9 Things you find in a Dutch home but not in an American home

Simple things in the home can be so different between the Netherlands and the United States. In the years that I've lived in the Netherlands, I've seen things in a Dutch home that surprised me as an American. As usual, I think these items give an insight into Dutch and American culture, and tell us a little about Dutch quirks!
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:
The Dutch concept the world NEEDS to know about: • The Dutch concept the ...
6 Things Americans do that Dutch people find weird!: • 6 Things Americans do ...
5 ways LIFE IS BETTER in the Netherlands than in America!: • 5 ways LIFE IS BETTER ...
5 Supermarket food items I've only seen in the Netherlands: • 5 Supermarket food ite...
How daily routines are different since moving to the Netherlands from the United States: • How daily routines are...

[@tns5044]

You've forgotten about hallways. In the US the front door puts you right into the living room whereas most Dutch homes have a hallway where you can hang your coat and which acts as an 'airlock' keeping the heat inside in winter when you open the front door. Also pretty useful for privacy- whoever's at the door can't look straight into your living room.

[@MagereHein]

Dutch homes are required to have a hallway, it's in the building code.

[@2zwaantjes]

To me, being from Holland, the front door opening into the living room is by far the weirdest thing here in the U.S. I got used to many things being different. But that door.... I'll never get used to it.

[@68024]

@@2zwaantjes Same here! Not all homes in the US have it, but plenty do

[@tlee4218]

Exactly. that is bc the dutch thinks practically and not wasteful like greedy capitalist. Like insulation in america is a joke but here even in old homes you have reason why things are built different like you said about the hall. In America they stopped trains so cars would be used more, less insulation you use more energy so the oil co. make more money. Dutch they call cheap but they are just logically practical. I love it.

[@dutchman7623]

Yes, it is in the building code that there has to be a hallway. In that hallway you will find a 'meterkast', a closet that contains the water, gas, electricity meters, the telephone, cable tv and internet connection. A toilet cannot have a direct connection with a room or kitchen (hygiene, smells, sounds), so usually they are situated in that hallway as well. The basin in the toilet is there for washing your hands only. Washing other body parts or drinking, should be done somewhere else. The simple fact that Americans call it 'the powder room' makes me think that people could use it to check or apply make-up, disgusting thought.

[@treintje1001]

Stairs are made as compact and space saving as possible, because Dutch houses probably are typically smaller than in America, and we want to use the valuable space in the most efficient way. In bigger, more expensive houses you will most likely also find wider and straight stairs. The see-through curtains are called 'vitrage' or 'glasgordijnen' (glass curtains). They are kind of see-through, but not entirely clear. They make the view kind of blurry and it is difficult to actually see what is behind them. Their purpose is to let the light come in while still providing some privacy. During the day, that is. At night we close the thick curtains. Having the curtains or blinds closed during the day would make the house become very dark, and it also looks a bit awkward and unfriendly from the outside. So the glass curtains provide a good compromise for letting the light flow in while still maintaining some privacy. The toilet 'with the 'shelf' as you describe it is called a 'flat-flusher' and is indeed typical for the Dutch market, and it has pro's and con's. The normal type is called a 'deep-flusher'. Basically a flat-flusher is more comfortable, but a deep-flusher is more hygenic. There is also a broader choice in deep-flush toilets. Btw the flat-flushers are becoming less popular. The small sink in the toilet has a very distinct purpose, namely: to wash your hands when you're done! I am a bit shocked to hear that this apparently is not a common thing in America. It's all about hygene. The toilet is the best place for the birthday calender, since it is the place where you are most likely to actually look at it ;-). The 'achterom' is there for basically two reasons, and follows from the tendency to build blocks of clutered together houses (terraced houses). As you mentioned, the shed is usually at the back, so that is where you leave and enter the house when you are using your bike. When two rows of houses are build side by side, the fire dpt demands a so-called 'brandgang' (firebreak) inbetween the two rows of houses to be able to fight a possible fire at the back side of the block. This brandgang then also provides the access to the back entrance. Btw 'Achter om' literally means 'around the the back'. The Dutch may often have more than one bike; the Americans often have more than one car lol 🙂.

[@H1SCOTTY]

Forgotten the glass curtains i thought she ment in-betweens and i don't got those thicker curtains, She does't says they don't have any sink in the toilet she's shockt about the small sizes and there is most of the time onely cold water and not hot water tap. The small size is also because of small houses and avalible space, the cold water is because warm water is wastefull lots of times you'll be waiting for at least twenty seconds

[@tlee4218]

She did. o research on anything..this is an airhead rant.

[@dutchman7623]

The thin curtains are there to spread the light, sunlight diffusers. They illuminate the entire room behind them, or else the light would only be at the window and the rest of the room stays relatively dark. Plants also appreciate them, and Dutch houses have far more plants and flowers than those in the US. The alley around the back is required for access by the fire department and for access to the back garden, you are also supposed to keep your waste containers in the back garden and roll them to the street not going through your house. Apartment blocks (build after 1950) are required to have a bicycle/storage room easy accessible from the street or back alley.

[@andrelam9898]

American homes either have full bath (toilet, sink, and bath/shower) or half bath (just toilet and sink). Since the footprint of American homes tends to be bigger the half baths all have a descent sized sink (easily big enough to get BOTH hands under the water stream). I remember my oma upgrading from an ancient rundown house in the Jordaan (the walls were cracked and you could see daylight in places, there was no insulation and there was just a heater in the kitchen, anly one toilet in the house, not shower or bath)... they moved to "Nieuw West" a section built in the 1930's. This house was MUCH more modern as it had a "full bath" (toilet, sink and shower). All of them were absolutely tiny, but compared to their 18th century run-down property it was sheer luxury. There was the ubiquitous "central heater" in the family room. The heat had to flow into the central corridor that was just big enough for a small dining table off to the side, two small bedrooms and a galley kitchen. They moved out of the Jordaan mid 1970's about a decade before it was "rediscovered" and people with deep pockets started to buy up these old rental properties. It takes serious money to strip these to the bones, fix structural issues, and then bring plumbing, electrical, and insulation to 20th century standards. When I was "back home" this past December, the rental properly was an older retrofit, and had the shelf toilet. When making #2... it makes the smell SO much worse. Definitely need to use the "courtesy flush" right way to get ride of the "load" right away. I grew up with them, but definitely don't love them :-)

[@patrickfricano7159]

@@tlee4218 Not necessary.

[@KayVolkering]

So the buddha thing is actually a but of superstition haha. We usually just see it as a tranquil and calming accessory to the home. And your wife getting it as a gift is typical. You don't really buy a buddha, you get it from someone. It's often a house warming gift 😂 don't ask me where or how it started but that's what I know haha

[@arturobianco848]

Must be for the younger types cause i'm 50 and i believe i ve seen one only once in a home and i'm pretty sure they where buddists. Or at least the enterior had that whole vibe and they where from azian descent. I believe they where from vietnam originally. I migth have seen an older small bronze one that was purly decorative but when they moved 20 years ago it wasn't in their new house.

[@KayVolkering]

@@arturobianco848 oh no quite the opposite actually. Fun fact it was my mom that even told me this because I had the same question when I was a bit younger and saw my family gifting a buddha to my aunt xD This has been a running thing in pretty much any adult's house I've seen. As in my parents (50+), my aunts and uncles (50-ish), their friends all around the same age. Younh people rarely even have a home nowadays, including myself at 26, so if I ever manage to even receive a buddha from my family then I'll know I'be made bank somehow in this housing market hahaha. At this point 30+ becomes the norm to still live at your parents place xD But yea def not a younger generation thing haha.

[@dutchman7623]

Buddha's date back to the hippie era, with meditation and contemplation. The Beatles and most of all John Lennon took Buddhist India as inspiration. Nowadays they symbolize spirituality without strict religion. And for many they are meaningless decoration. Heathen sculpture is not popular in the US. Even Christian isn't, they will question the house owner about their believes if they see an Orthodox icon or a Catholic crucifix. Freedom of religion are words in the Constitution, not shared value.

[@arturobianco848]

@@KayVolkeringWell no hippys in my familie and i guess in our aquintances.

[@KayVolkering]

@@dutchman7623 Eeeeh I'm not completely sure what you mean with the buddha dates back to. It's technically a buddist symbol and I do agree that to many it's a meaningless decoration. Do you mean that that's how they got popular here in the netherlands? Also as an atheist activist I know and do agree with the US absolutely not having these in their homes hahaha. Hell Atheists are still seen as satanists there without actually knowing what the satanic church actually stands for xD I mean a large portion of the country doesn't even believe in evolution because 'the bible says... " xD But yea I just gave the info that I know as other generations have told me haha.

[@moniquevandoorn8347]

I always watch a British tv show called: Homes under the hammer. And in that show it happens several times that a house that is visited has stained glass windows. So this is not only a Dutch thing. It is something typical for the thirties of the twentieth century. But it is very beautiful to me. And I am one of the few people born and raised here that closes the curtains as soon as it gets dark. I just don’t feel safe and at ease when everybody can see me.

[@nienke7713]

The Netherlands is a very densely populated country, so we need to use space efficiently, which, amongst other things, means not wasting space with wide and long staircases; steeper narrower staircases take up less of that precious space

[@kirsa9911]

I know several people (me included) who discovered that something was medically wrong with them because they could "study" their poo on the poo-shelf...I would never wanna do without one!

[@colanitower]

The windows you can open in two ways are a German design. Older Dutch homes with windows not yet replaced often have tiny little windows that can create small openings above larger windows. The tiny ones are called "Bovenlichtjes." To ventilate the house without draught I often use only the bovenlichtjes. No powered ventilation system required. Works perfectly.

[@MrDiederikDuck]

The two-way windows are called kantelkiepraam

[@eefaaf]

I first encountered that system in Switzerland.

[@snorristurluson3598]

I took living in a home with stained glass for granted for years untill I realised that apperently not every home (even in the same street as I live) has them. It's so beautiful! We even have the sliding doors. My father has replaced the glass in the door to the living room also with stained glass (he made the pattern himself).

[@keessonneveld2314]

These sliding doors had more functions than just separate the front and back room. There is a well known phrase that says "optreden tussen de schuifdeuren". A place between the opened sliding doors to give a performance to the local family or some other occasion. And to keep the two rooms apart, the stained glass would help in some more privacy than just colorless window glass.

[@Frahamen]

An other reason why people have multiple bikes (at least this is common in Belgium, I don't know if it's the same in the Netherlands but I suspect it does) is students have a bike in the university city and one at home at there parents because we go back and forth very often in the weekends and it's more convenient to have two bikes than transport the bike by train.

[@gerdpapenburg7050]

Also lots of people have two bikes in order to get from their home to the train station, and from the train station of another town to their place of work.

[@arturobianco848]

Yup i also have 2 one to go the pub and a regular one. Well regular one is now old enough to become the main pub bike.

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

I have had several different bikes. Each with their own use: a regular bike (my dads old bike) for the every day trips to school, stores or work, a sports bike which was a gift from my uncle when he bought a new one, another regular bike with extra carriers for when I delivered newspapers which was used that I bought cheap from the local bike shop, a BMX bike for cruising around the neighbourhood when I was a kid, an ATB that I got from a very happy client at the job I worked at. Now I have two: my uncles old bike. I got that one because he doesn't use it anymore and my mothers E-bike.

[@lws7394]

My brother got about 8 bikes, aquired during his life 😬 : 3 road bikes, 2 mtbs and 2 or 3 city/tour/commute bikes ! I myself have 3-4 : an e-citybike, a road bike and 2 junk/pub/station bikes . I really don;t like big on-street windows though ..

[@A_Casual_NPC]

You talking about stained glass is really interesting. My parents live in a home build in 1932, it had stained windows when build it was originaly constructed, It got destroyed during the war, but my dad grew up in the village the live in now and its very connected to it. He managed to dig up some old pictures and such of the building from before the war. They're currently working to restore the original stained glass, as far as posstible at least.

[@Rob2]

Stained glass is mainly used in houses built before WW2. I have lived in a 1930's house as well and it too had stained glass, both above the outside windows and in the en-suite sliding doors. And in the door between the entry hall and the corridor as well. Their disadvantage is they usually leak.

[@reuireuiop0]

What is real d*** shame is them young millennial homeowners demolishing these old unique stained glasses. Why but an old house of you don't like what's in there. Go live in a Vinex home then, you fools!

[@Clownie_Smiles]

I don't know about the Buddha statues. They sell them at Action and stuff and people like to buy them. I don't think there is anything to it

[@Davidsprossen]

That's why it's on the list

[@BrianDickens4]

As an Internet Services mechanic, I visit a lot of people. In the last five years, I rarely saw Buddha statues. I don't think it's as pervasive as you seem to think.

[@lavendel1574]

Voor veel mensen is die boedha gewoon een beeldje van de action

[@mereyemsuzanne8635]

We often have 2 pairs of curtains.. the see through and a thick one !!! But from the outside you might only see the see through one..

[@Katherine-em4fl]

THE BUDDHAS OMG. We bought a house in the NL recently and the owners left a little buddha in the garden. I started noticing them everywhere LOL.

[@MartijnFrazer]

Buddha statues are weirdly a very common gift haha. Especially when someone lives on their own for the first time, it's seen as a sort of lucky symbol. And the luck giving features of the Buddha statue don't appear when you buy one yourself, so it's good to keep the gifted one around, I'm not making this up, this is what a lot of people believe haha

[@sanderdeboer6034]

Arjan Lubach made a program about the Buddha trend in Dutch houses and why this can be problematic. For most people they just like the esthetic, and because they are not religious themselves they don’t have a stance for or against it. Buddhism in general has a positive image, because most people know very little about the religious aspects it has in many countries.

[@classicallpvault8251]

No, it has a positive image because its adherents typically are typically highly educated and highly socially succesful foreigners who assimilate well into Western countries if they migrate there. It doesn't affect us how Buddhism is practiced abroad, it matters only what its impact is in the West. We associate the Buddha with highly advanced oriental cultures just like we associate Mohammed with barbarism.

[@sutreB]

@@classicallpvault8251 Buddism is often associated with peace here in the west. I think that is the main reason people have this Buddha art. In history lessens I never heard about agresive Buddhists.

[@Kelsea-2002]

A small correction because I have often noticed in the Netherlands that they speak of Dutch windows. In reality, this tilting window technology was invented in 1937 by the German Wilhelm Frank.

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

That might be a regional thing. Around here they are usually called draai- en kiepramen (turn & tilt windows).

[@rensvanderploeg1945]

Dutch wouldn't call that this way. You only do that for imported stuff. On the top of my head, I do not know anything where we add Dutch in front.

[@andrelam9898]

I am seeing them now in the US on higher end builds where the owners are looking for the Euro-Style windows with this flexible use, but also triple pane glass and due the bank vault like locking mechanism, it really seals well when closed. As you pointed out Germans designed and perfected them... steadily they have become the norm throughout much or Europe.

[@flower_power]

Deutsch or Dutch, a mistake is simply made

[@Hanna-cl3zl]

In my opinion more typical dutch window is one with that spacing handle on the bottom. So you open your window normally and can fixate your window in a certain angle. The Draai/kiep windows are a trend of the last years.

[@casek1238]

Hi Ava, nice remarks again. Dutch stairs: According to the Dutch building rules (Bouwbesluit) in the 1980-ties and 90-ties the minimum for a staircase was horizontal part 185 mm, a foot is about 300 mm, and the riser minimum was 210 mm. So they built this minimum. Then after years of negotiation and studying they changed the Bouwbesluit the staircase measurements changed into: horizontal 210 mm, and the vertical 185 mm. This under loud protest of the building companies, it would take too much space and would be too expensive. In the latest version of some years ago, they changed it back into the original horizontal: 185 mm, vertical 210 mm. In public buildings like hospitals and townhalls you find stairs lwith steps: 300 mm / 180 mm. In common area's in appartment buildings the horizontal step must be 240 mm. The minimum measurements of a toilet are 920x1220 mm (2x20 mm stuco). So that's what you often get.

[@2zwaantjes]

The 'see-through' curtains are called 'vitrage'. Say: Vee-trah-zjuh, in the French way. Many Dutch words are in fact French. The 'achter-om' was (in the past) also the door for the maid, or to drop off deliveries. I am Dutch but live in the US since 1996. i find your video fun and comical, thank you for the entertainment.

[@iamTheSnark]

Yup. Vitre = Window. Vitrage = Window stuff.

[@rensvanderploeg1945]

I know what you mean. Living since 1997 abroad. Always lovely to see these Dutch things.

[@Rob2]

The "achterom" is the result of the typical housing building style which is a bit different from the US. Instead of square city blocks, or blocks are narrow and on the long sides there is a closed row of houses. The rows are separated just enough to have back gardens between them, and the "achterom" can run between that. In the US I think it is more typical for houses to be separated from eachother so you can walk around your house to get to the back garden. Just like the narrow and steep stairs, it can be explained by the fact that our cities are much more tightly packed, as land with building permit is (artificially) scarce and thus very expensive. You would not want (or cannot afford) to waste area with large stairs or your own private path to reach your back garden, you get small stairs and a shared path.

[@ervie60]

Do not forget that shared path is a i=fireescape path. Mandatory due to fire regulation.

[@rinyfeller]

The 'achterom' has a second, important function. It is a fire-escape. therefore the are also known as 'brandgang'

[@Tiger313NL]

The proper name for an "achterom" is a "brandgang". It's main purpose is for fire crews to be able to access the back of the house in the event of a calamity. People often use it differently.

[@Rocodil]

The windows you can open in two ways are actually even more popular in Germany. I lived there for a while and I have not seen a home without such windows.

[@robertvermaat2124]

Indeed - we imported that from the Germans.

[@yvoferdinandvanderhoek1027]

​@@robertvermaat2124and especially the cheap plastic ones still almost certainly come from Germany

[@TheViperMan]

I got a Budda. It was gifted by my Uncle who went to Nepal on a hike. They came back with budda's for everyone. Mine was the only one still in one piece. So its sitting here for already over 20 years.

[@michavandam]

1. Buddha-beeldjes 2. steile, smalle trappen 3. draai-kiepamen 4. wc's met een inspectieplateau 5. een klein wasbakje in de wc 6. de verjaardagskalender 7. glas-in-lood 8. een achteringang 9. meerdere fietsen per persoon

[@hamster4618]

Stairs take up a lot of space and building houses was way more costly here than in many other areas as we first had to “polder” the land (turn it from water / soggy land into dry land) and then make a foundation with foundation piles. So to reduce costs and to limit the area of the house, stairs were made to take up at least space as possible. Please note that today many houses need to have their foundation redone (funderingsherstel). For an average house consisting of a ground floor, first and second floor, the foundation repairs can come to €100,000. Something you won’t “see” in your house, but needed nevertheless.

[@yasmeenislam3330]

I love your chanel ❤ I'm so interested in Dutch culture and Dutch everything and you add lots of insights for me 😍 thank you! That tiny sink with the freezing water ahhhh 😂 love from Saudi ✌️ ❤

[@argenieuwenhuijzen2557]

If you are interested, a friend of mine, Jac Splinter, gives courses in making stained glass windows in Nijmegen and also makes them himself. If that’s too distant, he probably knows people in Utrecht as well. One of Europe’s first (Thai-) Buddhist temple’s by the way is in the city of Waalwijk. A cousin of mine was a member of the board there, to straighten the financial things out after the founder had left it in a mess several years ago.

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

We got a small ugly Buddha statue. It was a gift from someone so we kept it. Those tilting and turning windows are regular standard windows. You will see them all around Europe. The display platform in the toilet is very usefull for inspection of your products to see if the colour is off and you might need to see a doctor. Or to take a sample if your doctor asks for one.

[@mischake]

I grew up with a "dutch toilet shelf" and had to later learn to live with water splashing my hole when i dump 😂

[@dannythenanny]

Put some toilet paper in the hole first! Just mimic the traditional "vlakspoeler"... ;-)

[@keessonneveld2314]

Dear Eva, In an other video I saw in the back a whitish tin. It's called a "broodtrommel". Just to keep the bread fresh. That's all. But what every dutch household will have are one or more "koektrommels". When we are having guests, of course on invitation only :-), while drinking coversation coffee, we present cookies from these tins. As soon as every one has their share we quickly put the lid back. Not to keep you from having more, but simply to keep 'm fresh. More or less.

[@mhjmstultiens]

Less window cover up also means people are less worried someone might peek inside the house (even though it's never a straight invitation). It's proof that living in our country feels relatively safe and relaxed.

[@Dutch1961]

The "achterom" (back alley) is mandatory due to fire regulations. If there's a fire the firefighters need to be able to attack the fire from the outside if the fire happens to be in the back of your house.

[@lws7394]

I thought it was for access to the bike shed, with row houses ..

[@Dutch1961]

@@lws7394 that's what it's mainly used for. Fortunately we don't have many fires. Although, one time my neighbours were deepfrying stuff in their shed and, yes, the entire shed went up in flames.

[@hamster4618]

@@Dutch1961 today the building code doesn’t normally require an alleyway for firefighting or fleeing, but it is required to have a shed “buitenberging” accessible from the street and/or shared hallway. With current code for new built homes, you are not allowed to (need to) pass through your home with your bike.

[@DunkelblauerMB]

In typical Dutch (and actually rather strange) house design, the living room often is at the front with a huge window with a view of the street. Anybody passing by in the street who's nosy has a view into your living room. And the kitchen is at the back of the house with a view of the garden (achterom). This is considered normal and a lot of people walking by who are nosy are invited to have a look into your living room if you don't have curtains. I guess that is why Vitrage (Glass Curtains - Glasgordijnen) is very popular in the Netherlands. It blocks the view into the living room and gives some privacy without obstructing daylight from entering.

[@kamion53]

En wonen in betonnen dozen Met flink veel glas, dan kun je zien, hoe of het bankstel staat bij Mien en d'r dressoir met plastic rozen. het Dorp Wim Sonneveld (trans) And live in concrete boxes With a lot of glass, you can see how the sofa looks at Mien and her dresser with plastic roses

[@HB-mj2jz]

Not true. Lots of 80s and 90s houses have the kitchen at the front and livingroom next to the garden at the back. Including my house.

[@kamion53]

@@HB-mj2jz could be, but I often found it weird having the kitchen at the streetside. I always tough it as a compromise to narrow frontspace like in the houses of Jeruzalem build in the early '50. Space was needed for the stair to the upperlevel. The crappy houses are nowaday architectual heritage.

[@jlammetje]

A *lot* of homes have the kitchen in the front. Personally I hate a living room at the street-side, so I'm happy to have a home with the kitchen at the street, and the living room at the garden :-)

[@gaatjullieniksaan535]

The bike part is 100% right. My Electric bike i use to go to work. And my old bike to go to the café etc

[@danschuldanschul1750]

Hi Ava! Did you forget the "fietspomp" that everyone has to have (plus the "rema" tube patch kit?), the coat rack sort of behind the door to the outside, the rack for shoes and the fact that every room has a door (no open arches between rooms). I think you might emphasize the "schuur", because most Americans don't have one.

[@plantwhisperer2506]

rema? ik ken alleen de samson bandenplakset (dat rood-witte ding)

[@marielvanhees9531]

I love my Amerikaanse huis from the 60's. It has a shared "achterom" with neighbors. It's a shared alley way to our driveways that are at the back of our homes. I live in the suburbs just outside Philadelphia PA. PS You sound like you're from Utrecht when you speak ☺️ and I'm from Noord-Brabant.

[@antiqueinsider]

You didn't mention the wash-hand in the bathroom, or in the kitchen, that funny little scraper that you use to get tomato puree (etc.) out of the bottom of the tin! So many small but distinctive things in Dutch homes!

[@rensvanderploeg1945]

Do you know the flessenlikker? I got one (now living in France). Nobody of our foreign friends had a clue of what the purpose is when we showed it.

[@jlammetje]

hahaha, that is so great. It really seems a thing of the past though, I can't find them anywhere, although we used them a lot when I was growing up!

[@geraldine5554]

I love it when you talk 'een beetje Nederlands' tussendoor 😂😂😂❤

[@nienke7713]

Another reason for more bioes than people is the "stationsfiets", a (usually old crappy) bike people leave at a train station (often one near their work/school) so they can also bike from there. E.g. I could bike from home to the local train station, lock my bike up there, then take the train to a station near school/work where I can then unlock my "stationsfiets" to cycle from there to school/work. (Because a regular bike in the train is a hassle, costs extra, and isn't even allowed during peak hours; foldable bikes are allowed but aren't as pleasant to cycle on and require folding and unfolding).

[@erictaylor5462]

4:50 Our Dutch friends delivered newspapers in the morning. This was done pretty much like it was done in the US up to at least the early 1990's A kid, (I was 14) would have the papers delivered to their house. They fold up the papers, then head out to the paper route. Once a month you had to go around and collect money from your customers. Sometimes people wouldn't play, which sucked because the paper boy had to eat that cost. For revenge they would take their TV remote (I guess there was national standard) and in the early morning they would turn on the TV and turn the volume up to full blast. I wish I could do that. I had one customer who repeatedly stiffed me. He happened to be a high school teacher and a couple of years later I had to take one of his classes. I was very strongly tempted to say, "You owe me money." I think it was about $15, but I never did anything. I was worried he might screw with my grade.

[@TheEvertw]

Stained glass was very much in vogue in the 1920ies and 30ies. Must have been a Jugendstil / Art Deco thing (both did stained glass). The Netherlands had a major building spree during that time, with many cities breaking outside their old walls, and most of those buildings are still standing. In fact, they are very desirable in the Dutch housing market, because this is the last period in which there were "extras" added to buildings instead of the purely functional cubes of later periods. Like the stained glass. And houses from that period still have stove pipes to the principal rooms, another bonus.

[@VerMaarte]

About the see-through curtains. The Netherlands can often be a grey and dark country. With 'vitrage' the light can still filter through and yet when it's still light the interior is not as exposed because of the reflection.

[@keessonneveld2314]

Dear Eva, Stairs, or just steps, and also stepladders, have an ideal height of 19 or 20cm. This is the most comfortable way of lifting your feet in a forward motion to a next level, without looking where you go. This has been very deeply designed for your comfort. Also blind people do not have to worry about where they are going because of this standard. It has been well thought out. And since you don't need a wide staircase when walking up and down on your own, why bother with a wide staircase? "We" are custom to live in small houses and the floor space is much more important than getting up or going down to other levels with two people next to each other. If someone is descending you just wait your turn to go up. It never is that crowdy in a dutch home. The only drawback is that when moving house you might find it hard to get bigger furniture to the next floor. But we thought of that too. All houses will have a so called "verhuisraam", a window on the 2nd or 3rd floor, constructed so, that it can swing open all the way up or sideways, to enter bigger things that would not fit the narrow staircase. Ja, daar is over nagedacht. By the way, you are most welcome here sweethart. Love to hear those stories and findings in good old Holland. 😇

[@bartmeijer1954]

I love your videos. They are gezellig.

[@_maghetweten]

Another common thing: enter the house and you are in a little hall way. Not directly in the living room. It is the place to store your jackets / coats and shoes. Also you will find the toilet nearby. Unless you are in a house built in between 1900 - 1930 because the separate toilet and shower were new and thus placed right after the kitchen nearby the garden in the back. Since most Dutch tend to like the building style from 1910 - 1930 it comes with those decorated glass and glass in door as a distinctive feature. Got nothing to do with church. It Is just a neat design element and also a room divider. Ie divide the zitkamer / chamber with chairs/bank apart from the eetkamer / kitchen like style like where you enjoy your breakfast, lunch, dinner. Or nowadays seperate your office room from your living room. Or let your children play in the living room while you can enjoy cooking in silence ;)

[@littleDutchie92]

Also I think from a historical point of view I think people werent able to make large windows yet. So instead (because the Dutch like large windows) they put a lot of smaller windows together which was then stained glass. And later The esthetics of it became also important why a lot of older homes still have the stained glass

[@gordonwallin2368]

Thank you for another sweet and entertaining video. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.

[@dahar54]

Matteklopper is a must have to clean carpets over the balcony.

[@modogo3635]

In the 17th century people in Amsterdam had to pay taxes over the width of their houses. So the houses were built narrow, with steep and narrow stairs. The narrow stairs made it hard to get furniture in, so they hoisted furniture up, with a beam on top of the facade. And the facade was built leaning forwards to make the hoisting easier. They could also take the windowframe out for big furniture.

[@mereyemsuzanne8635]

They say that buda's protect the house.. You shouldn't buy it for yourself.. and it should face the door... ( Well thats what most people believe )

[@arturobianco848]

Not sure if its most people never seen the things, its however probable the myth for those who gift them.

[@extrastuff9463]

Yup more than one bicycle makes sense. I have still have my old crappy bike, even fixed it up to be working again reasonably well by reusing parts from a scrap bicycle someone else was going to dispose of. That one is now the bicycle I use if I need to use the bus stop during the weekend or evenings since the stupid new route plan cut our town out to save a whole 2-3 minutes on the entire trip. The middle of nowhere along a public road isn't the best place to park your fancy bicycle and expect it to still be there after a weekend even if you lock it properly. I suspect the lock I use on that bicycle might even be more expensive than I spent on buying the used bicycle 10-15 years ago. For just about anything else I use my ebike whether that's getting groceries, work, fun rides, etc. But for me to get groceries depending on the town I pick it's either 13 minutes at max speed for a nearby small town with a Poiesz or 20-30 minutes for the other towns or the city with more options. So to get cold stuff home timely and to cut back on trip time with strong wind it's very welcome. Now I just need to check the rain forecast and plan the trip around the rain or put on rainproof clothing. I also know a few people that actually have and use 4 bikes every week: - 1 good normal bicycle or ebike - 1 racing bicycle, the light kind of frame with a derailleur and all that fiddly stuff - 2 "stationsfietsen" (station bikes, basically cheap simple but working bicycles) They have one at home to get to the station and then another one at their other regular train station to get to the final destination And stained glass windows are fairly common, people often preserve them now as well when improving the insulation of buildings. A single layer of glass isn't the best insulation and especially older stained glass will deform and develop drafting cracks over time. In the past they were often replaced with normal glass but now I'm seeing a lot of people that actually have their stained glass windows taken out temporarily and then gets encased in glass on both the inside and outside and some vacuum insulation too probably. The whole thing then gets put back into the original location.

[@Ilithilich]

I just realised something about the bike parking. I think almost every house in the netherlands has some kind of storage area. Whether it's an actual shed for a house, or a basement for an apartment building. And these can be connected or completely separate from the home.

[@Scafloc29]

Buddha -> check, was also a present Window that can open completely sidewards or just a litte bittle (by turning in different directtion); check Achterom -> check Toliets -> check Pretty good list

[@robertwemmers8562]

You so right with the things you talk about , like the birthday calendar in the bathroom i got one for many years there, and wat you in the Netherlands is a runner on the stairs with rods on every one. I am a Dutch - Canadian and still do lot like the Dutch . Like your way you think about the Dutch.

[@KramerEspinoza]

What about a deep fryer… I was so surprised when I moved to the US (California 25 years ago) I had a hard time to buy a deep fryer and found out almost nobody had one, nor that you could fine “frituurolie.” Perhaps that is why I ran into so few Belgiums in the US. While I has once a case when I was buying a printer in a computer store, I was helped by a fellow was Dutch too but we only found out at when was paying….

[@nswinoz3302]

One word croquettes, The single reason for having a deep fryer. NSW in Oz

[@KramerEspinoza]

@@nswinoz3302 exactly… why haven’t the Dutch exported them yet. I had to wait 18 months for my first Kroket in San Francisco. There was an Indonesian Independence Party on union square…. And they sold kroketten, claiming that there were originally Indonesian… I am fine with that… they were very tasty, almost as good as my moms… ;-)

[@jlammetje]

Another thing: in the Netherlands, the fuse box of a house is pretty much always in the hallway or kitchen (older homes). While in the USA/Canada they are often somewhere on the outside, or in (seemingly) random places in the house. It is so weird to me that the fuse box would be outside the house, where just anyone could access it, including intruders! Here in the NL, if you want to cut me off from power, you either have to already be inside my house, or you have to cut off power to the entire neighborhood XD

[@palantir135]

Buddha statue, yes. Religious no. If I’m anxious, I just look at the Buddha to say to myself: if he can be relaxed, I should be able too. The doors and windows you mention are German invention as far as I know. There are two types of curtains. The see through during day and the thicker, not see through behind them during the dark.

[@marijkevanvulpen2174]

In addition to the flat shelf toilet (vlakspoel toilet), Dutch powder rooms (including public toilets) have a 'toilet borstel' toilet brush, to erase marks. We were in Canada and we only saw water bowl toilets (diepspoel toiletten). We have not seen any toilet brushes: in the water bowl toilets the chance of leaving marks seems to be much lower (excuses for this little disgusting detail).

[@dutchman7623]

It has to do with health in the past. You are able to inspect your excrement, and a mother that of her kids, with a plateau pot. Infections and parasites could be spotted immediately and we had medication to stop and cure it. We Dutch almost eradicated all wurm infections until the 1980's when they had a comeback. Be aware that those infections are very common in certain areas of the world. Hygiene (especially for kids) is very recommended.

[@TheVantveen]

Stairs are a necessity, keep them as small of possible 😊

[@EricStrijbos]

Our 1930s terrace house in Utrecht had small stained-glass windows, but like in most houses in the neighbourhood they were removed after a burglary wave. Secular use of stained glass boomed around 1900, and before that it was around for those who could afford it. It's not just Dutch though, you'll see lots of it in 19th c. and later houses in Belgium, Northern France, Germany, Austria etc. I visited stained glass ateliers in Krakow and Lille, they're interesting. As some have commented here, steep stairs have to do with space; they come from an era when large families were more often than not sharing a floor. My impression is that the more downmarket a house was, the steeper its stairs. I associate really steep stairs with Amsterdam's De Pijp, which was a very low-cost neighbourhood when it was built. But at least in those days, people had smaller feet. I have a chubby Buddha in the back garden, he's pondering our little pond. I'm not a buddhist but I feel he brings a happy mood and atmosphere, and it's always good to have a smiling face around. You may want to look out for Dirk Jan van der Burg's book "Typisch Nederland" for lots of weird stuff people put in their front garden (including buddhas).

[@juloedtb1420]

About the staircases in the US. Where I lived in Michigan we had a pretty steep staircase, to me it felt like typical Dutch staircases and very narrow too. When I visited family near Hackensack, New Jersey, much to my surprise, they had a "Dutch" staircase, just like ours in Michigan. So I think it depends on where you live and how old your house is. I don't know if you travel much outside of the randstad or visit friends in newer suburbs, but in smaller newer cities, with modern houses you'll find less steeper and wider staircases. Also, staircases in newer appartment buildings in Netherland are not as steep and narrow cause of building code. So it's all relative and pretty much the same. The thin curtains are called vitrage and is mainly there to block the sun a bit, when it shines directly inside, to not kill the plants and when you want to watch tv without blocking the light completely, and also to stop the cold from coming in during winter. Nowadays every house should have double or triple layered glas with an anti uv coating. But still we use vitrage because it makes it prettier for window watchers like you, and when inside you can see them but they can't see you until nighttime. Then it's vise versa.😊

[@eddys.3524]

Hi, Ava... thanks for the video. About Dutch houses, about 150 years ago it was quite common in Dutch cities that one family occupied one room in a house, a situation that on a regular basis led to outbreaks of contageous diseases. In those days sewers and drainage of streets were also uncommon, to give you an idea about the hygenical wasteland people lived in. Since change in Society never goes fast, it took many decades to improve that situation and the building regulations enforcing that change. Even after WW2 Bathrooms were considered luxury, so people were used to wash themselves in the kitchen, bathing there on Saturday. They did that with cold water, warm water was not available from the tab. Gradually even that improved, but from a minimalist point of view. The same with "stairs"... since houses (appartments) weren't big from the beginning, I can still remember rules for public housing of 20 sq.metre for one person, the stairs was regarded as a neccesary waste of space, one didn't use it on a regular basis over the day anyways, that's why they traditionally are steep and narrow, taller people bumping their heads.... and usually have a closet underneath. BTW, the "achterom" is more common in rural area's of the netherlands than in the cities. I for instance live in a city, have a garden with exit, but it isn't used as a "achterom" for obvious (burglary) reasons. I hope to see your next video soon!!

[@kamion53]

in those days waste was gathered at the street in considerable piles. And when the city garbage collection was established there were protest. the poor people considered it theft of income, because the sold the waste as menure to the farmers around the city. Also in those days the houses were so vermin ridden that in summer people could not sleep in the houses, but slept on the street ( probably hugging their privet waste piles). "koninkrijk vol sloppen" by Auke van der Wou is an interesting reading on this subject.

[@diedertspijkerboer]

The stained glass windows were a trend in the 1920s and 30s.

[@Rob2]

Look at the fire stairs on the picture behind you. You would not find such steep and narrow stairs here, even as fire stairs.

[@nimwey7701]

We walk up the stairs with only the ball or the front of your feet, not your whole foot, thats so awkward, that is why we have no problem with steep or narrow stairs. And i also have buddah's in my home, but all are given, cuz when you buy them yourself it's bad luck

[@jlammetje]

going down some stairs is scary though... I also go sideways if the stairs are very steep

[@nicollevisser8141]

A lot has already been said, I just want to share my housewarming story, where three different guests brought the same budha at a different size. I found it quite funny. so they are all standing next to eachother facing the door on my piano. In the mean time a good luck hand from brazil in the same kind of dark wood has joined them. What a blessing this house should get! ;-)

[@remkeveerling6108]

In American TV programs about houses, I always see that behind the front door you immediately have the living room, and not a hall like in the Netherlands, is that correct? It seems very impractical to me, because it can also be cold in America!

[@nagranoth_]

Of course it's correct. Why would they pretend the houses are different than they are? The difference is because of history. European houses stem from the longhouse; a big hall in which the entire extended family lived. Over time long houses were extended with private rooms for the leading family, while everyone else still lived in the main hall. Given more time there were more and more rooms added with specializations like cooking, and for other family members to have private areas, and the hall kept shrinking. Until now it's just an entrance that is still seen as somewhat public while the rest of the house is more private. Hence why we often invite people into the hall, and then invite them into the living room again. In the US meanwhile the history is the colonizing past. New immigrants didn't have a lot of material to work with, nor time to make more than minimally required. Often your first house was a simple cabin, with a few small rooms. A entrance would've been a luxury only indulged in by richer people in established cities. I guess people just got used to the idea of stepping right into the house so much that most people wouldn't question it. Also, many homes are build by big developers who build entire neighborhoods of the same houses. There's little incentive to build more complex and expensive houses when most buyers/renters wouldn't even have the idea of an entrance hall.

[@frederieke4557]

Because the stairs take much more space? :-)

[@jeffafa3096]

I have a very tiny buddha in my house, and I too think it's beautiful and very nice, but also kind of random, and that's why I like it!

[@atropatene3596]

The no-curtain thing is only in the areas that were predomintantly protestant. This isn't a thing in the more catholic oriented areas (say below the rivers). And also, my crappy bike is for when I go places that doesn't have a safe bike parking, so the train station or the pub. I do my work commute with my nice bike, because my workplace has a fietsenhok that only employees can access.

[@hrenes]

Bhudda - check (just a statue), narrow stars - check (take up less space, and work fine), windows - check, curtains - yes (never use them), toilet -no shelf (any more) Never gets clogged up!, Verjaardagscalender - check, stained glass - no, achterom - check (rural), more than 1 bike - check.

[@jilfenrenar]

The narrow stairs in old houses has originally to do with taxes. The grachtenhouses are a good example. The owner had to pay for the width of the house (which had something to do with the amount of glasses, but I fotgot the details). But to have the maximal amount of space and pay as little as possible one would build a narrow tall house, with as little stairspace as possible. Mind you that in the golden age the Dutchies were a lot smaller. And for some reason that trend never faded

[@dutchman7623]

It has to do with the fact that Amsterdam was rich, but at war as well. All citizens together had to pay for the city wall and its defenses. Narrow, deep, plots are the most efficient. Less public spaces like streets and canals were needed. Building up is more cost effective than width. Ground floor was for business, one up for the family, higher up for the kids and house servants, who could do with cheaper, steeper, stairs. Amsterdam was the Manhattan of the 17th century. Even the millionaires did not have a private carriage, they rented one when needed, like taxi's. So no need for a coach house or coach gate. They even rented a ship when the family moved to the country house for the summer, because they had to transport so much that road transport wasn't efficient. Leaving luxurious stuff in the summer house was not done, because of constant threat of war. Everything had to be within the city walls when war or a siege would come. Simply imagine the costs needed to built a sturdy twenty feet high wall around a US suburb, man it with soldiers and canons, and a wide moat in front of it. Even Americans would get a more compact life.

[@hamster4618]

@@dutchman7623 you missed the cost of creating polders and foundations. Because that’s the heart of the issue.

[@DeDoentje]

2 days ago I had a Warmshowers guest from San Fernando Valley. The first thing she said when I showed her where the bathroom was on the 1st floor upstairs: “Oeh, steep stairs”.

[@CoreMonarq]

True my friends would decorate their interior with buddhas in Amsterdam it just looks classy

[@wmigda]

1). Windows and balcony doors which have an extra "ventillation"/ajar mode are also omnipresent in Poland. I'd say this is a feature common in continental Europe. 2). Shell toilet bowls were ubiquitous in Poland during the 1945-1989 period. You can still find them in some older not-yet-upgraded buildings, especially government offices, public schools, etc. Modern toilet bowls follow a regular convention, representant for Europe.

[@harrispinkham]

So true!

[@josvanzetten]

I have 1 small buddha in my house. I got it in 1996 as a present from a Chinese worker when he went home to China after working together on a project for a year. But I would never buy a Buddha myself. About the curtains. My wife want always the curtains open, and I want them closed. But we are together now for 30 years, so compromises have to be made 🙂 The 'glas in lood' windows and doors are beautiful. And yea, we live with 3 people in my house and there are 7 bikes in the shad. And now I am looking to buy a old bike from 1920, 30 or 40 as a hobby. So it wil be 8 🙂 Thanks again for your video.

[@ErwinBlonk]

The toilet you describe is called a 'vlakspoeler' (flatflusher) and the other (which is also what you'll see mostly in offices) is a 'diepspoeler' (deepflusher).

[@mvl71]

Nee, dat heet een plonsplee.

[@hansolo2121]

I am native Dutch and I have never seen a Boedha in any home I have visited in my country during my entire life.... Literally: none. So it really says something about YOUR friends and family in The Netherlands and nothing about our culture :) Also the steep stairs are all about space. When you have little space like we do in The Nethgerlands a steep stairway in your home simply saves space so you have more room to live in. It is that simple.

[@soulangela7154]

As a dutch person, I've seen a LOT of Buddhas in people's houses. Also if you've been to any tuincentra you will often see a section with a lot of buddha statues, they are really popular over here. Although it could be a regional thing, but personally I would definitely say it's a dutch thing.

[@sannesteers]

The Buddhas: I think it is just where you live. Here in the south there aren't Buddhas. Here are lots of little dwarfs. In the garden, between the plants or on the grass, near the door. Those who have a (very) little fish pond in the garden often have a small dwarf with an angle on a stone at the fish pond.

[@ajvanmarle]

1:00 the buddhas are a left-over from the time we had Indonesia as a colony. People took them home as souvenirs. It became a thing.

[@patje89]

Our steep staircases are evolved like this due to limited groundspace. Because the Netherlands is very dense, ground space is very expensive. So if you want to have as much livingspace as possible, you make everything that is not meant for lving as small as possible.

[@hamster4618]

The population wasn’t as dense back then, but building grounds extremely expensive as a result of inpolderen and foundation (piles).

[@Guiseppen]

Funny for a genuine Dutch guy to see what you came up with, f.i the stained windows, it reminds me of my saying "you can only grow when you realize that you can only reason from your own frame of reference". We here never actually have thought it special, but for Americans it will be. The ones you refer to, are mainly form let's say early 1920's to around 1940. But you can also see a lot of stained glass in the whole of Europe in buildings from the tim Art Déco/Art nouveau was booming, although that was onlt the real "posh" buildings, and in The Netherlands it was all over the place, even rented houses (and form arhcitecture more the "Amsterdamse school" ! Keep up the good work! I enjoyed it

[@r.a.h7682]

Of course stairs are bigger in the US, people are 400lb on average there.

[@Jaimedevos]

The toilet shelf is on its way out, though. In new builds or renovations the shelf type toilet is hard to find.

[@nickkuiper32]

Back in the day, the way yiu were taxed for your house was the width of your building, hence people ended up "small" houses. This meant that when they installed stairs, it was a massive waste of living space, so they made the stairs as small and steep as possible to save that valuable space

[@black4pienus]

My Buddha is pure decoration. The stairs is probably because Dutch homes are smaller than American homes. Interesting you're talking about the lack of curtains in the Netherlands, while I was under the impression a lot of American bedrooms don't seem to have curtains. At least that's what I get from tv. I need my curtains. I don't like people peeking in.

[@Schokland2007]

Excellent observations again. I have a boeddha just for decoration. I like the little fat happy guy.

[@michelem226]

But are the curtains in the bedroom substantial? Seems like people would want to keep the light out for sleep and also have more privacy.

[@Marijn_92]

The toiletshelf is indeed basically to look at your business, I've always been told to see if it looks "healthy" your bowel movements is a good indicator how your health is.

[@y4si0]

I live in a house in Den Haag that was built in 2008. Stairs are narrow and the house isn't that small (around 180m2). Whenever I go back to Poland, I have this uneasy feeling that stairs there are so wide and could be shortened by at least 50%. ;)

[@Webjutter]

I am Dutch, I have curtains that I close when I turn on the lights. I have 64 Buddha's. I don't have a calendar in my toilet, my toilet sink is big and I don't have a shelf in my toilet. I don't have an achterom. I do have two bikes though....

[@MrDonkerblauw]

Eva, you missed the hallway! In many US houses you walk straight into the living room, wich I cannot imagine over here ..

[@robertvermaat2124]

@toilets: I don't know anyone who still has a 'shelf toilet'. I don't even know if they're still being sold. I think it's a thing of the past, yet it often crops up as something 'typically' Dutch. @curtains: Dutch like looking out into the street. Not only to see what's the traffic, but especially what the neighbours are up to. 😝 @bikes: once I had a city bike and a sports bike, now we (4) all just have one. And while the bicycle market may be 'saturated' (is it?) bike theft is perhaps also high because bikes are EXPENSIVE these days! It seems like simple bikes do not exist anymore. Then you have the e-bike that costs as much as a small car, and fatbikes that are impossible to insure around Amsterdam (if not equipped with anti-theft gps) because the chance of them being stolen there is almost 100% (!!!).

[@lbergen001]

Hi Ava, I don't have a boedha but an Oerang Malu. Does that count as a boedha too?

[@friendlyghost6564]

Fortunately most 'vlakspoelers' (shelf toilets) are being replaced by toilet bowls in most places.

[@zaltmanbleroze]

Little tip for the Dutch toilet shelf, put a kitchen paper towel or some toilet paper on the shelf/bottom. That way the "business" does not stick and just slides down when you flush. This also works for the other type of toilets without the shelf.

[@lienbijs1205]

Or eat more fibre.

[@anneworks]

Yes the random Buddha's! I don't understand us either. Before that (quite a long time ago) there were little geese, which I also didn't see the point of. I've learned to donate presents like that. It's the thought of a present that counts, not the holding on to everything people give you.

[@DenUitvreter]

The narrow stairs are a safety feature, there is always a wall for balance and if you fall there is no room to roll all the way down.

[@eva-xv2jk]

😂🤣😂

[@Katherine-em4fl]

Lmao my colleague broke her foot falling down the stairs of her Dutch house😅

[@kamion53]

narrow stairs once saved my life, I tripped and would have fallen down at least 4 meters, most likely breaking my neck in the process, if I did not caught stuck in the stair ( in an enormous awkward position but never the less safe).

[@19wladimir56]

The see-through curtains do you mean vitrages (net curtains)?

[@NaomiClareNL]

No buddhas, calenders or vitrage in my house but I do have 2 curving stairs. I usually go down it with the foot on the smaller part of the steps at a 90 degree angle...

[@freudsigmund72]

For me one of the most typical things in a Dutch home, is tha rediculously small sink in the bathroom to wash your hands in.

[@Rob2]

The bathroom is ridiculously small so only a ridiculously small sink will fit in it. I never use it because the "real" bathroom (what we call a bathroom instead of a toilet) is next to it so I wash my hands there. So it is only for guests...

[@nagranoth_]

Don't forget the guilt and clumsy attempts at cleaning up when you inevitably spill water in your hosts bathroom.

[@freudsigmund72]

@@nagranoth_ true

[@SjaakSchulteis]

You nailed it.... about the stairs: many years ago when I still lived in the Netherlands, my German friends came to visit me and the first thing they complained about were the stairs. About the curtains: in the south (Limburg) people do have their curtains. Not having them is more common in the west. Toilets: horrible, I hate them. I live in Thailand now, have my own house and we even have a so called but-shower to clean yourself afterwards. Its kind of what a bidet does. I used to have two bikes as well in the Netherlands. One for sports and the other for shopping. Here in Thailand only for sports, because it is too hot to go shopping on a bicycle. Then we usually use our motorbike or car. About the Buddha statues... I found it odd as well when I lived there. Well I had one, which I brought from my first holiday many years ago from Thailand. But many years later, my ex-wife wanted to have one for the garden. As decoration. I found it strange. Here in Thailand you don't see people buying christian figures to put in their gardens. But each house has buddhastatues, because, well it is their belief.

[@arturobianco848]

Dutchy here i would love to have a bidet so practical unfortunatly it wouldn't fit in my toiletroom.

[@SjaakSchulteis]

@@arturobianco848 Here in Thailand it is fairly easy: we have a small handshower connected to the water system and even the smallest room can have one... I personally nearly never use toilet paper... water is a lot better in cleaning your bum.