Culture shocks as expat in the Netherlands

Today, I share the surprising culture shocks I experienced after moving to the Netherlands.
From direct conversations and planning habits to unique NYE traditions, I’ll talk about how I adapted to Dutch life. If you’re an expat or considering moving to the Netherlands, this video is for you!
Let’s explore the fascinating aspects of Dutch culture together. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights!

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00:00 Intro
00:29 Directness
02:01 Planning
02:56 Fireworks
04:41 Toilets
06:02 Friends
08:05 Kids
09:30 Food
11:20 Open and closed culture
13:17 Ending

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#netherlands #expat #cultureshock

[dpashutskii]

Let me know what other topics about Holland you want me to cover!

[bastonor]

First time watcher. Nice video. Hope you have a good time here!

[MartinWebNatures]

Just subscribed. 👍 Saw this channel for first time. Hope you make more of he Netherlands. Love to see videos seen through the eyes of foreigners/expats from my country. You expats see things we find normal and don't pay attention. Example, every time i hear expats/foreigners say, the streets and roads are so clean and the quality of the roads.

[vexisonline]

Great vid :) good to see it from your perspective. Regarding the openness and closedness: it all stems from personal freedom: to be free, you have to let others be free as well. Although that would allow everyone their quirks and tastes, it goes both ways, and people tend to be reserved with outright judgment, unless of course you ga against this particular grain. Because there is so much freedom, there is no need to express yourself through other means as much, and we find comfort in the experiences we share.

[irenehabes-quene]

Most people know where to find the public toilets, mostly in certain shops like the HEMA, or public restaurants and cafetaria’s. Also public libraries and Gemeente huis have public toilets. That’s why Dutch people make sure that the last thing they do before leaving their home is use the bathroom!

[tinus]

The openness and closedness we Dutch people have is easy, we accept that you can be who you are(gay or not gay or what ever). We are friendly to people we dont know but to become someone's friend you have to put in some work to gain that trust so that we(Dutch) open up, in big city's it is harder then in a small village.

[liamclarinet]

I saw yor video on Georgian business registration over two years ago, when I was living in Australia.

I just arrived in Georgia after working in Turkiye for two years, and I'm thinking about opening a solo entrepreneur business here in Georgia. 15 minutes ago I thought "didn't Dimitri made a video on that a few years ago?".

I come to your channel and you uploaded an hour ago!

Now I watch this video first 😅

[fiskurtjorn]

9:59 This putting your slice of ham, cheese, etc on the bottom of the bun, I as a Dutch person adopted. In a Chech hotel, I saw a Chech family doing this and I thought it was effing brilliant. The Dutch usually slice it open and put the topping inside.

[SensitivityGames]

1:15 evry company i worked at had multiple cofee machines we all are adicted to cofee XD

[ronrolfsen]

9:02 Dutch have the happiest kids in the world. Being progressive as a country does help. But I would add the freedom of movement as I believe Dutch infrastructure also has a significant benefit. It's pretty save for kids to take there bikes and visits friends on there own. I lived very close to Zwolle myself and even as a child (from 11 to 12 years old) I biked to school, friends and the town in Zwolle. Having such an independence at such a young age is wonderful and I doubt that would exist here if the infrastructure was not build as it was.

[-_YouMayFind_-]

We do always eat dinner together in the evening :D that's tradition at least in Brabant, but the food we eat at school or at work is indeed quite simple and easy but as long as its healthy enough. Good that you like it here!. I think its important to chose a country that fits you indeed.

[SwirlingSoul]

Open and closed at the same time. Yeah, that's us.
I think most of us are totally happy to open up, but as a response, not as "being open immediately". It's not always wanted, the deeper interest, and thus we start superficially. Then, if we're interested, openness becomes a thing.
But we ARE a bit guarded at first. I think that also is trained at a young age, with the "doe normaal, dan doe je gek genoeg".
It's a good thing to keep this balance, to keep a steady mood so to speak. It gives a tolerant society. But oh boy, when we really really want to be heard, we can be loud and open as well. (check out the Dutch soccer fans in Germany, and I think you will see some serious openness)
Once we make the connection, we'll open up, but making that connection is up to you, to ask, and be curious and interested.
Then MOST people will be an open book. And yeah, we have some hermits too ;-))

[iamaloserkid]

about the open/closed culture and especially 'doe normaal', I think we just prefer convenience overall. why make things difficult by being special when it's just extra effort and time that's totally unnecessary 🤷‍♀ it is a bit weird that we're a tolerant country, while also being very conservative when it comes to our culture. I think recently you can see the clash between that getting bigger. From what I notice around me is that people think: 'it's fine if you want to be special, you do you, but keep it away from me and let me do my thing'. we're also very individualistic like that. (also, in the intro I thought I recognized the bridge near Zwolle and then I heard you mention Zwolle so I'm glad I wasn't flipping out. It's just Zwolle is rarely mentioned by foreigners, which definitely confirms your point 😅)

[jasper]

Pro tip: there are apps to know where the (indoor) public restrooms are. 😊

[ronaldderooij]

Two Dutch proverbs for you to help you understand the openness and closed offness of the Dutch. One you already mentioned. Doe normaal dan doe je al gek genoeg (Act normal, then you are already crazy enough) and the second one is "Leven en laten leven" which means "live and let live". We don't want to influence others too much with our own judgements. Be aware, Dutch people are judgemental! They will just not harass you with it.

[i.k.]

I doubt any restaurant or lunchroom would refuse you using the toilet. Also second hand stores, shopping malls, offices, hardware stores, light industry, etc will allow you to use the restroom. If you are in a residential area, try some homes. People will allow you to use their toilet if they see you are in need of one. The only places where you would be refused are small or medium sized stores.

[dutchyjhome]

Just like in The USA the two coastal areas; the Carolinas are only 2 separate states (North and South) that belong to the 50 United States of America, in the Netherlands the 2 coastal areas of Holland (North and South) are only 2 provinces of the 12 provinces that together form the Netherlands. Ergo Holland, just like Carolina, is only a part of the Netherlands / The USA. Moreover, with the name Holland, you only refer to 2/12th part (1/6th part) of the entire country. You ignore 10/12th part (5/6th part). So just as you do not call people from The USA Carolinians and when you refer to the country The USA you do not call it Carolina, it is exactly the same with calling our country Holland while you mean the Netherlands.


A long time ago in the 17th century, this country was indeed called Holland, but that applied to a smaller version of the country we now know as the Netherlands. Just like The USA was once (partly) called New England. We therefore no longer call the countries by their old name, but by the name it has had for centuries now.
The name of this country is: The Netherlands ;-)

[osty_me]

My annual performance review exactly! 😆

[.yourmoralcompass]

New subscriber here. I think you should fit in perfectly. Give it some time and try to mingle with the Dutch. It shouldn’t be hard to find some Dutch friends for someone like you. I would accept someone like you directly into my group of friends. Especially in my small town in West Brabant, where a lot of Polish Ukrainian and some Russians live. We are friends with many of them. Try a little harder, and you will be amazed. Maybe avoid mentioning "I'm Russian" at the first meeting. 😂😂

[SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

Did you visit the rest of the Netherlands too? Or did you stay in the Holland-slum area?