Doe Normaalonder de rivieren
What does 'onder de rivieren' mean?
Meaning
- onder de rivieren
- south of the big rivers (Rhine, Waal, Maas)The informal border between the Catholic, carnaval-loving south and the rest of the country.
- boven de rivieren
- north of the big rivers
- carnaval
- carnival, celebrated in February
The Rhine, Waal and Maas cut the Netherlands in two. Onder de rivieren is the south (Brabant and Limburg), traditionally Catholic and known for carnaval. Boven de rivieren is the rest.
During carnaval in February, the south dresses up and parties for days, while most people boven de rivieren just go to work.
Examples
Onder de rivieren vieren ze carnaval.
South of the rivers they celebrate carnival.
Hij komt van boven de rivieren.
He's from up north.
Seen in Doe Normaal
Carnaval wordt vooral in het zuiden gevierd, in Brabant en Limburg: 'onder de rivieren'. Tijdens carnaval heet Den Bosch ineens Oeteldonk en loopt iedereen in rood-wit-geel. Boven de rivieren gaan de meeste mensen gewoon naar hun werk.
A culture note in Doe Normaal