Dutch artThe twentieth century De Stijl The twentieth century De StijlFrom De Stijl to the present day From De Stijl to the present dayAmsterdam galleries: a hit list Amsterdam galleries: a hit listOf the galleries in Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum Rijksmuseum owns a fabulous and wonderfully comprehensive collection of Dutch/Low Countries art, but much of it is out of sight during a major refurbishment, which is scheduled to last until 2013. In the meantime, one wing of the museum remains open and features the major artists of the Golden Age, most memorably Rembrandt. The owns a fabulous and wonderfully comprehensive collection of Dutch/Low Countries art, but much of it is out of sight during a major refurbishment, which is scheduled to last until 2013. In the meantime, one wing of the museum remains open and features the major artists of the Golden Age, most memorably Rembrandt. The Van Gogh Museum Van Gogh Museum is best for the Impressionists and, of course, van Gogh, while for contemporary Dutch art there"s both the inventive is best for the Impressionists and, of course, van Gogh, while for contemporary Dutch art there"s both the inventive De Appel De Appel(see "Leidsestraat and the Spiegelkwartier") and the Stedelijk Museum Stedelijk Museum, which will reopen after an extensive refit in 2010. Contemporary photographers, on the other hand, are featured at the Huis Ma.r.s.eille Huis Ma.r.s.eille and and FOAM FOAM(see "Amsterdam"s commercial art galleries"). In the city"s southern suburbs, the CoBrA Museum CoBrA Museum is dedicated to the CoBrA art movement of the 1950s and 1960s, and the neighbouring town of is dedicated to the CoBrA art movement of the 1950s and 1960s, and the neighbouring town of Haarlem Haarlem possesses the excellent possesses the excellent Frans Hals Museum Frans Hals Museum, which holds some of the best work of Hals, his predecessors and successors. For commercial art galleries, see "Amsterdam"s commercial art galleries".
Books Most of the books listed below are in print and in paperback, and those that are out of print (o/p) should be easy to track down either in second-hand bookshops or online. Note also that while we recommend all the books we"ve listed below, we do have favourites and these have been marked with[image] . .
BooksHistory, politics and general Leo Akveld et al et al The Colourful World of the VOC The Colourful World of the VOC. Beautifully ill.u.s.trated, coffee-table sized book on the VOC the East India Company. The subject is dealt with in a series of intriguing essays on the likes of the uses of Eastern spices, Indonesian fashion and furniture, rituals and beliefs. The only problem is that it is hard to get hold of outside Amsterdam.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali Infidel: My Life Infidel: My Life. This powerful and moving autobiography, written by one of the Netherlands"s most controversial figures, begins with Ali"s harsh and sometimes brutal childhood in Somalia and then Saudi Arabia, where among other tribulations her grandmother insisted she have her c.l.i.toris cut off when she was 5. Later, in 1992, Ali wound up in the Netherlands at least partly to evade an arranged marriage. Thereafter, she made a remarkable transition from factory cleaner to MP, becoming a leading light of the rightist VVD political party and remaining outspoken in her denunciations of militant Islam (see "The early 2000s Theo van Gogh and Ayaan Hirsi Ali"). Due to death threats, Ali was forced to go into hiding in 2004, only returning to parliament in 2005. She now lives in the US.
J.C.H. Blom (ed.) (ed.) History of the Low Countries History of the Low Countries. Books on the totality of Dutch history are thin on the ground, so this heavyweight volume fills a few gaps, though it"s hardly sun-lounge reading. A series of historians weigh in with their specialities, from Roman times onwards. Taken as a whole, its forte is in picking out those cultural, political and economic themes that give the region its distinctive character.
Mike Dash Tulipomania Tulipomania. An examination of the introduction of the tulip into the Low Countries at the height of the Golden Age and the extraordinarily inflated and speculative market that ensued. There"s a lot of padding and scene-setting, but it"s an engaging enough read, and has nice detail on seventeenth-century Amsterdam, Leiden and Haarlem.
Pieter Geyl The Revolt of The Netherlands 15551609 and The Netherlands in the Seventeenth Century 16091648 The Revolt of The Netherlands 15551609 and The Netherlands in the Seventeenth Century 16091648. Geyl presents a detailed account of the Netherlands during its formative years, chronicling the uprising against the Spanish and the formation of the United Provinces. First published in 1932, it has long been regarded as the cla.s.sic text on the subject, though it is a hard and ponderous read.
A.C. Grayling Descartes: The Life and Times of a Genius Descartes: The Life and Times of a Genius. One of the greatest philosophers of all time, Rene Descartes (15961650) was a key figure in the transition from medieval to early modern Europe. He also made key contributions to optics and geometry and, among his miscellaneous travels, spent time living in Amsterdam (see "Westermarkt"). This crisply written, erudite biography deals skilfully with the philosophy Grayling is himself a philosophy professor and argues that Descartes was almost certainly a Jesuit spy acting on behalf of the Habsburg interest during his time here in Amsterdam.
Christopher Hibbert Cities and Civilisation Cities and Civilisation. Includes a diverting chapter on Amsterdam in the age of Rembrandt. Hibbert, one of the UK"s best historians, is always a pleasure to read.
Lisa Jardine The Awful End of Prince William the Silent The Awful End of Prince William the Silent. Great t.i.tle for an intriguing book on the premature demise of one of the country"s most acclaimed heroes, who was a.s.sa.s.sinated in Delft in 1584. At just 160 pages, the tale is told succinctly, but unless you have a particular interest in early firearms there is a bit too much information on guns.
Carol Ann Lee Roses from the Earth: the Biography of Anne Frank Roses from the Earth: the Biography of Anne Frank. Among a spate of publications trawling through and over the life of the young Jewish diarist, this is probably the best, written in a straightforward and insightful manner without sentimentality. Working the same mine is the same author"s The Hidden Life of Otto Frank The Hidden Life of Otto Frank clear, lucid and equally as interesting. clear, lucid and equally as interesting.
[image]Geert Mak Amsterdam: A Brief Life of the City Amsterdam: A Brief Life of the City. First published in 1995, this infinitely readable trawl through the city"s past is a simply wonderful book amusing and perceptive, alternately tart and indulgent. It"s more a social history than anything else, so for example it"s here you"ll find out quite why Rembrandt lived in the Jewish Quarter and why the city"s merchant elite ossified in the eighteenth century. It"s light and accessible enough to read from cover to cover, but its index of places makes it easy to dip into. Highly recommended.
[image]Geoffrey Parker The Dutch Revolt The Dutch Revolt. Compelling account of the struggle between the Netherlands and Spain. Quite the best thing you can read on the period. Also The Army of Flanders and the Spanish Road 15671659 The Army of Flanders and the Spanish Road 15671659. The t.i.tle may sound academic, but this book gives a fascinating insight into the Habsburg army that occupied the Low Countries for well over a hundred years how it functioned, was fed and moved from Spain to the Low Countries along the so-called Spanish Road.
Simon Schama The Embarra.s.sment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age The Embarra.s.sment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age. Long before his reinvention on British TV, Schama had a reputation as a specialist in Dutch history, and this chunky volume draws on a huge variety of archive sources. Also by Schama, Patriots and Liberators: Revolution in the Netherlands 17801813 Patriots and Liberators: Revolution in the Netherlands 17801813 focuses on one of the less familiar periods of Dutch history and is particularly good on the Batavian Republic set up in the Netherlands under French auspices. Both are heavyweight tomes, and leftists might well find Schama too reactionary. See also Schama"s focuses on one of the less familiar periods of Dutch history and is particularly good on the Batavian Republic set up in the Netherlands under French auspices. Both are heavyweight tomes, and leftists might well find Schama too reactionary. See also Schama"s Rembrandt"s Eyes Rembrandt"s Eyes.
Andrew Wheatcroft The Habsburgs The Habsburgs. Excellent and well-researched trawl through the family"s history, from eleventh-century beginnings to its eclipse at the end of World War I. Enjoyable background reading.
[image]Manfred Wolf (ed.) (ed.) Amsterdam: A Traveler"s Literary Companion Amsterdam: A Traveler"s Literary Companion. Published by an independent American press, Whereabout Press, these anthologies aim to get to the heart of the modern cities they cover, and this well-chosen mixture of travel pieces, short fiction and reportage does exactly that, uncovering a low-life aspect to the city of Amsterdam that exists beyond the tourist brochures. A high-quality and evocative selection, and often the only chance you"ll get to read some of this material in translation. Published in 2001.
BooksArt and architecture Svetlana Alpers Rembrandt"s Enterprise Rembrandt"s Enterprise. Intriguing 1988 study of Rembrandt, positing the theory in line with findings of the Leiden-based Rembrandt Research Project that many previously accepted Rembrandt paintings are not his at all, but merely the products of his studio. Bad news if you own one.
Anthony Bailey A View of Delft A View of Delft. Concise, startlingly well-researched book on Vermeer, complete with an accurate and well-considered exploration of his milieu.
R.H. Fuchs Dutch Painting Dutch Painting. As complete an introduction to the subject from Flemish origins to the present day as you could wish for, in just a couple of hundred pages. First published in the 1970s, but still the cla.s.sic text. o/p Walter S. Gibson Hieronymus Bosch Hieronymus Bosch and and Bruegel Bruegel. Two wonderfully ill.u.s.trated Thames & Hudson t.i.tles on these two exquisite allegorical painters. The former contains everything you wanted to know about Hieronymus Bosch, his paintings and his late fifteenth-century milieu, while the latter takes a detailed look at Pieter Bruegel the Elder"s art, with nine well-argued chapters investigating its various components. Both published in the 1970s, but there has been nothing better yet. o/p Melissa McQuillan Van Gogh Van Gogh. Extensive, in-depth look at Vincent"s paintings, as well as his life and times. Superbly researched and ill.u.s.trated.
Simon Schama Rembrandt"s Eyes Rembrandt"s Eyes. Published in 1999, this erudite work received good reviews, but it"s very, very long and often very long-winded.
[image]Mariet Westerman An all-you-could-ever-want-to-know book about Rembrandt and a fascinating An all-you-could-ever-want-to-know book about Rembrandt and a fascinating Art and Home: Dutch Interiors in the Age of Rembrandt Art and Home: Dutch Interiors in the Age of Rembrandt, but this will cost 60 from Amazon.
Christopher White Rembrandt Rembrandt. White is something of a Rembrandt specialist, writing a series of books on the man and his times. Most of these books are expensive and aimed at the specialist art market, but this particular t.i.tle is perfect for the general reader. Well ill.u.s.trated plus a wonderfully incisive and extremely detailed commentary. Published in 1984, but still very much to the point.
Frank Wynne I was Vermeer: The Legend of the Forger who Swindled the n.a.z.is I was Vermeer: The Legend of the Forger who Swindled the n.a.z.is. Amsterdam"s Han van Meegeren Han van Meegeren fooled everyone, including Hermann Goering, with his "lost" Vermeers, when in fact he painted them himself. This story of bluff, bl.u.s.ter and fine art is an intriguing tale no doubt, but Wynne"s newly published book, though extremely well informed, is overly long. fooled everyone, including Hermann Goering, with his "lost" Vermeers, when in fact he painted them himself. This story of bluff, bl.u.s.ter and fine art is an intriguing tale no doubt, but Wynne"s newly published book, though extremely well informed, is overly long.
BooksLiterature A.C. Baantjer De Kok and the Mask of Death De Kok and the Mask of Death. An ex-Amsterdam policeman, who racked up nearly forty years service, Baantjer is currently the most widely read author in the Netherlands. This rattling good yarn, the latest in the Inspector De Kok series, has all the typical ingredients crisp plotting, some gruesomeness and a batch of nice characterizations on the way. More? Try De Kok and the Somber Nude De Kok and the Somber Nude.
Tracey Chevalier Girl with a Pearl Earring Girl with a Pearl Earring. Chevalier"s novel is a fanciful piece of fiction, building a story around the subject of one of Vermeer"s most enigmatic paintings. It"s an absorbing read, if a tad too detailed and slow-moving for some tastes, and it paints a convincing picture of seventeenth-century Delft, exploring its social structures and values.
Anne Frank The Diary of a Young Girl The Diary of a Young Girl. Lucid and moving, the most revealing book you can read on the plight of Amsterdam"s Jews during the German occupation. An international bestseller since its original publication in 1947.
Nicolas Freeling Love in Amsterdam Love in Amsterdam (o/p); (o/p); Dwarf Kingdom Dwarf Kingdom (o/p); (o/p); A Long Silence A Long Silence (o/p); (o/p); A City Solitary A City Solitary (o/p). Freeling wrote detective novels, and his most famous creation was the rebel cop van der Valk. These are light, carefully crafted tales, with just the right amount of twists to make them cla.s.sic cops "n" robbers reading and with good Amsterdam (and Dutch) locations. London-born, Freeling (19272003) evoked Amsterdam (and Amsterdammers) as well as any writer ever has, subtly and unsentimentally using the city and its people as a vivid backdrop to the fast-moving action. (o/p). Freeling wrote detective novels, and his most famous creation was the rebel cop van der Valk. These are light, carefully crafted tales, with just the right amount of twists to make them cla.s.sic cops "n" robbers reading and with good Amsterdam (and Dutch) locations. London-born, Freeling (19272003) evoked Amsterdam (and Amsterdammers) as well as any writer ever has, subtly and unsentimentally using the city and its people as a vivid backdrop to the fast-moving action.
[image]Willem Frederik Hermans The Dark Room of Damocles The Dark Room of Damocles. Along with Jan Wolkers, Harry, Mulisch (see below) and Gerard Reve, Hermans is considered one of the four major literary figures of the Dutch post-war generation. This particular t.i.tle, published in 1958, but only recently translated, is all about the German occupation and its concomitants betrayal, paranoia and treason. Indeed, the reader is rarely certain what is truth and what is falsehood. If this whets your appet.i.te for Hermans, try the same author"s Beyond Sleep Beyond Sleep, which has also been translated recently. Hermans died in 1995.
Etty Hillesum An Interrupted Life: the Diaries and Letters of Etty Hillesum An Interrupted Life: the Diaries and Letters of Etty Hillesum, 194143 194143. The Germans transported Hillesum, a young Jewish woman, from her home in Amsterdam to Auschwitz, where she died. As with Anne Frank"s more famous journal, penetratingly written though on the whole a tad less readable.
Arthur j.a.pin The Two Hearts of Kwasi Boachi The Two Hearts of Kwasi Boachi. Inventive re-creation of a true story in which the eponymous Ashanti prince was dispatched to the court of King William of the Netherlands in 1837. Kwasi and his companion Kwame were ostensibly sent to Den Haag to further their education, but there was a strong colonial subtext. Superb descriptions of Ashanti-land in its pre-colonial pomp. Also j.a.pin"s Lucia"s Eyes Lucia"s Eyes, an imaginative extrapolation of a casual anecdote found in Casanova"s memoirs and set for the most part in eighteenth-century Amsterdam.
Sylvie Matton Rembrandt"s Wh.o.r.e Rembrandt"s Wh.o.r.e. Taking its cue from Chevalier"s Girl with a Pearl Earring Girl with a Pearl Earring(see above), this slim novel tries hard to conjure Rembrandt"s life and times, with some success. Matton certainly knows her Rembrandt she worked for two years on a film of his life.
Sarah Emily Miano Van Rijn Van Rijn. Carefully composed re-creation of Rembrandt"s milieu, based on the (doc.u.mented) visit of Cosimo de Medici to the artist"s house. As an attempt to venture into Rembrandt"s soul it does well but not brilliantly.
Deborah Moggach Tulip Fever Tulip Fever. At first Deborah Moggach"s novel seems no more than an attempt to build a story out of her favourite domestic Dutch interiors, genre scenes and still-life paintings. But ultimately the story is a basic one of l.u.s.t, greed, mistaken ident.i.ty and tragedy. The Golden Age Amsterdam backdrop is well realized, but almost incidental.
Marcel Moring In Babylon In Babylon. Popular Dutch author with an intense style spliced with thought-provoking, philosophical content. In Babylon In Babylon has an older Jewish man and his niece trapped in a cabin in the eastern Netherlands and here they ruminate on their family"s history. Moring"s has an older Jewish man and his niece trapped in a cabin in the eastern Netherlands and here they ruminate on their family"s history. Moring"s Dream Room Dream Room is also gracefully nostalgic in its concentration on the family of Boris and his son, David, while Moring"s latest novel, is also gracefully nostalgic in its concentration on the family of Boris and his son, David, while Moring"s latest novel, In a Dark Wood In a Dark Wood, is set in the town of a.s.sen, again in the east of the country, during the annual Dutch TT motorbike races.
Harry Mulisch The a.s.sault The a.s.sault. Set part in Haarlem, part in Amsterdam, this novel traces the story of a young boy who loses his family in a reprisal-raid by the n.a.z.is. A powerful tale, made into an excellent and effective film. Also, The Discovery of Heaven The Discovery of Heaven, a gripping yarn of adventure and happenstance; The Procedure The Procedure, featuring a modern-day Dutch scientist investigating strange goings-on in sixteenth-century Prague; and Siegfried: a Black Idyll Siegfried: a Black Idyll, whose central question is whether a work of imagination can help to understand the nature of evil in general and Hitler in particular.
Multatuli Max Havelaar: Or, The Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company Max Havelaar: Or, The Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company. Cla.s.sic, nineteenth-century Dutch satire of colonial life in the East Indies. Eloquent and intermittently amusing. If you have Dutch friends, they should be impressed (dumbstruck) if you have actually read it, not least since it"s 352 pages long. For more on Multatuli, see the section under "The Multatuli Museum".
Cees Nooteboom Rituals Rituals. Nooteboom published his first novel in 1955, but only hit the literary headlines with this, his third novel, in 1980. The central theme of all his work is the phenomenon of time; Rituals Rituals in particular is about the pa.s.sing of time and the different ways of controlling the process. Inni Wintrop, the main character, is an outsider, a well-heeled, antique-dabbling "dilettante" as he describes himself. The book is almost entirely set in Amsterdam, and although it describes the inner life of Inni himself, it also paints a strong picture of the city. in particular is about the pa.s.sing of time and the different ways of controlling the process. Inni Wintrop, the main character, is an outsider, a well-heeled, antique-dabbling "dilettante" as he describes himself. The book is almost entirely set in Amsterdam, and although it describes the inner life of Inni himself, it also paints a strong picture of the city.
David Veronese Jana Jana. A hip thriller set in the druggy underworld of Amsterdam and London.
Janwillem van de Wetering Tumbleweed Tumbleweed; Hard Rain Hard Rain; Corpse on the d.y.k.e; Outsider in Amsterdam Corpse on the d.y.k.e; Outsider in Amsterdam. Offbeat detective tales set in Amsterdam and the provinces. Humane, quirky and humorous, Wetering"s novels have inventive plots and feature unusual characters in interesting locations, though the prose itself can be a tad indigestible.
Language Dutch
Dutch It"s unlikely that you"ll need to speak anything other than English while you"re in Amsterdam; the Dutch have a seemingly natural talent for languages, and your attempts at speaking theirs may be met with some bewilderment though this can have as much to do with your p.r.o.nunciation (Dutch is very difficult to get right) as their surprise that you"re making an effort. Outside Amsterdam, people aren"t quite as cosmopolitan, but even so, the Dutch words and phrases words and phrases below should be the most you"ll need to get by; also included is a basic below should be the most you"ll need to get by; also included is a basic food and drink glossary food and drink glossary, though menus are nearly always multilingual; where they aren"t, ask and one will almost invariably appear.
Dutch is a Germanic language the word "Dutch" itself is a corruption of Deutsche, a label inaccurately given by English sailors in the seventeenth century, and indeed, although the Dutch are at pains to stress the differences between the two languages, if you know any German you"ll spot many similarities. As for phrasebooks, the is a Germanic language the word "Dutch" itself is a corruption of Deutsche, a label inaccurately given by English sailors in the seventeenth century, and indeed, although the Dutch are at pains to stress the differences between the two languages, if you know any German you"ll spot many similarities. As for phrasebooks, the Rough Guide to Dutch Rough Guide to Dutch is pocket-sized, and has a good dictionary section (EnglishDutch and DutchEnglish), as well as a menu reader; it also provides a useful introduction to grammar and p.r.o.nunciation. is pocket-sized, and has a good dictionary section (EnglishDutch and DutchEnglish), as well as a menu reader; it also provides a useful introduction to grammar and p.r.o.nunciation.
Dutchp.r.o.nunciation Dutch is p.r.o.nounced p.r.o.nounced in much the same way as English. However, there are a few Dutch sounds that don"t exist in English, which can be difficult to get right without practice. in much the same way as English. However, there are a few Dutch sounds that don"t exist in English, which can be difficult to get right without practice.
Dutchp.r.o.nunciation p.r.o.nunciationConsonants Double-consonant combinations generally keep their separate sounds in Dutch: kn kn, for example, is never like the English "knight". Note also the following consonants and consonant combinations: j is an English is an English y y ch and and g g indicate a throaty sound, as at the end of the Scottish word lo indicate a throaty sound, as at the end of the Scottish word loch. The Dutch word for ca.n.a.l gracht gracht is especially tricky, since it has two of these sounds it comes out along the lines of is especially tricky, since it has two of these sounds it comes out along the lines of khrakht khrakht. A common word for h.e.l.lo is Dag! p.r.o.nounced like daakh daakh ng as in bri as in bring nj as in o as in onion y is not a consonant, but another way of writing is not a consonant, but another way of writing ij ij Dutchp.r.o.nunciation p.r.o.nunciationVowels and diphthongs A good rule of thumb is that doubling the letter lengthens the vowel sound.
a is like the English is like the English a apple aa like c like cart e like l like let ee like l like late o as in p as in pop oo in p in pope u is like the French t is like the French tu if preceded by a consonant; it"s like w if preceded by a consonant; it"s like wood if followed by a consonant uu is the French t is the French tu au and and ou ou like h like how ei and and ij ij as in f as in fine, though this varies strongly from region to region; sometimes it can sound more like lane oe as in s as in soon eu is like the diphthong in the French l is like the diphthong in the French leur ui is the hardest Dutch diphthong of all, p.r.o.nounced like h is the hardest Dutch diphthong of all, p.r.o.nounced like how but much further forward in the mouth, with lips pursed (as if to say "oo") but much further forward in the mouth, with lips pursed (as if to say "oo") DutchWords and phrases DutchWords and phrases Words and phrasesBasics
yes ja ja no nee nee please alstublieft alstublieft (no) thank you (nee) dank u or bedankt (nee) dank u or bedankt h.e.l.lo hallo, dag or hoi hallo, dag or hoi good morning goedemorgen goedemorgen good afternoon goedemiddag goedemiddag good evening goedenavond goedenavond goodbye tot ziens tot ziens see you later tot straks tot straks Do you speak English?
Spreekt u Engels? Spreekt u Engels?
I don"t understand Ik begrijp het niet Ik begrijp het niet women/men vrouwen/mannen vrouwen/mannen children kinderen kinderen men"s/women"s toilets heren/dames heren/dames I want...
Ik wil... Ik wil...
I don"t want to...
Ik wil niet...(+verb) Ik wil niet...(+verb) I don"t want any...
Ik wil geen...(+noun) Ik wil geen...(+noun) How much is...?
Wat kost...? Wat kost...?
DutchWords and phrases Words and phrasesTravel, directions and shopping
How do I get to...?
Hoe kom ik in...? Hoe kom ik in...?
Where is...?
Waar is...? Waar is...?
How far is it to...?
Hoe ver is het naar...? Hoe ver is het naar...?
far/near ver/dichtbij ver/dichtbij left/right links/rechts links/rechts straight ahead rechtdoor rechtdoor airport luchthaven luchthaven post office postkantoor postkantoor postbox postbus postbus stamp(s) postzegel(s) postzegel(s) money exchange geldwisselkantoor geldwisselkantoor cash desk ka.s.sa ka.s.sa railway platform spoor or perron spoor or perron ticket office loket loket here/there hier/daar hier/daar good/bad goed/slecht goed/slecht big/small groot/klein groot/klein open/closed open/gesloten open/gesloten
push/pull duwen/trekken duwen/trekken new/old nieuw/oud nieuw/oud cheap/expensive goedkoop/duur goedkoop/duur hot/cold heet or warm/koud heet or warm/koud with/without met/zonder met/zonder North noord noord South zuid zuid East oost oost West west west
DutchWords and phrases Words and phrasesSigns and abbreviations
A.U.B.
alstublieft: please (also shown as S.V.P., from French) alstublieft: please (also shown as S.V.P., from French) BG.
begane grond: ground floor begane grond: ground floor BTW.
Belasting Toegevoegde Waarde: VAT Belasting Toegevoegde Waarde: VAT Geen toegang no entry no entry gesloten closed closed ingang entrance entrance K.
kelder: bas.e.m.e.nt kelder: bas.e.m.e.nt let op!
attention! attention!
heren/dames men"s/women"s toilets men"s/women"s toilets open open open T/M.
tot en met: up to and including tot en met: up to and including toegang entrance entrance uitgang exit exit V.A.
vanaf: from vanaf: from Z.O.Z.
please turn over (page, leaflet, etc) please turn over (page, leaflet, etc)
DutchWords and phrases Words and phrasesUseful cycling terms
tyre band band puncture lek lek brake rem rem chain ketting ketting wheel wiel wiel pedal trapper trapper pump pomp pomp handlebars stuur stuur broken kapot kapot cycle path fietspad fietspad
DutchWords and phrases Words and phrasesDays of the week