Ask a Dutchman!

[Tahuti]

Officially Flemish speak Dutch, or rather General Civilized Dutch (sic!), as it is properly known. A Flemish person often wins the National Dictation, which is an annual event televised here.

I believe Flemish Belgians are in many ways better in 'being Dutch' than the Dutch themselves. Even though Flemish insist on using 'jobs' (the correct Dutch word is 'werk'), their vocubulary is more pure. I also think no city in the Northern Netherlands is able to match Ghent, Brussels or Antwerp.

Before the fall of Antwerp, Flanders and Brabant (which for most part encompasses the regions surrounding Antwerp and Brussels, not just the Dutch province which is named likewise) were the centre of the Low Countries. I wouldn't be surprised this would come again.

 

[Agent327]

I would be.

Some more news on the airline tragedy:

Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Timmermans' speech before the UN Security Council decided unanimously:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juW7fSmJm-k

And the UN Security Council's unanimous resolution:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/234687614/Draft-Resolution-on-Flight-MH17

Interestingly, Russia neither abstained nor vetoed the resolution, which is significant.

All human remains have now been removed by train from the crash site to Donetsk and is expected to arrive in Charkov this evening.

 

[Tahuti]

Interestingly, Russia neither abstained nor vetoed the resolution, which is significant.

That appears surprised, as if Russia 'learnt something new'. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Jan H]

Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Timmermans' speech before the UN Security Council decided unanimously:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juW7fSmJm-k

I just wanted to post that same link. very emotional stuff!
I also read a couple of "in memoriams" that have been written in the Dutch media in the past couple of days, for instance from a student for her former teacher, or a guy for his ex-girlfriend. Heart moving...

regarding the topic of Flemish(/Southern Dutch) movies: I'm pretty sure that without subtitles, two of the three movies wouldn't be understood at all by our Dutch friends One of them is in (Belgian-)Limburgish dialect (which most Flemish people even can't understand), the other one is in the dialect of the area around the city of Aalst, which is also quite peculiar

 

[Takhisis]

I am truly clueless as to what you are talking about...

If it's about Hell near Rotterdam, it's the result of the Dutch being EVIL. (i.e. Austin Powers reference).

But I think you mean about the legal issues raised by the Dutch government prosecuting anyone for a crime committed elsewhere… I don't want to swamp this with legaleseoid text, but you can't prosecute people outside your jurisdiction. At best, the Dutch government can sue them, as a party, but no Dutch judge or court can hold the trial.

I believe Flemish Belgians are in many ways better in 'being Dutch' than the Dutch themselves. Even though Flemish insist on using 'jobs' (the correct Dutch word is 'werk'), their vocubulary is more pure. I also think no city in the Northern Netherlands is able to match Ghent, Brussels or Antwerp.

Well, given that a Dutch person in the Netherlands is Dutch just by being there and speaking Dutch, the Flemish have to differentiate themselves from the French-speakers.

 

[Tahuti]

regarding the topic of Flemish(/Southern Dutch) movies: I'm pretty sure that without subtitles, two of the three movies wouldn't be understood at all by our Dutch friends One of them is in (Belgian-)Limburgish dialect (which most Flemish people even can't understand), the other one is in the dialect of the area around the city of Aalst, which is also quite peculiar

That would probably be true as well. For instance, isn't the Flemish idiom for giving birth 'een kind kopen' (lit. 'buy a child')? In standard Dutch it would be 'een kind krijgen' (lit. get a child).

 

[Agent327]

That appears surprised, as if Russia 'learnt something new'. Correct me if I am wrong.

Russia used its right to veto on the civil war in Syria, but in the case of the shooting down of MH17 it has taken a different stance. First, it declared it an 'internal matter of Ukraine'. Now, it actively supported an international investigation as well as condemning the event itself. I won't speculate about Russia's motives, but it seems a significant change in attitude, especially with the Crimea question in mind.

If it's about Hell near Rotterdam, it's the result of the Dutch being EVIL. (i.e. Austin Powers reference).

But I think you mean about the legal issues raised by the Dutch government prosecuting anyone for a crime committed elsewhere… I don't want to swamp this with legaleseoid text, but you can't prosecute people outside your jurisdiction. At best, the Dutch government can sue them, as a party, but no Dutch judge or court can hold the trial.

War crimes can be brought before the International Court of Justice, which coincidentally resides in The Hague. Seeing as there were 193 Dutch citizens killed, I reckon it would be a strong case, if indeed Eastern Ukrainian separatists shot down the plane.

With the arrival of the first bodily remains the government declared a day of national mourning yesterday.

 

[Tahuti]

Russia used its right to veto on the civil war in Syria, but in the case of the shooting down of MH17 it has taken a different stance. First, it declared it an 'internal matter of Ukraine'. Now, it actively supported an international investigation as well as condemning the event itself. I won't speculate about Russia's motives, but it seems a significant change in attitude, especially with the Crimea question in mind.

Not everything in Russia is gay and well, though it is hardly the comic book villian Western media love to paint of it.

 

[Agent327]

Again, I'm not sure what you are getting at. The 'Western media' I follow certainly doesn't paint the picture you are representing. Perhaps you should consider changing media.

At any rate, I only commented on Russia's stance towards the MH17 downing.

 

[Tahuti]

Again, I'm not sure what you are getting at. The 'Western media' I follow certainly doesn't paint the picture you are representing. Perhaps you should consider changing media.

I don't follow any news media seriously these days. Yet Western media is more problematic because they are dictating Western countries what to do.

To put into a Dutch perspective; in all news media Russia is nearly unanymously seen as the badguy, whether it is 'De Telegraaf' (Dutch version of the Daily Mail), 'NRC' (Dutch version of the Huffington Post) or 'Trouw' (Dutch version of the Guardian).

At any rate, I only commented on Russia's stance towards the MH17 downing.

It is the stance any civilised country takes. Why do we have a reason to view Russia any differently in that regard?

 

[Takhisis]

That would probably be true as well. For instance, isn't the Flemish idiom for giving birth 'een kind kopen' (lit. 'buy a child')? In standard Dutch it would be 'een kind krijgen' (lit. get a child).

Buy a child? So the stereotypes about Dutchmen being born traders is true. (!)

War crimes can be brought before the International Court of Justice, which coincidentally resides in The Hague. Seeing as there were 193 Dutch citizens killed, I reckon it would be a strong case, if indeed Eastern Ukrainian separatists shot down the plane.

The definition of 'war crime' is sketchy at best, and those itnernational courts tend to apply victor's justice sometimes.

I'd rather the perpetrators were tried by a Ukrainian court, as it is.

With the arrival of the first bodily remains the government declared a day of national mourning yesterday.

And it is right that they should. None of the people on that plane deserved to die.

 

[Quackers]

What is Dutch food like?

 

[Takhisis]

They put mayonnaise on their chips. Some say that they actually use the chips as a seasoning for the mayonnaise.

 

[Quackers]

They do that too? Thought it was a Belgian thing?

So chocolate sprinkles and mayonaise topped with chips is a typical dish? Crazeh.

 

[Jan H]

They do that too? Thought it was a Belgian thing?

Dutch and Belgian (especially Flemish) people are more alike than most of them like to admit

 

[Takhisis]

*Insert appropriate Humon Comics reference*

 

[Tahuti]

Buy a child? So the stereotypes about Dutchmen being born traders is true. (!)

Note: This is a Flemish saying, not a Dutch one. Papist and industrious Flamings are the real traders, apparently...

So chocolate sprinkles and mayonaise topped with chips is a typical dish? Crazeh.

You forgot stroopwafels and kibbeling.

 

[Agent327]

Or potatoes in general and stews.

I don't follow any news media seriously these days. Yet Western media is more problematic because they are dictating Western countries what to do.

To put into a Dutch perspective; in all news media Russia is nearly unanymously seen as the badguy, whether it is 'De Telegraaf' (Dutch version of the Daily Mail), 'NRC' (Dutch version of the Huffington Post) or 'Trouw' (Dutch version of the Guardian).

So, you don't actually follow any of these media. Interesting.

It is the stance any civilised country takes. Why do we have a reason to view Russia any differently in that regard?

Crimea?

The definition of 'war crime' is sketchy at best, and those itnernational courts tend to apply victor's justice sometimes.

I'd rather the perpetrators were tried by a Ukrainian court, as it is.

Well, we are speaking hypothetical of course, but seeing as Ukraine is most likely the victor here, your argument seems contradictory. Since none of the victims control the International Court, I would think that is the appropriate 'forum', also keeping in mind the UN Security Council resolution.

 

[Takhisis]

Note: This is a Flemish saying, not a Dutch one. Papist and industrious Flamings are the real traders, apparently...

I thought we'd already established that the Dutch are insufficiently Dutch as compared to the Flemish?

also, Papist, Industrious sound like good traits for a Vlaaming civ

Well, we are speaking hypothetical of course, but seeing as Ukraine is most likely the victor here, your argument seems contradictory. Since none of the victims control the International Court, I would think that is the appropriate 'forum', also keeping in mind the UN Security Council resolution.

What?

 

[Tahuti]

What?

JEELEN is moving into r16 territory here!