As a nation, the Netherlands is mostly located below sea level, hence the "nether" or "below" part of the name of the Netherlands. The Dutch became masters of controlling water by building dykes and dams to keep the water away from their land and make more room for their farms and cities (dyke or sometimes dike is a specialized word for the type of dam that the Dutch constructed). The fields that are reclaimed from the sea are fertile and you will see miles and
miles of tulips in neat rows. Because the land is so
low, the soil can be mushy and wet. The Dutch
even created
special
footwear to help them adapt to their new homeland. I'll bet many of you don't know that before New York was New York, it was actually New Amsterdam. When the pilgrims left England to pursue their dream of freedom and democracy, they actually went to the Netherlands first. Eventually, Dutch settlers joined the pilgrims and came to North America. Although the English settlers eventually took over New Amsterdam and renamed it, there are currently several large Dutch communities in New York and throughout the United States. One of the largest of these is located in Michigan, but there are more Dutch people than you think, even right here in Oklahoma!
I grew up with an Oma and an Opa, which are the names for Grandmother and Grandfather in Dutch. They introduced me to a world of language, culture, food, and life that I would never have experienced without them. Omas and Opas are important people in a kleindochter's life (granddaughter, pronounced "kline dokhtor"). They teach her about her heritage, her family and even all the delicious Dutch food they grew up eating. One of the most fun ways to teach her is by telling her stories that come from their home in Holland. In the Netherlands, cheese is one of the most important (and delicious!!) parts of the culture.
The Dutch are famous for Gouda cheese ("Gooduh", if
you're pronouncing it like an American, but in Dutch it is "Ghowduh")
which is made from cow's milk and comes in more varieties and ages than
you can imagine! A typical lunch for a person living in Holland might
consist of a slice of bread, usually something heartier than an
American white bread, with some boter (butter) and a slice of meat or
kaas (cheese). Little children learn at an early age how tasty such a
meal can be and, sometimes, they can't
get enough!When children misbehave, their families punish them much in the same way that an American family would. There are many stories about teaching children to behave by punishment, but sometimes the punishments don't come from the Mamas and Papas, but rather from fairies or elves, like in the story of The Princess With Twenty Petticoats! Stories like these are thrilling and can sometimes be a bit scary, so that children don't want to end up like the misbehaved children in the tales.
Even Sinterklaas and Zwarte
Piet (The Dutch Santa Claus
and his helper, Black Pete) can help parents keep their children in
line, just like the list Santa checks twice in the American stories.The Dutch culture is something that every family can pass through the generations, even if it's just the use of "Oma" and "Opa" instead of "Grandma" and "Grandpa." It is something that I plan to pass on to my children and grandchildren one day and maybe... maybe it's even something I can pass on to you...