Welcome to the very first edition of Weekly Dutch Content! I’m Jordan, your Dutch teacher with a passion for language and an eye for making Dutch learning fun, logical and hopefully a lot less confusing!
Whether you're just starting out or have been learning Dutch for a while, I will try to show you some of the small snippets that show my passion for Dutch.
Exciting News 🧡✨
Black Friday is just around the corner and as a valued subscriber, you’ll get exclusive early access to the Special Black Friday Offer.
Gezelligheid, pronounced [Geh-ZELL-uhG-hite], isn’t just a word—it's a way of life in the Netherlands. Think of it as "cozy togetherness". In Dutch culture, this can be something social like a gathering with friends, but it can also be a quiet coffee by candlelight on your own.
The etymology of gezellig is quite interesting:
'Gezel' used to mean 'intern' in a gilde. 'Gezel' now means companion. It is a very formal and uncommon word though.
'Gesellig' in German still means 'crowded': there are many people around, but it doesn't imply anything about a warm feeling.
There is also the word 'vrijgezel'. You might have seen this word on the dating apps. Vrijgezel means 'single' in Dutch, and it clearly has the same root as 'gezellig'; someone who is free from a companion.
Why We're All Here
A rainy but beautiful day in Tokyo 🇯🇵🥰 it was our honey moon(=huwelijksreis) last May
Some of you are here because you moved to the Netherlands to study, while others are on the path to Dutch citizenship—whether by choice, chance, or sheer determination, I get it!
My husband recently went through the entire citizenship process himself (yes, I’m now officially married to a Dutchman—still... very... weird to say!), so I know firsthand what that journey looks like.
I’m here to remind you that you can do this, and you’re in the right place for support, resources, and a few laughs along the way. Whether it’s mastering Dutch grammar, acing the inburgering exam, or just feeling more at home, I’m here to share tips, insights, and anything you need to make the path to Dutch life a bit smoother.
LANGUAGE TIP đź“Ł SAY THIS, NOT THAT
Hoe was je date?
❌ "Het was leuk..." (It was fun)
Instead, try this... âś… "Het was bijzonder gezellig!" (It was an extraordinarily perfect cosy social thing)
Learning made easy with...
Better Read I’m excited to share thisa game-changing platform that’s here to make learning Dutch a breeze! Imagine reading something in Dutch, finding a word you don’t know, and instantly getting a translation that fits the context. Learning becomes so much easier—and more interactive. Betterread.org
Ready to explore Dutch in a whole new way? Give Better Read a try and experience how fun and personalised language learning can be!
SLOW DUTCH Podcast I also have a podcast for you to practice and learn Dutch through slow and easy short stories. This Podcast is for English speakers learning Dutch and starts at A1 level, so with a tiny bit of knowledge, you can already follow quite a bit! Check it out on Spotify or YouTube. Veel plezier! = have fun!
Freebies on Jedutchy.com If you’re looking for more resources, I’ve put together a variety of free learning tools on my website, so go ahead and explore! And this week, I’ll be adding frequent Dutch verbs to my Instagram, so keep an eye out for those if you want to master verbs like a pro.
NEWS 🗞️ WEEKLY BETTER READS (by clicking these links you have direct access to translating these texts )
And here’s your heads-up: January cohorts are all planned and on the website!If you've been thinking about diving deeper into Dutch, this is your sign to sign up.
There’s a group waiting for you, ready to make learning Dutch gezellig.
