SevenQuestions: Erwin van der Zande, live from Amsterdam

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Seven Questions

Erwin van der Zande is the editor of Shift, the way-cool Dutch e-zine. His homepage is pretty cool, more so if you happen to know the lingo of The Netherlands. 8 September 1998

1 Tell us about a special place that you hope is never discovered by tourists. Back to the 7Q index

The city of Rotterdam.

Compared to Amsterdam, our capital, Rotterdam doesn't appeal to foreign tourists coming to the Netherlands. Amsterdam is popular for it's Red Light District, the coffeeshops in which you smoke marijuana without the police bothering you, the tolerance towards homosexuals, and its canals.

Rotterdam on the other hand, doesn't have much to offer, so it seems. It's just a big city, the economic engine of the Netherlands. The harbor of Rotterdam is one the biggest in the world, next to Singapore and Antwerp. All work and no play ... so it seems.

Although i live in Amsterdam nowadays for my work, I used to live in Rotterdam and hope to return some day. Rotterdam is an honest city. It's rough but honest. The people in Rotterdam are more themselves. And it's their town. We have a T-shirt saying here in Holland: "Amsterdam has it, but Rotterdam doesn't need it."

2 What do you find most annoying about the English language?

Perhaps that it isn't my native language.

Especially on the internet it's funny to see how the Dutch are responsible for the introduction of what has become know as Euro-English. This "dialect" is a simplification of the English language which consist of short sentences, a limited vocabulary, and its own grammar (mostly Dutch grammar translated directly into English).

3 Describe a disturbing aspect of cyber culture that is finding its way into Dutch culture.

Well, I can't think of anything really. But there is one thing i hope will stick to the Internet and doesn't spread out to the rest of our society: the beta-release.

4 Name an import from the U.S. that has been good for The Netherlands.

Popular culture, the American Way. The Dutch were way too serious.

5 Tell us about an obscure but interesting bit of Dutch folklore that is probably unknown beyond your borders.

We eat raw fish too.

The fish is called a "haring" (don't know the translation). We chop the head off, remove the fish bones, throw some onions on it, pick it up at its tail fin, throw our head backwards and let it slide into our mouths. I myself am one the very few who doesn't like it.

6 What's the biggest story occupying your nation's news media at the moment?

The trial at the international court in The Hague of the two Libyans who are a suspect in the Lockerbie case is very hot.

7 So far, American news and magazine Web sites have had a hard time making any money. Are sites on your side of the Atlantic having any better luck?

The Netherlands runs a year behind in internet developments. Online advertising exists here but has still a lot of growing to do. E-commerce has also started here but most online shops have got to get a lesson in customer service. Perhaps you guys can teach them.

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Copyright 1998, Thomas L. Mangan >Back to SevenQuestions

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Erwin van der Zande is the editor of Shift, the way-cool Dutch e-zine. His homepage is pretty cool, more so if you happen to know the lingo of The Netherlands.		8 September 1998
1	Tell us about a special place that you hope is never discovered by tourists.	Back to the 7Q index
	The city of Rotterdam. Compared to Amsterdam, our capital, Rotterdam doesn't appeal to foreign tourists coming to the Netherlands. Amsterdam is popular for it's Red Light District, the coffeeshops in which you smoke marijuana without the police bothering you, the tolerance towards homosexuals, and its canals. Rotterdam on the other hand, doesn't have much to offer, so it seems. It's just a big city, the economic engine of the Netherlands. The harbor of Rotterdam is one the biggest in the world, next to Singapore and Antwerp. All work and no play ... so it seems. Although i live in Amsterdam nowadays for my work, I used to live in Rotterdam and hope to return some day. Rotterdam is an honest city. It's rough but honest. The people in Rotterdam are more themselves. And it's their town. We have a T-shirt saying here in Holland: "Amsterdam has it, but Rotterdam doesn't need it."
2	What do you find most annoying about the English language?
	Perhaps that it isn't my native language. Especially on the internet it's funny to see how the Dutch are responsible for the introduction of what has become know as Euro-English. This "dialect" is a simplification of the English language which consist of short sentences, a limited vocabulary, and its own grammar (mostly Dutch grammar translated directly into English).
3	Describe a disturbing aspect of cyber culture that is finding its way into Dutch culture.
	Well, I can't think of anything really. But there is one thing i hope will stick to the Internet and doesn't spread out to the rest of our society: the beta-release.
4	Name an import from the U.S. that has been good for The Netherlands.
	Popular culture, the American Way. The Dutch were way too serious.
5	Tell us about an obscure but interesting bit of Dutch folklore that is probably unknown beyond your borders.
	We eat raw fish too. The fish is called a "haring" (don't know the translation). We chop the head off, remove the fish bones, throw some onions on it, pick it up at its tail fin, throw our head backwards and let it slide into our mouths. I myself am one the very few who doesn't like it.
6	What's the biggest story occupying your nation's news media at the moment?
	The trial at the international court in The Hague of the two Libyans who are a suspect in the Lockerbie case is very hot.
7	So far, American news and magazine Web sites have had a hard time making any money. Are sites on your side of the Atlantic having any better luck?
	The Netherlands runs a year behind in internet developments. Online advertising exists here but has still a lot of growing to do. E-commerce has also started here but most online shops have got to get a lesson in customer service. Perhaps you guys can teach them.
Back to SQ index Copyright 1998, Thomas L. Mangan		>Back to SevenQuestions