10 Dutch Cultural Shocks | Expat in The Netherlands 

I'm Dutch and I've never understood why people don't care for privacy, because I do! As soon as it turns dark and I need to light up my house, I'll close all the curtains. During the day visibility inside is also limited by my window decoration.

Doctors indeed do not give medication away easily but that's because it often is unneeded. If it is not necessary then it is better to naturally let your body do the work

1. Kisses are for close friends or relatives, and we actually do three kisses in the Netherlands (which can be hilariously confusing for other people). 2. The municipalities actually do often have a firework show, but basically everybody is allowed to use fireworks during Newyear. The government would probably like to ban that, it's just a very unpopular thing to do so nobody wants to be the one to actually enforce the ban. There's been ongoing debate about this issue for years, especially given the safety hazards and vandalism that happens every year. 3. Actually almost all houses have curtains, which are usually used in the evening to give privacy, but during the day Dutch people like to keep the windows clear to enjoy the sunlight. People tend to have larger gardens at the back of the house, but are usually closely connected with a road in the front because all the utilities are buried beneath the roads in the Netherlands (gas, water, electricity, sewer systems etc). It is therefore cheaper for urban developers to build the houses close to the roads. Having said that, I grew up in a smaller village, things might be quite different in the bigger cities when it comes to privacy. 4. Most medicines are actually quite bad for you, and should normally only be taken if they are truly necessary. In a healthcare system that wants to make profit, doctors will suscribe you lots of medication because it earns money. In a nonprofit oriented healthcare system, they tend to wait and see first, because many things do not actually require medicine. When problems continue past a certain time frame they will take it seriously and proscribe medication and look for underlying causes. In the Netherlands doctors are trained to look for 'red flags' that might indicate more serious ailments that require immediate action, otherwise just rest and let the body deal with the issue by itself first, you're usually better off in the long run that way. 5. In many coutries people will say one thing to your face, and quite something else behind your back. I'll take Dutch directness any time of the day instead. Having said all that, I really love some of the mediterranean culture as well. Especially dining late and long and with good company. In the Netherlands dinner is often something to eat quickly at around 6 in the evening in between your work and your evening schedule. Maybe thats why our food is so bland, Dutch people just don't know how to appreciate it like you do in Portugal. 😂 The Dutch 'quisine' I grew up with was bland boiled potato's with bland boiled brocolli or cauliflower and a piece of meat, which was the only thing actually prepared with spices. I'll take foreign food over that any time of the day. 😉

haha as a dutch person i can confirm new years is basicly just a yearly purge day when no laws exist XD

I'm Dutch and must say that your experiences with the doctors are very strange. I have never ever experienced that myself.

I really appreciate your point of view

We used to have the dreaded 'three strikes': three (sometimes fake) kisses (left, right, left). During Covid, we were supposed to keep our distance. People were glad that that was the end of those obligatory fake kisses and they never came back.

Nice. About the medication: resistance to antibiotics in southern europe is a bigger problem than in the Netherlands and happens because doctors give more antibiotics. So from a medical point of view it is better to give medication less often especially if the problem resolves itself after 2 weeks and if it concerns antibiotics, but yes if you are used to always getting medication I can understand it may feel strange.

Very nice explained. Thank you.

I come from the UK and now am in my eighties. In the sixties I was involved in setting some scientific equipment in Holland along with another UK company who sent their installation team who I had never met. The Dutch scientists were amazed that all of us from the UK were immediately on first name terms - without any formality. They also shook hands each morning - they must have thought our reluctance to do that so impolite. It ended up with everyone using first name terms - even the professor - when speaking English but surnames when speaking Dutch.

The openings times of the shops are usually at 18:00. But already since somewhere in the 90s supermarkets are often open much longer. For example, a supermarket close to me closes at 22:00.

Yeah.... you figured out nicely how it works here. 🤣 Enjoy your new home !

Enjoyed your video. Your English is great! (I hope you take this as the compliment it's intended to be). Keep up the great work!

quite a bit the same in Germany, except for the open windows and biking in the rain. I am often surprised how much people from many other countries are super cautious or anxious. It comes with a lot of restrictions. I think mostly common sense is safety enough. Carelessness is the most cause for danger.

It is always nice to experience different cultures, it also gives a chance to grow as humans

Hahaha, it's really amazing how similar the Dutch and Germans (like me) live and behave. There are two major differences though: we Germans love privacy and close our windows especially in the evening, so that no one can look inside the home. And the German food is perhaps more variable than the Dutch food. But handshake, dinner time, and other stuff I am used to too. Nice video, thanks 🖐👴

The doctor that told you "just google it" is a disgrace for his/her profession!! I am 62 years old and Dutch and I never experienced such an attitude in my life, and IF a doctor would tell me that I would go to another doctor immediately!

The kiss on the cheek is for ppl that know each other for longer

Funny 😊 thx / bedankt / obrigada from Germany 😊

Regarding our windows, there’s funny thing some people (including my family!) have in their homes. Putting rectangular, decorative stickers on parts of your windows. These stickers often have patterns and some are bigger than others. With these things, you can sit on your couch without having everyone to see you. When you stand up, you will probably still be visible, though! But this may just be a town thing. A lot of homes have it here, even in neighbourhoods in cities that are outside of the city centre. I’m not in busy cities often, but I feel like this is definitely more common in more newly built houses, instead of the bigger, older homes

My grand mother said......you are not made of sugar...you survive being wet by rain.......it dries again :)

nice, greetings from a dutch citizen

Boa noite, nice to see your reaction to our nice but sometimes crazy countrie. Agree totaly with your points and also hope the new years will change to be honest. Groetjes

Hi from Dordrecht! I love Portugal! Anyway, It's an interesting video with things i didn't know. Thank you. Next time when i go abroad i won"t forget to bring along stroopwafels. To culture shock them. Have a great weekend!

very good video

good observations! About bicycling in the rain .. here we say (translated) "you're not made of sugar so a bit of rain won't hurt you". The thing about Dutch doctors; I have some medical issues myself which can't be treated with paracetamol or just waiting till it's over, so I have no choice, but when you have, it's much better to not fill yourself with chemicals, because every pill has it's own side effects, which a doctor should then treat with again other pills, so when it isn't really necessary they don't prescribe medicines. Many expats (especially Americans) find this not good, because the want to be treated (and go to work). Here - like in Portugal, I'm sure - we just stay at home when we're not well enough to work.

Thanks dear the video was interesting. I am a Dutch, German, Belgium and English South African. Your first greet here might also be a handshake.

Very recognisable, as a Portuguese speaking Dutchman married to a Brazilian lady and having lived in Brazil and NL.

You should experience how different a smoll village is then a big city

There was a time once where you greeted everyone in the room on a birthday one by one. Handshake for the men and women who were not family or good friends and kisses for the women if they are family or good friends. Now, i adopted a much easier way, i congratulade the one who's birthday it is and his or her's spouse and kids and a common hello to the rest haha. At home we do eat between 17:00 and 18:00 mostly, but when i get guests like at 20:00 i normally put some crackers and things for on it on the table, some cheese cubes and other snacks. We never have quests for dinner actually, unless they stay longer on like a birthday for the kids. If you have to work late, the supermarket is open till 20:00 pm or 21:00 pm on fridays (in Rotterdam it's friday) so if you have to work later then that time you buy it the day before or else the nightshop or delivery or bad luck. I love new years eve, everybody lighting up the sky, we used to burn the christmas trees we collected or stole from other groups of kids, in our neighborhoud we did that on the streets. Starting at 22:00 pm and like ten at a time. Fire brigade showed up, put the fire out, we waited for ten minutes then another ten, and just before midnight we all went inside for the countdown and then the whole other bunch of trees saw fire haha. But at present time we burn some trees in empty barrels for some fire and the fireworks is some less then like 10 years ago but still nice and a lot. I only cycle to the supermarket or to the gym in the summer or when my car is broken in general. just cycling for the fun is not my thing. I only see a doctor for cleansing out my ears actually, or for the somewhat heavier stuff painkillers for my back if necessary. I have curtains and also like a strip on the window, that way people cannot look so easy into my livingroom but sunlight is still coming in. The curtains close at dark, because i cannot see who's outside and from the outside they easily can see us, i don't like that. I am direct, i don't like to give the idea that something can happen for them when i already know it's not going to. Sounds a bit blunt but i choose my words nicely. I am always on time, mostly even ten minutes before, never later unless i have a reason. If i invite visitors from like 19:00 pm i would not give a shit if they arrive ten minutes before but not a half hour. Because i hate it when people show up while i am still eating or still busy cleaning the table and all that. Punctual is my thing.

If you have lived in the Maastricht area, there is actual quite a lot of local Dutch cuisine around there. Due to tribal reasons (60% of indigenous Dutch are Franks, 30% Saxons and 10% Frisians) there has been a lot of "cuisine overlap" with the other Frankish tribal areas: West-Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and Northern France. Most of the kitchen isn't that different from French kitchen. That became even stronger after the Dukes of Burgundy inherited the Low Countries and moved their main Court from Dijon to Brussels. So called "Bourgondisch eten" (Burgundian dishes) has become the dominant historic cuisine in Belgium and the Southern Dutch provinces. Up to the 1970s most menu's in Dutch restaurants even were written in French. Maastricht is actually the city with the most wide array of restaurants, but I do understand most non-Dutch do think when served Burgundian kitchen and local dishes in Maastricht as eating "French" or "Belgian". Also a lot of these restaurants tend to be a bit more upscale. The ones you mentioned are cheaper (which also made them popular).

Can you make the subtitles optional please? Your English is very clear and for most people they are unnecessary.

Very interesting. Two remarks: regarding the fireworks as a dutch person I would absolutely prefer the Portuguese approach. And secondly: I hate cycling in the rain, but sometimes you just cannot avoid it.

if the complaint is or sounds serious enough, you can always make an appointment with the doctor and he will certainly speak to you. If the 'complaint' is estimated, it is not very small or innocent. This is partly due to a major shortage of time at home doctors and a shortage of doctors.

Cycling: Dutch people also use public transport Mafalda! We usually cycle if the distance is a short one (up to an hour outside the cities I think). Or the car. If it rains I walk to the shop, I don't take the bike.

In my Dutch family, we rarely go to the doctor or dentist- And yes, we google everything, cause u can (almost) always find it

In the Netherlands the greeting with 3 kisses on the cheek, it still happens, but only to be formal. Otherwise we just hug or give a handshake

100% True

where i live in holland (amersfoort) the restaurants are almost always open till midnight atleast

That doctor that said to just look it up online seems weird.. but yeah, as someone from Belgium and now also living in the Netherlands we seem to share quite a lot of the culture shocks with Portugal! :) Food, doctors working differently, dinner time, privacy, planning, directness etc. we all share with Portugal instead of our Dutch neighbours.

The three kisses thing seems to change a lot lately. It really feels like a generation thing or something (very) formal. Especially younger people just give each other a hug and this seems to catch on with some older people as well. Which makes it kinda awkward for people who are now in their 30s/40s, since they are in between.

The key point about the naked windows is not to look inside the houses. Just walk and look ahead without looking sideways. You were curious but this type of curiosity is cultural as well.

Dear young lady As a foreigner living very many years already in the Netherlands, I must compliment you on this video: Really !! I hadn't wanted to watch it as I arrived here on your channel by mistake; but I couldn't stop. I think that what impressed me the most was your excellent command of the English language ! The only word you pronounce wrongly is 'Maastricht,' unless you are conciously trying to speak in the local Limburg dialect of course: Maybe ask a Dutch (or English) person how to pronounce Maastricht. What others write about the Dutch GP's is indeed correct. I don't know about Portugal (I'd love to visit one day, although I'd have much rather visited before they joined the terrible EU ), but in France and Switzerland, for example, if the doctor (GP) doesn't prescribe lots of medicines, the patient will likely change over to another doctor's surgery. The frequent no-medicine advice from a Dutch doctor is correct.

In the Netherlands you need to be very specific with what you want. That's the best advice I can give you

Love your video. I live in Amsterdam Nieuw West, a part of Amsterdam where lots of Dutch people with a Moroccan or Turkish heritage (amongst others) live. During Summer (like now) the streets are lively, almost like a little Istanbul or Marakech. People eating out and having a good time. I really love it. About the Dutch and curtains: the Dutch are in essence Calvinistic (protestant) (I just can hear the people in Maastricht screaming in disagreement, lol). Open curtains just means 'we have nothing to hide'. See it as an extension of the Dutch directness: 'you don't have to guess (what's behind the curtains), we'll show it to you.'

We Dutch people are also in shock when we visit Maastricht Limburg, the people are different from other provences

great review! And as often it is about the details, that make it exquisit.: "Another shock was Dutch food.....they have amazing snacks, like these 3....and YES..that is.. uh.. almost it.... That is a polite... "gosh you suck at this..... but let me glance over this fact with the most dignity of politeness I can muster right now..."

6:10 Windows : common mistake with foreigners. Which may also get you in serious trouble in The Netherlands. It is considered extremely rude to look into other people's houses. Curtains or not. You keep your eyes to yourself and focus on the public place. Staring into Dutch people's houses, or even pressing your nose against the window pane, as some tourist are prone to do, will most likely cause the inhabitant to step outside to - in no uncertain terms - demand an explanation for your behaviour.

I recognise much of what you said.we have almost the same issues in Denmark. With the doctor/ medicine. With food. With windows. Its damn boring as in Holland.

The medication thing is something that should be adapted world wide. People often get subscribed non-necessary medication or too heavy medication. Like heavy addictive painkillers. There are many people addicted to prescription painkillers all over the world. But also often painkillers do more bad than good. Simple headaches will go away by themselves, same goes for a simple stomach ache. But also the use of unnecessary anti-biotics. When you are having a flu, which is a viral infection, anti-biotics are of no use. In most cases you shouldn't use antibiotics, only when you have a bacterial infection. When people feel pains or like have a stomach flu or whatever: no medication will really help... rest, enough water and healthy food will do the trick. A viral infection really can only be beaten by the body itself. Viruses change shape every year. So when now there is a flu virus, they can make a medicine against it but as soon as it is ready the virus will have changed characteristics and the developed medication won't work anymore. There's nothing a doctor can give you to cure from the flu: your body will have to fight it all by itself: rest, sleep, eat well. But when you are really sick or have severe pains, Dutch doctors will give you all the pills you need. In some countries there's a for profit healthcare industry and in other countries patients are given medication, even when the doctor knows it won't help much, just to keep the patient satisfied, so that he or she thinks the doctor is really doing something to help. But that is treating people like children and this behaviour is causing a world wide problem where bacteria are getting resistant against antibiotics. Soon we will need new and different kind of antibiotics (the current ones are in danger of not working sufficently anymore. If new ones are not being developed the world will see a whole new epidemic...

Hallo Malfada, I also studied in Maastricht. How did you like PBL? Was it very different from what you were used to in Portugal? I loved your video. At many times it was like reading a book from the seventeenth century. When people told the same stories about The Netherlands. Especially about the windows without curtains. But it’s more a thing of the northern Netherlands. In the neighbourhood I lived in Maastricht, the people had vitrage and in the evening the roller shutters came down in most houses. But I feel a bit nervous when I can’t look outside. I want to know if there is any danger lurking nearby. 😂

Never been to Netherlands. But had a layover in Spain.

Fireworks: you never bought it in supermarkets, only in stores with a permit, and it's getting more and more restricted. Possibly in a few years it will be the same as in Portugal.

Hi Mafalda! Obrigada! I like those comparison vids. Would like to see more from your time in NL. I am from Germany and live close to the Dutch border. Have u ever been in Germany?

And the positive things

Is goed, dan zie ik jou over 2 maanden ;)

Lighting your own fireworks is called freedom

Hello Mafalda, what struck me was that you apparently don't have a family doctor "Huisarts", which usually visits every Dutchman first. If necessary, he will refer you to a doctor "Medisch Specialist".

Hehe i liked your take on dutch new years eve i'm dutch and the whole country basicly turns into a very happy drunk filled warzone. And you are correct it isn't safe i much prefer what they do in portugal. As for the GP they are heavely overworked so don't go ask for an appointment on some minor medical advise you can find somewhere else they don't have the time. My neighbour was one (well he still is but he moved) and its not that they don't want to give it they really are to overbooked to do it. Ussually you can call with the receptionist if they know where you can get the advise if you do want more info on the subject. Also dutch are direct we ussually say we wanna come in or just want some advise if we need to come in foreigners are a bit more fuzzy about that so its not uncommon you get that question. And last but not least over use of medication especially with antibiotics is a serious problem (way more serious and dangerous then most people realize). So dutch doctors are trained to not prescribe medicines if you can fight of things the natural way. Medication is not meant to be used just to make you feel better but only to get better if its harmfull or dangerous not to do it the natural way. The only excepton is basicly parcetamol wich in low dosis is pretty much harmless and does help recover you faster. And even that doesn't work always right because you are sick or have pain for a reason, masking the symptome doesn't do much to actually help you and potentionally can make things worse.

You are definitely not supposed to look into people's houses unless you are a neighbor or friends. You just wave and go on. Yes, you have to make an appointment, even with your parents. Another thing is that it is very rare that the Dutch invite friends to their home. You can be coleagues for years and have never visited.

If you relocate to another country, inform yourself. If you have a contact already ask for particulier things like doctors and other issues. The open windows are more of the past, nowadays people have blinds or thin curtains that let light in but not inquisitive peoples stares. I came to the Netherlands from another country, too. If you want to stay you'll have to adjust.

Mmm Google it, was indeed strange, yet the doctors in the Netherlands are definitely very reluctant to provide medicines for relatively minor problems. And I've heard the question ′′ what do you think yourself ′′ more often.

New years eve is almost like a warzone.

Let's have a coffee tomorrow in Rotterdam. Oh! Wait! I can't. Shall we postpone that till next month? Sure no problem! Actually, I have already an appointment there but I might be able to reschedule that. Nah! Don't worry. We'll grab a coffee the day after tomorrow then.

I will close the curtains when we watch some specific kind of movies .. But I really liked your video. As a Dutchy I agree on the weird opening times of shops and the fireworks. Yeah.. the kissing, three times, only if you know someone well and when they are from the opposite sex (for most people) and some but not all women. Do they kiss two times always in Portugal? Even acquaintances and does their sex matter?

I am Dutch. If you need a more specialized doctor, try to get a direct line with one in the hospital. This way you can skip your GP. This is what I always recommend to foreigners in the netherlands. Dutch GP's have only very basic medical knowledge and often say that your issue is related to stress or fatique. If you know that your issue is more serious than that, just ask your GP for a referral right away.. Also Dutch GP's are not ashamed to use Google themselves even while they talk to the patient in the consulting room.

Most supermarkets here close at 8 or 10 .. Maybe it was very small village you were staying in ?? ..

I dont get your storie about the healt system, you called a doctor to ask about a certain machine you would like to use and wich one you should buy? Thats not realy the way our system works. if you have problems you go to see the doctor and talk about the problems then he/she wil advice a treatment. They are not consumer advisors.

I am Portugese brought up in NL. I can understand that for you New Year was a shock. Funny thing is that when I was 13 we went to Portugal to see avo one last time. At New Year. I was shocked to see NO fireworks were lit up. Not by anyone. So to me the shock was how extremely boring Portugal is on New Years Eve. The fireworks are very safe by the way, certainly when compared to alcohol use, dog ownership and some other hobbies. Firecrackers are not allowed in NL but canbe bought in Germany and Belgium. Still: these are very well produced and not dangerous either. Only abuse is, but that is true for so many things. The most dangerous for kids is F1 fireworks. Allowed for 12 yrs and above that can be used 365 days per year. Now kids do stupid things with them and for instance burn their feet deeply. But these are allowed throughut Europe. I personally cannot imagine New Years Eve without fireworks. The funny and loud soundeffects, beautiful colours etc. And it is just 8 hours per year allowed. I think a society that aims for some absolutistic safety is extremly boring. Say byebye to dogs, alcohol, even cats and even sports (30 eyes incidents with fireworks, 45000 with sports where 10% means vision is completely lost). I don't think it is a good idea to go for safety safety safety. Again: stay indoors during those 8 hours and nothing happens. No one is amazed that dogs are allowed with kids 1-2 yrs old. I would suggest looking up which kids are bitten in their face by dogs and how many. Fireworks pales in comparison. For people who wonder how the fireworks we can buy look like (firecrackers etc are not allowed, rockets neither)...how is this dangerous? These cost between 100-250 euro's. This is just an extremely small selection. I think no less than 500 or more of such compounds can be bought. It is just one time lighting and it just goes from there onwards. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5Pgz_LGRxzw.html (From 2:10 onwards) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-MO3DGubcLyg.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FEu6zVikX5Q.html (from 54 seconds onwards) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-v-2rhsDNM08.html What is not to like? On the large windows and curtains: everyone I knows has them, most use them surely at night. So I don't actually see here what you are seeing. Since we want to get the light IN and not like Portugal the heat OUT, we have large windows and open the curtains.

A very pleasant place, overall. Esp when you have a Dutch family name........

Hi Mafalda. I enjoyed this video. Thank you. 🙂 Do you speak more than three languages? Your English is very good and you're probably good with French, Spanish and German as well. Please allow me to offer one suggestion for English. Instead of 'unpolite', use the word 'impolite'. Really. It's weird I know, but hey, that's English for you! 🙂 All the best and thanks again.

As a resume : Dutch use to have a really high quality of living, falling down drasticly the last 30 years because of uncontrolled immigration all over Europe. Everything use to be pretty much about trust and respect with your neighbours. Fireworks, lake of privacy .... how unusual it would be back home. You will get attack with firework for a few coins or robbed every week if you don't cover your windows in the ground floor in Paris They still have a few tradition like those, yet diseappering really quick. Hopefully the netherland will react before they end up like France, Spain or Germany.

Dutch people actually do put curtains over windows, don't worry, but we only close it when we go to bed, or to make it dark to watch a movie or something else

Lovely video. Thanks for sharing. Very strange kind of living habits by the way :)

Dear Mafalda: please feel invited to visit my "thorp" in Noord Brabant (16.000 inhabitants) to experience the different life we live overhere in comparision to the big cities where you have lived in until now in The Netherlands. We have nice coffee overhere (with cookies and stroopwafels) and you get a free guided tour ! By the way: I always wear clogs (outside the house) ... And we close our curtains when it gets dark ... 🙂

I don't think our system is so very different from the one in Portugal. Also here, you first go to a general doctor (huisarts) in the area where you live. They will refer you to a specialist in the hospital if needed. Can't say I recognize your experience.

The restaurants and stores opening times depends on where in the Netherlands. There's no standard

Opening Times: It depends on where you live. Some places have "Koopavond" on Thursday, other places might have it on Friday. In larger cities most supermarkets will be open until 9 or 10 every day. As a Dutchman, I also never understood the opening hours with many restaurants. I mean... don't you want to make money? Meanwhile many open up at times nobody is yet gonna eat. Open later, close later... not that hard. Fireworks: It is not like we used to had, it was a free for all, it was spectacular and epic. It also caused many accidents. Nowadays, many places have either quiet zones or a fireworks is provided by the municipality. I think in a few years it might be more like how it goes in Portugal. btw, fireworks you hear in the weeks before NYE, most likely is illegal fireworks. You are allowed to buy fireworks (not in the supermarket btw) from 3 days before new years eve. You buy at designated sellers that have taken special measures for storing and handling. They might be a bikeshop or partystore during the rest of the year, during the last 3 days they are firework shops. Cycling: Dutch sayin "I am not made of sugar, I won't melt". You can clothe for every type of weather except a heatwave. Dutch "Cuisine": Stamppotten (take veges and potatos, mash them together, add gravy and sausage or meatball... Stamppot) We have Hachee (a beef stew), we have Dutch pancakes. We have Snert (Dutch pea soup) and a whole litany of meal soups. Dutch food is simple and hardy. Yes, pastas and noodles are popular but the normal homemeal is potatos, veggies and a piece of meat or fish. Curtains: The Dutch tend to do without curtains in the living areas. Bedrooms have curtains in most cases. Open views give a warmer and more social atmosphere, besides that it makes for easy monitoring of what is happening outside making it overall saver for everybody. Doctor: I would find it equally strange if a doctor tells me to google it. That is not you, that is the Doctor being stupid. Medication: In may countries it is custom to grab to the pill bottle for every little malady. Paracetamol is in those countries not considered medication by the general public. It however most certainly is. Paracetamol is cheap, can be gotten without prescription, can be taken with you when traveking etc. It also is working in most cases. You might want to read up on the capabilities of paracetamolum. Why prescrive medication that is expensive, might have severe side effects, while giving no benefits above paracetamol? Doctors will not prescribe it to you if they think it isn't useful. It is not a "get rid of the patient so we can get the next patient in and make more money" thing like is some more "capitalist" countries. Dutch Directness: Say what you mean to say, not what you think sounds best. SChedules: I am the oppopsite to be honest. I have no watch, no agenda, no appointment book. I can go do things with friends on the fly. But yes... many Dutch live by the schedulle.

Cool obeservations. To be honest, as a native Dutch person, most of these things dont appeal to me that much either and I think many people agree with me. Just cycling everywhere (but preferably not in the rain ofcourse) and being honest are the two I really think are good (though some people overdo the directness). And I personally like the crazyness of newyears, but a lot of people dont. The open houses, overscheduling and dinner at 18.00 on the dot I hate. Dutch healthcare overdoes the focus on letting the body take care of itself and is not nearly as great as many people think. And our foot is bland yeah, I think that has a lot to do with the fact that this part of the world is a swampland where very few things with taste grow.

My God you are a beautiful woman. And you are spot on about our weird habbits here in the Netherlands.

What that person says with google it. Look for a doctor or health center in your residential area. call or drop by and register and make an appointment.

Btw do you enjoy the Netherlands more than Portugal? Pros and cons? Id rather be in Portugal i think lol i want to move to another country

Okay what is the vegetable?

I think the doctor advice difference from cities, in my small town you can call and they will lookup if you can use it save. Never in my live have I heard them say "Just google it", but I agree that would be a shock for foreigners.

A lot of shops are open late in Adam and they do the 3 kisses on the cheek.

We need more people like you in the country:)

Pannenkoeken, rijsttafel, kapsalon, and even stamppot with sausage and gravy aren't very basic like a normal dutch cheese sandwich lunch.

Its funny, i am dutch and have done my practice period in oporto and i had some similar - reversed experiences. I still miss the beautiful country sometimes.

In Germany it is very similar

Since you can buy paracetamol, ibuprofen and other pain meds everywhere. Just say you already tried it. Another thing is insurance companies want to make profit so they don't prescribe a lot

Dutch people eat dinner between 17:00 - 19:00 (5 pm - 7 pm)

The public opinion on fireworks is changing quite rapidly I think, with more and more people supporting a ban. It's one of these things everybody does and is used to (like Zwarte Piet), and it takes a while to realize how absolutely stupid it actually is. There's already several large cities banning fireworks altogether, and it helped that during the Covid period, fireworks were banned and we could see the difference it made in casualties.

That doctor thing is quite a recent thing, which I don't like either. When I was younger you could just go to the doctor with whatever. These days, if they don't think you need any help they just say so and question why you even called.

I think, keeping the curtains open, is not caring about privacy but not want to be 'caged' in your house. Because of the more bad weather, we live more 'inside' then people in south European countries, but we do like to be outside. So, keeping the curtains open, we got the feeling to get more 'connection' with the outside living and nature... I guess...

we do have one thing in common: the differences. Yours truly, the Europeans.

Privacy - but only when it comes to curtains. Dutch people are very private about family, work or salary. But curtains.. it's a bit like showing off the nice furniture I think. ;)

even in Germany only a very few people do the kiss greetings, only shaking hands or hugging the well known. Restaurant Times: in Germany as well close their kitchens around 11 p. (23.00). I am used to travel to the Netherlands as a tourist, and I experienced that they are like a good Lunch in the early afternoon and an early Diner as well. Opening times of shops, yeah...thats really astounishing, even compairing to Germany. Here the most shops are open until 8 pm from Monday to Friday, on Saturdays to 6-7pm and closed on Sundays (diffenrent to the Netherlands, where they are allowed to open). uuuh, the food! it's funny that you love the bitterballen, I don't even know anyone who likes that kind of food.

Regarding the medical situation: many visitors to the netherlands expect to have easy access to antibiotics. In the Netherlands, doctors are very stingy when it comes to handing out these medicins. The reason for this, as many would have you believe, is that in order to prevent antibiotic resistance, antibiotics can only be used in immergencies. In truth, however, the reason is different. In the Netherlands, a lot of livestock is present. These animals get a lot of preamptive antibiotic treatments. Because of this, few antibiotics are left for human patients, and they have to do with whatever scraps they are trown by F[...]a. This leads to a lot of frustrations among people not familiar with this situation, as you may imagine.

Directness - yes, indeed, we are direct. We don't like to waste time by dancing around a topic. But we know we can also be blunt. As tourists we are nor a very nice people. My apologies for all of us.

There was a time when the Dutch did 3 kisses on the cheek. Now you mentioned it I realize we stopped doing that.