What does “klittenband” mean in Dutch?
Leren veters strikken zonder klittenbandschoenen
A2 Dutch listening practice · Dutch · Picked for people who know a little
Klittenband is the Dutch word for Velcro, named after the klit (burr) it imitates. Dutch kids' shoes come overwhelmingly in klittenband until around age 6-7, when teachers and parents push for the switch to veters (laces). The transition is treated as a real milestone: many Dutch primary schools award a veterstrip-diploma (shoelace certificate) to kids who can tie their own bow without help. The certificate is hung on the fridge for a week, then quietly forgotten when the laces stop being the highlight of the day.
In this clip, a Dutch mother breaks the news: “Jongens, jullie mogen vanaf nu geen schoenen meer met klittenband. Wat?” Followed by “Het wordt tijd dat jullie jouw veterstrip-diploma halen.”
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Harder words in this video
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Source: wordfreq 3.1.1 (general) · SUBTLEX-NL 2014 (spoken). These numbers are close, not perfect.
- ▸In Dutch primary-school and kindergarten content (Het Klokhuis, Schooltv, Zappelin)
- ▸In Dutch parenting writing about milestones (Kek Mama, Ouders van Nu, J/M Ouders)
- ▸In Dutch children’s-shoe retail content (Schoenenreus, HEMA, Bart Smit)
- ▸In Dutch motor-skills and occupational-therapy writing (Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu, Trouw, De Volkskrant)