5 Years in The Netherlands (An Honest Review from an American)

It's been 5 years in the Netherlands...here are 5 reasons why I am still (happy) to be here.

Thanks for the warm welcome Dutchies,
- David

⏰ CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
02:23 #1 Balance (Time over money)
04:46 #2 Safety & security
08:51 #3 Less comparison & expectations
10:40 #4 Healthier lifestyle
12:48 #5 Slower living
14:26 Ending

📽 OTHER VIDEOS:

🙏 IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT ME:

😁 WHO AM I?
I'm David, a Californian living in Amsterdam. I make videos about life in the Netherlands, hiking/traveling, and the Camino de Santiago.

[hi.davidwen]

What do you think about life in the Netherlands?

[Incorruptus]

"Niet leven om te werken, maar werken om te leven". You learned that very well young sir! My Dutch compliments.

[samw]

As a 10-year-old American kid living with my parents in Amsterdam in 1970, I got to explore much of the city on my own, without adult supervision. It was the happiest time of my life. I would say to any advocate of true freedom, that you haven’t experienced it until you’ve gotten lost, on purpose, in Amsterdam. Of course, I had Wednesday afternoons off from school that gave me ample time to ride the trams. My parents’ main concern was that I didn’t fall into a canal… and, that I make it home on time for dinner.

[thijsmuilwijk]

I feel like most Dutch people have forgotten how grateful we should be for living in this country. I hear so many people complain that our country is going to hell while others have it much worse

[LennertWanders]

I love this, you are like a selling card for our country. And most dutch people don't realize this as it is "normal" here so we simply complain about the weather, cost of fuel etc. It is good to set it into a perspective of positivity. Thank you. If everyone contributes to a society, we all benefit. And in the end it will balance out anyway :)

[Sarah_b_curiouser]

I moved to the Netherlands in the summer of 2022 to be with my Dutch husband and it has been the absolute best decision of my entire life. I feel more at home, less stressed, less anxious, more healthy and active. I struggle learning Dutch, but I want to because I absolutely plan to get my citizenship. I took a pay cut and sold my home and land to move, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. The Netherlands isn't for everyone, and you're right, it's not perfect. But there are certainly a lot of things to love

[rdb]

To add to the sick leave: we also have care leave. My mother was in hospital for 3 weeks after an accident and I needed to care for my terminally ill father. I could use emergency leave, short term care leave, both fully paid. When that ran out, I used long term care leave while receiving 70% of my salary.

[wn]

My parents are from Hong Kong and I am born in The Netherlands. I remember my little niece in Hong Kong, she was only 8 years old and had piles of homework! Even in her summer vacation, many many homework... I have children myself now and they do not have any homework (yet 😅). When I wanted to practice at home, the teacher told me not to do so. The teacher said, school is school and they need the time to breathe and play at home ❤ such an eye opener...

[liksar]

The Netherlands has been my home since 1987. I came with nothing, but now have more than enough. It was a best decision of my life (thus far). It has given me many chances, and many happy experiences. Once you learn the language, people accept you and involve you more in their lives, offer you promotions. Understanding (or at least doing your best to understand) the language and culture is always really appreciated, and it is basically plain sailing from then on.

[jtb]

The "Brood" painting in the back is the icing on the cake. Sometimes it takes the view of an outsider to appreciate my country a lot more. I glad you like it here. I wish you the best for 2024.

[bararobberbaron]

To your 5th point, I'm actually reminded of Lao Tzu: "Nature doesn't hurry, yet everything gets done". And I used that to slow down a bit more, because even as a Dutchy it can get slightly frantic, or at least feel frantic to my Dutch mind. It takes as long as it takes, and if you keep going eventually its done. Yeah I'd make a better profit per hour if I carved/built the tables faster, but I'd also be more prone to mistakes or accidentally cutting myself. I'd rather put in 12 relaxed hours compared to 10 sweaty or 8 frantic hours to get it done. We get very little time on this planet, the less of it I can spend stressed out or sad, the better.

[lilianhu]

Nice to hear your review. Im a Chinese born in the Netherlands and have had my share of cultural/family pressure and mental health issues arising from it. At the same time I realize that I sailed through it quiet smoothly thanks to the systems here. Very thankful for that and nice reminder hearing you explain it so well.

[kristyoneill]

Love this. I'm a fellow American living in the Netherlands also for 5 years and all the points you've raised resonate with me. I just desperately miss the sun during the winters lol

[DangerHuub]

It is very insightful for me, a Dutch guy who's never lived abroad, to hear your points. Thank you for that :) I am indeed very grateful that I'm able to make 'enough' money to live and do things I like and also have the time to do those things :) and ofcourse also to have an affordable health insurance :p

[maya.nejmeh]

I told this to everyone and I still do, i get so high on life every single day realising and observing I’m in this beautiful country with all its things and I don’t think this feeling will ever stop. Grateful for every single detail (4 years so far in NL) en ik heb Nederlands geleerd binnen twee jaar omdat ik het heel graag wilde🤍en het is oprecht geen moeilijke taal zoals alle Nederlanders denken hahahaha

[melissavang]

I have been feeling exactly the same way about my life in the US as you described. Thank you for the videos and creating this community! It's nice to know I'm not alone in my thoughts and feelings. Hoping to some day make life in the Netherlands a reality and this gives me hope.

[tomtom]

Europeans call their appreciation for life work life balance: Life matters more than work. And that means good food, nice urban and rural life styles, doing everything slowly, not in a rush, being relaxed, allowing to be free, happy and content in the present moment, perceiving and enjoying the beautiful world, being in harmony with your surrounding and yourself.

[mauroivaldi]

My girlfriend and I we are looking forward to move to the Netherlands this year…this videos are super helpful. Thanks

[dimitrab]

This video is more like, "why the US is a third-world country compared to europe", than "why the Netherlands is so special". I live in the NL now after living in Greece and Spain, and indeed life is quite comfortable here, even for EU standards. But many of the things mentioned (healthcare, worker's rights etc) also exist in the relatively poorer Mediterranean countries. US people should fight for, and get, those very basic, human rights

[pfmiedke]

Wat ontzettend mooi dat je tot deze inzichten bent gekomen, dat zijn wijsheden waar je wat aan hebt in je verdere leven!