Learn Hardcore Dutch: Door de sterke wind was het schilderij even omgevallen, maar het publiek bleef kalm. - Because of the strong wind the painting had toppled over for a moment, but the audience remained calm.

Here door functions as a causal preposition meaning because of or due to. Although door can mean “through” in spatial contexts (e.g. door een tunnel = through a tunnel), in Door de sterke wind it introduces the cause: “because of the strong wind.”

Could I use vanwege or omdat instead of door here?

Yes. You could say:

Vanwege de sterke wind was het schilderij even omgevallen.
(vanwege = because of)
Or use a subordinate clause with omdat:
Omdat de wind zo sterk waaide, viel het schilderij even om.
Note that with omdat the verb moves to the end of the clause.

Why is the verb was placed before the subject het schilderij?

Dutch main clauses follow the verb-second (V2) rule. When you start with an adverbial phrase like Door de sterke wind, the finite verb (was) must occupy the second position, so the subject (het schilderij) comes after it.

Why does the sentence use was omgevallen instead of the simple past viel om?

Was omgevallen is the pluperfect (past perfect) form—literally “had fallen over”—showing the tipping event was completed before the next action (the audience remaining calm). You could use the simple past to narrate it directly (viel om), but was omgevallen emphasizes the sequence.

Why is the auxiliary zijn (was) used with omgevallen, instead of hebben?

In Dutch, verbs that express movement or a change of state (like omvallen, “to tip over”) take zijn as their perfect auxiliary. That’s why you get het schilderij is omgevallen (perfect) or het schilderij was omgevallen (pluperfect), not heeft omgevallen.

What does even add to omgevallen?

Here even means for a moment, briefly, or just for a second. It softens the statement, indicating the painting only tipped over momentarily.

Why is omgevallen used instead of just gevallen?

Omvallen is a separable verb meaning to tip over or to fall over (often sideways). Vallen alone means to fall (e.g. drop down). Since the painting tipped off its support, omvallen is the precise choice.

Why is it het publiek bleef kalm and not bleven kalm?

Publiek is a singular collective noun in Dutch, so it takes the singular past form bleef (preterite of blijven). If it were a plural noun (e.g. toeschouwers, spectators), you would say bleven.

What’s the difference between kalm and rustig in this context?

Both can translate as “calm,” but kalm emphasizes emotional composure or steadiness under stress, whereas rustig often refers more to quietness or lack of disturbance. Saying het publiek bleef kalm highlights that the audience remained composed.