Hahaha, I live in a city with 40,000 people - what would you call that? A village? But whenever I find myself in bigger cities with more people, I just want to get back home to where things are peaceful and quiet. There are lots of people around around 5/6pm, and then it quiets down again. I also live along a 'busy' road, but after a certain time (and before a certain time), you won't hear any cars passing. So yes, I also consider Haarlem to be a bustling metropolis! :D

So sad but hopefull to see all these expats fleeing inflation and political unrest in a country that might go belly up. Welcome expat. We are all looking for greener grass and I'm also looking to move to another country but not the Netherlands.

When you started about the so-called Dutch directness, I quit. I've heard this nonsense many times and enough is enough. Grow up!

Because you asked: I am Dutch, and I only started to appreciate the many benefits of living in this country after watching KZbin video's from people who were born elsewhere, especially in the US and Canada. So thank you for sharing your thoughts. And you're most welcome!

I wish I could leave this country

Haarlem is nice, born there myself, but too expensive to live there now.. Outside the Randstad is the place to be atm..

Hi Mike, thanks a lot for the beautiful message and the practical tips regarding the breathing exercises. Have you by the way, come across the teachings of Michael Brown... The presence process?

Welkom!!!!

Love your story. Hope to see more of you. Hou van je verhaal. Hopelijk krijgen we meer van jou te zien❤

Haarlem is ook zo mooi!

A daytrip of 22 years. Well that's a trip.. 😅

Being born in the Netherlands, I am one of those countrymen who is criticising his own country a lot. Then it is nice to hear from you that it isn't that bad. I love Haarlem by the way. Especially the most wonderful organ in the Bavo. To me, the most beautiful organ in the world.

Doe normaal is a way to bond society by limiting excess individualism. In turn, it also protects those who do not know how to behave “like it should” by giving clear indications that the behavior is not acceptable. By preventing excess (like showing off with a Breitling watch) the group is enhanced, making society stronger. For an American, that is used to quite the opposite mindset, I can imagine it is a hard pill to swallow.

How is your Dutch

having US and NL passports together is avery strong combo, it makes you able to go anywhere in the world except maybe North Korea and a few other places nobody wants to go anyway

Why? Why do people have flashing lights in their Christmas tree? 😖

Bitterballen have ragout in them. Well known in France . A good bitterbal consists of a beefragout! It's lovely. I think after 22 years of living here you are still to much a of an American! Meaning you still compare the Netherlands with America. Also in greeting each other it's also in this that the Dutch are honest, sometimes they feel greeting you sometimes they don't gor a reason! Nothing to worried about.

Blue doors are mostly rented houses.

Fascinating!

Nice video!

It's not that I disagree with this video but it lacks some nuance. Abortion and euthanasia are strictly regulated. I think the big difference is religion. While the Dutch try to live with different points of view (religious or not) there is this understanding of the meaning of 'choice'. Nobody's forcing you and the government facilitates your choice. It's difficult to understand and I can understand this view of "freedom". But just the idea you are at work and knowing your cousin is dying at that moment? Or "the moment" being postponed for a week? How to deal with that? I don't think it's about tolerance but about accepting. Can you have friends with different opinions and agree to disagree? How to deal with personal emotions if some relatives decides to euthanasia? It is still emotional. But with understanding.

My man... I'm staright as can be but I got gay friends ever since I remember. Being gay in The Netherlands is not weird or special. The people that are still homophobic are really the minority. Personally I always say 'Be whoever you want to be, as long as you don't hurt or bother others with it' The only thing that bothers me about certain 'LGBTQ people' is the need for attention. If you don't want to be seen like special or unwanted, don't act like you are in the first place.

Nice to see you Mike, I am Dutch also, a black one, born in Ghana live here 30 years. I've lived in towns like Hoorn, also historic, my family are still there but I moved to Amsterdam. Stay blessed

2:04 AAAAHHH!!!!! So COOL!! We had this exact same box at home when I was a kid (25 years ago)

Thank you for so vulnerably and openly sharing your experience to the world. I really hope others appreciate it as much as I do. I don’t think I’ve ever been so emotionally impacted by a KZbin channel. I’m 24, and come from a religious and conservative family in a rural part of North Florida. Coming out was very hard for me and didn’t happen until I also moved away for college, I’ve also found out the surprise that we never stop coming out. But being in a place where I’ve made friends who accept and love me for me has changed my world. Even with that I notice I feel scared and ashamed to tell others. When I went to the Netherlands this summer I was there for a while and I went on a few dates with a guy who we are still really good friends. Being able to simply hold his hand in public felt like one of the most freeing experiences in my life. I told him I could never have done that in my hometown. Thank you again for sharing, I feel like I’ve been needing to hear this. It’s so amazing to see somebody living the life that I see for myself, it gives me a lot of hope. ❤

As a child i have been homeless, long long ago. It makes me look differently than you: i see many homeless ppl. Since the eightes the numbers have grown. The homeless know to find me, asking for money, probably bc i look easy to approach. It is not one group, some are addicts, many are from abroad, but also ppl with jobs have no home e.g. when they are divorced. Divorced women with children live in a car. Many youngsters have no home either, e.g. when you fall under the care system they kick you out when you are 18. When you know, you see.

Spreek je ook goed Nederlands? Want dat schijnt te veel gevraagd tenzijn voor veel van die types…

You really should have taken the possibility to dump your USA citizenship as now you will have that Infernal Revenue Service monkey on your back for the rest of your life.

My door is yellow!

I suppose I'll never be Dutch because no one in her right mind wants to marry me.

The "by option" citizenship feels extremely redundant, because from what I'm reading every single case that's covered is covered by other ways to citizenship. Especially considering the language requirements never go beyond A2 (which I also disagree with).

The DAFT ( Dutch American friendship treaty is difficult on both sides, it's hard to obtain in America as well, so I have heard,I am Dutch and live in Australia (44 years) but wish I did not, live can be very tough here, no the grass is not greener here, 😅, inflated prizes as well as the rest of the world, rent is really expensive, my son pays 600.00 a week(dollars aus) plus he has to pay for water, grocery shopping is horrible, i easily pay 180.00 per week, and i don't buy anything special, just normal stuff...

U should still learn Dutch.

I've never been able to crack the code either lol.

Well done, gefeliciteerd 🎉

You are right. This is typical Dutch, but don’t know for sure it’s because of Calvinism. Doe maar normaal, dan doe je al gek genoeg. Literally what my father told me when I was young. Just like we don’t close the curtains because we have nothing to hide. But it’s nice in a way. He also thaught me that everyone is equal and that I can be who I want to be. Just don’t push it and force it upon others. Just let it be… Unfortunately polarization is a real threat nowadays. Then again there were idiots in the past, there are idiots now and there will be idiots in the future. Best thing is to stay true to yourself. Leuke video’s trouwens! Je hebt een abonnee erbij 😃

HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE US IS BIG ,THE NETHERLANDS AND EUROPE ,IS BETTER DESIGNED ,TRAINS THAT GO EVERYWHERE !!!!!

BEAUTIFUL GLASS AND LEAD , [ STAINED GLASS ]

Oh yeah, those shopping hours again… do you Americans ever contemplate what 24/7 would mean for traffic around those stores, of cars and trucks, but also people slamming doors, having arguments or whatever? Most stores are next (or even right under) homes, i.e. people wanting to sleep. And there’s the economics of it: the store - let’s say the size of the Albert Heijn - is based on what is viable for the amount of customers. Most stores are neighborhood-related; that determines the number of customers. More opening hours doesn’t make that number rise. So the shop would have more expenses, but not more revenue. Furthermore, the Albert Heijn could do so, but it would kill off my bakery, cheese-, fruit- and fish-shops - where the owners themselves are behind the counter. Please consider the bigger picture.

I grew up in an English family in Haarlem. Watching this, I suddenly recall, we had an elderly American retired Lady teacher staying at our place somewhere early sixty's last century. I remember clearly I asked her what made her visit Haarlem. She replied, Droste, the only chocolate my Mother allowed in the house when I was young.

Conservatism???

What a beautiful tribute to our cherished nation. Over the past twenty years, you have witnessed so much. While nothing is perfect, and the The Dutch are known for their candid feedback. Overall, we have accomplished a great deal. I lived abroad myself for quite some time, but I can't stop comparing things to what I am used to. Blessed to be Dutch, although we are far from a religious nation. My second home is Costa Rica. It's the perfect combination for me.

😍Hello Mike! I just got back home after a three-day hospital stay for therapy, and wow, 😃what a wonderful surprise to see how much you've grown! I remember being one of your very first subscribers, your 3rd or 4th, and now, look at you! You've achieved so much in such a short time. Your storytelling always amazes me and leaves such a lasting impression. What a beautiful journey this has been to witness. Keep shining and inspiring🤩!

who am I to judge but you are a wonderful human being🙏

With regards to fashion stores I highly prefer a limited choice to the environment destroying wear-once-then-discard trend we're in. Do agree on the limited color options in many stores. And with the lack of living wages, US customer 'service' is driven by many things, but some innate and primary desire to please the customer isn't it.

As a Dutch person, I say this to the Dutch that they should stop complaining about paying a lot of tax. We have a fair tax system and if you pay a lot of tax, you also have a high income. Tax money is well spent and is transparent. Be proud that you pay a lot of tax and that you mean something to society and therefore your fellow man. It ensures that everything looks neat and well-maintained instead of the mess in many other countries.

Lovely sorry, thank you for sharing.

I'm so grateful 🙏, that you encourage me. I really thought of starting KZbin channel ❤... Much appreciated 👏

Better than Trump! Although we will we feel that idiots wrath here as well....

After 20 years you say Harlem in stead of Haarlem.