Blogs

Every second Sunday of Mai we in Holland celebrate our mums.  It is the idea that you make, or buy your mum something to thank her with. I think that almost everyone has a mother that thinks that mother’s day is like Valentine, not necessary. But if you pay attention for it, your mum will love it.

Small children make there mums the most wonderful pieces of art: ashtrays, necklaces, flower vases and what so ever. Older children buy something for their mum like a magazine or a perfume.

Different words carrying the same meaning: freedom. Human beings have been trying for centuries to find an answer to this continuous search for freedom. Why is liberty so important for us, and especially, what does it describe exactly?

There is no single point of view about such a concept. Freedom cannot be easily described in one sentence, you need more than that to embrace the variety of shades of possible meanings.

During the centuries, certain events caused our society to think more, value more and work on this fragile concept of “freedom”.

As I am not Dutch I don't have a lot to offer you about history or culture of The Netherlands. However, I am going to write about something that I know a lot students from all over the world enjoy. Drinking! Now drinking is a broad subject, I mean there are all sorts of ways to drink. With rumors swirling about an ESN organized drinking game tour, I will tell you a little about some of my favorite drinking games.

Power Hour

Groningen is rich of many student organizations. Even the most obscure activities have their own organization: Kalliope, the student debate association, Ganymedes, for all the lesbians, gays, and transgenders out there, Bernlef, for the Frisian separatists, FLANOR, for the literature fanatics, and many more. All of these organizations have their very own board that is of the absolute opinion that they are the most important club in Groningen. And they all try to prove this during their own annual constitution drink.

As the 30th of April is getting closer and closer, the day you’ve all been waiting for is almost
there… The day Groningen goes crazy, and the color orange will blind your eyes: Queen’s
day!

Queen’s day (Koninginnedag) actually starts the night before: Queen’s night(Koninginnenacht). As every year, there will be tons of parties and other fun stuff to do in
Groningen. If you have no clue what to do yet, here’s some information about the program
this year.

After you being in this small and cold Netherlands for a while, you must have learned a lot about the Dutch culture. I suppose you learned biking in the busy city center of Groningen, you learned to be on time and maybe you have had Dutch food like drop or stroopwafels?

But if you want to integrate in the Dutch culture properly, you need to learn all about complaining. Because we Dutch do complain a lot. About our family, the train being late, politics and of course number one favorite: the weather.

Complaining about the weather: Is that a universal issue or is it typically Dutch? It is said that the Dutch are experts in complaining about anything, and especially the weather.

It is Dutch culture to complain about anything and everything. The bus is 2 minutes late? Let’s complain about that! Did we get only a 7 on our test? Then the questions were unfair and too difficult. Do we get 10 euros less on the study-money we get from the government? The end of the world!

Usually when it is my turn to write the blog, I know exactly what to write about. But this time I had no clue. I sat down with a cup of tea and a package of drop, after an hour I came to the conclusion that I am officially having a writers block.

As I am not Dutch I don't have a lot to offer you about history or culture of The Netherlands. However, I am going to write about something that I know a lot students from all over the world enjoy. Drinking! Now drinking is a broad subject, I mean there are all sorts of ways to drink. With rumors swirling about an ESN organized drinking game tour, I will tell you a little about some of my favorite drinking games.

Power Hour