Stay in touch. Keep up your Dutch! #1
Teachers at Direct Dutch Institute always say to students: ‘practise makes perfect’. And: ‘use it or lose it’. But how do you practise your … Read more
Articles
The language of Dutch love: from leuk vinden to houden van
By Dr. Ruud Hisgen (Direct Dutch Institute) Love is in the air. Spring has sprung. Sumer is icumen in, lhude sing cuccu. Olla vogala… … Read more
The Dutch love affair with freedom
Written by Ruud Hisgen of Direct Dutch Institute for I am Expat More than wealth, status and love, the Dutch love to be free… … Read more
Some great ways to boost your Dutch!
Need some help with finding ways to boost your Dutch? Here is a useful list with tips which could help you to improve … Read more
7 tips for learning Dutch gained from 30 years of teaching Dutch
Last year Direct Dutch Institute celebrated its 30th anniversary. Founder and director Ruud Hisgen looks back at three decades of teaching Dutch, and shares some useful lessons … Read more
Dutch words and expressions every cyclist needs to know
By Ruud Hisgen (Direct Dutch Institute) for I am Expat One of the first words a newcomer in the Netherlands will learn is “fiets”. … Read more
5 Dutch expressions that express the Dutch way of life
How would you describe the essence of the Dutch, those enigmatic people with whom you are sharing your home away from home with? Many … Read more
Learning Dutch with Annie M.G. Schmidt
This article is written by Ruud Hisgen (Direct Dutch Institute) for I am Expat. Almost all Dutch natives grew up with Mrs Schmidt, i.e. … Read more
23 ways to ‘sod off’ in Dutch
Written by Ruud Hisgen of Direct Dutch Institute for I am Expat Sometimes enough is enough and you just have to tell an obnoxious … Read more
Four typical Dutch sweets
By Ruud Hisgen (Direct Dutch Institute) for I am Expat It is a well-known fact that many Dutch men and women have a sweet … Read more
Talking Oscars with the Dutch
By Ruud Hisgen (Direct Dutch Institute) for IamExpat In February each year we are all anxious to see who will receive an Academy Award, … Read more
The Dutch language of flowers
By Ruud Hisgen (Direct Dutch) originally published on I am Expat on 15 April 2019 It is spring (or lente, as the Dutch say) and … Read more
Four useful phrases made famous by Dutch statesmen
This article was written by Ruud Hisgen of Direct Dutch Institute for I am Expat We all know and use phrases like “Liberty, equality, … Read more
7 Dutch expressions about the weather
Number one in the top five of Dutch conversation topics is the fickle weather. Breek het ijs(break the ice) by making a remark about the … Read more
Six ways of saying sorry in Dutch
By Ruud Hisgen (Direct Dutch Institute), for I am Expat The United Kingdom may be leaving the EU (so sorry for that!), but the … Read more