Asking Dutch people why they don't use curtains

Why don't the Dutch use curtains? After 3 hours of asking this question on the streets of the Netherlands, I've gathered some interesting insights...
It's clear that this is a deeply ingrained cultural norm. Many folks said they were raised with open curtains, so it's second nature. The idea of having 'nothing to hide' was a recurring theme.
The people I spoke to valued staying connected with the world outside. Many enjoy looking out and keeping track of happenings around their home. Closing the curtains feels like reducing the size of their world, and that's not something most Dutch people are fond of.
Interestingly, a few people mentioned the cozy feel of having their curtains open, especially in the evenings. There's a warmth and social atmosphere it brings that closing curtains can't replicate.
However, privacy does come into play depending on the location of their home. If they live in busy areas or directly by the street, some people do partially close their curtains or at least keep them half-way closed to maintain a level of privacy. This also changes when it gets dark, where there's a split between those who prefer to keep them open and those who close them.
Another thing that was noteworthy to me was the generational aspect. Some thought older people may be more inclined to keep curtains open for the sense of coziness and staying connected, particularly if they're retired or homebound.
Overall, the Dutch people I spoke with don't mind having their curtains open, they seem to prefer it. It's part of the Dutch culture, a way of keeping in touch with the outside world, and a symbol of transparency and openness. Of course, there are exceptions, but generally, this is how it is.
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[@CultureCompassTV]

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[@jenmorricone4014]

My neighbor in California actually COMPLAINED that i didnt have kitchen curtains! I wash my dishes by the window and i can see my beautiful garden, the street and the hills outside. Now my trees are fuller and they act as a curtain to the street. Apparently she thinks its a sin to look into your own lovely flower garden and at the birds when she walks in front of your house. American suburban paranoia.God forbid you should just wave and be friendly. Dutch people are normal human beings. We should be more like them.

[@cjdflkj]

If during the day she’s crazy. At night it probably creeps her out because she feels like she’s violating your privacy by seeing you.

[@patrickstromann3836]

Yankees are the descendants of Puritans. Puritans were people who emotionally operated on one thing, and one thing only: The unhappiness of others.

[@ThijmenCodes]

Great video, and really encompasses the sentiment I feel too! Love seeing people walking outside when I'm in my living room. The occasional wave, people enjoying the cat sitting in front of the window, sometimes a chat with a random stranger when the window is open too... fun stuff, makes you feel a bit closer to everyone around you that you don't know 🙂

[@stepheng9607]

Very interesting. Thanks. When we moved into our flat we didn't put curtains or blinds in the living room but did in the bedroom. British visitors kept asking when we were going to get curtains!😂

[@reinadegrillos]

Me gusta mucho ese rasgo de cultura. Gracias por el video. Yo disfruté mucho en mis varias visitas a los Países Bajos y las decoraciones en las ventanas son espectaculares. La gente se ocupa de que veas algo bonito cuando miras su hogar desde la calle.

[@CultureCompassTV]

Me alegra que hayas disfrutado el video y tus visitas a los Países Bajos.

[@andrevandervlies5700]

I have heavy curtains in the bedroom because there is a lamp post right in front of my window. The living room curtains are usually open but I have a roll-down sunscreen that's often half-way down because the sun comes through that window for most of the day and glares off my tv. I live on the second floor so privacy isn't much of an issue.

[@CultureCompassTV]

Personally I have my rolling-curtains mostly closed during the day with 30cm or so open at the bottom, so I'm not part of the demographic that I interviewed, but it was nonetheless interesting to do these interviews. I work behind the computer at home, so I prefer a shaded place with zero screen glare.

[@DamaxThomas]

Very interesting. I would have love to know what people semi-transparent curtain that you can see outside in the day and not this opposite. Like the video and opinions, keep the good work!

[@cjdflkj]

The only people I know (US) who leave their blinds closed during the day do it when they aren’t home. They open them when they are home. Or, they have some curtains closed, others open, some windows have a sheer curtain that they can see through and allow light in but the person outside can’t see. I never met anyone who closes the curtains during the day when they are home.

[@jetteramsey9292]

I keep mine curtains or blinds open in the day,and close it at night,like to see out the people,birds,trees flowers.

[@originalmix2546]

Hope you will do more videos soon, it has been a minute. Have a great 2024!

[@CultureCompassTV]

I will, just been busy with other stuff but I have 7 or so videos already shot in the backlog. When I have more free time I'll edit and publish them.

[@jamesdaple9951]

Driving around Quebec I noticed the same thing people leave there curtains open

[@jaysimoes3705]

May be because the further noth you go, the darker it gets especially in winter. The Netherlands is located at the same lattitude as Edmonton Canada. It is much darker here then southern europe and the United States. When it is cloudy especially in december it just never gets light, it just stays dark or morning like. Sun is low on the horizon.So we want to keep all the light in, not out (at least that is my theory.

[@cjdflkj]

I must have my curtains open during the day, but I have been taught to close them at night so am used to that. If I see someone in their house at night I feel like a spy haha. I definitely close mine at night to feel like I’m in my den.

[@scrappedlives]

Nou, zodra het licht aan moet in huis, doe ik de gordijnen dicht. En zo ben ik dat van huis uit gewend en ik zie hier op het dorp niet anders. Misschien dat dat in de stad zo is dat men de gordijnen open houdt, maar in de dorpen niet.

[@MonsieurRaki]

I'm not typical Dutch in this regard.. I enjoy privacy, so if I need to I close the curtains. But I live on the 7th floor now, so nobody can peek through my window :)

[@WayneLynch69]

It's very interesting to hear the different mores of Europeans. But, as they are becoming as heterogeneous as the U.S., we'll see if they maintain their 'commonweal'

[@CultureCompassTV]

No doubt over time cultures change, it's the case of any society. I think it's best not to try and avoid it but to try and lead it in a good direction. Good to read you found the video interesting.

[@MonsieurRaki]

Each European country has their own culture, we are not all the same in Europe.

[@Lena-cz6re]

What if you suddenly see a creepy face in the window in the middle of the night? 😱

[@moi984]

Nice!!

[@CultureCompassTV]

Thanks, good to see people enjoying the video

[@dexterbrown2517]

Hele maal niet waar, dat in Nederland laten ze de gordijnen open. Vooral in winter hadden de meeste mensen hele zware gordijnen om de warmte binnen te houden en de kou buiten te houden.

[@williamgeardener2509]

Inmiddels hebben bijna alle huizen HR+ of HR++ beglazing.

[@ericfisher1360]

The reason is tied into their Calvinist history.

[@julianshepherd2038]

But not Scottish Calvinists?

[@ericfisher1360]

@@julianshepherd2038 Dunno, I have never lived in Scotland.

[@jaysimoes3705]

???????? Where do you live. Here in the SW everyone uses them. I came across this before so at night we would roam the town we live in and 4 out of 5 at least has closed curtains. During the day less so....why would you! You wan the sun in, not out! Another thing: people looking inside is and was never appreciated where I live. You just do not do that.

[@decnijfkris3706]

vandaag de dag zou ik hiermee wel erg oppassen hoor. Bij mij zit alles potdicht en ik heb ook niets te verbergen. Maar als hier een dame voorbij komt met een kind of met een hondje dan loop ik meteen het risico, als ik schaars gekleed loop, dat ik een bezoekje van de politie krijg voor vermeende pedofilie of ongewenst sexueel gedrag. Dus afsluiten die handel. Misschien laat ik mijn ramen nog dicht metselen ook. Ben ik nog niet helemaal uit. Aju!

[@williamgeardener2509]

Misschien verwar jij America met Nederland? Volgens jurisprudentie is zelfs naakt in je eigen huis lopen niet verboden, mits je er voor zorgt dat jouw naaktheid niet aanstootgevend is. Dus jouw piepelotje in volle glorie tentoonstellen aan de buurt is duidelijk aanstootgevend. Ook al heeft de buurvrouw een vergrootglas nodig om de kleine rakker te kunnen zien.

[@stevelangstroth5833]

"I have nothing to hide." ...but Anne Frank. 😲

[@nicobsm111saintmichel7]

You ought to think twice before making such an incendiary, unacceptable comment--not even an adolescent with 2 neurons would make such a comment!

[@stevelangstroth5833]

@@nicobsm111saintmichel7 Free speech is free speech. We're not living in occupied territories of the Third Reich anymore, are we? "Incendiary"? Don't be a drama queen. 👑

[@Boqprecision-m4x]

Brave online, beta offline.

[@stevelangstroth5833]

@@Boqprecision-m4x Dr. Jekyll online. You don't want to meet the other, offline guy.

[@Boqprecision-m4x]

@@stevelangstroth5833 Empty vessels make the most noise.

[@patrickstromann3836]

It's the remnant of Calvinism. Calvinism was a hyper zealous sub-sect of Protestantism, in which people were expected to be so morally unsullied that they shouldn't have anything to hide. Curtains might actually have been outlawed in the Netherlands at some point on the past. BTW, we're talking 17th Century Netherlands.

[@techslfink9722]

I heard that it comes from the same origin, but also that you shouldn’t flaunt your wealth. Keeping the curtains open did show your wealth, but not actively so that was allowed. Personally I have semi transparent curtains for the day and fully blocking ones for when it’s dark. We like our privacy.

[@patrickstromann3836]

@@techslfink9722 "but also that you shouldn’t flaunt your wealth. " Absolutely. I kind of forgot about that aspect.

[@mikesahle1193]

Thank you 🙏 very interesting 🤔 about curtains🪟👍🎥

[@CultureCompassTV]

Glad you enjoyed it