Reviewing the Netherlands

Hey everyone,
I've lived in the Netherlands for more than a year now and I want to give you my thoughts.
I hope ye enjoy

[FOink-jzhu]

I have the distinct impression you weren't reviewing the Netherlands, but you were reviewing Amsterdam.

[j.vanderson]

The tax you paid is used to repair the bump in the bike lane you talked about within a week

[reactions]

Nice video! One note: I don't think the water tax is (only) for cleaning the canals; probably it's also for keeping Amsterdam and it surroundings dry. The waterways, dikes, etc. are maintained by a seperate government, called "waterschap", and they levey their own taxes. Seeing Amsterdam is basically under sea level, that's expensive. I can't be sure ofcourse, but based on your description, I think that's what the water tax is.

[JanuzTrance]

This is a review of living in the city of Amsterdam, not of the Netherlands as a whole

[Johsebthur]

No matter what indexes you look at: Democracy index, Freedom of Press index, Healthcare Index, Happiness Index, Safety Index, Work-life-balance-index... it's always the same countries that come up on top: Scandinavian countries (especially Denmark and Finland) and the Netherlands. So, perhaps there is a correlation between tax-policies in those countries and there stunning success on those indexes.

[melle]

I moved from the Netherlands to Bergen, Norway. Now THAT is a wet place. The mud never has time to dry for f's sake. I'm not saying the Netherlands doesn't get its fair share of rain, because it does, but my god Bergen is wet all year round. I thought I was used to rain and bad weather but Bergen takes it to a whole new level. Go and visit the city though, it's gorgeous!

[PHa]

We actually do maintenance over here. Maintenance costs money and takes time: that's why many other countries just don't do it. We also pay taxes for that.

[SVEVelsen]

Got to be honest:
It annoys me to a significant degree when a foreigner hangs around Amsterdam for a few months and then 'reviews the Netherlands' despite not having been there at all. (Amsterdam doesn't count, it's our penal colony as a matter of fact)

[Aitmesss]

Nice and understandable review after one year in Amsterdam. Now you can see the rest of the Netherlands 😂. And next year a second review of the Netherlands

[ronaldderooij]

The waterboard tax is the oldest tax in the Netherlands. Probably 1000 years old. It ensures our existence. Yes, it is supplemented nowadays with cleaning the water and making drinking water. I also can assure you that the canal water is cleaned. Before (in the 18th century) the city stank so horribly, than nobody wanted to live there. Horses were a part of it too, I guess. But it was mainly rotting water.

[DenUitvreter]

Canals aren't filthy. There is a lot of water to manage, it's not like an extra tax, it's the mother of all taxes, these boards go back further in history than whatever democratic institution.

[erikw]

About the rain: if Dutch kids complain about the rain, they get told: je bent toch niet van suiker (you're not made of sugar). And you basically learn to just ignore the rain. Because you have to ;) It helps a lot to just not get bothered by it

[tuinbuddy]

Nearly everything on your good list, has a price. That s why you pay tax.

[olic]

I am sorry, but it seems to me that it is terribly entitled to immigrate to a country and not learn the local language. To ask everyone to adapt to you.

[minoreducation]

Wondering why you mirrored the view on the old citymap of Delft at 7:15. Fun fact about that old citywall: A little towerpiece and entrance still excist; The Bagijnetower and Eastgate.

[daluzsoares]

Man, someone coming from Ireland and having a good time here who would have thought, Ireland is a beautiful place!!

[bdv]

Tax is needed to fund al the public services.

[saraiahhogendike]

Many trams, etc. and hence no delays is NOT The Netherlands, but: Amsterdam.
Same for road work, etc.

Please do not confuse Amsterdam with The Netherlands. I have 1 bus an hour (I live 7 km from a city centre) and if it doesn't show :-)

[knol]

You find €120/month al lot of money? How much do you make with your job? And if your monthly income is low you can get funds frim the goverment. Dutch healthcare is in the top 3 of Europe. The watertax you mentioned is for watermanagment and roadmanagment, to keep the land dry, the water clean, sewagemanagment and have nice infrastructure without potholes 😉. Tapwater kost around €1 a cubic meter and thats cheap.

[snoepnr]

Always fun to see the perspective from a non Dutch person to our country. It is funny, you say on one hand if something is broken it is instantly fixed, public transport is good its everywhere! on the other hand its a lot of Tax! yep they need that money to fix stuff that gets broken... and the health system, you do pay for it in Irland but indirect, they use taxes to fund it right. We have very good unlimited acces to health services. Its fair if we all pay our part i guess. And life might be cheaper not living in Amsterdam.