Various Dutches

There are two things I can’t stand: people who are intolerant of other people’s cultures, and the Dutch.

 - Austin Powers

previously mentioned the state of industrial regression known as Dutch disease.

If you are familiar with English and German, you can read a fair bit of Dutch.

You’ve also heard the phrase ‘Dutch courage’, i.e. the bravery that comes from being drunk. Turns out that’s one of many disparaging terms developed by, surprise surprise, the English (who apparently hadn’t yet learned that you can’t make yourself look smart by mocking other people).

In chess, I used to play the Dutch defense (1.d4 f5), which got its name not as a perjorative but which is widely regarded as positionally suspect. It’s like a lot of positionally suspect openings – fun when you’re winning, but more often you aren’t.

13 Responses to “Various Dutches”


  1. 1 Liquid Egg Product June 12, 2009 at 10:51 am

    There was that Dr. Pepper commercial where a basketball game was being played in traditional Dutch clothing. A fan was holding up a sign declaring “Can’t Dutch this”.

  2. 3 blunderprone June 14, 2009 at 7:21 pm

    Wow Greg, was that a vintage work out video or a public service announcement?

  3. 4 Derek Slater June 15, 2009 at 3:07 pm

    Brilliant contributions.

    I guess “Pass The Dutchie” refers to a different kind of Dutch altogether.

  4. 5 Wahrheit June 15, 2009 at 6:25 pm

    It refers not to a different kind, but Da Kind.

  5. 6 Howard June 16, 2009 at 8:22 am

    What would Curdo have to say about all this?

  6. 7 Wahrheit June 16, 2009 at 11:12 am

    He would say, “Pass the Dutchie, please.” Wait, that was my old buddy “Bogart.” Isn’t Curdo the guy who has won like 1,300 tournaments, a real kick-ass kind of fellow? Does he play the Dutch? Just trying to learn something here.

  7. 8 Matt P June 16, 2009 at 12:58 pm

    There’s “Dutch oven,” which is just a pot buried in the ground over some hot coals.

  8. 9 Matt P June 16, 2009 at 1:11 pm

    Also, there’s “going Dutch” on a date; implying cheapness (or is it “frugality”) in the male of the species.

  9. 10 Derek Slater June 16, 2009 at 4:04 pm

    Wahrheit – Curdo plays the Leningrad Dutch. (Like our friend Matt P. here)

  10. 11 Matt P June 17, 2009 at 8:08 am

    And 1.f4!, The Dutch Reversed (occasionally).

  11. 12 blunderprone June 17, 2009 at 8:50 am

    Matt, your giving us the Bird? ( 1.f4)

  12. 13 Matt P June 24, 2009 at 11:20 am

    It is a little flighty.


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