Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Dutch term or phrase:
dat is sterker dan mezelf
English translation:
It\'s much more than a home to me
Added to glossary by
MoiraB
Jul 24, 2013 07:59
10 yrs ago
Dutch term
dat is sterker dan mezelf
Dutch to English
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
I see that van Dale has this exact phrase and translates it as: "It is stronger than I am", but that doesn't quite work for me here (you tend to read it literally). I feel there's something more to it. Interview with a Belgian artist who lives in a castle. Intended for a fairly informal guide book to Belgium. This is the complete answer to the question (so no more context available).
Wat betekent dit kasteel voor u?
**Dat is sterker dan mezelf.** Sinds 1986 wonen we hier. Dit is echt ons huis en voor mij de beste plek op aarde. Ik zou nergens liever willen zijn. Ik reis heel veel voor mijn zaak, maar vakantie, dat is thuisblijven. Van de tuin genieten, van het park, van de architectuur, van mijn paard. Het is een droomwereld die realiteit is geworden.
Dat was ook weer liefde op het eerste gezicht. Toen mijn vrouw en ik de brug op reden, wisten we het al. Ik ben altijd heel intuïtief geweest bij het nemen van belangrijke beslissingen, ook bij het kopen van kunst. Als ik te veel moet gaan nadenken, is het niet goed.
Wat betekent dit kasteel voor u?
**Dat is sterker dan mezelf.** Sinds 1986 wonen we hier. Dit is echt ons huis en voor mij de beste plek op aarde. Ik zou nergens liever willen zijn. Ik reis heel veel voor mijn zaak, maar vakantie, dat is thuisblijven. Van de tuin genieten, van het park, van de architectuur, van mijn paard. Het is een droomwereld die realiteit is geworden.
Dat was ook weer liefde op het eerste gezicht. Toen mijn vrouw en ik de brug op reden, wisten we het al. Ik ben altijd heel intuïtief geweest bij het nemen van belangrijke beslissingen, ook bij het kopen van kunst. Als ik te veel moet gaan nadenken, is het niet goed.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+3
2 hrs
freekfluweel
Netherlands
Netherlands
Native in Dutch
Netherlands
M.Sc. in Architecture, B.A.
Native in: Dutch 
Works in: Dutch to German, German to Dutch, English to Dutch, and 5 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
It's far more than a home to me
... it's my everything!
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Natasha Ziada (X)
: mooi. Although I would say 'much more' instead of 'far more'
18 mins
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Details... perhaps you're right...
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| agree |
Barend van Zadelhoff
: Your suggestion seems more specific, to refer more to the Familiar and Destiny Fulfilled while mine seems less specific and to refer more to the Unknown and Mystery Ahead. // Rather "My castle is my home." :-)
57 mins
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Well, "my home is my castle"
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| agree |
tkyrs
: I agree with Natasha: 'much more'
3 hrs
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See NZ
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Call me a straightforward gal, but Barend's "bigger than me" suggestion just doesn't do it for me and is possibly a bit too poetic for the down-to-earth comments interviewee goes on to make. Perhaps even "much more than bricks and mortar to me" to convey the strength idea (not that castles are necessarily built from bricks!). Thanks, everyone."
2 hrs
Jack den Haan
Netherlands
Netherlands
Native in Dutch
&
English
Netherlands
Qualified engineer, translator & teacher
Native in: Dutch , English (Variants: UK, US)
Works in: Dutch to English, English to Dutch
it has something transcendental about it
I like freekfluweel's first suggestion too, but this might be another option.
+3
2 hrs
Barend van Zadelhoff
Netherlands
Netherlands
Native in Dutch
Netherlands
TR is the most intimate act of reading.
Native in: Dutch 
Works in: English to Dutch, Dutch to English, Dutch
Related KudoZ points
:
12
This place is bigger than me.
This place is bigger than me. Bigger than my heart. Bigger than my soul. This place fills me, finds me, wants me, captures me, releases me. This place is where death equals life, where they will throw dust in my face, where they will embrace all my wounded memories. This place is where I will attempt to unload my burden, come clean about all my lies, find a soul, used a little, scarred in places, but hopeful and beautifully shining in the spring sun. From there on this place will have the best part of me. From there on home will mean something different every time I hear it ring. This journey you should take with me. This place entraps even the most hard of hearts. This place has entrapped me already. Entrapped me before I ever set foot on its dusty streets.
http://ifnoonewill.blogspot.nl/2012/04/gonna-write-it-out-go...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
freekfluweel
: Received a lot of Hallmarks lately, I like it though?!
18 mins
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The text happened to lead my thoughts to this idea and then I checked it a bit against the internet and used this reference to emphasize this possible aspect of things you don't really understand but seem to hold a promise.
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| agree |
Lianne van de Ven
: I think I would just say "it" (instead of This place, which is also literally true). It's bigger than me. I like this better than "more than a home", which I find too mundane for this context.
4 hrs
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Thank you, Lianne.
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| agree |
Wiard Sterk
: Poetic. I like this.
6 hrs
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Thank you, Wiard.
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3 hrs
Marijke Singer
Spain
Spain
Native in English
Spain
Technical translator with Math degree
Native in: English , Spanish
Works in: Dutch to English, Spanish to English, English to Spanish, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
I can't resist its pull/attraction
Another informal suggestion.
+1
9 hrs
Verginia Ophof
Belize
Belize
Native in English
Specializes in field
Belize
Near Native Proficiency in Source langua
Native in: English
Works in: Portuguese to English, Dutch to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
16
overwhelmed/overpowered me
If a smell or feeling overpowers you, it is so strong that it makes you feel weak or ill
Example sentence:
To affect so strongly as to make helpless or ineffective; overwhelm.
Reference:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/overpower?topic=winning-and-defeating
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Petro Ebersöhn (X)
14 hrs
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Thank you Petro !!
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9 hrs
It mesmerizes me
or: It is a mesmerizing place. Another few options to step away from the literal translation.
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Note added at 9 hrs (2013-07-24 17:53:27 GMT)
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Or yet another option: This place has me spellbound.
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Note added at 9 hrs (2013-07-24 17:53:27 GMT)
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Or yet another option: This place has me spellbound.
Discussion
powers that go beyond me