Political Commentary
The Dutch went to the polls a week and a half ago with an interesting result. We may see a Dutch coalition government with a xenophobic political party – please explain?
Geert Wilders is the creepy dyed blonde anti-Islamic political leader of the Freedom Party in the Netherlands that has just more than doubled its seats leapfrogging the former Prime Ministers Christian Democrat party. Wilders party now has the third biggest share of the seats so will more than likely form part of the governing coalition. He is apparently nicknamed Mozart because of his hairdo and Australians could think of him as a blonde male Pauline Hansen – I actually find him more menacing and sinister. Due to his anti Islamic and stance he receives death threats and lives in a secret location under 24 hour protection. He says that the Netherlands is in a “multiculturalist swamp” and that the Dutch and the western world need to fight back against Islam because they will take over the world. He has been banned from entering Britain before and faces trial later this year for inciting hatred against Muslims.
Sport Commentary
The World Cup Voetbal is on. Everything in The Hague is orange. This is known as "Orange Fever". There are orange pennant flags joining buildings across the streets and nearly everyone wears something orange when there is a Dutch game on. Restaurants and cafes have World Cup special dishes. On Monday, many Dutch people knocked off work early to watch the game against Denmark at the pub. (See the picture above of the pub next door to our apartment). Children have coloured their hair with orange hairspray. Some foods that weren't orange before are now orange. Albert Heijn the supermarket chain gives away “Beesies” which are little furry worms in the flag colours red, white and blue and of course orange. I have a drawer full of beesies. They are a bit spooky - see the photo above. I’m not sure what they are for but they are something to do with the World Cup.
I Speak Dutch Now
I have finished my 4 week intensive Dutch course. Ik vindt it moelijk maar het was nuttig. Nu kan ik begripen veel meer.
NB: All future blogs will be in Dutch.
No comments:
Post a Comment