George Michael, You Know that I want to
 |
| From Eemnes |
Laren, St. John's Basilic (Sint-Jansbasiliek)
Today, I have a special lady in my heart. My goddaughter! To you, my dear, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
To a Happy, Strong and Beautiful Lady!
Happy Day, Ladies!!!
George Michael, You Know that I want to
Laren, St. John's Basilic (Sint-Jansbasiliek)
Today, I have a special lady in my heart. My goddaughter! To you, my dear, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
George Michael, You Know that I want to
Laren, St. John's Basilic (Sint-Jansbasiliek)
Today, I have a special lady in my heart. My goddaughter! To you, my dear, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Sunday, 6 March 2011
Learning Dutch (4) and How to get a renting contract
NB: to understand this entry, it would be advisable to read the previous one.
At the Bank
As I told in the previous post, we had found a nice flat to rent in Almere Centrum.
So, we went to the nearest bank to make an appointment [een afspraak maken/marcação] for the following day. We needed to open an account, so that we could transfer some money from Portugal. We needed the money to celebrate the renting contract and pay to the real estate agent.
After arriving there, we were told to wait in the living room for a while and then we were called to enter in a private room.
We said we were Portuguese and wanted to open a bank account [bankrekening openen/abrir uma conta bancária]. They asked for our passports. "We don't need passports. " I said a bit confused. "We are EU citizens. We have European ID cards." "In that case, could you wait a while, please? We need to check them". The gentleman left the room and came back after a while. The ID's were fine.
"Are you working here?" Papers on the table. So far, so good.
"What is your address? Do you live in Almere?"
"We want to. We found a very nice flat in the centrum of the city. We would like to open an account, so we could pay to the real estate agent and finally sign the renting contract. "
"Without an address in the Netherlands, it's not possible to open an account."
Can you imagine the stress?
...
After a couple of months living here, some people asked me "Do you speak already Dutch? " or said to me "You must speak Dutch by now.", as if it was the only thing I would need to learn or have time for. Besides of the fact Dutch isn't an easy language.
I generally answered " I also need time to adjust myself to a new country and another mindset, new laws and new habits, without family or old friends around to help me. Time to find solutions for the issues that come up everyday. It's not only the language that I need to learn and to have time for."
In this case, for example, we needed an address to open a bank account, but we also needed an account to transfer the money and sign the renting contract. We were no students living at the University, we weren't living in a flat owned by a company, we weren't living here with relatives or friends. So, we hadn't another address to give to the bank.
...
We went to the City Hall in that same afternoon and we made an appointment for the following day.
...
At the City Hall
After we explained our dilemma, they asked for our international birth and marriage certificates, a copy of the renting contract and to fill some paperwork. We made another appointment to give them the documents. However, the renting contract was only signed by us.
We also filled a form with questions similar to these ones:
Wat is uw naam? [Qual é o seu nome?/What is your name?]
Wat is uw voornaam? [Qual é o seu nome próprio?/What is your first name?]
Wat is uw achternaam? [Qual é o seu sobrenome ?/ What is your surname?]
Wat is uw nationaliteit? [Qual é a sua nacionalidade?/ What is your nationality?]
Hoe oud bent u? [Que idade tem?/ How old are you?]
Wat is uw geboortedatum? [Qual a sua data de nascimento?/ When were you born?]
Waar bent u geboren? [Onde nasceu?/ Where were you born?]
Wat doet u? [Qual a sua profissão?/ What is your job?]
Wat is uw adres? [Qual é a sua morada?/ What is your address?]
Wat is uw postcode? [Qual é o seu código postal?/ What is your zip code?]
Getting the renting contract...
Afterwards we went to the bank and finally we could open an account, transfer the money [geld overdracht/ transferência de dinheiro] to the Netherlands and then to the landlord's account.
We made another appointment with the real estate agent to have the contract signed for both parties and finally the key!
Meanwhile, my husband got the City Hall's permission so that the removals team could park in the street and I was again in Lisbon doing exactly the same thing.
A couple of days later, we went to the City Hall to give them a copy of the renting contract signed by both parties, the landlord and us.
 |
| From Almere (III) |
At the Bank
As I told in the previous post, we had found a nice flat to rent in Almere Centrum.
So, we went to the nearest bank to make an appointment [een afspraak maken/marcação] for the following day. We needed to open an account, so that we could transfer some money from Portugal. We needed the money to celebrate the renting contract and pay to the real estate agent.
After arriving there, we were told to wait in the living room for a while and then we were called to enter in a private room.
We said we were Portuguese and wanted to open a bank account [bankrekening openen/abrir uma conta bancária]. They asked for our passports. "We don't need passports. " I said a bit confused. "We are EU citizens. We have European ID cards." "In that case, could you wait a while, please? We need to check them". The gentleman left the room and came back after a while. The ID's were fine.
"Are you working here?" Papers on the table. So far, so good.
"What is your address? Do you live in Almere?"
"We want to. We found a very nice flat in the centrum of the city. We would like to open an account, so we could pay to the real estate agent and finally sign the renting contract. "
"Without an address in the Netherlands, it's not possible to open an account."
Can you imagine the stress?
...
After a couple of months living here, some people asked me "Do you speak already Dutch? " or said to me "You must speak Dutch by now.", as if it was the only thing I would need to learn or have time for. Besides of the fact Dutch isn't an easy language.
I generally answered " I also need time to adjust myself to a new country and another mindset, new laws and new habits, without family or old friends around to help me. Time to find solutions for the issues that come up everyday. It's not only the language that I need to learn and to have time for."
In this case, for example, we needed an address to open a bank account, but we also needed an account to transfer the money and sign the renting contract. We were no students living at the University, we weren't living in a flat owned by a company, we weren't living here with relatives or friends. So, we hadn't another address to give to the bank.
...
We went to the City Hall in that same afternoon and we made an appointment for the following day.
...
At the City Hall
After we explained our dilemma, they asked for our international birth and marriage certificates, a copy of the renting contract and to fill some paperwork. We made another appointment to give them the documents. However, the renting contract was only signed by us.
We also filled a form with questions similar to these ones:
Wat is uw naam? [Qual é o seu nome?/What is your name?]
Wat is uw voornaam? [Qual é o seu nome próprio?/What is your first name?]
Wat is uw achternaam? [Qual é o seu sobrenome ?/ What is your surname?]
Wat is uw nationaliteit? [Qual é a sua nacionalidade?/ What is your nationality?]
Hoe oud bent u? [Que idade tem?/ How old are you?]
Wat is uw geboortedatum? [Qual a sua data de nascimento?/ When were you born?]
Waar bent u geboren? [Onde nasceu?/ Where were you born?]
Wat doet u? [Qual a sua profissão?/ What is your job?]
Wat is uw adres? [Qual é a sua morada?/ What is your address?]
Wat is uw postcode? [Qual é o seu código postal?/ What is your zip code?]
Getting the renting contract...
Afterwards we went to the bank and finally we could open an account, transfer the money [geld overdracht/ transferência de dinheiro] to the Netherlands and then to the landlord's account.
We made another appointment with the real estate agent to have the contract signed for both parties and finally the key!
Meanwhile, my husband got the City Hall's permission so that the removals team could park in the street and I was again in Lisbon doing exactly the same thing.
A couple of days later, we went to the City Hall to give them a copy of the renting contract signed by both parties, the landlord and us.
Thursday, 3 March 2011
Kasteel De Haar
I want to invite you to celebrate Presepio's 3rd anniversary with a visit to the largest and most beautiful Castle in the Netherlands...
Kasteel De Haar
Enjoy and celebrate with us!
In a cold but sunny February day, we visited the Castle De Haar, near Haarzuilens, in Utrecht province.
We drank a cup of tea at Tuynhuis De Haar and went for a walk in the Castle's beautiful gardens...
We tried to photograph the deers in the park...
...before our Dutch guided tour would begin ;-)
We couldn't take photos of the rooms, only of the Castle and its gardens.
The current buildings, except for the chapel, date from 1892 and are the work of Dutch architect P.J.H. Cuypers, most frequently associated with the Amsterdam Central Station (1881–1889) and the Rijksmuseum (1876–1885).
This famous Dutch architect was hired in 1892 by Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt, who inherited the castle in 1887. The Baron was married with Hélène de Rothschild, of the wealthy Rothschild family.
The restoration of the castle took 20 years. Only in 1912, the works were finished.
The castle has 200 rooms and 30 bathrooms, of which only a small number on the ground floor have been opened to the public.
The castle was equipped by Cuypers with the electrical lighting with its own generator, and central heating with steam. This installation is internationally recognized as an industrial monument. We couldn't see the kitchen, but as far as I understood, it's also very modern.
The inside of the castle is decorated with richly ornamented woodcarvings and many works of the Rothschild collections, like beautiful old porcelain from Japan and China, several old Flemish tapestries and paintings with religious illustrations.
One of the most interesting rooms is the Ridderzaal [Knight's Hall] with its chandeliers with incorporated galloping knights.
In this room, as well as in the Hall and the Banquet Hall, the highest virtues of the Middle Ages -Knighthood and Christianity- are always present in the decoration.
I want to go back in the Spring to enjoy the gardens with all the flowers and lakes. Must be even prettier by then! :-)
Kasteel De Haar
Enjoy and celebrate with us!
In a cold but sunny February day, we visited the Castle De Haar, near Haarzuilens, in Utrecht province.
 |
| From De Haar |
We drank a cup of tea at Tuynhuis De Haar and went for a walk in the Castle's beautiful gardens...
 |
| From De Haar |
 |
| From De Haar |
We tried to photograph the deers in the park...
 |
| From De Haar |
...before our Dutch guided tour would begin ;-)
 |
| From De Haar |
We couldn't take photos of the rooms, only of the Castle and its gardens.
The current buildings, except for the chapel, date from 1892 and are the work of Dutch architect P.J.H. Cuypers, most frequently associated with the Amsterdam Central Station (1881–1889) and the Rijksmuseum (1876–1885).
 |
| From De Haar |
This famous Dutch architect was hired in 1892 by Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt, who inherited the castle in 1887. The Baron was married with Hélène de Rothschild, of the wealthy Rothschild family.
 |
| From De Haar |
The restoration of the castle took 20 years. Only in 1912, the works were finished.
The castle has 200 rooms and 30 bathrooms, of which only a small number on the ground floor have been opened to the public.
The castle was equipped by Cuypers with the electrical lighting with its own generator, and central heating with steam. This installation is internationally recognized as an industrial monument. We couldn't see the kitchen, but as far as I understood, it's also very modern.
 |
| From De Haar |
The inside of the castle is decorated with richly ornamented woodcarvings and many works of the Rothschild collections, like beautiful old porcelain from Japan and China, several old Flemish tapestries and paintings with religious illustrations.
One of the most interesting rooms is the Ridderzaal [Knight's Hall] with its chandeliers with incorporated galloping knights.
 |
| From De Haar |
In this room, as well as in the Hall and the Banquet Hall, the highest virtues of the Middle Ages -Knighthood and Christianity- are always present in the decoration.
I want to go back in the Spring to enjoy the gardens with all the flowers and lakes. Must be even prettier by then! :-)
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Learning Dutch (3)
Almere, Tussen de Vaarten, Grunewaldstraat
Let me share with you how we rented our first house, the Dutch words I learned and the big surprises we had along the way...
We found a flat to rent three days after arriving in Amsterdam.
In our meeting with the real estate agent, we saw that the huurovereenkomst [renting contract/contrato de arrendamento] was written in Dutch. This second clash with the language was huge. We are talking about several pages of legal terms.
We agreed that our real estate agent would translate the main points for us to avoid more costs with an interpreter.
He explained to us that we and the landlord were the ondergetekenden [signing parties/ as partes contratantes].
A lady from Groningen was the eigenaar [flat owner/proprietária].
She would be our verhuurder [landlord/senhorio] and we her huurders [tenants/inquilinos].
The huurovereenkomst [renting contract/ contrato de arrendamento] would define the huurprijs [rent/renda], the huurbetaling [rent payment/ pagamento da renda], the periode of geldigheid [validity/validade] and the date and the conditions for the sleuteloverdracht [ key delivery/entrega da chave].
He also explained that the woonruimte [habitação/dwelling] would be rented voor bepaalde tijd [por tempo determinado/ for a certain periode], in this case, one year, and if everything would come along for both parts, we could have three more years of verlenging [extension/prolongamento].
He also told us that if we wanted to leave the flat before the end of the contract, we should send a two months schriftelijke opzegging [written previous notice/ aviso-prévio por escrito] to the landlord.
If the landlord would want to do the same, she should notice us within three months.
Finally, we needed to pay a waarborgsom [guarantee/caução] which will be returned to us if we decided to leave the appartement and everything would be ok within.
Even today, there are so many words which I don't understand in the renting contract. However, I feel more comfortable reading it, as I could experience a couple of days ago when I was organizing my archive.
Besides the difficulty to understand the language, we were facing, by then, a different renting law. It was a huge surprise for me to find out we wouldn't get a monthly receipt and we couldn't put the rent in the IRS forms.
However, the biggest surprise of all was finding out we need to pay to the real estate agent.
Suddenly, we became aware that we needed to pay not two, but three rents at the same time to get the contract and the house.
After a very deep breath, we went to the bank.
 |
| From Almere (III) |
Let me share with you how we rented our first house, the Dutch words I learned and the big surprises we had along the way...
We found a flat to rent three days after arriving in Amsterdam.
In our meeting with the real estate agent, we saw that the huurovereenkomst [renting contract/contrato de arrendamento] was written in Dutch. This second clash with the language was huge. We are talking about several pages of legal terms.
We agreed that our real estate agent would translate the main points for us to avoid more costs with an interpreter.
He explained to us that we and the landlord were the ondergetekenden [signing parties/ as partes contratantes].
A lady from Groningen was the eigenaar [flat owner/proprietária].
She would be our verhuurder [landlord/senhorio] and we her huurders [tenants/inquilinos].
The huurovereenkomst [renting contract/ contrato de arrendamento] would define the huurprijs [rent/renda], the huurbetaling [rent payment/ pagamento da renda], the periode of geldigheid [validity/validade] and the date and the conditions for the sleuteloverdracht [ key delivery/entrega da chave].
He also explained that the woonruimte [habitação/dwelling] would be rented voor bepaalde tijd [por tempo determinado/ for a certain periode], in this case, one year, and if everything would come along for both parts, we could have three more years of verlenging [extension/prolongamento].
He also told us that if we wanted to leave the flat before the end of the contract, we should send a two months schriftelijke opzegging [written previous notice/ aviso-prévio por escrito] to the landlord.
If the landlord would want to do the same, she should notice us within three months.
Finally, we needed to pay a waarborgsom [guarantee/caução] which will be returned to us if we decided to leave the appartement and everything would be ok within.
Even today, there are so many words which I don't understand in the renting contract. However, I feel more comfortable reading it, as I could experience a couple of days ago when I was organizing my archive.
Besides the difficulty to understand the language, we were facing, by then, a different renting law. It was a huge surprise for me to find out we wouldn't get a monthly receipt and we couldn't put the rent in the IRS forms.
However, the biggest surprise of all was finding out we need to pay to the real estate agent.
Suddenly, we became aware that we needed to pay not two, but three rents at the same time to get the contract and the house.
After a very deep breath, we went to the bank.
Monday, 28 February 2011
A Great King's Speech
Last Saturday, after spending a nice afternoon with my friend Raquel, who lunched here with us, we went to the cinema to see The King's Speech.
I have no words to express how much I liked this movie.
The Historical accuracy ...
George VI childhood [the references to Prince John epilepsy and George V stamps collection hobby...]
NB:To understand George V and his role in the European History, I suggest the acclaimed British television drama serial, The Lost Prince.
King George V concerns with Europe political situation [Hitler on one way and Staline on the other...]
George VI sense of duty and responsability towards the country and the Empire...
the supporting role of his wife, Queen Elisabeth...
And finally, of course, George VI suffering with his stammering and the Professor Logue's help...
This is a documentary with Logue's grandson, Mark Logue, whose book, The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy, inspired the film's name and history.
the brillant cast...
Such good memories I have from most of them...
Anthony Andrews [Prime Minister Mr. Baldwin] and Claire Bloom [Queen Mary] from Brideshead Revisited...
Colin Firth [King George VI] and Jennifer Ehle [Myrtle Gruenert] from the best of ever, in my opinion, Pride and Prejudice TV serial...
Geoffrey Rush
Remember Mr Javert from Les Miserables?
If Colin Firth was already my favourite Mr Darcy, now is my George VI par excellence!
I'm very happy with the Oscars the film has got yesterday: Actor in Leading Role, Colin Firth, Directing, Tom Hooper, Best Picture and Original Screenplay.
Congratulations!!
I have no words to express how much I liked this movie.
The Historical accuracy ...
George VI childhood [the references to Prince John epilepsy and George V stamps collection hobby...]
NB:To understand George V and his role in the European History, I suggest the acclaimed British television drama serial, The Lost Prince.
King George V concerns with Europe political situation [Hitler on one way and Staline on the other...]
George VI sense of duty and responsability towards the country and the Empire...
the supporting role of his wife, Queen Elisabeth...
And finally, of course, George VI suffering with his stammering and the Professor Logue's help...
This is a documentary with Logue's grandson, Mark Logue, whose book, The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy, inspired the film's name and history.
the brillant cast...
Such good memories I have from most of them...
Anthony Andrews [Prime Minister Mr. Baldwin] and Claire Bloom [Queen Mary] from Brideshead Revisited...
Colin Firth [King George VI] and Jennifer Ehle [Myrtle Gruenert] from the best of ever, in my opinion, Pride and Prejudice TV serial...
Geoffrey Rush
Remember Mr Javert from Les Miserables?
If Colin Firth was already my favourite Mr Darcy, now is my George VI par excellence!
I'm very happy with the Oscars the film has got yesterday: Actor in Leading Role, Colin Firth, Directing, Tom Hooper, Best Picture and Original Screenplay.
Congratulations!!
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Learning Dutch (2)
I had my first “shock” with the Dutch language when I started to look for a house at Interimmo's site [now it's in English too].
I couldn't understand the descriptions of the houses and their surroundings...
Almere, Tussen de Vaarten, Renoirstraat
I started to learn some words by clicking on the ads photos:
woonkamer [sala de estar/ living room], keuken [cozinha/ kitchen], slaapkamer [quarto de dormir/ bedroom] and badkamer [quarto de banho/bathroom].
Others I understood because of the Portuguese, English and French similarity:
deur [porta/door], lift [elevador/lift], garage [garagem/garage], balkon [varanda/ balcony], douchecabine [duche/shower], hal [hall], appartement [apartamento/flat], mozaiek [mosaico/mosaic], keramische [cerâmica/ceramic], luxe [luxo/luxury], vloer [chão/floor], kookplaat [placa vitrocerâmica/ cooking plate], radiator [radiador/radiator], locatie [localização/ location], prijs [preço/ price], station [estação/station], etage [andar/floor], plafond [tecto/ceiling], parkeerplaats [lugar de estacionamento/parking place].
Almere, Tussen de Vaarten, Klimtstraat
I learned the rest with the help of the dictionary and a lot of translation work... See the differences:
afzuigkap [exaustor/ extractor hood]
koelkast [frigorífico/fridge]
vaatwasser [máquina de lavar loiça/ dishwasher]
wastafelmeubel [móvel de casa de banho com lavatório]
ligbad [banheira/ bathtub]
ramen [janelas/windows]
wanden [paredes/ walls]
plavuizenvloer [laje/tile floor]
schouw [chaminé/chimney]
haard [lareira/fireplace]
berging [arrecadação/storage]
voorraadkast [despensa/ pantry]
kelder [cave/cellar]
dakterras [terraço/ roof terrace]
zolder [sotão/attic]
tuin [jardim/garden]
verdieping [andar/floor]
toegang [entrada/entry]
trapopgang [escadas/staircase]
ingang[entrada/entry]
uitgang [saída/exit]
bouwjaar [ano de construção/ construction year]
rustige [sossegado/quiet]
licht [luz/light]
groene [verde/green]
Almere, Tussen de Vaarten
uitzicht [vista/view]
kindvriendelijke [children's friendly]
leuk pleintje [uma pracinha gira/nice small square]
speelpleintjes [parques infantis/children's playground]
kinderopvang [creche/kindergarden]
scholen [escolas/schools]
gezondheiscentrum [centro de saúde/health center]
openbaar vervoer [transporte público/public transport]
bushalte [paragem de autocarro/bus stop]
winkels [lojas/stores]
winkelcentrum [centro comercial/shopping center]
snelweg [autoestrada/highway]
There are still words whose meaning I don't know, like afzuigschouw or schuifpui. Any help?
I hope this list can help somebody in the same situation as I was. No Dutch husband, relatives or friends to ask. No previous Dutch studies. Nothing. Only willpower and determination.
Beatles, Help
I couldn't understand the descriptions of the houses and their surroundings...
Almere, Tussen de Vaarten, Renoirstraat
 |
| From Almere (III) |
I started to learn some words by clicking on the ads photos:
woonkamer [sala de estar/ living room], keuken [cozinha/ kitchen], slaapkamer [quarto de dormir/ bedroom] and badkamer [quarto de banho/bathroom].
Others I understood because of the Portuguese, English and French similarity:
deur [porta/door], lift [elevador/lift], garage [garagem/garage], balkon [varanda/ balcony], douchecabine [duche/shower], hal [hall], appartement [apartamento/flat], mozaiek [mosaico/mosaic], keramische [cerâmica/ceramic], luxe [luxo/luxury], vloer [chão/floor], kookplaat [placa vitrocerâmica/ cooking plate], radiator [radiador/radiator], locatie [localização/ location], prijs [preço/ price], station [estação/station], etage [andar/floor], plafond [tecto/ceiling], parkeerplaats [lugar de estacionamento/parking place].
Almere, Tussen de Vaarten, Klimtstraat
 |
| From Almere (III) |
I learned the rest with the help of the dictionary and a lot of translation work... See the differences:
afzuigkap [exaustor/ extractor hood]
koelkast [frigorífico/fridge]
vaatwasser [máquina de lavar loiça/ dishwasher]
wastafelmeubel [móvel de casa de banho com lavatório]
ligbad [banheira/ bathtub]
ramen [janelas/windows]
wanden [paredes/ walls]
plavuizenvloer [laje/tile floor]
schouw [chaminé/chimney]
haard [lareira/fireplace]
berging [arrecadação/storage]
voorraadkast [despensa/ pantry]
kelder [cave/cellar]
dakterras [terraço/ roof terrace]
zolder [sotão/attic]
tuin [jardim/garden]
verdieping [andar/floor]
toegang [entrada/entry]
trapopgang [escadas/staircase]
ingang[entrada/entry]
uitgang [saída/exit]
bouwjaar [ano de construção/ construction year]
rustige [sossegado/quiet]
licht [luz/light]
groene [verde/green]
Almere, Tussen de Vaarten
 |
| From Almere (III) |
uitzicht [vista/view]
kindvriendelijke [children's friendly]
leuk pleintje [uma pracinha gira/nice small square]
speelpleintjes [parques infantis/children's playground]
kinderopvang [creche/kindergarden]
scholen [escolas/schools]
gezondheiscentrum [centro de saúde/health center]
openbaar vervoer [transporte público/public transport]
bushalte [paragem de autocarro/bus stop]
winkels [lojas/stores]
winkelcentrum [centro comercial/shopping center]
snelweg [autoestrada/highway]
There are still words whose meaning I don't know, like afzuigschouw or schuifpui. Any help?
I hope this list can help somebody in the same situation as I was. No Dutch husband, relatives or friends to ask. No previous Dutch studies. Nothing. Only willpower and determination.
Beatles, Help
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