The Dutch language may not be the prettiest to the untrained ear. But when you look beyond the strange guttural sounds it is actually a surprisingly rich language with a long history of proverbs and expressions that are still alive and well in everyday use.
If you are taking a Dutch language course, you can impress your teacher with one of our 15 favourite winter-related Dutch proverbs!
These five Dutch proverbs all use the word "winter":
- Literal translation: When the days get longer, winter gets colder.
- Meaning: The coldest part of winter comes after the shortest day.
- Literal translation: One crow does not make winter. The bonte kraai is a species of crow that spends the winter in the Netherlands.
- Meaning: Just one example is not enough for a definitive conclusion.
- Literal translation: Mild winters fat graveyards.
- Meaning: Mild winters often led to more disease than cold winters.
- Literal translation: One hears from faraway that the winter is cold.
- Meaning: It becomes quickly known when there is danger somewhere.
- Literal translation: That’s how Jan Splinter gets through the winter.
- Meaning: That’s how poor people get through the winter.
These six Dutch sayings all use the word "ice":
- Literal translation: When the calves dance on the ice.
- Meaning: Never.
- Literal translation: When the water goes down, the ice cracks.
- Meaning: Every cause has an effect.
- Literal translation: Going onto the ice with clogs.
- Meaning: Going where you don’t belong, being careless.
- Literal translation: To keep one's clogs off the ice.
- Meaning: Minding your own business.
- Literal translation: Not walking over ice formed after one night.
- Meaning: Thinking before you act.
- Literal translation: Venturing onto slick ice.
- Meaning: Talking about something you know very little about.
These two Dutch expressions are all about snow:
- Literal translation: The angels are fluffing their pillows.
- Meaning: It snows.
- Literal translation: April sweet, sometimes has a white hat.
- Meaning: It can snow in the beginning of April.
A couple of Dutch proverbs about freezing:
- Literal translation: On old ice it freezes lightly.
- Meaning: An old buried hurt or love can quickly surface again.
- Literal translation: It can freeze and it can thaw.
- Meaning: It can go either way.
Have you encountered any of these? Do you know any other seasonal proverbs that are related to winter in the Netherlands?
Source: Woorden.org