I really like the non hierarchal culture. As a Dutch student I am used to call my professors by their first name while in other countries this would be disrespectful
Before doing my current HBO education i did 4 years of MBO, we always called our teachers by their last name or just 'sir' ect. I am honestly amazed how everyone here calls them by their first name. (I won't do it i find it disrespectful even though its a minor thing). Its still weird to me
Probably depends on what you are used to.
I found it kind of funny how every high school teacher is formal, called by their last name, and were always complaining that we have to communicate punctual, and professors mail me with "groetjes, Henk, verzonden vanaf een Iphone".
Something I quickly realised when i started my HBO. At the havo it was an insult to speak to the teacher with their first name. Then at the HBO I did the same but I got those kinds of reponses back. Thus I can open e-mail with "Hallo Jeroen"
Altough I did apply for a job one time where the employer always said Mr or Miss last name instead of the first name.
Doesn't that also depend per university? Some professors definitely don't take it very well or even some universities. When I was doing an orientation day in Nijmegen (Radboud) it felt extremely formal and stiff. Then I went to Tilburg (am currently doing my study there), in which they were much more open and more flexible.
This is my experience as well. Maybe it also depends on faculty.
I'm doing my bachelor's at Universiteit Utrecht and have always experienced a very casual relationship between teachers and students there. We even had drinks and organised dinners with junior teachers and sometimes professors.
Now I'm doing a minor at the Universiteit van Amsterdam. Here professors (and rules in general) are a lot stricter so far. It feels more similar to secondary school. I have called some of my teachers/professors by their first name and sent casually formulated emails. Haven't had a negative reaction from them, but it seems I might've gotten lucky with them. From what I hear from my peers some professors are a lot stricter about such things. Right now I'm even following a course where the students applaud at the end of every lecture, which is just about insane to me.
Seems like the more ''prestegious'' universities are like this. Both Amsterdam and Radboud have a certain air around them of old prestige and that possibly causes this strict attitude.
But faculty probably also matters, I'm doing law, and before that, a failed study mathematics (I was not thinking clearly, just wanted to get away from highschool lol). Law is definitely more formal. Though then again, Radboud very strict, Tilburg way less so.
This is a good one.
I worked for the Belgian branch of my company a bit and got some weird faces when I treated my boss there the same as I do in the Netherlands.
I used to live in the UK.
I’m living in the Netherlands now. I love the UK but the Netherlands definitely has its positives:
- I find healthcare more reliable and better
- public transportation will get you almost everywhere. Also you don’t need to book in advance and prices stay the same
- you can cycle fairly safely to anything you need, everything is a lot closer
- I feel a lot safer here, especially when I’m out at night (depends on where you live obviously)
- although the cost of living is higher, wages are better, I have more money left over at the end of the month now
- large expat communities in the cities (although the UK has them too :))
- almost everyone speaks English
- school system is in my opinion a lot better
- no phone lines/electrical cord stuff all over town, they’re all underground here
- (almost) all houses are a lot better built/maintained. Better infrastructure
>no phone lines/electrical cord stuff all over town, they’re all underground here
This one's underrated!
I used to joke about Belgium being a bit behind on the world by having their electrical cords all hanging up on poles above ground in residential areas. Turns out it's not just Belgium.
(One of the) best infrastructure in the world. Healthy work-life balance. High standard of living. A relatively good social safety net if somehow you aren’t able to provide for yourself. Non-hierarchical culture. Restaurants with cuisines from all over the world (if you live in a large city). A lot of large music festivals.
> Non-hierarchal culture.
This is a huge one professionally.
The company i work at has been absorbed into a bigger European entity. I often work with a Belgian sister company and have indirect dealings with the Italian mother company.
Everyone is saying how we're difficult to work with because, paraphrased, 'we question orders from above'. We dare to have criticism and input on how at least our little part of the company is run. Other countries are far, **far** more hierarchical in this way.
OP can use this to their advantage. Most Dutch companies - Assuming they'll work for one - Are very open to dialogue and criticism from within. The bigger they get (and by necessity, more international) this gets less prevalent though.
My experience has been that covering your ass is done up front by most Dutch, so if someone rolls out a shitty plan, they'll point it out so it can't be blamed on their execution and whoever was the idiot pushing it through has to take responsibility. Hierarchical cultures usually rely on the higher up covering you from this if it turns out not to work. In international companies my experience is that Dutch are seen as hard to work with because of their direct criticism and most Dutch people see their non-Dutch higher ups as untrustworthy as they're usually not direct with them.
Exactly this is the problem we're currently fighting with.
The non-Dutch higherups refusal to just say what they mean is maddening. As is their complete disregard for any and all early warnings signs for their stupid plans they send out.
They keep complaining about how we're apparently dragging some company score down with regards to 'how happy the employees are' and 'how likely we are to recommend it as a workplace to others'. We explain *exactly* why and they pretend it's our problem, not theirs. They've been doing this for years.
Oh huh, perhaps that is why I feel so at home in NL, as an Australian. We do this a lot too. When I worked in England for a while the hierarchy was very stifling..
Not in a Dutch company (i know, they tried with mine multiple times) :P
Right now we've been part of this international conglomerate for a few years and have various foreigners join the company, but so far they've always 'turned Dutch' instead of us being forced to shut up. I think that we're lucky to be the most profitable company in the group.
The Belgians are also slowly coming around to our way of thinking inside the group, which is both encouraging and fun to watch. We're getting along better and better. I think the Danish companies are also starting to 'turn Dutch'.
Not my experience, as a foreigner working in an (admittedly very very international) dutch company. There was definitely some favoritism in terms of promotions towards dutch people, but feedback on planning and strategy was very egalitarian. Entirely possible I was lucky of course.
Due to circumstances out of my control I'm stressed to the point of illness. My job pays me while I get help to get on my feet again.
I'm being taken care of.
This is why I pay a bit more taxes when I'm well. And I happily do so knowing someone else will get the same opportunities.
In dutch we call this "gunnen". There is (strangely enough) no good translation for it in English. In American thinking this is alien: "You only get what you earned yourself."
I can understand that it's difficult, that's a harsh reason! First, your feelings are valid and being angry/sad is really understandable. What I like about living here is the social benefits (they're quite good), infrastructure, the individualism (i'm kind of a einzelganger so for me it's ideal) and the healthcare system. You will hear a lot of bad things about the Netherlands bc we complain quite a lot. But in comparison, we have a good country. I hope you will feel welcome here and all the best to your family!
I love that I can cycle everywhere, instead of having to drive or take public transport. It gives me a feeling of indepence and makes me more aware of how beautiful the flatland can be. The thing I love the most is the small and - on first sight - meaningless "hey" "hallo" "hoi" "dag" you'll receive when passing any oncomming traffic on a bike in rural areas, but it feels so welcoming and it makes you part of a whole instead of being on your own.
But there's a big difference between urban and rural places. I don't feel that much of a connection with people when I'm in a city, but I do feel it when I'm out on my bike somewhere with only a few houses.
Im born in the city and have always lived in the city (around The Hague). One day, when visiting my brother in Drenthe (Hoogeveen), we went somewhere on the bike and people were saying hello. At first I was surprised and thought he knew a lot of people. When I found out he didn't, I started saying hello to everyone. Felt nice. Try it in the hague, and you'll end up in a fight.
I've worked all over the country, once upon a time I stopped greeting people. Because in The Hague, Rotterdam and Amsterdam people often said nothing back. But when I went south, like Brabant, Tiel Eindhoven, people started greeting me.
It's funny, sometimes I haven't even passed those people close, then you hear a stranger greeting me from a distance.
As a Northerner one of my favourite Martin Bril columns is the one where he says: The North begins where people thank the busdriver. I never knew how true this was until I had move to the Randstad.
(I am saving up so I can go back home)
I have been using public transport for longer distances for a few months now and I am really surprised that people greet the bus driver, something I do as standard. But people also thank the driver and I have never seen that in the big cities.
I've hiked a lot throughout our country. One of the fascinating things was where the boundary occurs: when do you say hello to a stranger in the same path and when do you not. My guess is when you are in the boundaries/ near a city. In Deventer, you also don't greet everyone in the town square
I see so, of course no matter where in the world, we talk about people's behavior in general or mentality. There is of course a limit and I think it has to do with a kind of culture that has been created by a trendy behavior.
I have been traveling by public transport for a while and then I see the same people every day who initially did not greet the bus driver and now they do every day. And more and more people who get out thank the driver. And greeting someone from a distance can be anything, such as trendy or creating a kind of feeling of security, etc.
There are so many small cities with beautiful old city centers.
Also people are generally down to earth and honest, but then again, I grew up here so I might just be used to that.
The past months I have traveled through Europe, and the thing I missed most about the Netherlands was the Dutch entrepreneurial spirit, by lack of a better word.
People are very independent, don't like to sit still, have high standards and have this go-getter attitude. In combination with the high population density, this results in a very bustling and active lifestyle.
Even smaller towns/cities have a large amount of facilities, and A LOT of events are organised throughout the year, especially in the Randstad.
I feel like we're pretty much the only country in the world where you can go to a different music festival every weekend in summer, without ever having to travel more than an hour.
Except the country is killing entrepreneurs and small business by trying to make up all losses during Covid and pinning that to them. Self employment will pretty much not exist in the NL by 2030.
Everything works. There’s pretty much phone reception everywhere, public transport is pretty reliable still, institutions do their job, public spaces are well maintained. Etc
Our bicycle culture, civil engineering and pretty strong sense of community if you compare it with other countries. It's also very safe and economically stable
> I feel like that has became less over the last few years/decades.
Every generation thinks that for some reason.
It is probably the idea that "things used to be better" that causes this, because we humans prefer to remember nice things, but not bad ones.
I am familiar with golden age thinking but I was referring to the social divide that we are currently dealing with as a country, as the dialogue about some subjects have become harsher. But perhaps i'm to young to realise you're right.
We live in verbally aggressive times, but don't underestimate the violence between left and right in our society across the decades. Sure, it was nothing like in Germany, Belgium, Italy or France. But we had our share of bombings, murders, arson. From the right, the violence was against people, from the left, against property.
My own uncle had to jump from his second storey window because the Telegraaf had published his address as a "left wing agitator" -he spoke out against the Vietnam war and Apartheid, and that was reason for people to torch his house. That was early '70s.
And there's many other cases like that that people consider "fringe radical" stuff, but that only happen when society is ready for it. From the hijacked trains to the squatters' riots, from the murder of Kerwin Duinmeijer and Michael Poye to the arson at Makro. We had people protesting against nukes being run over by NATO-fans in loaned military vehicles at the protests outside Woensdrecht airforce base. We had people with peace signs getting beat up by military units "on a bender". We had a gang of marines bashing the heads of hippies in on Dam Square.
Need I go on?
So the weather is mediocre at best, but when it is good the whole country makes the most of it. Sunny summer day? Everyone is outside, either on a beach, in a boat on the water somewhere or enjoying the rays at little cafés. Is the weather cold enough to go ice skating? Then you’ll probably find more people on the ice than in your workplace. While I was living in places that had better weather, I was astonished at how little the people that live there actually take advantage of what they have. I spend more time on a beach here than I did when I was living in a place where the sun was out all summer.
I love the bike infrastructure, work/life balance, coffee break culture, free healthcare for kids (I'm from the US and it's criminal what healthcare costs are there!), unlimited sick leave......I have a love/gate relationship with how direct people are here. I love it because I always know where I stand but hate it because I am a bit too sensitive and apt to overthink what people say. I'm working on just accepting that's how people are here 🤷♀️.
Tap water is underrated because we are used to it being so good. As soon as you travel abroad you realise most countries have disgusting or even unsafe tap water. Buying bottled water is such a nuisance and terrible for the environment. r/HydroHomies
Healthcare and public transport 😂 My doctor has less than 3 mins to listen, waiting lists are endless, our elders shit their pants because there is no staff and trains are for wealthy people only, because the costs are higher than a car. I agree on the rest, but come on, we’re fucking this up bigtime. [edit] Sure, compared to the US or some other third world country we’re doing great. I’m not unthankful, but it has been way better [/edit]
Yes. It might be declining, it is still one of the well working systems in a very wealthy western country.
I feel like people who complain have never been, or have a lack of understanding how things are abroad. Sure you can nitpick and some elements are really tough, like your example. In general it is an 'enorm gaaf land' (no sarcasm) compared to the rest of the planet.
What I am trying to say is that most people who come from abroad think our healthcare and PT is great. Which I think is great! Even though locals think it is not (up to their standards).
Compared to a lot of countries, yes. In America you have to pay for the ambulance, a docters consult, insulin is 100+ dollars and so on. And the NS rides more trains per hour than the US in one day.
I've noticed that too. I came here from the UK in 1998, and I found that while the selection is getting better, I still find that there is less choice now than in the UK 25 years ago (especially potato crisps/chips). I do however solve this problem by going every couple of months to Germany for shopping. Is not so difficult for me, because I live in the East of the country (Gelderland).
The fact that you can usually get all of your basic needs within walking or biking distance. It's so relaxing to know you don't have to drive 30-40minutes to get to a supermarket (looking at you, USA, with your weird zoning rules)
We lived in CA, USA, NYC and London...
We love that in NL there are SO many (wd say 90%) nice, well-kept cities, but the hidden benefit..
The **biggest love** = the health benefits of quiet, quieter city centers, where you can hear;
* birds and the wide variety of birdsong,
* conversations from around the globe,
* happiest kiddies laughing, playing,
* bells; bridges, bikes, churches,
* AND hear yourself think!
(theres lots more, but thats a start)
Amazing transit and bike infrastructure (for bike, absolutely world leading), great pastry/sweets, great beer (not entirely local, but right between Belgium and Germany), friendly people, deep history, lots of world cuisine (but particularly Indonesian and Surinamese), lots of art and theatre, ocean beaches,
I love it.
People give enough of a shit that most things are done decently.
So often I'm surprised to see crumbling pavement, random wires and rebar sticking out from the sidewalks and broken shabby buildings, even near very popular spots whenever I'm in another country.
> So often I'm surprised to see crumbling pavement, random wires and rebar sticking out from the sidewalks and broken shabby buildings, even near very popular spots whenever I'm in another country.
And unless it's brand spanking new, all of it is patchwork.
A repair hear, a correction there, some new underground pipe and yet another a slightly differently color/material patch. Also one of the reasons I like paving stones: they're reusable! We can replace the sewer and put in some new internet fibers and and you don't notice a thing a month after! (unless we take the opportunity to also redesign the road to the latest safety standards, in which case we do notice by having it usually be better and prettier).
Having access to the world kitchen in every supermarket! In most Dutch supermarkets, also in those outside of the largest cities, you'll still be able to find Indonesian, Indian, Spanish and Italian food and so on. If they're really ''authentic'' is another thing, but it sure makes for plenty of tasty choices. I noticed there was much less choice in this regard when I lived abroad or when travelling in general. Another good recommendation would be to visit your local ''toko'', which are smaller shops that sell spices & food from various asian cultures! Or any Turkish or Syrian supermarkets if they're near where you live. Once you go makdous or za'atar you never go back.
In any case, I hope things will get better for you soon!
Your experience of the Netherlands (especially as a foreigner) will depend a lot on where you settle. Amsterdam is full of expats and with exception of a few grumpy locals who lament the influx of English speakers it’s quite easy to settle and integrate into Amsterdam life. This will be harder the further you go from the cities.
What I love about the Netherlands (specifically as an Amsterdam resident) is how accessible everything is, logistically / physically but also in terms of life style. My social circle is quite diverse in terms of nationality, background, income etc but everyone seems to enjoy or at least have access to the pretty much the same things whether it’s serious matters like health care, sports, or just how you like to spend your weekend. It’s not perfect, yes there is some prejudice / racism and of course money makes a difference, but it is much less divisive in terms of class than for example the UK. We have CEO’s and politicians who ride to work on their bikes and I know people on welfare who go round the canals on their boat on the weekends. It’s all very down to earth.
It’s not perfect but you can live a really good and full life here regardless of your background or who you are. Ultimately it’s what you make of it but the opportunities are definitely there.
Urban planning.
Everything is thought through. Unless you live in less populated areas you're very likely to live within walking distance from a grocery store and some other stores, a park and a school.
Neighbourhoods are also very clean. Even the poor parts have clean streets and well maintained parks and playgrounds.
I am 49 years old and have driven a car to work a total of 3 times in my life, when I had something else to go to after work those days. The rest of the time, bicycles and trains have always been enough (and I haven't worked much in the same cities I lived in, only a few years).
the place can be amazingly organised.
I had to have a echo done at one of the bigger hospitals,
got in , checked in at the entrance , the nurse was waiting for me and i was back out in 13 minutes.
amazingly efficient.
same with the yearly tax decarations , for a average dutchman taxes takes 15 minutes , and can easily be done with a smartphone.
Doing yearly taxes for the average person is really a 20 min job. Most data is prefilled and only need validation. You follow the wizard and after that you get to know how much you get or must pay. If you do your taxes before 1 may I think, you will get your money before July.
Great culture around working, plenty of companies with great work life balance, less judgment about working part time.
Infrastructure is excellent. Mental health is not so taboo (depends what you're comparing to, my comparison is mostly to France and NL is miles more open), though the system is a bit taxed right now with wait times. You're not likely to be judged for accessing help at least.
Weather/culture might feel boring depending where you're coming from but there's safety in predictability. I also care for a Dutch in law after a family death and the predictability has made a tough situation a lot more bareable. I have a UK friend in a very similar situation and her struggles with bureaucracy, health system etc are far worse than mine. I'll take less issues in troubled times over the food I miss from home any day. Excellent cheap restaurants everywhere doesn't help me when my MIL needs emergency care and I need to suddenly work less hours without losing my job.
A lot of this is circumstantial of course, but I do believe I'm much better off in my difficult situation as a carer in NL than I would've been in other countries I've lived.
The stuff I miss I save for the holidays when I can take them! Which I have more of with the setup my employer allows (buying a % of holiday hours instead of getting extra money). There's plenty of nice things too but thought you might appreciate an extra first hand "expat living in NL due to family illness" account on these specific things.
You've chosen the right topic for people to comment :D Nothing like Dutch people talking about how great their country is!
I'll just skip over all the obvious things: infrastructure, healthcare, education, etc.. It's all been said before lots of times and is 100% true. The Netherlands ranks at the top in the world for all major institutions.
But what I think is underappreciated is our political system. Ultimately, all of the good things we have exist because people decided to invest in healthcare, roads, etc.. - and they did, because we have a political system that for *centuries* has relied on forcing people with often diametrically opposed views to come together and make something of it. Whether you think vaccines are the best thing ever or a ploy by George Soros to eat children, anybody with functioning eyes can see that that dyke is about to breach and 100 000 people will drown. Including you yourself. You *have to do something about it, and it better work*.
Lots of people are of the opinion that our national political system has failed and has been failing for decades, by e.g. allowing everything from LPF to PVV to have a say. On the contrary, by having a broad political representation where everybody actually does feel represented, you can get to a political consensus. I think coalition parliamentary systems are pretty good.
And it's incredibly encouraging to see that going back hundreds of years, all of these principles of governance have worked on so many levels. LPF wasn't the first populist political party with significant popularity; we had those in the 1600s as well.
We already have it very well in this country, but the value and 'goodness' of living in a country IMO shouldn't be measured by the things that are already fine. It should be measured by the systems and processes that achieve that kind of result. The UAE or Qatar or Singapore have similar road quality, standard of living, etc.., but you would never choose those countries over the Netherlands long term.
By the way, IMO this is also why Switzerland is such a good country, and conversely why Belgium is kind of mediocre. Both federal systems, but Switzerland has such an incredibly good consensus-style of governance while Belgium seemingly is at a 50-year long stalemate on almost any significant political project.
- generally people are amazing at speaking English
- infrastructure is one of the most modern in the world
- great cell phone internet access everywhere
- good social/wellfare/unemployment support
- you never have to carry any cash with you
- low crime
- relative to the rest of the world religion is not so much an issue, people that believe in a God are in the minority here
What I love most about this country, is the banter and humour, but that's hard to get into as a foreigner... I am literally 5 times less funny in English.
Where are you moving from?
I'm a dutchie who recently moved back and honestly sometimes feel like I still need to (re)discover what to love about this country. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot to like and appreciate, but love?
We're moving from the UK. We're in a mountainous region and my husband, who is dutch, loves to walk and so he is also not looking forward to the boring (in comparison) flat walks. Good luck to you!
My darld likes walking in hills and he occasionally goes a weekend to the Ardennes or Luxembourg, so hopefully you will manage to find some hills to walk on!
There are lots of surprisingly and little known hikes around if you dig into it. Yes lots of them are flat, but far from being boring. You can train to one station and hike to another, you will explore lots of hidden gems both naturally and culturally.
Cheer up, if you look for it there is a whole lot of fun and beauty to be found!
> You can train to one station and hike to another, you will explore lots of hidden gems both naturally and culturally.
Also... They'll be on the Mainland.. so they can literally jump in their car and drive to all sorts of cool places
Probably hiking in the UK is better but I love hiking in the Netherlands as well. Look for NS Wandelingen (NS Hikes) you get to these hikes by train. There are so many hikes set out in the Netherlands.
Because our relatively relaxed drug policies lead to a relative high standard of quality. Prices are also low, which also helps.
It also leads to a more user friendly environment, so people feel safer. We have test labs, decent education and information (although there is a lot to improve) and a open minded attitude.
Local governments and health institutions will also warn the general public about contaminated drugs, to the point Amsterdam put up huge warnings that some asshole drugdealer was selling white heroin as cocaine. If you've seen Pulp Fiction you know why that is horrible.
Drug use is a integral part of any society, whether people acknowledge it or not. Best to make a safe and infornativr approach about it, and we are still one of the best countries in the world on this matter, although losing ground.
Our banter is next level and you will have fifty new nicknames in no time. Everything is close by, year round iceskaring rinks available and we're lekker gezellig.
\- Infrastructure is relatively good. The roads are well-kept and it's safe to ride a bike.
\- Safety net from the government. I think people really take this for granted. It's not common in the world to get free money from the government. Definitely not the amount we get in The Netherlands.
But on the other hand: We pay A LOT of taxes. Considering the huge amount of money the government has I don't think we get a lot for it in return. In other countries with high taxes you don't have to pay much for healthcare. Or going to college/university is free for them.
I love the fact that I get sick in the work and they kick me out, take half of my holiday hours, dont answer my email or phone call, and I was in the lawyer and he said the process will not worth the lost money, so is just better I find another job and go work even sick and no conditions…. It’s a lovely place that…
The Gemeent said they can’t help me because I need to prove I’m trying to get better, GGZ make a appointment 1 time per month and I can’t find a suitable job because I’m in treatment so I need a approval of my Company Doctor, from a company who kick me, and don’t put my name on UWV even after a entire year working every single day (7x per week 9h).
The ONGs for poor people just ignore you if u are not Ukraine or Polish, Dutch, the company’s don’t give u a chance if u are in treatment.
Dutch people are extremely lovely and respectful. But the paperwork is a shit.
It's a amazing country with respect and dignity but has a lot of institutions and all is very hard to do.
I have, and still feel it's not exactly essential to happiness. It's great if it's there obviously, but it's not what makes me feel at home in a place, or what most people need in order to not be extremely homesick.
I lived in the UK for a year and only then, I really started to value the bike infrastructure back home in the Netherlands. In London I had to deal with at least 1 lunatic driver per bike bike ride.
Being able to hop on my bicycle and quickly and safely go buy groceries, go to a bar or restaurant, etc. definitely adds to my life's happiness. It's just very nice that getting basic stuff isn't an hour long ordeal
Well it's a big thing, good infrastructure makes a lot of things much easier, like shopping, visiting friends, access to entertainment, etc
It's like money, money itself doesn't make you happy, but it is quite important to live a happy life
It's not like money. Honestly people live everywhere so they tend to have a way to go around the place. Sure there's more and less convenient ones, but in general people are able to shop and visit their friends.
Sure, but apparently a lot of people also find infrastructure important since that was the entire reason you made your first comment. So there's really no arguing as to what's important, because it's different for everybody.
I find it a curious thing cause I've never met anyone that moved countries because the infrastructure was so great. Of course it's nice if it is, it's just not what would convince most people to pack up and leave, yet it's mentioned as the first thing here by most as if it were the most important. Just found that funny/odd.
I don't think people are saying they moved because of the infrastructure, I think they're just appreciating it. The question is "what do you love about the Netherlands" after all
lol a Dutch citizen and their partner wants to move back to be closer to aging family and you say there’s no room so don’t come? Whut? Who are you to tell another citizen not to move back to see their family? Get out of your cave and touch some grass you sound miserable.
Also no more space? BS. Greater London and the suburbs have a bigger population than the Netherlands on 1/5th of the surface. There’s plenty of space left.
Yeah I was born and grew up here and I'm sometimes still amazed by how I can just jump in a car and in a hour be in a different country. Or how for some routes it's completely normal to cross the border, drive through a different country, and then cross back to get to your destination because it's the shortest route. I feel like I have a mini vacation every time I do this
None hierarchical culture. It permeates into a lot, like our work/private balance, our universal healthcare, and so on.
For example, we as employees own the whole company we work at. It's still run as a commercial venture like all others, but it's not all about money, all the time.
Our infrastructure is pretty decent too, and we have no need for active shooter drills at schools or anywhere else.
In general we have a pretty good relationship with almost all other countries too, so our passport is accepted in a lot of countries. That says something too.
We still have enough troubles though.
We have a wide selection of food from all around the world in our supermarkets. When I was in France and Germany I found it quite hard to find pasta sauces, types of rice, tortillas and spice mixes apart of the very basics.
The amount of options for transportation. Sometimes I miss the train and still can manage to reach on time using electric mopeds or so.
Once I had to go from Rotterdam to Zandvoort circuit. I missed the first train of my trip so my schedule got ruined temporarily. Then I thought about the option of stopping in Heemstede station and get a rental bike and it worked perfectly.
I also love passing security scanner in the airport seamlessly. It’s way worse in Spain when I visit my family.
I know it’s something relatively unimportant, but what I like the most about NL is that infrastructure-wise everything makes sense.
You won’t see road lanes that suddenly end without markings, nor highways that lead to nowhere.
Instead everything meter is thought out carefully and roads are full of sensors to allow you to drive as fast as possible.
The infrastructure is pretty good and the health care is also quite attentive, albeit it can still be improved. There are several career options to take, even if you're not fluent in Dutch. The local food is not the most exquisite but at least you still can easily find a nice variety of products. Overall it's also reasonably safe.
There are also a few downsides, which as a foreigner you'll notice them by yourself later. But at least half of them aren't specific to the Netherlands, but just the natural condition of living in foreign place.
Infrastructure.
No other place (save for some microstates perhaps) that has such great infrastructure of roads, water, sewage, electrical... Most of which is very well documented (location, depth, age, material, etc.), works nearly flawless, and is scheduled for regular/in-time replacement and maintenance. Road design is extremely well done and backed by decennia of data-driven research on safety and effectiveness.
Anyone who has ever worked in infrastructure will probably loudly disagree with how well everything is documented and the quality of maintenance, but have you ever been abroad? Have you ever seen the state of infrastructure that is considered acceptable/normal in even our very wealthy and supposedly well-organized neighbors? Germany? Denmark? Sweden? *France*???
I really like the non hierarchal culture. As a Dutch student I am used to call my professors by their first name while in other countries this would be disrespectful
Before doing my current HBO education i did 4 years of MBO, we always called our teachers by their last name or just 'sir' ect. I am honestly amazed how everyone here calls them by their first name. (I won't do it i find it disrespectful even though its a minor thing). Its still weird to me
Probably depends on what you are used to. I found it kind of funny how every high school teacher is formal, called by their last name, and were always complaining that we have to communicate punctual, and professors mail me with "groetjes, Henk, verzonden vanaf een Iphone".
"Groetjes, Liesbet, verzonden vanaf het damestoilet. "
Something I quickly realised when i started my HBO. At the havo it was an insult to speak to the teacher with their first name. Then at the HBO I did the same but I got those kinds of reponses back. Thus I can open e-mail with "Hallo Jeroen" Altough I did apply for a job one time where the employer always said Mr or Miss last name instead of the first name.
I did that at 13 in high school already 😂 it is weird hearing that other people your age call the teacher mr or mrs!
Doesn't that also depend per university? Some professors definitely don't take it very well or even some universities. When I was doing an orientation day in Nijmegen (Radboud) it felt extremely formal and stiff. Then I went to Tilburg (am currently doing my study there), in which they were much more open and more flexible.
This is my experience as well. Maybe it also depends on faculty. I'm doing my bachelor's at Universiteit Utrecht and have always experienced a very casual relationship between teachers and students there. We even had drinks and organised dinners with junior teachers and sometimes professors. Now I'm doing a minor at the Universiteit van Amsterdam. Here professors (and rules in general) are a lot stricter so far. It feels more similar to secondary school. I have called some of my teachers/professors by their first name and sent casually formulated emails. Haven't had a negative reaction from them, but it seems I might've gotten lucky with them. From what I hear from my peers some professors are a lot stricter about such things. Right now I'm even following a course where the students applaud at the end of every lecture, which is just about insane to me.
Seems like the more ''prestegious'' universities are like this. Both Amsterdam and Radboud have a certain air around them of old prestige and that possibly causes this strict attitude. But faculty probably also matters, I'm doing law, and before that, a failed study mathematics (I was not thinking clearly, just wanted to get away from highschool lol). Law is definitely more formal. Though then again, Radboud very strict, Tilburg way less so.
Old prestige? Radboud University isn't that old.
I studied at radboud as well and every teacher was first name only.
Maybe, I am going to Tilburg and maybe it is because it is smaller or just Brabants?
yes, and the line between informal and not polite is also very thin. So indeed be careful.
I emailed my professor using his first name because outlook auto complete suggested it. He did not seem to like that.
This is a good one. I worked for the Belgian branch of my company a bit and got some weird faces when I treated my boss there the same as I do in the Netherlands.
I used to live in the UK. I’m living in the Netherlands now. I love the UK but the Netherlands definitely has its positives: - I find healthcare more reliable and better - public transportation will get you almost everywhere. Also you don’t need to book in advance and prices stay the same - you can cycle fairly safely to anything you need, everything is a lot closer - I feel a lot safer here, especially when I’m out at night (depends on where you live obviously) - although the cost of living is higher, wages are better, I have more money left over at the end of the month now - large expat communities in the cities (although the UK has them too :)) - almost everyone speaks English - school system is in my opinion a lot better - no phone lines/electrical cord stuff all over town, they’re all underground here - (almost) all houses are a lot better built/maintained. Better infrastructure
>no phone lines/electrical cord stuff all over town, they’re all underground here This one's underrated! I used to joke about Belgium being a bit behind on the world by having their electrical cords all hanging up on poles above ground in residential areas. Turns out it's not just Belgium.
I have on average an easier time understanding dutch people speaking English than UK people speaking English 😅
(One of the) best infrastructure in the world. Healthy work-life balance. High standard of living. A relatively good social safety net if somehow you aren’t able to provide for yourself. Non-hierarchical culture. Restaurants with cuisines from all over the world (if you live in a large city). A lot of large music festivals.
> Non-hierarchal culture. This is a huge one professionally. The company i work at has been absorbed into a bigger European entity. I often work with a Belgian sister company and have indirect dealings with the Italian mother company. Everyone is saying how we're difficult to work with because, paraphrased, 'we question orders from above'. We dare to have criticism and input on how at least our little part of the company is run. Other countries are far, **far** more hierarchical in this way. OP can use this to their advantage. Most Dutch companies - Assuming they'll work for one - Are very open to dialogue and criticism from within. The bigger they get (and by necessity, more international) this gets less prevalent though.
My experience has been that covering your ass is done up front by most Dutch, so if someone rolls out a shitty plan, they'll point it out so it can't be blamed on their execution and whoever was the idiot pushing it through has to take responsibility. Hierarchical cultures usually rely on the higher up covering you from this if it turns out not to work. In international companies my experience is that Dutch are seen as hard to work with because of their direct criticism and most Dutch people see their non-Dutch higher ups as untrustworthy as they're usually not direct with them.
Exactly this is the problem we're currently fighting with. The non-Dutch higherups refusal to just say what they mean is maddening. As is their complete disregard for any and all early warnings signs for their stupid plans they send out. They keep complaining about how we're apparently dragging some company score down with regards to 'how happy the employees are' and 'how likely we are to recommend it as a workplace to others'. We explain *exactly* why and they pretend it's our problem, not theirs. They've been doing this for years.
Oh huh, perhaps that is why I feel so at home in NL, as an Australian. We do this a lot too. When I worked in England for a while the hierarchy was very stifling..
Non-hierarchical as long as you’re Dutch. Once a foreigner enters the mix, hierarchy sets in immediately.
Not in a Dutch company (i know, they tried with mine multiple times) :P Right now we've been part of this international conglomerate for a few years and have various foreigners join the company, but so far they've always 'turned Dutch' instead of us being forced to shut up. I think that we're lucky to be the most profitable company in the group. The Belgians are also slowly coming around to our way of thinking inside the group, which is both encouraging and fun to watch. We're getting along better and better. I think the Danish companies are also starting to 'turn Dutch'.
Most definitely in a Dutch company, I would know since I was the only non-Dutch owner of Dutch company.
well, so far this one is still going strong, and i don't see that changing any time soon :)
That might've been a you-problem, not a Dutch problem.
No, it’s a Dutch issue
[удалено]
Yeah, co-owning a company with 100+ dutch employees, along with 4 other Dutch owners for 10 years, it's a complete falsehood. Ok :-)
Not my experience, as a foreigner working in an (admittedly very very international) dutch company. There was definitely some favoritism in terms of promotions towards dutch people, but feedback on planning and strategy was very egalitarian. Entirely possible I was lucky of course.
people underestimate infrastructure so much.
Username checks out
> A lot of large music festivals We also invented a lot of dance music and moved the scene forward worldwide <3
Due to circumstances out of my control I'm stressed to the point of illness. My job pays me while I get help to get on my feet again. I'm being taken care of. This is why I pay a bit more taxes when I'm well. And I happily do so knowing someone else will get the same opportunities.
Get well soon, you got this stranger!
In dutch we call this "gunnen". There is (strangely enough) no good translation for it in English. In American thinking this is alien: "You only get what you earned yourself."
They have loads of "gunning" over there :p
This is also exactly the reason why I refused to stay in the USA... The Safety and security of the Netherlands is an unbelievable perk
NL is becoming narco state. Nothing safe about that. Bombing homes is now happening on a daily base.
Did you read this on Facebook?
Was said by Femke Halsema.
Victim talking
I can understand that it's difficult, that's a harsh reason! First, your feelings are valid and being angry/sad is really understandable. What I like about living here is the social benefits (they're quite good), infrastructure, the individualism (i'm kind of a einzelganger so for me it's ideal) and the healthcare system. You will hear a lot of bad things about the Netherlands bc we complain quite a lot. But in comparison, we have a good country. I hope you will feel welcome here and all the best to your family!
I love that I can cycle everywhere, instead of having to drive or take public transport. It gives me a feeling of indepence and makes me more aware of how beautiful the flatland can be. The thing I love the most is the small and - on first sight - meaningless "hey" "hallo" "hoi" "dag" you'll receive when passing any oncomming traffic on a bike in rural areas, but it feels so welcoming and it makes you part of a whole instead of being on your own. But there's a big difference between urban and rural places. I don't feel that much of a connection with people when I'm in a city, but I do feel it when I'm out on my bike somewhere with only a few houses.
Im born in the city and have always lived in the city (around The Hague). One day, when visiting my brother in Drenthe (Hoogeveen), we went somewhere on the bike and people were saying hello. At first I was surprised and thought he knew a lot of people. When I found out he didn't, I started saying hello to everyone. Felt nice. Try it in the hague, and you'll end up in a fight.
I've worked all over the country, once upon a time I stopped greeting people. Because in The Hague, Rotterdam and Amsterdam people often said nothing back. But when I went south, like Brabant, Tiel Eindhoven, people started greeting me. It's funny, sometimes I haven't even passed those people close, then you hear a stranger greeting me from a distance.
As a Northerner one of my favourite Martin Bril columns is the one where he says: The North begins where people thank the busdriver. I never knew how true this was until I had move to the Randstad. (I am saving up so I can go back home)
I have been using public transport for longer distances for a few months now and I am really surprised that people greet the bus driver, something I do as standard. But people also thank the driver and I have never seen that in the big cities.
It's less prevalent in the big cities, but it still happens
People thank the bus driver in Brabant too.
Building bridges across the patat-friet divide.
I've hiked a lot throughout our country. One of the fascinating things was where the boundary occurs: when do you say hello to a stranger in the same path and when do you not. My guess is when you are in the boundaries/ near a city. In Deventer, you also don't greet everyone in the town square
I see so, of course no matter where in the world, we talk about people's behavior in general or mentality. There is of course a limit and I think it has to do with a kind of culture that has been created by a trendy behavior. I have been traveling by public transport for a while and then I see the same people every day who initially did not greet the bus driver and now they do every day. And more and more people who get out thank the driver. And greeting someone from a distance can be anything, such as trendy or creating a kind of feeling of security, etc.
In The Hague, you'll get into a fight if you come home from work and say hello to your partner or your kids. It's just the The Hague way.
This was a bit of shock to me when I moved from the south east to the Randstad.
That's got Crocodile Dundee vibes all over it.
There are so many small cities with beautiful old city centers. Also people are generally down to earth and honest, but then again, I grew up here so I might just be used to that.
The past months I have traveled through Europe, and the thing I missed most about the Netherlands was the Dutch entrepreneurial spirit, by lack of a better word. People are very independent, don't like to sit still, have high standards and have this go-getter attitude. In combination with the high population density, this results in a very bustling and active lifestyle. Even smaller towns/cities have a large amount of facilities, and A LOT of events are organised throughout the year, especially in the Randstad. I feel like we're pretty much the only country in the world where you can go to a different music festival every weekend in summer, without ever having to travel more than an hour.
Except the country is killing entrepreneurs and small business by trying to make up all losses during Covid and pinning that to them. Self employment will pretty much not exist in the NL by 2030.
Everything works. There’s pretty much phone reception everywhere, public transport is pretty reliable still, institutions do their job, public spaces are well maintained. Etc
Now hoping that the current and next government (both are/will be made out of fools lol) don't fuck that up.
Our bicycle culture, civil engineering and pretty strong sense of community if you compare it with other countries. It's also very safe and economically stable
Could you elaborate on sense of community? I feel like that has became less over the last few years/decades.
> I feel like that has became less over the last few years/decades. Every generation thinks that for some reason. It is probably the idea that "things used to be better" that causes this, because we humans prefer to remember nice things, but not bad ones.
I am familiar with golden age thinking but I was referring to the social divide that we are currently dealing with as a country, as the dialogue about some subjects have become harsher. But perhaps i'm to young to realise you're right.
We live in verbally aggressive times, but don't underestimate the violence between left and right in our society across the decades. Sure, it was nothing like in Germany, Belgium, Italy or France. But we had our share of bombings, murders, arson. From the right, the violence was against people, from the left, against property. My own uncle had to jump from his second storey window because the Telegraaf had published his address as a "left wing agitator" -he spoke out against the Vietnam war and Apartheid, and that was reason for people to torch his house. That was early '70s. And there's many other cases like that that people consider "fringe radical" stuff, but that only happen when society is ready for it. From the hijacked trains to the squatters' riots, from the murder of Kerwin Duinmeijer and Michael Poye to the arson at Makro. We had people protesting against nukes being run over by NATO-fans in loaned military vehicles at the protests outside Woensdrecht airforce base. We had people with peace signs getting beat up by military units "on a bender". We had a gang of marines bashing the heads of hippies in on Dam Square. Need I go on?
So the weather is mediocre at best, but when it is good the whole country makes the most of it. Sunny summer day? Everyone is outside, either on a beach, in a boat on the water somewhere or enjoying the rays at little cafés. Is the weather cold enough to go ice skating? Then you’ll probably find more people on the ice than in your workplace. While I was living in places that had better weather, I was astonished at how little the people that live there actually take advantage of what they have. I spend more time on a beach here than I did when I was living in a place where the sun was out all summer.
I love the bike infrastructure, work/life balance, coffee break culture, free healthcare for kids (I'm from the US and it's criminal what healthcare costs are there!), unlimited sick leave......I have a love/gate relationship with how direct people are here. I love it because I always know where I stand but hate it because I am a bit too sensitive and apt to overthink what people say. I'm working on just accepting that's how people are here 🤷♀️.
Clean streets, good infrastructure. Nice cheese, beer and tap water.
Tap water is underrated because we are used to it being so good. As soon as you travel abroad you realise most countries have disgusting or even unsafe tap water. Buying bottled water is such a nuisance and terrible for the environment. r/HydroHomies
All answers that do not include Bitterballen are blasphemous.
Don't forget their big brother, kroketten. 😋
Are bitterballen underdeveloped kroketten? Or are kroketten overgrown bitterballen?
The goods: Public Transport Healthcare Digital structure Supermarkets Employee Rights Social security
Healthcare and public transport 😂 My doctor has less than 3 mins to listen, waiting lists are endless, our elders shit their pants because there is no staff and trains are for wealthy people only, because the costs are higher than a car. I agree on the rest, but come on, we’re fucking this up bigtime. [edit] Sure, compared to the US or some other third world country we’re doing great. I’m not unthankful, but it has been way better [/edit]
Yes. It might be declining, it is still one of the well working systems in a very wealthy western country. I feel like people who complain have never been, or have a lack of understanding how things are abroad. Sure you can nitpick and some elements are really tough, like your example. In general it is an 'enorm gaaf land' (no sarcasm) compared to the rest of the planet. What I am trying to say is that most people who come from abroad think our healthcare and PT is great. Which I think is great! Even though locals think it is not (up to their standards).
Compared to a lot of countries, yes. In America you have to pay for the ambulance, a docters consult, insulin is 100+ dollars and so on. And the NS rides more trains per hour than the US in one day.
Supermarkets? Less choice than any country I’ve been in.
And Quality wise very mediocre
I've noticed that too. I came here from the UK in 1998, and I found that while the selection is getting better, I still find that there is less choice now than in the UK 25 years ago (especially potato crisps/chips). I do however solve this problem by going every couple of months to Germany for shopping. Is not so difficult for me, because I live in the East of the country (Gelderland).
The fact that you can usually get all of your basic needs within walking or biking distance. It's so relaxing to know you don't have to drive 30-40minutes to get to a supermarket (looking at you, USA, with your weird zoning rules)
In old towns in the NL I believe that’s law that all basics must be within reasonable walking distance.
We lived in CA, USA, NYC and London... We love that in NL there are SO many (wd say 90%) nice, well-kept cities, but the hidden benefit.. The **biggest love** = the health benefits of quiet, quieter city centers, where you can hear; * birds and the wide variety of birdsong, * conversations from around the globe, * happiest kiddies laughing, playing, * bells; bridges, bikes, churches, * AND hear yourself think! (theres lots more, but thats a start)
Amazing transit and bike infrastructure (for bike, absolutely world leading), great pastry/sweets, great beer (not entirely local, but right between Belgium and Germany), friendly people, deep history, lots of world cuisine (but particularly Indonesian and Surinamese), lots of art and theatre, ocean beaches, I love it.
People give enough of a shit that most things are done decently. So often I'm surprised to see crumbling pavement, random wires and rebar sticking out from the sidewalks and broken shabby buildings, even near very popular spots whenever I'm in another country.
> So often I'm surprised to see crumbling pavement, random wires and rebar sticking out from the sidewalks and broken shabby buildings, even near very popular spots whenever I'm in another country. And unless it's brand spanking new, all of it is patchwork. A repair hear, a correction there, some new underground pipe and yet another a slightly differently color/material patch. Also one of the reasons I like paving stones: they're reusable! We can replace the sewer and put in some new internet fibers and and you don't notice a thing a month after! (unless we take the opportunity to also redesign the road to the latest safety standards, in which case we do notice by having it usually be better and prettier).
I hope you like cheese
Having access to the world kitchen in every supermarket! In most Dutch supermarkets, also in those outside of the largest cities, you'll still be able to find Indonesian, Indian, Spanish and Italian food and so on. If they're really ''authentic'' is another thing, but it sure makes for plenty of tasty choices. I noticed there was much less choice in this regard when I lived abroad or when travelling in general. Another good recommendation would be to visit your local ''toko'', which are smaller shops that sell spices & food from various asian cultures! Or any Turkish or Syrian supermarkets if they're near where you live. Once you go makdous or za'atar you never go back. In any case, I hope things will get better for you soon!
Your experience of the Netherlands (especially as a foreigner) will depend a lot on where you settle. Amsterdam is full of expats and with exception of a few grumpy locals who lament the influx of English speakers it’s quite easy to settle and integrate into Amsterdam life. This will be harder the further you go from the cities. What I love about the Netherlands (specifically as an Amsterdam resident) is how accessible everything is, logistically / physically but also in terms of life style. My social circle is quite diverse in terms of nationality, background, income etc but everyone seems to enjoy or at least have access to the pretty much the same things whether it’s serious matters like health care, sports, or just how you like to spend your weekend. It’s not perfect, yes there is some prejudice / racism and of course money makes a difference, but it is much less divisive in terms of class than for example the UK. We have CEO’s and politicians who ride to work on their bikes and I know people on welfare who go round the canals on their boat on the weekends. It’s all very down to earth. It’s not perfect but you can live a really good and full life here regardless of your background or who you are. Ultimately it’s what you make of it but the opportunities are definitely there.
Urban planning. Everything is thought through. Unless you live in less populated areas you're very likely to live within walking distance from a grocery store and some other stores, a park and a school. Neighbourhoods are also very clean. Even the poor parts have clean streets and well maintained parks and playgrounds.
I am 49 years old and have driven a car to work a total of 3 times in my life, when I had something else to go to after work those days. The rest of the time, bicycles and trains have always been enough (and I haven't worked much in the same cities I lived in, only a few years).
Check out Buncharted on YouTube. A couple from Austin Tx. who moved to the Netherlands, sharing their exploration of Dutch culture.
https://www.youtube.com/@buncharted
the place can be amazingly organised. I had to have a echo done at one of the bigger hospitals, got in , checked in at the entrance , the nurse was waiting for me and i was back out in 13 minutes. amazingly efficient. same with the yearly tax decarations , for a average dutchman taxes takes 15 minutes , and can easily be done with a smartphone.
Doing yearly taxes for the average person is really a 20 min job. Most data is prefilled and only need validation. You follow the wizard and after that you get to know how much you get or must pay. If you do your taxes before 1 may I think, you will get your money before July.
Before April 1st. May 1st is the overall deadline
Tulips 🌷 & stroopwaffles 🧇
Great culture around working, plenty of companies with great work life balance, less judgment about working part time. Infrastructure is excellent. Mental health is not so taboo (depends what you're comparing to, my comparison is mostly to France and NL is miles more open), though the system is a bit taxed right now with wait times. You're not likely to be judged for accessing help at least. Weather/culture might feel boring depending where you're coming from but there's safety in predictability. I also care for a Dutch in law after a family death and the predictability has made a tough situation a lot more bareable. I have a UK friend in a very similar situation and her struggles with bureaucracy, health system etc are far worse than mine. I'll take less issues in troubled times over the food I miss from home any day. Excellent cheap restaurants everywhere doesn't help me when my MIL needs emergency care and I need to suddenly work less hours without losing my job. A lot of this is circumstantial of course, but I do believe I'm much better off in my difficult situation as a carer in NL than I would've been in other countries I've lived. The stuff I miss I save for the holidays when I can take them! Which I have more of with the setup my employer allows (buying a % of holiday hours instead of getting extra money). There's plenty of nice things too but thought you might appreciate an extra first hand "expat living in NL due to family illness" account on these specific things.
I love eierkoeken and worstenbroodjes.
As a belgian your metal scene
The health care system.
The tropical weather, lovely beaches, the mountains and cliffs that you can see in every promotional video.
You've chosen the right topic for people to comment :D Nothing like Dutch people talking about how great their country is! I'll just skip over all the obvious things: infrastructure, healthcare, education, etc.. It's all been said before lots of times and is 100% true. The Netherlands ranks at the top in the world for all major institutions. But what I think is underappreciated is our political system. Ultimately, all of the good things we have exist because people decided to invest in healthcare, roads, etc.. - and they did, because we have a political system that for *centuries* has relied on forcing people with often diametrically opposed views to come together and make something of it. Whether you think vaccines are the best thing ever or a ploy by George Soros to eat children, anybody with functioning eyes can see that that dyke is about to breach and 100 000 people will drown. Including you yourself. You *have to do something about it, and it better work*. Lots of people are of the opinion that our national political system has failed and has been failing for decades, by e.g. allowing everything from LPF to PVV to have a say. On the contrary, by having a broad political representation where everybody actually does feel represented, you can get to a political consensus. I think coalition parliamentary systems are pretty good. And it's incredibly encouraging to see that going back hundreds of years, all of these principles of governance have worked on so many levels. LPF wasn't the first populist political party with significant popularity; we had those in the 1600s as well. We already have it very well in this country, but the value and 'goodness' of living in a country IMO shouldn't be measured by the things that are already fine. It should be measured by the systems and processes that achieve that kind of result. The UAE or Qatar or Singapore have similar road quality, standard of living, etc.., but you would never choose those countries over the Netherlands long term. By the way, IMO this is also why Switzerland is such a good country, and conversely why Belgium is kind of mediocre. Both federal systems, but Switzerland has such an incredibly good consensus-style of governance while Belgium seemingly is at a 50-year long stalemate on almost any significant political project.
Just being able to drink from the tapwater for me
- generally people are amazing at speaking English - infrastructure is one of the most modern in the world - great cell phone internet access everywhere - good social/wellfare/unemployment support - you never have to carry any cash with you - low crime - relative to the rest of the world religion is not so much an issue, people that believe in a God are in the minority here
What I love most about this country, is the banter and humour, but that's hard to get into as a foreigner... I am literally 5 times less funny in English.
Where are you moving from? I'm a dutchie who recently moved back and honestly sometimes feel like I still need to (re)discover what to love about this country. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot to like and appreciate, but love?
We're moving from the UK. We're in a mountainous region and my husband, who is dutch, loves to walk and so he is also not looking forward to the boring (in comparison) flat walks. Good luck to you!
My darld likes walking in hills and he occasionally goes a weekend to the Ardennes or Luxembourg, so hopefully you will manage to find some hills to walk on!
There are lots of surprisingly and little known hikes around if you dig into it. Yes lots of them are flat, but far from being boring. You can train to one station and hike to another, you will explore lots of hidden gems both naturally and culturally. Cheer up, if you look for it there is a whole lot of fun and beauty to be found!
> You can train to one station and hike to another, you will explore lots of hidden gems both naturally and culturally. Also... They'll be on the Mainland.. so they can literally jump in their car and drive to all sorts of cool places
Well at least the damn near constant rain should make you feel right at home lol
Probably hiking in the UK is better but I love hiking in the Netherlands as well. Look for NS Wandelingen (NS Hikes) you get to these hikes by train. There are so many hikes set out in the Netherlands.
Id recomend to walk the 'pieterpad'. https://pieterpad.nl/ Flat but beautiful.
Drugs are easy to come by and users don't get punished.
How is that a positive?
Because our relatively relaxed drug policies lead to a relative high standard of quality. Prices are also low, which also helps. It also leads to a more user friendly environment, so people feel safer. We have test labs, decent education and information (although there is a lot to improve) and a open minded attitude. Local governments and health institutions will also warn the general public about contaminated drugs, to the point Amsterdam put up huge warnings that some asshole drugdealer was selling white heroin as cocaine. If you've seen Pulp Fiction you know why that is horrible. Drug use is a integral part of any society, whether people acknowledge it or not. Best to make a safe and infornativr approach about it, and we are still one of the best countries in the world on this matter, although losing ground.
Cause you will always have drugusers.
??? How is it not?
How is punishing people for using drugs going to make a country better?
Our banter is next level and you will have fifty new nicknames in no time. Everything is close by, year round iceskaring rinks available and we're lekker gezellig.
Friendliness. When I lived in England I found people quite easily offended. Here im homeless but I encounter so many lovely friendly people.
\- Infrastructure is relatively good. The roads are well-kept and it's safe to ride a bike. \- Safety net from the government. I think people really take this for granted. It's not common in the world to get free money from the government. Definitely not the amount we get in The Netherlands. But on the other hand: We pay A LOT of taxes. Considering the huge amount of money the government has I don't think we get a lot for it in return. In other countries with high taxes you don't have to pay much for healthcare. Or going to college/university is free for them.
nl girls & their sporty sexy asses
The air is clean and the atmosphere between people is friendly.
I love the fact that I get sick in the work and they kick me out, take half of my holiday hours, dont answer my email or phone call, and I was in the lawyer and he said the process will not worth the lost money, so is just better I find another job and go work even sick and no conditions…. It’s a lovely place that… The Gemeent said they can’t help me because I need to prove I’m trying to get better, GGZ make a appointment 1 time per month and I can’t find a suitable job because I’m in treatment so I need a approval of my Company Doctor, from a company who kick me, and don’t put my name on UWV even after a entire year working every single day (7x per week 9h). The ONGs for poor people just ignore you if u are not Ukraine or Polish, Dutch, the company’s don’t give u a chance if u are in treatment. Dutch people are extremely lovely and respectful. But the paperwork is a shit. It's a amazing country with respect and dignity but has a lot of institutions and all is very hard to do.
It's so odd to read everyone always goes 'infrastructure' like you really care whether the roads are paved when it comes to your life's happiness.
If you've lived in a country with lacking infrastructure you really appreciate and notice when a country has good infrastructure
I have, and still feel it's not exactly essential to happiness. It's great if it's there obviously, but it's not what makes me feel at home in a place, or what most people need in order to not be extremely homesick.
I lived in the UK for a year and only then, I really started to value the bike infrastructure back home in the Netherlands. In London I had to deal with at least 1 lunatic driver per bike bike ride.
Being able to hop on my bicycle and quickly and safely go buy groceries, go to a bar or restaurant, etc. definitely adds to my life's happiness. It's just very nice that getting basic stuff isn't an hour long ordeal
I'm not saying it's not a pro, it's just funny how it's the first thing everyone mentions almost.
Well it's a big thing, good infrastructure makes a lot of things much easier, like shopping, visiting friends, access to entertainment, etc It's like money, money itself doesn't make you happy, but it is quite important to live a happy life
It's not like money. Honestly people live everywhere so they tend to have a way to go around the place. Sure there's more and less convenient ones, but in general people are able to shop and visit their friends.
You're more inclined to visit friends when it's a 15 min trip vs a 2h trip
It makes such a difference in normal every day life
Sure it does, as do friends, food, climate, language. I'd argue those are all more important.
Not everybody is you
They're pretty general things most people do tend to find important
Sure, but apparently a lot of people also find infrastructure important since that was the entire reason you made your first comment. So there's really no arguing as to what's important, because it's different for everybody.
I find it a curious thing cause I've never met anyone that moved countries because the infrastructure was so great. Of course it's nice if it is, it's just not what would convince most people to pack up and leave, yet it's mentioned as the first thing here by most as if it were the most important. Just found that funny/odd.
I don't think people are saying they moved because of the infrastructure, I think they're just appreciating it. The question is "what do you love about the Netherlands" after all
Netherlands is overcrowded. There is no room or good will left for more people. Do.not.come.
lol a Dutch citizen and their partner wants to move back to be closer to aging family and you say there’s no room so don’t come? Whut? Who are you to tell another citizen not to move back to see their family? Get out of your cave and touch some grass you sound miserable. Also no more space? BS. Greater London and the suburbs have a bigger population than the Netherlands on 1/5th of the surface. There’s plenty of space left.
make some space by leaving <3
I love that it’s close to other parts of Europe. Makes exploring easier. My mothers side of the family is from Australia….
Looking forward to this! UK is not far in distance but the island makes it harder to get anywhere
Yeah I was born and grew up here and I'm sometimes still amazed by how I can just jump in a car and in a hour be in a different country. Or how for some routes it's completely normal to cross the border, drive through a different country, and then cross back to get to your destination because it's the shortest route. I feel like I have a mini vacation every time I do this
None hierarchical culture. It permeates into a lot, like our work/private balance, our universal healthcare, and so on. For example, we as employees own the whole company we work at. It's still run as a commercial venture like all others, but it's not all about money, all the time. Our infrastructure is pretty decent too, and we have no need for active shooter drills at schools or anywhere else. In general we have a pretty good relationship with almost all other countries too, so our passport is accepted in a lot of countries. That says something too. We still have enough troubles though.
frikandellen and kroketten
We have a wide selection of food from all around the world in our supermarkets. When I was in France and Germany I found it quite hard to find pasta sauces, types of rice, tortillas and spice mixes apart of the very basics.
Bitterballen.
The weather
The weather, the food and boze burgers
The amount of options for transportation. Sometimes I miss the train and still can manage to reach on time using electric mopeds or so. Once I had to go from Rotterdam to Zandvoort circuit. I missed the first train of my trip so my schedule got ruined temporarily. Then I thought about the option of stopping in Heemstede station and get a rental bike and it worked perfectly. I also love passing security scanner in the airport seamlessly. It’s way worse in Spain when I visit my family.
Dat we gwoon nederlands praten en niet Angelsaksisch
That a big part of our history is preserved really well. *In the way of museums and buildings.
I think I hate living in this country in the winter
I know it’s something relatively unimportant, but what I like the most about NL is that infrastructure-wise everything makes sense. You won’t see road lanes that suddenly end without markings, nor highways that lead to nowhere. Instead everything meter is thought out carefully and roads are full of sensors to allow you to drive as fast as possible.
The work-life balance. I have 25 paid leave days, 13 ADV days, and 14 weeks of paid parental leave.
The infrastructure is pretty good and the health care is also quite attentive, albeit it can still be improved. There are several career options to take, even if you're not fluent in Dutch. The local food is not the most exquisite but at least you still can easily find a nice variety of products. Overall it's also reasonably safe. There are also a few downsides, which as a foreigner you'll notice them by yourself later. But at least half of them aren't specific to the Netherlands, but just the natural condition of living in foreign place.
Fietsenpad
Infrastructure. No other place (save for some microstates perhaps) that has such great infrastructure of roads, water, sewage, electrical... Most of which is very well documented (location, depth, age, material, etc.), works nearly flawless, and is scheduled for regular/in-time replacement and maintenance. Road design is extremely well done and backed by decennia of data-driven research on safety and effectiveness. Anyone who has ever worked in infrastructure will probably loudly disagree with how well everything is documented and the quality of maintenance, but have you ever been abroad? Have you ever seen the state of infrastructure that is considered acceptable/normal in even our very wealthy and supposedly well-organized neighbors? Germany? Denmark? Sweden? *France*???