Blog Netherlands by Numbers has compiled a list of this December’s ‘best of 2013’ awards.

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

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

Google’s most common ‘how’ question
Hoe lang zwanger (how long pregnant) – bizarre that one

Magazine of the year
Linda

Most watched YouTube video by the Dutch
Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines – oh ha ha. Amazing what a few naked women will do.

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).

First published on NetherlandsbyNumbers.com