8 more things YOU DON'T DO in the Netherlands - Tips from an American living in the Netherlands

Sharing some tips to internationals not familiar with the Netherlands and Dutch culture! When I first visited the Netherlands as a tourist, and then later as an expat in the Netherlands, I definitely made a few mistakes. In this video, I share tips on what not to do in the Netherlands that can be useful to both tourists and other expats alike.
Many of you are aware of my love for coffee and have asked to buy me a coffee over the years, so here's a link: buymeacoffee.com/dutchamericano
--
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]
Suggested videos:
9 Things You DON'T Do in the Netherlands: • 9 Things You DON'T Do ...
6 American Things in the Netherlands (that I didn't expect to see!): • 6 American Things in t...
5 ways LIFE IS BETTER in the Netherlands than in America!: • 5 ways LIFE IS BETTER ...
Spring customs in the Netherlands: • Spring customs in the ...
Going to university in the Netherlands vs the United States - An example of MUCH LARGER differences: • Going to university in...

[@dutchman7623]

Tip for US tourists abroad: Accept the fact that you are in a different country, with other habits, other culture, other social rules. And though most Dutch understand English, we might not get the full or double meaning of a sentence, because Australians, Canadians, Scottish, Scandinavians, and many other tourists all will use the same language to communicate, and US expressions are NOT universal, not even in the English speaking world. The 'statiegeld' on plastic bottles is € 0,25 if you buy a bottle with content of 1 liter or more. Water is about € 0,48, so returning 2 bottles you can get a full one, but you have to pay for that bottle again, so return 3 and get one 'free'. Dutch tap water is one of the best in the world, it doesn't contain chloride or fluor, so simply take a refill at a tap. Next to the logo 'statiegeld' there can be a logo 'glasbak' which means; put it in the recycling glass container outside the supermarket, or a logo with a waste basket; that hardly needs any explanation. There often are plastic recycling containers outside supermarket as well.

[@FrankHouwelingBoskoop]

If you're not comfortable on a bike, I think it's totally OK to go and have a bike ride in The Netherlands. It's a lovely place to try it out and a fun activity. BUT make sure not to bike through the busy streets of Amsterdam. Even experienced cyclists can struggle there from time to time. Just take a train ride to a smaller city or the countryside and rent a bike there. Much more room for slowing down, stopping and just generally taking it easy.

[@DutchAmericano]

This is great advice! My experience has mostly only been in cities in the Netherlands (where I also have seen the most tourists on bikes), so this is nice to hear!

[@Qrulez]

Here in Delft I sometimes see organised bicycle tours for tourists, in small groups with the guide explaining some traffic rules beforehand.

[@gerritvalkering1068]

This, very much. I know people think Amsterdam is so bicycle friendly, but it's not. It's pretty hectic with pedestrians, trams, busses, cars, scooters, and bicycles. If you're still getting used to riding a bicycle, you may want to do so somewhere less chaotic.

[@royvankan2723]

I would recommend the province of Limburg, especially the south for taking a nice bike tour, it’s quite hilly so you also get a good workout 😊. Then when you’re going back to your hotel in Amsterdam by train you can sleep in the “stilte coupé”. That is if there’s no rude person who doesn’t give a shit about it and wants everyone to know that he/she is a very important person on the phone. Soooooo annoying and “asociaal”.

[@user-xi6nk4xs4s]

@@royvankan2723 That's when the phone goes out the window.

[@maartengaat8718]

the customer is king, but the employee is the emperor

[@RudieVissenberg]

a customer is a guest. The host treats the guest well but the guest has to behave as well

[@Roggen45]

Exactly what my mom always said! 😂😂

[@rpfs2691]

Bollocks. Constitutional monarchy. But many customers think they should be treated (=obeyed) like the great dictator in their every whim. Including letting them jump queues (never mind the other customers), stopping the clocks, reversing the moon in its tracks and delay the time of sunset.

[@ilonkagootjes858]

The customer is king, as long as they behave. If our real King doesn't behave, we will call him out too! 😊 I think your tips are very helpfull. Ohw, we do live by our agenda's do we. I think that's because we value our space and free time. My husband and I where unemployed, for a couple of years, so always at home. We became "de zoete inval"(drop by anytime sort of place) to friends and neighbours, and they would always overstay their visit. Got sick and tired of that. So back to the agenda's. 😂

[@codex4048]

Customer is king, but the king has zero to no power in the Netherlands

[@bossmuis7171]

My friend from Canada speaks dutch because he was born and lived here in Holland for the first 20ish years of his life. When we went to a restaurant he actually said in Dutch "I'm good" (Ik ben goed) to the waiter and she looked so confused! So i could not resist in making the comment "Hij is goed maar ik ben beter" meaning "He is good, but I'm better" So funny that situation 🤣

[@frithjofgrimme4194]

'I am good', as in No, sounds a lot like the Dutch 'Dat is goed', literally 'That's good', to agree. It wouldn't surprise me that it is easily misheard and misinterpreted as Yes give me a bag. Getting stuck switching between Dutch and English happens from time to time. Especially with opposite expressions. Don't know, might be a reason getting the bag on 'I'm good.'

[@wout123100]

makes sense that one.

[@y.v.l.]

I have to correct you on the topic of reservation: You can visit most museums and restaurants in the Netherlands spontaneously! Only very popular and/or expensive restaurants require reservation. As for museums it is usually only the case if they have a special and unique exhibition. Exceptions are the Rijksmuseum and Van Goghmuseum in Amsterdam they are so popular - especially with tourists - that it is best to buy tickets in advance.

[@nralbers]

Also, reservations in museums were implemented during the Covid-19 crisis, and many museums kept the system in place because it's convenient to the museum to manage visitor flow

[@lienbijs1205]

And Anne Frank House.

[@rw80]

I live in an average “provinciestadje” but if you don’t have a restaurant reservation you will be hungry….

[@B0K1T0]

A lot of restaurants would really appreciate if you make a reservation though (and cancel if you change your plans), so they can plan ahead in terms of staff etc.

[@selliesellie3722]

I live near arnhem, reservations in All the popular dining place on friday, saturday and sunday is a must…

[@LadyQAB]

Worked in a fries shop in the Kalverstraat (very touristy) and there was a very rude customer that demanded to get fries because she saw there were some in the serving bowl. These were not enough for her order so some more were in the fryer. She kept demanding the fries so my manager rudely put the cold fries in a container and told her never to come back. The customer was wrong that time.

[@TheSuperappelflap]

Service levels in Amterdam are significantly worse than anywhere else in the country. Last time I was there, I wanted to get a sandwich at HEMA at the central station in the morning before catching my train. There were 3 employees just standing behind the counter doing nothing. After a few minutes I asked when they were planning to get to work and they ignored me, so I didnt have breakfast that morning. If I can avoid it, I plan on never going back to that city for the rest of my life. I have never experienced such rude personnel anywhere else, not even in Rotterdam.

[@hugotendam5349]

What do you mean: "not even in Rotterdam?"​@@TheSuperappelflap

[@janholland2224]

Around 7:11 "But you're in The Netherlands. The customer is not the king. They have a king here in The Netherlands. and that is not the customer". That is brilliant piece of text, thx, Jan

[@Komputerism]

If you are a tourist in Amsterdam on a bike, always remember to stop suddenly in the middle of a busy street to check you map. The locals won't mind at all.

[@annekathleen4498]

lol. My ex Dutch husband would slow right down on a roundabout because he didn't where he was supposed go. I told him but he never listened to me..........

[@ShanuWral]

🤣

[@TheSuperappelflap]

If you are a local in Amsterdam on a bike, always remember to ride at full speed towards the zebra crossings and refuse to stop for anyone, the pedestrians wont mind at all.

[@robertvangameren1306]

Thank you Ava for highlighting the 'stiltecoupés' and the 'statiegeld' :D The NS actually calls them Silence zones btw (to non-Dutch speaking folks, I have often referred to them as 'quiet compartments' LOL). FYI, that sign that you showed in the video is not a Silence zone sign; I found out the hard way :-s It's a sign that the NS used for a while but discontinued it, exactly because of this confusion. However, some trains still have them, apparently. The next time you take the train, check the balcony (that's how the part where you enter the train is called). There *should* be a sign there explaining the rules everyone aboard the train should adhere to (explained in Dutch *and* English). And caring about the environment, I wish people wouldn't thrown plastic bottles and soda cans on the streets, in the grass and in the bushes :O Now people will collect them to obtain the 'statiegeld'. It's a step in the right direction...

[@mariov7800]

As a dutch resident i must recognize your ability to translate between cultures. You are in my opinion very correct in saying that we are very direct and in some ways very different from American culture. As @y.v.l. pointed out the point of reserving is often based on popularity of the venue, at many places it is just fine to just show up and stand in line. I love how you point out the "I am fine" part, it is interpreted very differenly here. A solid tip to share; as you seem to have experience mostly with major cities here, i would say you are 95% spot on with this video and it seems to be a very strong guide...keep up the good work :)

[@esiebring7436]

I'm from the countryside and when I came to Amsterdam (way back when) it took me about a year to learn to decently cycle in a city. Mark, my definition of cycling is: knowing how and when to safely break all written traffic rules without bothering others. There're a lot of unwritten rules too; and those are changing at the moment because of all the e-bikes.

[@classicallpvault8251]

E-bikes are euthanasia pills on wheels for the elderly.

[@Thirteen13551355]

A poor definition based on anti-social behaviour. Kind regards, a Dutch person. Please stop cycling here.

[@esiebring7436]

@@Thirteen13551355 Geeft niet hoor.

[@ttaibe]

I agree with you. 30 odd years ago I was placed in Amsterdam (military service was still around back then). And I had to learn to break just about every rule possible, In those days it was safer on some crossings to go to red then to wait for green. At least when going through through red you knew where the cars were coming from. I learned some valuable lessons. Rules are important, but not nearly as important as communicating clearly what you are doing. Don't change speeds all the time.. When you are crossing, cross, don't hesitate. Keep and eye out for traffic and see what they are doing so that you don't inconvenience them. Don't cross so that motorists have to apply breaks or slow down and so on. Thing is, most people were breaking te rules in this way. So blindly following the rules was more dangerous and more inconvenient than breaking the rules sensibly. If you are Dutch and disagree with me, fine. But do watch kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5bKk4SelMySoLM. At least I think it was this episode. Tourists don't know the traffic customs and rules here. And therefor are far more likely to inconvenience people, are harder to predict and are more likely to create a potentially a dangerous situation.

[@esiebring7436]

Nice episode indeed. It explains that there is a huge difference between written traffic rules and the actual local rules, which are much more complex. And: they often don't agree. Some 25 years ago it took me about a year to understand all the local rules. And relatable too: sometimes you felt more safe crossing a street on a red than on a green light. I liked cycling invisibly/without a light; it made cars less likely to do something unexpected whilst suddenly noticing you. Nowadays the unwritten rules have changed and are still changing. Partly because of the e-bikes, I'd say. And partly because the infrastructure has changed a lot too (many more separate bikelanes f.e.).@@ttaibe

[@manicantsettleonausername6789]

Thank you for pointing out the silent cars in trains, as a Dutch person (who is also autistic and really needs the quiet cars after an overwhelming day tt work) it's extremely annoying when people are talking loudly and they just don't seem to have a clue. I always give them a death stare.

[@Nynke_K]

And even though I usually do go up to people to tell them to be silent, I've gone through a lot of annoyance and anguish to get myself to that point. So be aware: the bad things that happen if you're loud in a silent compartment start well before someone tells you! (And I'm neurotypical but sometimes I don't have the energy for anything more than a death stare either)

[@davidschaftenaar6530]

In the Netherlands people are relatively strict on ways of behaving *in public* that disrupt, inconvenience or bother others around you; It's a small, relatively densely populated country where if any one person decides to be a loud obnoxious dillhole, it's pretty likely to negavitely affect at least half a dozen others unintentionally.

[@Bramfly]

Unintentionally? That’s quite an assumption

[@BioWerkmanSprint]

Great video Eva! Your tips are spot on. About seating in a café or restaurant. If you are unsure about where to sit, just walk up to the bar and tell the staff what you want, to have coffee, or lunch. They will say something like: 'sure, you are welcome, choose a seat' and they will either wave in some direction with a hand or point to an area. The I am good leads to confusion because the Dutch phrase "ja, goed' means that you agree. Your ' I'm 'gets lost in translation en they just hear good/goed.

[@lisat6311]

If there's no one greeting you and no sign, I just go in and take a seat. If they don't want that then they need a host or a sign that says to wait until someone comes to help you ;) That's just my rule of thumb

[@weust2672]

As a Dutch person I generally avoid silent coupé's. There will always be someone they just ignores it. It annoys the living he'll out of me while trying to read a book. So, I rather sit in a normal coupé and hear people talk and not get annoyed while trying to read my book :)

[@wich1]

Just tell them to stfu or gtfo

[@tarickw]

yeah, it is so frustrating to sit there unless you also accept the responsibility of enforcing the rule

[@TheSuperappelflap]

People are really uptight about. Sometimes I sit down in one and then someone from work calls for a 1 minute phone call and people start shushing me immediately. I usually tell them it takes me longer to explain to them its a 1 minute phone call than the call would take if they just shut up themselves.

[@weust2672]

@@TheSuperappelflap Uptight? Aren't you the asshole ignoring the rules?

[@weeardguy]

@@TheSuperappelflap Well, here's some Dutch directness for you: I just don't understnd why people like you can't think in advance, turn that darn phone off before sitting in a silence area or apologise if your phone does ring and than apologise and not even answer that phonecall. That people are telling you is for a reason: YOU are sitting down somewhere where people, completely fed up with all the talking on lulijzers, sit down to avoid people like you. The train has about 85% or space where you can do this (and even than it's basically not allowed) and it always baffles me why people tend to sit down at exactly the point where they are than surprised they are getting remarks about their behaviour.

[@bobosims1848]

Good video, Ava. That all needed to be said. Well done.

[@co7013]

I would advice tourists to start with a guided bicycle tour to get familiar with riding a bicycle in dutch traffic. And yes, I have a vested interested in them doing so as a tour guide in Amsterdam.

[@AppleCore360]

Well... we do have the saying "klant is koning" too (costumer is king) But I think our intention is different when we say it. We try to help the costumer as much and pleasantly as we can when we are selling something. However, we will not go above and beyond to make a costumer feel like they are always right. They are just not sometimes.

[@tiniselles]

I (Dutch) always think that the customer is king, but I’m not their slave.

[@Tinky1rs]

The customer is always right in matters of taste is a much better statement (even if it likely isn't the original catchphrase). It was always intended to mean that your customers are "right" in the sense that, if people aren't buying your product, you're selling the wrong product. Basic demand and supply.

[@richardvanderlaak826]

Well, klant is koning. But history shows kings that are beheaded and we don’t like authoritarians

[@nas4apps]

Thanks Eva! Yes: silent sections of trains exist all across Europe ... but the good stuff include Utrecht! A rail mecca with amazing Netherlands connectivity and amazing Church tower (over 300ft and built around 600 years ago). The silent rail cars are to make sure this stays a secret ..... 🤫🤔

[@jackvandersluis1723]

Nice one Eva! Good tips! 👍

[@sobigsolo]

That symbol is not for the silence area. The silence area always has the words silence and the Dutch word stilte written on the windows. The symbol you show is the area where people do their own thing. Downstairs is for more comfy travel together and with more chatting and interaction.

[@weeardguy]

Yep. And another thing: on double-deck trains the silence area is ALWAYS on the top level. The silence areas are also marked at the outside-doors leading up to the balconies, though I still feel that the signage inside (from balcony to silence area) can be better.

[@selliesellie3722]

Always Nice to hear that the Dutch are so direct😍😍. Glad to live in the netherlands (Born and raised) love the open/direct communication System.

[@ingeborgsvensson4896]

I have been to NYC several times and standing in line seems to be a national pass time. And I have always wondered: why is that? We once visited the statue of Liberty and there was hardly anyone there so we walked past the zigzag stanchions because nobody was waiting. The guy there ordered us to go back and zigzag through them, we first thought he was joking because it did not make any sense. He then purposely made us wait a minute or two before we could walk on. To me it just seems poor management and lack of efficiency/personnel. Other tourists had similar experiences and thought making people purposely wait and queue was to make an attraction look more desirable than it actually is. Not sure though, you have any idea Ava?

[@TheSuperappelflap]

Queueing is the English passtime, they probably brought that over to America when they settled there.

[@billhart9832]

Ava, thanks for the tips. I'm a 64-year-old American expat (for 24 years) but mostly in Asia, with a couple years in Germany. I'm about to start a 2-year assignment in Alkmaar, so always good to hear the current situation. I'm looking forward to rejoining the 1st world after 5 years in semi-rural Thailand, and I'll welcome the cooler climate too. I cycled to commute to work in Germany so I expect little adjustment for the NL except to enjoy the even better infrastructure. I'm used to Dutch directness as I've worked several Shell projects internationally, and welcome their honesty and efficiency. Looking forward to more of your videos.

[@comdutch]

Remarkable thing …. as a Dutchman (not from Amsterdam) I was very surprised that we were served the day we visited our capitol by staf members in bars/restaurants who didn’t speak Dutch …. 🤪😳😵‍💫 …. Imagine not be able to speak English and can’t communicate with people in your own language in your own country …. Did I miss something? When did Amsterdam stop being Dutch ?? 😂😂😂

[@JohnBlutarski]

Since there is no Dutch (speaking) personal left to hire

[@idiewiej]

Amsterdam is a piece of foreign country in the Netherlands, you didn't know?

[@harrygroen69]

@@idiewiej They should build a big fence around it 🤣

[@renef3]

kom maar eens in rotterdam......... je hoort nauwelijks nederlands in het centrum.

[@hcjkruse]

Hoog Catharijne Utrecht, thr restaurants there are a nice opportunity to exercise your Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish, English and more. Go to the Saturday market in Enschede and you better use German.

[@actua99]

As a Dutchman from a touristy town (Delft), the penultimate point hit me when I went on holiday with a group and was the only person to fluently and confidently speak English... I'd never seen that back home, and it completely took me by surprise.

[@muwatallis]

I'm about to move to Netherlands in 4 months, this video helped me a lot already. Thank you!

[@gerhard6105]

Very good. Now you now that you can drink water from the tap. We wash our car with tap water, we flush our toilet with tap water, etcetera. And get a bike. Good luck.

[@nicollevisser8141]

Great video Eva, if all tourist listen to you it would be great. Another tip for tourists, if you like going to museums and you want to visit more than 3 popular ones, buy a museum jaarkaart. With 3 or maybe 4 museums, you already breakeven. So all other museums are free after that. And we have a lot of great museums to visit. Saves a lot of money. Tip for busses and trains you can just pay by your money card. So you don't need to buy tickets anymore! And there so many nice cities and places besides Amsterdam.

[@only1dutchgirl]

Only debit cards. I don't know if they accept creditcards...

[@nicollevisser8141]

Yes, you are right it is called a debit card not a money card. Eva explained in her former video that credit cards are not common used in stores here.

[@Beun007]

Right, that NO THANK YOU thing is a very good point! It works exactly here like that!

[@juloedtb1420]

As far as I know, I'm 55, English is a mandatory subject in Netherland for more than 60 years. I was taught English by the age of 12, but nowadays the youth learns it in elementary.

[@jpdj2715]

IIRC English became mandatory in Dutch secondary school with the "Mammoetwet" becoming effective in 1968. As I am a bit older, my first foreign language started in primary school in 5th grade (group 7, the year kids turn 11) with French - but that made my school a bit elitist. In primary school age we learnt English from TV with Dutch subtitles. In Germany they would overdub (post-synchronise) the original sound tracks with native German voices. That took much more time than subtitles so series imported from the USA were at least a year later in Germany than here. We watched this good guys/bad guys series that played in the cowboy world, called "Bonanza". The Gerries had this kid ROTFLMAO when someone said to the main character, "Hey Boss, Hände hoch!"

[@ronaldderooij1774]

@@jpdj2715 I was at secondary school from 1975 to 1982 (VWO) and English was not mandatory. Why do I know that? There was one girl in my class that was just as bad in English as I was in Math. So she dropped English. Granted, that was quite unique, but that is why I know that in that period, English was NOT mandatory.

[@jpdj2715]

@@ronaldderooij1774 - thank you for the correction.

[@juloedtb1420]

@@ronaldderooij1774 same here. I stand corrected. But than I assume, everyone 60-65 and younger, should've had english in some form at school. Myself, I started in 1980 at the LTS and it was mandatory and after that came german at the MTS 1984. Also mandatory.

[@user-xi6nk4xs4s]

@@ronaldderooij1774 I think you are correct. My secondary school was from 1980 to 1986, and English was just 1 of the 3 foreign languages we could choose if I remember correctly. Everyone however did get English in the first and second year I think, before we got only our chosen subjects.

[@68024]

"There is no cronut at the end of the line" Haha you are hilarious 😆 and so true. I'm Dutch living in the US - have lived in NJ for 18 years and now Colorado for the last 2 years.

[@DrQuatsch]

I have to correct you on the symbols in a silence car. The first one you showed is a working/resting car, where it is actually normal to expect people to do business/work calls as well as long as they aren't too loud. Those compartments are mostly for people who want to do some studying or prepare for work on their commute or just simply read a book. You shouldn't be talking loudly with each other, but it is allowed to do it quietly in those cars. The silence cars ALWAYS have stilte/silence on the windows in both Dutch and English (or French, if you look at it that way). In those cars you just have to be completely silent. No talking, absolutely no phone talk (it also has a crossed-out phone sign and the sshhh sign above the entrance), no watching videos without earplugs so the rest isn't disturbed. The majority of the train is still a meeting car where you can talk as loudly as you want. And then there are the work and rest compartments and stilte compartments which are just a few in comparison. So just look carefully at the windows mostly to see which compartment you are in and then walk to the next one if it doesn't suit you. Anyway, most Dutch people are already unaware there are 3 different type of compartments in the trains nowadays. So as long as you are okay with either moving to a different compartment or comply to the rules of the place, then it's okay. Last tip; if you travel with young kids, please go to a meeting car immediately. You cannot expect young kids to stay quiet in a quiet car.

[@shandonsahm3343]

I arrived from Austin Texas.. it's amazing... love living here

[@B0K1T0]

6:15 I'd say this heavily depends where you're going to. Some bars have signs stating explicitly you have to wait to get seated, but I usually just try to make contact with someone working there anyway, no matter the place. It might be true that in a lot of cases you can just sit somewhere, but I think it's still good practice and good manners to get the staff knowing you're there. Unless it's a place where you don't get served and have to buy your drinks at the bar of course..

[@TheSuperappelflap]

Unless there are signs on the table indicating they are reserved, you can always just sit down at any table you want. Maybe not if you go to a very fancy Michelin star restaurant but Im not a snob so I have never been to one.

[@Thuras]

I think you are right, in most cases about reserving..I live in a non tourist city on the east part of the country and on weekend days I cannot go to a restaurant without booking it in advanced.. I might be lucky, but there is only a low chance. If you booked in a restaurant, you go up to the staff to say you reserved and they will tell you where you can sit, sometimes when it is quiet, they will tell you to look for a seat in a area in the restaurant. in a not so busy cafe or restaurant, you can pick a seat yourself. If unsure, always go up to the staff and ask. Since staff here always get payed a decent wage, we don't have the amount of staff you will find in busy restaurants in the US that get underpaid and rely on tips, so most staff will be busy.. Therefore go to the staff yourself and ask. I am good is not an anser to a yes or no question.. Do you want coffee? is a yes or no question.. I am good is puzzling to us even if I know it means no.. I am still puzzled as to why you did not answer with a yes or a no.. At least say.. NO, I am good thanks.. that is clear.. it is not only Americans though, Brits often do the same thing. If you were asked if everything was to your wishes : alles naar wens?" then don't answer with it was good if you don't think it was good. Just so no, not everything was good, you can say; "I liked most of it, but the potatoes weren't fully cooked" as an example.. The reason why we find this important is that it gives us honest feedback on how to improve. if everyone is evading honesty due to politeness, you never get the knowledge to what you need to do to improve. Therefore be honest. However many people confuse honesty with lazy bluntness or even rudeness. You can politely say.. No I don't think the food was very good, since I didn't like the taste or the chicken was not wel cooked. Dutch people nowadays do not always seem to know the difference very much. Yes directness is good and the receiver might not always like the answer, but you can still be nice and polite about it. If my coworker has made an error in his work.. I would say.. Hey (name), I don't think this is correct, good job otherwise, but this needs looking into. You are direct and polite and my coworker knows exactly what the problem is, he doesn't have to guess. So be direct, but keep the politeness

[@EricStrijbos]

I don't know if someone else in these comments has said it, but if you're not seated by a waiter and you want to choose a table for yourself, check if there's not a little sign on it "Gereserveerd". That's a booked table, and you're not supposed to sit down there. When in doubt, ask or make eye contact with staff. Anyway, in busy hours, it's best to check with staff if there's place anyway.

[@Masqueey]

"The Dutch have a king and it is not the customer." It's so true I'm dying 😂

[@gordonwallin2368]

Good job, Ava. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.

[@cristakampert8740]

Thank you about pointing out the silence carts!!! Never understand that people just do not see those big 'Silence' letters on EACH window....

[@weeardguy]

Well, I think the letters aren't big at all... Also, the old ones used to be stuck to the top of the window, usually obscuring them from view as daylight quickly made them hardly visible. Since they are placed at the bottom of the windows, they stand out a lot better, though I still feel that signage from balcony to silence area could be improved, just like it could be made a bit more clear in the area itself by some marking on the seat in front of you, or even on the floor. That last bit really works. The trains in Olympic livrey that once toured the country had the complete floor covered in colours or layout of sport-floors: either the orange with white striping from the average track for athletes, to the blue floor for gymnastics, which had magnesium-footprints on them: many, many people would scuff the floor with their feet to see if they were real or not.

[@A_Casual_NPC]

Hey Eva, here's a video idea that might be fun: Do a Dutch meme review. These could be English memes about the Netherlands or memes in Dutch. I've been pestering my discord server with them for years (eventhough most don't speak any Dutch) and there are some really fun ones in there. Would also be a great way to talk about some more stereotypes or typical Dutch things

[@sannie081]

O yes, the Dutch directness 😅 I also can be very straightforward when I see or hear something around me that is annoying. Maybe the younger generation call me a 'Karen' 😂 Last month we were at a festival and we were at front of the podium to listen to one of our favourite rock band. A couple of young (drunk) guys next to us were making a lot of noise with talking very loud and screaming to their friends who were a few meters back. After a few minutes I asked them if they could be less loud because others wanted to listen to the performance on stage. And they did 😉 My daughter who has a job in a supermarket besides her study is also not affraid to correct young children in the supermarket when they do not behave, even when one of the parents is with them 😅

[@margreetanceaux3906]

Oh, and when outside the busy tourist hub, you and your partner studying the city plan, looking a little bewildered (but of course you didn’t realize that), standing in front of the town hall (but of course you couldn’t know that), and this over-60-years-old female employee exits the building and asks "can I be of assistance?", don’t huddle together like threatened deer. I was not about to mug you; most of us are just hospitable towards foreign visitors.

[@ruudvdwerf]

The deposit for plastic bottles and cans is 25 cents for the bigger bottles (1 liter and up) and 15 cents for smalles bottles and cans. Not between 10 and 15 cents. Oops, I just read what I wrote and it may seem like I'm telling you off but that is not my intention! I think I'm just straightforward and direct :-))

[@cluelessmango768]

10 cents applies for beer bottles however

[@ronnie9187]

Good tips, I coming back to the Netherlands after beeing 25 years abroad in a few years. Nothing changed that much and I never thought, even when I was young growing up in Utrecht, that biking in Amsterdam was a good idea

[@Engenifffo]

It’s really interesting to hear how your accent has changed after a few years

[@Engenifffo]

Or maybe it’s the braces 😅

[@albertlay8927]

In the US the customer is not king, they just let him think he is. The purpose is of course to make him spend (more) money. The actual kings are the stockholders/owners and CEO's of the company, whose pockets need to be filled.

[@Thuras]

very true actually, we see that here more and more aswell, also in office that CEO's are making the decisions that are specifically made to earn more money quickly rather then benefitting the company in the long run.. This is a massive change from a few decades ago where businesses were still very local and not as much international as it is now. I hate the mentality, because in the long run it is bad for the companies and when they complain it is going bad with business I usually tell them that the changes they made were for quick money, not a good decision in the long run.. but high mangers/CEO's just do not listen, they only think about the stakeholders and giving them as positive news money wise as possible, regardless of the actual outcome in the long run

[@MarianneExJohnson]

Yes, turn a burger upside down before eating it. The bread on the bottom is typically a lot thinner than the top, so it soaks through rather quickly. Eat it upside down, and you have a slightly higher chance of being able to finish it without it turning into a mess.

[@henkpietersma7521]

Your are very likable. ;-) Thank you for this video

[@bertoverweel6588]

Yep, you are right, I booked a table in a restaurant for the end of oktober. 😂

[@justmandy6572]

On that last note.... That is a rare case..where a waitress ask you if you want more coffee without you signing them to order something 😂. It might be useful as well to tell....We don't give away free refills. You pay for that coffee...even if you're miss understood.

[@randallgvideos]

The Diamond Museum near the Rijksmuseum, which is very interesting, is never very busy so I recommend you just show up! It's worth an hour or so.

[@tarickw]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, you showed the conversation area icon for the quiet area. That icon is for socializing. But at least it is better this way than the other. (forcing them to be silent in a social area instead of begin social in a silent area)

[@roetsj327]

About the restaurants is True but if you go to smaller place more to the countryside you can reserve the day before or at som just walk inside and ask (if its not an friday or saturday) 😊

[@leonaessens4399]

I am of an older generation so I am not entirely sure how things are organised in the year 2023, but I went through the Dutch school system in the 1950s/60s. I had eight years of French under my belt by the time I finished high school, and six years each of English and German, plus, of course Dutch. The extra two years of French was because in "my" time you started French at primary school. And because I grew up in what used to be the Dutch East Indies, I also speak Bahasa (Indonesia). So yes, languages are sort of a Dutchman's thing, at different degrees of proficienjcy.

[@TheSuperappelflap]

The only difference is that now we have some years of English in primary school instead of French.

[@TheHighlander71]

While it's true that in most cafes and bars you can just claim a seat instead of being ushered to one, it is usually a good idea to make contact with the staff, just to let them know you're a new customer. Sometimes a nod is enough.

[@user-wv7ul8xe6b]

I like your video. The only comment I have as a birn dutch person is, when you come to the Netherlands, DO NOT assume we speak english. That is the biggest mistake prople make. If I go to America I not assume they will speak dutch to me. So please people, do not ever assume that we automatically speak English to you because we learn it at middleschool. Expecially the people who live here for a while. Please speak dutch to us or at least try. When we are visiting or living in your country we do the same. It is not that we do not want or wish to accommodate. This is the Netherlands and the main language is dutch. Thank you very much for respecting this.

[@jpdj2715]

I would recommend to start a conversation with "do you speak English?" in all cases. I am pretty fluent in English and when talking or writing in English, my brain is switched to English and there's no translation in my head. That was different for me in the past and may be different for the majority of Dutch people. So if somebody bluntly starts to rap English at you (me) that in a way surprised me, way back, and I needed a second for a context and language switch. At the time, it felt impolite if people skipped that question, and especially the USAnians lacked civilisation in this respect. No, people IMO are not offended if/when you ask the question, but in the same way they will try to answer your question "how are you?" now in this case they will try to truthfully answer your question if they can speak English. If that happens, just make a remark that it's a simple conversation, and you will generally have no problem as they now have made the context switch in their minds.

[@eckligt]

I've wondered for a long time if you would ever consider making a video where you draw on your linguistic training to give your take on the Dutch language. I know you have briefly talked about it in the past, but maybe a deeper dive would be fun. What is its weirdest traits, in phonology and grammar and whatnot? Is it cursed? Is it funny? Is it boring for linguists? (I don't speak Dutch, but I often get the gist of what people are saying since I speak a few other Germanic languages.)

[@ArjenHaayman]

Eva did make such a video. It's in the archives somewhere

[@classicallpvault8251]

@@ArjenHaayman Dutch is 80% German in terms of vocabulary and has a simplified version of the same grammar. We do not use grammatical cases anymore despite us having them (prepositions used to change the spelling of adjectives, for example the archaic but still sometimes used expression 'in arren moede') and grammatical gender still exist but male and female are spelled the same way - however, the distinction is still there, and ignoring it is technically incorrect but widely practiced - a feminine word like 'deur' (German: die Tür) should still be referred to as 'haar' when describing its properties in a separate by-sentence) This is due to Dutch being a descendent of West Frankish, a language closely related to Elbe Germanic (the direct ancestor of modern High German) and outside of the modern Netherlands and Flanders did actually merge back into standard German later on. However: German has an advantage over Dutch in terms of learnability because its grammar might be more complex, but it's also adhering to its basic grammatical rules with only few exceptions, whereas there are a lot more of those in Dutch. Dutch grammar requires one learning tons of exceptions whereas German grammar can largely be mastered by learning the required procedures which affect how things are spelled. German has also been formalised in its present-day form with very few changes 500+ years ago, whereas Dutch underwent more significant changes. Try comparing a text from the early Dutch independence era (late 1500s) to a modern text, and then do the same with the Luther Bible and a modern German text.

[@andrisk2703]

@@classicallpvault8251 I've been learning both Dutch and German and I don't feel like Dutch has more exceptions than German. In fact, Dutch is a very regular and structured language, in my view

[@doeke208]

Last one is very true, you definitely want to avoid "I'm good" as it is often interpreted as "(Dat) is goed" which means yes or sure, and confusion will ensue

[@TheSuperappelflap]

Riding a bike handsfree is just a national hobby. When I was in school I used to attempt to ride from my house to school without touching the handlebars at all. If it wasnt too windy and there wasnt much traffic I could usually do it. Sadly it only works well on bikes that have never been involved in any accent, which is often the case for Dutch bikes. If the front wheel fork is slightly bent you have to start leaning sideways to correct for it and it gets a lot harder.

[@bobdecalonne6809]

Oh wow. How refreshing to hear an american talk about these things. I am from Amsterdam and have encountered numerous american tourist wgho 'made' this mistakes. The best tip you gave to your fellow americans was that, the client is NOT always King.! We have a saying 'doe maar gewoon dan doe je al gek genoeg'. Keep up the good work by educating tourists

[@MarcelVolker]

If you want to know if items have 'statiegeld' (deposit), it is always itemised separately on the receipt, immediately below the item. That's because it's a separate charge from buying the drink (unlike for example VAT). That way you can also immediately tell how much it is for each item. And re the "I'm good", for those Dutch that are not familiar with the phrase, after translating it word-by-word they will likely decide that it sounds like "dat is goed", which in Dutch of course means "yes please", so that might be a source of confusion :)

[@ekeneken6158]

on the last tip. "I'm good" is close to "da's goed" ("dat is goed"). and if its noisy it will trigger the the later one. so I can see why that will go wrong.

[@hcjkruse]

As native Dutch speaker, I recently answered a recruitment request with the American expression "I am good". There was a very quick response ",Good luck with your project at...". Now, did he read my response as an American: "I am not interested"? Or interpret it as Dutch: thinking "what an arrogant ..."? Anyway Ava, I am going to use that phrase more often.

[@dimitridoes7936]

Hi Eva, First of all, love your videos! Small clarification on the latter subject of responding to questions / offers, and Dutch directness / bluntness: "Yes" means yes and "No" means no, but an added "thank you" or "please" is appreciated, but does not change the response itself; it's just an additional expression of politness that the Dutch not always apply. I.e, be clear, don't need to be worried about being overly polite in precise language used. [Dutch person living abroad now]

[@HeelalGoeroe]

klant is koning maar geen keizer, is a Dutch saying when customers misbehave, it means yes custumers are king but the workers are emperor.

[@diedertspijkerboer]

It's always interesting to look at Dutch culture from a foreign perspective.

[@jeffafa3096]

I worked in a restaurant for a couple of years, and I've seen the head chef throw people out of his restaurant because they kept complaining about the food. The customer can be right, and credit where credit's due, but if you walk into a bar or a restaurant like you own the place, you will be outside VERY fast...

[@Dutchbelg3]

Yes in 99% you are right. (See Dutch directness 🙂) but sometimes you are a bit exeggerating. But still a very good video! Restaurants in general you can book 1 or 2 days in advance but the very popular and the famous ones might expand their reservation periods. In Belgium (In Antwerp - The Jane) it is almost impossible to get a reservation. You have to sit at 8 in the morning behind a computer and try to be the first 3 MONTHS before your targeted date in a weekend for dinner. Any popular museum in Amsterdam you also really need to reserve a timeslot! Anne Frankmuseum really some considerable time before your date.

[@TheSuperappelflap]

Even very popular small restaurants in the Hague for example, you can probably book a table for sunday if you call on wednesday. But you might get the 8 o clock shift because 6 o clock is already booked. Still, not too bad. And if a restaurant is full there are 50 others in 500m walking distance that also have great food.

[@dimitriedgarmetz3147]

Statiegeld / Bottle deposit is not just 10 to 15 cents € 0,10 - small beer bottles € 0,15 - cans and small bottles (plastic or glass) € 0,20 - bigger bottle (plastic or glass) like 0,5 liters € 0,25 - biggest bottles of 1 liters or more € 075 or 1,50 for just a small or big beer crate (without bottles), so : € 3,90 total for a 24 bottle crate € 1,95 total for a 12 bottle crate

[@jcehaan]

Hi great and another tip, bring your reusable bag when you go to the supermarket because plastic bags cost money and are not free...and also enviorement and such

[@TristanBethe]

I think the 'I am good' problem arises from the the dutch 'ja... goed!' (yes, please or literally: Yes... good!' is confused. Goed and Good sounds and somewhat means the same but we use it a little differently. Thats Denglish for you (Dutch English)

[@zipp2371]

I think its about time you do one of these videos in dutch.

[@mrorange1982]

It's actually 0,15 0.20 or 0.25 cents, and an empty crate of beer (24 bottles) is 3.60 euros ;-) (I'ts depending on the size of the bottles). AND nowadays tin cans, like empty coke cans, also give you 0.15 cents back. The 0.20 cents is a bit rare, but thats the "statiegeld" for Grolsch 0.5 "beugel" bottles

[@TheSuperappelflap]

no, beer bottles are 10 cents each and the plastic crate is 1,50, for a total of 3,90 for a case of 24 empty bottles.

[@co7013]

Having to make reservations in musea and restaurants seems to be a very recent development. I don't remember ever doing that. Maybe if I were going out with a big group.

[@patricksimons560]

Popular restaurant! Lot's of walk in restaurant that always have room but if it's a popular restaurant you better reserve your seats. Depending the restaurant it can be 1-3 days in advance to some weeks in advance. And musea's around the world take reservations to book a slot.

[@JesseHouwing]

I'm guessing that "I'm good" will be interpreted as "Da's goed" (that's ok). Especially with such a friendly smile.

[@RalphNoordanus]

"The customer is always right the customer is King ... but here in the Netherlands the customer is not the King, they have a King here in the Netherlands. And that is not the customer" 🤣 So true!

[@jannetteberends8730]

I’m 70 and Dutch. I watch this videos to see what has recently changed in Dutch habits.

[@mariangravemaker7412]

I love it that you ask ‘do you speak English ‘. As A Dutch person I want to make a choice if and when I talk in English. Sometimes I think people don’t try to speak Dutch and I always are thinking can I speak Dutch in a shop in England or another country. I don’t think I can, so when I travel I try to learn some basics and otherwise I ask if a can speak English instead.

[@fermitupoupon1754]

Same, when I go abroad I always make it a point to at least learn to ask if they speak a language I do in the language of the country I'm visiting. It's surprising how many people are able and willing to speak English, German or at the very least dumb and slow down their French and Spanish to the point where I can understand it. We have an American "expat" living in our neighbourhood, he's been here for almost 7 or 8 years now, and he flat out refuses to even try and speak Dutch. His logic is that all the people "worth talking to" will speak English anyway, just makes it that much worse. It's hilarious to see him at the convenience store or in the mall. All of the shop staff that's been around for a while know him and flat out refuse to speak anything but Dutch to him. Then a random tourist or immigrant comes up to the counter and those same members of staff will switch to English or if they can a different language, in order to help the next customer out. I'm convinced they all do it out of spite. He lives down the street from me, and he doesn't even bother to try and speak Dutch to the neighbours at all. Both the Syrian refugee family and the migrant family from Sierra Leone who've been around for a lot shorter than he has, actively try to speak Dutch with us and will get visibly frustrated when people reply in Arabic or French. They want to practice our language in order to better assimilate.

[@weeardguy]

@@fermitupoupon1754 Yep, that last thing also happens in dance class: with me, there are just 3 more Dutch people, the rest is German (1), Romanian(1), Hungarian (1), Ukrainian (2), Russian (5), US (1), and I probably forgot a few nationalities. We usually speak English, but at some point, one of them said "uhm... I basically also came here to learn Dutch, so could you please stop replying in English all the time?' The difference you are referring to is just up to what they have to gain: a migrant family basically lost everything and has everything to gain by learning a new language, thus the quicker they learn, the more they will gain from it.

[@myrtheengeman4787]

Yess finally somebody said something about not everyone here is "good" in speaking English. Thats why I never go to amsterdam and rotterdam everyone assume you can't speak dutch. I feel like a tourist in my own country... From my own perspective (as a Dutch), I understand English can write it but when someone starts talking to me I have no clue what to say and use a lot of dutch words. Then they look at me and say "well every dutch person was good in English right?! 🙄 So thank you! Liked your video a lot!!

[@berendharmsen]

Nice video; but regarding the 'Dutch like to plan in advance'-thing related to musea I have to disagree. It's not that we like to reserve in advance; it's just that the mass of tourists in places with those musea have been attracting so many visitors that they just exceed the capacity of the place. We HATE that this is the case. Reserving to go to the Rijksmuseum is terrible and it didn't use to be like this five or ten years ago. Reserving for musea is a consequence of overtourism. I remember that a decade ago, you could in fact just walk into those places and buy a ticket. I haven't visited a museum in years because of this.

[@TheSuperappelflap]

Rijksmuseum is so expensive nowadays, I refuse to go. Let the tourists pay whatever they want, Im not paying that kind of money to go see my national heritage. Tickets for natives should have discounts. And yes I know you can get a museum pass but I visit maybe 2 museums a year at most and its not worth it.

[@vin5463]

love your reaction.. I am Dutch.. most things are so normal for me... nice you are pointing them out. We can learn something from it as dutch people that somethings are NOT . Always saw the fox on your sofa.. do you still have it ?, this was your mascotte.. 🙂Love to learn more about us dutches...told by an american girl. followed you from step one and love it. Groetjes aan je vrouw van mij en mijn man.

[@OldskoolNL]

On the topic of the customer not being king and waiters being direct, it's not only because being direct is in our culture. Our waiters also get paid a decent living wage compared to the US, where they mostly live off tips. Tips are appreciated in The Netherlands, but not common everywhere and it is generally not the main source of income.

[@diedertspijkerboer]

I think that it's mostly that many people are unfamiliar with the phrase "I'm good", not that it's too indirect.

[@gilles111]

The major problem with "I'm good" is, it sounds almost 100% like the Dutch phrase "(Dat) is goed", which translates to "Yes, I do want" or "I'm alright with xxx". So, just say "No, thank you" because that way you are clear about what you want (or don't want), can't be misunderstood for "(Dat) is goed" and not rude at all in The Netherlands - as Ava already said.

[@hendrik5490]

What you should do in Utrecht! Visit Ombretta Utrecht for a great Italian sandwich. Located in Hardebollenstraat! SO GOOD!!

[@bigkevx2]

As a Dutchie…taking the overhead view…SPOT ON!! 😂😂😂

[@jetzekoole9187]

I hope you visit a bit mor4e of the netherlands, Eva. Netherlands is a lot more than just Amsterdam (and I love Amsterdam lol). As much as english language is part of dutch culture (nowadays kids start english lessons in elementary and we have subtitles on tv, not voice overs) I think its a decent thing to do to learn the native language as a courtesy. I know dutch is hard for non dutch pple (my ex was american who lived here a couple of years and had really problems learning dutch)

[@olafgogmo5426]

As far as I know Eva lives in Utrecht. And she used to live in Eindhoven. So she knows more than Amsterdam. Also she speaks Dutch fluently. There's no need to get upset.

[@amggma7832]

at many places it is just fine to just show up and stand in line. Not everybody plans ahead.

[@willemh3319]

returning for statiegeld became a sport starting in the kitchen collecting them in abag🤪🤪🤣

[@DaanHoogland]

Can't remember I reserved a restaurant for a group of four or smaller. Maybe for bigger groups....

[@BrazenNL]

I haven't bought anything with "statiegeld" in a long while, but there used to be an icon of an item being thrown the trash if it didn't have statiegeld. Has that changed?

[@nicoledb341]

Statiegeld good for nature and the environment 💚 Aa a dutch person i do get the context of i'm good. It is kinda lazy for like no thank you, i am good. Because of so much American films and series i have watched. But being clear is always helpfull.

[@Patricia_H]

I’m just interested if your perspective on the Netherlands is more based upon Amsterdam living or also going to other cities. Becouse your comments and information for me apply mostly to Amsterdam. I went to school there and experienced Amsterdam in comparison to many other cities. Amsterdam is not a representative for all of the Netherlands.

[@morticiaparintjir1457]

My dad, farmers son, was an electrician. He could understand English very well. Speaking it was something else. He spoke the words but with a big Gronings accent. Some English speakers weren't able to follow his English. My dad wss 83 last year. Despite his advanced state of Alzeimer, he was still able to understand English, but the speach was gone.

[@normadesmond6017]

You know - I may be all wrong here but I think I saw you today. I am a guide in the St Jans cathedral in "s - Hertogenbosch and I think I saw you walking about this morning. Could that have been so?

[@Shashu_the_little_Voidling]

We do not book restaurants 3 months in advance, just a couple weeks

[@zonzeven]

What you forgot : red tarmac is for bicycles, don't walk on red tarmac ! (crossing is allowed)

[@billweedman661]

Nearly got run over my first full day in the Netherlands…stepped onto a bike path to get a better angle for a photo and a cyclist obviously chasing a cheetah (Some Dutch use cycling as a heavy exercise) yelled before during and as he passed me, while my Dutch wife was busy laughing. Then she explained the red paths. Outside Amsterdam many paths although red are truly dual use, walking & cycling.

[@Stadtionalist]

If a Dutch person doesn't register fully what you said and only caught the 'good' part of "I'm good", its easy for them to assume you've said something like "Is goed", which is is affirmative to a question