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In this September newsletter: |
September
2006 |
September 19th: Prinsjesdag >>
Groningen: Pieterburen Seal Center >>
New shop in town >>
New Dutch idiom course >>
September offer >>
This season's Language weekends>>
News about our Courses >>
Expression of the month >>
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Prinsjesdag
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Third Tuesday in September |
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Every year on the third Tuesday in September we have the State Opening of Parliament in The Hague. The Queen arrives at the Binnenhof of The Hague in her golden carriage. Many people will go out into the streets to watch her go and wave their flags. It looks like a little fairy tale.
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The Queen will enter the recently refurbished Knights' Hall to deliver the Speech from the Throne. With this speech she opens the new parliamentary year of the States General (the Senate, or Eerste Kamer and the House of Representatives, or Tweede Kamer). She presents a summary of the most important plans of the government for the following year.
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All ministers, state secretaries, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives and other invited guests are present. Ladies are supposed to wear hats during this ceremony.
If you get the chance, take a look at this ceremony on Dutch television, because some hats will be really quite extraordinary :) |
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Later that day the Minister of Finance goes to the House of Representatives with a special briefcase. On behalf of the government, he presents the national budget and the Budget Memorandum (called De Miljoenennota) during the first meeting in the new parliamentary year. |
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This day is called Prinsjesdag in Dutch. Literal translation: Prince's Day. During the reign of Stadtholder (governor) Prince William V (1748-1806), his birthday, 8 March, was known as the 'Prince's Day'. In those days this was one of the most popular national feasts in our country. At the time, during the French occupation, the Netherlands was a Republic and not a Kingdom. |
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Groningen |
Pieterburen Seal Center
Just north of the City of Groningen, near the Wadden Sea (see February) , is a little village called Pieterburen. It is famous for its Seal Rehabilitation and Research Center.
The Pieterburen Seal Centre is active on a national and international level.
In emergency situations, for example oil spills, the Centre provides immediate help. Besides medical treatment of seals, public information on the problems of the seal and its environment is provided by means of guided tours, a permanent exhibition and a film.
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Lenie 't Hart,
founder of the center |
The Wadden Sea is a unique nature reserve and is the breeding ground for many different types of animals. Of the 19 types of seals worldwide, two species live in the Wadden Sea: the common seal (Phoca vitulina) and the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). The Wadden Sea is an ideal habitat for the seal. |
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The ebb and flow of the tide ensure there are enough above-water sandbanks where the animals can rest and suckle their young. The seal's body is well-adapted to its environment, and it is a perfect diver, hunter and swimmer. However, in addition to many other disturbing activities, pollution directly threatens the seal population. |
As long ago as 1971, Lenie 't Hart started looking after sick and weak seals (zeehonden in Dutch). The SRRC (Pieterburen Zeehondencrèche) has now grown into a real seal hospital, complete with quarantine facilities, laboratories, X-ray department, etc.
The center is always open. Admission costs only €1.00
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New shop |
Say it in Dutchies
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We recently opened a little online shop for (future) students of Dutch around the world.
That's because we'd noticed that quite some people are looking for useful language books.
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We made an interesting selection for you.
You will find all kinds of dictionaries and books about the Dutch language and society, some funny and easy-to-read Dutch children's books and much more . We even added some specially designed T-shirts with Dutch phrases for you to impress your friends!
Take a look at our Say it in Dutchies Shop>>
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Dutch idiom |
Proverbs and expressions by email |
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Say it in Dutch has developed a new short Dutch idiom course by email: Proverbs Pro.
Have you noticed? Dutch people love to speak in metaphors. That's why they have so many proverbs (spreekwoorden) and special expressions (gezegden) in their language.
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You'll encounter them in the spoken word, in books, in newspapers, on television and radio and of course also on the Internet. They're everywhere. Some of them are very clear, but many definitely need a special explanation.
Your dictionary probably cannot help you there. Say it in Dutch can!
We have collected our first 25 Dutch proverbs and expressions, with an English explanation. We have also added the Dutch pronunciation as a sound byite to each and everyone of them!
You will receive a new proverb each day in your mailbox. Listen to its pronunciation, read the explanation and learn a lot in 25 days.
And what's more: you can take a special online test to check your knowledge and understanding of the proverbs, directly after finishing this course. Isn't that nice?
25 email lessons with soundbytes plus final test for € 9.50
Read more about this course here >> |
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September Offer for Newsletter readers
If you order a book or another object in our online shop before September 30th, we will give you a free subscription to the Full Proverbs Pro Series (25 mails + sound bytes + final test) as a bonus!
Normal price of this course is € 9.50 |
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Weekends |
This season's Language Weekends
We are happy to give you our latest news about our Language Weekends. We have set the dates:
- November 17-19, 2006
- March 9-11, 2007
- June 1-3, 2007
And we are preparing a Special Summer Week some time in July/August 2007, too.
We will start enrollment for the November Weekend only a few weeks from now.
You can be sure it will be a new interesting and enjoyable program. That's because Tuti Lewerissa, my dear friend and professional tourist and travel consultant, is assisting Say it in Dutch Language School. She helps to enrich the program towards a complete and enjoyable stay in Groningen.
Our Weekend Program will not only consist of 8 pleasant Dutch conversation lessons, spread over the weekend, but we'll also offer you lots of sightseeing, entertainment and many opportunities to make new friends and enjoy the city of Groningen. And last but not least: your accommodation in Groningen will be included in the program too, so you don't have to worry one bit about choosing the right hotel or anything!
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The Weekend Program will begin Fridays around 4 pm, by checking in at your accommodation, followed by our first meeting on Friday night. We will continue with lessons and pleasure until Sunday late afternoon. |
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By that time you will have made new friends, will be able to speak Dutch on a good basic or elementary level and have had a great Groningen experience, too. |
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We are doing our very best to keep these weekends affordable for each and everyone of you. That is why we need at least 8 subscribers to be able to form a group on the same language level. But we also want to keep it pleasant and cosy, so the groups will be no larger than 15 participants.
Interested? Simply send an email to tell us to keep you posted! |
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In the news.. |
Individual email lessons
On September 4th we've started our new season of conversation courses in Groningen. These are small groups. But there is also a possibility to have individual Dutch lessons, either in person in Groningen or worldwide by email or even Skype (all season).
If you want to know more about individual lessons,
please email us ! |
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Say it in Dutch! |
Expression of the month
Joost mag het weten . . .
(Lit.: Jack may know it!)
I don't know, I haven't got a clue.
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Listen! |
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