I was just sitting poolside, enjoying the steamy weather in Northern Virginia, while reading my newest WWII magazine, and noticed a blurp about this forum. When the usual late afternoon thunderstorms closed the pool, and the realisation of the fact that Holland won't be playing soccer in the EC2008 anymore sunk in, I remembered the piece in WWII magazine, found the site and registered. A whole new world is opening up for me on the WWII topic. This forum is a goldmine! I am a Dutch citizen (working on American naturalisation ), work at the Dutch embassy in Washington, DC as the IT geek. I served in the Royal Netherlands Navy from 1980 thru 1992, and maintain a website about the first ship I sailed on, the Hr.Ms. (Her Majesty's) Jaguar. A PCE class Fregat, built at Avondale Marine Ways in New Orleans, for the Netherlands, as part of the Mutual Defense Assistance Program. I am also a co-admin of Dutchfleet.net, a forum for everything Dutch Navy and Merchant Marine. Am looking forward to learn a lot here, hopefully especially about the American PCE's during WWII. Fair Winds and Following Seas Pim van Wijngaarden
Welcome to the Forum, Pim! I heartily agree that the this forum is a goldmine - not only information but interesting participants. I hope you will enjoy yourself. My Dad was with the Canadian 2nd Division during World War II and participated in the liberation of Holland. He always held it very dear to his heart.
Welcome on board Pim, the more Dutch the merrier! We have quite a bunch of them here. Just have a look at the militaria section where they usually hang out . I will have a look at the websites you mentionned, they seem quite interesting.
Hallo Pim!! Good to have another Dutchman here! (my Father was born in Ten Post Groningen) I also checked out both of your websites, very nice! I need to learn to speak Dutch! Anyway, Welcome!! I'm hope you will enjoy it here as much as I do! Scott
Hi Scott, I hail from the tiny town of Hardinxveld-Giessendam in the province of South Holland, and yes I am already enjoying myself. Thanks for the website compliment. During the next major overhaul, I should really translate the whole thing into English as well, to make it more accessible for the rest of the world . Ja, je moet echt Nederlands leren, tenslotte is het een "wereldtaal" Greetz, Pim
Yes it is! When my Father cam over here after WWII, they only wnated to fit in, he still has that attitude somewhat, but when we were kids he did not want us to learn Dutch, he would always say, "we are Americans, we speak English!" Stubborn Dutchman!
You hit the nail on the head. Never tought my children Dutch.....now they blame me for not being able to. Maybe it's not to late yet? After all, they're only between 9 and 17. But as my wife is American, we speak English @ home, which makes it more of a challenge. Someday
YES!!! You should teach them, even if you only teach them a few words! I would start right away! I'm thinking of buying that Rosetta Stone program, I did the demo and it was pretty good!
When I'm angry I speak Dutch to my kids , they perfectly understand what I mean and the neigbours don't understand. Charles the V spoke Spanish because it was the language of the majority of his subjects, he spoke German to his soldiers, he spoke English when he wanted to trade, but when he was in his legendary bad moods he always scolded in Dutch
Funny! I didn't know that! Skipper, you and my Dad have something in common, when he is angry he still speaks in Dutch!
There no better language in the world for insults believe me. They have some words that do not even have the beginning of an equivalent in English.
When I hit my head or something like that, the first word out of my mouth is definetely Dutch, although it might not be in any dictionary if you catch my drift.....