CULTURE SHOCKS In The Netherlands (From a South African)

Hello everyone!
Today's video was extremely fun to make, despite being sick. I hope it makes you laugh as much as we laughed (my husband and I) while editing it :)
I hope everyone has an amazing day and enjoy the weekend!
Mxx

[@hunchbackaudio]

Poes has a double meaning in Dutch too, but we don't make a big deal out of it. Because it doesn't sound foul to us in any way. Never new it is perceived like that in Afrikaans. And for the sarcasm, I think you didn't encounter the right people yet, Dutch people can be pretty sarcastic, it's just not for everyone.

[@martebarnard]

Thanks for the insight! Overall the Dutch I’ve met have a great sense of humor, so hopefully I’ll encounter some who are sarcastic too 😜

[@hunchbackaudio]

@@martebarnard Dutch humor is very comparable to Britsh humor, we love under statements and reversed statements, it can also be pretty dark sometimes. And complaining is our national sport as you probably already noticed.

[@SwordOfHeimdall]

@@hunchbackaudio so true. The Dutch are very much like the Brits and the Irish in our love for banter, slagging and sarcasm.But I guess it works a bit differently than in SA. I've noticed this before in interactions.

[@longbow857]

@@martebarnard I liked you video and I would like to think I like sarcasm too, but I have to say that with your example I couldn't see the funny side of it. Maybe saying no when you are really into it is perhaps a bit too.. simple? A good example of sarcasm I like is the way the character House is represented in the same named series. If you have seen it you probably know what I mean, and if not: give it a try for sure. The sarcasm is just too funny.

[@martebarnard]

@@longbow857 Hello! I can certainly understand where you're coming from. For the length of the video I didn't mention our entire conversation; within the scenario it was pretty obvious that I was being sarcastic as I had praised the shop assistant for finding the perfect pair and that I loved them. Maybe not the best example without giving full context! Also, I love House :D

[@daluzsoares]

With the curtains open you can see from the room who is stealing your bike.🧐

[@Mutation80]

Bicycles don't get stolen in the netherlands, everybody just lends them out to everybody!

[@jacquelineb3475]

@@Mutation80 Best answer!

[@rebekkavandenbrink8273]

😂

[@marjoleinrijtma3617]

Het lekker gelag want dis so herkenbaar. Wat my na 20 jaar nog steeds 'surprise' is dat mensen hulle groente/eiers/fruit langs die pad sit met n potjie waar jy geld in gooi en vat/koop wat jy nodig het. In die aand kom hul dan die geld en oorgeblewe goed weer vat tot die volgende keer. So nice.

[@RustyBumbleBee]

Wij doen dat zelf met eieren en er wordt eigenlijk nooit iets gestolen.

[@plofkraak6536]

Dat kun je ook veel zien in Scandinavië. Geniet ervan zolang het duurt, want tijden veranderen (sommigen noemen het: "cultural enrichment").

[@maxw7118]

Het kan hier in het oosten nog steeds behalve tijdens de zomer vakantie want dan blijven de eieren staan en verdwijnt het geldpotje naar een andere eigenaar . Jammer is dat dus geen local eieren in de zomer vakantie.

[@y.v.l.]

When I walk around in other countries and find every house firmly locked often including metal safety curtains (France, Germany) in front of the windows I feel very unsafe on the streets. Being able to see people whilst your out on the streets especially at night gives me assurence.

[@JulesStoop]

7:27 There’s also the reverse of the cause and effect that’s usually mentioned. The dutch transparency between inside and outside spaces, also means that people inside are aware of what happens outside and those with ill intent will know themselves observed. In this way Dutch streets are an extension of people’s living rooms. More so than in most other places I have been to. In other words: being safe outside in the Netherlands is partly a result of people not keeping everything shut and themselves invisible.

[@OBolk]

Sarcasm, we love it. You just bumped into a grumpy guy.

[@harriependers9171]

Heb zelf in mijn jeugd in Zuid/Afrika met plezier gewoond...prachtig land en jammer van de onveiligheid. Heb ook nog de Tafelberg beklommen op me 12ejaar....Zeeland heeft het meeste zonuren van Nederland....fijne dag

[@robinjansen6891]

Hearing the Afrikaans language is like music to my ears. Keep talking it. Very nice video. Thanks for sharing your experiences here.

[@jsb7975]

Maar droge humor en sarcasme zijn nou net twee vaste ingrediënten in Nederland ! 😊❤

[@lindaraterink6451]

I think she used it in the wrong setting. The salesman was being serious, so he got caught off guard.

[@willemdederde6669]

Kijk . . . Wat een moed om hier in het Nederlands te schrijven . . . werkelijk een verademing tussen al dat Nodeloze engels.

[@janjanssen9629]

Thanks for pointing out the normal things we almost take for granted… we should appreciate them (more)… and very nice you ended in Afrikaans… wouldn’t mind if you share some live experiences from South Africa… always nice to hear what happens in other parts of the world.

[@doctorjoost]

You should watch 'Jiskefet' (meaning 'garbage bin' in Friesian) if you're interested in Dutch humour, whatever that may mean. A couple of my favourite Jiskefet sketches are 'Prostitutie op het platteland', 'Humor op het platteland', and 'Ons genoegen'. Great video by the way. You've given me some interesting insights!

[@888records]

If going for a walk during the day surprises you, you will be surprised how many women walk or bike around at night.

[@dutchman7623]

Yes, especially in student cities. It is safe, but a little bit awareness is advised. And when something happens, it will be on the national news, everyone talks about it, everyone gets angry, though it happens only once or twice a year, over the entire country. So enjoy freedom, but stay safe!

[@renevaanhold]

Beste Marté, Dat was een hele leuke culture shock video. Je hebt al meer dan 300 likes dus ik ben benieuwd naar de volgende video! Vriendelike groete, René

[@hansutrecht6555]

Hey Marté, enjoying your vlogs very much. You’ll get used to the Dutch ways and in the long run you’ll adapt. In fact language wise we’re not that different, but cultural we are. I have no problems understanding the Africaan language which is pretty much old Dutch😊

[@arnomeesters1]

baie baie mooi, dankie voor de video

[@joopdesmit]

Quite counterintuitively, the driest and sunniest places in NL, are directly at the coast. Clouds collect and rain out after that. Say some 10 -50 kms inland. There can be huge daily differences, but on a whole I'd say that the similar North to South is more or less similar. There is a distinct difference between coast and the East. That said, it has been raining mostly non-stop from last October until a few weeks ago. Exceptional. We have weather. Not climate.

[@Bruintjebeer6]

You are right. I live on the north west coast and we get a lot of rain

[@armanivanderwesthuizen79]

Lovit! Asb maak 'n part 2

[@Treinbouwer]

4:31 Amsterdam-Antwerp, twice the distance, has a difference in altitude which leads to 15 minutes difference in sunset time. No you do not get significantly more sun. In the long year average it is possible to mesure a slight difference between regions, but you can not feel it because the randomeness of the weather.

[@jannetteberends8730]

About the weather: the difference are the rivers. I lived in Maastricht and every time I went to Utrecht or Amsterdam I was freezing the whole day. (Because I keep forgetting to take something warm with me). The windows without curtains is a centuries old tradition. There are two explanations. The first one is that people wanted to show of their wealth. The second is that in this Calvinistic country, people wanted to show they had nothing to hide. And about sarcasm, that’s also different above the rivers. In the randstad people can be very sarcastic. When I moved back from Maastricht, it took some time to get accustomed to it again.

[@PrinceWalacra]

The most sunny region in the Netherlands is the southwest (Zeeland), it gets approximately 2050 sun hours a year, whereas the east of the country gets like 1750 hours a year.

[@jackvandersluis1723]

Like your video very much, and poes 😂😂

[@cellevangiel5973]

I have an Rwandese friend and once we talked about the difference of thinking ahead in Rwanda or Europe. Africans don't think ahead that much, a week is far ahead. But if you live in a climate where it freeze -10 C for weeks in a row, you better think ahead and collect some firewood. That's why we think different.

[@willemdederde6669]

ok . baaie dankie voor de complimenten . . . Ik ben Hollander dus ik ben ook 'direct'. . . . : Noem in een volgende video a.u.b. alleen negatieve kanten van ons land zodat de stroom (werk, school, politieke, etc ) immigranten, een klein beetje gaat afnemen zodat de 6 hierboven genoemde punten in stand kunnen blijven . . .

[@pjbrons1]

It was fun looking at this clip. Ill send it to my SA friends and will hear what they say about it;-))

[@vangestelwijnen]

Living in Brabant is a good life. More relaxed than in the busy Randstad. Yes, the Dutch are happy to show their interiors, but if you want to visit the people living there, you need to make an appointment two months in advance.😂 Directness... coconut culture! Enjoy the Netherlands🎉

[@gerbentvandeveen]

Ik heb op mijn navigatie ook de taal op zuid Afrikaans staan. Het is echt een mooie taal. Neem op de cirkel de tweede afdraai. En aan het van die pad draai rechts. Groetjes uit Spakenburg, Nederland

[@AlbertZonneveld]

The Netherlands had and Russian caused energy crisis in 2022 with energy prizes quadrupeling and some people in poorly insulated house actually needing to sit with blankets in the winter because they could not heat their house over 15 or 16 degrees celsius. Prizes have dropped back most of the way but the goverment has increased energy taxes on gas so that stays very expensive (at 1.25 euro/ m3) . So saving on energy is really a big thing since 2022.

[@orangeguppie6897]

Double meanings, well, if you are not carefull you can't stop laughing because you say something, normally quite innocent, it can have a double meaning, you can have so much fun with it!!!over nothing strange, just an innocent sentence. 😂😂😂😂. Thanks, i loved your reaction! Tot ziens en groetjes vanuit het dorp Klaaswaal in de Hoeksche waard, niet zo ver weg van Brabant, de provincie Zuid Holland. Bye!!!

[@carpor911]

When I hear the word SHOCKS I aways thing it is negatief ....... But I am glad that they almost all of them are positive,

[@marleen1451]

I had Spanish relatives over and they were surprised too that they could look into the houses, that's not usual in Spain.

[@RAMDH]

Dan zou ik maar geen tompoes (tompouce) eten 😂

[@martebarnard]

HAHAHA no!! (Cries in Afrikaans) that is too funny 🤣

[@TheEvertw]

That app to inform people of the cheapest moment to use electricity has a purpose: to lessen the peak load on the electrical grid. At times the grid is near its max capacity, so we currently can not add new users to it. If people were to spread the load and lessen the peaks, we could add new businesses that are waiting to be connected. Most dutchies will directly understand more than 75% of Afrikaans once they get used to the accent. I once heard Pik Botha on the news sometime in the seventies and ask my dad why an obviously powerful man would speak like a small child. Of course, I was a BIG boy at the time, who had learned to speak properly. I must have been about 10 years old, which would put this in 1977. 🤣

[@dykam]

Specific execution of sarcasm seems to be fairly culturally grounded, and especially when using second languages it is lesser perceived. But many people do love sarcasm (of course many also don't). I'm sure you'll get plenty of fun moments in the future, I'd just be careful initially. Dutch sarcasm I think is very tone based, rather than a deadpan delivery.

[@drerri]

poes is actually sometimes used with a bit of the same meaning here, but seen as more old fashioned and not as vulgar.

[@hansblom5881]

welkom to the Netherlands how you have a good life here oo and dont worry we do have sarcasm here :P

[@schiffelers3944]

Het kinderliedje: Poesje mauw, is met een puberaal brein zeer dubbel. Poesje mauw, kom eens gauw. Ik heb lekkere melk voor jou.

[@Tentoooooo]

Donders, ben 49 maar zo had ik het liedje nog niet "eerder bekeken" haha dussss

[@tyson00001]

I'm Belgian living in the Netherlands. Efficiency isn't a topic I can agree upon. When I had to register in cityhall it was so hectic. For my wife (who is from Taiwan) is more paperwork. In belgium we have it all digital. The only benefit is that they take English as a legal language which in belgium can Dutch, french and German

[@ralphbehouden]

😄 leuke video. Mooi om te horen hoe je tegen Nederland en de Nederlanders aankijkt.

[@nlbergsma]

I say it once more: windows are for the inhabitants to look out and to let light in. NOT for outsiders to look in !. 😉

[@jelle_smid]

From experience, expats and energy bills are an unfortunate combination. Most in the world are unable to fathom how high energy costs are in The Netherlands, not adjusting their usage habits, resulting to massive massive annual bills.

[@jellemb3603]

Interesting you found the Dutch weather better than expected, since we just had the most rain in history from sep 23 to march 24 :) this wasn't normal even for Dutch standards

[@martebarnard]

I moved at the beginning of this year, so perhaps missed the worst of it! :)

[@TravelFilming]

On the topic of words I was surprised that the word ‘kaffer’ is seen as such a foul word in ZA (and could even get you into legal trouble) whereas here if someone really messes up big time it is not unheard of to say ‘What een kaffer!’.

[@berryrijnbeek5938]

Sarcasm is mostly done (A LOT) between friends, not a lot to a stranger..... because you might not know/like the reaction....

[@meticulousgeek]

Congrats on getting a bike stoien, you are now officially Dutch! And don't worry about peeking into homes, the curtains are open for a reason after all!

[@TheBorgfelder]

I like the Dutch directness - perhaps, because I am from neighboring Germany 😀.

[@Teslacoil333]

💯 💯 💯 😎😎😎

[@ONKTmetalband]

🤘😊

[@Elzelienb]

😊

[@lindaraterink6451]

lol imagine hearing the neighbour calling the cat to come home. Poes, poes, poes, poes, poes! Poes is also a word for lady parts in the Netherlands. fyi.

[@MCK620]

On the contrary, I find the Afrikaanse words far more direct, like an elevator is a 'hysbak' (hijsbak). In Dutch a 'hijsbak' is an elevated platform for window washers or construction workers. I had a good laugh, when I heard the word 'skootrekenaar' (laptop) for the first time 🙂

[@K55365]

Welcome home 😅

[@rgfrank1668]

2nd point (Safety), has a lot to do with community or sense of belonging. There are parts of the Netherlands that are less safe than others but as a whole people aren't trying to better themselves at the cost of others. Also I know that there is a lot of talk about bike theft online, but I was born and raised in the Netherlands. Have never lived anywhere else longer than 6 months and never lost my bike.... This most likely also is related to the community u live in. Sarcasm is used often but much, much more between family member, friends, acquittances and colleagues. As for language, I was curious if it would pop-up. Afrikaans is a derivative of Dutch so many words/sounds should be familiar to u. Poes = cat but indeed also vagina or pussy, it all depends on context. I hope u are settling in nicely in this beautiful little country

[@johndoidge5191]

Regarding Dutch thrift, the former CEO of one South Africa's banks, a Dutch citizen, 9ne described Dutch people as being like a Scotsmen with his generosity removed.

[@jaapfolmer7791]

😁 Have you gone sailing yet? Learned what a jib is in Dutch?

[@victorvanest8177]

TOP

[@BleepingTom]

I am Dutch and in my opinion sarcasm DOES work but mostly with people you already know.... Apply sarcasm to strangers you get a weird look much more often....

[@mvdh877]

4:19 brabant here also actualy north brabant the eindhoven region

[@lostgirl23loveanimemanga86]

4 fun deals use social deals❤

[@Dunnstakenz]

🙂

[@lindaraterink6451]

'Peeping in' as you walk past is something different then 'stop and stare' You are ok with peeping in

[@anne1709_]

Lol I'm from a region a little bit north of Brabant and in Brabant they canNOT handle the level of directness that is common in our province. Let alone the directness from even norther regions 😂

[@robvoncken2565]

Yes the south gets more sun I think. Greetings from the deep South ( Limburg )

[@margreetanceaux3906]

Like your sarcasm - I presume the shop assistant just had an off day.

[@martebarnard]

Ouch 🤣 hahaha

[@giselavaleazar8768]

I guess it didn't come across in the way it was used . I think we Dutch have some particular intonations in our speech when we use sarcasm.

[@dykam]

Kat and poes can both be used, kater is explicitly male, poes is often female. Poes is often used with the diminutive poesje, for larger cats people are more included to use kat. There's absolutely a double entendre there, but as other double entendres, the context is leading.

[@martebarnard]

Thanks for explaining, appreciate it ☺️ In Afrikaans, a cat is kat. P*os is exclusively a swear word, which is what causes the amusement!

[@hippopotoftea]

just wait until someone says someone was ´poeslief´

[@dennisverhoef1564]

🙂🙂🙂

[@ssgroen]

😁

[@Aviopic]

Your idea about hours of sun is incorrect 😬 The west coast gets considerably more hours or sun than anywhere else in the country, can be up to 40%. The reason is that there is less obstruction for the sun to hide behind, apart from the ocean and that is. Also due to the presence of the ocean it gets less cold in winter and less warm in summer.

[@robgerhardterellen1488]

Hoekom word Engels gepraat en nie in mooie Suid Afrikaans nie?

[@user-wn8cp3qf1x]

i know at least three families that moved here coz of the insucerity in their homeland of South Africa.

[@vboy63]

😄

[@victorvanest8177]

12p joost klein Nederlandse ❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@qazatqazah]

Very interesting. Sarcasm is not in line with Dutch directness. Saying what you mean leads to the best results.

[@-_YouMayFind_-]

We do use sarcasm. At least I do as a Dutch person XD, but I do misunderstand others sarcasm at time

[@MarceldeJong]

🙃

[@ralphvercauteren9267]

😀 A lot of Dutch are sarcastic also, but when you do business thenat we tend to be more serious. I think that happened to you in that time. Money is a serious business. 😉 "Poes" has a double meaning, but we tend to use different words to swear. Also, different regions in the Netherlands have different swearwords.

[@wgsips]

Uhh my curtains are definitely closed!! 😉

[@mormacil]

About the open curtains, a common explanation goes back to our calvenist past. Showing off wealth was vain and a sin, you're not supposed to do that. But other people looking into your home and see your wealth? That's on them, not on you. It was a way to show off wealth and feel spiritually pure. It certainly had tracking in the northwest, the Randstad region for example. Undoubtedly there other factors at play, good natural light, the idea of having nothing to hide, low crime, etc. But I do think the theory of showing off wealth is credible. Sarcasm though, we're pretty fluent in. But perhaps the social rules differ a bit of when it's appropriate. Or perhaps there was a mismatch between your delivery and their mindset, who knows. Humor can be hard to parse at the best of times. But sarcastic routines is 100% a known commodity in Dutch humor.

[@nlbergsma]

I also leave the curtains open, in the summer at least, but there is little wealth to bee seen.....😔

[@realpirate]

The poes thing took some getting used to 🙂

[@realpirate]

and ja, no sarcasm, grin

[@freudsigmund72]

Poes in Dutch means (among other things) female cat Poes in Afrikaans means teef in Dutch (according to google translate) Teef in Dutch means female dog in English strange it goes from female cat to female dog in two translations?

[@ikkezelfdoemaar]

A "poes" is a female cat, Its also the female part of a women. You know, down there!

[@mvdh877]

the female part down there have alot of names here,not only poes lol

[@ikkezelfdoemaar]

@@mvdh877 tja, het ging om het woord poes. Niet over mossel, oester, kut, spleet, naaigat, zijkgat, neukgat, pisgat, frunnike, uitgestoken koeien oog, foef, muffe sloot, baby fabriek, potje, pruim, gratige vis, naakt kat, haring, makreel, natte sloot, fluit, goudmijntje, enz enz enz. Het ging over het woord poes!

[@mvdh877]

@@ikkezelfdoemaar ja hahaha dat weet ik ook wel

[@henkvisscher4379]

What do you think of the Dutch word; ledikant?

[@martebarnard]

Haha I think it sounds similar to a dangerous word! Or, in the alternative, sounds like the Afrikaans “predikant” (minister). ☺️

[@omgwtfbbqloon]

@@martebarnardpredikant is also the Dutch word for minister (no big surprise there I guess)

[@henkvisscher4379]

Predikant as a connection with the English word predicament. The problem (predicament) more or less which is foresaid (predikant). Ha,ha😂

[@henkvisscher4379]

Ledikant is a crib or a (baby)bed

[@FacelessJanus]

There is another saying "Trust in God, but lock your bike." (Vertrouw op God, maar zet je fiets op slot.)

[@martebarnard]

Hahaha I’ll certainly remember that one 😁 (wise words!)

[@woutvanostaden1299]

Ja, als Afrikaans praat is het soms "redelijk" te volgen. Hoe makkelijk is het voor jou om Nederlands te verstaan? Sarcasme can wel werken en er zijn ook zeker wel mensen die het snappen (en die het niet snappen), maar het ligt er ook een beetje aan hoe je het zegt brengt. Met der tijd zul je vanzelf een stijl onwikkelen die wel vaker aanslaat.

[@nlbergsma]

I have hardly any problems with understanding Afrikaans. But my experience is that Afrikaanders have problems with my speaking Dutch. What's your experience with that?

[@SonOftheForest]

No the Netherlands is to small to make a difference if you are in the south or the north for more sunshine, it can be some what warmer land inward because of less wind and the coast has the most heavy storms because of being next to the north sea. And i really like sarcasm and i am as Dutch as Dutch gets, so niet iedereen over een kam scheren he 😘

[@renekuipers4563]

Not true Aardig verschil .hoor.

[@RustyBumbleBee]

Most sun you’ll get in Zeeland, but that’s next to Brabant. Also een Nederlander versta Ek net genoeg afrikaans om jou te verstaan. So 😊❤

[@raffaguitars]

I think you are wrong on the sarcasm part, you will find out once you live here a bit longer. Sarcasm is bigger in the north..

[@00wheelie00]

Afrikaans voor knipperlicht is flikkerlig, erg onfortuinlijk voor Nederlanders :D

[@1walkgirl]

try ledikant😁🤐

[@ralphm8088]

Calvinisten… Study it a bit and you will know the Dutch. Explains the curtains and directness;)

[@jaapfolmer7791]

Afrikaners are more Calvinist than we Dutch

[@dimrrider9133]

Red is death lol about the red carpet for the bikelanes, dont walk in to m ;p

[@hanskleinjan]

🌹🥰👌🏻🍀🍀🍀

[@robertrijkers4923]

sarcasm abundant here.... just depends on who you met probably.

[@ronbokje6213]

I like to watch outside if I’m inside.

[@TheTwan85]

😁 great video! With all that's going on here politically I wish more people would watch videos about our country through foreigner's eyes.

[@ericdpeerik3928]

Yeah nah, don't leave your phone and purse unattended in the Netherlands. It's not SA, but it will go missing. Nederland is niet voor de poes (and that works in both meanings 😂)

[@00wheelie00]

Your sarcasm should land just fine in Amsterdam or places whit a large population originally from there :D

[@jeroenvanzwam6991]

The dutch do not appreciate sarcasm? Interesting 🤔.... I thought we did....

[@joren7653]

Im 33, and I never had my bike stolen (even though I have lived in Eindhoven, Amersfoort and Utrecht and only the last five years in a smaller village). I didnt know I wasnt really living in the Netherlands all this time ;).

[@mvdh877]

i'm almost 52 and had my bike stolen 3 times...From now on I will always keep it in the storage room. because I now have an expensive electric bicycle