen wat uw klachten zijn?" 
("<doctor to patient> Can you tell me exactly what your complaints are?")

Expressions:
– "Steen en been klagen": to complain loudly/bitterly.
– "Het is god(s)geklaagd": it’s scandalous, it cries to (high) Heaven.

Example:
– "Er is nog steeds hongersnood in de wereld, het is godgeklaagd!"
("People still die of starvation in the world, it’s scandalous!")

Related words:
– Klacht: complaint [noun] [de klacht, de klachten].

Example:
– "Ik wil niet dat dit in de doofpot wordt gestopt. Ik dien een officiële klacht in!"
("I don’t want this to be covered up. I will file an official complaint!")

– Pijn: pain [noun] [de pijn, de pijnen].
– Zeuren: to whine, to nag [verb] [zeurde, gezeurd].
– Zeur: nag [noun] [de zeur, de zeuren].