I am Dutch, 61 y/o and grew up in Haarlem. You can best explore the surroundings of Haarlem by bike? Why? Because it is one of the most beautifully situated cities in the Netherlands (although the old city center is also worth visiting). As for geography, we had to learn all the train stations at home in sequence when I was 8 and recite them from a blind map. The teacher would then point at one, and at a pupil and he/she had to say which train station it was. That is how we learned geography. I refused to do it. When asked why, I replied "There is no need, all train stations are displayed on shields at every train station. And if you are not at a station, just open a map and look it up". I got extra homework, but my teacher called my mother not to punish me too much as he found my "defense" very smart and eloquent. Teachers are a special breed, you know.
Didn't watch all of it, as I really cannot stand songs like this (sorry we Dutchies are direct as you by now know) but I just want to make 1 quick comment on the part about Flevoland/Lelystad (''Lelystad is my capital, facing out towards the sea''), like so often foreign people will say ''sea'' like how they say Volendam is a seaside village. Like helloo! No, it's a lake now! And in Lelystad's case, it's located on the coastline of 2 lakes, IJsselmeer and Markermeer (that split the former Zuiderzee in two)
The Hague, or Den Haag in Dutch, also has an official name. Which is 's-Gravenhage. It’s quite long, and it means “the hedges or woods of the count”. It comes from the Middle Ages, when Holland was ruled by a count. He had his court in Haarlem, but later moved it to The Hague in the 13th century. Which is why that city is still the political centre of the Netherlands. Same story with Noord-Brabant & Den Bosch. Noord or North Brabant lies in the Netherlands, while the rest of Brabant is located in Belgium. Brabant was ruled by a Duke or Hertog during the Middle Ages. 's-Hertogenbosch is the official name of the city, but most people stick with Den Bosch, because it’s easier. 's-Hertogenbosch means “woods of the Duke”.
The Netherlands existed way before the official independence and sovereignty in 1648. In fact it started out as a semi independent part of Burgundy. That partial independence was granted in 1477 with the "Great Privilege". This was "de facto" the birth of the Netherlands (which included nowadays Belgium) as a semi-state with a lot of rights (like using Dutch as an official language). In return the Netherlands agreed to the reign of Maria of Burgundy and paying taxes to her. Important sidenote: The "Great Privilige" was written only in Dutch, not in French (French was the language of Burgundy). Fun fact: One of the privileges was that Maria of Burgundy had to ask permission to the Dutch parliament to marry. Just to show who was really "the boss".
By the way, this video mentions 1648 as the year when the Netherlands was established. But that’s the year when the Dutch Revolt ended after 80 years of war against Spain. But the Netherlands already gained independence with de declaration in 1581. The Dutch Republic was founded in 1588. The Dutch Republic: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Republic
I think the "great privilege" (Groot Privilege) of 1477 is even more significant as the "birth" of the Netherlands (which included nowadays Belgium). Look it up in Wikipedia. Interesting stuff. (available in Dutch and English).
*Request a video here:* buymeacoffee.com/teacherpaul
I am Dutch, 61 y/o and grew up in Haarlem. You can best explore the surroundings of Haarlem by bike? Why? Because it is one of the most beautifully situated cities in the Netherlands (although the old city center is also worth visiting). As for geography, we had to learn all the train stations at home in sequence when I was 8 and recite them from a blind map. The teacher would then point at one, and at a pupil and he/she had to say which train station it was. That is how we learned geography. I refused to do it. When asked why, I replied "There is no need, all train stations are displayed on shields at every train station. And if you are not at a station, just open a map and look it up". I got extra homework, but my teacher called my mother not to punish me too much as he found my "defense" very smart and eloquent. Teachers are a special breed, you know.
Didn't watch all of it, as I really cannot stand songs like this (sorry we Dutchies are direct as you by now know) but I just want to make 1 quick comment on the part about Flevoland/Lelystad (''Lelystad is my capital, facing out towards the sea''), like so often foreign people will say ''sea'' like how they say Volendam is a seaside village. Like helloo! No, it's a lake now!
And in Lelystad's case, it's located on the coastline of 2 lakes, IJsselmeer and Markermeer (that split the former Zuiderzee in two)
The Hague, or Den Haag in Dutch, also has an official name. Which is 's-Gravenhage. It’s quite long, and it means “the hedges or woods of the count”. It comes from the Middle Ages, when Holland was ruled by a count. He had his court in Haarlem, but later moved it to The Hague in the 13th century. Which is why that city is still the political centre of the Netherlands.
Same story with Noord-Brabant & Den Bosch. Noord or North Brabant lies in the Netherlands, while the rest of Brabant is located in Belgium. Brabant was ruled by a Duke or Hertog during the Middle Ages. 's-Hertogenbosch is the official name of the city, but most people stick with Den Bosch, because it’s easier. 's-Hertogenbosch means “woods of the Duke”.
The Netherlands existed way before the official independence and sovereignty in 1648. In fact it started out as a semi independent part of Burgundy. That partial independence was granted in 1477 with the "Great Privilege". This was "de facto" the birth of the Netherlands (which included nowadays Belgium) as a semi-state with a lot of rights (like using Dutch as an official language). In return the Netherlands agreed to the reign of Maria of Burgundy and paying taxes to her. Important sidenote: The "Great Privilige" was written only in Dutch, not in French (French was the language of Burgundy). Fun fact: One of the privileges was that Maria of Burgundy had to ask permission to the Dutch parliament to marry. Just to show who was really "the boss".
By the way, this video mentions 1648 as the year when the Netherlands was established. But that’s the year when the Dutch Revolt ended after 80 years of war against Spain. But the Netherlands already gained independence with de declaration in 1581. The Dutch Republic was founded in 1588.
The Dutch Republic: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Republic
I think the "great privilege" (Groot Privilege) of 1477 is even more significant as the "birth" of the Netherlands (which included nowadays Belgium). Look it up in Wikipedia. Interesting stuff. (available in Dutch and English).
@ oh yeah absolutely! This would be basis on which the Revolt could actually take place.
it's a funny song but the pronunciation of some cities is horrible
Terrible music. Couldnt watch 😂