• Landwinning translates into English as "reclamation." The English word, though, is a misnomer — especially as applied to the Dutch practice of making dry land. That is not reclamation. That is land-winning.
• "Toch" serves as an all-purpose affirmation request. It implies (but does not insist) that the accompanying statement is agreeable.
• Toen — "when," in the past tense.
When speaking in present or future tenses, one says "wanneer." When of the past, one speaks of "toen ik in Amersfoort ging wonen."
• Vanzelfsprekend — literally, "of [or from] self-speaking." Said of an idea that speaks for itself.
