The blue in the title, and on our website, is just one of the topics that has had our readers/listeners/viewers writing in over the past week. Feedback looks at your comments on our new website, Geert Wilders’ win in the Dutch EU elections, the visit of the Dalai Lama and the perennial question about learning Dutch.

In fact, it’s all a bit Dutch this week, happening on home turf, as it does. And how much closer to home can we get than our very own website? If you are reading this - then you may have noticed:

“Changed? Yes, we have! You're looking at the completely revamped RNW website and it’s ready for your perusal.

We hope you'll notice that it's more user-friendly, that load times are quicker and audio and video more accessible. And that you’ll find the site more attractive and interactive.”

Wise words from our Web Editor, Theo Tamis, on the day of the launch, 2 June 2009. Of course, like any other major changes in anyone’s life, anywhere, there are things you like, things you loathe, and a few teething problems along the way.

Like the thread discussion on the new shade of blue, noticed by Michaela [no country cited] [edited, full text on website]:

“Not all change is for the better... I don't like the new colour blue you're using. It's dull. The old one was much cleaner, brighter, crisper and expressive. Much more recognizable...”

Apparently, several of you agreed with Michaela about the new colour, and a few other complaints, as well. Such as AWK from Melbourne, Australia, who wrote [edited, full text on website]:

“As a long time user I am disappointed by the changes... The new site is too large, forcing you to scroll through lots of stuff you had already seen, or don't really want. Please make the front (news home) page more compact for faster access.”

On the other hand, many of you loved our new look and feel, like Anonymous [no country cited], who wrote:

“Love the new website... so much more professional!!! Finally!”

Not to forget praise from Tim Thursday [no country cited], who wrote:

“A really good look & feel. It's great.”

However, many of you kept us busy by pointing out teething problems, something we do appreciate as you help us to find the bugs in the system. And there were a few: problems with navigation, search functions, RNW player, the time it is taking to transfer material from the old website, etc.

Ian Thomson [no country cited] was upset by some of the broken links he found:

“I have bookmarked a number of your articles over the past year or so and now find some of the links are broken and others take you to the appropriate text, but in an non-fomatted state. Has any effort been made to keep old links functioning? I like the information on your site in order to get a Dutch perspective.”

Andy Sennitt, another Web Editor who has been battling with the bugs, replies:

“In theory, links to the old site should still be working via a redirect command, except where the old page has been replaced by one on the new site. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to work reliably in at least some versions of Internet Explorer, but if you try the same URL with Firefox it does work. I am not a technical person so I can't explain why this is happening.

What I can say, though obviously it isn't of much comfort, is that this problem is as frustrating to those of us who work on the site as it is to the end user. I can assure you that problems with the new site are being identified and fixed as fast as possible bearing in mind the small staff that's available to us.”

So, we request a bit of patience, your comments and to let us know of any other bugs in the system you may find. We value our readers participation. And, in that vein, the last comment on the website comes from one of our regular, participating, readers/listeners, David Berridge from Canada, who wrote [edited, full text on website]:

“ ...it is less intimate than it's predecessor for contributors to either agree with or insult one another. This is a point I shall miss.”

Well, have no fear David, as the next article clearly shows, on some topics at least our regular readers/listeners/viewers will get to grips with any new system to agree, disagree, and yes - be a bit insulting.

According to Dutch EU elections boost for Geert Wilders by Davion Ford:

“In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders' far right Freedom Party (PVV) appears to be the biggest winner of the European Union elections. Late Thursday night, with almost 25 percent of the votes counted, the PVV was on course of gaining five seats in the European Parliament...

Analysts put the success in the European elections for Wilders down to his clear anti-European stand. In Rotterdam the PVV became the biggest party with 22 percent.”

Some celebrated, such as Bundespopel [no country cited]:

“Good Morning, Netherlands. HURRAY TO GEERT WILDERS AND HIS PARTY. GRAND VICTORY. Netherlands stays democratic.”

Some were a bit insulting, such as George Kay [no country cited]:

“Wilders is nothing more but a silly cock crowing on his own stinking dunghill. Nationalism is an infantile disease; it is the measles of mankind.”

Whereas Slapshot [no country cited], wanted to bring another viewpoint to the debate:

“At this juncture what else can be expected? With a forty per cent turnout of the electorate, this was an easy situation for the PVV, and other like-minded parties, to exploit towards an entry into the EU Parliament. This is not however, a referendum on the agenda of Wilders or any other such ideological fellow travellers, as other contributors responding to this article would have it.”

Dalai Lama forgives Dutch PM by Willem Offenberg was another article you enjoyed disagreeing on, especially the point of whether forgiveness meant a sin had been committed.

According to the article:

“Tibet's spiritual leader, who begins a visit to the Netherlands this week, says he does not blame Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende for bowing to Chinese pressure and denying him an official welcome...

‘It is up to you! Whether they give me a formal welcome or not, deep in their hearts, all leaders of the free world support the Tibetan cause. I am convinced of this.’"

Jasmin from India wrote [edited, full text on website]:

''Dalai Lama forgives Dutch PM''...Forgive? Has the Dutch PM committed a sin? Even the Indian government who has given asylum to Dalai Lama and his people since 1959, has ambivalent policy on Tibet...”

Whereas Anonymous [no country cited], took the opposing view:

“How much Mr. Dutch Prime Minister must have gotten from the Chinese to be so rude as not to welcome the Dalai Lama, a country where they claim to be open!!!! I feel ashamed to be Dutch.”

And finally, we regularly get queries on how to learn Dutch, like the one below from Parthasarathy [no country cited]:

“I am working with Philips and have keen interest to learn Dutch. Do you have a suitable CD/Medium by which one can learn Basic Dutch?”

Ashleigh Elson, Producer and Host of Curious Orange, replies:

“Thank you for your message... unfortunately we do not produce any audio Dutch-learning guides here at Radio Netherlands. However, there are many very good websites that have audio, visual, video, etc. We have compiled a list of those on the Curious Orange website - http://blogs.rnw.nl/curiousorange (in the left-hand column titled ‘Links to learn Dutch’). Hope this helps!”

Do let us know Parthasarathy if you run across any bugs in the system along the way.