Proud To Be Dutch : A Small Country Being Great

Former Olympic swimchamp Maarten van der Weijden is swimming the famous track of the "Elfstedentocht" (11 citytrack) a famous 126 miles skatingtrack at this moment.

Maarten survived cancer himself earlier (before his Olympic race) and this is his way to raise funds for cancerresearch.

He will arrive back in Leeuwarden this evening where he departed three days ago.

RESPECT !!!! Go Maarten go !!!

 

I always loved Belgium Holland

In all seriousness, this is great. Cancer is a big killer; I lost a friend to it when I was young

 

Yes, great!!

I have never been to Holland, but my mum's side of the family live there so will have to visit one day.

 

Go Maarten, "get your skates on"!

"Get your skates on" is a saying that means "hurry up".

My wife is a recent cancer survivor and we also raise money for helping sufferers by collecting in the supermarket.

Regarding the patriotism I would say: All countries are great. All countries need to come together to solve our problems.

 

Go Maarten, "get your skates on"!

"Get your skates on" is a saying that means "hurry up".

My wife is a recent cancer survivor and we also raise money for helping sufferers by collecting in the supermarket.

Regarding the patriotism I would say: All countries are great. All countries need to come together to solve our problems.

Hahahaha. In the announcement he had skates hanging from his neck !!

Agree about the patriotism. I see it the same way, but this guy really is a hero.
He was when he became Olympic champ but still is 10 years later. Great guy.

Three days in the water (sleeping on a boat for three hours a night) arghhhh.

On his way to Bartlehiem (only part he has to swim twice : return by the same canal).

 

On is way back.!!!!! He is gonna make it.

 

Yes he's a special guy alright. He still needs a challenge in his life. Nowadays I am happier here next to my aquarium.

 

Very true !

Yes he's a special guy alright. He still needs a challenge in his life. Nowadays I am happier here next to my aquarium.

 

I always loved Belgium Holland

Still wrong.

I met some friends from The Netherlands a few yrs back. They told me to never forget that holland isn't a country its only a province and people from elsewhere might be a bit annoyed if you call them hollanders.

 

Still wrong.

I met some friends from The Netherlands a few yrs back. They told me to never forget that holland isn't a country its only a province and people from elsewhere might be a bit annoyed if you call them hollanders.

Mmmmm great friends you have.
The Netherlands / Holland is a country since 1581 for sure woehahahah. 12 provinces. I live in Noordholland.
Proud to be called Hollander.

Belgium is another country (which belonged to Holland till 1830)

Awww he quit (Saltlevel in his blood seemed to be an issue). Still a hero.

 

Mmmmm great friends you have.
The Netherlands / Holland is a country since 1581 for sure woehahahah. 12 provinces. I live in Noordholland.
Proud to be called Hollander.

Belgium is another country (which belonged to Holland till 1830)

All I know is they where very strict on it not being called holland and got quite aggressive when people did. They hated people calling the country holland.

 

Kingdom of the Netherlands is such a long name hahahaha. I love all people that call it Holland (cheering in sports is Hup Holland)

All I know is they where very strict on it not being called holland and got quite aggressive when people did. They hated people calling the country holland.

They must have been from elsewhere (getting agressive).

 

Kingdom of the Netherlands is such a long name hahahaha. I love all people that call it Holland (cheering in sports is Hup Holland)

They must have been from elsewhere (getting agressive).

They werent from north or south holland but from other provinces in The netherlands. Iys actually quite funny because while they where her in china their boss came ove and he was from amsterdam so every time someone said netherlands he would correct them and say holland. The poor chinese where completely confused and thought they where all from different countries.

 

Ahhhhhhh now I understand the issue.
People from Friesland, Limburg and Noord Brabant refer to Hollanders when they speak about Noord Holland and Zuid Holland hahahaha.
Amsterdam is in Noord Holland !

That's more an issue for them than the other way around. Maybe the two latter should be given to Belgium (Oooops didn't say that) woohahahaha.

They werent from north or south holland but from other provinces in The netherlands. Iys actually quite funny because while they where her in china their boss came ove and he was from amsterdam so every time someone said netherlands he would correct them and say holland. The poor chinese where completely confused and thought they where all from different countries.

 

They werent from north or south holland but from other provinces in The netherlands. Iys actually quite funny because while they where her in china their boss came ove and he was from amsterdam so every time someone said netherlands he would correct them and say holland. The poor chinese where completely confused and thought they where all from different countries.

So we're Dutch from The Netherlands sometimes called Holland (by some people and in case of sportevents) that speak Dutch.

I now understand how ridiculous this sounds hahaha.

Please visit our beautiful country (including Limburg and Noord Brabant)

 

Ahhhhhhh now I understand the issue.
People from Friesland, Limburg and Noord Brabant refer to Hollanders when they speak about Noord Holland and Zuid Holland hahahaha.
Amsterdam is in Noord Holland !

That's more an issue for them than the other way around. Maybe the two latter should be given to Belgium (Oooops didn't say that) woohahahaha.
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I don't know the province names I only know north and south holland or the relationship between holland and belgium. I just thought it was funny because they couldnt say anything because old mate was their boss and you could tell that's why he was doing it.

 

I'm from the Northern part of the Netherlands (I study in Groningen) and am also really proud of Maarten! However if he was from china, Amerika or the UK I would be proud too. I can only admire people that put in great effort to do something good in this world. Also I study medicine so I've already seen many cancer patients in my life and I've seen how it can destroy lifes and families. Respect for this man that he survived ancer and now raises money to further help save people.

 

The other provinces don't mind hahahaha.

I don't know the province names I only know north and south holland or the relationship between holland and belgium. I just thought it was funny because they couldnt say anything because old mate was their boss and you could tell that's why he was doing it.

 

So we're Dutch from The Netherlands sometimes called Holland (by some people and in case of sportevents) that speak Dutch.

I now understand how ridiculous this sounds hahaha.

Please visit our beautiful country (including Limburg and Noord Brabant)

I would love to visit when I get the chance its one of the few countries in west europe I want to go to.

Every dutch person ive met has been wonderful, there must be something in the air there. I also had quite a few afrikaan friends when I was in school too so what ever it is it could also be genetic.

 

Maarten's track.

He swam the complete South part.
Had to quit at the red spot on his way back to Leeuwarden (capital of Friesland)

165 kilometers / 55 hours / € 800.000,-- raised so far.

 

I'm sorry Maarten couldn't make it but it was a good try. Maybe next time?

There are lovely people in all countries of the world I've found.

Belgium, where my wife is from, also gives rise to confusion. She is Flemish (and Belgian) meaning she comes from the northern part of Belgium known as Flanders. Here they speak Dutch in public and a dialect of Dutch at home called Flemish. I learnt this Flemish from her folks and herself and they laughed out loud when I used the language in public as it is considered rude.

In the South of Belgium the area is called Wallonia and the people known as Walloons. Here they speak French.

When my wife went to school in Flanders it was compulsory for her to learn French in addition to her own language of Dutch. However, in Wallonia it was not compulsory for the Walloons to learn Dutch. This divisive rule no longer applies.

 

You're sooooo right. Love the Flemish hahaha. But a shame how they made us ridiculous when we missed the World Championships soccer this year woohahaha. Their team did great !

There are lovely people in all countries of the world I've found.

Belgium, where my wife is from, also gives rise to confusion. She is Flemish (and Belgian) meaning she comes from the northern part of Belgium known as Flanders. Here they speak Dutch in public and a dialect of Dutch at home called Flemish. I learnt this Flemish from her folks and herself and they laughed out loud when I used the language in public as it is considered rude.

In the South of Belgium the area is called Wallonia and the people known as Walloons. Here they speak French.

When my wife went to school in Flanders it was compulsory for her to learn French but in Wallonia it was not compulsory for the Walloons to learn Dutch. This divisive rule no longer applies.