Key Takeaways
The subject
This piece is about Onze Taal, a Dutch language organisation in the Netherlands (Europe), and a January two thousand twenty-six appeal to keep its language advice free for everyone.
The main facts
The appeal reported that its language advisers answered more than eight thousand language questions in two thousand twenty-five, and it hinted that the reader had asked at least one of them.
The practical lesson
Support for free public services often rests on two pillars: donors who fund the work, and volunteers who help the work scale.
Story & Details
A public appeal with a clear promise
On January sixth, two thousand twenty-six, Onze Taal put a simple idea up front: language help should stay open to everyone. The message was direct, warm, and plain. It pointed to a busy year behind them, then looked ahead to a new year of questions and answers.
It described a large volume of work in two thousand twenty-five: more than eight thousand questions handled by language advisers. That number was used to make the work feel real and human. It also created a small personal hook by suggesting that at least one question came from the reader.
What “free” really costs
Free language advice is not free to run. The appeal tied its model to community support. Members and donors pay for the service so that anyone can use it, even without paying. Volunteers expand capacity, so more questions can be answered with care.
That mix—steady funding plus extra hands—often explains why some public-facing services stay reliable year after year. It also explains why a small donation request can be about stability, not profit.
A tiny Dutch lesson, using real lines from the appeal
The message used everyday Dutch, with a friendly tone. These short examples show how the Dutch lines work in real life.
Steun jij Onze Taal met een donatie?
This is a friendly question to one person. It feels direct and informal.
A simple meaning in English: Do you support Onze Taal with a donation?
A word-by-word guide: steun = support; jij = you (singular, informal); Onze Taal = the organisation name; met = with; een = a; donatie = donation.
Beste lezer,
This is a polite opening. It is neutral and safe for a wide audience.
A simple meaning in English: Dear reader.
A word-by-word guide: beste = dear / best; lezer = reader.
Hartelijk dank!
This is warm and formal enough for a public message.
A simple meaning in English: Many thanks.
A word-by-word guide: hartelijk = heartfelt; dank = thanks.
Ja, ik steun Onze Taal
This is a clear “yes” line that fits a button or a short reply.
A simple meaning in English: Yes, I support Onze Taal.
A word-by-word guide: ja = yes; ik = I; steun = support; Onze Taal = the organisation name.
A small safety lesson that stays calm
Donation appeals often use buttons and links. A calm, practical habit is to look at the exact web address behind a button and compare it with the official site of the organisation. Another calm habit is to pay attention to the sender’s domain name, because a small mismatch can be a warning sign.
One detail in the footer stood out: Google Plus was listed beside Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. That does not prove anything by itself. Footers are often old templates. Still, it helps to know that consumer Google Plus was shut down in April two thousand nineteen, so its appearance can simply mean a stale footer, not a live channel.
Conclusions
By January ninth, two thousand twenty-six, the appeal already belonged to the first week of the year, when people reset habits and budgets. It asked for small support to protect a simple public good: clear, reliable answers about language. The tone stayed polite. The message stayed short. The idea was bigger than the button: keep language help open, and keep it trustworthy.
Selected References
[1] https://onzetaal.nl/
[2] https://onzetaal.nl/over-onze-taal/steun-onze-taal
[3] https://onzetaal.nl/over-onze-taal/steun-onze-taal/vrienden-van-onze-taal
[4] https://workspace.google.com/blog/product-announcements/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-sunset-of-consumer-google-plus-on-april-second
[5] https://developers.googleblog.com/google-apis-shutting-down-march-7-2019/
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boo-H6afEpw
Appendix
ANBI: A Dutch public-benefit status used in the Netherlands (Europe) for certain charities and cultural institutions, often linked to tax rules and public trust.
BIC: Bank Identifier Code, a standard code that helps route international bank transfers to the right bank.
Donation: A voluntary gift of money to support a cause, service, or organisation.
Domain: The main name in a web address, often used to judge whether a link matches an organisation’s official site.
Dutch: The language used in the Netherlands (Europe), also used in parts of Belgium (Europe) and in other communities.
IBAN: International Bank Account Number, a standard format for bank account numbers used for cross-border payments.
Register: The level of formality in language, such as informal speech with friends or formal speech in public writing.
Volunteer: A person who works without pay to support a service, often increasing how much an organisation can do.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 