News

News stories

Keep up to date with all the happenings in Dutch Studies.
image of a hand with a piece of chalk and the words Kom Terug (come back) to announce a play on 14 March at 7.30 in the Drama studio

Kom Terug: Dutch Performance 2023

What do existential dinosaurs, falafel and criminally slow texting have in common? They all featured in Week One of the rehearsals for the Dutch Society play of course! 
Student showing little Miffy doll

Language tips for Dutch confidence

You can't beat that Third Year Abroad immersive language experience, but there are plenty of ways to improve your language outside of the classroom. Hannah Bilsby, Vice President of the NV (Dutch Society) shares some fun and effective resources.
a compilation of images of the Flemish author Maurice Gilliams

Filip De Ceuster: Expert on Maurice Gilliams

As one of the few experts on Flanders' prominent author Maurice Gilliams, Sheffield’s Dr Filip De Ceuster contributed to a four-part podcast series discussing the life and works of this intriguing author.

Student on a swing smiling in a garden
Bryony on the swing during the Dutch 'Borrel' 2022

Looking back at four years in Dutch Studies

Many students at the School of Languages and Cultures choose a new language in their first or second year. When Bryony Horsey arrived in Sheffield in 2018, she decided to pick up Dutch. She graduated last summer and looks back on her experience.
7 people standing on a metal stairs in what looks like a power station. Very Berlin vibe
Such Fun Team 2022: Poppy 3rd from the left next to Rachel and Alice 2nd from the right

Dutch Studies Year Abroad: Top tips

We are about to start our Third Year Abroad preparation cycle. In Dutch Studies this means a choice of university study, teaching English, a placement, or a combination. Alice Willett and Poppy Mainwaring are currently abroad and offer advice.
5 students on bikes looking at the camera smiling

First Dutch Summer School in the UK: A summer highlight

Dutch at Sheffield, together with UCL and the University of Edinburgh, organised and delivered our first UK Summer School for Dutch under the auspices of the Association for Low Countries Studies (ALCS). Sheffield student Emma Halliburton reports.
Group of students smiling and cheering

Welcome from the Dutch Society 2022-23

Welkom bij de Nederlandse Vereniging! We are happy to introduce the new committee members of the Dutch Society 2022 and to present our plans for the next academic year.
Two young women smiling with ice cream in their hands
Taalunie Language Assistants Kirith Bongaards (Utrecht) and Rebecca Langenkamp (Nijmegen)

In praise of our Taalunie Language Assistants

Each year at Sheffield we welcome our Taalunie Language Assistants. These students from the Netherlands or Flanders bring their up-to-date language and experience to our language sessions. We talked to Kirith and Rebecca about their experience.

Three students in gowns smiling
Lydia Cope (ALCS Essay Prize), Gemma Blacker (ALCS UG Dissertation Prize), Jordi Briton (Netherlands Embassy Book Prize))

Congratulations to our graduates and award winners

It is that festive time in our academic year. We celebrate the success of all our students and we add a special mention to our university and national award winners.
Dutch word with a drawing of 4 male figures who walk up and down to illustrate the meaning of the word ijsberen: to pace up and down impatiently or with lack of purpose

My favourite word in Dutch

We all have them: favourite words. It can be the sound, the meaning, or the way it makes us feel. We conducted an entirely unscientific enquiry into favourite words during our End of Year party. We present: Sheffield's favourite Dutch words.
Two young women in front of a Dutch flag with their course book

What a difference a (first) year makes!

Looking back on their First Year, Esther and Hannah report: "When we think back to ourselves this time last year, 460 kilometres apart, in Newcastle and London respectively, it’s hard to believe that we couldn’t speak a word of Dutch."
Grouo of about 20 students with tutors and guest author
Translation Project with Taalunie guest author Rashif El Kaoui (2nd row, far left). Lauren Dalton 2nd row, right)

Dutch Finalists translate theatre text by Belgian writer Rashif El Kaoui

We were delighted to host the Belgian writer, actor, rapper and podcaster Rashif El Kaoui as our Writer in Residence 2022. Finalists in Dutch translated El Kaoui’s critically acclaimed theatre text 'De bastaard'. Lauren Dalton reports.
Student on stage with arms stretched out
Dutch Play: Baltazar Krull heeft een vraag

Dutch Play 2022: Baltazar Krull stole our hearts

Our formidable Dutch Society (Nederlandse Vereniging) put on a play on 21 March 2022. It was our contribution to the SLC Drama Festival 2022. Mari Hauer and Emma Haliburton reported on our progress: 'Baltazar Krull's heart Sings Moonshine'.

teacher surrounded by kids waving little Dutch flags. Everybody is smiling
Dutch Year Abroad: Teaching

My year abroad so far

Alisha Mallya (BAMLC German, Dutch, Luxembourgish) is on her Third Year Abroad in the Netherlands. She is studying at the University of Nijmegen and she works as an English tutor in Den Bosch. She reports on her first few weeks.

beach background with two announcements of summer courses in Dutch language summer courses

Dutch Summer School 2022

You can still enrol for the Dutch Summer School at the University of Edinburgh.

Image of author Rashif El Kaoui and announcement of his stay as guest of Dutch Studies in March 2022

Guest Author 2022: Rashif El Kaoui

We proudly announce our Taalunie Writer in Residence 2022, the Flemish writer, actor, and podcaster Rashif El Kaoui. We will translate extracts from his latest stage play 'De bastaard' into English. And you can all meet him.

small collar made of copper with a crest

Representing Slavery. Comparing Museums in the UK, the Netherlands & Belgium

The Netherlands, Belgium and Britain are now beginning to explore their legacy of slavery. Catherine Newell looked at the representation of slavery and colonialism in her recent SURE project. She turned her findings into a podcast.
Student showing magazine with big smile

Literary Translation: 21 Magazine

John Cairns knew he enjoyed literary translation. When he was offered the opportunity to join a platform for international writers and translators, he said YES. A year later he presents the results.

Zoom overview shot 25 faces of all ages

Anglo-Netherlands Society Awards 2021

Each year, the Anglo-Netherlands Society awards two generous prizes: the ANS Essay Prize and the ANS Podcast Prize. The prize is open to Second Year students of Dutch at Sheffield.

image of newspaper clipping of Suriname newspaper and websites

Beyond the academy: Our translation travels far and wide

Few things are more rewarding than seeing your work travel! Together with our colleagues at UCL, Sheffield students tackled the translation of a text written by Taalunie Writer in Residence, Tessa Leuwsha. And the result reached South-America.
Young woman and young man smiling

Looking Back: Our first year in Dutch Studies

Now that we can meet up indoors again, students Alice Willett (Dutch, German, Spanish) and Theo Taylor (Dutch, Spanish & linguistics) got together for ‘een lekker kopje koffie’ and looked back on their first year in Dutch Studies.
student teacher in front of classroom with children sticking up their fingers

2021 Dutch Year Abroad: Teaching English

John Cairns (BAMLC Spanish, Dutch, German) is currently teaching English in the Netherlands. He reports on his experience so far. On a Year Abroad in times of Covid and on some unexpected discoveries.

Catherine Newell next to SURE logo

Dutch Studies SURE project

Sheffield's SURE scheme offers a summer research scholarship for undergraduate students. Catherine Newell managed to secure funding for her project looking at the representation of slavery in museums in Liverpool, Amsterdam and Brussels.

Group of students with thumbs up in tulip field
Committee Nederlandse Vereniging

Dutch Student Society NV: Ambitions for 2021/22

We are happy to introduce ourselves AND our plans for the next academic year: Welkom bij de nieuwe Nederlandse Vereniging Committee voor 2021/22!

group of students in Weston Park in Sheffield at the start of the academic year

Dutch for non-specialists and visiting students

Adriane is a student at one of Sheffield's partner universities in Germany. In 2021-22 she spent a semester in Sheffield and studied Dutch as a Language for all student. This is what she thought of it.

poster with bright colour to advertise creative writing workshop

Two creative writing workshops in October

In 2020 Catherine Newell (BAMLC) won the Write Now! Worldwide writing competition organised by Passionate Bulkboek. For the 2021 we want You! to get involved. Join us for our two creative writing workshops!
Screen shot of students in online conference with Laurence Scott

Expert advice: A visit from writer and broadcaster Laurence Scott

For the second year running, students on our Dutch culture project 'Towards a New Pastoral' are presenting their research in the form of a podcast. Time to bring in an expert: BBC Radio 3 presenter and author Laurence Scott.
overview of page with various learning materials

Creative Translation in Schools

Dutch at Sheffield, together with The Queen's College Oxford’s Translation Exchange, developed a new outreach project for the School of Languages and Cultures. 'Haughty Henriette' is ready for local schools.
student in Brussels' main square with Belgian flag in the background

2021 Year Abroad: How Brussels found me

While Covid tests our patience and while a post Brexit world does not make it easier to study or work in Europe, we still cannot stop the positive energy from flowing. Here is June Dawson, reporting from Brussels.