in case you were wondering...

[Here is my translation of the post from yesterday, for the benefit of the English-speakers who visit this blog:]

Why do so few Dutch bloggers write in Dutch?

I know a lot of people from the Netherlands who enjoy blogging (just as much as I do). Various people with various perspectives... And I appreciate their way of thinking and writing that is certainly different than an American perspective. But for whatever reason, the vast majority of Dutch bloggers write (for the most part) in English... Why?

I can imagine that you might be able to reach a wider audience with English. You could probably get more little red dots on your ClusterMap with English (since it's become somewhat of a world language)... But by the same token, I can imagine that it's a good bit more difficult as well. And that you miss something (at least, I know that I have problems just trying to create a single post in my second language). Don't you think so?

Actually, I observe a unique cultural value in this phenomenon. Dutch people are very practical. And smart. And flexible (at least in some things)... And they're not proud (at least not when it comes to their language) -- like the French (just to give an easy example). Perhaps as a relatively small country stuck between big, power-hungry countries like Germany, France, and England, the Dutch have been forced to forge an identity from tolerance, cultural flexibility, and a practical attitude toward things such as language. And truthfully, I think this is admirable. But also a bit sad...

I wish that there were more good Dutch poems and songs. More good Dutch-language films and television programs... More Dutch blogs.

Thus, I ask: Why do so few Dutch bloggers write in Dutch? I'm curious.