• Rob Bos@lemmy.ca
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    11 hours ago

    The Anglo-Dutch wars. William of Orange landed troops in London in 1688 and took the throne with Mary II. It’s more complicated than that, but it was a whole Thing. Charles II died, leaving James II in charge, but Catholicism was on the way out, and conveniently, William of Orange, a Protestant, was married to Mary II.

    The undercurrent of anti-Dutch sentiment started back then still has remnants in the language. See “going Dutch” “Dutch courage” “Dutch treat” “Dutch uncle”. :)

    I’m mostly teasing. It’s more funny than serious.

    • Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk
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      9 hours ago

      Hrrrm. But, going Dutch and Dutch courage don’t have any specifically anti-Dutch connotation in modern usage and I’ve never heard of a Dutch treat or a Dutch uncle. At least you chaps aren’t French!

      • Rob Bos@lemmy.ca
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        9 hours ago

        Amen. About the only thing that unites Quebec with the rest of Canada is a mutual distaste for the French.