Life in the Hague

Albert Heijn (Or: Impulse buys / keukenmini’s)

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Niki

Today I spent more than €15 at Albert Heijn. That, of course, means that I was given a keukenmini!

an unwrapped keukenmini and an example of a keukenmini on the right (an empty box of rice)

keuken = kitchen. So it’s a mini “toy” for kids to play with. Of course, to really play with it the parents need to buy the stove for €15. The stove is a few feet tall and the idle place to put the mini items that your parents get for spending €15…

Of course, if you’re on this side of the pond (the Netherlands) and you are desperate to find the last remaining keukenmini your child needs, you can always try marktplaats.nl – an Ebay website of sorts.

I figure the reason Albert Heijn needs to entice the kids in such a way is because it doesn’t have the traditional impulse buys American children have right next to the cash register’s conveyor belt. Candy.

Can I have a candy bar Mommy?

Can I? Can I pleeeeease have the candy bar?

So yeah. Albert Heijn has to get the kid’s attention somehow!

Categories: Everyday purchases | Tags: Albert Heijn | 2 Comments

Studeren (Or: Contact 1 tekstbook; Nederlands voor anderstaligen)

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Niki

As I have previously mentioned, in my A2 class at the Volksuniversiteit I am using the Contact 1 textbook. If my memory is correct, the A1 class finished chapters 1 through 4. My current plan is to get through the first four chapters before next week’s class on Tuesday night, but we’ll see how that goes.

Each chapter is split into three sections – A, B, C. I am currently at 2C after about six total hours of studying (it never ends!). So far it seems like the “A” section of each chapter is pretty easy, and then the “B” section has medium difficulty, and finally the “C” section tends to take forever to finish due to its emphasis more on speaking and listening.

So far the topics that have been covered:

Chapter 1: Waar komt u vandaan? = Where do you come from? which covers names, nationalities and the country you came from. It also covers your address, town, age, birthday, the alphabet, counting, and talking with someone (formally and informally).

Chapter 2: Zullen we iets afspreken? = Shall we make an appointment? (i.e. shall we do something?), which covers how someone is feeling, the days of the week, times, opening times for businesses, and filling out forms. The last section is set in a restaurant: reading a menu, ordering, saying there’s something you don’t understand, and etc.

Of course, 95% of it is review for the next class, but every once in a while something slips by that I didn’t know (or remember). A funny example I came across is how to say how you are doing. Het gaat wel does not, unfortunately, translate into “It goes well” as an English speaker might expect. Wel is not well. It’s closer to “okay”, so if you tell someone “Het gaat wel” it is a slightly negative response.

Hoe gaat het met jou?

Uitstekend! (=outstanding)

Categories: Courses, Speaking | Tags: Dutch language | Leave a comment

Contact 1 (Or: My Dutch school books have arrived!)

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Niki

Today Marco and I went to Paagman bookstore in The Hague to pick up the material for my class next week. Eight days from now!

There actually ended up being three books to pick up — the tekstboek and woordenlijst (textbook and word list) came together. Those are the yellow books. I didn’t expected a word list book. The white book is the workbook that you pay for separately.

Since I am in the A2 level course, the class won’t be focusing on the first set of chapters. I don’t remember where the A2 class starts – maybe chapter 5 or so.

The books are printed on a thicker paper with a lot of color splashed throughout. The page above is a shopping scenario where one person is asking another what their size is. On the bottom of the page, you have various sales flyers.

So my plan for the next week is to do the work for the first set of chapters to make sure I am caught up to where the A2 class will begin. Should be interesting!

Categories: Courses | Tags: Dutch language | 12 Comments

Landscapes (Or: A river in the Hague)

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Niki

To get to the IND building at Stadhoudersplantsoen 24, you have to cross a short walking bridge over a river. On my way back to the tram stop last week, I decided to take some pictures of the scenery.

It’s also right next to the Gemeente Museum. When I signed up for my library card, I was also given a key chain which enables you (and some friends) to visit the museum for free through March of this year.

Categories: The Hague | 1 Comment

Library cards (Or: Bibliotheek Den Haag)

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Niki

On Wednesday I received information from The Hague with my BSN (Burger Service Nummer/ Citizen Service Number). I now had enough proof of residency to apply for a library card! So I picked up my library card on Friday.

The price of the library card is 30 euros per year, as I am in the 26-64 age bracket. In the Netherlands, you only pay the fee if you want to check out the items, versus America where every homeowner pays for the library through their taxes.

I can check out up to six books and up to six multimedia materials (DVDs, CDs, etc) at a time. It’s also pretty cool that at least the central library has automatic lending machines on every floor.

study area in the first floor of the Hague library

study area on the first floor of the Bibliotheek Den Haag (second floor for us Americans)

Categories: Culture | Tags: Libraries | 2 Comments

Celebrations (Or: My VVR has arrived)

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Niki

Today I checked the mailbox after coming back from the library. I noticed another letter from the IND. My VVR (identification card) was ready for pick up! Twenty days after the appointment with the IND – not too bad.

So I took a trip to Stadhoudersplein 24 (where the main IND/Gemeente offices are in The Hague) to pick up my identification card. I am now 100% legal and have an official address in the Netherlands. Most amusingly, the back of the card has Marco’s name on it, as he is my registered partner.

To celebrate, Marco and I went to Athene Palace, a Greek restaurant in The Hague which I have blogged about before. This time I had #102 (Rhodosschotel), which has lamb chops, chicken filet, souflaki and gyros.

As is the typical Dutch tradition, afterwards we had a cup of coffee (cappuccino for Marco).

And near the end of the meal, the conversation switched to our upcoming wedding later this year. Offiicially we couldn’t do much stuff with the wedding until now, as I needed to be an official resident of The Hague.

But now it is time for wedding talk… it’s happening!

Categories: Forms, etc., The Hague | Tags: Expat | 1 Comment

Accordions (Or: Playing in The Hague)

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Niki

On my way home yesterday from Albert Heijn, I saw some gentlemen playing instruments:

Along with the accordionist, there was also a saxophone player, but he is pretty hidden.

Just in front of the accordionist, you can also see a pigeon. They are attracted by a local fish market and usually have fierce competition for food with the seagulls who come in from the nearby sea.

As you can see, the ice and snow finallllly melted around here. The temperature rose to about 40F (4C) on Sunday and hasn’t looked back since. Of course, the rain all day Sunday definitely helped. But for now I have said goodbye to my snow boots and put my sneakers back on!

It’s always interesting to walk the streets. Today I was stopped by someone trying to sell local newspapers. When I explained that I didn’t know that much Dutch*, he stated that he was trying to sell a newspaper but it only came in Dutch, so it wouldn’t be that useful for me, but would I give him a bit of spare change anyway?

* = I will only be able to use that excuse for so long, as Invader Stu mentions. I already have that particular phrase pretty perfected…

Categories: Culture, The Hague | Leave a comment

Media Markt (Or: BTW-free sale)

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Niki

The annual sale that Media Markt holds (tax free, or a 21% reduction in price) ended yesterday. This is the sale Marco used last year to get his refrigerator tax free. We went a few times to look at washing machines and sound systems. As you can imagine, the place was a madhouse on Saturday (although this picture was taken a bit earlier in the day when it wasn’t as crowded).

The savings on big ticket items were pretty substantial (a €600 item would cost only €500), but it was amusing to see toasters for €22 discounted to €18 or so…

Categories: Shopping | Tags: Media Markt | Leave a comment

Albert Heijn (Or: Barcode scanners for self checkout)

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Niki

Today Marco and I went to the Albert Heijn in Rijswijk. This location was actually “Albert Heijn XL”, meaning that it is a pretty large version with more variety in stock. One of the perks that this store has is the option to do self-checkout using a barcode scanner.

green beans (brand name), applesauce, and potatoes

To do the self-checkout you first need to pick up a barcode scanner near the front entrance. You scan your bonus card and one of the many scanners available (50 or so) lights up to let you know which one to grab. You then take it and scan each item that you put into your basket.

At the very end of your shopping you go to the self-checkout area and place the barcode scanner back into its holder and scan your barcode. It then takes the information from the scanner and charges you that amount. Afterwards you pay and bag your stuff (but it is not like America where the weight of the bag is checked). The last step is scanning your receipt, which if successful will allow you to exit the self-checkout area and be on your way.

And you don’t even have to wait in line!

Categories: Everyday purchases | Tags: Albert Heijn | 2 Comments

Stamppot (Or: A Dutch tradition)

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Niki

Today’s dinner was stamppot, which is usually potatoes matched with a vegetable. This version used sauerkraut mixed in with mashed potatoes. As Dutch are inclined to do, Marco mashed a hole in the middle of the mix to add gravy. The on-the-side meat was smoked sausage.

It actually was pretty good, although admittedly I was still in the “it’s slightly sour mashed potatoes” frame of mind, except when the texture stated otherwise. ;p I probably could have mixed the sausages in, but I am the type of person that eats one food at a time and doesn’t mix that much.

Categories: Culture, Food | 4 Comments