Level: Pre - intermediate

A taste of Dutch Culture and Tradition

The Netherlands is the main country of the Kingdom of The Netherlands.

Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius, known as the ABC Islands are part of The
Kingdom. This is also called the Caribbean Netherlands. The Netherlands is a
small country that lays in Western Europe with Amsterdam as its capital.
Amsterdam is entirely built on millions of piles and it has 1281 bridges. Old piles
are made of wood while new piles are constructed using concrete. Without these
piles for foundation the city would sink into a peat marsh where it resides. The
Dutch population is around 17 million and uses the Euro as its currency. Its
neighbors are Belgium and Germany. The three biggest cities of the Netherlands
are Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam.

The word "Netherlands" literally means "low land". It is called "The

Netherlands" because 50% of the country is built at only 1 meter above sea level.
Many people confuse the spoken language Dutch with its neighbor's spoken
language German. Also many people refer to The Netherlands as Holland.
 When people think about The Netherlands they quickly think about the
tulips, the mills, cheese, wooden shoes and about a country that uses the bicycle as
its main transportation. But this little country has more to offer than these cultural
icons. Although I believe its widespread use of the bicycle should be hailed as the
future of sustainable transportation and my country should be recognized for it.

The Dutch have a very rich culture and it is well known for his many famous
painters, the Dutch Masters; Rembrandt van Steen and Vincent van Gogh, just to
name a few. Famous literature written in the Dutch Golden Age from Joost van den
Vondel and P.C. Hooft to philosophers like Erasmus also fill our rich cultural
history.

The Dutch people are known to be very private. People are very formal
when they deal with each other. They have high self control, they are known to not
ask personal questions and they refuse to answer them. Their common greeting is a
handshake and a smile. Very close friends will kiss each other three times on the
cheek.

Most Dutch are very comfortable when doing business with foreigners since
The Netherlands has a long history of international trade. The Netherlands have a
close business community and a lot of senior level people know each other. Even if
the Dutch are very keen on their privacy, they are very hospitable and will give you
a feeling you are always welcome and respected.

Dutch Traditions

Sinterklaas
 Every year about three weeks before December 5th, Sinterklaas and his band
of helpers arrive in the Netherlands from Spain by steamboat. The arrival (intocht)
is shown live on television. For the next three weeks Sinterklaas and his Zwarte
Piet helpers tour the Netherlands visiting children at school. Then on December 5th
he will visit you at home with his big book and tell you whether you have been
good or bad and you will get showered with presents.

The Queen's Day Market

April 3rd is Koninginnendag (Queen's Day) and is the birthday of Queen

Beatrix's mother, Juliana. When Beatrix succeeded her mother in 1980, she decided
to keep the celebrations on the same day, which is a public holiday.

Traditionally citizens sell goods on the street on Queen's Day which is why the
streets turn into a giant flea markets. New King Willem-Alexander decided to
rename it "Koningsdag" and shift it forward three days to his birthday on April
27th.

Eating oliebollen - deep-fried donuts - on New Year's Eve

On New Year's Evening the people in The Netherlands traditonally serve

Oliebollen. Oliebollen is a traditional dish served in The Netherlands as well as in
Belgium. In the English language they are known as "Dutch Doughnuts" or
"Dutchies". The Oliebollen are usually served with powder sugar.
Carnaval

The roots of Carnaval stem from the Catholic period before Lent the 'feast'
before the 'fast'. The Carnival festivities, complete with lavishly decorated floats,
music and LOTS of beer hit the streets in February. This tradition was mostly
celebrated in the south of the country but over the years lately it has spread
northwards.

Eating Herring

You cannot get more Dutch than eating herring - especially when the
"Hollandse Nieuwe" hit the shops. The start of the new herring season is always a
major media circus. Vlaggetjesdag, known as the the day of the little flags, is
supposed to give tribute to the times 1380 when the herring fleets would coming
home. Every year the start of this season is celebrated in June.
www.avalonwaterways.com

www.en.wikipedia.org

Task 1 - Match the words with the right definitions.

1. pile
2. concrete
3. reside
4. sustainable
5. mill
6. stem
7. herring
8. flea market
9. lavish
10. float

A) Specifically, a building material created by mixing cement, water, and

aggregate including gravel and sand.
B)Able to be produced or sustained for an indefinite period without damaging the
environment, or without depleting a resource; renewable.
C) A mass of things heaped together; a heap.
D)To have a seat or fixed position; to inhere; to lie or be as in attribute or element.
E)Very generous
F)An elaborately decorated trailer or vehicle, intended for display in a parade or
pageant.
G)To be caused or derived; to originate.
H)An outdoor market selling inexpensive antiques, curios etc.
I)A grinding apparatus for substances such as grains, seeds, etc.
J)A type of small, oily fish of the genus Clupea, often used as food.

Answers:
1-C
2-A
3-D
4-B
5-I
6-G
7-J
8-H
9-E
10-F

Task 2 – Test. Choose the best answers to the quiz questions.

1. What the word “Netherlands” literally means?

a) Rich land
b) Low land
c) Beautiful land
 d) It has no certain meaning

2. With what traits the Dutch people are famous for?

a) With their hospitability
b) Socialibty
c) Intellegence
d) Privacy

3. What is common greeting of the Dutch people?

a) A handshake
b) A smile
c) Kissing on the cheek
d) A and B

4. Many people refer to The Netherlands as …

a) Holland
b) Dutch
c) Amsterdam
d) Caribbean Netherlands

5. Find the capital of the Netherlands.

a) The Hague
b) B) Rotterdam
c) Amsterdam
d) there is no information on this
 6. Find the neighbours of the Netherlands.
a) Germany and Belgium
b) Italy and France
c) Germany and France
d) Italy and Belgium

7. What is the main transportation in the Nitherlands?

a) A bus
b) A bicucle
c) A train
d) A carriage

8. Find the currency of the Netherlands.

a) Euro
b) Pound Sterling
c) Lira
d) Ruble

Answers:
1. B
2. D
3. D
4. A
5. C
6. A
7. B
8. A
 Task 3 - choose true/false for each statements.

1. Every year on 5th december Sinterklaas and his band of helpers arrive in the
Netherlands from Spain by steamboat. ______
2. Netherland is considered as the main country and it is in the Southern part of
Europe. _______
3. The country consist of about seventeen million population. _______
4. The capital of the Netherlands has more than 1200 bridges. _______
5. Germany and Belgium are not close to the Dutch population. _______
6. The population of Netherlands usually speak in more than one language.
_______

Answers:
1. False
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. False
6. True

Task 4 - choose the statements that are mentioned in the text.

A) The Dutch are famous for their many talented painters.

B) The dutch people are sometimes very rude.
C) They don't want to answer if they are asked about their personal life.
D) From the history the flowers of tulips have been being concidered as a national
plant of the Netherlands.
E) Traditionally citizens sell goods on the street on Queen's Day
F) One cannot participate in a Carnival without special clothes.

Answers :
A, C, E

Task 5 - Fill in the gaps.

1. The Netherlands have a rich culture, besides it is famous for Master Painters like
_____ and _____.
2. The greeting way of close friends is _____ each other _____ _____ on the
cheek.
3. Dutch people are very _____ when they work with each other.
4. Mostly the Dutch people don't want to answer _____ _____
5. _____ _____ is the birthday of Queen's mother, Juliana.
6. _____ mostly celebrated in the south of the country.

Answers:
1. Rembrandt van Steen and Vincent van Gogh
2. kissing / three times
3. formal
4. To personal questions
5. April 3rd
6. Carnaval

Task 6 - Match the statements.

1. The capital of the Netherlands...

2. The country of Netherlands...
3. ABC islands...
4. The Dutch population...
5. The country has...

A) uses the Euro as its currency.

B) not so large.
C) is entirely built on millions of piles.
D) include Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius.
E) three biggest counties such as, Amsterdam, The Hague, and Rotterdam.

Answers:
1- C; 2-B; 3-D; 4-A; 5-E.

Task 7 - write summery of the text.

(in this task learners will be devided into 3or four groups and write at least a 50-
word summary on Holland's culture)
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Reflection

Culture is valuable for every country around the world due to its importance
in people's life. Because culture means very wide notion consisting traditions,
parties, holidays, language and other precious values. And for my work I decided
to choose Holland's culture because of its unusual features such as different types
of food, festivals, lands, languages, etc. Besides this country is one of the main
countries of the UK, even if it is small country in the Kingdom. And I have chosen
7 activities to describe and teach The Dutch culture.
Number 1 activity, "matching definitions" can better the ability of learners'
comprehension and make the words clear with their paraphrased definitions.
Number 2 activity, "Multiple choice", is helpful to choose right and appropriate
answers by comparing them with other versions.
Number 3, "True or false", in this part readers are checked, whether they
can choose rigt facts or meaning or not.
 Number 4, "Choosing mentioned statements ", can mostly confuse learners,
therefore it is crucial to mainly deliver the meaning of the given article.
Number 5 activity, "Fill in the gaps", mostly given by paraphrased or
summerized parts of an article. And learners can do this exercises if they
understand the text correctly. In result, it is important to understand basic meaning.
Number 6 activity, "Matching", aids to find out and match up the beginnings
with the next parts of statements.
The last, 7th activity, "Summerizing" not only comprehend the text by
writing with group members, but also it can lead to some discussios (post-
activity), bettering their speech and making them open-minded learners.