Poldermodel [joke re]

English translation: model from the polder

22:30 Jul 21, 2009
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
Dutch term or phrase: Poldermodel [joke re]
I understand what poldermodel means, but can someone explain this joke please? It's a female TV game show presenter talking about the Netherlands.

"Het land van flitspalen, koeien, coffeeshops, Sinterklaas, abortusboten en het poldermodel. Waar ik zelf een uitstekend voorbeeld van ben."

Why is the presenter a great example?
philgoddard
United States
English translation:model from the polder
Explanation:
I guess she's pretty like a "model", and she's "from the polder" (i.e. from the West of the country, or from just anywhere in NL - the polder could refer to the country as a whole)

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Note added at 34 mins (2009-07-21 23:05:54 GMT)
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she could of course also simply *be* a (former) model.

a second explanation could be that she's the result of "polderen", i.e. some kind of "negotiated compromise between two parties", which in NL is considered to be typically Dutch. in order for her to make the joke in that sense, she would have to be of mixed race or something...

I agree with Michael Beijer that it would be helpful to know her name, perhaps the joke can be explained in even more different ways once we know who this "poldermodel" is.
Selected response from:

Ron Willems
Netherlands
Local time: 06:20
Grading comment
Actually, all of your replies were helpful (and I'm not just being polite). I was a bit alarmed when people turned detective, found pictures of this woman and decided she didn't look like a dumb blonde! Points to Ron because his answer was the first and most detailed.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2model from the polder
Ron Willems
3connotation of dumb blonde country girl
Textpertise
3polder model
Jennifer Barnett


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


30 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
connotation of dumb blonde country girl


Explanation:
Agree with Ron Willems but because the term polder model when used seriously means a debate where people take forever to reach agreement, it has gained the meaning of slowness of thought - having slow thought processes or slow to get to the point. If the presenter is a blonde female, then dumb blonde might be an approximation. Also on the analogy of "polderjongen" which is often translated into English as a "navvy" - connotation being a lower class young man with rough and ready manners, who mucks in with his mates. Definite working class implications.


    Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polder_Model
Textpertise
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:20
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
model from the polder


Explanation:
I guess she's pretty like a "model", and she's "from the polder" (i.e. from the West of the country, or from just anywhere in NL - the polder could refer to the country as a whole)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 34 mins (2009-07-21 23:05:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

she could of course also simply *be* a (former) model.

a second explanation could be that she's the result of "polderen", i.e. some kind of "negotiated compromise between two parties", which in NL is considered to be typically Dutch. in order for her to make the joke in that sense, she would have to be of mixed race or something...

I agree with Michael Beijer that it would be helpful to know her name, perhaps the joke can be explained in even more different ways once we know who this "poldermodel" is.

Ron Willems
Netherlands
Local time: 06:20
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Actually, all of your replies were helpful (and I'm not just being polite). I was a bit alarmed when people turned detective, found pictures of this woman and decided she didn't look like a dumb blonde! Points to Ron because his answer was the first and most detailed.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Michael Beijer: I would need to know who she is first (is she an allochtoon or an autochtoon, enz. ;), but I suspect it's simple, and what Ron suggested.
34 mins
  -> thanks

agree  Chris Hopley: I think it simply refers to the fact that she is a (former) model from Holland. Just a really simple play on words.
9 hrs
  -> thanks, although (if it is her) Linda de Mol is not a former model. still, "model" could also just mean something like "type/brand/make" - she's a typical polder type
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
polder model


Explanation:
Surely this is untranslatable?! It is very much an in-joke. As the term has passed into the English (political) language, I would leave it as it is. Even if readers don't know about the Dutch consensus meaning, they will at least understand that the lady is a country girl (having looked up what a polder is). 'Reclaimed swamp model' would be hilarious but that veers off into horror territory - the creature from the reclaimed swamp!

Jennifer Barnett
France
Local time: 06:20
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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