All Episodes

November 2, 2025 17 mins
Fluent Fiction - Dutch: From Canvas to Critics: A Night of Art and Breakthroughs
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/nl/episode/2025-11-02-08-38-20-nl

Story Transcript:

Nl: De lucht was grijs boven Amsterdam, bladeren dwarrelden naar beneden in de koele bries van de herfst.
En: The sky was gray above Amsterdam, leaves swirling down in the cool autumn breeze.

Nl: Binnen in het Van Gogh Museum hing een warme sfeer, met zachte lampen die de kunstwerken verlichtten.
En: Inside the Van Gogh Museum hung a warm atmosphere, with soft lights illuminating the artworks.

Nl: Het was de avond van een belangrijke evenement: de lancering van een nieuwe kunsttentoonstelling.
En: It was the evening of an important event: the launch of a new art exhibition.

Nl: Sander stond bij de ingang.
En: Sander stood by the entrance.

Nl: Zijn ogen glansden van opwinding.
En: His eyes gleamed with excitement.

Nl: Hij werkte maanden aan deze tentoonstelling en dit zou zijn grote doorbraak kunnen zijn.
En: He had been working on this exhibition for months, and this could be his big breakthrough.

Nl: Hij keek uit naar het succes van deze avond.
En: He looked forward to the success of this evening.

Nl: De reputatie van het museum en zijn carrière stonden op het spel.
En: The museum's reputation and his career were at stake.

Nl: Aan de andere kant van de zaal stond Maarten.
En: On the other side of the hall stood Maarten.

Nl: Hij was nerveus, zijn handen zweeterig.
En: He was nervous, his hands sweaty.

Nl: Zijn werk hing hier, voor het eerst in zo'n prestigieuze ruimte.
En: His work was displayed here for the first time in such a prestigious venue.

Nl: De schilderijen vertelden verhalen die diep persoonlijk waren.
En: The paintings told stories that were deeply personal.

Nl: Toch twijfelde hij of de bezoekers zijn visie zouden begrijpen.
En: Yet he doubted whether the visitors would understand his vision.

Nl: Enkele gasten kwamen binnendruppelen.
En: A few guests began to trickle in.

Nl: Onder hen was Anouk, de beroemde kunstcriticus.
En: Among them was Anouk, the famous art critic.

Nl: Ze was streng en nieuwsgierig, altijd op zoek naar de waarheid in kunstwerken.
En: She was strict and curious, always looking for the truth in artworks.

Nl: De laatste tijd had ze nieuwkomers genadeloos beoordeeld, en dat maakte zowel Sander als Maarten nerveus.
En: Lately, she had been reviewing newcomers mercilessly, and that made both Sander and Maarten nervous.

Nl: "Sander," zei Anouk, haar ogen speurend langs de schilderijen.
En: "Sander," said Anouk, her eyes scanning the paintings.

Nl: "Wil je me rondleiden?"
En: "Would you like to give me a tour?"

Nl: "Zeker," antwoordde Sander, zijn stem vastberaden.
En: "Certainly," Sander replied, his voice determined.

Nl: "Ik wil je graag Maartens werk laten zien."
En: "I would love to show you Maarten's work."

Nl: Ze liepen samen door de tentoonstelling.
En: They walked through the exhibition together.

Nl: Sander vertelde gepassioneerd over Maartens inspiratie en technieken.
En: Sander spoke passionately about Maarten's inspiration and techniques.

Nl: Hij hoopte dat zijn uitleg Anouk zou overtuigen.
En: He hoped that his explanation would convince Anouk.

Nl: Toen ze bij Maartens centrale stuk kwamen, bleef Anouk staan.
En: When they reached Maarten's central piece, Anouk paused.

Nl: Ze raakte de delicate balans tussen chaos en orde aan.
En: She touched on the delicate balance between chaos and order.

Nl: "Interessant," zei ze peinzend.
En: "Interesting," she said pensively.

Nl: "Ik vraag me af of de intentie helder genoeg is."
En: "I wonder if the intention is clear enough."

Nl: Maarten had alles gehoord.
En: Maarten had heard everything.

Nl: Zijn hart bonsde in zijn borst.
En: His heart was pounding in his chest.

Nl: Hier was zijn kans.
En: Here was his chance.

Nl: Hij stapte naar voren.
En: He stepped forward.

Nl: "Mevrouw Anouk," begon hij voorzichtig, "ik wil graag uitleggen wat ik bedoelde."
En: "Ms. Anouk," he began cautiously, "I would like to explain what I meant."

Nl: Anouk keek hem aan, nieuwsgierig.
En: Anouk looked at him, curious.

Nl: Maarten vertelde over zijn strijd en emoties achter het schilderij.
En: Maarten spoke about his struggles and the emotions
Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Fluid Fluent RG.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
Welcome to Fluent Fiction Dutch, the podcast where we bring
you bilingual stories to supercharge your listening comprehension. In each episode,
we'll present a short story in both English and Dutch
with the aim of helping you to improve your listening comprehension.

Speaker 3 (00:25):
In this episode, we'll uncover the power of passion and
storytelling as an artist bravely shares his vision to captivate
a discerning critic, setting the stage for an unforgettable evening
of triumph.

Speaker 4 (00:36):
Right after this commercial break.

Speaker 5 (00:42):
At Fluent Fiction, we're not just telling stories. We're bringing
the world together by learning to understand each other. By
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Your subscription not only guarantees you an uninterrupted narrative, it

(01:05):
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(01:28):
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dot org. Together we can keep the world's stories flowing.

Speaker 1 (01:45):
De l'urtos rees beauf Amsterdam, la arbinet in the bin
in King and varmersphere retzl Dinstrka frit Hadros, the afont vrom,
the belong re ki evenement, the lonceering for a newer

(02:06):
constant tone stelling, thunder stumped by the inhum zen O
Honstevon upwinding ha werked Aman, the andeset and tone stelling,
and did chausen Hro, the door brack consign hey cake
out nared success von desa Avant, the Reputatzi von ad

(02:27):
Museum and sen carrieo stunneopod spell and the under the
conte fon desal stund Martyr he was ner first sen
hondeswaiter zen Werg King here fought erst in his own
prestigious around her, the Schilderaea Foreteldo var Halle, the deep

(02:48):
person le guarre torr tweefeld hay of the Bezukars, Saint
Fizi saudbergheber Ankle, Husta quamer Benedrupele. Under hand was Annuk,
the burun de counskriticus Sa was string and use here
all tite osugna the warhead in Kunstwerger, the lats, the

(03:12):
tade hods, the newcomer's henadellospo ordels and that marked the
so well sunder as Martin evers sunder the anuk are
all huspurr and longsters Hildray William roundlede zaycer On toward
the sunder Saint stemphosperade Equilirrach Martens were clatazin slip and

(03:38):
Samma dore the tentone stelling sunder fertilderpashoneered over Marten's in
spirazzi and technique. He hoped that send outlet annuxa overture
toun sebe Martens centrales to quam lave annustan surragt the

(03:58):
daily catabalons to the house and order Anne into the
sand Jay's a painsent igfrahma off of the intensi helder
nuchis Martin had alas hoard then hard bonste In. The
embost here was Saint COM's hey stopped the narfur mavrau

(04:24):
anuk boone vor zichter iquill hah out the hevatic badulde
anuk kekehm on news here Martin feteldo over then straight
and emochis after trilderay sin stem kremer cachterevell has spruck,

(04:44):
then o lnste von trotz and pussy tunei klaravas rim
lacht annuk ig mudzeg marte ye pussy is obmerglek had
heaved deep, the aniwerk donkey for days outlet the avon
conten ainde and are clung applause to the zell an

(05:08):
ox recency. The voln de doch was for rocent posy tieth,
the nund the ten tone stelling for freezened and fall potential,
jovel Martin or sounder folded and hul van opluchting and
freuerte Martin was new zakered von Santelen sunder leered the

(05:29):
dot var hala for tell and Persoli. The engagement Knitzo
belngreg bara osto kunt itself, the cow they her staff
on the bout to condenfrege need temper huntu const in
the kunst wild Chauzaker helderzein.

Speaker 3 (05:47):
Let's take another listen. Listen closely to any part you
may have missed.

Speaker 1 (05:52):
De Luchto was raised both of Amsterdam lad Dvoro than
Arbennette in the cooler breeze van the hearst.

Speaker 3 (06:02):
The sky was gray above amster Dam, leaves swirling down
in the cool autumn breeze.

Speaker 1 (06:07):
Bin in it for hoche museem hing and varmer sphere
met sacht lompe di de kunstwer Kafriricht.

Speaker 3 (06:17):
Inside the fan Joch mujem hung a warm atmosphere with
soft lights illuminating the artworks.

Speaker 1 (06:22):
Hedlos the afl from blomb re Kaephenement de loncering from
a new Kunstanton Stelling.

Speaker 3 (06:32):
It was the evening of an important event, the launch
of a new art exhibition.

Speaker 1 (06:37):
Thunder stondbed inchum.

Speaker 3 (06:41):
S understood by the entrance.

Speaker 1 (06:43):
Zen Ochlomstefon Opwinding.

Speaker 3 (06:48):
His eyes gleamed with excitement.

Speaker 1 (06:50):
Hawk to man the andes Tenton Stelling and did su
sen j to door Brachkunuzhin.

Speaker 3 (06:59):
He had been working on this exhibition for months and
this could be his big breakthrough.

Speaker 1 (07:04):
Hey gik out nared success fron deesa afund.

Speaker 3 (07:09):
He looked forward to the success of this evening.

Speaker 1 (07:12):
The Reputazi Frond Museim and Saint carrieres stul obot spell.

Speaker 3 (07:19):
The museum's reputation and his career were at stake, and
the le.

Speaker 1 (07:25):
Comte fel dezell Stuldmarte.

Speaker 3 (07:29):
On the other side of the hall stood Martin hey.

Speaker 1 (07:31):
Vos Nervus sen Jndeswetter.

Speaker 3 (07:36):
He was nervous, his hands sweaty.

Speaker 1 (07:39):
Zen Vere king Yer foed erst in zans prestigious serumte.

Speaker 3 (07:46):
His work was displayed here for the first time in
such a prestigious venue.

Speaker 1 (07:50):
Des Hilda Fortelde Fraley deep person le Guarre.

Speaker 3 (07:57):
The paintings told stories that were deeply personal.

Speaker 1 (08:00):
Tortreefel de hay Off the Bezuker's selfisi sau debutebe.

Speaker 3 (08:07):
Yet he doubted whether the visitors would understand his vision.

Speaker 1 (08:11):
Enk le Huste clambindrupele.

Speaker 5 (08:15):
A.

Speaker 3 (08:15):
Few guests began to trickle in.

Speaker 1 (08:17):
Ond hen Vos anuk de Burum de Counskirtiqus.

Speaker 3 (08:23):
Among them was Auk, the famous art critic.

Speaker 1 (08:26):
Suvos string and ushir Altet obsuk ne devarheit in kunstwerg.

Speaker 3 (08:35):
She was strict and curious, always looking for the truth
and artworks.

Speaker 1 (08:39):
The last to date hatsenukomersnadelos bordels and at marktisouvel suner osmartenevers.

Speaker 3 (08:50):
Lately, she had been reviewing newcomers mercilessly, and that made
both Schunder and Martin nervous.

Speaker 1 (08:57):
Sundler ze ahnuk her o rouspurent lungstus Hilder.

Speaker 3 (09:04):
Shunder said, anuk her eyes scanning the paintings.

Speaker 1 (09:07):
William morountled, would you like to give me a tour
zeiger entoard de soundler saint stem fosperade.

Speaker 3 (09:19):
Certainly, Schunder replied, his voice determined.

Speaker 1 (09:22):
Eke viller raj martins vere klatzine.

Speaker 3 (09:27):
I would love to show you Martin's.

Speaker 1 (09:29):
Work Selipe and sammador de tintom Stelling.

Speaker 3 (09:34):
They walked through the exhibition together.

Speaker 1 (09:37):
Sundler fertil baschneered, oh for Martin's in spirazi and technique.

Speaker 3 (09:45):
Schunder spoke passionately about Martin's inspiration and techniques.

Speaker 1 (09:49):
Hey hope to d't sin outle anuk sha overte.

Speaker 3 (09:55):
He hoped that his explanation would convince Anuk.

Speaker 1 (09:58):
Dom sebet Martin s andrales to kraam lef anuk Stan.

Speaker 3 (10:05):
When they reached Martin's central piece, Anuk paused.

Speaker 1 (10:09):
Urrak to the deily kate balloons to serraus and order. Anne.

Speaker 3 (10:16):
She touched on the delicate balance between chaos and order.

Speaker 1 (10:19):
Into the sant jes a payinsen't.

Speaker 3 (10:24):
Interesting, she said, pensively.

Speaker 1 (10:26):
Igfram off off the INTENSI helder nouris.

Speaker 3 (10:32):
I wonder if the intention is clear.

Speaker 1 (10:34):
Enough Martin ha alas hoard.

Speaker 3 (10:39):
Martin had heard everything zeen.

Speaker 1 (10:41):
Haart bunstz emborst.

Speaker 3 (10:45):
His heart was pounding in his chest.

Speaker 1 (10:48):
Here vosen comes, Here was his chance. Hey stop t narfur.

Speaker 3 (10:56):
He stepped forward.

Speaker 1 (10:57):
Muvrau anuk bahoma iquil outlechvotic badul.

Speaker 3 (11:06):
Miss anuk. He began cautiously. I would like to explain
what I meant.

Speaker 1 (11:10):
Ah nuk kei ke kim ah news here.

Speaker 3 (11:15):
Anuk looked at him, curious.

Speaker 1 (11:18):
Martin fertilde over say straight and emochis achterz Hilda.

Speaker 3 (11:25):
Martin spoke about his struggles and the emotions behind the painting.

Speaker 1 (11:29):
Jane stem Kremer karchervel Hey spuck.

Speaker 3 (11:35):
His voice gained strength as he spoke jane.

Speaker 1 (11:38):
O lnstefon Trot's empossy.

Speaker 3 (11:43):
His eyes gleamed with pride and passion.

Speaker 1 (11:45):
Duneh clarvos riim lorcht Anuk.

Speaker 3 (11:50):
When he finished, Anuk smiled.

Speaker 1 (11:52):
Ik Mutzech martin eye possy is opmaher klug.

Speaker 3 (11:59):
I must say, Martin, and your passion is remarkable.

Speaker 1 (12:01):
Hadchaifed deep to agnevig.

Speaker 3 (12:05):
It adds depth to your work.

Speaker 1 (12:07):
Don quieufour des autlech.

Speaker 3 (12:11):
Thank you for this explanation.

Speaker 1 (12:13):
The afont comten ainde and arklunk aplause tour d'isal.

Speaker 3 (12:20):
The evening came to an end with applause filling the hall.

Speaker 1 (12:23):
En noux reesensi de faul ren ded'ch was forocent posy teeth.

Speaker 3 (12:30):
Anuk's review the next day was surprisingly positive.

Speaker 1 (12:33):
The noun de de tenton stelling for fricent and full
potent Shille.

Speaker 3 (12:40):
She called the exhibition refreshing and full of potential.

Speaker 1 (12:44):
Jouvel Martin al somler fooldhol from Oppeluchting and freuerte.

Speaker 3 (12:52):
Both Martin and Schunder felt a wave of relief and joy.

Speaker 1 (12:55):
Martin was now zeke der fonzent alenz.

Speaker 3 (13:00):
Martin now felt more confident in his talent.

Speaker 1 (13:03):
Sundler li de delt, ferra la fertele and perscholek engagement
nitso boulong reg vara ostekunstself.

Speaker 3 (13:14):
Schunder learned that story telling and personal engagement were just
as important as the art itself.

Speaker 1 (13:20):
The conn de herfstaffel, le baut kolun fru de neembe.

Speaker 3 (13:27):
The cold autumn evenings outside could not temper their joy.

Speaker 1 (13:31):
Huntu conste in the kunstfield souzieker helderzey.

Speaker 3 (13:37):
Their future in the art world would certainly be bright.

Speaker 4 (13:46):
To Day's vocabulary words are coming up right after this
commercial break. Here are to Day's vocabulary words, first in Dutch,
then in English.

Speaker 1 (14:01):
Heyes, heyes, heyes, Gray, duvarde, duvarden, darld, swirling, loan, searing,
loan seering, loanceeering, launch, even a mens even the men
even aments event ten tone stelling, ten tone stelling, tin

(14:26):
tone stelling exhibition inhung inhung In Hang entrance, Clomster, clomston,
lumsde claimed door brac, door brack, door brac breakthrough, prestigious, prestigious, prestigious,

(14:50):
prestigious Berzukers, Berzukers berzukers, visitors, bendedrupele benadrupele binendrupeles, trickle, creticus, critiqus, criticus,
critic string, string string, strict, harnadelos, hernadelosnadolos, mercilessly, fosparado, fosparado, fastparade, determined,

(15:26):
rupasco neared, rupascio, neared, Rupascio neered, passionately in spirazzi, in
spirazzi in Spirrazzi, inspiration technique, technique, technique techniques, daily cart,

(15:46):
daily cat, daily cart, delicate, ballons, ballons, balloons.

Speaker 3 (15:54):
Balance house, house house chaos, order order or the order
bund bund Bund Pound for Zicht, for Zicht, for Ziechter, cautiously.

Speaker 6 (16:15):
News here, news here, news here, curious, emotis, emotis, emosies, emotions,
got cot strength, truths, truths, truths, pride aplaus aplaus aplous

(16:41):
applause for Freezen, for freezen, for freezent refreshing.

Speaker 2 (16:53):
We hope you've enjoyed this episode of Fluent Fiction Dutch.
Our team works tirelessly to bring you high quality, engaging
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(17:16):
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