DutchPod101.com Blog

Did you know that every minute of the day, one billion tons of rain falls on the earth? Hard to believe, considering the climate crisis! Of course, all that rain is not equally shared across the planet. So, would you mention this fascinating fact to your new acquaintance? Well, small talk about local weather is actually a great conversation-starter. Everyone cares about the weather and you’re sure to hear a few interesting opinions! Seasons can be quite unpredictable these days and nobody knows the peculiarities of a region better than the locals. DutchPod101 will equip you with all the weather vocabulary you need to plan your next adventure. The weather can even be an important discussion that influences your adventure plans. After... Show more

Did you know there are many different types of calendars? As you probably know - a calendar is a system of organizing days in weeks and months for specific purposes, according to Wikipedia. Worldwide, most countries use the Gregorian calendar. Some just work on the same framework, meaning that time is divided into units based on the earth's movement around the sun - the "solar calendar". Other calendars keep time by observing the moon's movements, a combination of the moon and the sun's movements, and seasons. Through DutchPod101, you can learn all about this and so much more! Our themed, culturally relevant lessons are skillfully designed so you can do your planning perfectly for a holiday or a date. Having a good plan for a visit or... Show more

Did you know that only some reptiles and birds don't parent their offspring? Except for crocodiles, all reptiles (and one family of bird species called megapodes) hatch from eggs and grow up alone, without any family. The rest of us need family if we are to survive and thrive - humans and animals alike! At DutchPod101, we know how important family is. Therefore, we take care to teach you all the important vocabulary and phrases pertaining to family. Table of Contents Why Is It Important to Know Dutch Vocabulary about Family? Learn a New Culture? Learn its Family Vocab first How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn Dutch Family Terms 1. Why Is It Important to Know Dutch Vocabulary about Family? Well, if you're serious about... Show more

Each year on his birthday, Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands with his helpers and gives out candies and gifts to children who have been good. Saint Nicholas Eve, the night before St. Nicholas Day, is also a time of gift-giving and pleasant surprises among adults, in honor of the real saint this holiday is based on. In this article, you’ll learn about how the Dutch celebrate Sinterklaas and about the traditional Sinterklaas stories. Ready? Let’s get started! 1. What is St. Nicholas’ Eve? St. Nicholas Eve is the night before Sinterklaas and the Saint’s birthday. On this night, Saint Nicholas arrives in the Netherlands with presents. Although most Dutch people have grown up with this celebration, for most non-Dutch... Show more

We want you to speak Dutch, you want to know why? Here is why, learning Dutch is easy! Because English and Dutch are related languages. Also, Speaking Dutch will make you popular around the Dutchies they will love you, seriously they will. When you speak Dutch you can get into “gezelligheid” (explanation down below). In addition, You’ll have 23 million native Dutch speakers to talk to. Located all around the world. They speak Dutch in Belgium, Surinam (South America) and The Carribean. Here is why. 1. Dutch is easy to learn Do you already know English? Good, the leap from English to Dutch is small as both languages belong to the West Germanic family. When 2 languages belong to the same family it easier for you to pick up,... Show more

Traveling to foreign countries is nearly always an exciting, enriching, and beneficial experience. Yet, some things can be real downers, such as boredom on a lengthy flight to . Really, binge-watching onboard movies can only be interesting for so long! And jet lag - another huge downer. Did you know that jet lag is more severe when you travel from the West to the East? Well, we won't know how to beat that, but there are fortunately plenty of remedies around to investigate. To beat flight boredom, though, we may have the answer for you at DutchPod101! Why don't you take the time to study Dutch travel phrases? We make this super easy and fun, with great downloadables, like our PDF Cheat Sheets. Quickly memorize these, and impress your ... Show more

Have you ever found yourself shopping in the Netherlands, only to become confused when the cashier tells you the price? Or maybe you were having a smooth conversation with a native Dutch speaker, only to freeze up when trying to give your age. If you plan on working or studying in the Netherlands for any length of time, you’ve got to learn some Dutch numbers.  Numbers are everywhere, in countless aspects of our daily lives: from giving our age to counting money, people, or things. Therefore, learning how to identify and use numbers is a vital skill for effective communication. When you first begin studying Dutch numbers, it may be challenging—but if you stick to it, you’ll get the hang of it in no time. In this useful guide from... Show more

You're learning to speak Dutch, and it's going well. Your confidence is growing! So much so that you feel ready to share your experiences on social media—in Dutch. At Learn Dutch, we make this easy for you to get it right the first time. Post like a boss with these phrases and guidelines, and get to practice your Dutch in the process. 1. Talking about Your Restaurant Visit in Dutch Eating out is fun, and often an experience you'd like to share. Take a pic, and start a conversation on social media in Dutch. Your friend will be amazed by your language skills...and perhaps your taste in restaurants! Jan eats at a restaurant with his friends, posts an image of the group, and leaves this comment: POST Let's break down Jan's post. ... Show more

Learn how to apologize in Dutch - fast and accurately! DutchPod101 makes it easy for you to make amends. Start with a bonus, and download your FREE cheat sheet - How to Improve Your Dutch Skills! (Logged-In Member Only) Table of Contents Common Ways to Say Sorry in Dutch How To Refuse Something Politely in Dutch Audio Lesson - Survival Phrases "How to Say Sorry" Why You Will NOT Be Sorry For Learning Dutch through DutchPod101 1. Common Ways to Say Sorry in Dutch Nobody’s perfect, not anywhere in the world. Everybody makes mistakes, and does and says regrettable things. Then it’s time to apologize, as saying ‘I’m sorry’ is not in vain. It can be very healing! Did you know that hearing a sincerely-meant apology can have a... Show more

Each year, the Netherlands observes Prinsjesdag, or "Prince’s Day." Because this is the day the country officials go over the country’s budget proposals and new bills, many people also call this "Budget Day." In the Netherlands, Prince’s Day is also a special day of celebration, and is the only time many people will ever see the Golden Carriage (which we’ll talk more about later). In the learning about Prince’s Day, you’ll also gain insight into certain aspects of the culture in the Netherlands. And as any successful language-learner can tell you, this is a vital step in mastering any language. DutchPod101.com can make this part of the learning process both fun and informative! Let’s get started with a little more about what Prince Day... Show more