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D Is For Dutch


Hello in Dutch:
Daag or geode day (dawg or gude dawg)

We are participating in the Christian Home School Hub's Passport to the World journey. This week, we're exploring the Netherlands and Dutch. We watched a video from Royal Netherlands Embassy called "Netherlands Cultural Overview" and we also read about Rembrandt. Below are some interesting facts we've learned about the Netherlands and Dutch and some useful links that different homeschool families share at http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/ .

Interesting Facts:
  • "The Netherlands" and "Holland" are often used to describe the same country.
  • One quarter of the Netherlands is below sea level.
  • On average, the Dutch are the tallest people in Europe.
  • Although Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, the government meets in The Hague.
  • There are twice as many bikes as cars in the Netherlands.
  • In an area of the Netherlands called Friesland, there are as many cows as people.
  • There are 206 paintings by Vincent Van Gogh in Amsterdam.
  • The Netherlands' highest point is 321 metres above sea level, and is officially called a "mountain":)!
  • The Netherlands has the highest population density in the world--over 400 people per sq km.
  • Rotterdam is the world's largest port.
  • Madurodam, known as "the smallest town in the world" was built in 1952. Everything there is built on a scale of 1:25.
  • Some of the best-known Dutch painters are Frans Hals (1580-1666), Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669), Johannes van der Meer (called Jan Vermeer) (1632-1675), Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), Piet Mondrian, Jan Steen, and Karel Appel.
  • The CD was invented in the Netherlands by the Dutch electronics company, Philips, in 1982.
  • Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) invented the microscope. He built at least 500 of them, with copper or silver plates and lenses that he made himself. He also discovered bacteria.
  • Orange is the Netherlands' national color. In 1813, at the end of the French occupation (1795–1813), William I of the House of Orange-Nassau accepted the throne and became the first Dutch king.
  • The Netherlands is famous for its several thousand varieties of tulips. Tulips were originally introduced from Turkey in the 16th century.

    Useful Links:
Zich Amuseren - 'Have Fun' in Dutch!


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