Ask a Dutchman!

[mayor]

Was the 2009 World Baseball Classic (where the Netherlands made a heroic underdog run into the quarterfinals) followed at all in the Netherlands itself?

Not that I can remember. But baseball receives to little attention any way, if you ask me.

There is little about these wars in England either.

Another question though,

Do you wish that the terrain was less flat (I know there are a few hills in the east), I don't think I would want to live in such a flat place?

Try riding a bike up and down a hill for a week, see how you feel then

But no, I like the terrain as it is

 

[Jan H]

The World Championships cycling were being held in Limburg?

Yes, but since they took place in Valkenburg and around Maastricht, in the "far south-east" of your country, I guess there were at least as much Belgian fans as there were Dutch... Also because we actually had two topfavourites (Gilbert and Boonen), while The Netherlands only had a couple of outsiders in its team (Boom,...).

But I assumed Marianne Vos's women's title must have gotten at least some attention in the Dutch media?

Or is cycling in the Netherlands only popular in certain regions (the South perhaps?), while ice skating is mainly a Northern thing? (Of course I know there are also iceskating fans in the rest of the country)

 

[anandus]

Was the 2009 World Baseball Classic (where the Netherlands made a heroic underdog run into the quarterfinals) followed at all in the Netherlands itself?

Not at all. Baseball isn't really played or populair in the Netherlands. I don't think the average Dutchmen knew they were competing in the 'World Baseball Classic' or that there was a Dutch team at all.

I don't think the average Dutchman could even name a local team. To be honest, I don't even know if there are any local baseball teams?
I guess that that 'Dutch team' in the World Baseball classics were all Dutchmen playing in the US?

Do you wish that the terrain was less flat (I know there are a few hills in the east), I don't think I would want to live in such a flat place?

Interesting question.
Actually I think I'm quite happy with the terrain. I notice, when I'm abroad, that I, when I'm in a city, am actually quite quickly annoyed with 'hilly' terrain (Rome, Paris, Barcelona, etc.).
I'm definitely not build for hilly terrain.

Although I do love vistas in hilly or mountainous terrain
Outside cities I actually like it a lot, Dutch 'vistas' are boring long stretches of farmland.

 

[sophie]

Not at all. Baseball isn't really played or populair in the Netherlands. I don't think the average Dutchmen knew they were competing in the 'World Baseball Classic' or that there was a Dutch team at all.

I don't think the average Dutchman could even name a local team. To be honest, I don't even know if there are any local baseball teams?
I guess that that 'Dutch team' in the World Baseball classics were all Dutchmen playing in the US?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_World_Baseball_Classic_rosters#Netherlands
A mix of Dutch, Americans, and Dutch Antilles players

The Netherlands is generally considered, alongside Italy, to be the only real baseball havens in Europe (excluding German military bases), due mostly to the WWII connection, especially with the collapse of Spanish baseball in the 70s with the advent of the Liga. The Netherlands and Italy have been far and away the most successful teams in the European Baseball Championship

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Baseball_Championship

The Dutch upset of the Cubans during the 09 WBC was probably the biggest news story of that tournament, as US did poorly as usual (zzz) and Japan won again (zzz). It was actually of great interest to most Americans following the tournament, so it's interesting that it didn't really attract any notoriety in the Netherlands themselves.

 

[christos200]

Question:

For most of your Modern history, you were ruled by the Dutch Republic. After the Napoleonic wars, the Kingdom was created. And my question is, why the dutch did not revolted against the King like other states that were made monarchies during that time?

Also, what is your view on monarchy? Do you support it, or you would prefer a Republic?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Do you wish that the terrain was less flat (I know there are a few hills in the east), I don't think I would want to live in such a flat place?

Makes going on holiday more pleasant.

Was the 2009 World Baseball Classic (where the Netherlands made a heroic underdog run into the quarterfinals) followed at all in the Netherlands itself?

I followed that tournament, but all we got was a few highlights. I think one game was aired live (but I could be wrong there, maybe I got that ... another way) I was one of the few though, and I could still only name 1 or 2 players.

My favourite sport by far is ice hockey (effing lockout) but there is zero coverage of the NHL teams, not even come Stanley Cup time. I am supporting a local team but haven't been to a game for a while since I'd have to go by myself. Bloody mates moving to the North.

 

[anandus]

Question:

For most of your Modern history, you were ruled by the Dutch Republic. After the Napoleonic wars, the Kingdom was created. And my question is, why the dutch did not revolted against the King like other states that were made monarchies during that time?

Before the French Revolution there was a de facto monarchy in the Netherlands, only the monarch was called a Stadholder instead of a king. There was a gradual process over the time of centuries were the stadholder accumulated more and more power and since 1747 the function of stadholder was hereditary and thus basically a monarchy. So in the 18th century the 'Dutch republic' was also ruled by abolutism, like many monarchies were.

Basically after the Napoleonic Wars it was more just a change of name, not of nature.

In 1848 the monarchy came, like in many European monarchies, under a lot of pressure and this resulted in a new constitution created by the liberal Thorbecke which improved the power of parliament greatly.

Also, what is your view on monarchy? Do you support it, or you would prefer a Republic?

I'm in favour of a constitutional monarchy, where all the power lies with the parliament and the monarchy has only a symbolic function.
De facto this is already the case in The Netherlands, although technically the monarch is still part of the government and needs to sign every law.

Although I have republican tendencies I don't mind the monarchy actually. It has an important psychological, almost spiritual function in the country. Someone to rally behind.
But it needs to be symbolic, there shouldn't be any real power in the hands of the monarch, I think.

 

[Agent327]

Outside cities I actually like it a lot, Dutch 'vistas' are boring long stretches of farmland.

Quite a few Dutch (and non-Dutch) painters would disagree with you on that.

Question:

For most of your Modern history, you were ruled by the Dutch Republic. After the Napoleonic wars, the Kingdom was created. And my question is, why the dutch did not revolted against the King like other states that were made monarchies during that time?

Also, what is your view on monarchy? Do you support it, or you would prefer a Republic?

Hmmm, 1848 was quite the revolutionary year actually; although there wasn't any real revolt movement in the Netherlands, the mere threat of revolution turned king William III 'liberal in a day', as the saying goes ascribed to him, resulting in the Thorbecke constitution (and successive governments) dominating much of the later 19th century and giving us in essence the constitutional monarchy we have today.

Otherwise I more or less agree with anandus on this... and I see I'm now redoing his post ...

 

[Tycho Brahe]

What do you think about the new "bathtub"-adition to the Stedelijk modern art museum in Amsterdam?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I think it's seaworthy.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Will coffeshops remain open to tourist for the foreseeable future?

 

[mayor]

What do you think about the new "bathtub"-adition to the Stedelijk modern art museum in Amsterdam?

I hadn't deen it yet, but that's just horrible

 

[Agent327]

What do you think about the new "bathtub"-adition to the Stedelijk modern art museum in Amsterdam?

That's one big ugly thing.

 

[christos200]

Hmmm, 1848 was quite the revolutionary year actually; although there wasn't any real revolt movement in the Netherlands, the mere threat of revolution turned king William III 'liberal in a day', as the saying goes ascribed to him, resulting in the Thorbecke constitution (and successive governments) dominating much of the later 19th century and giving us in essence the constitutional monarchy we have today.

You were lucky. In Greece, in order to have the Monarch to create and respect the constitution, we revolted in 1843, in 1862, in 1909, we had a civil war during WW1, then we had a coup that restored Monarchy in 1933 and two dicatorships (1934 - 1941, 1967 - 1974). In the end, we abolished monarchy.

 

[Agent327]

I guess the Netherlands have been lucky in more than one respect...

Sorry, forgot one:

Will coffeshops remain open to tourist for the foreseeable future?

My guess is: yes. Local communities/councils who'd have to implement the so-called weedpass consider it a highly impractical measure, 'solving a problem we don't have', according to one mayor.

 

[dutchfire]

Re: Baseball: We were world champion last year! That got quite some attention, but only because we like success I guess. Other than that, baseball is mostly an Antillen sport.

Re: History lessons: Yeah, pretty much only the 20th century is done in secondary school, along with some general lessons that cover everything from prehistoric times to now. The period between the middle ages and 1800/1900 are barely covered, which is a shame.

Re: Cycling: I think it is actually pretty popular, but maybe that is just where I lived (south).

Re: Dutch republic/kingdom: Also, the family that is on the throne since Napoleon is the same as the previous Stadhouders, so there really wasn't much change. I also believe the Oranjes (Royal family) usually had a lot of support with the common people, while the republic was led by the rich.

 

[mayor]

My guess is: yes. Local communities/councils who'd have to implement the so-called weedpass consider it a highly impractical measure, 'solving a problem we don't have', according to one mayor.

two

 

[del62]

Is Cricket as big as baseball in the Netherlands?

 

[mayor]

smaller

 

[Takhisis]

Well yes, historical educated persons as ourself know about that. However, having experienced the history lessons provided by our scholingsystem, I doubt the average Dutchman knows about that...

You're part of the Dutch royalty?