6 Things Americans do that Dutch people find weird!

In this video, I talk about some American things that Dutch people have told me they find weird! I often talk about things that I as an American find interesting about Dutch culture, but it is fun to take a step back and view some everyday American things through a different lens.
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I like to share my experiences of an American expat in the Netherlands. I describe both the unique and everyday aspects of Dutch culture, and life in Holland while enjoying every bit of it!
Blog website: www.dutchamericano.com
Instagram: DutchAmericano
Get in touch: [e-mail]
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[@jve89]

I lived in the US for almost 2 years and I enjoyed responding to the 'how are you' question with a 'not so good, because....'. It really threw people off 😂

[@hattiefranken1395]

One other reason that the Dutch shop frequently is the lack of preservatives. Moat items oy stay good for a few days, like bread. I'm Dutch living in America. The list of ingredients are long in the US and most of it is artifical color, flavors and other things that are banned in the EU for health reasons.

[@DanielFokker]

About the car driving surprise: do you know the KZbin channel Not just Bikes? In The Netherlands in the 60’s we also were heading to car-centric city design, but luckily the Dutch bike culture was strong enough to turn those policies around.

[@damouze]

I was gonna suggest the same channel!

[@jeroen669]

I actually have had the case in the US that my creditcard was lost after I tried to pay in a restaurant. The waiter said the payment was made, but he lost my cc! I really was in agony, also since this was my only card that was generally accepted in the US. It took me an hour to find out some other waitress brought it to the lost items at the entrance of the theme park. Since then, I always insist on walking WITH the waiter to the payment terminal ...

[@ph11p3540]

That's pretty serious. I would raise such a scene if an establishment lost my card took it out of my sight for a long time. Nothing worse than stolen credit cards charged I your name and you thousands of dollars in debt for unexplained charges. Credit card and ID fraud are very serious possibly life altering.

[@jeroen669]

@@ph11p3540 That's why I prefer debit cards and keeping my cards in my own hands. Unfortunately that is not possible in the States.

[@MelissaPressler]

As an American living in the Netherlands with my Dutch partner, I really appreciate the content and style of this video. You don't judge the difference, you just compare and contrast the culture and people's reactions to it. 👏May I add that one of my American quirks I cannot shake is that I still love to get my coffee to go and walk around with it. 😂

[@Patrik6920]

Take a walk with your coffe?... why?...

[@Lexcoaster]

I'm Dutch and I do that!

[@Patrik6920]

@@Lexcoaster hm...okay...

[@NicoBGC]

I'm convinced that for many Americans, "fancy coffee in a paper cup with a sleeve" is like having the latest iPhone or designer purse. I usually make coffee at home, but when I want to grab it on the way to work, I preferred this local shop when I worked in Utah-- their coffee was delicious. I've had coworkers before give me grief about drinking "cheap" coffee, but 1- it's actually so much tastier than the "over-priced burnt stick water" that Starbucks tries to pass off as coffee, and 2- it costs me less than a third of the price. It's a coffee-- not a status symbol. End of the week.... better coffee and an extra $30 saved.

[@Patrik6920]

@@NicoBGC dont know if u been to US, but thay also have this giant mugs for their erm 'coffe', if it would have been real coffe... and thay have an odd habit of adding flavour to it... if u can dring cherry/vanilla coffe without puking u prob US American...

[@MartijnFrazer]

I think the idea of potatoes as brunch might be more shocking if it's a Dutch person's first meal of the day. It's *entirely different* when someone had breakfast at 7.30am and then continues to have fries for lunch at noon (while eating out mind you, there's no way they'd eat this at home, oh no).

[@DutchAmericano]

This helps me understand the potatoes/fries thing more!

[@mycatistypingthis5450]

Dutch farmers used to eat hot meals in the middle of the day. They might still, but I haven't worked on a farm in over a decade.

[@dutchman7623]

@@mycatistypingthis5450 Many people used to dine at midday in the past. But because of commute time it shifted to the evening. Schools would have a break from 12 to 14, just to have a warm meal at home. But because of the shift that took place for workers and office people, they now only have an hour or forty five minutes. Even Dutch habits are not written in stone and change by time.

[@weiareinboud6990]

@@DutchAmericano We eat leftovers every morning. Potatoes, pasta, rice or so. Maybe Dutch lesbians are strange?

[@jimjungle1397]

@@mycatistypingthis5450 When I lived in Belgium, Belgians, Dutch and Germans would only have one hot meal a day. If it was midday, then they would have a cold evening meal. If they had a hot evening meal and they had leftovers, they would have hot leftovers for the next day's midday meal.

[@longstockings]

My son lived 1 year in Canada (highschool).The family drove for 4(!!!!) hours to a megastore to buy stuf for 2 weeks. And then they drove another 4 hours back. If I drive for 4 hours I am out of the country

[@dutchman7623]

If I cycle for three hours I'll be in Germany or Belgium.

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

In 4 hours I'm almost in Paris.

[@ditnooitweer]

@@dutchman7623 If I walk 4 hours, ill be in Belgium. Germany walking takes just 2 hours.

[@UltimateSeduction]

Wauw. Jouw Nederlandse uitspraak is zoveel beter geworden de laatste tijd, almost native Dutch, chapeau! 👍🏻😘

[@pjotrh]

For those who don’t know. Home fries are pan fried and/or oven roasted, cubed potatoes. Generally well seasoned with salt, pepper, onion, garlic, smoked paprika etc. Somewhere in between Dutch pan fried potatoes and Spanish patatas bravas.

[@Freya778]

So aardappelblokjes then? You can buy those pre-cubed in the Netherlands and then prepare how you like. In the Netherlands they often aren't seasoned as well as you describe though. The American version sounds flavourful and delivious.

[@NicoBGC]

I also add diced green and red peppers as well as a sprinkle of cheese to home fries (also often called hashbrowns) -- Delicious!

[@PickupthePieces76]

I learned from the Not Just Bikes channel that the issue is zoning laws for the suburbs. They prevent all other forms of housing besides family homes in the suburbs and there are no shops or any other amenities allowed there. So to get anywhere you have to drive. That's why turning 16 is such a big deal, because kids can get their driving license and achieve their first form of independence. Due to the Dutch infrastructure making it possible to cycle very safely pretty much anywhere you need to go, gives kids a form of independence at a much earlier age. And you don't need to drive to do a lot of things, making it a much more pleasurable living environment.

[@abelfaber4457]

i love that channel, also gives such a nice outsider few of our country

[@marielvanhees9531]

I moved to the US from Nederland as a young teenager with my family about 24 years ago. You are absolutely correct about the unsafe and inconvenience of the American infrastructure of transportation in the cities, the suburbs and beyond. I live just outside of Philadelphia along the "Main Line" in the suburbs. I could walk to my parents house in 15 minutes on the side of the road or choose the direction with all sidewalks and that would take 30 mins of walking and hills up and down twice. In the same direction of the unsafe 15 min walking route is the local pool. Again emphasis on no safe sidewalk to walk on to get to the pool. Everyone drives over even my little family. Also side walks are home owner property. At times side walks will just end or only be in front of that one house. Townships are doing their best to change the traffic infrastructure where I live and they have shifted a painted double lane in both directions to a painted single lane in both directions to make room for a bike lane. All painted lines no extra pavement levels to distinguish the boundaries. But the bike lanes end at intersections. There is no lane structure that helps bikers have right of way from turning cars. The US is very car centric. And I don't think we'll ever get away from it.

[@Ashen_Sukar]

theres a yt channel called NotJustBikes which has a lot of vids on this subject

[@marielvanhees9531]

@@Ashen_Sukar I watch them too 😂

[@eefaaf]

Van Hees was the name of the slijterij on the Zijlweg in Haarlem when I grew up there in the 1960s... I'm sure that's just a coincidence, but seeing your last name brought me back.

[@edwinschaap5532]

Er bestaan wel grotere verpakkingen. Die verkopen ze bij de o.a. Makro en Sligro. Het zijn officieel groothandels, dus je het wel een KvK inschrijving nodig om er te kunnen shoppen. En als je zulke grote verpakkingen koopt is het ook voor een kort stukje handiger om met de auto te gaan. 😉

[@jeroen669]

In coronatijd kon je er tijdelijk ook zonder bedrijfspas winkelen. Er gaat een nieuwe wereld voor je open als je het niet gewend bent.

[@nfiles]

You've no doubt mentioned this in other videos before, but another thing that surprised me in American shops was that the prices were without taxes. Very confusing!

[@jimjungle1397]

Not all states collect sales tax at the point of purchase.

[@jwenting]

@@jimjungle1397 and those who do don't all have the same rate. In fact even within a state there can be different rates depending on the county you're in. It'd be massively inconvenient for stores to have to have different labels for each of their branches.

[@msbluejayway]

About the grocery store in the Netherlands: it also depends if you live in a city or in a rural area. I live in a village, and I go grocery shopping once a week.

[@BlacksmithTWD]

Indeed, there is a similar difference regarding car ownership.

[@manicantsettleonausername6789]

We do have bulk stores in NL as well (like Sligro) but they're typically only for registered businesses.

[@anthonyanderson2405]

I lived twice in Amsterdam, my one American habit that I could not break myself of was to always insist on having ice cubes when I drank a cocktail. The Dutch found this most curious.

[@vogel2280]

What?!? Why would you water down perfectly good liquor?

[@Wuppie62]

​@@vogel2280 To cool it..

[@erwintimmerman6466]

That reminds me of a book by a Dutch father who swapped houses with foreign families for vacations and described their experiences. When he swapped houses with an american family, he found the automatic ice cube dispenser attached to the fridge very interesting, and felt a bit sorry for the American family that had to do with just one 10-cube self freeze tray they had to put in the freezer overnight for just 10 ice cubes 🙂

[@ruudbremer]

Bulk shopping in the netherlands will be at the "Makro" or "sligro".

[@DutchAmericano]

Never seen or even heard of those stores in all my time here! Thanks!

[@MartijnFrazer]

@@DutchAmericano They're more aimed at business owners than the general public and are also typically found at the edge of town in some industrial area rather than the city center. You wouldn't casually bump into a Makro while walking down the alleyways of Utrecht haha

[@Frahamen]

I thought Makro went bust recently but after some googleing turns out it's only the Belgian wing that's gone.

[@jjbankert]

We even have different words for them, groothandel vs detailhandel. I vaguely remember that you need to show proof that you run a business (a specific card) when you shop at a makro.

[@Budha75]

@@MartijnFrazer They're aimed at the general public, but because they are located at business parks and not retail locations, they have to pretend to only cater to businesses.

[@Riomojo]

You are the absolute best! Such a kind, peaceful person to learn from!

[@PietjePuk1234]

As a Dutch guy being in the US for work once in a while. I find the necessity to drive in the US is true. From the hotel to the office location (excluding traffic jams at rush hour) is a 2 minute drive (10 minute walk), but because of the lack of a sidewalk or crosswalk, it is a necessity to drive there from the hotel. It is an improvement opportunity to create sidewalks or bike lanes to improve commute. In the evening, due to traffic, it takes 20 minutes to get back to the hotel. Walking would have been faster (and 1 car less on the road).

[@ihsahnakerfeldt9280]

The worst thing about this car-centric nature of the US isn't just the fact that the distances are all big, but that there are no safe sidewalks, ie it's non-pedestrian-friendly by design.

[@jimmykross9409]

Thank you for sharing your story Eva! You are doing a great job with your videos. Not only do you make me feel proud to be Dutch, I'm also learning a lot about Americans. Because of you, I bought the book: "These Truths" from Jill Lepore. And now I am finaly learning so much about American Culture. So thanks for that!

[@Jila_Tana]

Stores with boxes in the Netherlands : Makro. Regular supermarkets that used to as well : Edah (many corporate fusions later, Edah disappeared), Aldi, Lidl, the latter two still do with some products.

[@elwinhuisman8939]

The American "how are you?" often makes me feel such cultural dissonance. Directly translated to Dutch, "Hoe gaat het (met je)?" is usually asked when you really want to know. Not only do you seriously want to know, its usually also a rethorical question that you ask if you know someone is really not okay. When I am uprepared to meet Americans, them asking very personal questions such as "how are you?" after saying "its soooooo nice to meet you." When in fact, they do not know if its nice to meet me. I usually need a moment to adapt to the situation xD.

[@carelgoodheir692]

We emigrated to Scotland many decades ago when I was seven years old and I'm still not entirely used to the question "How are you?" I did figure after a few decades that the answer is "Fine" no matter how you actually are but it still sems weird to me. In my teens and twenties my standard reply was "It could be worse." That worked, it generated banter. But I must be getting old and not always in the mood for a crack and the meaningless "Fine" is getting said more often😞

[@VeryFastRodi]

With breakfast i had kind of the same when in Colombia (medellin) . Tried a traditional breakfast and basically got a big lunch, almost a dinner. Of beans, rice, meat, arepa, some brie. When i asked about it it did make sense why this was a traditional breakfast for a very long time in that area. Because that was the kondnof breakfast people ate before starting the day working out in the fields at the farm. So they had enough energy. After finishing it they were right, i was filled basically till about late lunch/dinner

[@carmenl163]

You are so right about the breakfast. I loved eating 'hash browns'. Of course, it was completely weird to have a dinner component at breakfast, but it didn't stop me from truly loving it!

[@mariannahanley4390]

Nice to know that you live in Utrecht, I was born Utrecht and lived there for 24 years. I live in Canada since 1968, still homesick that’s why I keep watching your videos thank you so much for sharing your life there. Keep up with all your nice info.

[@jantineclasinamariabuter1509]

Interessante video, ik heb weer veel geleerd vandaag. Leuk te horen dat je vlak bij het centrum van Utrecht woont, ik kom je daar vast nog wel eens tegen 😁

[@nienke7713]

it's not just potatoes (a little odd but acceptable), it's fries, deep fried potatoes; it's the deep fried stuff for breakfast part that makes it concerning/shocking

[@mariadebake5483]

Nice to see you again Ava!

[@btk1243]

American here -- most common greetings I hear in Los Angeles (and how to respond) . . . "How you doing?" (Response: "Good. And you?") . . . "How's it going?" (Response: "Good. How 'bout you?") . . . Teenager talk 1: "Hey What's Up?" (or "What up?") (Response: "Not Much") . . . Teenager talk 2: "How's it hangin'?" (Response: "Good, & you?") . . . If you're in a rush (which everyone in LA is), after you say the greeting, then you quickly walk away, saying, "Good to see you" . . . In a city of 10 million people (L.A.), a greeting is an "acknowledgement" (it's saying, "I recognize you') and then you quickly move on to your next task. If you want to carry on the conversation, you say (as you walk away), "I'll text you later." . . . I live near Venice Beach, and I see a lot of Dutch tourists, and it's always a treat to see the expression on their face when they hear someone say, "How's it hangin' ?" :)

[@Freezyloen]

This was a very interesting video! Some things I knew about, like the driving everywhere and the grocery shopping, and it was fun to see those return here. Other things I din't now about, and really surprised me, like the bagging groceries, taking your credit card and eating potatoes for breakfast. Especially those last two really caught me off guard and had me nearly screaming "what the f**". I really don't understand why one would eat potatoes for breakfast, it's one of the most non-fresh things I can think of to start your morning with. And the credit cards I think you talked about very well. Anyways, very interesting to see how different some things are in the USA compared to here in the Netherlands.

[@Roozyj]

The whole breakfast culture of the USA is so different from ours. A normal breakfast here is just a sandwich or some yoghurt with grenola. When Americans say "Imma have breakfast for dinner" I really have to remember that they probably mean waffles or pancakes, or hashbrowns or something xD

[@megvander2231]

I read in a book by Bill Bryson that when he was in the usa and he wanted to get to a hardware store on the other side of the street he had to use his car.

[@dutchman7623]

They have 2 x 3 of even 4 lanes without median, where cars can turn left or right without traffic lights! Imagine a house with a driveway on the Dutch A2!

[@gordonwallin2368]

Thank you for your sweet and intelligent videos. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.

[@user-yv5kr3tz8g]

As a Dutchman I would actually think that "I am doing wonderful" or "I am doing fantastic" is a cry for help, but maybe that is just me. I wouldn't know what to think if someone said "I am doing great". So thanks for the interesting explanation on "How are you" (and the rest)

[@vincenzodigrande2070]

Big box store culture statistically leads to the highest number of food waste. In the Netherlands people want stuff fresh, preferably without preservatives and don't waste a crumb if they can help it.

[@dutchman7623]

I saw a plastic box with two peeled tangerines in a cooler in a convenience store! Even in my office restaurant we have them DIY!

[@michelem226]

I suspect the credit card thing is an old tradition where paying for food at a restaurant is supposed to be private. That's why they give you that little folder-like thing to hide the check, and it also hides your payment.

[@TheNixie1972]

Hi Ava, great video again. As a finance professional one super crazy thing always stands out to me in the USA: they use CHEQUES! You know, these waste paper things that you can write into money. They are super inconvenient, extremely vulnerable to fraud. Why in the name of Adam Friedman do you still use this ancient relic? You pay everything by credit card, you have a well developed (online) banking system. Why, o why? Thanks for reading my rant.

[@johnhendriks4085]

Ik wil je complimenteren met je goede uitspraak van het Nederlands

[@DutchAmericano]

Bedankt!

[@vikingdragon2764]

In the Netherlands we have stores that sell large bulk, but they are usually for businesses, like MACRO and Sligro

[@SproutMeansGrow]

My husband-to-be tells me my meals are decadent and sometimes asks "so where are the other three people sharing that meal with you?"

[@19wladimir56]

Okay, we don’t buy bulk stuff but often at a supermarket there is this two for the price of one or something like that, so you can save some money as well. And packing your stuff for you is great, because often in the Netherlands people who are in front of you have a lot of groceries and they are getting their groceries in a basket or a plastic bag slowly and then your stuff is going on the belt and mixes and sometimes they take your stuff or you take their stuff

[@BobWitlox]

Thanks for providing me with the perfect canned response to "How are you?". I will memorize it and try saying it without thinking about it. I'm always stumped by this question (which it isn't) and stumble my way to an answer, trying not to sound awkward and failing.

[@DutchAmericano]

It does take practice!

[@dutchman7623]

At least do not answer with: "None of your business!"

[@BlacksmithTWD]

@@dutchman7623 Occasionally I opt for answering with the counterquestion : "Do you really want to know?".

[@dutchman7623]

@@BlacksmithTWD No thanks! 😀

[@PH61a]

It's a pump (pompje in Dutch) on those big shampoo 'bottles' 🙂 You see them very frequently on disposable soap 'bottles', even on large ones (of 1 litre). Never saw them for shampoo though.

[@ronaldvb3663]

Zwitsal has a pompje!

[@italorossid]

as a Peruvian constantly served with news of credit card fraud, seeing people give their cards away like nothing in the US was a huge shock when I visited New York 9 years ago

[@pavarossi1979]

Bagging groceries in supermarkets was common in The Netherlands till early 70's, I still remember it from my early youth. But it was not cost effective...

[@cathalijnedewindt1880]

Oofff yes you mention the car thing - that's a nightmarish scenario to me, to have your body forced into a car for just about everything outside your own home. Brr. So confining. Love your work btw! It's really comforting to watch you as a Dutch person; and I hope you get loads of viewers from the USA, too

[@jimjungle1397]

Of course not all Americans have cars or drive. When I go to Europe I see Dutch people with caravans all over Europe, but not all Dutch people do that.

[@cathalijnedewindt1880]

@@jimjungle1397 Haha! So true :)

[@ProsciuttinoXL]

Ava, firstly my heartfelt congratulations with your marriage. I've waited forty-one years before marrying my man. The first decades because we weren't allowed, later on because we arranged things ourselves. But with Covid bringing death and uncertainty, we decided to marry and we did. And I'm still not used to calling my husband just that. Just like you felt about calling your spouse "my wife". But that's not the subject of this video. When you just started with them from Amsterdam, I sometimes responded, but after a few times I had said all there was to say. But now you've moved to Utrecht, where I was born and grew up. Your stories are even more relatable, while your perspective as an American holds up a mirror to our own peculiarities. Thank you for being you and telling us about your life.

[@DutchAmericano]

How wonderful that you and your partner decided to take the step towards getting married! And thank you for the kind words.

[@soulangela7154]

41 years, wow! Congratulations on your marriage and it's beautiful you've been together for that long :)

[@anniek4681]

Pancakes for breakfast is also a "shock" pancakes are lunch /dinner food. Crêpes (very thin pancakes) are desert. Never breakfast atleast not fresh ones. Maybe the ones leftover from the day before. (with Nutella spread on it and rolled up)

[@yvonnewinters9699]

In the city it is common to go grocery shopping several times a week, because of the convenience (it's always close by, you have to carry everything, blablabla). In smaller towns and villages it is however pretty common to go grocery shopping once a week, with a car and the weekly shopping (of course when you forget something you might go back, but still).

[@LittleRum]

girrllll you're a comic

[@leftrightandcentre833]

I would recommend the YT-channel "Not just bikes" to anyone interested in Dutch infrastructure and (therefore) driving habits compared to those of other countries.

[@hansvanzutphen]

What you're describing sounds like Sligro (and probably also Makro). They have 4.5 kg jars of Nutella (that's more than 10x the normal size), and lots of other huge packages.

[@vikingdragon2764]

Ass Dutch person who lived in the States for 14 years, as exchange student my host family would drive to the post office (in tiny rural town,, which would take them longer than me walking out through the backyard and cross the road 🤣 And when I went to earn my BSN, I would ride my bike anywhere... to the mall, to the hospital for clinicals, to the movie theater off campus, and once to the airport (in NC)), the faces of those who saw me, hilarious 🤣. Once I was confronted by a teacher that she had seen my ride my bike downtown: I told her I had done that for two and a half years.... but you were in a cast... . I told her: 6 weeks! Then she almost stuttered: but it was snowing! I answered, 3 days 😝🤣😂🤣

[@esiebring7436]

A shampoo bottle of 1 liter would last me a year or so... I prefer smaller sizes. But then again, smaller sizes lead to more package waste. So for fresh food etc I buy smaller packages (f.e. milk in 100ml packs for I don't drink milk but use it in cooking) to reduce having to throw food away. And for things that don't go out of date, I tend to buy larger packages. But it has to stay convenient. I don't do bulk shopping; I don't have the space to store all that.

[@H1SCOTTY]

In the Netherlands you do have Makro and Sligro were you can buy in bulk. Prices are without taxes advertised because they are targeting companies but you can buy there. Makro did file for bankruptcy in Belgium and here they are downsizing so after years it doesn’t really work anymore

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

You can buy in bulk but against retail prices. Making the whole concept obsolete.

[@WaltherLigtvoet]

Makro and Sligro cater to company cafeteria's and/or restaurants, they aren't focussed on household groceries....

[@H1SCOTTY]

@@WaltherLigtvoet especially Sligro is suited for cafeteria restaurant and caterers, and like at Makro they can reduct taxes. Just like other companies can sometimes reduct stuff as needed for the company. That’s why companies get a free Makro card for access but by now everyone can get a day pass I believe.

[@palantir135]

Notjustbikes channel has several videos about bad city and suburbia planning in the USA

[@williammccoy7127]

You are correct How are You, I always saying 😊same as yesterday my 💓 is beating so still alive

[@jackvandersluis1723]

Great vlog!👍

[@sylvaincastel9745]

I am a French living in Amsterdam, love your videos! If you wanna talk about food or lifestyle here in NL, I have a lot to say compared to France!

[@Roozyj]

Oh, as a Dutchy, I'd love to hear about it :) Culture shock stories are always entertaining

[@markfieten9558]

If you register as a company with the Kamer van Koophandel, you'll be able to get passes for bulk stores. It's rarely actually cheaper though and where do you leave an entire pallet of tp?

[@mrorange1982]

New to your channel! So great that you can call your spouse your wife! Be very proud of who you are! you are so welcome here! 😇 Be who you are in NL! Wow your pronunciation is echt super goed! 😛

[@wingedyera]

I grocery shop once a month 🙃. We have a massive freezer and I prep and freeze a lot Though I did want to switch to twice a month. I think that might be a city versus small town disparity. We don't have a grocery nearby so it's more of a hassle. When you have it nearby you go more often.

[@cristakampert8740]

But how much fresh vegetables and fruits can you have in the second half of the month then? I also use frozen vegetables and fruits, but only in certain dishes, because of the texture etc

[@wingedyera]

@@cristakampert8740 it's all a matter of tactical shopping. Many vegetables last pretty long if you know how to keep them. Like tomatoes last surprisingly long. I like buying the lettuce with the roots because I can pop it in some water and it will last and keep growing while I pluck at the outer leaves. And things like leeks are pretty much the same frozen or fresh. I usually buy things that don't keep that well for the first (two) weeks and buy things like fresh cauliflower, carrots, leeks, broccoli, green beans to freeze. I prep them but don't cook them and freeze them all. It saves a lot of time in food as well. In the summer I also supplement with harvest from my garden. And harvest from the neighbours who sell their stuff for like 20 cents

[@jasper7072]

Are the bagging employees actually trained/good at bagging groceries? at my home I am usually the one doing it because I am more efficient, quick and the load is balanced better

[@jpdj2715]

It's "fine semantics" that differ, dear doctor, as you imply. To clarify about a Dutch person saying "good" in answer to the question how it's going in their life - this generally references personal life and health and by extension their nuclear family, not necessarily their wealth.

[@roykliffen9674]

Americans - especially in the sub-urbs - have no other option than to drive; zoning laws do not permit anything but housing in residential areas. No small shopping centers allowed there (nor schools, nor recreational facilities). So for the grocery run, shopping, school, going to the park, or organised sports you HAVE to drive. For efficiency's sake they often buy a lot of groceries in one go, requiring the use of a large car, which they also use for the other destinations. Any wonder they have problems with obesity and use tremendous amounts of fuel? [edit] Throughout the comments I often see the channel "Not Just Bikes" mentioned. It has a playlist called "strong towns" which discusses these issues: kzbin.info/aero/PLJp5q-R0lZ0_FCUbeVWK6OGLN69ehUTVa

[@SproutMeansGrow]

Do they have stores like "Sprout's", "Whole Foods", or "Fresh Market" there?

[@iamTheSnark]

I'm in France now. I listened to an ad that ran for minutes. Used that as a listening exercise. It also may give you one or two cents in ad revenue.

[@DutchAmericano]

In that case-thank you for your two cents! (pun very much intended)

[@DeDoentje]

Ah, the question "How are you?" or the Dutch equivalent "Alles goed" or "Hoe gaat het" ? I just cannot say "Good" or "Ja hoor", as my life is not perfect. It feels like lying for me, so I will give an honest more detailed answer, even though I am aware people are just asking that question as a way of greeting. I never ask those questions myself as a greeting. I only ask those questions if I really want to know how they are doing. It is pretty uncommon in the Netherlands too to give a detailed answer on the question "Hoe gaat het?"

[@dutchman7623]

The man in the bakery will say "Goedemorgen, waar kan ik U mee helpen?" I will say: "Ook goedemorgen! Volkoren met zonnepitjes." I will bleep and say: "Bedankt, tot ziens." "Prettige dag nog!", will be heard as I leave. So none of the extended, meaningless, small talk!

[@gizterenn]

Kan je uitleggen waarom het zeggen van ´I love you´ tegen je date of partner, zo´n spannend gebeuren is in de VS? Ik al die Amerikaanse series wordt er zo'n ding van gemaakt als je het te snel zegt of voordat een ander het zegt. Je Nederlands is goed genoeg dus je begrijpt me vast wel, anders vraag ik het wel in het Engels :)

[@mvl71]

Paying tax. Here in NL the _Belastingdienst_ calculates for you what you have to pay. From there you have two options: either trust their calculations and pay, or calculate it yourself and pay that. From what I understand, having watched a couple of videos on the subject, is that the IRS _knows_ what you owe them but they won't tell you. You have to calculate it yourself and if you're wrong you get fined. Also tax related; not including tax on price labels seems weird to me.

[@mischake]

I've been to america, stayed with friends, and this video is soooo relatable xD

[@DutchAmericano]

Hahaha 😆

[@SintHonek]

Americans were appaled when I replied the How are you? with OK. Apparently OK is not good, while in my perspective it means pretty OK/ good. Odd . . . and asking it back is not supposed to happen either. Been there half a year, or so altogether, with three months cycling 4200 miles coast to coast with a steady group of 35. All of these meant farewell when we said goodbye at the end. That still puzzles me. I considered them friends after three months! There were a handful of other Europeans, and they I actually met a couple times, later on. That's a BIG difference between US and Europe.

[@DaigoroToyama]

People from Japan would have a similar reaction to the cashiers putting our items in our bags for us. We do that ourselves, too. BTW, I LOVE the Dutch breakfast (or even lunch) where they eat bread with chocolate sprinkles!

[@NicoBGC]

I've been sitting here for 15 minutes struggling to listen and having to rewind to play parts again because my eyes are focused on your mug. May I ask-- what are you drinking? Is that a filter wedged in the cup? Pudding? It looks like some kind of thick substance that doesn't look like coffee or tea or anything I am used to. :D

[@spinwaus]

The weirdest thing to me is the american lawsuit culture.

[@JanneWolterbeek]

Until you realize the US is actually one big corporation. A culture of eat or being eaten.

[@MrHappyme7]

For me its the school shootings

[@jetzekoole9187]

I love american breakfast. When I was in Nevada with a friend I would start the day (6 AM) with bagels, scrambled eggs and...................fried sausages. Some hickory on the side. I miss that. Funny story...I decided to stay a bit longer then planned so I went to Wallmart to get some more underwear and shirts.......I just wanted some plain black shirts.....I couldnt find any...NONE...they all had prints....so I walked out with shirts with the american flag, eagle stuff and so forth. Im a bit too old for Star Wars shirts LOL!. Great vid BTW

[@jozefbols4386]

MJAMMIIIEEEE, backed potatoes with scrambled eggs!!! DELICIOUS!! I ate that in 1980 when I visited the USA (N.Y.) as breakfast, every morning, and loved it very much!! So, I get that! I Asian countries they eat a bowl of plain rice as breakfast!! So, what is weird??? We do not have a car, I'm old and not very mobile (+ very unstable!!) and not very healthy, and I have to do the shopping on foot and for three people!!! Also drinks! So many years ago we bought a shopping trolley that you can push (with multiple wheels) with a large bag that can hold a lot. I can barely go to the store a maximum of 2 times a week, so I have to fit a lot in that bag. But still it is very hard for me with no car. In the past we had the 'MAKRO' (in Wijnegem, near the shoppingcenter) where you could buy in bulk but it's gone sadly enough. OMG, I would love it when there was somebody that could help me like that in the stores!!!!! I already talked about it with my son cause I have been in the USA he is not, and encountered this. LOVED IT and wish it was here too ;-( Americans would even drive IN the shop if they could but those kind of people are in our countries to sweetie! Where we lived before we moved there lived a woman in a luxe appartment across the street, the shop was behind our gardens (of our house and a few neighbors houses) so not far to go. Well, she still drove with the car although she was healthy and had no problem at all + only had to buy stuff for her and her husband!! I really do not understand such lazyness!!!!! When there was a public transport strike many years ago and the son was still at school, most children stayed at home. The son (13 or 14 years old at the time) went on foot from our village to the city (+- 12 km) and back in the evening on foot (again +- 12 km) along a very busy road (called by people here ' called 'THE BOOMSESTEENWEG')!!! And this during the winter period!! We have always been used to having to go on foot!! We once went (when the son was just a toddler) with the stroller from Antwerp to Boom and back ON FOOT, with the son walking, by the hand because he also wanted to walk himself, did not wanna sit in his stroller at all, not one second!!!!! Just imitate this, because that is a lot of kilometers!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Boom with had a 'stop' to eat and drink something of course but afterwards got back up and walked homewards. (About 2 times +- 20 km of walking). A lot of things are weird but also unique and fun!!! Lots of love from Pinkie (a old rebel-weirdo ;-)

[@mtrapman]

1) Ava, there is a big difference between the (usually american) credit card (needs a signature when paying) and the dutch 'debit card' (needs a PIN). I understand that in America, paying is even still a lot with cheques. As far as I know, the PIN system is more recent, and allow this small wireless machines to come to the client. In Europe payment technology varies enormously. 2) When discussing the car/outskirts biotope, it might be useful to refer to vlogs as 'not just bikes' that analyse in-depth the death-traps that the sub-urbs are in the US and Canada as opposed to the 'walkable city' concept. You are not alone as an expatriate wondering about the differences between USA and the Netherlands (Utrecht). :)... 3) as a showering dutch, I wonder where does one place these huge shampoo containers in the bathroom/shower? and do these dispenser-things allow you to really use all the shampoo, or does one throw the last 10% with the container, thus annihilating the cheaper price?

[@dutchman7623]

I for sure wouldn't like it if someone would walk away with my ING debit card! They can use it up to five or six times for €50 within a minute... NO way! Bring the pin, or I'll walk to the cash register myself.

[@AlbertZonneveld]

The main difference is credit. In the Netherlands all debit cards and most credit cards are tied to bank accounts (The banks have a deal with either Mastercards or Visa). You either pay directly from you bank account with the debit card or you credit is settled automatically at the end of the month by the bank (if you balance supports that) without any interest to the creditcard company. Independant credit cards are fairly rare (except for ANWB road service CC) In the Netherlands you do not need a credit rating to get a credit card or financing but you need a steady income in a bank account and no major debt at a debt registry.

[@wisecat.]

American infrastructure is more focused on driving. Width open roads with often no sidewalks or cyclepaths, especially in the burbs. You have to drive if you want to go somewhere. Here in NL, it's so much more compact. More focused on cyclists and pedestrians. Grocery store on every street corner. Speed measures for cars. Restrict or ban cars in certain areas. Make pedestrian areas in citycenters to even ban cyclists (doesn't work here quite yet, at least they try)

[@themadsamplist]

We kinda use How are you? as a greeting too but only with people we know. We say He, hoe is het? or something like that when we see each other but don't really expect any other answer than good.

[@dianaschwengle-croes3073]

You are talking about breakfast and brunch, these are two different meals. A brunch is a combination of a late breakfast and an early lunch. So you eat different things.

[@ericburbach632]

you would enjoy watching Not just bikes

[@TheEvertw]

The greatest story about Americans upping their game is when NASA had to make custom adapters the astronauts could use to pee. The engineers had created three sizes (Small, Medium and Large) according to the average anatomy of the US male, and asked each astronaut for their size. However, it turned out the system leaked a lot. Obviously, the engineers were blamed and charged with fixing the system. The fix turned out to be really simple: they renamed the three sizes to Large, Extra Large and Ultra.

[@12Rman21]

superstores are everywhere in europe (carefour for example) but they are banned by law in the netherlands

[@maartengaat8718]

Wich law?

[@12Rman21]

@@maartengaat8718 I am pretty sure those types of sell anything stores are not allowed here. I couldn't name you the law but thats what I heard from a podcast at some point

[@maartengaat8718]

@@12Rman21 that types of stores are in the Netherlands. Sligro, Makro, Aldi, Lidl. The are not so big because the space and other shops surrounding. Just like Belgium, France etcetera.

[@jeanpierreviergever1417]

Makro and Sligro are wholesale stores aimed at entrepreneurs and you need a ccard for them. the superstores as known e.g. in France are banned from many Dutch cities as it lures away customers from the city centres and suburbs. They are not forbidden, but cities refuse to issue permits for building this type of stores.

[@techniels]

I even remember American colleagues driving to the other side of the road to go to a restaurant.... That feels strange, but also not very environmentally conscious.

[@rabartels]

I'm always get confused when they ask how do you do ?🙃. Howdy is easy. And less confusing. Who do you do is more a hello. I send chocolate sprinkles to my friends in the US and Australia

[@dutchyjhome]

Hey Ava, nice video! Few things though: There really is some nuances to it when it comes down to the amount of times the Dutch in general go to the Supermarket to pick up groceries. The rule probably is: Those who live in the city tend to use public transport more frequently and use their bike to go to the bus and/or train station or they walk. Since they bike or walk they do not have the luxury of being able to carry groceries for 1 entire week, except of course those who bike with a bakfiets. These people therefor on their way to home from work they probably will grab a small portion of daily groceries from the supermarket as they pass on by a supermarket near their home in the city. Obviously there always will be exceptions... Now the people whom do not live in the city, but live in the suburbs (yes we've got those here as well) they in general do not want to waste their time to do groceries more than strictly necessary and so they'll probably take out their (electric) car to go do groceries once a week in the weekend. And then there obviously is the latest trend: to have your weekly groceries delivered from the wholesale plant of the supermarket of your choise: Picnic, Albert Heijn, Jumbo, you name it. And then there is The delivery companies of (diner) meals one still needs to prepare yourself like Hellofresh. And then there is the delivery companies of prepared warm meals by for example thuisbezorgd.nl These are a thing in the cities, but also in the suburbs. And not so long ago I've read a article in the newspaper that more and more apartments in New York come without a kitchen in the first place....since people obviously tend to use the kitchen less and less, by eating out, or have their complete warm meal delivered. When it comes down to bulk: yeah we in general do not buy huge size canisters, because we (private persons, households) do not use huge quantities. Stores though may use high quantities and so high quantity canisters and bulk packaging do exist. They are available at special wholesale (= non- supermarket) stores like MAKRO and SLIGRO and HANOS. Although the next person I will mention, in general does have a point, he loses sight of reality and he goes too far in his argument in a typical way most people from Amsterdam (even the locals) tend to do by having a tunnel vision of their own little reality. They seem to get narrow minded when they live long enough in the city; by demanding all parking spaces for cars to be taken away in the city and more radical fictional demands: go see his KZbin Channel of Not just bikes. I mention him because if we would look at his Channel in a much needed nuanced way, of witch he lacks on his channel, he does have some good points transporting yourself, by your own choice, per bike or even per Bus/tram/metro/train/taxi. He is not all wrong in his statements, but sadly very narrow minded; there really is an entire world apart from the city of Amsterdam, but he chooses not to see that. He does not give us options, no he states demands! That is exactly where his channel seems to loose it's value, which really is a sad thing. It does not need to be this way. But; his choice; his loss.

[@heinkoelen]

i really like your video's

[@fredvrijhof3870]

Nice video Eva. You have to admit that amercan suburbs are the biggest mistake in the USA. Almost no stores there and you have to take the car to go to/over these "Stroats" to go to the Supermarket and "works". Do you follow Not Just Bikes?

[@shersmk90]

Giving out your credit card is actually illegal according to dutch banks, because then you make it easier for others to skim the card (copy everything on it), and scam you and your bank for all you have. Which I fully understand, also this practice happens a lot in countries like the usa because it is so easy to do it behind the customers back.

[@EOOGamer]

the shock isnt the credit card, the shock is the lack of vegetables, the speed they take your plate and the lack of tax and tips included :P

[@DOC8052]

I noticed so many similarities between the US cultural habits and the Middle East, specifically my country Iraq. Although I live currently in the Netherlands for almost 15 years, I still adopt many aspects of the Iraqian style as it is very healthy for body, mind and budget. What people eat at breakfast is quite individualized. The healthiest and well known breakfast in the whole world is: cheese, eggs, bread with milk/ coffee (whatever preferred to drink). Regarding the paying machine in the restaurants in the Netherland, I have not witnessed or experienced this. You must always go by yourself to the bar to pay. It is a luxury that somebody bring you the payment machine on your table. Regarding the context what said and meant exactly, I have the same in Iraq. People tend to say they are good (while it is bad) because they do not want to bother others with their problems. People in the Middle Easy are so humble that they always draw smile on their faces (despite their pain, misery, wars..). Groceries habit is variable in the Netherlands. If I have the time, e.g. vacation, then I do groceries more frequent. I have a very demanding job. So, buying things I need once a week is more than enough. Shampoos are available in XXL sizes in Netherlands if you wish. You must always look at the bottom of the lowest shelves. It is a profit trading techniques used to put the expensive things at your eyes levels while the cheapest things the lowest. We, in Iraq, drive everywhere for the same reasons in the US. Because it is not safe. And the infra-structure of the country does not encourage walking- we don't have many pedestrian paths. Every country has its pros and cons. We cannot conclude that one country is better than the other.

[@wout123100]

oh we can, ther eis agreat happines index per country , from reliable data sources, and there sure are big differences . any country where civilians are allowed to carry weapons around easily cannot be good.

[@bentels5340]

11:02 That's called a pump.

[@weiaboelema4786]

Yes I ate sprinkles for breakfast as a child(sometimes). But, at least many decades ago, Dutch mothers made you eat a savory one first. I just read a popular new book "Glucose Revolutiob" and now it makes a lot of sense. Even not eating potatoes for breakfast makes sense now. Sweet food and carb rich food never have become my go to for breakfast. Even after living for 45+ years in the USA. I am from the Norh East of the Netherlands. Close to the German border. Eating some "German "type bread (roggebrood) was another requirement of my mother. Yes, the amount of fiber in it is much higher than other types of bread. I understand now why I should not drop the habit. Weia

[@wout123100]

shhhh, i am 67 and still love now and then chocosprinkles on bread in the morning.

[@EdwinHofstra]

As my great grandmother would say: vegetables a lot, potatoes some, meat a little.

[@ruudraijmakers7090]

I'ts very normale go to the grocery for 1 time in the week in The Netherlands. Maybe that poeple in the city go to grocery store every day but not from people lived in villages.

[@wartoga4248]

Some things 'weird' (actually just different): - advertising without sales taxes - gun culture in the US - cheese in a tube, very remotely tasting of cheese - punitive damages in civil court cases

[@opperhoofdgeilebizon]

So this young American couple moved into our street recently. Some neighborhood kids went 'belletjelellen' at their door, which they filmed and posted in the 'buurt app' asking "who's kids are these". Weirdest thing ever 😅

[@wout123100]

lol when i was young, 50 years ago, it was a national pasttime, belletjetrekken, but we didnt do that at houses with elderly people.

[@mavadelo]

How are you: Don't be fooled, it works the same overhere. I think the main difference is with things like shopping or going to a shop or coffeeshop (the Starbucks kind). The "fake" friendlyness or when getting called by a company and such. But in general, in normal daily conversation, when someone asks "hoe gaat het" the response will be "goed" regardless if it is indeed going well. Anyone saying we don't is lying their butt off. Buying bulk: I get it, I follow channels like Not Just Bikes and Urban planning channels. They have talked about the layout of American cities. How something can be situated right behind you but you are forced to drive 20 minutes or more to actually be able to get there. If that would be the situation here, we would do the same I'm sure.

[@soulangela7154]

If it's someone you're supposed to be polite to such as a teacher you're not close with, yes I will answer with 'Ja gaat prima, met u?'. But 8 out of 10 times I probably respond how it's ACTUALLY going with me, but maybe that's just because I'm surrounded with friends and family. I imagine if you're working there would be a lot more of 'gaat goed' responses.

[@mavadelo]

@@soulangela7154 I am talking about general reactions, not family and friends. I would like to think that is what Ava is talking about. Not about how you respond to those close to you.

[@jimjungle1397]

In English, not just America, nobody wants to hear your problems when they great you with, How are you? In French and in Dutch, people will tell you about their liver pains when you say, How are you? There are warehouse stores in Europe. The ones in America that sell huge items were originally meant to sell to small businesses and these were the Sam's Club and Costco stores. People discovered that the prices for a huge amount of food wasn't much different from a normal amount from a regular supermarket, so the stores became popular. I was in one supermarket in France that had teenagers bagging groceries on the weekends. The French people didn't know how to take it and were worried that they would have to pay extra. Supermarket cashiers in America aren't allowed to sit while they are working, unless they have a medical condition. In Europe many cashiers sit while they are working. In America, most union workers are not allowed to sit while working, even if they are working at a workbench or at a cash register. When I lived in Belgium for 4 years, I didn't have a car and had to walk everywhere, rain or shine and when offices and shops were open and it was exhausting. I walked when tired or ill also. Before leaving for Belgium, I did walk 10 miles a day in America for exercise, but that was nothing compared to not having a car, with shops having limited hours in Belgium. I was always trying to get things done on foot, before the end of the day.

[@apollotoaster5048]

That you run for cover every time you hear a bang