It is very definitely that time of year again. The news is full of best, worst, most popular, highest rated and whatever else you like lists to mark the end of 2013. We are keeping a running total.
Television advert of the year (public phone vote)
Olli, featuring former international footballer Giovanni van Bronckhorst and a toy elephant – a tear-jerker with a happy ending.
Netherlander of the year (Elsevier magazine)
Rijksmuseum boss Wim Pijbes
Best museum in the Netherlands (according to visitors to website Zoover)
Zuiderzee museum in Enkhuizen
Perhaps not a museum for a rainy afternoon
Politician of the year (public vote EenVandaag)
Geert Wilders
Politician of the year (parliamentary press)
Finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem
Word of the year (Van Dale dictionary website – public vote)
Selfie
Word of the year (Dutch lexicographers website)
Participatiesamenleving (participation society – as opposed to welfare state)
Sportsman and woman of the year
Gymnast Epke Zonderland and cyclist Marianne Vos
Google’s most sought after image of the year
Zwarte Piet
For the last time in 2013
Google’s most common ‘how’ question
Hoe lang zwanger (how long pregnant) – bizarre that one
Magazine of the year
Linda
Is there anything the ubiquitous Ms de Mol can’t do?
Most watched YouTube video by the Dutch
Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines – oh ha ha. Amazing what a few naked women will do.
Just what we always wanted
Most popular corporate gift (list provided by the Cow Company)
Forget the expensive wine – the most popular relatiegeschenk is a pen. Yep. A pen. Probably with the name of the giver on it. Number two is a bag (also with the name of the giver) and third is a mug (ditto).
And here’s a worst of 2013
Longest traffic jam (VID)
January 15 was the worst day of 2013 on the Dutch roads, when snow led to 929 kilometres of jams.
The Netherlands by numbers 