Housing & home
At the Praxis: Getting Wood Cut to Size (Op Maat Gezaagd)
Need a shelf or panel cut precisely? Dutch DIY stores will saw wood op maat. Here is how the zaagservice works, the millimetre vocab, and how to order it.
Lawrence Arya··4 min
Phrases & daily life
Nails, Screws and Paint: Surviving the Dutch Bouwmarkt
A trip to the bouwmarkt (Gamma, Praxis) for a home project means a wall of Dutch DIY words. Here is the vocabulary for screws, paint and tools, and how to ask for help.
Lawrence Arya··4 min
Students, family & social
The Glazenwasser: How the Dutch Window-Cleaner Works
A stranger rings your bell offering to wash your windows on a rota, and wants cash. Here is how the Dutch glazenwasser works, the abonnement, and the vocab.
Lawrence Arya··4 min
Housing & home
Cold Shower? Reading Your CV-Ketel (Boiler) Error Codes
No heating or hot water? Your CV-ketel is showing a storingscode. Here is what the most common Dutch boiler errors mean, the water-pressure fix, and when to call a monteur.
Lawrence Arya··4 min
Housing & home
Get It in Writing: Asking a Dutch Tradesperson for an Offerte
A vague verbal estimate from a Dutch plumber can become a nasty bill. Here is how to ask for a proper offerte, what it should contain, and the cost vocab.
Lawrence Arya··4 min
Housing & home
Renting Tools at Hornbach or Gamma: Borg and Voorwaarden
Need a tile cutter or a drill for a weekend? Dutch DIY stores rent tools, against a deposit and ID. Here is how the verhuur works, the borg, and the vocab.
Lawrence Arya··4 min
Students, family & social
Getting Online: Setting Up Internet in the Netherlands
New flat, no wifi? Setting up Dutch internet means choosing a provider, glasvezel vs coax, and a modem. Here is how it works and the core vocabulary.
Lawrence Arya··4 min
Housing & home
Lights Out: The Dutch Meterkast (Fuse Box), Explained
Power gone in one room or the whole flat? The answer is in the meterkast. Here is how the Dutch fuse box works, how to reset a tripped group, and the vocab.
Lawrence Arya··4 min