What are the biggest Dutch culture shocks?

What are the biggest culture shocks that internationals, expats, and foreigners experience in the Netherlands?

Culture shocks happen when we experience a culture that is different from own our own. They could be positive or negative shocks. From Dutch lunches to agendas, let's hear from some internationals.

Take care =)
David

⏰ CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:27 🇵🇱 Poland
04:09 🇦🇺 Australia
08:56 🇧🇷 Brazil
13:24 Ending

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😁 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.

🔸 If you live in the Netherlands, I'd love to hear your story and interview you about your experiences:

#lifeinthenetherlands #expatlife #livinginthenetherlands

[hidavidwen]

⚡What are the biggest culture shocks you've experienced in the Netherlands? 🇳🇱

[helenaspljushka]

I'll say something opposite to the video's subject. This is something I realized after 20 years of living in the Netherlands.
Living in the Netherlands resembles their almost always impeccable roads. For every road, there is a pedestrian, bicycle, and car/motorcycle lanes. You can go anywhere you want and in any fashion you want — just stay within these lanes.
These lanes (and rules) are not there to restrict you. They are to ensure that everyone, including you, can reach their desired destination in the most way.

[TheLeagueOfNefariousGentlemen]

I never liked the term "Dutch directness", I like to call it "Dutch honesty". Most foreigners are not used, in their culture, to get an actual honest clear answer on their question.

[carenzalarue]

Me, Dutch woman, watching this clip where this Aussie explains what according to him this 'Dutch directness' is. And all the time I am watching this lovely guy trying his best to explain, I think to myself:

'Come on man! It takes ages for you to explain how your country uses at least 3 lines in email to say sorry for not meeting a deadline!
He could have said that in one sentence!'.

🤣

[luxembourger]

I got careful to say Dutch are like "this or like that". I lived 4 years in Amsterdam and now I am living also 4 years in the same country, working in Maastricht, and really the whole "way of life", food, traditions, language and culture in general are so different, I was so surprised, had to learn all over again.

[Tuinierenopstrobalen]

The Australian guy is right about the reversed culture shock. I remember applying for a job in a ski field in New Zealand, in the area of 'mount Doom'😉. They told me: 'we will call you back.' As a Dutch person I expect you to do so, even if I didn't get the job. I experienced the not calling back as rude. Please be honest and say: if your application was successful we will call you within a week. But that is me being Dutch. And: I hate agendas and full schedules and love people dropping by spontaneously 🥰🍀👍🍀

[juanfran]

Ik ben duitser en leef in Spanje. Doordat ik Noordduitsland ken, ben ik overtuigd dat het leven in Nederland niet zo anders is. Mijn relatie met de land en de mensen is een gevoel van vertrouwdheed. Darom heb ik een sterke relatie met Nederland. Hier in Spanje heb ik ook nederlandse vrienden meer dan out Zuidduitsland.

[nataschakooiman]

I think that it would help if expats would take the time to learn Dutch. They would understand the nuances of the language more and might see that some things said in English, do not come across as hard of direct in Dutch. Although a lot of Dutch speak good English, they tend to translate the Dutch directly in English and nine out of 10 times it loses all nuance. With regard to the planning, that's efficiency/time management...🙂

[LenTheFrisian]

In my opinion our directness is coming from a place of being scared to be, seem or act fake. We tend to be direct with co-workers and acquaintances. With close friends and family it's different although our humor tends to be a bit dry and condescending toward each other. I'm from the north where it's even more noticeable.

[alpinisme]

My wife is also from another country, where the climate is more continental and dry. The weather here was the biggest shock for her. Grey, dark, cloudy, windy and rainy weather for three weeks in november in the first year that she was here. I can imagine that, even I find it depressing sometimes.

[carsyoungtimerfreak]

I'm Dutch and a Dutch lunch still is a shock to me. We do not do this well!

[TomvanDoorn]

Hi David, I love your vids! For me as a Dutch person, its helpful and fun to watch how other cultures experience the Dutch. I can highly recommend visiting some of the outskirts in the Netherlands. Because Amsterdam is only one piece of the puzzel. You said in the comments that you already noticed a difference between Amsterdam and Maastricht. In the Netherlands every province is sometimes like visiting another country, people differ from province to province.

[rolandboerhof]

The difference between Dutch breakfast and lunch is 4 hours

[mr.labman]

I am so happy she picked-up that book @3:39 😅 because it would be a shock for me 😆 if it fell into that river!

[jchow]

Thank you for another excellent episode!

[Clogwalker]

Dutchie (or Clog as i like to call myself) here: Dutch directness is a funny (and fickle) thing that even dutch people sometimes struggle with, especially when communicating via text. I feel like Dutch directness relies heavily on certain verbal cues in their interpretation, hence why it can be incredibly difficult to interpret text messages in certain situations. For instance: a big part of my communication style is humour and sarcasm, with the occasional heavy handed bluntness we Cloggies are so famous for whenever somehting requires attention. However, sarcasm is a thing you can't pick up in a text message unless specifically highlighted by using emoji's or the like.

Want to wrap it up by saying i like your video's, just discovered them today but i think they give off a good representation of the culture differences!

[rmyikzelf]

I think there's a key to Dutch 'directness'. It's 'don't ask questions you don't like answered'. You're all free to ponder that.

[kkemp]

Most of the dutch who have a 9 to 5 job have a lunchbreak of 30 minutes. Its easier to bring your own lunch and have diner in the evening.

[Andycas]

Im from South America but lived in Japan some years. I loved the Dutch culture cause reminds me of the Japanese one, like punctuality, and assertiveness !!!

[jeehaeysohn]

I love the directness! I think that's what make the Netherlands such an international place and a powerful country compared to its size :)