True, a quarter of the US population traces its origins to lands where Spanish is spoken. However, we live in a city that once was called New Amsterdam located in the seventeenth century colonial province of New Netherland - Nieuw-Nederland in Dutch. In fact, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Hudson Valley have written Dutch all over their face. So if you ignore a few minor historical events such as the American Revolution, I am really Dutch.

You won’t believe it, but I felt so Dutch that I joined “our” players in singing the national anthem - "Het Wilhelmus" -  the oldest in Europe and perhaps the entire world. Being of German stock, I just love the reference to “German blood” in the first stanza: “Wilhelma von Nassau ben ik van duytschen bloed,” it reads. Curiously, it’s translated in English as “scion of a Dutch and ancient line” and for the Dutch people, the word “duitch” doesn’t necessary mean “deutsch" or German. Whatever. The ‘Het Wilhelmus’; makes me feel that I belong to the larger family of Germanic tribes.

One thing that isn’t quite clear to me is William of Nassau’s (photo) avowed loyalty to the King of Spain, as stated in the anthem. “Een prinschen van Oranje
ben ik vrij onverveerd
de koning van Hispanje
heb ik altijd geëerd” or in English: A prince I am, undaunted, of Orange, ever free, to the king of Spain I’ve granted a livelong loyalty.“ Reference is made to Philip II of Spain and other Madrid-based overlords of the Habsburg Netherlands. Didn't the Dutch reject their rule for the same reason the American colonies turned against the English: No taxation without representation? Perhaps a historian could clear thios up for us.

You see, there are good reasons why I and the readers of germerica.net should cheer on the Dutch team -  despite Sunday's 0:1 loss. “Where we all come together,” is our slogan. Why even many South Africans were cheering on the Dutch, their former colonial masters who instigated the harsh racial policies of apartheid (read New York Times story). Forget about Paul, the psychic octopus. He has correctly predicted the outcome of Saturday’s world match between Germany and Uruguay as well as all previous games. This no doubt spurred on betters relying on his new prediction that Spain will win the final against the Netherlands. Well, he did it again. It's just a game, right? Meanwhile I suggest that he be barbecued or better yet, turned into paella.