Why we call them Dutch?

wiz · Post Number:#1 **Posted:** 08 Jul 2010 12:47

We all know people from;

England are called English,

Germany = German

France = French

Greece = Greeks

Russia = Russians and so on ...

but

People from Holland or Netherlands are called Dutch!

Why?

Shadow · Post Number:#2 **Posted:** 08 Jul 2010 13:49

First of all let me give a short geography lesson.

Holland, which is a commonly used name for the Netherlands, is just a part of the country.
There are two provinces, North and South Holland. In these provinces the three main cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague) are placed, and these provinces have traditionally governed the country. The "Earls of Holland" were the ones who formed the country and kept it together.
Of course those provinces outside Holland have become jealous of the power, and there for the name "Netherlands" was adopted not to offend those poor agricultural provinces (guys from there are going to shoot me now).

As for Dutch, the original name of out language was "Diets". This was regularly confused with "Deutsch" by our Easter neighbours who unfortunately tripped over Spain (more enemies). It has been renamed "Nederlands" but as the English have always been stubborn in adapting change (possible flame count going up) they still call the language and people "Dutch".

In Russia this still cause confusion as the word "Dutch" is often confused with the Russian word for "Danish", allowing people to think Dutch are the same as our friends from Legoland.

wiz · Post Number:#3 **Posted:** 08 Jul 2010 14:23

Shadow wrote:

....... as the English have always been stubborn in adapting change (possible flame count going up) they still call the language and people "Dutch".

I heard the the Brits call you Dutch because they were thinking you were Doich (German)..... not sure about the spelling! :oops:

jg101 · Post Number:#4 **Posted:** 28 Aug 2010 09:12

I heard it was a shortening of "Those bloody Dutch whore mongering dope fiends" but i could be wrong! :lol:

Shadow wrote:

...the name "Netherlands" was adopted not to offend those poor agricultural provinces

You dont mean Limburg by any chance do you?

Rasboinik · Post Number:#5 **Posted:** 28 Aug 2010 09:23

jg101 wrote:

I heard it was a shortening of "Those ...... Dutch ........................ " but i could be wrong! :lol:

Shadow wrote:

...the name "Netherlands" was adopted not to offend those poor agricultural provinces

James,

please no swearing even in jest (my opinion), also my opinion you would not happy if I called the English "A nation of shop keepers"

jg101 · Post Number:#6 **Posted:** 28 Aug 2010 09:46

Sorry no offence meant at all, was a quote I read recently in a book which took a satirical look at history and summed up the English as " not quite as bad as the Nazis"

Shadow · Post Number:#7 **Posted:** 28 Aug 2010 10:02

No James, Limburg was never accepted as part, they somehow sneaked in. :roll:

Voyager · Post Number:# **Posted:** 28 Aug 2010 10:17

Shadow wrote:

No James, Limburg was never accepted as part, they somehow sneaked in. :roll:

What's wrong with Limburg? [surprised.gif]

What about Eastern/Southern Netherlands?

Markje · Post Number:#9 **Posted:** 28 Aug 2010 10:41

Voyager wrote:

Shadow wrote:

No James, Limburg was never accepted as part, they somehow sneaked in. :roll:

What's wrong with Limburg? [surprised.gif]

What about Eastern/Southern Netherlands?

Eastern Netherlands is mostly argicultural , southern used to be mining but now thats closed down and it switched to tourism.

Voyager · Post Number:# **Posted:** 28 Aug 2010 10:45

Markje wrote:

Voyager wrote:

Shadow wrote:

No James, Limburg was never accepted as part, they somehow sneaked in. :roll:

What's wrong with Limburg? [surprised.gif]

What about Eastern/Southern Netherlands?

Eastern Netherlands is mostly argicultural , southern used to be mining but now thats closed down and it switched to tourism.

What is there to see in the south? Maastricht area?

Why we call them Dutch?

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