diff --git a/README b/README
index 298330ed8..31ca21bbd 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -10,6 +10,15 @@ The following packages *MUST* be installed in order for Gramps to work:
    librsvg2 (svg icon view)
    xdg-utils
 
+The following package is needed for full translation of the interface
+to your language:
+   language-pack-gnome-xx 
+                    Translation of GTK elements to your language, with             
+                    with xx your language code eg for Dutch you need
+                    language-pack-gnome-nl. The translation of the
+                    Gramps strings is included with the source code.
+
+
 The following packages are *STRONGLY RECOMMENDED* to be installed:
    GraphViz         Enable creation of graphs using GraphViz engine
                     http://www.graphviz.org
diff --git a/src/TransUtils.py b/src/TransUtils.py
index add5d921f..46c3870ea 100644
--- a/src/TransUtils.py
+++ b/src/TransUtils.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ Provide translation assistance
 import gettext
 import sys
 import os
+import locale
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
@@ -69,11 +70,27 @@ def setup_gettext():
     """
     gettext.bindtextdomain(LOCALEDOMAIN, LOCALEDIR)
     gettext.textdomain(LOCALEDOMAIN)
+    try:
+        locale.bindtextdomain(LOCALEDOMAIN, LOCALEDIR)
+    except ValueError:
+        print 'Failed to bind text domain, gtk.Builder() has no translation'
     
     #following installs _ as a python function, we avoid this as TransUtils is
     #used sometimes:
     #gettext.install(LOCALEDOMAIN, LOCALEDIR, unicode=1)
-    
+
+def setup_windows_gtk():
+    """ function to decide if needed on windows
+    This function should be called on windows instead of locale.bindtextdomain
+    """
+    from Utils import win
+    if win():
+        try:
+            libintl = ctypes.cdll.LoadLibrary("C:\\GTK\\gtk-2.18.5\\bin\\intl.dll")
+            libintl.bindtextdomain(LOCALEDOMAIN, LOCALEDIR)
+        except:
+            print "Error Loading translations into gtk.builder files"
+
 def get_localedomain():
     """
     Get the LOCALEDOMAIN used for the Gramps application.
diff --git a/src/gramps.py b/src/gramps.py
index dd4c8ad09..a0891d9e7 100644
--- a/src/gramps.py
+++ b/src/gramps.py
@@ -28,11 +28,11 @@
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 import sys
 import os
-import locale
 import const
 import signal
 import gettext
 _ = gettext.gettext
+import locale
 import logging
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(".")
@@ -50,6 +50,12 @@ import TransUtils
 # Load internationalization setup
 #
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#the order in which bindtextdomain on gettext and on locale is called
+#appears important, so we refrain from doing first all gettext.
+#
+#TransUtils.setup_gettext()
+gettext.bindtextdomain(TransUtils.LOCALEDOMAIN, TransUtils.LOCALEDIR)
 try:
     locale.setlocale(locale.LC_ALL,'C')
     locale.setlocale(locale.LC_ALL,'')
@@ -58,8 +64,18 @@ except locale.Error:
 except ValueError:
     pass
 
+gettext.textdomain(TransUtils.LOCALEDOMAIN)
+gettext.install(TransUtils.LOCALEDOMAIN, localedir=None, unicode=1) #None is sys default locale
+
+try:
+    locale.bindtextdomain(TransUtils.LOCALEDOMAIN, TransUtils.LOCALEDIR)
+    #locale.textdomain(TransUtils.LOCALEDOMAIN)
+except locale.Error:
+    print 'No translation in some gtk.Builder strings, '\
+          'call TransUtils.setup_windows_gtk ??'
+
 LOG.debug('Using locale:', locale.getlocale())
-TransUtils.setup_gettext()
+
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #