A Dictionary of Dutchness

Groot Dictee

The Groot Dictee der Nederlandse Taal (great Dutch language dictation test) is always broadcast live on television from the senate (upper house of parliament) where 30 celebrities from politics, sport and entertainment plus 30 ordinary folk (winners of a competition in the Volkskrant and the Flemish newspaper the Standaard) battle it out. Is it pannekoek or pannenkoek? Much to the horror of the Dutch, the Belgians very often win.