🇳🇱 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to The Netherlands - Jovie's Home

Hi, welcome to Jovie's Home!
In today's video I'm sharing 10 things I wish I knew before I moved to The Netherlands that would have made my life so much easier in the beginning! What do you think?
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Thank you, as always, to Daan for his excellent editing help.
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My name is Jovie and I am an American Expat Mama living in and LOVING The Netherlands. On Tuesdays On Tuesdays I make educational videos about aspects of Dutch life in English. On Thursdays, I post a random video - anything and everything from cleaning and organizing to cooking and talking about mom-related issues.
My goal is to help people who are new to The Netherlands navigate different aspects of the Dutch system. I also enjoy sharing my love of The Netherlands with Dutch viewers and chatting with you in the comments about this great little country.
Won't you come on over, kick off your shoes and stay a while?
__
#thenetherlands #expatinthenetherlands #lifeinholland

[@dantesinporno]

It's not that Dutch people are unfriendly. People in the service industry just don't bother with the facade of fake niceness that American companies generally demand of their employees. They're there to do their job, not be your friend. I actually found it rather refreshing how they cut through the bullshit and focus on getting things done.

[@carm7518]

No, Dutch people are just not friendly in general.

[@maurijk25]

That’s rude... we are friendly but straight forward most of the time you confuse that us being unfriendly..now you are plain rude calling all Dutch unfriendly...

[@janwillem2656]

We are friendly of course, but not in such an exaggerated way as in the USA. (Yes we think of it that way, culture difference) but in the USA this happens because of the tipping system we don't have here. In the netherlands everybody gets a decent salary, even for something simple as a waitress. So they don't need this fake smile, or tips. On the other hand if a waitress is grumpy or rude, just feel free to say something. Because it's still a service function and they should remain professional in their job.

[@charlesvanderhoog7056]

@@janwillem2656 Yes, that tipping system is the correct answer, AND the ability of managers to fire people at a whim on the spot.

[@thematriarchy2075]

@@janwillem2656 simple as a waitress? You obviously don't work in that industry... nothing simple about it! And the pay is not good btw! People that go out for food/drinks think that working in a café or restaurant is simple, but if you take your job seriously, there is a lot you need to know.. besides having to deal with all kinds of people.. including the ones that think it's a simple job.

[@YuRaLL]

we don't tip in the Netherlands because we actually pay those jobs a decent wage.

[@anneliesv581]

Except if they did an excellent job, like if they go beyond service and you really appreciate it.

[@edith3715]

Sorry?? Ik geef wel tips. Aan kappers. Taxi. Restaurants. Sorry. Ppl give tips to hairdressers and in restaurants and taxi.

[@robinkuit]

I tip a standard 10% for every service (taxis, restaurants) and a little more for food delivery (pay their tips in cash, otherwise they won't get it) and I'm Dutch.

[@lichtbewolkt]

@@edith3715 I don't, I PIN the exact amounts

[@estudent222]

Robin Kuit same here: I'm Dutch and depending on the quality of the service I tip 5-10 percent, 10-20 for food delivery. As for the lack of help being offered... I had expat colleagues mention the same thing. The thing is, independence is highly valued, and sometimes you want people to ignore you or the whole situation (e.g. if your groceries fell on the ground), because you can deal with it, but you may be in a bad mood and not want to deal with other people for a few minutes. I always check if people want me to help or not instead of immediately helping, it can at times be considered rude, condescending or unpleasant to butt in and try to fix someone's problems for them.

[@fabioe.5379]

#4: My opinion: ALWAYS learn the language, no matter in which country you're moving in.

[@barvdw]

Indeed. Now, I won't bother learning the language just for visiting, more than some basic vocabulary (thank you, please, hello, yes, no, beer...), but when you live somewhere permanently, you should always make an effort, no matter how good they can communicate in your language, or English.

[@Sargent.Pierce]

@@barvdw I've lived now in five countries. Do I need to learn the language of every one of those places, especially if most people speak English? I lived in France and studied French in school so I knew a bit anyway. I lived in Russia and learned Russian. I lived on Cyprus but they speak English. I lived in London and I grew up speaking English, but now I'm living in Germany, but I don't speak German, but most people here speak English. Do I need to speak German?

[@baskruitnl]

@@Sargent.Pierce Sure, al least learn to understand it.

[@jeroen669]

@@Sargent.Pierce Yes, you do.

[@Sargent.Pierce]

@@jeroen669 Forget traveling then. Just stay home and don't live your life according to your standards. Live according to others.

[@ellis1034]

I feel like a lot people from the us find people in European “rude” is because in the us people are over the top friendly, and to me, as a belgian, that comes across a little fake. In countries like the Netherlands or Belgium people are just polite and that’s it, no fake niceties.

[@dominiccounts4023]

How about this. The two cultures are just different. No need to be critical of either one.

[@terranostra9976]

we are arrogant, we dutch, that's all, we are the great pretenders, we know what is fake, what is real, what is nice, what is just, look at our history, we went everywhere with our ships putting people to work for us while we were getting all the profits.......we forgot that most of us were a poor people till the sixties when things got better for the common people

[@Rob-rg7ix]

Terra Nostra I think you are just unhappy.😘

[@snow73cone1]

Hey! American here! I worked in the customer service industry here for about 10 years. It’s not necessarily fake. Yes, if someone is being rude, employers expect you keep a positive and helpful tone. But honestly, it’s hard living here and if you’re in the lower income brackets, there’s a sense of kinship between people that are struggling. I’ve been reading a lot of comments from people in the Netherlands (looking for places to travel), and there are so many generalizations about Americans, more than I expected. It’s so interesting...it hurts a bit, but it’s great to know what people would think of me if I visited, keeps me aware of how America is viewed.

[@JaredTVW]

Some parts of the US are more homely and polite, and some parts are more direct and blunt and some are nice to your face but gossip when your back is turned. All shades of personality. But I think you are right about our perception. Often people in the US see European countries as rude, but it’s just a difference in culture. We are all people and we must treat all people with respect regardless of their or our cultural influence.

[@diedertspijkerboer]

About learning Dutch: if you go to parties, Dutch people will automatically start speaking Dutch with each other and you will feel left out, unless you continually initiate conversations.

[@JoviesHome]

Diedert Spijkerboer indeed, this!! I can’t wait to be able to participate in Dutch with my neighbors and friends ❤️

[@debbienuchelmans]

Ohh! My friends from the UK say they’re having a hard time learning Dutch, because everyone here speake English and picks up on it when you’re non native Dutch. So they all continue in English, which makes it hard for them to learn how to properly speak Dutch. Might depend on the location as well! I live in Amsterdam, where everyone speaks English. Anyway, fun video! 🤗

[@ohhi5237]

TIP: take the train from airport to amsterdam, not a taxi

[@martijnspruit]

Excellent tip!

[@JoviesHome]

Agreed; unless you are moving and have more than 2 pieces of luggage (one per hand). In that case, splurge for a taxi.

[@martijnspruit]

@@JoviesHome I would never take a taxi from the airport to Den Haag (and pay €100,-). But perhaps I'm far more used to good public transport. I understand that in the USA people look upon taxis as public transport too...

[@benjik3161]

and save 90 euros lmao

[@wendeline4234]

@@JoviesHome I'm Dutch, yet I fully agree with you :)

[@ageoflove1980]

Number 11 : Know what biking lanes are and dont walk there please :-)

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

Learn the traffic rules applies to every country you visit. It's not just a Dutch thing. I'm getting in trouble if I walk on the middle of the road elsewhere too, or if I drive my car on the sidewalk.

[@abrahamcusters2987]

Gert-Jan van der Lee But bicycles are allowed to ride on the sidewalk????

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

@@abrahamcusters2987 No, sidewalk is for pedestrians. Bicycle lanes are for bicycles.

[@abrahamcusters2987]

Gert-Jan van der Lee So how come that there are so many bicycles on the sidewalk?

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

@@abrahamcusters2987 You should ask those people. How come so many people drive too fast? Why do people drive through red lights? I don't know. But because many people do something, that doesn't mean it's allowed.

[@rubikfan1]

4:30 best way to tip in the netherlands. just round up to a nice number. say you ticket is 116,39. round it up to 120. if is 39,50 make it 40. it safes everybody time. no need for change. we dutch love time!

[@pheniks0]

even if you tip 10 cents, we would still be surprised ;-) we dont "expect" tips

[@JadeyFadeyMCR]

I sometimes do that, but mostly I don't. Any tipping is included in the prices you pay. Have you SEEN the price they ask for a simple coke or Heineken?! It's stupid (and not even that good).

[@oa194]

Dutch people don’t like debts, they like savings. One of the reasons why credit cards are not that common in NL

[@nulian]

Think biggest part creditcards are not accepted in shops is because master/visa are all v-pay and have far higher cost per transaction. While our debit cards are maestro and have very low per transaction cost.

[@TcGroenestege]

Thing is also that you can pay anywhere with debit cards, so there isn't really a need for a credit card.

[@Brinta3]

I think if you look up the numbers, Dutch people have many other kinds of debts. But like Tom says: A normal bankcard is all you really need. Perhaps a difference in America is that it’s much easier to get a creditcard. They want you to borrow money from them and get in debt, whereas in the Netherlands a personal creditcard is more like an extra service from your bank, next to your normal card.

[@ElenaBonbon]

We only use creditcards mostly when visiting the US

[@xXTheoLinuxXx]

Creditcards aren't that common in the Netherlands compared to other countries. If people are using one, it is most of the times for holiday/travel reasons. I guess you know why, you have to pay bills for that card, and most of us hate bills or paying in general :P

[@intothelabyrinth01]

True. and very annoying for us when we go abroad, where every shop, company or accomodation expects us to have one. To get a creditcard here you have to earn above 1150 eur a month. Most people live with less. (this might be shocking in one of the richest countries of the world, and that's because the money goes to the wrong places and projects as ever, since the EU was formed.

[@xXTheoLinuxXx]

@@intothelabyrinth01 I earn a lot more, but I don't want a creditcard. People can easily get in trouble with creditcards, so I'd rather pay with the money I have. But I agree 100% with you that we are doing a bad job when it comes to the EU. We are the biggest payers (when it comes to citizens) to the EU. A long answer short would be something like this. you give someone 15 dollar and you're happy that that one gives you 5 dollar back.

[@Uwe_Ludolf]

We only spend money if we have it. No need for a credit card ;)

[@Aunti_Pillow]

@@Uwe_Ludolf I only had a creditcard to buy oversees. But now the banking is more international, and easier. I subscribed some magazines from the UK and years a go paying with a card was the easiest way. Otherwise we pay with pin and a card (or phone) or pay cash. Pin is by far the most used item to pay in the Netherlands. If you don't have ut, you couldn't spend it! But some try and their acount with the bank is minus... we call this staying red! (Rood staan)

[@NoorNoor-ul5zh]

Theo Buunermond I use my Creditcard for everything 🤣🤣 its more Safe!

[@dobberdop]

As a Dutch i can say... You did a great job..and i hope it helps others... Goed gedaan!

[@martijnvv8031]

About D.I.Y , my daughter is living in a large student apartment and last week the flushing system of her toilet broke. So the owner of the building hired a plumber. That guy showed up without tools..... and asked my daughter if she had some pliers.... Well , when she moved out of my house I bought a big toolbox for her, filled with top quality tools. And so she showed him who's the boss ! She said the look on his face was priceless hahaha. But, he couldn't fix the toilet...he had to order a new sealing rubber and it will take two days. Again she showed him who's the boss, because her grandfather was a plumber for 45 years, and so she said to the guy, my grandfather would have a simple standard thing like that in his car. She went to the Hornbach and fixed the toilet herself. (yes I'm a proud daddy, and her grandfather would be very proud too)

[@suzannerekseom8909]

Soda in the Netherlands is more seen as something nice, for the taste. If you're thirsty you drink water, coffee, tea or maybe water with a bit of lemonade syrup.

[@luke8104]

suzanne rekseom dat doet letterlijk niemand in mijn omgeving

[@suzannerekseom8909]

@@luke8104 o, drinken jullie wel de hele dag frisdrank?

[@i.k9130]

Inderdaad:)

[@sadkingbilly]

Luke en hier doet letterlijk iedereen dat, vooral water of siroop. Koffie is. Oor bij de lunch en koffietijd, na 20:00 hooguit een limonade. Dus?

[@Ariantine]

Mee eens! En veel gezonder.

[@draaikont8637]

there's a huge mental difference between living in the city vs living up the country in the netherlands. in the east of the netherlans they are more down to earth and willing to help.

[@toaojjc]

About #7: in the Netherlands it's considered pushy if you offer help unsolisitated. It ties in with #9. We assume you know what to do and ask if you need help.

[@Mdsz28]

Unsolicited advice on the other hand....

[@toaojjc]

@@Mdsz28 well yes... If we see you make a mistake a lot of is will point that out.... We don't let you make too much mistakes on your own. For me it is the time to inform if help is needed. Example I was on a Dutch campside and out neighbour for the week arrived. He started to build his tent. After 30 minutes he was clearly not going to get it set up on his own. So me and my husband went over to ask if he needed some help sorting out what went where and if he wanted us to help with the setup.

[@Mdsz28]

toaojjc help and advice are not the same 😊

[@diedertspijkerboer]

One other big tip, which may be obvious, is: buy a bicycle and start cycling. Learn the basic traffic rules and legislation for bicycles and buy a "regenpak" (rain suit): a combination of water resistant pants and water resistant coat. City center parking is expensive and sometimes very scarce for cars while outside bicycle parking is almost always free and abundantly available. You can buy a very basic second hand one for about 100 Euros or pay more for more comfort and luxury. Electric bicycles are also widely available, but a lot more expensive. Dutch towns and cities are designed around bicycle use and as a result, you will soon start to feel safe and comfortable when riding your bike. For example: on busy roads with fast traffic, there are lanes for bicycles which are seperated from the main road. Also, at busy crossroads, there are separate traffic lights for cyclists which make collisions virtually impossible. That cycling is safe here is also evidenced by the absence of protective helmets and the many children who are allowed to cycle to school by themselves. Apart from all this, 10 to 30 minutes of cycling to and from work is very refreshing when your job requires you to sit down all the time. I have also heard a persistent rumor that cycling is good for your health. This health benefit is supposed to be enhanced when you also start exploring the countryside on your bike on your weekends off.

[@tecolumpiodelos]

I had to turn the volume ridiculously up to hear you and then the add came up... Surprisingly I'm not dead

[@Brinta3]

As a Dutch person I am sometimes a bit surprised with the things she says (when I don’t recognise it entirely) but that DIY mentality is so true. Moving is done with the help of friends and family, including painting, putting up wallpaper, laying floors, carpeting, etc.

[@fleurbloem5462]

You're so calming to watch!

[@JoviesHome]

Thank you Fleur!

[@jhonny44444]

Got a certain ASMR vibe, indeed!

[@fleurbloem5462]

@@jhonny44444 yes!

[@jackflash3000]

She got the looks and the charmes, Fleur!

[@danielhofig8429]

Of course durch people are handy. They built their Land from scratch.😁

[@Tangocita444]

Best comment of the week on KZbin! Love Dutch ingenuity!

[@MakingitinHolland]

Daniel Höfig this is some true facts :)

[@danielhofig8429]

@@obelic71 cool.👍

[@dantesinporno]

They built their land out of ocean actually. Because that's a thing you can do apparently.

[@obelic71]

@@dantesinporno Last week in 4 days an entire underpassage for a new railway station was put in place under a major highway and railroad. The railroad was only closed for 3 days the highway needed 1 day more. Just watch the timelaps footage. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h52ToZSDarqpj68

[@Esmeagolly]

For point 7 we like to be self reliant, we are raised to be so for the most part. And we don’t like to impose on people, baby them, of Give them the feeling like they arn’t capable of doing things on their own( I guess it’s also a pride thing) but when someone asks for help we are more then willing. But our mindset is “I’m going to try this myself first and if I can’t then I’ll ask for help, but at least I tried”

[@okkietrooy7941]

It is also a privacy thing. You do not want to impose or suggest that they are not capable. But it depends on the situation. For example most people in a wheelchair are perfectly able to get around. They do not like it if frequently someone asks if they need help. They enjoy their indepence. But if I see someone in a wheelchair struggling with a ramp, I will ask if they want help. Same with blind people. Most of them are perfectly able to manage routes they know. Pedestrian crossovers have an audible sign to help them. But if I see someone struggle, I will ask if they need help or they ask me to help them. But there is also the courteagous help. I am getting older now but still very able to carry bags, handle suitcases etc. However, it happens more and more that when entering a train, someone asks me if I would like it if he put my suitcase in the train. And why not? I could still do it myself but these guys are stronger than I am. I am also not hesitant to ask if I need help with my luggage. But depending on the situation spontaneous help is offered.

[@tboykelechi8030]

Hi please can I have your email address

[@ooSicknesSoo]

A nice example for number 7 are restaurants. A waiter will wait for you're sign to order and will not impose on you. They normally just come by you're table only once or twice asking if you got everything you need. If you make clear you need something they'll help you and you will get everything you need. It's seen a bit as rude over here, when a waitress will not let you enjoy your meal and comes asking regularly if there's anything you need. Most people are like: "If I need anything, I'll ask for it, now let me eat." lol

[@candice2875]

I absolutely love Dutch culture. This is how it should be! 😍

[@chesleecallum6392]

She explanes well and the funny thing is as a dutch citizen, i got an idea of the American life now...she mentioned useful stuff. And its niet one better over the other, its Just the differences.

[@mischake]

KZbin tip: turn up the volume

[@JoviesHome]

mischa wolf thanks! Our mic issues have been sorted out and new videos have drastically improved sound quality ❤️

[@albanaacunha846]

mischa wolf I think she is whispering

[@MrEmilio6969]

Agree(whispering, not nice)

[@dalelowry9172]

You are SO FUN to watch! I had a dutch boyfriend twenty years ago and spent a year in "The Netherlands" so you are hitting on so many things that I remember as being true. Absolutely the best place on the planet to live. Dutch people RULE! I was always made to feel at home in that country and you are so lucky to be there. Their culture is so much more advanced than ours, they really have it figured out! I love the Dutch anywhere I meet them. I know they think i'm crazy cause whenever I meet someone from The Netherlands I just want to hug them!

[@kyravanmeijl731]

When I visited America for the first time, I got really overwhelmed with their friendliness. I was so not used to that! And the tipping culture is pretty weird to me. I mean, if you work in a restaurant, you are not responsible for the financial risk. The owner is. Thats with all businesses, right?

[@stroopwafel885]

the tip goes directly to the waiter/waitress and not to the owner

[@Suzuniyukai]

Unfortunately in America, tips would probably be at least 95% of someone's wage. Some restaurants do pay their employees decently but its a rare find because using the cheapest labor is seen as the best. Sometimes tips don't even get to go to who they are handed to. They might lose 5% of the tip or more to the business, or not even be allowed to keep a tip. Its not something that those people who are in the employment position can really fight unless its a major state or country wide strike.

[@ElenaBonbon]

Yes, I experienced the fake Americans' friendlyness too. But it was nice because I knew it wasn't real but an act of being 'American' I think

[@Proposal12]

No , because in the US waiters live off tips more so then the hourly wage they get which is low, that´s why it´s common to tip in the US , it´s a service as any other, if you call your internet provider for example and the person on the other end isn´t friendly , would you stay with that provider, same with customer service at airlines...Europe lacks customer service and it´s not "fake", you tip based on the service not the fact they served you...

[@LaLa-ck9zp]

@@Proposal12 tip is EXPECTED, regardless of the service. Also, most servers make WELL over minimum wage - it’s generally excluded from the conversation, but employers are required to make up the difference between base pay and minimum wage if (after tips) there is a disparity. Servers will tell you, there is never a disparity.

[@SanderEvers]

Six: remember, the Netherlands is a tiny country with more than 17 million people living here. Big living space is simply not possible for most of them.

[@Tardis216]

Jovie, this is an excellent list. So honest, so helpful, every expat (not only Americans) should see this video when they move to The Netherlands. Of course every expat or immigrant will encounter some other peculiarities not mentioned on this video, but it is indeed a good start. edit: My late brother in law was an American, born and raised in Los Angeles. My sister and he wanted to spend the second half of their life in The Netherlands. Sadly, he had a huge cultureshock as a direct result of his attitude that, being an American, The Netherlands should adapt to him, not vice versa. He didn't do a proper attempt to learn the language and as a result of all this, he couldn't find a job. After a few years he felt totally useless, became ill and died. In addition to your video I urge every expat or immigrant to learn at least the basics of the language of the country you're moving to. You should adapt to that country, don't expect that country to adapt to you.

[@indifairey9131]

Indeed a perfect list! Sorry to hear Jan Maarten!

[@efjeK]

The do it yourself thing: In my (Dutch) family when someone moves they often invite a lot of family over to have a kind of 'moving party' and everyone helps painting walls, laying floors, wallpaper, shelving, furniture. With moving it is very common not to use any professional help at all and invite family over to get it all done as quickly as possible.

[@JoviesHome]

Eva that sounds so fun! I’d love that 💕

[@esmee6308]

For me that was a culture shock moving to the UK, my boyfriend always talked about how close he was with his family so I expected we'd get it done in a weekend, all working together. Oh boy was I wrong, we were all on our own, when my mother heard she, my sister and her husband came over and we got it all done in a weekend.

[@GorinRedspear]

In my (Belgian) family, that's not an option. They'd be thrilled to help, but I don't trust them to hammer in a nail without amputating their foot. All highly educated, no diy skills...

[@aranielleb7718]

That's really nice.. Love that

[@BoSengers-hp6nh]

We say: hou het wisselgeld maar. That means that if it costs 45€ and we give 50€ we say keep the change, and we also pay allot so that people can have jobs much people donate.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

If you can tip 5 Euro, I really would like to know you :-)

[@HaKi1950]

About tipping in the U.S.: my parents used to have a neighbour (retired widower) living alone. He was not a poor man so he could afford traveling a lot and also went on vacation to the U.S. There somehow he met a widow who had several jobs as a waitress. She had immense trouble to make ends meet. Well, my parents' neighbour fell in love with her and they got married. He took her to his small house in The Hague where she came from hell into heaven so to speak, having a husband with good income, DUTCH health insurance to which she now had access and a small but very nice house in that indeed great city of The Hague. They even could afford to fly to the U.S. once a year to visit her children and grandchildren. When she met my parents and found out that my father (died 1988) was a very talented and gifted hobby painter (making copies of old Dutch masters, still lives etc.) that lady took lessons with him, proving she too had much talent (she was thrilled). They used to live at Kamperfoeliestraat, opposite of the cementry.

[@darryltoombs1076]

Even though I've lived here for nearly 8 years I'm still picking up tips from you that have come in handy so job well done.

[@JoviesHome]

Wow, thank you Darryl, what a lovely compliment! I find it to be the case too, I'm still learning after 11 years here. Thank you so much for watching 💛

[@melissatju1]

you're voice and way of speaking is very calming, just came across a video of yours and now i'm bingewatching them all :) you definitely got a new subscriber now!

[@lennarthoek458]

Jovie say @ 16:35 "no Maestro" but that's not true. The dutch pinpas these day is a Maestro or V-Pay card. So if you have a Maestro or V-Pay logo on your card you can pay almost everywhere. If you have a Mastercard debit card it could also work but the terminal should be configured well. The reason why a lot of shops doesn't support credit cards is the transaction fees. Maestro/V-Pay cost 5,5 ct per transaction, Mastercard/Visa cost 1,7% of the total amount (fees from Rabobank).

[@Moosie006]

Really nice to see how others see us, so interesting to see it through someone elses eyes😇

[@XCVIII]

I have a friend from the US who wants to move here so these videos are really helpful

[@JoviesHome]

Thank you so much! I'm really happy to hear that 💛💛

[@cajundragon]

@@JoviesHome I'm doing research now. Considering moving Feb 1st to Den Haag. Would you do it again if time was reversed? I have a list of 13 things about the US I really dislike that aren't issues in the NL.

[@JoviesHome]

I would do it a million times over. I cannot see myself living in the States ever again.

[@cajundragon]

@@JoviesHome Guess I'm going to need to learn how to ride a bike!

[@MrPieeatter]

@@JoviesHome Lived here 20yrs and agree with the following. Take off the rose-tinted spectacles. the Expat Explorer Survey rates the Netherlands as the world's most expat-unfriendly country. The Expat Explorer Survey (4.127 expats, 100 countries) investigated the "ability to be friends with locals," "success in learning the local language," "capacity for integrating themselves into the community" and "ease in which they fit into the new culture." Canada (ranking first for the second time in a row), Bermuda and South Africa were top rated as they offer high integration with locals. Note that more than 80 percent of the expats in these countries were native English speakers. Among the worst in welcoming expats were the Netherlands and India. The Expat Explorer Survey is the largest independent global expat survey commissioned by the HSBC Bank International. The survey, now in its third year, took place from April to June (2010). Countries with less than 30 respondents were excluded and thus, results represent 25 countries in total. World’s friendliest countries › Canada › Bermuda › South Africa › USA › Australia › Spain › France › United Kingdom › Malaysia › Germany

[@ssebakijjemuhammed2607]

Hey miss jovie, thanks for the educative video, you make my day whenever l listen to joves home and lts good to learn what we don't know because each country has different cultures and traditions...have agood night.

[@masspence1]

It's respectful to acknowledge and honor the cultural of a new country when you move to one. Including their laws and differences in legal systems.

[@JoviesHome]

I agree with you, however, it can truly take some time to get settled and learn about all of the differences. At least for me, it took quite a while to "find my way" given that I came here to work in an international organization with my Spanish husband and we didn't have any Dutch friends, colleagues or family members to ask for help/reference. But certainly if you move to another country and can rely on support from locals to help you integrating faster/easier, then it's much smoother. Thanks for watching!

[@masspence1]

@Ad Lockhorst yes.

[@misterivo4141]

You are very well Dutchified ;-) I am dutch and it is so funny to see this :D

[@Stoney_Eagle]

You pronounce Utrecht very good, now work on Amsterdam 😂😂 Why not end your videos with a full Dutch sentence like a quote or saying? 😉

[@JoviesHome]

UMMMM This is a fantastic idea!! Maybe from Jan 1 I start doing this!! Thank you!

[@nicjansen230]

@@JoviesHome Why not start now? :P

[@Aunti_Pillow]

Yes, I hoped you should explained some things in Dutch. By example; you tell an issue and tell how we Dutch people call this... say this.. may be funny names or sayings, you thought at the first impression, what? How do you call this? And why? What excactly did you say? What does it mean? You say: "it's raining cats and dogs". We say "het regent pijpenstelen". No one knows what are "pijpenstelen"? I Googled it came from smoking a pipe. The long and thin handle of a pipe. Long an thin handle of a pipe... So it rains pipehandles, its rains long and hard...

[@bernicel1168]

Yes for example:" bedankt voor het kijken en tot de volgende keer :-) doei"

[@Daph909]

The Dutch banking system is designed to keep people out of debt (for the most part). Transaction fees on debit cards are much lower than transaction fees on creditcards. This makes getting (and paying with) a creditcard a lot less attractive, which keeps people from building up loads of debt :) I was so shocked when I opened a bank account in Canada and I was told it wasn't just mandatory to get a creditcard, but I was strongly advised to pay everything with that card instead of the debit card. The banker saw my surprise and asked me how things where done where I'm from, so I explained and the banker replied "Yeah, a lot of Canadians are in debt.." No surprise there..

[@mrsiz218]

Good morning pretty lady! Just got home from work and there’s a new video! Yay! I love your soothing voice! Not gonna lie, been plenty of times ive fallen asleep to your voice, after a long night at work. Very soothing and calming. Then I wake up and have to watch what I missed. Lol. Love your channel! Much love! ❤️❤️

[@JoviesHome]

Hi Angelia, thank you so much for your sweet compliment! I totally get it about the soothing voice - I struggle to watch an entire Tati (glamlifeguru) video at night because she just puts me into a relaxed state. Then I have to re-watch at breakfast time 😂I appreciate your support so much! Hope you had a good day at work and now can enjoy some rest 💛

[@fransbuijs808]

@@JoviesHome Ever thought about doing ASMR?

[@neroquin]

About the DIY thing, it's very true. My family and some friends built our bathroom themselves, currently working on our backyard. We also have some friends who made their entire house themselves.

[@Peter-zd5ku]

About the DIY-mentality: You forgot to mention that the help from the neighbour (which is a fact) may never be used only to save money or other forms of alternative source of cheap labour. The help of the neighbour is most of the time aimed at improving your own skills. (unless you have a handicap or you are an old helpless grandma or so)…………..The help of the neighbour has a greater goal and that is...….that you,...yourselve are becomming skilled enough to…….DIY!!! :) (ps...…..like your video's, they are fun)

[@orangemoon_8428]

So excited when I see your new video pop up😃. Loved it again!

[@JoviesHome]

Orange Moon_ thank you so much!! ❤️❤️

[@orangemoon_8428]

Jovie's Home no thank you!

[@diedertspijkerboer]

Because of high wages and taxes, costs of having jobs done around the house are expensive. That's one of the main reasons why we do a lot of DIY.

[@MelissaPressler]

You’re so cute 🥰😂 I loved your reaction to not having your wedding ring on. Could you do a video on Dutch women’s style? How has your style changed when you moved there?

[@Aunti_Pillow]

No the special dresses with wooden shoes, we don't wear! It's more in some cities for tourist, and very old people. Woman clothes are just like other countries, it depends of where you live. Ladies could wear everything you like. There are girls who want to be perfect, hairdressed, nails done, brand clothes, make-up on when they go out. You can also wear jeans, a nice dress or wathever. Depends from woman to woman. Tattoos, piercings we have seen it all. I think in America I often see older people with very old fashioned clothes and old fashion hair with permanent waves or curlers in their hair.. like the tv episodes of the Golden Girls. Overhere most people also older people look great. But when I look at Hollywood it's plastic fantastic, and yes there are many woman who do this also overhere. Some woman should look like high fashion, other wear ugly clothes. It's also the issue what clothes you think is beautiful and what's not... taste of fashion is very personal.

[@JoviesHome]

Love this idea! Thank you!!

[@MelissaPressler]

Thanks Petra! Yes I’ve been to NL several times and didn’t think people were wearing wooden shoes 😂 As French women have their own style, Italians, Brits, etc. Americans also have certain elements of their style they love. For example my Dutch partner says men in NL carry leather work bags, but in SF where we live, people all use backpacks. Would just love to know what stylistic differences the Dutch have and how that influences a transition from American to Dutch style 😁

[@JoviesHome]

Melissa, I loved your idea and actually spent the whole day thinking about it! I’ve been writing notes and definitely will make a video on this topic after the new year. So thank you for the inspiration ❤️❤️❤️

[@MelissaPressler]

Jovie's Home Yayyy! That makes me so happy 😁🙏🤓 Looking forward to it! ❤️🥰

[@user-wi8mn3id8z]

We're about to move to nl with my family so this video was very helpful! Dank je :)

[@nige-g]

Hi Jovie, Free refills, one of the things I liked a lot when on holiday in the USA. I really piled on the pounds, large portions and as much coke as you could drink, so maybe paying extra here in Europe helps to keep me lean. Well you know, my trousers aren't so tight. 😁 keep making these videos, looking forward to Thursday's. ♥️

[@stroopwafel6141]

Dear Jovie, I really appreciate your detailed, sharp observations. Being Dutch, they make me smile regularly. You're doing a great job with this channel. Yes, we can be a bit blunt and straightforward, compared to the disciplined Germans and chaotic Belgians who are in general a bit more courteous than we are. I think these are some of the characteristics this country of traders and sailors is build on. Tough, fighting against the water, well you know our history I assume. The good thing is: once we know and like you, we will stand by you (nearly) forever. Talking about real loyalty and genuine friendship. And yes, we are handy, we are. )))))

[@janwind4265]

I loved your presentation about the Dutch habits. And you’re true about the items. But we are not all the same. Although I did learn something about our specifications, which made me cry for some moments, there are alot of differences. For example, I am not a handyman. For most of the jobs we hire people to do this. Gardening and cleaning is the most important. But also small broken things, we have them repaired by a local professional. And I live in the North of the Netherlands, where most of the people DIY.

[@miahorvath1681]

I am moving to The Netherlands for graduate school starting in January! I have been watching your channel for months now! So helpful because I plan to find a job and relocate there for good! I am moving to The Hague area to attend Leiden Den Haag campus

[@rookygaming6968]

The best of luck in our country. I hope you will like it.

[@JoviesHome]

Hi Mia, good luck with your move! That sounds exciting :) What are you going to study?

[@miahorvath1681]

@@JoviesHome I am getting my MSc in Public Administration, I am from the US!

[@cloneboy28]

@@miahorvath1681 I actually live half an hour away from the campus (I don't go there) If you need any help with anything be sure to ask!

[@Rob-rg7ix]

Point 7, it’s also about privacy. People here respect you’re privacy and don’t want to disturb you with “fake” kindness. This is what I experience when I am in the states.

[@Peter-zd5ku]

ofcourse we are straight forward, maybe blunt ...………….but most of the time honoust and friendly (aren't we??) :)

[@jackkelley890]

Love to see a video of a supermarket and shopping. wonderful videos!

[@dennisleur4228]

You nailed it girl! Its all so true.

[@CharlesvanDijk-ir6bl]

The most honest people I ever encountered was in Korea. Restaurants the waiter comes back with the menu when you want to pay the bill. Checks every item and returns with the correct change. I never border about coins abroad. In the US you're made aware before you arrive about the tipping culture. In the Philippines in some restaurants the waiters are independent contractors. They must pay money to work in restaurants. Is obvious they also survive on tips alone. In Indonesia if you don't speak the language you end up paying the tourist fee which is ten times that of what the locals pay. Teman Safari in Bali and Java are two examples. To the Dutch you're entitled how you deal with foreigners and I have seen far worse.

[@picklerick6289]

I am from the netherlands and these facts are pretty true. O btw, u are really good at asmr, it really calms me 🙃

[@LindaCasey]

💖 You are just delightful ... I can't help but smile with recognition.

[@punjabpainting2002]

amazing work my dear friend , you are so impressive , have a beautiful day .

[@JaredTVW]

Haha! Every point you made just makes this country all the more appealing. I have Dutch ancestry, I’m not cold but very practical, I’m a hard worker and self reliant and I don’t even own a credit cardI do need to learn the language, but that is something I really am interested in now and yeah, this country sounds like I would fit in better than standout, which it sounds like the Dutch are all about fitting in.

[@diedertspijkerboer]

That comment about having to ask for help is so true.

[@LobkeVB]

So true! Even my dad says it all the time. I am always here for you, I can always help, just ask 😜

[@playmotogaming]

Hey Jovie, goed gedaan. Creditcard’s kosten hier veel geld aan servicekosten, en je wordt ook geregistreerd bij het BKR. Dat kan gevolgen hebben voor leningen en hypotheek aanvragen. Alle reguliere banken geven een normale betaalkaart, ofwel de pinpas. Die kan je in heel Europa gebruiken om te pinnen en betalen. Nederlanders werken steeds meer met pinnen en weinig met cash. Het hoort bij je bankrekening. Tip: je kan online betaalrekening bij meeste banken aanvragen, en alles wordt dan naar jouw adres (bijv nieuwe NL adres) gestuurd per post 😉 heb je meteen bankrekening en pas als je aankomt 👍

[@mmspost7921]

The transportation compensation just made my day. What a beautiful thought.... I girl could wish.

[@zorrowv8045]

It's mostly a government supported feature. The reimbursment for home2work with own transport is limited. Transport by public means should be fully reimbursed. In case of "dienstreizen" (e.g. travelling between office for your job) you will get 19 cent p/km.

[@mmspost7921]

@@zorrowv8045 Beautiful. Thanks for explaining.

[@jschouten1985]

@@zorrowv8045 you're wrong, it's not a government supported feature. The transportation compensation isn't mandatory

[@sjoerdm3555]

@@jschouten1985 I think it has something to do with the COA? I don't know the English word for it, but it has to do with unions.

[@justasomeone461]

You can use a credit card at a cash machine to get cash in a bind. But yes, credit cards are rare here... you have to live within your means.

[@bouli3576]

By the way : Maestro is a debit card, not a credit card.

[@JasperJanssen]

I think the “asking for help instead of expecting it to be offered” is mostly because we don’t know what other people might want, and we wouldn’t want to impose. Even having to say “no I’m fine” is pretty annoying in my opinion, and so I don’t make others do that. PS: I believe 19 cents per kilometer is the tax rule - more than that and it becomes part of your wages and thus taxed higher, and so that is exactly the standard compensation. With my employer (KPN) I can pay for my bicycle out of my gross wages. Also all work related public transit travel (I have an OV chip card that is directly billed to them alongside my private one for personal travel), and I think they will also pay for car costs but they prefer the other two - they have almost all their offices directly next to a train station. It’s basically the same reason that in the US, healthcare is often part of your compensation package - the taxman says you can pay for it out of your pre-tax wage, and then it becomes super worth it to offer it as a benefit. Companies love paying benefits, at least as long as it means they don’t have to pay as much wages. Benefits keep workers happy and not moving on to the next employer, which is in general great for the employer.

[@charlesvanderhoog7056]

For English speakers learning Dutch is really difficult because everyone immediately starts to speak English to you when they hear you are not Dutch and speak with an English language accent. I have a friend from England who took over 20 years because she was lazy in learning Dutch. Then she regretted it and started to learn it after all.

[@henkmeerhof8647]

It also works the other way around. Dutch people who move abroad, are 'helpful' answered in English, but that might not be the language they are trying to learn. I moved from NL to Denmark and at first we got a lot of people that changed language to English or German to 'help' me. An offer very much appreciated ... but at work, with neighbors and in other reoccurring social events I asked people to speak their own language to me and to correct me in my way of speaking (Danish), so I could learn. That was 20 years ago! The biggest compliment I have to make to my new country, all those Danes that helped me to learn their language. Because today they have a hard time hearing from where I come, they can hear I'm not Danish, but unless they work with other Dutch they can't hear I'm Dutch. What was true for me moving to Denmark, will be true for the many that move to the Netherlands.

[@ejb7183]

Dutch people are normally willing to help and you don't need to ask for it. It depends who your friends are

[@antjuh25]

And another good video. My father was builder, he worked for many companies and build many house. And we as his 3 daughter learned stuff from him. So i indeed have some handt skills. I'm glad I learned stuff. For me it's sometimes hard to ask for help. Because I want to be able to do it myself. Hope you are having a better day today❤️💛❤️

[@JoviesHome]

Hi Antje, thank you! It's so great that you learned from your dad. I think I'd be much more handy if my dad hadn't died when I was 8. He had been teaching me so much and I was proud to do it on my own too. But unfortunately his lessons (and life) were cut too short. And then my 2nd Dad was busy with his medical career and didn't have much interest in do-it-yourself so I didn't learn any more. Sometimes I'm stubborn and try to do it myself but then...it just falls apart 😅and I need to call someone to fix it anyway. Today is better, although our kids haven't been sleeping too well the past few nights so it immediately affects us. How are you feeling today?

[@antjuh25]

I'm better, slept better also. Trying to do my stuff but keep as much energie as I can. Wil be a busy 5 days doing volunteer work. And not my reagular hours. So sunday I will be beat. But so looking foreward to that. Hope the kids wil sleep better soon. Have a good day.

[@Marjolein339]

I don't know why KZbin suggested to watch your video, but I did and I enjoyed it. I'm from The Netherlands. I think your video (probably more then just this one!) is very helpful for people who want to move to my country. By the way: we do tip, but that's mostly in restaurants and only when you think the restaurant did a good job. We tip about 5-10%.

[@Drew-do9wx]

you home looks cheerful and cozy 🌷🌷🌷

[@joeltshiamala2139]

Thanks a lot Jovie !!!!!!!!!!

[@piroen7224]

Just as a reaction to point 10: Most places won't accept credit-cards, bars, clothing stores or supermarket anything that isn't by design intended for international clientele (like hotels or bars in touristy areas) most likely won't. However all shops will accept Maestro and V-pay the debit card variations of MasterCard and VISA respectively, regardless of country origin. It depends on your own bank whether they allow transactions in the Netherlands and if there are additional fees. If you are moving here or staying for an extended time it is definitely a good idea to get a dutch bank account though, because of paycheck issues and the aforementioned fees and conversion rates. If places of business do accept credit-cards, and are again not something like a hotel, most likely they will ONLY accept VISA and/or MasterCard. Finding a store that will accept American Express, Discover or other credit-cards is going to be nearly impossible. Some other tips are: most card readers can interact with your phone/watch so ApplePay works. Online more places are going to take credit-cards but if they don't PayPal is sometimes an option. If you plan on going to an ATM with your credit-card check if it takes yours, your safest bet is going to be to go to a bank however. Bank location are mostly only open during business hours so plan accordingly.

[@Dutchbelg3]

Hi Cuty -Pie :-) It 's me again :-) About the transport compensation by your employer: It is really up to your employer to do that. Usually there is a kind of compensation but it can differ from company to company. 90 ct/km is wowwww so high! Usually 20 - 25 ct/km is more usual. Or a kind of free public transport. About getting help from your neighboors: Most people expect you to make the first move towards them. If you move into a new place ring the bell of your neighboors to introduce yourself and bring a small gift (Something from your mothercountry or something baked is great! ) That breaks the ice and will get you all the support you need... if you ask for it!

[@Anonymous-sb9rr]

It's almost always 19 ct/km, because it's tax deductible up to 19 ct.

[@JoviesHome]

Hi Hans! I was paid 0.19ct/km, not 0.90 (although WOW would that be nice lol)! I've had three Dutch employers and they all covered my travel costs which was so great when compared to every other job in every other country I've ever had! I love your tip on meeting your neighbors!! We were lucky that Daan's grandparents came over to introduce themselves to us (and then they "adopted" us into their family). And in my new neighborhood, we are all new (nieuwbouw house) so we had a block party to meet the neighbors! But indeed, great tip on how to establish a meaningful and kind connection with those you live closest to. Big hug, Hans! 💛

[@MsSilentH]

Interesting about the "colder" feeling at first, though of course you said it changed, but where I moved here, in a small village on the other side of the country from Amsterdam, there have been a LOT of people who've gone out of their way to help me along in various ways, from my boyfriend's parents being so gracious in having us over for dinner a lot, or helping me go shopping or even now, doing a TON of work on our house, and to my boss being very accommodating and really easy to talk to, and other people who have made sure I feel welcome or can find a group to be in, or this woman (who's not even a teacher) went out and offered to help teach me the language (i've been seeing her every monday for 2 years in January!) That being said I do get what you mean, there are people who do seem to be maybe not cold, but just more reserved (after 2 years I still get great anxiety about walking past people and not knowing if i should say hi or not). I've heard a lot of people saying its a big American thing and not done often in Europe but some people here are super friendly and say hi even before I do, or will strike up a convo, but then others act like you're not there, or give you a strange look, so its a mixed bag like any place, but with a tendency to not respond, at least where I live haha. But I'll get used to it.

[@anntempleton1]

MsSilentH Where do you live ? I’m in Hengelo in Overijsel aka Twente.

[@MsSilentH]

@@anntempleton1 its a small village in the Gelderland province

[@CathyS_Bx]

As a lifelong New Yorker, I think I'd fit right in to living in close quarters and adopting a certain reserve.

[@sachadee.6104]

Yes indeed. I was wondering about her remark since in the USA there are pretty tight spaces in the cities too.

[@Marianneduetje]

Hi Jovie, another great vlog. By the way, I love your earrings. I like it that you have brought these points forward. Coming to the netherlands new, is stressfull already. Having reference points and little typical things as you bring them forward can be so helpfull. As to the woring on extra time (point 1): you are so right! It must be hard to understand if and when you come from a different context that we would not be willing to give up some time for some extra money. Understand that and you will truly understand part of the Dutch mentality. Point 4: Learn Dutch. Yes, this is so important!!. You see, we figure over here that if we would take the trouble to learn your language, you could just as much reprocitate by doing the same thing for us. If you are a tourist, fine. But if you choose to live here, do make the effort. It will certainly be appreciated. Point 6: Living close upon each other: Yes, this can be a burden. We have to live with it, there is no other recourse but to live out in the country. Here too a little give and take goes a long way. If you are having a party where a lot of people are expected to participate, neighbours would appreciate some notice. And it is not appreciated to make a lot of noise on a weekday after 11 PM. Point 9 DIY: IKEA and the like are very succesful here! Also: If you are new to DIY, hardware companies (Formido etc.) are often (at a price) offering to install things for you. Furthermore, there are extensive Yout Tube instructions that help you out. And then after it does not work, ask your neughbour :-). I look forward to your next vlog, this one was very informative.

[@billyriedel6449]

I second learning Dutch because I am learning Dutch currently and find so much content in Dutch, that I just wouldn't understand without knowing the language. I also second learning it because I have picked up a lot of slang words and such that are specific to the Netherlands that you might not if you just chose to live your life in English while in the Netherlands. I plan to save up for a trip there some day.

[@JoviesHome]

Hi Billy, are you learning Dutch even though you don't live here (rather plan to visit)? That's incredible!! Those are some language-learning GOALS!! :) Thank you so much for watching!

[@billyriedel6449]

@@JoviesHome Yes, I love learning languages in my free time and being able to communicate with people in different languages. I actually am a sign language interpreter by profession. Yes, I feel while traveling I could probably get around in English just fine, but feel I would have an even more unique experience by being able to speak the language.

[@logangarcia]

Billy Riedel I do the same :) I speak English, Dutch, German, Portuguese, and Spanish but I've been to Mexico and the U.S... I'm 16. I plan to move to Brussels! I really like the Dutch language, I hope you do too ❤️

[@billyriedel6449]

Oh, I love the Dutch language

[@margotpino8730]

Living in Breda south of the Netherlands people are more open ,but you really have a point, Love your side of looking to the Dutch way of living . Almost all my family of my fathers side lives in the states After world war 2. They have Dutch roots but became real Americans, Their way of living is so different ,really can imagine you had to adjust. Glad you made it 🇱🇺🥰

[@JoviesHome]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting, Margot! I appreciate you r support :) 💛

[@elbabah7424]

Cheerful Jovi.. indeed that 'doe het zelf' attitude is super cool of them. I am dating a girl she is redoing her house now almost 60% of the work she is doing herself and don't help if you re not good at something. They don't like average work! 😊ohja cuz they will let you know if you re bad @ something.

[@JoviesHome]

😂that's so funny about letting you know if you're bad at something! I'm impressed with the girl you're dating!! Good on her! Thanks for watching :)

[@Angela-lo5bw]

20% tipping culture, made me laugh out loud. 😂😂😂😂 Nope, nope, nope. You want more, you charge more.

[@zorrowv8045]

Yep, tips in the Netherlands are more to show appreciation. The real costs are (or should be) already incorporated in the prices. That's also the reason that you need to pay more if you want more, but sometimes restaurants offer a "all you can eat" concept - the catch: you still have to pay for every drink. In England tips are seperately added to the bill and therefore mandatory.

[@carolinavanderlande4904]

A few months ago I watched your video in which you talked about Americans not appreciating co-workers who use their vacation days, on the first day of my 4 week vacation, after every collegue had genuinely wished me a good time. Today I watched this one after 2 days of a do it yourselve renovation (and a few to come). Needless to say, your videos give me a different perspective of the things I used to consider to be completely normal. Thanks Jovie!

[@JoviesHome]

Thank you Carolina! I hope you had a wonderful holiday and a successful renovation! 💛

[@ottokos5487]

Helping out others, sure. When asked, true. Living pretty close to each other also means trying not to impose on your neighbours. Making contact with the next door neighbours, show them who you are and they will be ready to help, but we do not intend to impose on other peoples'time or privacy.

[@In1998able]

You make me blush. And in Europe the north you get the "cold" the people get!

[@dark_paradise27]

True and I'm from South Europe so I felt it :D

[@diedertspijkerboer]

Dutch people are typically more reseved than Americans, but when they start asking you about your life, they are genuinely interested (unless it's something like the typical "how are you? " conversation starter).

[@intothelabyrinth01]

I'd say most are very direct. No nonsense, no small talk; this is very beneficial and honest. :-) it's one thing i totally love about our culture.

[@esmee6308]

Even the how are you, I'd not ask someone how they are unless I'm prepared for a longer answer / a conversation. Might depend on area though, I've mostly lived in villages.

[@GorinRedspear]

As a Belgian I can vouch that you Dutch are scarily assertive!

[@diedertspijkerboer]

@@GorinRedspear LOL. A good antidote is to respond with the same amount of assertiveness 😉

[@hypersomnia8397]

you have such a beautiful and lovely personality. a friend of mine and i are planning to relocate to the netherlands in january. thanks so much for the info!

[@yvonnewinters9699]

I love the new glasses!! They look a bit softer in your face (don’t get me wrong, the old glasses were nice as well, but those look a bit more soft)

[@WhimsicalMe23]

You’re so adorable 💛love your personality

[@AutisticLee]

Thank you for making me my day, with that last 5 seconds of bonus laughs.

[@diedertspijkerboer]

About tipping in NL: people here assume that every person makes enough money with their normal wage to live on (which is true and otherwise there are excellent social benefits). Hence, tipping is for that little bit extra money, or for really good service. Whether tipping is common or not also depends on where you are. 10% is seen as more than enough in basically all cases, but tips under 50 cents would be seen as strange. So, unless you buy just a coffee for 2,50 and get amazing service, you don't tip over 10%.

[@MultiCombo1]

Yes, those are good tips, this is a very good video. I also would like to add that you can also subtract the unpaid cost of your commute to and from work from your income tax (with a threshold).

[@elkiwild2266]

Thank you I'm from Mexico living in London from long years now but my work and spirit recently took me to Netherlands doing Temazcal ceremonies or sweat huts, and indeed some of your points were right on my face!!!! First of all is that they are very direct, so all ego and bullshit must be left at home as is not in the culture, so I often found looking for help, once I asked for it tins came within minutes. I'm not sure if I could move to Netherlands but for sure I'll keep on doing ceremonies there and enjoying their sense of togetherness and community. Top tips!!!! Ahooo

[@dolfvink7416]

It is always nice to see your video's. I recognise a lot of things, that you point out, but I never think about, because it is so common. I am living at a farm and I think I would fear to live that close to my neighbors, although I have fantastic neighbors. I can imagine, living in a dutch city and also in a smaller town, can be a shock especially when you are used to live in the countryside.

[@MrPieeatter]

If you don't have a support group of expat moms don't come here. The Expat Explorer Survey rates the Netherlands as the world's most expat-unfriendly country. The Expat Explorer Survey (4.127 expats, 100 countries) investigated the "ability to be friends with locals," "success in learning the local language," "capacity for integrating themselves into the community" and "ease in which they fit into the new culture." Canada (ranking first for the second time in a row), Bermuda and South Africa were top rated as they offer high integration with locals. Note that more than 80 percent of the expats in these countries were native English speakers. Among the worst in welcoming expats were the Netherlands and India. The Expat Explorer Survey is the largest independent global expat survey commissioned by the HSBC Bank International. The survey, now in its third year, took place from April to June (2010). Countries with less than 30 respondents were excluded and thus, results represent 25 countries in total. World’s friendliest countries › Canada › Bermuda › South Africa › USA › Australia › Spain › France › United Kingdom › Malaysia › Germany

[@Life_of_bep]

great video ( in some grocierstores there are pictures of for example mastercard if they allow or dont allow, you can always also ask if they do allow a type of credit card if you are unsure)

[@marloeslovestea]

I love her soothing voice

[@NotSoB4]

okay I really love this video and I can 100% guarantee that these tips will help you get started safely. one thing though the audio of the video was a bit low, might be an annomally but it makes for a kinda awkward situation where your ears get used to the sound and then the next vid explodes your ears

[@TheSimArchitect]

Nice video as always! I hope you are doing well and that whatever problems you have because of the language you can overcome well. Just to add, stores here don't do price match or give you rain checks, both for groceries and other items like electronics. Mac Donald's will even charge you for ketchup and you have to ask for the napkin if I am not mistaken, no free self service anything. Coffee at IKEA was OK to refill (I think, I paid for it, it was self service, I helped myself). Some supermarkets like Jumbo and AH have free coffee, the ING Bank and Coolblue too. ☺

[@JoviesHome]

Oh, those are great tips!! I forgot about rain checks/price matching! And yes, the shock of paying for ketchup at McD's was funny! And as someone who goes to Ikea at least twice per month (kids love to browse furniture 😂) I assure you, you can refill your coffee for free 😘

[@femsff7090]

Actually, Ikea has free coffee/tea if you have a family card (that's free to get in their store or request online and get it sent to your house) and refills for any drinks from the machine (sodas, coffee, tea) are free. You also get insurance from the store to your home with your family card, in case something breaks on the way home. And they have special discounts for family card holders. I don't know what price match or rain checks are in stores, but lots of supermarkets have some kind of discount service and some also have a special stamps to save up for a discount on certain items. Stores have weekly sales/discounts. Albert Heijn: 35% off items with a limited best by date (usually a day or two) Bonus card: discount on things on weekly sale and if you register your bonus card online, you'll also get personal discounts on items you've bought in the past or are similar (because they can track your purchases through the bonus card) --> these discounts do require you to scan your bonus card at the register/self-checkout Lidl: 30% off items with limited best by date Weekly discounts Orange stickers with extra discounts on leftover items (or plants/flowers) from previous discount weeks Jumbo supermarket has a couple of rules too, "de 7 zekerheden": If a product is cheaper in a different supermarket, you'll get it for free (NB: product has to be exactly the same and not for sale in that supermarket) If a product has today's best before date, you'll get it for free (mention it at the register; only exception are those sushi and fresh pizzas they make themselves) If you see a product with a past best by date, alert an employee and you'll get the product (one with a good best by date) for free If they're out of a product (empty shelves and nothing in the back) you are entitled to a similar product for free. Naturally, random employees rarely mention this so it's often best to talk to one of the higher ranked employees who usually wear a different uniform (or civvies). If the price on the shelf (or hand scanner) doesn't match the price at the register, you get the item for free. Regardless of whether the price at the register is in your favor or not. It's best to point this out at the register because not all employees know/mention this. They also have seasonal and weekly discounts for certain items And I'm sure there are similar deals in other supermarkets but those are the ones I frequent most.

[@TheSimArchitect]

@@femsff7090 OMG! Awesome advice and tips!!! Thank you so much! I do have the family card, but I did not know I could have free coffee! Cool!!!

[@kannieschrijfnie2042]

You have a very pleasant voice and seem a very nice person altogether. Welcome in our country Jovie 👍

[@rondalucy]

Hey Jovie! Thanks for another great video! Sound quality is still an issue. The volume is much lower than previously (a couple months ago). It's really hard to hear you sometimes. :)

[@JoviesHome]

Hi Rhonda, thanks so much for your feedback. This is the last pre-filmed video we had before fixing the mic issues once and for all (I really hope!!)! One of our subscribers is a professional in the Dutch media and he helped us out with some new equipment. I've been filming with that for the last two weeks and you should see the result of that soon! And if it's still not 100%, then I'll go back to filming the "old" way. I'm so sorry and thank you for watching even while the sound isn't fantastic 💛💛💛💛💛

[@icewolffinc]

@@JoviesHome They room you record has many walls so sound will echo lots more, just add some curtains / rugg, or place it just for recording some big cloth behind the camera so the echo is must less

[@rodneyr5970]

I can relate to number 1. We are a busy and fast-paced country and time off = time off. No matter the money. The weekend is for my family and money can't buy time, so its valuable.