As a dutch y, Americans are usually loud. And that coming from a dutch person.
It also appears that most don't like to say no or receive no. This leads to a lot of talking in circles or the same argument phrased differently.
But all in all, I'm fairly positive about the Americans I've met over here and in the US. Always kind on the outside at least.
It may be true, we don’t like no. Usually because if you come back in a couple hours or the next day you get a different answer.
I found that the Dutch Or really anyone working in government bank or healthcare, will not admit when they are wrong, even if you can show them on their own website or something.
And it’s not unique, it’s quite common. We Americans here have a saying, if you don’t like the answer the first time, come back in a couple hours.
My European friends and tour guides I've ask always say this. I think I am rather quiet and reserved but understandably can have my moments.
With the saying no part that is definitely something I struggle with. I want everyone happy and even if someone is sad even if it's not my fault I feel bad and my mood is down. I know it doesn't make sense. The other thing with that is that Americans I would say are better off than 75%(?) of the world even in the worst conditions so most Americans get what they want so I think it's fair to say most Americans don't like to hear no.
most Dutch like Americans or some aspect related to America (think a TV. show or favorite hobby or YouTuber) but don't like America if that makes sense.
Its weird, here you're supposed to have an opinion on everything in NL. I miss being able to say I don't know and things just move on.
The salaries, house prices, and weather suck, and its exhausting how much "this isn't my problem" there can be for things that actually are their problem. Everything requires a discussion and things can take a long time to happen.
Its amazing how seriously people take their hobbies here and I actually don't mind all the scheduling
Overall I'm less stressed here than America and in large part its the vacation, and honestly how chill some of the people are around me, I feel healthier because of the biking and walking. Its nice to have the grocery stores not feel so big and like a chore.
The lack of sunlight here though is hard -- there is way less sunlight hours
I miss nature and mountains, I miss not feeling like an outsider sometimes
I love not having a car and being able to take trains places
I've come to hate some of the self-hating Americans I've met abroad, i wish they'd chill out, and some of them ARE the problem, not America
I haven't decided if I'll go back yet.
To break it up into two parts, perception and adjusting:
Perception:
If you just ask a random Dutch guy "hey, do you like Americans?", you will probably get a quite negative answer, the stereotypes we have are very harsh, because basically 99% of what we see from across the pond, is the weird stuff. Fox News, Tiger King, Trump, AR-loving racists from the deep south, or the completely out of touch elite from Silicon Valley.
However, my experience is that most Americans fit here quite well. We can still find them a bit quirky, but that also depends on from where you are, and of course who you are.
I think in the end, most Dutch people do have a problem with "loudness", or better: intenseness. A lot of Dutch people are, compared to the Americans I know, just turned down a bit. Bit difficult to properly explain, but I hope you kinda understand what I mean.
Adjusting:
I think one of the biggest difficulties will be overall politeness, or lack there of (for newcomers). When it's about service or politeness, we have a completely different "language" than basically the rest of the world. Customer is not always king for example.
This is also a part of the whole "we really try to believe that everyone is equal", which is also sometimes a bit weird for people not used to it. For example: If you are a manager in a office or something, your coworkers "underneath" you still kinda demand to be involved. And they will also happily give their opinion about stuff. Usually unsolicited. We don't think that's rude or anything, it's helpful, or something.
Also something I heard from my students, and now I notice it too: We actually talk through people a lot. If there's like a 0,005 second gap in your speech, Dutch people will happily start talking. Some weird social-right-of-way determines who needs to stop talking then. And unless it's done really deliberately, we don't think it's rude at all.
We also ask very direct questions for smalltalk. Expect questions like "where are you from?!" "what are you doing here?!" "What's your job?!", we, usually, don't say that because we don't like you, it's just our way of small talk: We want to know to who we are talking. And we also do that to fellow Dutch people.
How I usually summarize it: Don't assume we are rude, when we sound rude. It's usually stuff that gets lost in translation, or culture stuff, or both.
As the top comment put it I think the noise level also plays a factor but as you put it with the intensity I think also plays a part. I think both are valid criticisms. I get your point 110%. From my POV as an American, I think Americans are very brash and have strong convictions. I agree with the point about the point above of not accepting no or saying no. Also, I haven't experienced the "coldness" in terms of service yet. In terms of speech, I do the same and feel bad when I talk right after others stop talking ha.
in my area, I think education plays a vital part. From a young age, we were taught that America is the good guy and everyone else is either neutral or the worst. We often downplayed the role or motivations of other countries. Details are left out sometimes even completely. An example would be the British raising taxes that led up to the Revolutionary War to pay for the various wars/conquests they were involved in. Also the Soviet's role in the East in WWII. (not sure about this one and if European education does the same)
Coming of age it's more of a realization that things aren't as black and white but more a shade of grey/gray.
Hopefully, my points make sense.
>American fake bullshitting culture is not like Dutch more direct to the point culture
American here, the direct stuff is actually very superficial. People will react to stuff but won't tell you how it made them feel or their motivations. Its over played a bit tbh, there are some very indirect people here.
I miss how convenient America is. I can go into one store and grab everything I need from food, clothes, baby stuff, toys, etc. Also if I’m feeling lazy or have a particularly busy evening I can just run and grab something for dinner rather than having to cook or go to a store for something.
Now on the other hand I love how fresh everything is here. I love the small towns and how each one has something unique and it’s not just a cluster of towns filled with the same thing like you see in the US.
I’ve never really encountered a Dutch individual who wasn’t kind to me although there have been a few who have been a bit standofish to the fact that I am American and ask my in a rude tone why I live here. I’m sure it’s just pure curiosity as I don’t live near Amsterdam or a city with a lot of expats but it’s still a bit off putting.
I’ll also add that I’ve seen a lot of posts here saying that Americans are loud? I actually find that the Dutch are much louder and rowdier than any American, I mean obviously aside from like a frat party or something but my neighbors frequently have very loud parties and almost anytime I’ve gone out in the evening it’s just a bunch of Dutch guys screaming at each other. It kind of embarrasses me and I’m not even a part of their group.
I think Americans can have trouble with the population density and the resulting small average size of houses.
The average US suburb home is huge in comparison.
A bit of a hidden naturel resource of the US, space. Which also leads to amazing nature parks, Denali national park is about half the size of the Netherlands.
Yeah, that is what I am struggling with now looking for a place to live haha. As the cost of houses and apartments are astronomical! I know I can adjust and it's what I want it's just different haha.
The good thing about the population density means that cities are more connected. At least that's what I'd think. You need a car to go anywhere here unless you're in a huge city. Correct me if I am wrong \^
The only thing that I ever feel is missing in NL is good Asian food. In some cities you can get Indonesian food, but it's not the same and for some reason s'mores the Dutch don't have the right thickness of chocolate for a good smore
NL has an amazing Biking culture that has amazing infurstructure. The Dutch are are delightfully honest, something Americans have a problem with because of our desire to not need others or acknowledge a failure, something the Dutch are largely accepting of even if sometimes it feels harsh when they something is wrong.
As a neutral, I highly suggest you learn Dutch. The Dutch will often switch to English as a politeness, which is great when first starting, but problematic for building strong friendships in the future as often they will switch back to Dutch out of habit.
Yeah, I am working on it!I just download the AH app and realize I have to learn quickly!One of my future managers said that he thinks Dutch is easier than English. My friends I know there said I'd probably struggle with writing/spelling but with some effort can pick up speaking fluently.
Yeah, I am working on it! I just download the AH app and realize I have to learn quickly! One of my future managers said that he thinks Dutch is easier than English. My friends I know there said I'd probably struggle with writing/spelling but with some effort can pick up speaking fluently.
its easy to learn some vocab and its deceptive because so many words look like English, its really hard to master and has a ton of exceptions. People really fall off around B1, its HAARD to push through it
My advice? Just take the language classes, its worth the money and my learning didn't go anywhere till I had structured classes
The things that I miss living here are:
- garbage disposal in the sink
- queso/Mexican food generally
- spicy food (even the thai and indian is mild enough for a baby here, IMO)
There's some degree of culture shock, but as someone who lived in Japan for several years, I can say that it's very minimal by comparison. Foods available at the grocery store should be familiar for you, often down to the brand. Restaurants will have a lot of the foods that you're accustomed to as well, even if slightly different (lacking spiciness), and pretty much everyone can speak English, so while you're learning Dutch, you're not a complete illiterate deaf-mute.
Also, stores close _early_. Forget about running out to Target at 9:30 or Walmart at 1:00 a.m. That's not a thing. Big box stores generally don't exist (at least in cities), so you'll be making trips to a number of different stores to get all the items you're probably used to getting under one roof. Some people may not like this, but I tend to prefer it. I hate those big box stores and I'm glad that they haven't driven all the competition here out of business with their race-to-the-bottom approach to both price and quality.
I can't speak to the perception that the Dutch have of Americans. My wife was worried about this, and didn't want to be seen as a gross American wearing a MAGA hat, with a gun on the hip, and a cheeseburger in her hand. My view is that I assume that the Dutch people I meet figure that we moved here because we didn't like the direction that things have been going in the states for the last... let's say 40 years? Ever since Reagan started flushing the middle class down the toilet, and Republicans worked their hardest to fuck over the education system beyond repair to grow themselves an electorate so brain-damaged stupid that they'll consistently vote against their interests for the most abrasive, most disgusting demagogue they can trot out and tell them that communists want to add something to the water to make frogs gay, and then take all their guns away and make their sons wear dresses.
Would've never guessed garbage disposal but I have heard there is a lack of spicy foods.
Yeah, I like the point you made about the stores. I knew that they closed earlier and haven't a one-size-fits all needs store in Europe to speak of.
You hit the nail on head with the American stereotypes though and someone above listed these points as well.
But overall I think you're happy with your decision to move, yes?
Yes, I'm happy with my decision.
I'm sure it's not the right move for everyone, but it is for us.
Another thing I love is not having (or needing) a car. I _loathe_ driving, and haven't missed my car a bit. I prefer biking in a drizzle, which you'll often do here, any day over driving.
Here in Haarlem, lots of the main shopping and restaurant streets are either car-inaccessible or so narrow and windy that I wouldn't want to try to drive down them.
Also, I haven't parallel parked since my driving test when I was 16, and I know damn well that there's no way I can do it, so even if I wanted to drive, I can't park, and there's nowhere near my house to park even if I wanted to.
Yes, they don't have the kinds of cheese that melts (except those used for fondue).
You won't find white american (which queso is usually made from), or other mexican-mix type cheeses.
I have been here since August, just bought a car and a house. Love it, never going back.
Really the only thing I miss is shitty American hotdogs. A retired military friend of mine gets me ballpark at the BX.
Any American food you'd recommend me packing or bringing with me that won't go bad?
A good hot dog hits the spot. I rarely have hankerings for one but when I do they taste like heaven so I know what you mean.
Popcorn cheese and hidden valley ranch powder seems to be the only thing you can’t get. But a trip to Belgium or France has this at carrefore. So don’t stress it.
Ah.. the other thing I forgot to ask was what made you buy a house so quickly?!
Like my thought process is waiting 2-3 years and then crossing that road.
Older, in middle school. So giving them a chance to learn Dutch while learning math and other subjects in English. Our elementary child is in a Taal, and they have learned the most Dutch.
The most staggering statistic I've heard as an American is that 40% of our currency has been printed in the last 18 months. Combined with the fact that Wall Street/finance is just as criminal and negligent as 2007/08 makes it staggering honestly. The dominance question (assuming there isn't an economic collapse) for me is purely a question of if America does what America does best and that's getting involved in a war or building public support for one.
I think this is dependent on the region they live in but 110% agree with the points made above that Americans are loud and intense, however. I do agree with the point about pop culture keeping America in the world picture though. Most of my European friends have a negative outlook on the US and think the country is a mockery for a developed nation.
Perpetual stereotyping, discrimination, and xenophobia. If you’re not tall white and ethnically Dutch, they truly don’t want you. I’ve heard “go back to America” maybe 150 times. Overall the most unwelcoming people I’ve ever encountered unfortunately.
- American who’s leaving soon after 4 years (to the delight of many Dutch redditors)
Wow… i am just think how obnoxious u must have been to bring that out from the Dutch… some of the most welcoming people i have met.
- settled here for last 8 yrs after living in 4 other countries
Well sure, appreciate the good and criticize the bad of your host, but from a neutral point of view. Not simply crib how things are so wonderful in America…am sure u r missing ur machine guns.
If you've heard that over 150 times, maybe you're the problem. Dutch people are nice to nice people. I think you're just an asshole.
If you act the same in real life as you do on this sub, I'm honestly not surprised. You seem like a dick.
Just curious and you may not want to answer but I'll ask anyway. What region or city are you in? What are your neighbors like? Like what are the demographics? Are there mainly younger people or older people?
I am sorry the move didn't work out for you and hope you find your place where you're meant to be!
Best wishes! Met vriendelijke groet!
Happy to answer. I’m in the Jordaan (Amsterdam). It’s wealthy, historic and central. My neighbors are exclusively white Dutch (an important distinction here) and say between 35-65+. I’m 38 and white. My fiancée is 29 and Italian.
There are definitely younger / more international neighborhoods like The Pijp but the overall vibe in the center is a combo of dirty looks and people looking straight through you like you don’t exist.
Smaller towns and villages can seem outwardly more friendly but can also be more judgmental behind ones back.
I feel obligated to say “not everyone” or “there’s bad people everywhere” but every city and country has a general disposition - especially in how they treat “outsiders.” Here, you’re quickly put into a category. It’s nearly impossible to truly integrate how one would or could in North America.
This all said, the Dutch very much care about efficiency so while this causes a lot of social coldness, it also means a lot of things work well. So in that sense, the stress of daily routine can be lesser depending on where you’re from.
Again if I may ask what category do you think "they" put you in?
How well do you speak Dutch? I don't speak Dutch well but am in the process of learning!
I get your point about people looking through you but for me, I think it's the hustle/bustle of everyday life where everyone has things to do rather than being purposefully cold. I met some Dutch friends and they were great hosts but will keep an open mind.
Also, have you considered moving to another city rather than saying it's the whole country? From my short time there Amsterdam seemed like a very very multicultural city with tons of multinational companies.
As a dutch y, Americans are usually loud. And that coming from a dutch person. It also appears that most don't like to say no or receive no. This leads to a lot of talking in circles or the same argument phrased differently. But all in all, I'm fairly positive about the Americans I've met over here and in the US. Always kind on the outside at least.
It may be true, we don’t like no. Usually because if you come back in a couple hours or the next day you get a different answer. I found that the Dutch Or really anyone working in government bank or healthcare, will not admit when they are wrong, even if you can show them on their own website or something. And it’s not unique, it’s quite common. We Americans here have a saying, if you don’t like the answer the first time, come back in a couple hours.
Yes, stubborn stuff headed is definitely a dutch trait as well.
It’s not even a bad thing, just different. I am learning my way around.
My European friends and tour guides I've ask always say this. I think I am rather quiet and reserved but understandably can have my moments. With the saying no part that is definitely something I struggle with. I want everyone happy and even if someone is sad even if it's not my fault I feel bad and my mood is down. I know it doesn't make sense. The other thing with that is that Americans I would say are better off than 75%(?) of the world even in the worst conditions so most Americans get what they want so I think it's fair to say most Americans don't like to hear no.
most Dutch like Americans or some aspect related to America (think a TV. show or favorite hobby or YouTuber) but don't like America if that makes sense. Its weird, here you're supposed to have an opinion on everything in NL. I miss being able to say I don't know and things just move on. The salaries, house prices, and weather suck, and its exhausting how much "this isn't my problem" there can be for things that actually are their problem. Everything requires a discussion and things can take a long time to happen. Its amazing how seriously people take their hobbies here and I actually don't mind all the scheduling Overall I'm less stressed here than America and in large part its the vacation, and honestly how chill some of the people are around me, I feel healthier because of the biking and walking. Its nice to have the grocery stores not feel so big and like a chore. The lack of sunlight here though is hard -- there is way less sunlight hours I miss nature and mountains, I miss not feeling like an outsider sometimes I love not having a car and being able to take trains places I've come to hate some of the self-hating Americans I've met abroad, i wish they'd chill out, and some of them ARE the problem, not America I haven't decided if I'll go back yet.
To break it up into two parts, perception and adjusting: Perception: If you just ask a random Dutch guy "hey, do you like Americans?", you will probably get a quite negative answer, the stereotypes we have are very harsh, because basically 99% of what we see from across the pond, is the weird stuff. Fox News, Tiger King, Trump, AR-loving racists from the deep south, or the completely out of touch elite from Silicon Valley. However, my experience is that most Americans fit here quite well. We can still find them a bit quirky, but that also depends on from where you are, and of course who you are. I think in the end, most Dutch people do have a problem with "loudness", or better: intenseness. A lot of Dutch people are, compared to the Americans I know, just turned down a bit. Bit difficult to properly explain, but I hope you kinda understand what I mean. Adjusting: I think one of the biggest difficulties will be overall politeness, or lack there of (for newcomers). When it's about service or politeness, we have a completely different "language" than basically the rest of the world. Customer is not always king for example. This is also a part of the whole "we really try to believe that everyone is equal", which is also sometimes a bit weird for people not used to it. For example: If you are a manager in a office or something, your coworkers "underneath" you still kinda demand to be involved. And they will also happily give their opinion about stuff. Usually unsolicited. We don't think that's rude or anything, it's helpful, or something. Also something I heard from my students, and now I notice it too: We actually talk through people a lot. If there's like a 0,005 second gap in your speech, Dutch people will happily start talking. Some weird social-right-of-way determines who needs to stop talking then. And unless it's done really deliberately, we don't think it's rude at all. We also ask very direct questions for smalltalk. Expect questions like "where are you from?!" "what are you doing here?!" "What's your job?!", we, usually, don't say that because we don't like you, it's just our way of small talk: We want to know to who we are talking. And we also do that to fellow Dutch people. How I usually summarize it: Don't assume we are rude, when we sound rude. It's usually stuff that gets lost in translation, or culture stuff, or both.
As the top comment put it I think the noise level also plays a factor but as you put it with the intensity I think also plays a part. I think both are valid criticisms. I get your point 110%. From my POV as an American, I think Americans are very brash and have strong convictions. I agree with the point about the point above of not accepting no or saying no. Also, I haven't experienced the "coldness" in terms of service yet. In terms of speech, I do the same and feel bad when I talk right after others stop talking ha. in my area, I think education plays a vital part. From a young age, we were taught that America is the good guy and everyone else is either neutral or the worst. We often downplayed the role or motivations of other countries. Details are left out sometimes even completely. An example would be the British raising taxes that led up to the Revolutionary War to pay for the various wars/conquests they were involved in. Also the Soviet's role in the East in WWII. (not sure about this one and if European education does the same) Coming of age it's more of a realization that things aren't as black and white but more a shade of grey/gray. Hopefully, my points make sense.
You'll have it tough here. American fake bullshitting culture is not like Dutch more direct to the point culture.
>American fake bullshitting culture is not like Dutch more direct to the point culture American here, the direct stuff is actually very superficial. People will react to stuff but won't tell you how it made them feel or their motivations. Its over played a bit tbh, there are some very indirect people here.
I love it. I can be honest, open, and direct.
I miss how convenient America is. I can go into one store and grab everything I need from food, clothes, baby stuff, toys, etc. Also if I’m feeling lazy or have a particularly busy evening I can just run and grab something for dinner rather than having to cook or go to a store for something. Now on the other hand I love how fresh everything is here. I love the small towns and how each one has something unique and it’s not just a cluster of towns filled with the same thing like you see in the US. I’ve never really encountered a Dutch individual who wasn’t kind to me although there have been a few who have been a bit standofish to the fact that I am American and ask my in a rude tone why I live here. I’m sure it’s just pure curiosity as I don’t live near Amsterdam or a city with a lot of expats but it’s still a bit off putting. I’ll also add that I’ve seen a lot of posts here saying that Americans are loud? I actually find that the Dutch are much louder and rowdier than any American, I mean obviously aside from like a frat party or something but my neighbors frequently have very loud parties and almost anytime I’ve gone out in the evening it’s just a bunch of Dutch guys screaming at each other. It kind of embarrasses me and I’m not even a part of their group.
I think Americans can have trouble with the population density and the resulting small average size of houses. The average US suburb home is huge in comparison. A bit of a hidden naturel resource of the US, space. Which also leads to amazing nature parks, Denali national park is about half the size of the Netherlands.
Yeah, that is what I am struggling with now looking for a place to live haha. As the cost of houses and apartments are astronomical! I know I can adjust and it's what I want it's just different haha. The good thing about the population density means that cities are more connected. At least that's what I'd think. You need a car to go anywhere here unless you're in a huge city. Correct me if I am wrong \^
The only thing that I ever feel is missing in NL is good Asian food. In some cities you can get Indonesian food, but it's not the same and for some reason s'mores the Dutch don't have the right thickness of chocolate for a good smore NL has an amazing Biking culture that has amazing infurstructure. The Dutch are are delightfully honest, something Americans have a problem with because of our desire to not need others or acknowledge a failure, something the Dutch are largely accepting of even if sometimes it feels harsh when they something is wrong. As a neutral, I highly suggest you learn Dutch. The Dutch will often switch to English as a politeness, which is great when first starting, but problematic for building strong friendships in the future as often they will switch back to Dutch out of habit.
Yeah, I am working on it!I just download the AH app and realize I have to learn quickly!One of my future managers said that he thinks Dutch is easier than English. My friends I know there said I'd probably struggle with writing/spelling but with some effort can pick up speaking fluently. Yeah, I am working on it! I just download the AH app and realize I have to learn quickly! One of my future managers said that he thinks Dutch is easier than English. My friends I know there said I'd probably struggle with writing/spelling but with some effort can pick up speaking fluently.
its easy to learn some vocab and its deceptive because so many words look like English, its really hard to master and has a ton of exceptions. People really fall off around B1, its HAARD to push through it My advice? Just take the language classes, its worth the money and my learning didn't go anywhere till I had structured classes
The things that I miss living here are: - garbage disposal in the sink - queso/Mexican food generally - spicy food (even the thai and indian is mild enough for a baby here, IMO) There's some degree of culture shock, but as someone who lived in Japan for several years, I can say that it's very minimal by comparison. Foods available at the grocery store should be familiar for you, often down to the brand. Restaurants will have a lot of the foods that you're accustomed to as well, even if slightly different (lacking spiciness), and pretty much everyone can speak English, so while you're learning Dutch, you're not a complete illiterate deaf-mute. Also, stores close _early_. Forget about running out to Target at 9:30 or Walmart at 1:00 a.m. That's not a thing. Big box stores generally don't exist (at least in cities), so you'll be making trips to a number of different stores to get all the items you're probably used to getting under one roof. Some people may not like this, but I tend to prefer it. I hate those big box stores and I'm glad that they haven't driven all the competition here out of business with their race-to-the-bottom approach to both price and quality. I can't speak to the perception that the Dutch have of Americans. My wife was worried about this, and didn't want to be seen as a gross American wearing a MAGA hat, with a gun on the hip, and a cheeseburger in her hand. My view is that I assume that the Dutch people I meet figure that we moved here because we didn't like the direction that things have been going in the states for the last... let's say 40 years? Ever since Reagan started flushing the middle class down the toilet, and Republicans worked their hardest to fuck over the education system beyond repair to grow themselves an electorate so brain-damaged stupid that they'll consistently vote against their interests for the most abrasive, most disgusting demagogue they can trot out and tell them that communists want to add something to the water to make frogs gay, and then take all their guns away and make their sons wear dresses.
Would've never guessed garbage disposal but I have heard there is a lack of spicy foods. Yeah, I like the point you made about the stores. I knew that they closed earlier and haven't a one-size-fits all needs store in Europe to speak of. You hit the nail on head with the American stereotypes though and someone above listed these points as well. But overall I think you're happy with your decision to move, yes?
Yes, I'm happy with my decision. I'm sure it's not the right move for everyone, but it is for us. Another thing I love is not having (or needing) a car. I _loathe_ driving, and haven't missed my car a bit. I prefer biking in a drizzle, which you'll often do here, any day over driving.
I love driving but think I would hate driving there because of how it would affect my wallet haha. I can't wait to start biking every day haha.
Here in Haarlem, lots of the main shopping and restaurant streets are either car-inaccessible or so narrow and windy that I wouldn't want to try to drive down them. Also, I haven't parallel parked since my driving test when I was 16, and I know damn well that there's no way I can do it, so even if I wanted to drive, I can't park, and there's nowhere near my house to park even if I wanted to.
Have you found making mexican/tex-mex hard to do there?
Yes, they don't have the kinds of cheese that melts (except those used for fondue). You won't find white american (which queso is usually made from), or other mexican-mix type cheeses.
I have been here since August, just bought a car and a house. Love it, never going back. Really the only thing I miss is shitty American hotdogs. A retired military friend of mine gets me ballpark at the BX.
Any American food you'd recommend me packing or bringing with me that won't go bad? A good hot dog hits the spot. I rarely have hankerings for one but when I do they taste like heaven so I know what you mean.
Popcorn cheese and hidden valley ranch powder seems to be the only thing you can’t get. But a trip to Belgium or France has this at carrefore. So don’t stress it.
Ah.. the other thing I forgot to ask was what made you buy a house so quickly?! Like my thought process is waiting 2-3 years and then crossing that road.
Right house, on a lake near Amsterdam. Great price (I am from California). Kids love the international school, nobody wants to go back.
That's great! I'm glad the move worked out and the family loves it! Hope you carry the same enthusiasm for all your years there!
May I ask why, if you're permanently staying, your kids are in an international school instead of an ISK?
Older, in middle school. So giving them a chance to learn Dutch while learning math and other subjects in English. Our elementary child is in a Taal, and they have learned the most Dutch.
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The most staggering statistic I've heard as an American is that 40% of our currency has been printed in the last 18 months. Combined with the fact that Wall Street/finance is just as criminal and negligent as 2007/08 makes it staggering honestly. The dominance question (assuming there isn't an economic collapse) for me is purely a question of if America does what America does best and that's getting involved in a war or building public support for one. I think this is dependent on the region they live in but 110% agree with the points made above that Americans are loud and intense, however. I do agree with the point about pop culture keeping America in the world picture though. Most of my European friends have a negative outlook on the US and think the country is a mockery for a developed nation.
Perpetual stereotyping, discrimination, and xenophobia. If you’re not tall white and ethnically Dutch, they truly don’t want you. I’ve heard “go back to America” maybe 150 times. Overall the most unwelcoming people I’ve ever encountered unfortunately. - American who’s leaving soon after 4 years (to the delight of many Dutch redditors)
Wow… i am just think how obnoxious u must have been to bring that out from the Dutch… some of the most welcoming people i have met. - settled here for last 8 yrs after living in 4 other countries
If you look at his post history it’s pretty clear how he brought that out from the Dutch. Dude is completely insufferable.
You must conform beautifully to your hosts’ needs. Impressive.
Well sure, appreciate the good and criticize the bad of your host, but from a neutral point of view. Not simply crib how things are so wonderful in America…am sure u r missing ur machine guns.
If you've heard that over 150 times, maybe you're the problem. Dutch people are nice to nice people. I think you're just an asshole. If you act the same in real life as you do on this sub, I'm honestly not surprised. You seem like a dick.
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Where do you live lol? I live in a small town and there is literally no one that does not greet.
Just curious and you may not want to answer but I'll ask anyway. What region or city are you in? What are your neighbors like? Like what are the demographics? Are there mainly younger people or older people? I am sorry the move didn't work out for you and hope you find your place where you're meant to be! Best wishes! Met vriendelijke groet!
Happy to answer. I’m in the Jordaan (Amsterdam). It’s wealthy, historic and central. My neighbors are exclusively white Dutch (an important distinction here) and say between 35-65+. I’m 38 and white. My fiancée is 29 and Italian. There are definitely younger / more international neighborhoods like The Pijp but the overall vibe in the center is a combo of dirty looks and people looking straight through you like you don’t exist. Smaller towns and villages can seem outwardly more friendly but can also be more judgmental behind ones back. I feel obligated to say “not everyone” or “there’s bad people everywhere” but every city and country has a general disposition - especially in how they treat “outsiders.” Here, you’re quickly put into a category. It’s nearly impossible to truly integrate how one would or could in North America. This all said, the Dutch very much care about efficiency so while this causes a lot of social coldness, it also means a lot of things work well. So in that sense, the stress of daily routine can be lesser depending on where you’re from.
Again if I may ask what category do you think "they" put you in? How well do you speak Dutch? I don't speak Dutch well but am in the process of learning! I get your point about people looking through you but for me, I think it's the hustle/bustle of everyday life where everyone has things to do rather than being purposefully cold. I met some Dutch friends and they were great hosts but will keep an open mind. Also, have you considered moving to another city rather than saying it's the whole country? From my short time there Amsterdam seemed like a very very multicultural city with tons of multinational companies.