Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741) - this wonderful transription is from the Early Guitar.net - a terrific site that features t ranscriptions of renaissance and baroque music for guitar (solos and duets). There are dozens of excellent arrangements here - with midi file included for easy learning. Aime' Ch'a Torto. Traditional Dutch music consists of simple melodies and rhymes that focus on central emotional themes like loneliness, happiness, and sadness. Today, popular culture is fixated on Nederpop (pop music), electronic/trance, and Nederhop (Dutch Hip-Hop). Find free music mp3s to download and listen online. Scrobble while you listen and get recommendations on new music you’ll love, only from Last.fm. Although folk music usually refers to orally transmitted music or music with unknown composers, but it can include the traditional classical music of countries as well which theoretically differs from folk music, like Indian traditional classical music vs. Indian folk music. But it doesn't include Western (European) Classical music.
Culture Guide to the Netherlands
Visiting another country can be compared to entering into a sort of fantasy land, where new and delightful sights, smells, and sounds are blended with a strange and eccentric way of life – one that is quite different from what you’re used to. It’s one of the most exhilarating experiences ever; however, it can be intimidating to the uninitiated.
The Netherlands is no exception to this truth. It is an amazing country with an even more amazing culture. But if you’re not properly prepared, you could possibly find yourself confused by some of their common cultural tendencies.
For this purpose, I have put together a sort-of cultural strategy guide for your visit to the Netherlands. It should provided you with the major essentials you’ll want to know to be well prepared to enjoy all that the Dutch culture has to offer. While this may not be an exhaustive list, I’ve made every effort to include what will most likely matter the most. Enjoy!
General
Population. As of March 9, 2011 the Netherlands has a population of 16,805,037. It is currently ranked as the 64th most populated country in the world.
Languages. The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch, and it is spoken by a vast majority of the country’s population. It closely resembles German and borrows terms from both French and English. The secondary language of the Netherlands is Friesian, which is spoken by approximately a half-million citizens of the Dutch province of Friesland.
Society. The Dutch society as a whole is very independent and modern. Many believe in equality for all, yet focus on individuality more than community. They are considered a middle-class society.
Economy. The Netherlands has an advanced free market economy. The major sectors for employment are the agriculture, trade, and service industries.
Egalitarian. Respect from other Dutch citizens is not garnered via age or association, but by hard work and acquired skills.
Religion
Secular. The Netherlands is one of the most secularized countries in Western Europe. Only about 39% of citizens claim to be religious, and of those 39% only 6% attend church on a regular basis.
Main religions. There are currently two main religions prominent in Dutch society: Roman Catholic and Protestant. The Roman Catholics make up approximately 25% of the Dutch population, and Protestants make up approximately 15%.
Minor Religions. Muslims make up 5% of the population. Buddhists make up 1%, and Hindus make up 0.9%.
Culinary and Dining Etiquette
Culinary
Traditional Dutch cuisine is not very diverse. It’s very simple and straightforward. The traditional Dutch meal consists of a lot of vegetables with a little meat.
Cached
The average Dutch household prepares food from other cultures as well. The major influences are Italian, Chinese, Mediterranean and Indonesian. These same influences, and others, can be found among the Netherlands selection of dine-out restaurants as well.
Breakfast. Breakfast typically consists of a slice of bread with various toppings like different cheeses, peanut butter, treacle, and chocolate spread.
Lunch. While lunch can include the same foods as breakfast, often times there will be sandwiches with different cold cuts and cheeses – Gouda, Edam, and Leyden.
Dinner. Dinners in the Netherlands are typically a two or three-course meal consisting of soup as an appetizer, potatoes with a large portion of vegetables and a small portion of meat as the main course, and pastries or cookies for dessert. Stamppot (or, stew) is a traditional winter meal and snert (pea soup) is often times the soup of choice for dinner.
Culinary Staples. The Netherlands is famous for its cheese. Gouda, Edam, and Leyden are known worldwide, and Alkmaar is a town famous for its cheese market. Salted herring is another staple to the Dutch. Other staples include hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles), stroopwafel (caramel waffle cookies), French fries and mayonnaise, and pffertjes (small, thick pancakes).
Dining Etiquette
Meal Times. Breakfast is served first thing in the morning between 6 and 8 A.M. Lunch is typically served 12 and 1 P.M. And dinner usually starts around 6 P.M. (early by international standards.)
Tea Time. Tea time is a combination culinary and social event. It typically takes place either between breakfast and lunch (10 to 11 A.M.) or lunch and dinner (4 to 5 P.M.). Tea time involves inviting friends and/or neighbors over for a spot of tea or coffee and a single biscuit or cookie.
Leaving the table. It is considered rude to leave the table during dinner for any reason, whether it is to take a phone call, use the bathroom, etc.
Smaller portions. At the start of a meal, take a smaller portion. You will be asked if you would like a second portion. It is always polite to accept this offer for second portion.
Hands on the table. In the Netherlands, it is polite to leave your hands on the table while eating. However, you still want to make sure you do not rest your elbows on the table.
Social Etiquette
While Dutch etiquette closely mirrors that of the rest of the Western world, there are certain traits and practices specific to Dutch citizens. Keep in mind that what you’re about to read below may not be practiced in all areas and by all people. Instead, consider it a general guide to showcasing proper etiquette in a majority of circumstances and situations.
Greetings. The Dutch either shake hands upon greeting and departing (somewhat formal), or, if they have a close bond with the person, kiss the cheek three times, starting with the left cheek. A simple accompanying “hello” will suffice.
Scheduling. Don’t be surprised if a dinner with a Dutch friend is scheduled six weeks in advance. The Dutch live by schedules and are strict on adhering to them. There’s no such thing as stopping by someone’s home. It needs to first be agreed upon by the other party, and then properly placed into the schedule.
Manners. Dutch citizens are very straightforward and direct. What some people would call rudeness, they call it “openness.” They tell it like it is – honest and straight to the point. It’s not meant to be rude, it’s just their particular style.
Conversation. The Dutch maintain strong eye contact when conversing with others.
They are also very direct in their speech. Criticism is welcome, and most Dutch are not easily offended.
Speaking a different language. Do not be surprised if you greet a person in Dutch and they respond in English. The Dutch are very proficient at speaking foreign languages and they can easily pick up on foreign dialects.
Money. While the Dutch have nothing against becoming wealthy, it is typically seen as a negative character trait if you publicly spend large sums of money. You are labeled as a “show off.” Also, never ask someone how much money they make.
Driving. To put it bluntly, the Dutch can be impatient and rude on the road. Gestures, honks, and expletives are commonplace in many areas, and swift lane changes are also the norm. In other words, be prepared for an adventure if driving through the Netherlands.
Gift giving. If you’re invited to a Dutch home, it is customary to bring a gift for the hostess. The most acceptable gifts include flowers (always an odd number, and never thirteen), a book, quality chocolates, or a potted plant. The Dutch typically have a wine already chosen for the meal, so bringing a bottle as a gift is uncommon.
Sports
Sports are a very important part of life for many Dutch citizens. There are currently over 35,000 operational sports clubs in the Netherlands and approximately 28% of the population is active members in these clubs. Furthermore, there are still more of the population who are not members, yet are still very active in sports.
Major sports. The major sports of the Netherlands (in order of popularity) are football, cycling, and speed skating.
Football. Football is a way of life more many sports fans in the Netherlands. The Royal Dutch Football Association is the most revered football federation in the country and was one of the founding members of FIFA. Throughout the years, the Dutch have achieved several accolades for football, such as three bronze medals in the Olympics and three FIFA World Cup finals appearances. Johan Crujiff is the country’s most revered football player.
Cycling. The Dutch’s cycling boom started in the late 1890s and took off in the early 1900s. In 1928, the Royal Dutch Cycling Union was formed and cycling soon became a premier sport in the Netherlands, and has maintained its status ever since. There have been two Dutch Tour de France winners in Jan Janssen and Joop Zoetemelk, and seven have been crowned World Champion. No matter the terrain, open road, off trail, or track, cycling is still very popular.
Speed Skating. While footballs and bicycles take center stage for most of the year, when winter hits, speed skating becomes the undisputed king of sports. While the Dutch experienced some success in the early 1900s, it wasn’t until the 1960s, when speed skating titles became the norm for Dutch athletes, that the sport took off with the rest of the country. It hasn’t slowed down since. During the winter months it’s normal to overhear conversations about speed skaters, along with seeing fellow citizens strapping on a pair of skates for a race.
Other sports. While football, cycling, and speed skating are the main focus for Dutch’s sports enthusiasts, there are still other sports that remain fairly popular and are worth mentioning: basketball, baseball, volleyball, field hockey, cricket, rugby, and korfball.
Arts and Leisure
Art. The Netherlands is world-renowned for its number of art and historical museums, along with its impressive collection of fine art. The most prolific period for Dutch art was the Golden Age (17th century), where the Baroque style, inherited from the Italians, became the basis for several Dutch masterpieces. The next resurgence began in the twentieth century with modern art and continues to flourish today. International art festivals occur year-round and draw big crowds from all over the world.
Architecture. Dutch architecture also became prominent during the Golden Age, where Baroque-style buildings were considered the norm. The end of the nineteenth century saw a resurgence of Gothic Revival architecture, and modern architecture found its place, starting in the 20th century. The vast array of buildings offers a magnificent view of varying historical styles that span centuries.
Music. Traditional Dutch music consists of simple melodies and rhymes that focus on central emotional themes like loneliness, happiness, and sadness. Today, popular culture is fixated on Nederpop (pop music), electronic/trance, and Nederhop (Dutch Hip-Hop). Classical and orchestral scores are also very popular, and Jan Sweelinck is still considered the most prolific composer in Dutch’s illustrious musical history. Other popular genres include folk, jazz, and various types of metal.
Cabaret. The Netherlands has its own unique form of cabaret that is aimed more at provoking thought on social and political themes, instead of laughter. Cabaret shows can be found in most cities and even on some television networks.
Events. The Netherlands is a hot bed for annual events in all different kinds of niches and markets, and the locals love to attend. For art there’s the Maastricht Art Show in the first half of March. The Amsterdam Roots Festival in June showcases music from the Netherlands and other parts of the world. For techno lovers, the FFWD Dance Parade is held in August. And Sinterklaas comes in December.
Blood, sweat and tears, 15 million people, flowery curtains and nights like you only see in films… the Dutch have a huge catalogue of singalong songs. Here’s a selection of classics to help you breeze through your inburgeringsexam and earn the awed respect of your Dutch friends.
1 Lang zal ze leven
No birthday party is complete without this song and it is one that you must try to master, especially if you have children. It’s very simple.
Lang zal ze leven, lang zal ze leven
Lang zal ze leven in de gloria, in de gloria, in de gloria
Hieperdepiep hoera! (x3)
(Translation, Long may he/she live, in glory)
That’s it! Tiresome additions such as Zij leve hoog/Honderd jaren leven are not compulsory and can be ignored.
2 Wilhelmus
This is the Dutch national anthem and if you are going to sing along, do what the national football team and everybody else does and only sing the first two lines:
Wilhelmus van Nassaue
Ben ik van Duitsen bloed
Mumble, mumble, la la la etc.
Duitsen meant Dutch, not German, in the 16th and 17th century in case you’re wondering.
3 Bloed, zweet en tranen
One of the last songs (2002) recorded by the late, great André Hazes. It is also one of his best. Like most of his songs it has the odd grammatical wobble but who cares. Here’s the chorus. Lighters at the ready!
Met bloed zweet en tranen
Zei ik rot hier nu maar op
Met bloed zweet en tranen
Zei ik vrienden dag vrienden
De koek is op.
(With blood, sweat and tears, I said sod off out of here. With blood, sweat and tears, I said well friends, it’s goodbye friends, there’s no more pickings left for you).
4 Dinge-dong
The list wouldn’t be complete without a Eurovision song and this one actually won for the Netherlands in 1975… in English. But the band, Teach In, also recorded it in Dutch. Here’s a snippet featuring long-term memory loss and daft dinge-dongs and bim-bam-boms.
Is ‘t lang geleden? Is ‘t lang geleden?
Dat mijn hart je riep met z’n ding-dinge-dong?
Is ‘t lang geleden? Is ‘t lang geleden?
In de zomer zon ging het bim-bam-bom
The lyrics are no better in Dutch than they were in English: Is it long ago? Is it long ago? That my heart called you with its dinge-dinge-dong. Is it long ago? Is it long ago? In the summer sun it went bim-bam-bom.
5 Bloemetjesgordijn
Traditional Dutch Breakfast
More daftness, of the Carnaval kind. Every year a carnavalskraker hits the charts. This one is a classic from 1972.
Weet je wat ik wel zou willen zijn?
Een bloemetjesgordijn, een bloemetjesgordijn.
Van het plafond tot op het raamkozijn:
Een bloemetjesgordijn, een bloemetjesgordijn
En alle dagen hangen lekker in het zonnelicht
Met bloemen op m’n hele lijf en ook op m’n gezicht.
(Do you know what I would like to be? A flowery curtain, a flowery curtain. From the ceiling to the window sill. A flowery curtain, a flowery curtain. Hanging in the sunshine all day long. With flowers all over my body and my face.) What can we say?
6 Zing, vecht, huil, bid, lach, werk en bewonder
10 Dutch Songs Everyone Should Be Able To Sing Along To ...
Sing, fight, cry, pray, laugh, work and admire. This a good one for practising your verbs. The song, from 1971, is sung by Ramses Shaffy who had many wonderful hits in Dutch. The refrain is the title so all you have to do is get the verbs in the right order and you’re away.
7 Het is een nacht
The chorus of this one is usually sung completely by the audience, giving singer Guus Meeuwis a well-deserved break. It was his first single and became a big hit in 1995 (and drove lots of people crazy). Here’s the chorus so you can join in:
Het is een nacht
Die je normaal alleen in films ziet
Het is een nacht die wordt bezongen in het mooiste lied
Het is een nacht waarvan ik dacht dat ik hem nooit beleven zou
Maar vannacht beleef ik hem met jou (oh)
Translation: It’s a night you only see in films. A night that people sing about. It’s a night I didn’t think I’d ever have. But tonight it’s you and me (oh).
Note that films in the third line is pronounced fillems.
8 Een muis in een molen in oud Amsterdam
Chances are you know this one in English. This is the original version sung by entertainer Rudi Carrell in 1965.
Ik zag een muis. Waar?
Daar op de trap. Waar op de trap?
Nou daar! Een kleine muis op klompjes
Nee, ‘t is geen grap, ‘t ging van klipklappiedieklap op de trap
Oh ja.
9 15 miljoen mensen
A song originally made to persuade all those wonderfully anarchic Dutch people to use the Postbank (which has since merged with ING bank), it became so popular it went to number 1 in 1996. There are, of course, now nearly 17 million people in the Netherlands, but the sentiment (and it is full of sentiment) holds true. Note: the new ING adverts have dropped the anarchy and replaced it with full-blooded orange nationalism.
15 miljoen mensen
Op dat hele kleine stukje aarde
Die schrijf je niet de wetten voor
Die laat je in hun waarde
15 miljoen mensen
Op een hele kleine stukje aarde
Die moeten niet ‘t keurslijf in
Die laat je in hun waarde
So arms in the air and start singing: 15 million people, on a tiny patch of land. You don’t tell them what to do. You respect them for what they are. 15 million people, on a tiny patch of land. You don’t try to put them in a straitjacket. You respect them for what they are.
10 Aan de Amsterdamse grachten
This 1949 declaration of love to the murky but undoubtedly very beautiful canals of Amsterdam sung by comedian Wim Zonneveld is another Dutch favourite, and singing it while standing on a bridge (in the capital of course, not just any old bridge) will gain you the admiration of many.
Aan de Amsterdamse Grachten
heb ik heel m’n hart voor altijd verpand
Amsterdam vult mijn gedachten
als de mooiste stad in ons land
Al die Amsterdamse mensen
al die lichtjes ‘s avonds laat op ‘t plein
niemand kan zich beter wensen
dan een Amsterdammer te zijn
To the canals of Amsterdam
I have pledged my heart forever
Amsterdam fills my thoughts
As the most beautiful city in our country
All those Amsterdam people
All those lights late at night on the square
No one could wish for more
Than to be an Amsterdammer
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