What do Dutch Europeans think of Americans?

Based on street interviews in the Netherlands, it seems like Dutch Europeans dislike many things about the United States, though there are things they like as well. A common thread is that Americans, in their eyes, tend to live in their own world, somewhat oblivious to global events.

Politics, unsurprisingly, is a big talking point. Many Dutch people express concern about the stark division between Democrats and Republicans, seeing this intense rivalry as something that could potentially undermine democracy.

The "supersize" culture of America is another aspect the Dutch find remarkable. From huge meal portions leading to obesity to grand-scale infrastructure, it's a stark contrast to the more modest, compact, and organized Dutch lifestyle. The Dutch also perceive themselves as being less focused on material wealth compared to Americans.

The reliance on cars and sprawling city layouts in America is another area the Dutch find striking. It stands in stark contrast to the Netherlands' bike-friendly and compact urban design, making day-to-day life without a car an easy possibility.

On the flip side, the Dutch also recognize some positive aspects of American culture. The sense of individualism, the opportunities for entrepreneurship, and the vibrant music scene are well-regarded. American sports culture, with its camaraderie among team supporters, is also admired.

However, the consensus remains that, while the US may be an interesting place to visit, it isn't particularly desirable as a place to live. This doesn't reflect every Dutch person's opinion, of course, but it gives a snapshot of how some in the Netherlands view the United States.

*Follow Culture Compass on:*

0:00 What comes to mind about America?
0:47 Want to go to America?
1:37 How about American people?
2:28 What do you like about America?
4:16 How does the culture differ?

[CultureCompassTV]

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[hunchbackaudio]

Americans shouldn’t take this too personally, if you ask the Dutch what’s wrong in the Netherlands you get an honest unfiltered reaction also.

[ellenslatestvids]

I was born in NL and have lived for 30 years in the USA. I have experienced regularly negative comments about Americans when I come back in NL. But in the USA I have only received positive feedback about the Netherlands. That tells me something about the respectfulness of Americans....

[JasMcKenzie]

What do Americans think of the Dutch?

They don't.

[truly_I_say]

It said that the only opinions these people seem to have are predicated on buzzwords and bumper sticker slogans but I guess that's by design..

[adeleb]

Dutch sounds like they’re speaking in reverse

[hotrodmercury]

Kinda hard to notice the other half of the world when you live on the other half on the world with every biome in existence and a complex state network that acts like their own mini countries..not to mention being a capital of industry and exported culture.

[dyrectory_com]

I wasn't expecting that. 05:22, lol ! Thanks for the laugh! 🦉

[asha]

While I agree with a lot of the viewpoints, I’d also like to point out the Netherlands isn’t exactly paradise either

[scotthilberg]

As an American who has been all over the world I have experienced a lot of ethnocentric people from European continent. Not to say it doesn't exist in the US but even ignorant Americans will have something nice to say about people who hail from the continent of Europe

[kellyapp]

Saying America sucks is so broad… all the states are unique and very different. It would be like saying all Europeans are the same and live and think the same lol.

[mrmalcolmification]

That's funny I'm Aussie but most American I met were pretty good dudes I mean you get along with some types of people and others you don't I think that's the same every where. We get shit loads of European back packers in aus and I've found a lot of them are a bit two faced I think it's a European kind of superiority complex

[TheKelgrim]

Klagen over de levensstijl van Amerikanen als je met een peuk wegloopt is toch wel next level :)

[christopher]

Who is the guy at 2:03 pointing fingers at when he says "obese"???

[greencat]

3:08 - 3:16
It takes us over three hours to drive a car through the middle of nowhere and we STILL aren’t in another STATE.

[willp.]

The Netherlands is like a postage stamp sized cothuntry. Most of our states are larger than your country. It's 3, 000 miles from Atlantic to Pacific, some more and some less. That's equivalent to 4, 828 Km. The same as the distance from Amsterdam, Netherlands to eastern Kazakhstan. You should understand why some might know less about other countries. It's because our states are bigger than your countries which are right around you. From Amsterdam, you're only 80 miles (129 Km) to Belgium. You're only 165 miles (265 Km) to France. You're only 175 miles to Luxembourg. You're only 80 miles (129 Km) to Germany. Even Switzerland is only 370 miles away. Austria is 400 miles away. England is 96 miles away. You're only 240 miles to Denmark. You're only 400 miles to Sweden. Poland is also only about 400 miles away. Czechia is 350 miles away. Even Spain is only 700 miles away. Portugal is 1100 miles away. Even Russia is only 1150 miles away, and Moscow is only around 1300 miles away, less than half the distance across the USA.

Texas is 750 miles from one end to the other, a longer distance than you traveling from Amsterdam to Spain.

Our urban regions are huge in developed land mass. These so-called large urban regions in Europe are dwarfed by many American urbanized areas.

The New York urbanized area (not just the city limits but the developed land mass that incorporates developed (non-rural) land, including suburban development is the largest in the world at 4, 380 square miles.

Let's see how US urban regions stack up against European and their world rank in area size.

USA EUROPE

1) New York: 4, 380 square miles (1st in world) 1) Moscow: 2, 565 square miles (6th in world)
2) Boston-Providence: 3, 416 square miles (2nd in world) 2) Paris: 1, 102 square miles (32nd in world)
3) Atlanta: 2, 858 square miles (4th in world) 3) Essen-Dusseldorf: 1, 036 square miles (36th in world)
4) Los Angeles, 2, 671 square miles (5th in world) 4) Milan: 859 square miles (47th in world)
5) Chicago: 2, 522 square miles (7th in world) 5) London: 671 square miles (68th in world)
6) Washington-Baltimore: 2, 162 square miles (8th in world) 6) St. Petersburg: 583 square miles (80th in world)
7) Houston: 2, 081 square miles (9th in world) 7) Berlin: 528 square miles (88th in world)
8) Dallas-Fort Worth: 2, 049 square miles (10th in world) 8) Madrid: 527 square miles (89th in world)
9) Philadelphia: 1, 898 square miles (11th in world) 9) Rome: 442 square miles (109th in world)
10) Detroit: 1, 576 square miles (15th in world) 10) Barcelona: 414 square miles (117th in world

[m.m.]

Dear Americans, as a Dutch person: I'm so sorry the media has given many of us such a skewed view. We only get your news stories when something horrible happens and for some reason many people think movies, series and reality tv are an honest and accurate depiction of people. Not thinking about the fact that those things need drama to attract viewers.

I'm trying my best to assure people the media only shows the extremes of what the US has to offer. Americans are some of the friendliest people I've ever met, I think how outgoing many are can be a bit of a shock to people from the more silent and introvert European countries. It's my favorite holiday destination because it is the most diverse country in the world, which also makes it impossible to sum up in a few sentences when you know more about it than what the media has spoon-fed you.

[paulpavlinskyi]

Interesting. I bet if you ask Americans what they think of the Netherlands most of people will either say nice things or won’t have an opinion on the Netherlands.
It is funny how the rest of the world has an opinion on the US. Just proves yet again how much influence the US and its media has on a lot of countries.

[SecretSpeedster]

As an American I couldn’t care less what some Europoors think about us 😂

[TalentedTom]

I'd hate to hear how they feel about the brits! Bloody embarrassing the way we behave abroad!