DutchPod101.com Blog

https://www.youtube.com/embed/y5_eIxM-x4Y Nearly a quarter of the Dutch population identifies as Roman Catholic, making this the most prominent religion in the country. As such, it should come as no surprise that many Dutch people celebrate the Christian holiday Driekoningen (Epiphany), also known as Three Kings Day. In this article, you’ll learn what Epiphany is all about and explore a variety of Dutch traditions for this holiday. Let’s get started! 1. What is Epiphany? Epiphany is a religious feestdag (holiday) on which Christians commemorate the three wise men who followed a bright star to find Baby Jesus. This is not a public holiday in the Netherlands, though it is still an important holiday for Catholic and... Show more

Are fear and uncertainty keeping you from getting started with Dutch?  This is a common issue for many potential Dutch-learners. They tend to wonder things like: "Is Dutch hard to learn?" and "Is learning Dutch really worth it?"   If this sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’re going to answer all of your questions and clear up any doubts you may be having.  At first, Dutch might seem like a very difficult language, but it’s surprisingly easy for English- and German-speakers. Dutch has even been described as a combination of the English and German languages! This makes it one of the easiest languages to learn for speakers of either language. That said, learning Dutch will take some time and effort,... Show more

Are you afraid to make mistakes in Dutch? In your studies, you’re bound to make a few. And that’s no big deal!  Making mistakes is human, and even Dutch natives make some of the mistakes we’ll cover in this article. It’s through expressing yourself and making mistakes that you’ll really master the language. So making mistakes in the first place is no problem, but always try to learn from them! That said, wouldn't it be nice to be aware of some of the most common mistakes in learning Dutch?  This is exactly what DutchPod101 has in mind for you with this guide. Have a look at the ten most common Dutch mistakes and impress your new Dutch friends with your great language skills. Table of Contents Dutch Pronunciation Mistakes... Show more

Are you in the Netherlands, wanting to get to know some nice Dutch people, but you don’t know how? Making friends and getting to know people can be hard, especially when you’re in another country. Luckily, there’s an easy way to break the ice: asking questions in Dutch. This is a great way to start conversations—and keep them going.  Through asking questions, you’ll get to know your conversation partner, get personal, and maybe even become friends. And you’ll be able to practice your Dutch listening and speaking skills at the same time! In this guide, you’ll learn everything about asking questions in Dutch, from the Dutch question words to making yes/no questions. We’ll also introduce you to the ten most common Dutch questions and... Show more

Would you like to take an official Dutch language proficiency test? If that’s the case, wouldn’t you love to receive some handy tips and tricks to make sure you pass? If so, this guide will definitely come in handy. In the Netherlands, there are two official language proficiency tests: the NT2 Dutch as a Second Language State Exam (Staatsexamen NT2) and the Certificate Dutch as a Foreign Language (Certificaat Nederlands als Vreemde Taal, CNaVT). In this guide, we’ll only focus on the NT2 Dutch State Exam, as it’s the most common one they ask for when you’re looking for a job or applying for a university or school in the Netherlands.  We’ll go over everything you need to know about the NT2 Dutch language proficiency exam: what it is,... Show more

Learning a new language can be tricky; there’s so much to learn. Where should you start? And what should you focus on?  You may already be learning grammar rules, memorizing conjugation tables, and studying vocabulary lists. However, to really learn Dutch, it’s important that you speak it as early as you can. That’s the only way you’ll really improve your Dutch language skills.Are you still hesitant to speak Dutch? Then try to learn some useful and easy Dutch sentence patterns. This will allow you to form hundreds of natural sentences that you can use in many daily situations. You’ll be able to communicate your thoughts, doubts, or opinions to your Dutch friends or colleagues with ease and confidence. Sure, it won’t enable you to... Show more

Adverbs bring some clarity, fun, and emotion to a language. Could you imagine a language without them? It would surely make everything much more ambiguous and boring. We need adverbs to form phrases, to express our emotions, to give some perspective, and to spice up our conversations.  Luckily, there are plenty of Dutch adverbs to choose from. From adverbs describing time and frequency, to those useful adverbs that help you connect your thoughts. Through these fun adverbs, you’ll be able to explain yourself better and more clearly express your mood, opinions, and feelings. Are you already intrigued? Then let’s start with a short guide on the use of Dutch adverbs. After this, we’ll continue with a useful Dutch adverbs list with 100... Show more

You asked, so we provided—easy-to-follow instructions on how to set up your electronic devices to write in Dutch! We’ll also give you a few excellent tips on how to use this keyboard, as well as some online and app alternatives if you prefer not to set up a Dutch keyboard. Table of Contents Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in Dutch Setting up Your Computer and Mobile Devices for Dutch How to Activate an Onscreen Keyboard on Your Computer How to Change the Language Settings to Dutch on Your Computer Activating the Dutch Keyboard on Your Mobile Phone and Tablet Dutch Keyboard Typing Tips How to Practice Typing Dutch 1. Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in Dutch Learning a new language is made so much easier when... Show more

Why is it so important to study Dutch verb conjugation? Verbs are a crucial aspect of any language, and Dutch is no exception. But to be able to use verbs well, you have to understand their conjugation. What verb form should you use, when and why?  First, it’s important to understand the concept of conjugation and how it influences the Dutch language. After that, you can proceed to learning the different types of Dutch verbs. And with that information, you’ll have the tools to start understanding Dutch verb conjugation.  Conjugation is a basic skill that you need to really understand the Dutch language. But don’t panic; we’re here to help you. In this Beginner’s Guide, we’ll take you by the hand and explain everything you need to... Show more

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZRHkqWW5laQ If you have a pet, I’m willing to bet you think of them as part of your family.  You spend quality time with them, feed them from your plate sometimes, and let them get away with things the rest of your family can’t.  Pets are an integral part of life for many people in the Netherlands, and this is reflected in Dutchies’ participation in World Animal Day. In this article, you’ll learn how this holiday got started, how people celebrate it, and more.  Let’s get started! 1. What is World Animal Day? Wereld dierendag ("World Animal Day") got its unofficial start in 1925, when Heinrich Zimmermann proposed a date to focus on the welfare of animals. Originally, he... Show more