On Tue, 06 Apr 2004 15:56:07 GMT, h squared wrote:
alright, i'm returning my "learn dutch in 3 months" tapes that i bought
7 years ago and demanding a full refund.

Haha! I doubt it makes much difference for you, but a lot of Dutchmen
(northern, from "above the Moerdijk") would also claim not to have
understood a word. It's Flemish. But hey, it's not the Flemish of Jef
Braeckevelt, or Briek Schotte. Try
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ewoud/cycling/muur.html

have there been any elfstedentochts (elfstedentochten?) lately?

No, last three were in 1985, 1986 and 1997. (it's tochten).