Chapter 16: Vocabulary - Current Affairs and News

Introduction: Understanding the World Around You

Being able to understand and discuss current affairs (de actualiteit) and news (het nieuws) is a key component of B2 proficiency. This requires specific vocabulary related to politics, economics, social issues, international relations, and the media itself.

This chapter provides essential vocabulary to help you follow the news in Dutch.

Key Vocabulary Areas

Politics and Government (Politiek en Overheid):

de regering (the government)
de premier / de minister-president (prime minister)
de minister (minister)
het parlement (parliament)
de Tweede Kamer / de Eerste Kamer (Lower House / Upper House - Dutch Parliament)
de verkiezingen (elections)
stemmen (op) (to vote (for))
de politieke partij (political party)
links / rechts / centrum (left / right / center - political spectrum)
de wet (the law)
het wetsvoorstel (bill, proposed law)
het debat (debate)
de oppositie (opposition)
de coalitie (coalition)
binnenlands / buitenlands (domestic / foreign)
internationaal (international)

Economics and Finance (Economie en Financiën):

de economie (economy)
economische groei (economic growth)
de recessie (recession)
de inflatie (inflation)
de werkloosheid (unemployment)
de arbeidsmarkt (job market)
het bedrijf / de onderneming (company, business)
de markt (market)
de handel (trade, commerce)
de export / de import (export / import)
de belastingen (taxes)
de begroting (budget)
de schuld (debt)
de rente (interest rate)
de aandelenbeurs (stock exchange)

Social Issues (Maatschappelijke Kwesties):

de samenleving / de maatschappij (society)
sociale zekerheid (social security)
de gezondheidszorg (healthcare)
het onderwijs (education)
het milieu (environment)
klimaatverandering (climate change)
duurzaamheid (sustainability)
immigratie / migratie (immigration / migration)
integratie (integration)
discriminatie (discrimination)
gelijkheid (equality)
armoede (poverty)
criminaliteit (crime)
de veiligheid (safety, security)

Conflicts and International Relations (Conflicten en Internationale Betrekkingen):

het conflict (conflict)
de oorlog (war)
de vrede (peace)
de onderhandelingen (negotiations)
het verdrag (treaty)
de diplomatie (diplomacy)
de ambassade (embassy)
de vluchteling (refugee)
de hulpverlening (aid, relief work)
de spanning (tension)
de crisis (crisis)
de Verenigde Naties (VN) (United Nations - UN)
de Europese Unie (EU) (European Union - EU)

Media and News Reporting (Media en Nieuwsberichtgeving):

het nieuws (the news)
de krant (newspaper)
het journaal (news broadcast - TV)
de website (website)
de bron (source)
het artikel (article)
de journalist (journalist)
de verslaggever (reporter)
het interview (interview)
de persconferentie (press conference)
het bericht (report, message)
de kop / de titel (headline / title)
objectief / subjectief (objective / subjective)
betrouwbaar (reliable)

Strategies for Learning News Vocabulary

Read/Watch Dutch News Regularly: Start with headlines, then try short articles or news summaries (e.g., NOS Journaal, RTL Nieuws, NU.nl, newspapers like NRC, Volkskrant).
Use News Apps/Websites: Many have sections for domestic, foreign, economic news, etc.
Focus on Recurring Themes: Notice which words appear often in relation to specific topics.
Don't Try to Understand Everything: Aim for the main points first. Look up key unknown words.
Discuss the News (if possible): Talking about current events helps solidify vocabulary.

Understanding news and current affairs requires a specific set of vocabulary related to politics, economics, social issues, and the media. By actively engaging with Dutch news sources and learning the key terms in these areas, you can significantly improve your comprehension and ability to discuss what's happening in the Netherlands and the world at a B2 level.