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february 2006 |
In this monthly newsletter:
Sixpack Auction $1,=>>
Rembrandt 400 years >>
Schiermonnikoog >>
Language in Rotterdam >>
Digidutch news >>
Survey results >>
Blog with Dutch phrases>>
Expression of the month >>
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Rembrandt |
400 th Birthday
In 2006 it has been 400 years ago that Rembrandt, Holland's greatest 17th-century painter, was born. His full name is Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn. |
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Like no other artist, Rembrandt managed to capture light and shadows in paint. In addition, his drawings and etchings are unequalled.
While most Dutch painters specialized in painting landscapes, still-lifes, historical events or portraits, Rembrandt mastered several genres. As a painter he usually limited himself to historical paintings and portraits, as an etcher he covered a wide range of themes.
We do not know how many pupils Rembrandt had exactly. However, there must have been over forty. Each apprentice paid Rembrandt some 100 Dutch florins in tuition fees per year.
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De nachtwacht
The Night Watch (1642. Oil on canvas), the most famous painting in the Rijksmuseum, actually has another title: the 'Company of Frans Banning Cocq and Willem van Ruytenburch'.
The picture is a militia painting: a group portrait of a division of the civic guard.
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Listen to the pronunciation of Nachtwacht in Dutch
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Wadden Island |
Schiermonnikoog |
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In February the schools have a one week holiday. Many people go visit one of the Wadden Islands. Between Den Helder in the Netherlands and Esbjerg in Denmark lies an area of natural importance that has no equal anywhere in the world. |
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The Wadden Sea is a world in itself, a world with two faces, ruled in turn by ebb and flood, by sand and water. Like pearls on a necklace, about fifty islands and islets protect the shallow Wadden Sea. The necklace begins with the five Dutch Wadden islands. |
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The Wadden Sea is teeming with life. Twice a day, the current of the flood tide brings water from the North Sea, rich in sediment and plankton, much of which sinks to the sandy bed. |
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In addition, the shallow water of the Wadden Sea warms up rapidly in summer. This means that algae and seaweeds are able to grow quickly. They form the basis of the enormous wealth of food that supplies the inhabitants of the Wadden Sea - countless fish, birds and seals.
The fifth island in the necklace is called Schiermonnikoog, the smallest of the Dutch Wadden islands . It can be reached from the harbour in Lauwersoog, 30 minutes drive from Groningen. The ferry takes about 45 minutes - summer and winter - to get there. There are hardly enough superlatives to describe the beach of Schiermonnikoog. This beach, which seems endless, is the broadest in Europe. And because of silt being deposited by the North Sea, it is still growing! Moreover, it is a very attractive beach, where you can find the most beautiful shells and starfish.
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Surface area: 7.200 ha
18 km beach
150 hect woods
30 km bicycle path
2 museums
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1 village, 1.000 residents
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Language |
Speak only Dutch in Rotterdam!
The local government of Rotterdam wants the residents of this city to only speak Dutch in public. Even at home foreign parents should raise their children mainly in Dutch. This is one of the rules written in the Rotterdam Code, a collection of officially registered standards citizens should follow. This Code is supposed to solve problems resulting from the collision of cultures society experiences today. The mayor and his aldermen urge every inhabitant of Rotterdam to agree with these standards. However there are no sanctions. Other standards in this Rotterdam Code describe upbringing and respect for women, homosexuals and non-religious people.
From: NRC Newspaper, January 20 th 2006
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visit www.sayitindutch.com >> |
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Number 2 |
Digidutch number two is coming
The second sixpack will be released this month on sayitindutch.com, so you can go on studying Dutch conversation at home. I will offer a new free trial lesson, to give you an idea of sixpack 2.
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Again there will be nice sound bytes and many complete Dutch pop songs for you to enjoy at home.
If you haven't started the course yet, you can either take a six week course or a twelve week course. Both sixpacks can be ordered separately.
I will let you know how to get the free trial as soon as it is released. Keep an eye on this website! |
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Survey results |
A quarter of the trial lesson receivers took my little survey on the trial lesson (les 1). So far the results are very satisfactory (the survey is still on). 100 % said the lesson had arrived just like it should. We use the service of intellicontact.com for all Digidutch lessons. It has proven to be a very reliable email service, even though the spam filters make it more difficult to get them into your mailboxes these days….
Whether you use Windows Media Player, Winamp, Real Audio, Music Match, they all handle the audio streams in the trial lesson (the so called sound bytes) great, you tell me. Another 100 % here, though I heard some people had difficulties with their player. Anyway the technique used in Digidutch is very much reliable, too.
And last but not least: everybody (yes, 100 %) likes the content of the lesson.
So thanks to you I am now absolutely sure that the concept of Digidutch is satisfactory and much appreciated.
The only comment I got had to do with the pricing. It could be too expensive for some of you to do the course, which I regret very much. I take this point in serious consideration because I want everybody to be able to learn Dutch conversation by email, wherever you are on this planet.
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Digidutch on Auction now! |
Because of your comments about the price, I have decided to have a one time Auction of Digidutch #1 until February 14th on Ebay.com. Use this opportunity to make your own price now! Be there in time and place your bid ! |
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visit the Auction >> |
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Dutch Blog |
New features |
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I also have started a Blog with Dutch phrases for anyone to practice pronunciation without doing the course. Several times a week I add new phrases with sounds and translation. It's fun, it is there for you and educational too!
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Want to make your own sound bites?
Find out here how to easily turn your voice directly into mp3
 
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Visit sayitindutch.web-log.nl >> |
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Say it in Dutch! |
Expression of the month
Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag !
Happy Birthday to you |
Listen! |
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