Dutch Conversation-Grammar 1732 Studios

Dutch · Unit 20

Unit 8: Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk

Refresher Course, Book I

Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk

177 lines

Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk: the narrative

The narrative

Each unit of Book I opens with a short account of one side of life in Holland. The 1961 speaker reads it at the speed of ordinary speech.

Read each sentence, then listen to it. The English is beside it. The words of the narrative come back in every section that follows, so this reading is the ground of the unit.

  1. 1

    Did the Dutch have an Empire?

    Haddento have, to have had
    dethe
    HollandersHollanders
    eena
    wereldrijk?empire
  2. 2

    There is not much to be seen of it at present.

  3. 3

    Maybe that is why this question is asked in such a skeptical tone of voice.

  4. 4

    New Guinea, Surinam and six islands in the Caribbean – these are the only territories remaining of the empire, which was at its peak in the 17th century, the “Golden Age” of Holland.

  5. 5

    That was the age of glory of the East and West Indies Companies.

  6. 6

    This was the time when the Dutch fleet defeated the Spanish and English fleets several times.

  7. 7

    Every Dutchman, for or against colonisation, is proud of his “Golden Age”.

I. Narrative

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 25: Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk.

The section appearing as "I. Narrative" presents an account, read at normal conversational speed, of an historical or cultural facet of life in Holland, and is accompanied by both Dutch and English texts.
  1. 8

    The Dutch fleet protected the seas, and the Dutch merchants were looking for new markets everywhere.

  2. 9

    They had possessions in South America and reigned over the Dutch Indies.

  3. 10

    And before being defeated by the English with their great military might, the Dutch also possessed South Africa, the Hudson Valley and the ports of Ceylon and India.

  4. 11

    In Europe the Dutch set the fashion in different areas.

  5. 12

    In that time there lived the painters Rembrandt and Jan Steen, the philosophers Spinoza and Grotius, the scientists Huygens and van Leeuwenhoek.

  6. 13

    But Holland is a small country; and after England had conquered the greater part of its overseas territories, Holland’s leading role was finished.

  7. 14

    In commerce and in finance, Holland still occupies an important place.

  8. 15

    But the glory of the “Golden Age” is long past.

  9. 16

    The Dutch are very proud of their past which produced so many famous men and during which time they possessed an empire that was respected by all.

Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk: vocabulary, part 1 (1)

Vocabulary practice

These are the words and phrases of the narrative, one at a time, in the speaker's voice.

Listen to each one, then say it. The scorer on the device compares your reading with the speaker's and shows which sounds matched.

  1. 17

    het koninkrijk

    the kingdom

  2. 18

    tegenwoordig

    at the present time, nowadays

  3. 19

    een vraag stellen

    to put a question

  4. 20

    ongelovig

    disbelieving, doubting, skeptical

  5. 21

    misschien

    perhaps, maybe

  6. 22

    het gebied

    the area, territory

  7. 23

    overblijven

    to remain, to be left over

A. Vocabulary Practice

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 25: Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk. Learning the Narrative, Part 1.

This part contains words and phrases which you will later hear used in the narrative sections of this unit. On tape you will hear the word or phrase in Dutch, then in English. You will immediately repeat the Dutch word or phrase on tape in the pause left for this purpose. The native speaker will then repeat the word or phrase in Dutch as a guide to good pronunciation before continuing with the new word or phrase in both Dutch and English.

Before moving on to the next part of this lesson, try doing the vocabulary practice again with your book closed.

Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk: vocabulary, part 1 (2)

  1. 24

    de tijd

    the time

  2. 25

    verslaan

    to defeat

  3. 26

    de vloot

    the fleet

Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk: oral reading, part 1

Oral reading

The narrative's sentences come back in the book's variations: a change of tense, of case, of modifier. They build up to the sentence as the narrative has it.

Say each variation after the speaker. The sentence marked as basic is the narrative's own, and it closes the run.

  1. 27

    Holland is a Kingdom

  2. 28

    Japan is an empire

  3. 29

    Did the Dutch have an empire?

  4. 30

    I can’t see it

  5. 31

    I can’t see much of it

  6. 32

    There isn’t much to be seen of it

  7. 33

    At present, there’s not much to be seen of it.

B. Oral Reading Comprehension

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 25: Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk. Learning the Narrative, Part 1.

The sentences of the narrative now appear in a variety of grammatical patterns to facilitate the learning process. Repeat each phrase or sentence on tape after the native speaker, building up to sentences which are contextually equivalent to those in the narrative. At the end of each quarter these sentences appear in their natural contextual sequence on tape and in the book. Repeat each sentence after the native speaker.
  1. 34

    He asks a question

  2. 35

    He asked a question

  3. 36

    He had asked a question

  4. 37

    This question is asked in a skeptical tone of voice

  5. 38

    Maybe that’s why this question is asked in a skeptical tone of voice.

  6. 39

    The territory remains

  7. 40

    The territory remained

  1. 41

    The territory had remained

  2. 42

    New Guinea, Surinam and six islands in the Caribbean are the only territories remaining of the empire.

  3. 43

    It was the time of the East Indies Company

  4. 44

    It was the time of the West Indies Company

  5. 45

    That was the age of glory of the East and West Indies Companies.

  6. 46

    The Dutch fleet defeats the English

  7. 47

    The Dutch fleet defeated the English

  1. 48

    The Dutch fleet has defeated the English

  2. 49

    That was the time when the Dutch fleet defeated the Spanish and English fleets.

  3. 50

    Did the Dutch have an empire?

  4. 51

    At present, there’s not much to be seen of it.

  5. 52

    Maybe that’s why this question is asked in a skeptical tone of voice.

  6. 53

    New Guinea, Surinam and six islands in the Caribbean are the only territories remaining of the empire.

  7. 54

    That was the age of glory of the East and West Indies Companies.

  8. 55

    That was the time when the Dutch fleet defeated the Spanish and English fleets.

Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk: vocabulary, part 2

  1. 56

    zoeken

    to search for, look for

  2. 57

    overal

    everywhere

  3. 58

    beheersen

    to rule

  4. 59

    spreken

    to speak

  5. 60

    de vallei

    the valley

A. Vocabulary Practice

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 25: Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk. Learning the Narrative, Part 2.

This part contains words and phrases which you will later hear used in the narrative sections of this unit. On tape you will hear the word or phrase in Dutch, then in English. You will immediately repeat the Dutch word or phrase on tape in the pause left for this purpose. The native speaker will then repeat the word or phrase in Dutch as a guide to good pronunciation before continuing with the new word or phrase in both Dutch and English.

Before moving on to the next part of this lesson, try doing the vocabulary practice again with your book closed.

Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk: oral reading, part 2

  1. 61

    The merchants are looking for new markets

  2. 62

    The merchants were looking for new markets

  3. 63

    The merchants have been looking for new markets

  4. 64

    The Dutch merchants were looking everywhere for new markets.

  5. 65

    They possess land

  6. 66

    They possessed land

  7. 67

    They have possessed land

B. Oral Reading Comprehension

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 25: Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk. Learning the Narrative, Part 2.

The sentences of the narrative now appear in a variety of grammatical patterns to facilitate the learning process. Repeat each phrase or sentence on tape after the native speaker, building up to sentences which are contextually equivalent to those in the narrative. At the end of each quarter these sentences appear in their natural contextual sequence on tape and in the book. Repeat each sentence after the native speaker.
  1. 68

    They had possessions in South Africa and South America.

  2. 69

    They rule the country

  3. 70

    They ruled the country

  4. 71

    They have ruled the country

  5. 72

    They reign in the country

  6. 73

    The Dutch were rulers in the Netherlands East Indies.

  7. 74

    In England one speaks English

  1. 75

    The English speak English

  2. 76

    Before the English defeated them, the Dutch also possessed the Hudson Valley.

  3. 77

    The Dutch merchants were looking everywhere for new markets.

  4. 78

    They had possessions in South Africa and South America.

  5. 79

    The Dutch were rulers in the Netherlands East Indies.

  6. 80

    Before the English defeated them, the Dutch also possessed the Hudson Valley.

Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk: vocabulary, part 3 (1)

  1. 81

    de toon aangeven

    to set the fashion

  2. 82

    leven

    to live

  3. 83

    over de zee varen

    to sail the sea

  4. 84

    de zee overvaren

    to sail across the sea

  5. 85

    overzee

    overseas, abroad

  6. 86

    in beslag nemen

    to confiscate

  7. 87

    een leidinggevende rol

    a leading role

A. Vocabulary Practice

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 25: Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk. Learning the Narrative, Part 3.

This part contains words and phrases which you will later hear used in the narrative sections of this unit. On tape you will hear the word or phrase in Dutch, then in English. You will immediately repeat the Dutch word or phrase on tape in the pause left for this purpose. The native speaker will then repeat the word or phrase in Dutch as a guide to good pronunciation before continuing with the new word or phrase in both Dutch and English.

Before moving on to the next part of this lesson, try doing the vocabulary practice again with your book closed.

Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk: vocabulary, part 3 (2)

  1. 88

    een plaats innemen

    to take one’s place, to occupy a position

  2. 89

    de handel

    trade

  3. 90

    trots zijn op

    to be proud of

Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk: oral reading, part 3

  1. 91

    They set the fashion

  2. 92

    They set the fashion

  3. 93

    They have set the fashion

  4. 94

    They were fashion-setting

  5. 95

    In Europe, the Dutch set the fashion in other areas.

  6. 96

    Rembrandt lives at that time

  7. 97

    Rembrandt lived at that time

B. Oral Reading Comprehension

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 25: Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk. Learning the Narrative, Part 3.

The sentences of the narrative now appear in a variety of grammatical patterns to facilitate the learning process. Repeat each phrase or sentence on tape after the native speaker, building up to sentences which are contextually equivalent to those in the narrative. At the end of each quarter these sentences appear in their natural contextual sequence on tape and in the book. Repeat each sentence after the native speaker.
  1. 98

    Rembrandt has lived at that time

  2. 99

    At that time, the painters Rembrandt and Jan Steen were living.

  3. 100

    He sails over the sea

  4. 101

    He sails over the sea

  5. 102

    The land abroad

  6. 103

    The overseas territory

  7. 104

    England incorporated a great deal of the overseas territory into its own domain.

  1. 105

    Holland has the lead

  2. 106

    Holland gives the directions

  3. 107

    Holland is leading

  4. 108

    Holland plays a leading role

  5. 109

    After that, Holland’s leading role was over.

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    The Netherlands continue to occupy a place

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    The Netherlands occupied a place

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    The Netherlands continued occupying a place

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    In commerce and in finance, the Netherlands continued occupying an important position.

  3. 114

    This happened long ago

  4. 115

    This happened in the past

  5. 116

    The Dutch are proud of their past.

  6. 117

    In Europe, the Dutch set the fashion in other areas.

  7. 118

    At that time, the painters Rembrandt and Jan Steen were living.

  1. 119

    England incorporated a great deal of the overseas territory into its own domain.

  2. 120

    After that, Holland’s leading role was over.

  3. 121

    In commerce and in finance, the Netherlands continued occupying an important position.

  4. 122

    The Dutch are proud of their past.

Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk: vocabulary, part 4

  1. 123

    beroemd

    famous

  2. 124

    iedereen

    everybody, all

  3. 125

    respecteren

    to respect

  4. 126

    het goud

    gold

  5. 127

    het zilver

    silver

  6. 128

    voorbij

    past, gone

  7. 129

    het rijk (f.)

    the empire

A. Vocabulary Practice

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 25: Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk. Learning the Narrative, Part 4.

This part contains words and phrases which you will later hear used in the narrative sections of this unit. On tape you will hear the word or phrase in Dutch, then in English. You will immediately repeat the Dutch word or phrase on tape in the pause left for this purpose. The native speaker will then repeat the word or phrase in Dutch as a guide to good pronunciation before continuing with the new word or phrase in both Dutch and English.

Before moving on to the next part of this lesson, try doing the vocabulary practice again with your book closed.

Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk: oral reading, part 4

  1. 130

    It produces famous men

  2. 131

    It produced famous men

  3. 132

    It has produced famous men

  4. 133

    Holland has produced so many famous men.

  5. 134

    Everybody respects the empire

  6. 135

    Everybody respected the empire

  7. 136

    Everybody has respected the empire

B. Oral Reading Comprehension

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 25: Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk. Learning the Narrative, Part 4.

The sentences of the narrative now appear in a variety of grammatical patterns to facilitate the learning process. Repeat each phrase or sentence on tape after the native speaker, building up to sentences which are contextually equivalent to those in the narrative. At the end of each quarter these sentences appear in their natural contextual sequence on tape and in the book. Repeat each sentence after the native speaker.
  1. 137

    They possessed an empire that was respected by everybody.

  2. 138

    The “Golden Age” is over

  3. 139

    The “Golden Age” is past

  4. 140

    The “Golden Age” is past forever.

  5. 141

    But the glory of the “Golden Age” is past forever.

  6. 142

    Holland has produced so many famous men.

  7. 143

    They possessed an empire that was respected by everybody.

  8. 144

    But the glory of the “Golden Age” is past forever.

Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk: check-up

Check-up

Two speakers put the narrative as questions and answers.

Answer each question from what the narrative said, then say the answer. Later sections ask the same questions without the text, so answer from memory where you can.

  1. 145

    When did the empire of the Dutch exist?

  2. 146

    Why is this question asked in such a skeptical tone of voice?

  3. 147

    What’s left of it?

  4. 148

    What was the reason for Holland’s strength in the 17th century?

  5. 149

    The Dutch empire existed mainly in the 17th century – Holland’s “Golden Age”.

  6. 150

    This question is asked in such a skeptical tone of voice because, nowadays, there is not much to be seen of the Dutch empire.

  7. 151

    The only territories left are New Guinea, Surinam and six islands in the Caribbean.

  8. 152

    The reason for Holland’s strength was its fleet that protected the seas and that conquered the fleets of England and of Spain.

II. Check-Up

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 26: Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk.

The material of the narrative is now presented in still another form to assist you further in completely assimilating the narrative. You will repeat both questions and answers based on the narrative material after the native speaker. Do this section thoroughly since you will be expected in the sections that follow to answer as well as ask these questions from memory.
  1. 153

    Why were all those new territories conquered?

  2. 154

    Which territories belonged to the Dutch empire?

  3. 155

    How did Holland lose these territories?

  4. 156

    What were the consequences of this for Holland?

  5. 157

    In what fields did Holland continue to occupy an important position?

  6. 158

    Why are the Dutch proud of their past?

  7. 159

    The new territories were used by the Dutch merchants as new markets.

  8. 160

    The Dutch had possessions in South America and South Africa; they also had the Dutch East Indies, the Hudson Valley, and the harbors of India and Ceylon.

  9. 161

    England conquered the bigger part of Holland’s overseas territories: others obtained independence.

  10. 162

    The consequences were that the leading role of Holland was over.

  11. 163

    Holland continued to occupy an important position in commerce and in finance.

  12. 164

    The Dutch are proud that Holland produced so many famous men and that it possessed an empire respected by all.

Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk: the dialog

A conversation to listen to

Two Dutch speakers talk about the matter of the narrative, recorded without a script.

Listen first with the text, then without it. The aim is to follow the whole conversation by ear.

  1. 165

    I was leafing through the last number of “Western Civilization”.

  2. 166

    You mean the monthly historical magazine?

  3. 167

    Yes. It has a very well-written article about the Golden Age of Holland.

  4. 168

    Say, that is interesting! What do they write?

  5. 169

    Well, the article explains that the Dutch were able to rule their large empire because they had so many excellent men at home and because their merchants possessed so much practical experience.

  6. 170

    There is not much left of the 17th century empire. The only overseas territories I know of are New Guinea, Surinam and the six islands in the Caribbean.

  7. 171

    That’s all, yes. The article doesn’t mention all the territories the Dutch possessed. Can you tell me which they lost?

I. Dialogue for Listening

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 27: Het Nederlandse Wereldrijk.

The Dialogue for Listening section is for oral comprehension. The student should follow this section in his text, as he listens to it on tape, until such time as he can dispense with the text and understand everything from the tape alone.
  1. 172

    First, there’s the Dutch East Indies that became independent about ten years ago. Now it’s called Indonesia, as you know. People say that it was the richest colony that any country ever possessed. Then, the Dutch also owned South Africa, the Hudson Valley and the ports of India and Ceylon. These last colonies were all conquered by the English.

  2. 173

    That is a rather impressive list. Of course, the article mentioned that the Dutch East Indies thrived because of the powerful East Indies Company, a trading company that had its own army and warships.

  3. 174

    Did the article mention the cultural and scientific successes of the Dutch in the 17th century?

  4. 175

    Certainly. They mentioned the names of Grotius and Spinoza in philosophy, of the painters Frans Hals and Rembrandt, the poet and playwright Vondel, and of Huygens and van Leeuwenhoek.

  5. 176

    It seems to be a very interesting article! I think I’ll buy the latest number...

  6. 177

    If you like, you can borrow my copy.

The particulars

The course
Valette, Dutch Conversation-Grammar (1913) and its Key (1893); Defense Language Institute, Dutch Refresher Course, Books I to III (1961). Public domain. The teaching pages, the readings' English, the answers to the conversations and the narration are ours.
Reading aloud
Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
The book
Max Havelaar, the work this course leads to, free to read here.
Data
JSON · Markdown · A guide for agents
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