Everyday life in the Netherlands and Flanders

What holds these lists together

These lists are not about one area of life but about two countries with one language. Politeness has its set phrases there, and they are shorter than English ones: Alsjeblieftwhen handing something overgraagwhen orderingGefeliciteerd!on a birthday — said to the birthday person’s family as well The year has its festivals, from King’s Day through Sinterklaas to carnival in the south. A journey leads from the canals over the dunes to Ghent and Antwerp. And the water is everywhere: de dijk, de polder, de sluis, and the question of how to keep your feet dry below sea level. You learn these words not only to build sentences but to be able to join in.

For example: Gefeliciteerd! (Congratulations! Happy birthday!), vieren (to celebrate), Nederland (the Netherlands), de polder (polder)

Spread across the levels

The category runs across the levels — it is an area, not a difficulty. If you practise it, you can also choose a level at the top of the practice page and then get only the part that sits there.