7 Things that ANNOY ME in the Netherlands | American Expat in the Netherlands

There's A LOT I love about the Netherlands, but in this video, I wanted to share things that annoy me in the Netherlands. These are small things about life in the Netherlands as an expat that can be difficult, and also little things about me that don't quite seem to mix with the Dutch way of life.
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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!
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[@ketterr]

You shouldn't feel bad about complaining. It's one of the most Dutch things to do, you're just becoming one of us!

[@Clownie_Smiles]

True, it's the national past-time

[@ettepet9308]

Lol. I think complaining is universal. Not necessarily the things people complain about or how it is expressed. The Dutch are perhaps more complacent, but you have more leeway to talk about what you don’t like. Eef seems to fit in nicely.

[@TheSimArchitect]

Complaining is so much fun! 😂

[@bollewillem1]

That is absolutely true.

[@chukkie0001]

The only time's when a dutch person does not complain is when he is a sleep or when he is dead.

[@Rillant]

The package thing surprised me. All I hear about from people in the US is that their packages get lost, they get soaked, they get damaged, they get stolen (porch pirates!) and that they absolutely hate it. I've never ever had that in the Netherlands. When you're not home, they'll just leave it at your neighbour or a depot to pick it up. It'll be safe, dry and most importantly NOT STOLEN!

[@ElynevanOpzeeland]

This^ Yes it's annoying you have to open the door on specific times sometimes, but they dont get stolen or soaked, and i prefer not soaked or stolen packages, and so i will hapily plan the packages to arrive on a time i can deal with.

[@TheSimArchitect]

@@ElynevanOpzeeland They should have to try at least three times on different days at your address like in other countries before sending it to a place for you to collect or dropping with a neighbor. The service is expensive enough to justify the extra effort. But no, instead of that, they barely ring your doorbell and run away before you have enough time to run out of the bathroom to open the door. They should have better procedure like ringing a few times and having to wait at least 2 or 3 entire minutes before leaving. To be honest I never had the pleasure of living anywhere where postal services were great, though. They always do the bare minimum to get paid because there's usually no competition. It would be nice if we could choose which company provides the "last mile" delivery, so we could choose if we want to pay more to have a nicer service and even the lousier companies would be forced to improve to avoid losing business.

[@Rillant]

@@TheSimArchitect If they were to wait 2-3 minutes on every door then next day delivery would be impossible. The amount of packages per day would decrease drastically and raise shipping time from a day to multiple days or even over a week. I'd rather pick up my package a day later at a depot than perhaps getting it a week later because they're waiting 2-3 minutes at every door. Also, shipping is incredibly cheap, so you get what you pay for (at least with PostNL).

[@Rozjewel]

I loved getting my parcels delivered at my front door. Where I lived (Potomac) it hardly ever rained and I never had one stolen. Here in the Netherlands I have a small post-it telling the postman where he can leave my parcel. I do have a big front yard so I guess that makes a difference.

[@outrageouspickles7152]

I usually just have my packages delivered either at the pick-up point at my local supermarket so I can pick them up when I'm doing my grocery shopping, or at work so I can take them home from the office. No getting up early or waiting at home for my package to arrive.

[@marchofstede]

The reason shops are closed on Monday is that people that work in small shops and have to work during the weekend like a day off too. And because the shops are not that busy on Mondays it’s the best day for it. You need to look at it from a shop owners point of view.

[@charlesvanderhoog7056]

Exactly. I have come to the conclusion that America has not come out of the colony state, not really. Americans think it is absolutely fine to exploit people to the hilt. Like in any colony, about 1%, perhaps even 0.1%, exploits the land and its people and everybody else struggles or is dependent upon this 0.1%. It is kept in that state by intense propaganda that the exploited live in the best of all possible worlds, coupled to a strong nationalistic view of the world, an attitude of 'everybody has to fend for himself', stuff like that. It prevents Americans from looking elsewhere and comparing. Lou Dobbs and Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity and people like Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley cry that The Netherlands is a "socialist hellhole with nogo areas where they burn politicians". The Netherlands have the happiest kids in the world, for starters. No American ever hears that, none.

[@halapunjete]

No one forces any shopowner to be open. So if he wants to be closed on Tuesday morning it is his right. The problem is forcing everyone else to be closed at certain times.

[@marresjepie1887]

@@halapunjete yeah.. right.. try thàt in a dog-eat-dog society like the US.. See hòw long your little shop survives. Not an option.

[@Paul_C]

Marc, sorry but no. The reason is exactly what I stated in my post. Yes, is has to do with businesses but it is a remnant of faith based closing times. Shops had to be closed on a Sunday, thus the Monday morning was made available to do the things to get the shops ready for the next week. That is one of the reasons, the other was the advent of unions. The Monday morning closure came about from the Catholic union and more particularly a company called de Gruyter in the southern part of the of the Netherlands, it was a worker owned bakery at first but eventually became a shop like Albert Heyn. Ahold did buy the Gruyter eventually. They had their own bakeries and were based in Brabant and Limburg, they couldn't supply fresh bread on the Monday morning... thus the shops were closed.

[@halapunjete]

@@marresjepie1887 But that wouldn't be a problem in the perfect Netherlands. Why put all the restrictions in the first place?

[@DutchFurnace]

"Things that annoy me in the Netherlands". FINALLY! You are Dutch. One of us, one of us, one of us.

[@Mr.X2]

JAAAAA KLAGENDE GEÏNTEGREERDE BUITENLANDERS :,)

[@Mar6008]

Lmao ye

[@nienke7713]

At one point in Dutch history there was a limit to how many hours per week a shop was allowed to be open, as well as restrictions between what times. Although it was allowed to be open from 5:00-18:00 on mon-fri, and 5:00-17:00 on Saturday, they were only allowed to be open 52 hours a week. Two common solutions to this were to either be closed for some hours during the afternoons (when a lot of people would be having lunch and thus not shopping) or to be closed on Monday mornings (which typically was a relatively quiet shopping time of the week). Stores also started to use this time for certain activities that needed to be done but couldn't be done during opening hours, and people got used to it, so a lot of stores have chosen to keep things going like this even though the 52 hour restriction has since been lifted: it's a time few people would come shopping so there's little profit to be made by being open, and meanwhile the time can be used for other purposes

[@cqdmgy]

I find the lack of public toilets a much bigger problem to be honest.

[@chubbymoth5810]

Yeah,.. the lack of public toilets is a really bad thing. There used to be public toilets at every subway station, but they all got closed. In China the toilets smelled terrible, but at least they were there.

[@TheSimArchitect]

OMG! So true! I remember trying to be healthy and walk around, even the "official walking routes" didn't have a single public toilet along it, same thing with public parks. I get they don't like to let you use the bathroom for free, but then perhaps charge a few cents for it like in the mall. You can probably find restaurants depending where you go, but then you must spend a few euros on food you don't need just so you can use their facilities without being a bad person (plus I guess they'd not even allow you to use it otherwise, except for McDonald's).

[@TheSimArchitect]

@@chubbymoth5810 Maybe the 50 cents per use don't cover their cost and not enough people use it? 😟 Same with water fountains, there's just none. Having to carry your own water is just weird when you're used to have it available for free everywhere. Here even the doctor's office (and other places) won't give water and coffee to you as a courtesy. It's a very different system for sure. We get used to it, but cultural differences are really interesting. I mean... Come on! It's just water, can't they really have a water cooler with disposable cups so their clients/customers can drink it for free while they're waiting to be seen? 😟

[@RyuDarkwood]

Oh yeah, definitely! I'd even call it inhumane that our public transport system massively downsized on public toilets.

[@RFGfotografie]

Me to, it's a HUGE problem that there are so less public toilets.

[@HenkJanBakker]

Used to be all of Monday. So regular shops were closed Sundays and Mondays. Makes a lot of sense when you realize you'd want a 'weekend' when you are a one person shop, mom 'n pop shop. So everybody pitches in and stays closed on Monday morning.

[@tmngutra7924]

Isnt it so that thursday evening is the compensation to the mondaymorning??

[@HenkJanBakker]

@@tmngutra7924 Kinda. Used to be. There was a maximum of 52 (later 55) hours a shop was allowed to be open. The Monday(morning) closing is still part of dutch shopping 'culture' because that legal maximum was abolished 25 years ago. nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winkeltijdenwet

[@ettepet9308]

This doesn’t go for single person shops only, and not for Monday opening times either: “Saturday” opening times were gifted to those shoppers who work full-time, exchanged for shops being closed on Monday. NB: Shop opening times in our country are (and have always been) horrible for anyone with a full-time job. Unless you account for supermarkets and places like the Mediamarkt, and those only since 1995-2000. Bakeries open at 08:00am, like supermarkets and often at opening shamelessly prioritize offering luxury items, like croissants. This society is built upon couples where one doesn’t work full-time. If you don’t fit into this model then tough luck. “Being open on a Saturday” (= closed on Monday) is poor compensation.

[@HesthervG]

If my packages were left in front of my door, they would get soaked all the time

[@Helleuw123]

in the us many pakcages also get stolen when left behind, which is evne worse then soaked XD

[@bobosims1848]

Soaked, or stolen, or played with by neighborhood children, resulting in damage... No, I'm happy that delivery people usually leave my packages with any of my neighbors when I'm not home. And I happily accept packages for my neighbors as well.

[@dslight113]

@@bobosims1848 same this is just the better way , it is actually kinda stupid in my eyes to prefer the american way.

[@gijsbertuslaurensvandevooren]

Raisins are freut dried grapes

[@Rozjewel]

I lived in Potomac MD and still feel a bit American. So I see your points 😂 I hope you have a great time here.

[@hop3106]

I actually love the Dutch toilet, because the water won't splash on me after dropping stuff in it. I also heard that the Dutch toilet was originally designed that way for medical reasons. It's easy for people to regularly observe for any irregularity, and for essay for patients to collect their stool sample for testing. I also almost never use the tiny sink when I lived in the Netherlands, I went to the kitchen to wash my hands instead. Apparently many Dutch also do the same so I'm guessing it's the natural response. The sink might be tiny because Dutch toilet room is usually extremely tiny, but they still need to put a sink in just in case somebody do need some water handy.

[@co7013]

My mother was a doctor. She actually preferred the 'flat' toilet, because, as she said, "everyone should take a look at their droppings regularly, just to see if there is anything irregular going on". That would greatly benefit early recognition of many medical conditions before things get even worse.

[@ronnywouters7037]

Jaja, tuuuuuurlijk. Je kan ze ook onder water inspecteren hoor Christiaan. De rest vd wereld is nog niet doodgegaan zonder droogdok poepinspectie. Hoeveel lesuren theorie poepinspectie per week krijgt men dan op school?

[@co7013]

@@ronnywouters7037 Te weinig. En hoe veel mensen zijn doodgegaan doordat ze niet goed naar hun poep gekeken hebben of doordat ze een WC hebben die een goede poepinspectie onmogelijk maakt, is onbekend. Dat zouden ze eens moeten onderzoeken.

[@marcusfranconium3392]

@@ronnywouters7037 vraagje hoe neem jij een monster voor de dokter ? schijt je op een krant of zo?

[@ronnywouters7037]

@@marcusfranconium3392Een monster voor de dokter? Nog nooit in heel mijn leven heeft iem monster van mijn poep genomen. Noch in het ziekenhuis, noch de huisdokter, noch medisch onderzoek van het werk. Hoogstens een urinestaal of bloed. Psssst, misschien zijn het de dokters die wat creatief met engagement van cliënten omspringen om de consultaties en de cashflow van de zorgstaat te garanderen, terwijl de rest van de wereld gwn naar het toilet gaat.

[@geroldmanders9742]

@@ronnywouters7037 Nee, niet echt. Zelf woon ik nu in Paraguay, waar een "plat" toilet ook het meest gebruikt wordt. Het huis waar ik nu in woon (sinds een maand of drie) is het eerste huis waar alles meteen de diepte in duikt. Met het platte toilet had ik nooit last van opspattend water, met het huidige toilet dus wel. Gelukkig zijn de meeste huizen ook van een bidet voorzien, dus kan je jezelf goed reinigen na de daad. Maar dat neemt weer meer tijd in beslag. Had vorig jaar al veel eerder door dat wat vreemds bij de ontlasting zat. En was ook snel opgelost in het ziekenhuis. Fotos gaven de dokter al een belangrijke indicatie wat het probleem was. Een "plat" toilet is echt veruit te prefereren dan andere modellen. Ook omdat je niet je gezicht vlak boven de pot dient te houden om te zien of je uitwerpselen verkleurd zijn, met/zonder vlies of bloed. Water belemmert dat soort onderzoek. Als je de 40 niet gepasseerd bent, dan interesseert je dit allemaal niks. Dat draait compleet om na je 40e, helaas. Inspectie voorkomt de ziekte niet, maar je hebt de mogelijkheid om veel sneller actie te ondernemen. Kan je jaren in (relatief) goede gezondheid schelen.

[@irisachternaam]

I wash my hands in the kitchen after the toilet, lol. Those small sinks are just to confuse guests.

[@erikmulder2574]

I do exactly the same

[@damouze]

Me too. Big hands and tiny sinks don't mix all that well.

[@jeweetwelbeterdandat9665]

Ever wondered where men wash their d... after urinating? We will put the seat down but want something back 4 it. P.s. Keep away from the 'gastendoekje'.

[@david6054]

@@jeweetwelbeterdandat9665 ^ This comment right here. This man speaks truth

[@gilles111]

I only use the sink to put away the magazine I'm reading when I'm done.

[@yuppys]

So you bought a krentenbol (=raisinbread) and you were surprised to find raisins??

[@wout123100]

haahha yes i wondered too.

[@huanchen2312]

I think that grapes are just a popular thing that's why the dry version of it too

[@davidc.4957]

It seems to me that you are feeling a bit awkward shooting this video. But hey, it is what we Dutch people do all day, "lekker klagen", especially about the not so important thing.

[@geraldine5554]

True! No big deal! ✌️

[@Dante20321]

Ja vooral over het weer lmfao. Bijv: Het is zo koud

[@RyuDarkwood]

I had to smile at her reluctance to talk about toilets. We're so open about gross stuff in the Netherlands, haha.

[@nienke7713]

I absolutely get annoyed at times by the postal service here, but it sure beats the alternative of packages being left unattended at the door. I often just choose to have packages delivered to a pick-up point of my choice right away, that way I can pick the one that's most convenient for me, and they don't take extra time to get there compared to when they miss a door delivery.

[@FredtheFrisian]

Two other comments: 1) flat toilets: they are in fact medically defendable, however gross it may seem, it's better if you can see the "result" of your effort. 2) dogs should be on a leash, in public, except in places where it is allowed to run free. It's just one more example of how Dutch tend to ignore some rules; so that can be annoying in more occasions.

[@donarnoldus7884]

Je gezondheid is (onder andere) af te lezen aan je ontlasting. Door het resultaat van je inspanning op het toilet keurig te presenteren, is de staat van je ontlasting beter te bekijken. Doe dat vooral!. Ander voordeel ten opzichte van een plons-toilet: geen spatten tegen je achterwerk. De kleine wastafeltjes, meestal zonder warm water, zijn ook mij een doorn in het oog. Ik was mijn handen daarom altijd in de keuken die - in mijn huis - naast het toilet is gelegen. Om de deurknop van het toilet niet te bevuilen, bedien ik die met de binnenkant tussen twee vingers.

[@paulwassenaar8351]

@Fred de Vries 2) Dogowners like Atar Vos 😖

[@blexible4894]

^ big truth

[@FerrySwart]

I don't own a dog, but i also don;t think that there is a rule that dogs should be leashed unless specifically stated for that area.

[@FerrySwart]

@@paulwassenaar8351 I never heard of. but okay. Police is in an case not enforing it as i see almost any dog unleashed here. I'm okay with that as there was never a dog that annoyed me.

[@pa4tim]

Monday morning closed is rather simple. The people who work in the shops work have to work on Saturday so they are free at monday (long ago shops were closed the whole monday). But that is not a rule anymore, you are allowed to go open on monday. An other reason is that you need time to clean up the store from the mess customers made on Saturday. In small villages they sometimes are closed on Tuesday instead of Monday.

[@maxverhoeven7992]

warm water?? what do you think that would cost?! we are DUTCH. I'm not gonne spent a penny on warm water.😋💶

[@halapunjete]

You can also save even more money by not installing a heating system.

[@merijnvanschaik4989]

It doesn't make much more sense to was with warm water except, maybe, if you worked on a sewer or a car.

[@maxverhoeven7992]

@@merijnvanschaik4989 true, true.

[@RobbertMichel]

It’s called a “gastenbakje” (guest sink) for a reason. ;)

[@huanchen2312]

Maybe they intend to save water as well, I always wash my hands in the kitchen because the toilet sink is just for decoration.

[@royvoncken2082]

If you life in a house instead of an appartement the package get's deliverd at your neighbors house. I NEVER had to go get my package somewere else but my neighbors

[@ProsciuttinoXL]

Ava, most of the things that you mentioned are indeed annoying. I know we can be a bit defensive, so I appreciate you sharing your views. Most of these things can be explained from our perspective. Some, to my mind are the best achievable compromise (such as the packages not being left on the doorstep. I really wouldn't advocate them being left unguarded, because even when insured, you, as a customer, will still have to pay for the insurance premiums). But others are unnecessary and we could adopt more user friendly methods from other countries, though not necessarily from the USA. It's an on-going process. Hardly any of the newly sold toilets are of the flat type. Still from a health perspective being aware of what your stool looks and smells like, is not a bad, or rather a good, thing. Keep up the good work! I really enjoy you giving your fresh perspective on things common to us.

[@RyuDarkwood]

Or your package is stolen by your neighbour, which happend to me twice. Not the same people though. It's a hassle to either get your stuff back from them or demand that the delivery service resends it. It's really a better option to send it to the nearest pick-up location.

[@dslight113]

@@ProsciuttinoXL ik heb nog nooite een americaans toilet gezien in nederland. + wie wilt er nou vies water tegen zijn billen aan laten kletteren.

[@ProsciuttinoXL]

@@dslight113 er zijn verschillende modellen water closets. Van de vlakke pan (vkakspoeler) die het oorspronkelijke model was, tot verschillende soorten diepspoelers. In mijn reactie heb ik aangegeven dat we in Nederland niet noodzakelijkerwijs Amerikaanse voorbeelden voor verbeteringen moeten volgen. Kennelijk vind u dat ook. Mooi.

[@jwenting]

hmm, wonder where you live. Most packages for me end up in a depot even if I'm home and rush to the door, only to find a card there 5 seconds after the doorbell rings "you weren't home, get your package from tomorrow afternoon at XXX".

[@ManesniRyloth]

My (American) wife in the background: "I FEEL YOUR PAIN!"

[@jjbankert]

Oh yes, how could they put raisins in a krentenbol (currant/raisin bun), haha

[@Bublade]

I know right who would have thought XD

[@gitmoholliday5764]

like putting cheese in a cheeseburger 🤓

[@Dante20321]

K heb nu wel zin in een krentenbol eigenlijk 😂

[@patatpannenkoek4875]

i think she just didn’t know krent ment raisin

[@willemh3319]

peanutbutter jelly sandwich

[@Roel_Scoot]

Dogs are NOT allowed to run free in the city but in special places.

[@atarvos8686]

True, but as long my dog does pay taxes, he walks free.

[@atarvos8686]

@@paulwassenaar8351 .my dog does pay.taxes, second there is a difference between walking free, or me cleaning up his crap. But as long as my dog pay taxes, he walks free.

[@therealdutchidiot]

@@atarvos8686 That's until you actually get stopped and get fined.

[@atarvos8686]

@@therealdutchidiot in 12 years never did happen, and if they fine me, i wont pay it. I rather go to jail, but ill be damned if i pay a fine, no way.

[@therealdutchidiot]

@@atarvos8686 Good thing you're making this statement in public, then.

[@KLKarin-bu2vu]

Well - about those packages: I very often buy second-hand goods, sometimes collector's items, from private individuals. If they get stolen, I might get my money back, but I will not get the item that in some cases I've been searching for for literally years. And if it doesn't get stolen - just think about how your packages would look after a full day of rain when you don't have a porch. :-)

[@bruceadler9709]

Back in the 90's, shops closed at 17:00 on Saturday and didn't reopen until 13;00 Monday. I often wondered how tourists felt arriving on Friday....Amsterdam is cooking! Saturday everyone is out shopping and partying. Sunday you wake up and no one is on the street until Monday at 13:00. They must have thought "huh, am I in the Twilight Zone or something". I always thought about that back then

[@MLWJ1993]

Never occurred to me someone couldn't like raisins 😂

[@RyuDarkwood]

I love them, but I'm also allergic to them. :(

[@MLWJ1993]

@@RyuDarkwood that sucks....

[@Sjiesjam]

I don't like raisins/currants very much either. I agree that they are in too many things. Just like carrots, also in every veg mix

[@geroldmanders9742]

Raisins are nature's candy. In my book at least. I live in Paraguay and visited the farm from the parents of my (now ex-)wife. They also had a section for raisins. Got a lot of weird looks after I ate the ones they offered me. Think it was part of a joke on their end, but failed, as I enjoyed them. Grapes as a fruit are also not popular here in Paraguay, the wine that is made from those however.... One thing was clear from that visit, they thought me to be just as weird as I found them about not liking the bounty that they can produce on their lands almost without effort.

[@Fuzz82]

@@Sjiesjam fun fact about why there is carrot in every bag of cut vegetables. Things like lettuce tend to brown up a bit soon after cutting. Carrots prevent this from happening. So it is a trick to make the vegetable bags look more appealing.

[@bobosims1848]

Ava, you're becoming more Dutch all the time. We - the Dutch - *LOVE* to rant and complain about things that we do not like. Even the positive ones among us join the show when it comes to complaining. So please be welcome to join.

[@BlacksmithTWD]

Indeed, it's why we love our climate as it provides the weather to complain about. When even that fails, because even the weather is good that day, we will complain about having nothing else to complain about.

[@lioneldemun6033]

Nothing compared to the French, we are hypocondriacs😮

[@noahsoet9761]

The tiny sinks are horrible... I have them in my own house, but I hate them, cant stop spilling. As for the delivery thing, I rather have to pick it up at another location, than having to call to explain that it got stolen and I need a new one. The key is to pick it up when you have another reason to go there anyway... like on your way to the supermarket or something. Dogs are better trained here and who doesn’t love dogs, I actually like that instead of staring at them while they’re miserably stuck on a leash. It gives them a sense of freedom and as long as it’s well trained, it won’t bite you or hop on you anyway...

[@GulliNL]

"who doesn't love dogs?" Errr, I don't know, lots of people? Leash your dog or expect to be scolded at by me. I don't know what your dog will do, even though people will tell you 'he just wants to play', well I don't, so get him on a leash please. Sorry but I really can't understand that people think everybody likes dogs.

[@ytwos1]

The tiny sink is handy to put my TV guide on. Never use them to wash my hands.

[@dslight113]

@@GulliNL de enige mensen die ik ken die niet van honden houden zijn buitenlanders, zelf een klein rot hondje zijn ze al bang voor X)

[@GulliNL]

@@dslight113 Nou dan ken je er nu nog een, niet buitenlands en ik ben niet bang voor honden maar vind ze gewoon irritant. Dus dat argument gaat ook niet op.

[@dslight113]

@@GulliNL neem aan dat je in het algemeen niet van dieren houdt.

[@babbaloerie]

When it comes to toilets, two types are common in the Netherlands: The "bewonderpot" (admire toilet) and the "plonspot" (splash toilet). If you don't like to admire your accomplishment, get yourself a plonspot. Also, as far as I know, nobody actually uses the little sinks. In most homes I visit it's used to store toiletpaper and magazines.

[@dslight113]

ik was anders altijd mijn handen daar , want anders moet je eerst de klink aanraken, lekker hoor.

[@Silverwilg]

I wash my hands always in the small sink after using the toilet. Also I often use it instead of the kitchen sink when it is already in use by other people. It is just easier than running upstairs to the bathroom. Unrelated but cold water is the best for washing hands.

[@charlesvanderhoog7056]

I can't understand your groceries for cash rant. You can pay with any debit card from any bank in the European Union all across the EU. I use my orange ING regular debit card in France, Germany, Belgium, even in villages in England. Credit cards are impopular with shopkeepers because they charge shopkeepers without providing them with any extra services. Amex charges 5 to 7%. Diners between 2 and 3%. In a situation with razor-thin margins like a supermarket, that is unacceptable.

[@carpetcandle2699]

Not with a visa card

[@kydeface]

Not necessarily - when we moved from the UK to the Netherlands (before the end of the transition period) we had the exact same problem in lots of shops with our British debit cards, the only place I remember being able to use it was Jumbo

[@falseneutral7890]

Yes, but not so in Holland! You can’t pay with foreign bank card everywhere, especially at Albert Heijn! Jumbo on the other hand no issues 🤷‍♂️

[@TheSimArchitect]

@@falseneutral7890 True! They only take Dutch cards (Maestro). EU Mastercard Debit / Visa Debit won't work.

[@charlesvanderhoog7056]

@@kydeface Well, I can only talk from my own experience. I have always been able to use my orange ING debitcard and green ABNAMRO debitcard anywhere in England, Belgium, Germany, France and Catalonia. And I had been told it could be used anywhere in the EU.

[@moshemordechaivanzuiden]

As a Dutch person living outside of the Netherlands, I know (and don't enjoy) some of such cultural differences. However, I feel that if you would know why, you would be less upset (maybe)? 1. Monday morning closed is not a problem if you plan ahead. No coffee in the house is unthinkable. When you finish a package, a full one needs to stand behind it. They call it "vooruit denken" - to think ahead. 2. Raisins are cheap so: good to put into any food. Just what they do in the US with corn or peanut (derivatives). 3. No, it is terrible when a package gets stolen. Insurance doesn't mean the theft and loss didn't happen. What a waste! And yes, it's almost always (still) safe to open the door in the Netherlands. 4. Big flushing and big sinks waste water. Waste, the primordial Dutch sin!!!!!!!! 5. Drinking water diminishes drinking expensive drinks and restaurants make most money on drinks and deserts. 6. Credit cards waste money; with the coins in your hand, you will waste less quickly. 7. Yeah, the Dutch and animal rights. There is even an Animals Party in parliament. Maybe remember that people who are on a reasonable level nice to animals tend to be nice to people too and that cruelty to animals very quickly translates into cruelty to humans. But, in any case, you have my sympathy and your girlfriend has my thankfulness. It's good to have a supportive partner and to be generally optimistic to just forget it. That's how I survive it (barely).

[@Persephoneia01]

Just commenting on the water situation, as an American, it doesn't diminish ordering other drinks at all. We normally have water to drink while we're drinking alcoholic drinks. Pretty much everyone except for those that don't drink soda in alcohol free restaurants is also going to order a drink even when we're brought water.

[@macmartin86]

The thing about getting a coffee in the morning, in The Netherlands most people make their own coffee before going out, so that's where you're probably go wrong, Netherlands isn't build on going out to get coffee, usually you make your own.

[@ConnieIsMijnNaam]

About the tiny little sinks. You made one false statement when you said: "There is room for a bigger sink". No there isn't. And in a lot of Dutch houses there wasn't even room for a toilet or a bathroom. A lot of houses in NL are old and had no bathroom or toilet. Bathrooms and toilets were added in later. In newer houses this wasn't the case but compared to American houses, Dutch houses are small. There is often not enough space to put in a toilet with a large sink. (Or you have to sacrifice precious living space) My parents both grew up without a shower or bathroom. They had a toilet though, but it was more like an "outhouse" build-out to the house. The houses were tiny (no tiny house movement necessary) and the families were large. If my mother wanted to wash herself she had to barricade the kitchen door and use a "washandje" by the kitchen sink. Later toilets and showers were added into the houses, often in awkward places.

[@sanneman4553]

This is why in my house the shower is located in a closet type room, in the middle of the house (so no windows) and the toilet is tiny and situated right next to the front door. You can clearly tell that both were added in later.

[@NietzzTube]

​​@@sanneman4553 Yes! My (tiny) bathroom has the same 'closet'-setup, but in my case it's connected to the bedroom. I call it my 'en-suite shower ';)). Also have the tiny sink next to the toilet. It's too small for anything bigger. Tbh, I always use the kitchen sink which is two meters away (my whole house is small ;)), only guests tend to use it. The house was built around 1900.

[@CaptainKrimson]

The only thing that (being a dutch person myself) annoys me as well are the tiny sinks :-). The rest of it I probably am used to so much it does not bother me ;-).

[@FritigernGothly]

Congratulations, you have overcome one of the things that Americans are often afraid to do: complaining, and I use that term loosely. It shows that you are becoming more and more Dutch. Have you never noticed that the Dutch complain about anything and everything? If it rains it's too wet, if the sun is out it's too hot, the coffee isn't right, the bread is too expensive, and so forth and so forth. I have long ago come to the conclusion that the Dutch are unable to be happy and satisfied if they can't find anything to complain about. That's right, the Dutch can be satisfied with something even when they complain about it. So there you have it, your ranting about stuff only makes you more Dutch! Gefeliciteerd! :-)

[@lioneldemun6033]

I must have been Dutch in a former life 😊

[@iamTheSnark]

Packages? In Maarssen and Utrecht the delivery man tries if you're home. If not, he tries the neighbour and leaves a note saying "Your package was delivered at number 8." and such.

[@illenseil]

Lol, as a Dutchie myself, washing my hands with warm water grosses me out so much!! It's gotta be a case of classic conditioning but my hands just don't feel clean when i have to use warm water (like in those fancy public bathrooms) and if i can, i will always choose to use cold water. Those tiny sinks suck big time tho. I think the reason for them being so tiny is simply because in the old houses they decided decades after building the toilets that washing your hands afterwards would be a good idea and then there just wasn't a lot of room left. Which then somehow became the standard in new houses too

[@VinceTaglia]

Warm/hot water literally kills more germs though...

[@illenseil]

@@VinceTaglia nah that's just a common misconception (see www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-handwashing.html)

[@Silverwilg]

I agree with the cold water but totally have no problem with the small sinks. I even use them when I can't use those in the kitchen when they are in use and I need to wash my hands too. It is quicker to go to the little sink then upstairs to the bathroom. Maby they are hard to use for people because they want either go quick or haven't adapted to scrubbing in a small space.

[@lioneldemun6033]

I wash my hand with cold water in summer, tepid ( not hot) water in winter.

[@ACwebseries]

I was told that the reason shops are closed on Monday morning, at least in Amsterdam is that it’s the one time during the week that trucks are allowed to make deliveries within the city. So stores used that time for deliveries

[@DanDanDoe]

Such rules are very new, while the shops being closed on Monday morning is older than that. I can imagine it could be to restock, but not because trucks are allowed during certain times.

[@andreathegreat7765]

Dutch Americano, I could not stand all the smoking. "Do you mind if I smoke?" just isn't ever asked. It's rude.

[@luukipuuk3537]

About the package thing, my dad often orders packages for his work, and he just has a little note on the door that tells the deliveryman he can put the package behind the pillar. If it annoys you that much just write a little note :)

[@stijnwildeboer8809]

About the packages, over here, if you arent home, they deliver it to the nearest neighbours that are home! I'm from the Netherlands also

[@merijnvanschaik4989]

A reasonable solution, I believe. Plus, delivery-drivers are often not employed by the postal co. and are payed per delivered package. I would never be happy with packages being left at the door... unsupervised!! Sure, a company can be insured but if it's a time-critical thing....

[@jeweetwelbeterdandat9665]

Onnodig dat te zeggen. We zijn allemaal Nederlander hier.

[@RyuDarkwood]

Oh no, I hate it so much that my neighbours oughta be responsible for my package. I'd rather have the delivery service send it to the nearest pick-up point, so I can walk there myself.

[@david6054]

@@RyuDarkwood You are a small minority, but you can have packages shipped there directly

[@RyuDarkwood]

@@david6054 I don't actually know whether I'm a minority here. Lots of people in appartment complexes don't necessarily have close connections to their neighbours. But you're right that you have the option to directly ship your package to a pick-up point. But by default it goes to your neigbours.

[@joostvm4350]

I totally agree on the dogs and small sinks (very annoying, everything gets wets and you can’t wash off the soap properly) Dogs are allowed to run free in designated area’s, otherwise they have to be on a leash. The shops closed, i think that’s to give the shop owners some family time. After all their weekends are ‘ruined’ because they are working. About 30 years ago, áll shops and supermarkets had these opening hours. Luckily thats has changed, especially on the supermarket side of things.

[@whereisnow6162]

So do you like currants? because krentenbrood means bread with currants, i know its not the same as raisins but not all that different. To me complaining about raisins in krentenbrood is like complaining about alcohol in beer.

[@nienke7713]

I think it's most common to have both a toilet in the bathroom (usually at an upper floor) and a stand-alone toilet (usually connected to the entrance hall of the house on the ground floor), where the stand-alone toilet is used when you're in the living room or kitchen, and also typically the one guests would use, whereas the one in the bathroom is used more for when you're upstairs and often is somewhat off-limits for guests unless they're staying the night. I guess with flat you mean the shelf inside the toilet; not all toilets in the NL are like that, although one particular advantage is they don't really cause the toilet water to splash against you like the 'regular' toilets can sometimes do. It's also useful for if you have some potential medical issues and need to inspect your business after the fact to help diagnose the problem. I think few Dutch people actually use the small sinks in the guest toilet; most just wash their hands in the kitchen (if you see someone coming out of a toilet and not go to the kitchen to wash their hands, you probably want to avoid touching shaking their hands).

[@caspertigchelaar9541]

I like your videos including this one. On the creditcard and debitcard 'thing', you can use a lot of foreign cards. European bank cards can often be used in the Netherlands. American cards can not be used because they do not use the same standards as the European ones. And it doesn't pay off for shopkeepers to pay a fee to American card companies, just for the rare occasion an American comes along.

[@A3aan1959]

The dutch debbit card is very cheap in use and therefore the no 1 in supermarkets. Creditcard companies usually ask for a percentage and are to expensive for supermarkets and small shops. Btw european EU debit cards are accepted in most shops. The high end shops do accept creditcards like visa and mastercard.

[@33lex55]

Yup, Credit Cards are mainly accepted in high-end shops and tourist traps, where the prices are considerably higher, because the shop has to pay a provision to the card company. Bankpasjes (bankcards) only require the shops to have a phoneline - no other costs involved, and the system deals with all banks. So it's cheaper for all.

[@TheSimArchitect]

Those cards don't work if they're not Maestro. Most debit cards from other EU countries are Master or Visa and won't work here either. Can't even use public transportation here if you don't plan your method of payment in advance. Bad for tourists, ok for us who live here and have everything set up.

[@david6054]

@@TheSimArchitect No most european countries use Maestro. Even when they primarily use a different system they will also have Maestro on there. For instance Belgium that uses Bancontact but also works with Maestro. Mastercard Debit is getting more popular but unlike what a lot of people here think, works in most stores. I had a time where I bought everything with a Mastercard(including fuel and groceries). Never ran into a store that did not accept them. Now visa might be a different thing, don't know but Mastercards will work in most stores.. For the US version there are different levels of Mastercard, so you can have a Mastercard that does not work in other countries and a Mastercard that is accepted everywhere(and offcourse in true US fassion you pay more for it)

[@lauriedepaurie]

1. Monday mornings are typically the slowest mornings for most stores. Smaller stores (fewer employees) typically use a monday morning to clean, restock, etc after a busy weekend. That way a 40hr workweek can work for a store. 2 delivery service. We want the cheapest option and our publicized delivery service has a monopoly position, and their workers are in a position where any package that takes a little more time comes out of their paycheck. You can buy a box that delivery people can put it in (but it's more practical in rural areas) or just get it delivered to a nearby store and pick it up with your groceries. You have a week... Since every parcel is tracked, the delivery service has to prove they at least tried to give it to you in person. If they put it in front of your door in a busy street, and it gets stolen, the delivery person will be 'accountable'. 4. Toilets. It's tiny because we have limited space. Usually larger toilets and sinks are found in larger homes. 5. Drinks are the single most effective way to make money in a restaurant. You can always ask for a bottle, or a caraf of water (caraf of tapwater should be free). 6. Dogs walking freely, some owners are irresponsible. Most people aren't and especially in the city people don't have big backyards for dogs to lose their energy. Typically a city has rules (APV's) in place where a dog can walk without a leash ('losloopgebied'), so avoiding most of it should be fairly simple.

[@TakanashiYuuji]

Cilantro tasting like soap is a genetic thing. Raisin doesn't have that.

[@TheSimArchitect]

I guess they put tons of raisin in granola because it's also heavy and cheap LOL. Doing the same with nuts instead would surely increase the cost and I guess the most expensive ones must be like that. I have the cilantro hater gene too 🍁=🧼

[@Peacefrogg]

I have that problem with potassium. A lot of food producers ( think instant soup, noodles, snacks) are now substituting part of the sodium in their products with potassium, so they can say it has less salt. For most people, that isn’t a problem. Only for some people, like me, potassium tastes very bitter and disgusting!

[@Scarletcroft]

@@Peacefrogg mmh learned something new today. Now I wonder, this may be the reason I find somethings very bitter and others don't... I'm going to google to find out which foods have high potassium and see if thats the reason. (Edit : it is not. )

[@Peacefrogg]

Scientea i mostly have a problem when it’s added like in diet salt, powdered soup, ‘healthy’ crisps. But it’s also in broad beans, brussels sprouts, coffee, baked or fried potatoes, tomato paste, dark chocolate, ...

[@Caprifool]

So, who's seen the Dutch poo chart? With drawings of stools showing different shapes and textures and what they mean is going on in your digestive tract? A little tip I got from a native: lay a cross of toilet paper on the "shelf" so you don't have to use the brush EVERY time! 😅

[@smijas]

During a major renovtion of my own house,.... I proposed to NOT build the tiny sink in the toilet. All the builders and the advisor said it would be very unwise when time selling the house. I now own a toilet with tiny sink I never! use. I wash my hands in another large sink with warm running water.

[@gardenjoy5223]

I always wash my hands in the tiny sink. Never ever splash water all about. I find it unhygienic to touch the door knobs without having my hands washed. Buying a house without the tiny sink in the toilet is definitely a no-go for me. Smart move, that you listened to your advisors.

[@olaf2627]

About the tiny sinks: A well kept secret is that people don't actually use them. They're there to make the toilet look nice and clean. I think in those bathrooms at peoples homes we only wash our hands when absolutely necessary

[@nannejandejong7112]

Packages: I often recieve packages for my neigbours when they are not at home. Get friens with your neighbours (Y) Toilets: After I did my thing in the toilet, I like to watch in the flat toilet to see my "product". It tells me a lot about my health. And I like to know that, that is important to me. Why only cold water: How long would it take for hot water to reacht the toilet, how many liters of water would you waste? Don't do that, use cold water. And it is not really cold. It was waiting for you in tubes inside a warm house. Dogs; you could kick them accidently? Hé, do you accidently kick children on the street??? Are you allowed outside, you are dangerous ;-) No, seriously: My dog had a training, it listens to me better then most little children listen to their parents.

[@PetraStaal]

About the toilet thing. I heard that André van Duin looked behind him after he did his business, saw that things were not OK, so he went to the doctor. I am happy that he's still among us!

[@moladiver6817]

Yeah yeah all dog owners THINK their dogs listen very well. Modern dog training is practically invented in The Netherlands yet the techniques have never become part of our culture. 99% of dog owners have no clue what they're doing or that what they're doing makes no sense. Best if everyone just keeps their dogs on a leash. Keep in mind lots of people don't like your furry friend and they shouldn't have to worry. Plus it's required by law anyway.

[@Dutchbelg3]

Hey Ava, You can rant a bit.. no worries. Some things I think are valid. (The water in the HORECA..) and other do not bother me (that much) but yeah.. Lif is n't perfect :-) Here in Antwerpen the closing day of shops vary and so if one shop or restaurant is closed another is still open. That's more practical. I would guess in Utrecht would be the same? No? About the deliveries: I am not a fan of getting deliveries.. just to put it mildly. I feel your pain. But leaving packages on your door step... won't work .. not in The netherlands. Wind, Thiefs, rain.... When I expect any deliveries I either have it delivered in a pick up point or at the reception of my place of work. That works for me... as long it is nothing that needs to be installed of course ;-)

[@P0nyl0ve]

Dogs should be on leashes everywhere here (it is not allowed to let your dog run free but some people do it anyway) except on 'hondenuitlaatplaats' where they are allowed to run free! there are blue signs with a dog on it so you can look out for it. We always take our dog to the 'hup' when we walk him because he loves to run around

[@prikkeprakker]

Binnen de bebouwde kom moeten honden altijd aan de lijn, tenzij het een hulphond betreft. 2. Buiten de bebouwde kom is aanlijnen niet verplicht, tenzij het een verharde weg of een openbare plaats (zoals bv. een sportpark, recreatieterrein e.d. in gemeentelijk beheer) betreft. 3. Zowel binnen als buiten de bebouwde kom kan het college gebieden aanwijzen waar de aanlijnplicht niet c.q. wel geldt.

[@metalvideos1961]

decentrale.regelgeving.overheid.nl/cvdr/xhtmloutput/Historie/Stichtse%20Vecht/222500/222500_1.html#:~:text=1.,een%20openbare%20plaats%20(zoals%20bv.

[@P0nyl0ve]

Ja oké ik bedoelde binnen de bebouwde kom even vergeten dat er leven is buiten de stad;)

[@david6054]

@@P0nyl0ve Dat is een probleem wat veel stedelingen hebben. Geen zorgen hoor, hier denken we ook niet dat er intelligent leven in de stad is ;)

[@maryannecomment3302]

It is actually a local thing, when cafés close. Where I live, some cafés are closed on Monday (the whole day, not just the morning) and other cafés are open. We have here cafés closed on Sunday and others are open. And some cafés are closed at 5.00 pm and others at 8.00 pm during the week and at 9.00 pm during the weekend. I am not talking about bars, they have different opening hours. They are open until at least midnight, sometimes until 2.00 am. But your point is correct, in most towns cafés are not 24H open. All the shops are open from 9.00 or 10.00 am as well.

[@bruceadler9709]

Love the "launching pad" toilets! You can always check your "stuff". Ask any doctor, they'll tell you it's the right thing to do

[@kyravanmeijl731]

For your package problem: if you want the deliverer to leave the package at the front (or back) door, you can put a note at your doorbell. This works for me but i live in a vrijstaand huis. The only time they ignore it is when they need something to be signed

[@Pannekoek.]

Ava: I have to get up and and get my package... hahaha, your life must be tough ;) Most of the time they wil deliver it to your neighbor or service point to prevent from getting stolen so the company doesn't need this insurance and can pay their employees better. Not to speek of the environmental cost of all these extra packages that need to be produced and tansport. its wasteful.

[@yoloswagggggggg1310]

supermarkets are open from 8:00 till 22:00. and packages will always get stolen and you don't know how quick the delivery guy delivers all the packages before yours

[@gustaafleenders3088]

International toilet: A Massive poop to drop = a wet butt

[@nienke7713]

they're often not giving free tap water because drinks are where they get most of their profits: the margins on the food are often way smaller; that's also why they don't really like it if you just order food and no drinks

[@TheSimArchitect]

As long as they don't kick us out because we brought our own drink it's all good LOL.

[@nienke7713]

@@TheSimArchitect If you want to consume your own food and drink go have a picnic in the park, not go to a restaurant. Not ordering drinks over here is like not tipping in the US

[@denniseijs]

Okay,'the water is cold', seriously. How did I end up in candyass world? ;o) And I love raisins. You raisanist. ;o)

[@francinewillemsen7214]

In the Netherlands we have a 5-days workweek. (Is that a word in English?) Most people are working from monday till friday. Shops are open on saterday to make it posseble for most people to do their shopping. The people working in shops also have the right to have a 5-days workweek, that's why shops are usualy closed on mondays.

[@jpdj2715]

Monday. With the 7 days' "week" structuring life, one day of the week was reserved (blocked) for religious purposes and nobody was supposed to work that day, except the religious servers. The second non-working day was added next to that one to enable families to do non-work things. For examples fathers to spend time with their children and stay-at-home wives. The social arrangement was to have the religious day off on Sunday, the nonworking day off on Saturday for all workers, except shops, that would have the day off on Monday. This got hit by the impact of secularization and the "everything should be possible and allowed" movements. Two obligatory nonworking days was a way of protecting workers against their employers exploiting them in under the radar slavery schemes and attitudes. That happened a lot. Watch a couple episodes of the US analogy of Who Do You Think You Are? in Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s KZbin channel about people with e.g. Irish ancestry and you'll quickly notice that these immigrants weren't treated better than slaves. In Europe, this needed a French Revolution, the guillotine, Enlightenment before that, and liberalism after, in order to get resolved - slowly. This is where Dutch upper-classes learnt modesty inn the past 200 years. The "week" has its roots in old Middle Eastern religion and the moon calendar over there. That moon calendar makes no sense at all in this more Northern climate where surviving very cold winters with food scarcity needs to drive people's behavior in the rest of the year. These Northern climates made Summer and Winter solstices very important and the Christians have hijacked the Winter wild pagan solstice celebrations - fertility rites - of their ancestors with Christmas. The year's calendar became an important tool in agriculture and the pre-Christian Roman original of today's had 9 month-periods starting with March. The 10th period lasted December through February but had subdivisions. This is why our 9th month September literally means 7th, and October, November and December mean 8th, 9th and 10th month. Surviving annual cold winters and its scarcity thus drives planning at longer term levels, building reserves, and saving. 60 years ago, still, people would buy coal in summers so as to fire up their heaters in winter. In summer prices were significantly lower than in winter. To be able to do these things really required in-depth planning. Or, a shop closed on Monday is a good thing, and requires some planning. I would not mind going back to a two days close for all industries. The problem in the 24/7 economy is that shop owners become slaves of the economy. When the cost of illness becomes a factor in lost productivity, society will deal with it differently than today where it is an abstract cost in private insurance. If/then prevention would become much more important than to cure.

[@MrAhmmm]

Hi Ava,I think the monday thing stems from store owners taking the morning to do inventory/stock up. The smal sinks(though inexcusable)I think were a later addition to the tiny toilets that were put in already tiny houses when they moved plumbing indoors. Love your vids!

[@nikosh6565]

I was okay with the raisins rant. But when she started about the apple pie I got angry😂

[@bjornburgh]

Totally agree with most annoyances, even though I’m born and raised in this country. Small toilet sinks with cold water in the winter are just terrible! Great videos btw 😊

[@Roozyj]

- I would hate it if my packages were just left in front of my door when I'm not home. It might rain, they might get stolen, who knows? I'd rather that they are delivered at a pick up point or that I open the door. What I don't like is when they leave your package with your neighbors, because I don't really know my neighbors xD - I think sinks are small because houses used to be very tall and slim, so the less floor space is used per room, the better, but that's just my theory. - The small flat bit in the toilet is meant to see the color of your poo/if there is blood in it. It tells a lot about your health... but it does also make your house smell, so you win some, you lose some xD - Not sure if there's that much things with raisins in them here. Then again, I've never lived in the USA. Maybe I'm just used to it xD - People usually have their dogs on leashes when they walk in an area with traffic, but in parks and stuff it's usually allowed to unleash them. I get that it's a bit scary if you're not used to it, or if you're afraid of dogs. Tbh, I went to western Ireland one time and dogs there just kinda hang out in the neighborhood. The village I stayed in was very small, so I suppose everyone there knew who owned the dog that walked around and happily greeted everyone who passed by xD - I think I understand the pain of not being able to use your credit card or debit card. I feel it when I try to order online and I have to use a credit card, which I don't have, because I only have a Dutch debit card. Why doesn't the whole world use iDEAL? I don't get credit cards. You just give all information you need to pay, to every shop you buy at. I don't understand how not every single credit card ever is already copied or stolen. There's no secret code.

[@jwenting]

actually, credit cards do have a PIN, but it's not needed for most online transactions. The main reason there's not much trouble with them is that the credit card company is legally liable to compensate you when your card gets compromised, so they make bloody sure to the best of their abilities that there are no weird transactions. This can lead at times to good transactions being rejected though, because they fall outside your normal pattern of using the card (for example, my first transaction with my card in years and years that I tried in Canada got rejected some years ago because it was flagged as suspicious. One phone call to the callcenter and that was rectified (after giving them some information about me that's in their system but not on the card, like the bank account it draws on), minor inconvenience).

[@erikmulder2574]

What is annoying to me is when I expect a package, look it up in the Tracing app and see there was a delivery attempt today, at 12.30 at which time I was at home, and as no one was at home it was dropped at a central point. When I would not trace it, I would never know, because there is no message in my postbox telling where to get it. This became an issue since COVID-19. The packages are just not delivered home anymore but directly go to a collection point without informing the receiver. Had that twice this week alone. The bookshop holder where I collect the packages is aware and tries to phone the people he receives the packages for. So a really poor service from our post.

[@daanbakker1336]

I enjoy the bells of the Domtoren in the background;)

[@Huntracony]

I have my PostNL and DHL settings deliver them to my preferred pickup point straight away and just go by to pick it up on my way home. It removes the uncertainty and it's faster than having them try and fail to deliver it first. In PostNL at least you can also tell them to leave it somewhere around your house if you're out, though I haven't tried it so I don't know how well it works.

[@nabiwilliams1986]

and the tiny sinks usually have really high water pressure!!! 😭

[@ST-vt4nu]

The only things I hate about our package delivery system is that you often can't pick a day and time for it to be delivered and that sometimes the pickup point they left your package at closes at 5. How am I supposed to pick my package up during the week when I'm working until 5?

[@Paul-iq6pw]

Kept looking at your coffee and see if you were gonna spill any by tilting it that much on that lovely couch (got more or less the same color couch .. anyway). You like living dangerously!

[@theonijkerk3012]

Aren't the supermarkets open until 9 or 10 where you live? And my experience is that in the big cities that Monday morning closing didn't happen anymore.

[@marresjepie1887]

All I can say : Welcome! You’re a true, full blown, red blooded Dutchy now.. “Zeiken over futiliteiten”

[@stefanwerdekker]

The 'krentenbol" is ill-named, as krenten are not the same thing as raisins ("rozijnen"). Both are dried grapes, but the krent (derived from Korinthos, Greece) is a smaller variety of grape than raisin. I have to agree with you about the addition of raisins in too many varieties of granola. I avoid any variety with raisins.

[@WouterBT]

Nice video! But I cannot believe that you don’t like the platform in the toilets. To my mind, there is nothing more disgusting than having the water you just peed in splash up against your behind when your no. 2 drops in a bowl without a platform. Hurrah for platform toilets!

[@TheSimArchitect]

Amen!

[@WillyPietersz]

You pee, flush, than let number 2 come splash into a fresh and clean water. Sorry I just hate the platform where you have to raise your butt to let it come off properly. And then it smells more too and if you flush while your still sitting on the platform toilet, you end up with splashes of water that comes just from your number 2.

[@JustMe-sh8nd]

@@WillyPietersz Een pot die minimaal 1 keer is vol gescheten heeft per definitie NOOIT meer schoon en vers water. Laat jij dat maar lekker tegen je gat plonsen,, mij niet gezien.. smerig smerig en nog meer dan smerig.. gadverdamme

[@remcohoman1011]

2:37 .. so that the shopkeepers can have somewhat of a weekend ish thingy aswell, they work on the saturdays aswell..and some on sundays too

[@P0nyl0ve]

Agree with the sinks! Normally when you're at home you will wash your hands in the kitchen instead of in the toilet, but when you're a guest you will have to fight the tiny sink! It is awful! (I'm born in the Netherlands btw) I've been wondering all my life why the guest sinks are so small but don't have an answer yet.. About the water: We generally wash our hands with cold water anyway

[@maryannecomment3302]

I like to get my packages delivered on a collection point. I have a few of them close to my home. One of these collection points is Gamma, which is a store that is open until 9.00 pm. If I had to work, I could always pick it up in the evening. When a package is too big or too heavy, I let it deliver at home. I tell the delivery man to leave it at the door, when I see him coming, and then I pick it up. I would not like it when my packages would be in front of the door, when I am not home.

[@Boslandschap1]

Your life sounds like a living hell! 😂 Just joking, it's interesting to hear what (little) things you encounter as an expat.

[@StephanSpelde]

Soooo, if you order for example a laptop, you can simply say to Amazon you never received it and get another laptop?!? It can't be that simple right?

[@falseneutral7890]

How about the Dutch “hospitality”?! Have you ever, while at someone’s house, heard the sentence “well its almost 6PM and we are about to eat” ? Well, in any other country it’s usually followed with “would you like to join us?” over here it means: it’s time for you to leave!! 🤣🤦‍♂️ I am Czech, and like any other Slavic nation, first thing we do when someone is at our home we attack them with food and drinks! Not doing so is considered rude.. After 20 years in NL it’s improving allot though 😉 And the weirdest thing has to be “congratulating to people with someone else’s birthday....” seriously what’s up with that? 🤷‍♂️

[@dslight113]

it is culture , take it or leave it i guess .

[@gardenjoy5223]

My brother married a woman from abroad. Once we were invited at their place at 7pm, which means right after dinner time at 6pm. So we arrived their full. Turns out she had an elaborate meal cooked for ten persons at least (we were 4 in total) and we HAD to eat, or we would hurt her feelings. How hospitable is that? We were very unhappy, but had no choice than to force things down our throat best we could. It was horrible. We felt indeed attacked. See? Two sides of the same coin. Just because you learned a different kind of hospitality, doesn't mean the Dutch aren't. Just a different kind. Some will slave all night in the kitchen, giving you all sorts of nice bites to eat. The birthday thing? Just happy for all those important others in the life of the one having his birthday, that he is still in the midst of us. Celebrating what his life means to you. But hey, if you don't like it here, you may leave. Anytime. Heck, I'll even drive you to the airport myself.

[@danielkucera5916]

Why so hard feelings? He/she just said he finds it weird. It doesn't mean he/she doesn't respect it. And you are talking about taking him/her to airport wtf?

[@lioneldemun6033]

I wouldn't join them even if they invited me, in my country dinner time is at 8 pm, 7:30 in winter maybe.

[@sleutelbergen8678]

Waar is mijn koffie? Maandagochtend is erg saai inderdaad. Het is een gewoonte denk ik. Maar ze gaan steeds eerder open gelukkig.

[@greetjeb7030]

Je kunt toch gewoon thuis koffiedrinken, ipv onderweg meenemen.

[@LoekiNL]

In annoys me that your audio volume is to low...

[@LoekiNL]

Hmm, apparently it was my phone. Never mind...

[@dslight113]

nope it is the same with me and i have it on 100% speaker volume , i mentioned this before.

[@ivovanzon164]

If you want to shop on Monday morning, try a shop that is aimed at Turkish and Moroccan clients, these are more likely open on Monday, but closed on Friday. Everything that mentions muesli on the box has raisins. If you want raisin free, you are practically forced to mix it yourself (and go to the most expensive shops for the components) The reason that packages aren't delivered on the doorstep is that the majority is not insured, as we Dutch hate to use credit cards (as they influence the maximum loan you can get for buying a house). You can get special delivery mailboxes in your hallway, but that will have the risk of stuff being stolen. The dog thing... Did you accidentally end up in a losloopgebied (read any park irregardless of the signage)? Most reputable breeders require puppy training and extensive socialisation (with proof of having done the training) , which turns a lot of dogs in happy attention craving furballs. In general people prefer the more friendly breeds and known people /bike /car chasers are usually on a leash For the 'not serving free water' situation: welcome to the strange world of beverage supply contracts.

[@sharxtheguy1383]

Krentenbollen are literally raisin-bread, so having raisins in them isn't weird .

[@metalvideos1961]

Krenten en rozijnen zijn gemaatk van druiven maar zijn toch verschillend. daarom heb je rozijnenbollen en krentenbollen. www.24kitchen.nl/populair/verschil-krenten-rozijnen hier heb je het verschil. Dus krentenbollen zijn geen Rozijnenbollen. En andersom. dus om te zeggen dat krenten bollen "literally Rasin bread" is is dus fout.

[@lindaijland4759]

@@metalvideos1961 uiteindelijk hetzelfde fruit als basis,de druif, in gedroogde vorm. Het mondgevoel zal hetzelfde zijn voor mensen die het niet lekker vinden. Het wordt vaak door elkaar gehaald. Maar de laatste jaren staat het wel duidelijker op verpakkingen. Zou de krent een goedkopere variant zijn en misschien vandaar uit de uitdrukking "wat ben jij een krent"!!!😁

[@metalvideos1961]

@@lindaijland4759 weet niet. druiven groeien hier in nederland ook dus lijkt mij goedkoper. de krent moet helemaal uit griekenland komen. dus lijkt mij duurder. maar wie weet. ik ben nog al van de feiten dus ook met eten wil ik het correct hebben. maar ja mss heb jij een punt dat krenten goedkoper zijn

[@lindaijland4759]

@@metalvideos1961 vroeger was het alleen maar krentenbrood later kwamen de rozijnen dus ik denk dat dat vooral van vroegere tijden is. Nu zal dat idd niet meer gelden. Maar zoals zovaak met spreekwoorden en gezegden ligt het antwoord in de geschiedenis. En ergens ligt mij bij dat mijn moeder het had over een struik waar krenten aan groeiden gewoon hier in Nederland, ik kan het helaas niet meer aan haar vragen hoe dat nou zat.

[@evakoertshuis829]

What do you think of Carnaval in Brabant? It is carnavals weekend this weekend so I wonder what you're view on it is

[@co7013]

If you live in the city, why would you order packages in the first place? There are shops everywhere.

[@DrQuatsch]

You know what's even more annoying than having to be home for your package to arrive? Being the only one home and getting all the neighbour's packages delivered so they don't have to go to the drop-off place. Seriously, just have it delivered on a day you are home anyway. A lot of companies have the possibility to have it delivered on a certain day. The small things are there because it's mandatory, basically. We have a small down-stairs toilet in the hallway in a lot of houses, and you need a sink in it. The toilets are small, so the sink is as well. My suggestion is to have a smalle shelf near it with handsoap in a bottle. Just make your hands wet a bit, close the tap, and then use the soap to clean your hands, open the tap again, and then rinse your hands. In my experience this minimizes spilling water and you also reduce the time your hands are under the cold water.

[@patrickodan]

Almost no company has that option. and if they do offer it, it's usually for a price. And well tiny sinks, those really are strange, i've never had one in any of the homes i lived in (east nl). but have seen a lot of them in west nl.

[@mariadebake5483]

I don't mind receiving packages for neighbours, even if there should be many of them. They receive them for me too when I am not at home, so it's just a mutual service

[@FredtheFrisian]

Don' like raisins too; I'm totally with you on that one! Let's start a group, ban the raisins 😉

[@JanStuivenberg2810]

I'm in. 😜

[@jannetteberends8730]

Me too. Especially the dried ones.

[@david6054]

@@jannetteberends8730 As opposed to.... grapes...?

[@jannetteberends8730]

@@david6054 no I mean that hard ones, like in sultana. The very very dries ones.

[@PH61a]

I just love raisins. Buy lots of them on the Vredenburg market on Saturdays...

[@Species6079]

I've never understood why you cannot use your creditcard at AH?! That is why I always shop, mostly online, at the Jumbo supermarket. They do accept VISA creditcards.

[@MmalpMm]

a flat part in the toilet gives you a chance to check it, see if something is wrong with you. So quite a good thing

[@TheSimArchitect]

Plus no splashing.

[@seenverplichtveld1347]

exactly! Non-Dutch toilets freak me out. No chance to check out my poo/urine.

[@js-mu9tx]

Hello Ava. Love your videos! The Dutch toilets are flat to be able to see, or even smell your 'toilet thing' because it provides information about your health. Almost all animals check on their 'toilet thing'. Therefore, flat toilets are a good idea. The tiny sinks however, are not... I just go to the kitchen to wash my hands. Also when i'm visiting in other peoples house.

[@MusicJunky3]

Your coffee is getting cold !

[@TheNixie1972]

That is one more thing to complain about!

[@rirareve]

I was hoping to be the first to mention that 😊

[@jpdj2715]

Coffee? You mean brown water with a white foam layer on it

[@frankbarkmeyer1168]

Well ranted 👍 so proud!!! Welcome to the Netherlands

[@ronaldderooij1774]

Cold water gives warm hands in winter (after a few minutes), and cold hands in summer. Ideal! The size is just enough, don't use the tap at full strenghth. Just a little bit of water is enough. I support you on the dogs. The rasins though, they are just healthy! Contain vitamins and iron.

[@Depipro]

About point #5: AFAIK restaurants and cafes are required by law to give you tap water if you so desire, provided you are a paying customer. I've run into a few places who make an issue about this, who when I say "water" just assume I want to buy bottled water. I tend to boycot those places and tell others they are inhospitable, and I suspect I am not the only one. And with cafes who serve alcohol it's all the more logical to have water, since it keeps the type of drunkenness involved a lot less unpleasant (depending on the person drinking, of course). So I was surprised you mentioned this as a default thing. But perhaps the difference with the US in this case is that our tap water is actually fine drinking water.

[@royklein9206]

Totally agree on the raisins!! We should start an anti club...

[@Carnovach]

About water in restaurants, you can ask for tab water, that should be free, but wat I understand is that in the USA the waiter is expecting a fee of at least 10% so what is cheaper a bottel of water or a tip at the waiter in the USA. And you do not have to give a tip in the Nehterlands. Greetings from Roelof.

[@Joey-ct8bm]

Packages take much longer to be delivered right? There isn't a service that delivers the next day.

[@passantNL]

I always assumed the tiny sinks are only there to satisfy some rule in the building regulations that every toilet needs a sink. And because our toilets are usually tiny, and have no room for a real sink, they just put some tiny thing in. But I'm not sure if such a rule really exists.