A Dictionary of Dutchness from ATV to ZZP [antikvár]

Introduction Welcome to the fully updated and revised edition of A Dictionary of Dutchness, a compilation of 400 acronyms, abbreviations and weird words which have become part of everyday life in the Netherlands. When we first embarked on this project in 2006 we did not imagine that the list would continue to grow as much as it has. New abbreviations enter the language all the time, stimulated by political and social developments as well as headline writers and spin doctors. The entries are inspired by our work for DutchNews.nl where we are often confronted with news such as 'the Hollandse Nieuwe are rather small this year' (new Dutch what?). Or that another sigarenboer has gone bankrupt (does Holland have cigar farms?). And what on earth is the difference between the NCTb and the NBTC? The Dutch are very keen that everyone who lives in the Netherlands learns the language. But it does not matter how good your Dutch is, or even if you are a native-speaker. Everyone is baffled by references to the Wajong.VAR, EPD, SDE, MNP, ATV, DigiD the list really is endless. And how many Dutch people - let alone expats - know what RAI, Horeca or ADO (Den Haag) actually stand for? So we hope A Dictionary of Dutchness will be a handy reference book for everyone — newcomers, long-term residents and Dutch people who are interested in the story behind the jargon and abbreviations.