6 Dutch things that will SHOCK Americans | Culture shock | American in the Netherlands

In this video, I share Dutch habits, Dutch cultural aspects, or just things in the Netherlands that have the potential to shock Americans because they are just so different! This video has been sponsored by italki. Join italki's language challenge: go.italki.com/LC-Dutch
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I like to share my experiences of an American expat in the Netherlands. I describe both the unique and everyday aspects of Dutch culture, and life in Holland while enjoying every bit of it!
Blog website: www.dutchamericano.com
Instagram: DutchAmericano
Get in touch: [e-mail]
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[@ingmarhendriks8172]

Helmets combat the severity of an accident. They don't prevent them. The best way to prevent an accident is proper cycling infrastructure and driver sentiment.

[@RH-ro3sg]

Yes, but why not do both? Just in case an accident happens after all.

[@I.Toverheks]

@@RH-ro3sg because we don't feel the necessity. cycling is part of our life. cycling infrastructure in the Netherlands is made to prevent accidents. A helmet would be a reason to cycle less.. as we use it to get everywhere and don't want to arrive with 'helmet hair' when it isn't really necessary to us. (arriving with 'hurricane hair' is no problem for us) for a better explanation of the Dutch infrastructure and why it works opposed of cycling in other countries (and mostly US and Canada), I really recommend the channel 'not just bikes' it explains a lot why cycling works the way it does in The Netherlands. (I've started to appreciate normal Dutch things I never really thought about before)

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

They do help if the cyclists head hits the street. But most of the time, if you fall, you hit the the street with arms and legs. With abrasions and/or broken bones.

[@dl4608]

@UCcbZwSdh4-CcnalaGifA4lA because the risk profile here simply does not warrant it as a default. If your personal preference is wear a helmet, then go nuts! No one is stopping you. But with proper cycle paths, lower speed limits on mixed use roads, proper driver training, and proper consequences for drivers who hit cyclists, the risk is minimal at most for the sort of accident in which a helmet might help for the sort of cycling that most people do. Contrast that with countries like the US, UK, Australia etc, where cars are prioritised above humans by default, and car drivers are massivle over-privileged and consumed by murderous entitlement and genuinely feel they have the right to kill cyclists in their way, and even at best believe they own the roads and everyone else can fuck off…well, I’m not surprised many people can’t conceive of cycling helmet-free…

[@miriamspandereta]

@@dl4608 Great points. To these I would add the vast majority of drivers have: 1) themselves have been or are bike riders, 2) have family members who are riders, 3) learn the rules of the road as children riding bikes - long before they are old enough to obtain a drivers license.

8:25 Washing your hands with hot water is not going to kill any batceria. According to WIkipedia, medical equipment is heated to 70 °C (158 °F) for 30 minutes. HTST pasteurisation of milk is 71.5 °C (160.7 °F) for 15 seconds. Whichever one you pick, your hands won't like that at all.

[@A_Casual_NPC]

Meh, I'm a chef. 70c I can do haha

@@A_Casual_NPC haha baas boven baas 💪

[@EJannings]

I was thought about this at the middelbare school. The molecules of warm water are more lose. That helps the soap getting around/attached to the dirt. Something like that. It has nothing to do with killing germs by heat.

[@MissMoontree]

Warm water is better for mixing soap. But mainly, cold water can feel not nice.

[@just2000ofme]

actually the autoclave to sterilise equipment usually goes to at least 120 C the hot water you use for washing dishes is to remove fat more easily, not to kill germs. Soap removes some germs from your hands though.

[@nienke7713]

pitching in on a conversation going on in public is usually intended as helpful, and I think it's also considered that if you wanted something to be truly private, you'd have the conversation in private and not in public. A little while back a girl was talking to someone on the phone in the store about buying some tortilla wraps, and she was in the right isle but searching the wrong side of the isle, so I simply pointed to the other direction to help her out. I didn't mean to eavesdrop on her or anything, but it's hard not to overhear, and when you hear it and know you can be of help, why wouldn't you help out and save them some time and effort?

[@doosenco]

My mom met her second husband in the HEMA when he asked her for some advice.

[@gabiballetje]

Yup, very Dutch, you hear people just not knowing stuff and discussing it, and if you know and can just state something or point something out, why not do that ? Save them the hassle, and they're most likely pretty happy they just got helped out !

[@poisondartfroggify]

Marjan Visser 😆

[@Depipro]

Exactly this. And as a Dutchman, I for one find it rude when people discuss private matters in a public space where I am present loudly enough for me to follow the conversation. Sometimes if they go too far I'd pitch in just to make them want to stop. When it really is private, they should not waste other people's time and attention (or force them to wear a helmet which covers the ears). It's not like our ears were designed to filter the sound waves, after all...

[@Pannekoek.]

Public Urinal: Its to prevent drunk man from peeing on the street at night. For those a door is a Barrier. It's not perfect but it's better then nothing. Helmets: I dont feel that a helmet is a barrier for me biking. If it was mandetory I would still cycle everyware just to not have to deal with traffic and parking. Washing hands with cold water: Warm water is not killing the germs (they like it actually) With the dishes Warm water helps soaking the stubborn stains out, but the soap is killing the germs. Washing hands with warm water is just for comfort and as frugal duchies we like to save energy/heating cost if we can avoid. Bread with butter: The sin is that you used light products as well. not even real butter and 48+ cheese that is the real dutch way 😁 What can I Say:We like out milk procucts

[@barvdw]

I have a hat on most of the time, partly because I just like hats, partly because it keeps the sun out of my eyes and my hair. With a helmet, that's a lot harder, plus, where do you leave your helmet when you're done biking? I'm not too fond of tugging it along, attached to my rucksack or in it, so yeah, I would cycle less often, especially for the smaller trips I'd leave my bike. For the rest, as a Belgian I agree.

[@arthurhagen3826]

Agree, except for the helmet. Making it mandatory sends out a signal: cycling = dangerous, arm yourself! In that climate the first to stop cycling are mothers with children and elderly. More cars. More accidents. Cycling gets more dangerous, less cyclists, more cars, etc.

[@Doubleranged1]

Soap doesn't kill germs actually. Soap solves fat into water. Washing your hands, you are merely splashing water on germs and hoping they will flush with it. (Unless you are using special "soaps" that disinfect)

[@Pannekoek.]

@@Doubleranged1The outer cell wall of viruses and bacteria are made of fat. So if you use soap you disolve their skin and the bacterie or virus dies.

[@arthurhagen3826]

@@Pannekoek. true. But soap also does that to your skin. Making it easier for bacteria and fungi to pass that barrier later. Washing your hands too often does more harm then good.

[@bask2140]

There's no difference in cold or hot water when washing your hands. But using soap is important.

[@woutervanr]

And actually rubbing your hands together well is what cleans them. If washing your hands takes you

[@scubadaisy5258]

Afdrogen is nog belangrijker🚽

[@dykam]

I guess warm water might soften the grease and oils, but going of a limb that's not necessarily beneficial, as you'd get dry hands if you regularly wash those off.

[@pppetra]

Soap and rubbing. That is what is important when washing hands. Next is rinsing and drying. Warm water may help because people Will not cut short because of the cold.

[@halapunjete]

It's all about comfort why you would want to wash your hands with warm water, the same way you would take a shower with warm water.

[@Nuevocasa]

The Netherlands has an active policy to separate traffic when the speed difference increase. That's why it is much safer to ride a bike without helmet and of course it's for the Dutch like walking. Butter is mainly for Hagelslag ;) and not everyone put that much butter on their braid.

[@I.Toverheks]

exactly. I recommend the channel 'not just bikes' for more insight in the Dutch cycling infrastructure opposed to that of the US and other countries. it explains so much. (and made me appreciate the Netherlands once more)

[@wout123100]

no no i always have used butter on every boterham i ate haha its funny isnt it

[@mymemeplex]

Warm water doesn't help killing the germs. Unless you use scolding hot water. Mythbusters did an episode on it. iirc there's no difference, the effectiveness is in the action. Warm water is more pleasant so you spend more time more easily which is better. Small basins in toilets are a pet peeve of mine as well. particularly the ones with even smaller faucets.

[@PAVx_]

Indeed, regular warm water doesn't kill germs. You'd need boiling water for that, but I daresay wants to burn their hands. It's the soap, the rubbing and the rinsing that actually cleans your hands. Same with dishes, although the warm temperature may help softening food and grease residue. The small wash basins are a problem indeed. In most of them you don't have enough room to actually wash your hands.

[@iamTheSnark]

Scolding water: Hee you dirty so and so, I'll help you to get effing clean! Scalding water: Here, let me burn you.

[@mymemeplex]

@@iamTheSnark ouch :)

[@MrFlatage]

@@mymemeplex Science did an episode of this. The proof was clear. People cannot get skin infections if they wash their hands with boiling water. Because ... no more skin. These videos are great for the social aspect of things. Fact checking is not high on the list.

[@archstanton9182]

I'm in the US, but I wash my hands with liquid soap and cold water. If the warm water were immediately available, I would use it instead of cold water. But I would have to wait a minute or two before the warm water comes out of the faucet, so to save time I just use the cold water. If I am washing my face, I wait until the hot water is available before I start applying it to my face.

[@marjonmaf4684]

Studies have proven that cold water removes the same amount of germs as warm water. Using cold water therefor would be more sustainable. Doing dishes you usually use warm water to remove other substances like grease that are hard to remove with cold water.

[@UrvonDiviner]

If you want just the water to remove/kill germs the temperature has to be well over the point where it's still bearable. You would actually damage your hands if you were to use water hot enough to kill germs (and you'd be in a lot of distress because of it) It's the soap combined with the water that actually does the cleaning and as with any modern detergents the temperature does not have to be all that high anymore. Using cold water and a good bar of soap is fine, provided you wash your hands for at least 20 to 30 seconds. It's the soap and water in combination with the scrubbing action/agitation that actually does the cleaning. Simply rinsing your hands with cold or warm water just does not cut it though, you really have to lather up and go for it!

[@arranchace1306]

@Bloodthirsty 65degrees celcius hot to be exact, then it start to kill germs, most notable for Legionella germs in piping, hence most CV's and geisers (well dont think there are many geisers left now) had to reach a minimal temp of 65degrees. If your CV is regulated rightly, you proberbly always add some cold water when stepping under the shower as its too hot for most people. Any lower temp, and you better off using cold water with soap for washing your hands (FYI, these are the official regulation house inspections for certification are held by at PWN) Germ even love temps of 25 to 30 degrees celcius and exponetional grow, hence you see in warm summers much more infections of open wounds as in the winter, germs dont like it when its too cold, or too warm, they do love a cozy 25-30 degrees, just like us humans.

[@luxuriouswishes]

yeah just use soap

[@sonkeschluter3654]

The public urinals is for these people that would otherwise just pee against against the nearest wall / car. Yes these people exists :-(

[@vincenzodigrande2070]

Or in a public elevator, yes these people also exist. Somehow the elevators on the traverse bridge on Hilversum Mediapark train station falls victim to this several times a week. I really feel bad for those that are of poor mobility or asthmatic that are depending on them. And there are also those that think it is ok to smoke in them. Really makes me wonder how some people are brought up.... I would really not mind a good set of smoke detector sprinklers in them, and an electric shock system when urine is detected against the walls.

[@Erika1965]

Especially at night, and while drunk.. or high.

[@42DEEP42THOUGHT42]

HELMETS don't prevent accidents. INFRASTRUCTURE does.

[@nagranoth_]

That's right. In fact a Dutch professor has done a little study on it, and found that helmets _increase_ the risk of accident because cars drive closer to bike riders with a helmet than those without. Probably because they subconsciously feel the bike rider is safer because they wear a helmet.

[@pppetra]

Also... Unless you are God signal your direction. No need to be mysterious. Just follow the trafficrules whatever way you move around.

[@Houtblokje]

@@pppetra this also goes for people taking the bicycle tho

[@pppetra]

@@Houtblokje Cars, bikes, motor, autoped, scooter, horse, Just walking. Just prepare people around you about what you want and wat for your turn. There is this build in thing and pointing Will work also. Just do IT.

[@Houtblokje]

@@pppetra yeah exactly

[@Budha75]

The point is to prevent people urinating in the street. Imagine smelling piss everywhere instead of just around the urinals.

[@Ssarevok]

You beat me to it. :)

[@nfiles]

Her point is, then why not put up a porter potty for the same goal. And then women could use it too, ha!

[@lidewijvos]

And urine destroys buildings. So all the old buildings are preserved that way. If you look at it from that perspective I can live with it :)

[@vincentvanstigt2926]

toilet with doors wil be demolished by drunk people or people in a rowdy mood. also a closed environment can be used by junkies or homeless people. the simple urinoir is a solution for people not peeing on the street (which you can get a ticket for)

[@Budha75]

@@nfiles Because they are intended to prevent people urinating against walls, old buildings or just in the street. That is not something woman tend to do anyway. Like Vincent mentioned, porter potties would attract all kinds of other problems.

[@sanderw7153]

There's a general lack of public restrooms in the Netherlands in my opinion. It's always a struggle to find one when you're out and about. And quite often they charge money for it too.

[@tigerp930]

The public urinals have space for 4 people to pee, while a public toilet with a door has only place for 1 person. And as other people mentioned, it is to prevent people peeing everywhere (when they are drunk).

[@corrsgirl1]

How would washing your hands with warm water make a difference? There's no way the warm water people use to wash their hands is warm enough to kill germs. I do wash my hands with (cold) water and soap btw. We're not all that gross. I remember when the pandemic started and the cleaning lady at work said she never had to re-fill the soap as much as she did then. Made me realize that maybe people don't use it as much as I thought before..eeeeww.....

[@josvanzetten]

And it wil take a wile before the warm water is transported from the boiler to the sink. So it's a waist of water, gas (boiler) and time. Thanks for your video again :-)

[@Jannemandevries]

You'd need to burn hands if you want to kill germs. Warm water only helps if you have greasy hands. Always use soap!

[@EJannings]

I was thought about this at the middelbare school. The molecules of warm water are more lose. That helps the soap getting around/attached to the dirt. Something like that. It has nothing to do with killing germs by heat.

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

The blue box thingie is often called a Dixie in the Netherlands.

[@JasperJanssen]

It’s one of the brands of the things.

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

@@JasperJanssen Yes, just like porta potti is a brand that has become a generic name for these portable toilets in America. As that's a better explanation what you're talking about than "blue box thingie".

[@Whistler4u]

Don't understand the thing about the urinals since my experience of US cities is that you smell urine everywhere. I rather have it just around the urinals.

[@GeorgeSaint666]

I laughed at the bread part. I was also shocked, as a Dutch person. You completely missed to put butter on some parts of the bread. You need to cover everything! It is also very important to fill up all of the holes. What else you think those are for?

[@greenberry1827]

That’s sooo funny, my daughter would have a fit if every spot and edge is not buttered

[@GeorgeSaint666]

@@greenberry1827 Kudos to your lil' girl Zeze. I guess she is like me. ;-D ... I hate to eat "dry bread". Everything NEEDS to be covered in butter. LOL.

[@computeraddic675]

@@GeorgeSaint666 And ends up as a fat girl later in life..

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

I always use soap too when I wash my hands. Not just water.

[@hunchbackaudio]

I must say for a country that sells machine guns in the convenience store the're surprisingly easy to shock.... But yeah, that's how we make our boterham, although personally I don't like cheese. By the way how clean your hands after washing depends on the soap, bacteria are usually not very impressed if you use law warm instead of cold water;-)

[@silspenk9034]

Spot on !

[@Budha75]

The butter (margarine) holds the sprinkels in place. 🙂

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

Halvarine

[@JacobBax]

It's used as glue

[@josvanzetten]

I hate bread without butter :-)

[@Emmezali]

I once saw an article about biking helmets and safety. They were comparing the amount of accidents involving bikes in countries where helmets were legally required and countries where they are not. The outcome of the research was that biking helmets actually decrease the safety of the wearer because the other people in traffic see the biker as less vulnerable, and will therefore take more risks regarding bikers with a helmet, as compared to bikers without one.

[@dodec8449]

Isn't this because people from countries where people don't wear helmets (like the Netherlands) are more skilled at riding bikes? So that would mean you are even more safe when you wear a helmet. We would know for sure if there was a study within one country. Although I'm Dutch and I don't want to wear a helmet :-( .... it makes me look like 'a German kid'

[@MissMoontree]

But I think in the Netherlands it is different. Car drivers will assume you are less experienced if you wear a helmet.

[@KootFloris]

We don't wear helmets because: 1. Cyclists rule. Hit one, you're to blame unless they really made a big mistake. 2. No helmets means less fuzz, which means you'd sooner take a bike. The more cycling the healthier the people. Check obesity in the UK as a reference. 3. On an individual level, yes helmet is safer. On a collective level not. Scientists discovered when we all don't have helmets, we are care more for each other. We can also read each other's faces better because chaotic Dutch cycling means many little interactions with others to make it work. There were even more reasons but this should be a great start. Otherwise check the Not Just Bikes Channel.

[@MrAronymous]

The thing about a public toilet with more security is... is that that extra security sometimes isn't wanted. Because not all people going into a public toilet are going there to do toilet business or do things that are socially acceptable. That's why you'd need an increase in surveillance and cleaning staff which is why they don't provide enclosed spaces and why most of our public bathrooms, even on private property, are paid (which I don't entirely agree with, one of the few good American ideas worth copying). Hot water won't kill the germs lol. Unless you cook your hand under a boiling water tap. Hot water only softens up greasy or oily dirt on plates so it'll come off easier. What actually cleans your hands/plates is soap + water. Also Ava, double parking is ... parking next to someone so they can't get out. Which is why it's called double parking. Parking in a longtitudinal row is called parallel parking. The thing about allowing cars to park half on the sidewalk is that if a car leaves, it just enlarges the sidewalk. The other option would be to have tiny sidewalks all the time and an empty dedicated parking spot seperated by a curb.

[@IkBerend]

Most times parking on the sidwwalks isn't allowed at all. If there isn't space on the street you should park elsewhere.

[@KenMcCann]

Ava is from NY and doesn't know what double parking is - I was astonished! :D

[@margreetanceaux3906]

No, I don’t mean to be helpful; I just like to express my opinion, on no matter what, whenever you give me the slightest opportunity to do so. That’s the main reason for being here on your channel 😘

[@loredanatempel3808]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Anonymous-sb9rr]

Don't Americans plunge their bread in mayonaise instead of butter? That's sort of the same thing right? Dry bread tastes very, well, dry, which needs to be remedied in some way.

[@lisaguier4249]

As an American I did not find this video useful. I use butter, a reasonable amount.. most do smother their bread with mayonnaise and mustard.....

[@bobosims1848]

Hi, Ava. Interesting video once again! "In America, we don't park on the sidewalk!" No kidding... In most places in America, sidewalks, like bike lanes, are virtually non-existent. You cannot park in a spot that is just not there. Let me be perfectly clear with you: I *hate* it when people park their murder cubes on the sidewalk. But in some places, there just isn't enough room to avoid it.

[@lindaijland4759]

Parkeren op de stoep is een overtreding ook in Nederland

[@stephenc2035]

Also, yes, cars park on sidewalks in the us. Not on purpose always but large trucks have a larger hood than car. When they park in a space the hood will block the sidewalk. Biking doesnt need helmets, the netherlands has bike lanes for a reason. And i agree, i couldn't parallel park next to a canal. Can also imagine opening the wrong door and falling in.

[@gerritvalkering1068]

Parking on the sidewalk is, now, against the law nearly everywhere. It used to be fairly normal. There were no parking havens for streetside parking and often no separate biking lanes. The sidewalk was bigger, often. Back then, it was perfectly acceptable to park with 2 wheels on the sidewalk. You weren't supposed to go too far on it, but a wheel width was... ok. Again, not everywhere, but it wasn't that uncommon. Of course, I was still a kid at the time, so my memories are hazy at best. Ask around, some older people may be able to tell you stories.

[@khulhucthulhu9952]

I'm doing my driving exam next wednesday, and I'm gonna call it a murder cube to the examiner

[@wout123100]

@@khulhucthulhu9952 did you pass the test? lol

[@pjotrh]

You should have seen the times before urinals… the alleys around and the church walls would smell all the time because…… well let’s say peeing can get more public.

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

Yes, very bad for church walls. Especially for the once that are build with limestone or other softer materials.

[@KiaraBaol]

That's still the case in Italy! I really wish we had urinals there, although I agree with Ava that it's weird when you see them for the first time.

[@martiekr]

Eating bread without butter ("dry bread") means that you are so poor you cannot affort to buy butter. There is even a saying about this: "Hij moet droog brood eten". So, People in America must be all very poor (no money) because they are eating bread without butter on it.

[@zer0bankoe]

Exactly 😂😂😂 boter houd de hagelslag mooi op ze plek

[@bobknip]

Ava, I think you mean parallel parking (not double parking).

[@DutchAmericano]

Indeed! Thanks for the correction.

[@LisaKokx]

Ok here's my thoughts: 1. The public urinals prevents a lot of men from peeing freely outside, which actually helps prevent the pee smell or the accidental looking at someone who's peeing. The port-a-potties are not a good plan: they're rarely accessible because they're usually full of poo smears or bloody period products.. it's so gross. 2. Helmets would be a huge barrier, there's no going anywhere if you have to carry that huge thing around. Also, it's safe enough (sometimes even safer) without helmets. 3. I don't see what the difference is between washing your hands with cold or hot water, it's the soap that does the trick. Waiting for the water to heat up just takes too long for me and it seems wasteful to keep the water running. I've never seen a toilet without a sink, but some people do skip washing their hands and it's really gross to me (though there's people like that in every country). 4. The parking thing is just having to park wherever there is space, but with the US having such broad roads I can understand that it seems wild at first. 5. I rarely get public comments, but when it happens I generally really appreciate it because people are either being social, having a laugh, or genuinely giving advice. Honestly, my privacy felt more invaded in the US with people talking to me (random people saying how are you on the street, employees in stores or restaurants constantly asking if everything was alright or if I needed help etc.) 6. Oh dear, I have never seen someone put butter on bread in such an unnerving way. Most people grow up being told only to put a light layer on there (though the older generation is generally shocked when I tell them that I do not use butter).

[@luxuriouswishes]

Oh wow, as a fellow Dutch person I actually agree with every one of your points

[@carmenl163]

She had to put the butter on the bread while holding the camera. It's very clear she only uses one hand.

[@hacdias]

About the cold water and the butter on the bread: I think it's very normal in Europe. I'm Portuguese and I don't know anyone that washes their hands with hot water regularly, and I've always seen sandwiches with margarine/butter + cheese, ham, or any other thing.

[@nienke7713]

If I go to a stand-alone toilet with mini sink, I tend to just use the proper sink in the kitchen to wash my hands, both because cold is freaking cold, and because the mini sinks are often nearly impossible to really get your hands under them properly. I've always considered them more of a decoration than something of practical use. That said, cold water shouldn't matter for germs, the temperatures you wash your hands at aren't going to kill germs; if anything, germs thrive more at the moderately warm temperatures you'd wash your hands at than at a cold temperature where they'd be slowed down. It's the soap and mechanical action that really do the job of killing germs. Washing your dishes with warm water can help dissolve food remnants better, and also tends to help drying up the dishes because the dishes will be warm and small amounts of water can then also evaporate more easily. And yeah, some people don't wash their hands or do it terribly, they're indeed gross.

[@vincenttayelrand]

The public urinals on the Amsterdam canal where built to stop drunk people from peeing and falling into those canals as drunk people tend to lean over. Porta potty's are too difficult to operate when pissed. Yes I have been there.

[@maartjewaterman1193]

So bottom line is that Americans share colletive phobias when it comes to safety, open water, nudity, germs and their private space, which we Dutch don't suffer from.

[@ConsciousAtoms]

Parking on the sidewalk like that is technically illegal. But I guess the police allows it in situations where the road is too narrow to do otherwise. If you so much as touch the sidewalk with one of the wheels of your car when parking during your driving test you will fail that part of the exam. I always found that a bit harsh, but I'd never before thought about parking along a canal. It makes sense to be strict if the alternative is getting your car into the canal. About the cheese sandwich: my rule is, if the slice of cheese is too small to cover the entire slice of bread, use a second slice of cheese. Not a big fan of so much butter though.

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

No, it isn't illegal. I have even seen traffic signs asking you to park with one side of the car on the sidewalk. And a street near here where the municipality painted white stripes to indicate how far you are supposed to park on the sidewalk.

[@mavadelo]

nooit van schiuifkaas gehoord zeker :P

[@ConsciousAtoms]

@@mavadelo Nee, die hoor ik voor het eerst. Misschien ook niet zo gek, gezien dat ik veel te jong ben om de hongerwinter zelf te hebben meegemaakt en ik ben opgegroeid in Brabant. Brabant was ten tijde van de hongerwinter al bevrijd en heeft om die reden niet te lijden gehad van de hongerwinter.

[@mavadelo]

@@ConsciousAtoms Ik ben zelf van de 60er jaten. Schuifkaas was in de "voor het eerst op kamers" tijd. Je had geld voor brood en pindakaas of hagelslag maar niet voor vleeswaren of kaas. Dan kocht je some een paar plakjes van bijvoorbeeld die ronde rookkaasjes voor 75 cent maar die waren te klein voor je boterham dus dan was het hapje, kaas een stukje opschuiven, weer een hapje, kaas opschuiven. zo heb je bij elke hap toch kaas... schuifkaas :)

[@marijnfly]

The way you did put the butter on the bread was hilarious.

[@CuidadalLago]

One of my biggest pet peeves in NL is the lack of clean free toilets for al genders in public. We could take a leaf out of Denmark’s book: clean and safe free toilets for all all around.

[@Helpimnoob]

Where I live we have public urinals too. They are mostly meant for evenings/nights when lots of people are out drinking. The urinals we have here however are buried underground. Then, when it's time, they pop up from underground and they disappear again after the night is over. I found a news article in AD that said Utrecht was getting these same disappearing urinals in 2017. No idea why they're not there yet. Those don't clutter the view and they don't stink, unless you know what to look for you don't even know they're there until they're needed. The parking for me is just dependent on if I'm in a hurry or not. I'd never leave it parked on a sidewalk if I can help it, but when I'm really in a hurry I'll do it if there is no other choice. I've done it like 2-3 times in 5 years. On the other hand there will always be people who don't give a hoot.

[@mavadelo]

There were a few but they always broke down. Then the whole restructuring of the station area started and most got removed. I am not sure if any are left.

[@mariodriessen9740]

I could do an extremely long video of an almost infinite number of things Americans do that (most) Dutch people find shocking. 😁

[@Lilygirl283]

I live in Australia, we make bread the same, butter or margerine on sandwiches, i could not eat bread any other way, way to dry.. Washing hands is a problem here too, i have seen people go to the toilets and not wash their hands, its done all over the world, not just the Netherlands...

[@Linda-hs1lk]

Exactly

[@42DEEP42THOUGHT42]

Beautiful at 9:55, how she handles the CAT-INCIDENT with great skill and totally graceful.

[@TakanashiYuuji]

About helmets: if the state of your biking infrastructure is so poor, that you think having cyclists wear helmets is a good idea, you're not doing it right.

[@ingmarhendriks8172]

Sometimes the choice a city government has is either accept that men (party visitors) pee against trees & buildings or place a public urinal that you can clean occasionally.

[@Krzysztof25XD]

I thought that Americans love to comment on random things and share their opinions with strangers. I've come across that type of people, but it wasn't in a BIG BIG city, rather the average size one :D

[@Cthucal]

You forgot the cheese topping, like Curry(sauce), mustard or jelly (jam) Xp

[@hanserikkratholmrasmussen6623]

Back when I had just obtained my licens and started as a tour bus driver, one of my first jobs was driving around Europe with an American music school for a whole month. At first I wondered why they always asked med where the restroom was every time we made a rest stop. I thought what the heck, you just spent a couple of hours sitting in a bus, why would you need to rest. After a couple of days I realized that it was the toilet they referred to. And the girls did not actually powder their nose out there.

[@NoName__..--]

Washing your hands with warm water is still way to cold to kill the germs. Cold/warm water with soap is the way to go

[@Lilygirl283]

If the soap kills bacteria it makes no difference if the water is hot or cold, its the soap, water alone does nothing...

[@benverdel3073]

I can't wait to read the comments section. This is going to be fun. Nice video Ava.

[@mariadebake5483]

You mean parallel parking instead of double parking, I think. And the amount of butter (halvarine) was really disgusting! I use butter on my bread but only a tiny fraction of what you put on it!

[@GlobalLocals]

When you say “only cold water”, do you mean water and no soap or do you mean they don’t wash their hands with hot water? Probably 90 % of the people I see using public restrooms in the US either don’t care to even pretend they’re washing their hands or just turn on the water for a quick rinse (or sometimes even a “ghost rinse” where the water gets turned on but none of it makes it to the hands).

[@lennartverhoeven]

Hello Ava. I really enjoy watching your video's. It is entertaining and refreshing to see the Netherlands from your perspective. I enjoy how you identify and discuss some of the weirdness of life in the Netherlands. In this video you have touched upon a topic that is uniquely Dutch but I suspect that you might not yet have realised the magnitude of the craziness of the Dutch attitude towards butter. Or rather I should say, to margarine. The fact that you are calling Becel butter tells me that you have probably fallen for the same con that has caught the vast majority of the Dutch population: the idea that some how margarine is "butter, but better". There is an entire episode of Keuringsdienst van Waarde on this topic. Decades of advertisements (including government funded advertisements) have convinced the majority of the Dutch population that margarine is butter. It looks like butter, it serves the same purpose as butter, it vaguely tastes like butter and in the supermarket it is located right next to butter. It is understandably that one thinks that margarine is butter, but what you're really smearing on your sandwiches is solidified vegetable oil. I think that it is very telling for the Dutch relationship with food that we don't know the difference.In France, Italy or Spain it is unimaginable to put margarine on bread (or to eat margarine at all). www.npo3.nl/keuringsdienst-van-waarde-terug-naar-de-basis/16-11-2017/KN_1694691

[@RFGfotografie]

When we get driver lessons, it's learned to us how to park skillfully. Also, a lot of places are like that here. So we kinda get used to it and even find it quite easy to do. (At least I do)

[@bobbieboothroyd8531]

your videos are always educational thanks

[@papal1ef]

@Eva: I think you confused double parking with parallel parking. Double parking is very much not allowed in the Netherlands. And If you would double park next to the canal you would block the whole street.

[@bartvschuylenburg]

I guess double parking doesn’t translate as dubbelparkeren? I was wondering the same.

[@Kit100]

We aren't Dutch but my wife's best friend lives in the Hague, so we visit very frequently. As we've spent a lot of time in the Netherlands, the one thing that got us was the celebrations on koningsdag nacht !!!! It was bonkers.

[@heide170]

Not only dutch people use the combination bread/butter/cheese. 😉 Butter works like a flavour enhancer, so don’t be shy and use (real) butter. the butter here tastes delicious.

[@nienke7713]

That's not butter, that's some sort of margarine at best, probably doesn't even qualify for being called margarine, and I really don't get why people put it on their bread, it doesn't taste good (unlike real butter), for something like cheese it isn't needed to keep it in place, and although it may in some cases be healthier than butter (but not always), I'm pretty sure it's still less healthy than not having it at all.

[@a3veis371]

the washbassins are placed by the owner in rentalhouses because it raises the rent (pointsystem). there is no space for a normal size and the little one is hard to use.

[@marks.6480]

Cold water is probably cleaner water, bacteria wise. And unless you pee over your hands, going to the bathroom is not going to make your hands very dirty anyway. Storm in a tiny washbasin ;)

[@IvoTichelaar]

Open air public toilets in Amsterdam used to have a privacy screen wrapped around them. You'd urinate against either side of a stone slab, and the privacy screen would be kind of a yin-yang shape and offer individual privacy. They were also quite nice to see. The privacy meant they were used for outdoor sex and by drug users, so they switchen to those "piskruizen."

[@woutervanr]

Yes, my grandparents smother bread with butter regardless of what's on it, but I've yet to meet someone

[@Nynke_K]

Ah yes, covering bead with Becel and calling it butter... That's how I grew up! Nowadays I rarely use butter anymore but sometimes bread and cheese on their own get too dry so I have to add sliced tomato!

[@GeorgeSaint666]

About the parking in narrow streets.... in some streets there are roadsigns showing you that you HAVE TO park on the sidewalk. Especially in some cities. This is because HUGE trucks may pass by. After all shops and vendors do need their daily supplies in cities with narrow streets. If you do not park away from the center, you run the risk of getting your car damaged.

[@richardbrinkerhoff]

Using cold water to wash your hands is just as effective as with warm water. These days laundry detergents are also made for use with cold water.

[@davidschaftenaar6530]

Hand-washing after using the bathroom used to be an absolute social standard, but it's become less so in the last two decades. It bothers me too when people skip it. Cold water and soap I'll defend by saying it's actually much, much more effective than washing your hands with warm water only. Public toilets are rather rare in the Netherlands, true. It's a known issue. Public urinals like the ones you showed are almost exclusively found in cities or on festival grounds - They prevent drunk dudes from taking care of business in random alleyways, porches and every other slightly secluded place in the city center. But the urinals are still disgusting, agreed. About the Dutch directness you mentioned: it's mostly a city thing and a thing people have to do to make small talk with strangers. We used to have an elaborate courtesy system for interacting with strangers called "beleefdheid", but today it only really survives in the professional space. Oh yeah, one more thing: Cheese on buttered bread is offensive and amoral if you ask me, I have no idea why we didn't make the first person to try it sit in a corner with a bucket over their head to reevaluate their choices in life.

[@charlesdeng8075]

Yah, in the States we'd wear helmet while walking down the street, it's too dangerous not to......Sometimes bulletproof vest if necessary.

[@jsb7975]

Public urinals are only there when there's a feast or festival in those nabourhoods. They also have a chemical flush system. Normally they are only put temporarilly....

[@uniscornchantal9346]

How is washing your hands with cold water grosser than warm? The only time warm water will do more is if it's boiling. There's nothing grosser about cold water, not even close.

[@dunk92]

Parking half on the sidewalk is because the streets are very narrow sometimes and there still has to be some space for other cars to move to the streets. That is why in some streets you will see that cars are parked half on the sidewalk.

[@mikepictor]

I saw the bread on #6 and I really thought you'd be discussing chocolate meises

[@ConnieIsMijnNaam]

I agree warm water is more comfortable but it does not kill germs.

[@halapunjete]

Bread is usually dry in the Netherlands so you need butter to add flavour to it. In the US the bread is already flavoured and moist.

[@Dr_Bart_147]

Where you say "double park" shouldn't that be "parallel park"?

[@mavadelo]

same thing :) Guess a bit depending on where someone hails from. I have seen Americans use both.

[@Dr_Bart_147]

@@mavadelo I think "double park" is used when two cars are parked parallel to each other and the side of the road while "parallel park" is used for a single vehicle parked parallel to the roadside. I've only heard "double park" used for a single car when it is parked parked parallel to the road where parking is prohibited (typically with indicator lights, a.k.a. blinkers, on).

[@JohanHerrenberg]

@@Dr_Bart_147 Just watched a Seinfeld episode, where the term 'triple parking' was used.

[@jeffafa3096]

I am actually working at a company renting these public urinals. Usually they only get rented during festivities, but because of the corona app thingy in the horeca, the demand in public places for these things have skyrocketed. The smell is something that does not last, if it is cleaned regularly.

[@ProsciuttinoXL]

Public urinals per use are a magnitude cheaper in installing and cleaning than cubicles, plus they use far less public space.

[@fransvanderweele]

the butter is not real (roomboter) but margarine. Look on the side of the package with the ingredients. Their you notice that they added vitamins that your body do not produce. It is mandatory by government for the producers of margarine (not roomboter!). That is why dutch people use margarine on their bread .

[@EasyDutch]

Je zou eens moeten gaan kijken hoe mensen in Italië, vooral in het zuiden, hun auto's parkeren... Hilarisch! Ik kom daar vandaan, ik heb in m'n leven echt van alles gezien qua creativiteit in het parkeren! 🤣Leuke video! :) - Mario

[@hansnorbart]

What anoys me, are the tourists, they think Amsterdam is a kind of Disneypark. They don't look where they're going, walk on the bikelane while looking up to the old houses and I have to try to avoid them. They are the biggest hazard a Dutch cyclist can have. On my roadbike, doing 30kmh, a big American stepped on the bikelane whithout even noticing what a hazardous situation he created. I avoided him

[@passantNL]

To add my 2 cents: The public urinals have the advantage that you don't have to touch anything which helps when you can't wash your hands (there's usually no tap). In a cabin you have to touch the door and door handle and you don't know in what kind of state the person before you left it (usually not very clean, especially when they were drunk). And it keeps them from being used for anything else. To add another thing that will shock Americans: A few years ago there was a food scandal where horse meat was sold as beef. I noticed that Brits and Americans where disgusted because they had eaten horse meat (apparently that is kinda taboo there). Dutch people where just disgusted because they paid for beef and only got cheap horse meat. Apparently there is a real cultural difference there that I never noticed before, because eating horse meat is acceptable here, if not very common.

[@sylpha51]

Also the dirtiest part of using the toilet is not your genitals (usually) but the lightswitch and doorhandles, or the button you use to flush the toilet. So if you only touch your ding-dong there is less need to clean your hands ( you should still clean your hands ofc) but in a public toilet you often don't get that luxury :-)

[@Scuderia_Fan]

When you have a nice fresh slice of bread, there's not much need for butter I think. Except for the sprinkle toppings, as they would not stick without some butter. But then again, a nice fresh slice of bread still slightlywarm, preferably from a local artisan Baker, with a good quality Roomboter... 👌

[@Haksdo2]

As for the urinals, like others might have already mentioned, they are mainly there in area's with a lot of nightlife (cafe's, disco's and so on). The urinals are there for people who are probably very drunk, for whom going inside a closet toilet would be too hard or they'd find it too much of a hassle and just pee in an alley. Also I think they dont offer a place to "secretly" do drugs out of sight, ehich closed toilets do. And lastly I think the open units are much more sturdy and more easily (cheaply) produced. Very drunk people tend to be clumbsy or even more violent, so closed door toilets would probably be broken (doors broken off and such) within a couple of days. The drawback of those open units is, like you said, that they are an eyesore and they are more smelly. But that is up to the city to remove them and/or clean them regularly. I know of places where, back in my college years, these units would only be placed during the weekends, often also a bit out of sight in a side alley that is far less used, near a bike parking place or something like that. I hardly, if ever, saw them in the middle of a busy square or a busy shopping street.

[@djf8619]

Did you mean parallel parking when you said double parking? I am enjoying all your vids... and am binge watching them.

[@TheRiddle87]

I think the dutch 'public bathrooms', are a solution to a problem called 'wildplassen'. At busy nights, its not uncommon to see people pee anywhere they want. a tree, a lamppost, the canals, or worse... people's front door. Unsurprisingly, people doing this are mostly men. For a woman its obviously a lot more confronting to pee in random places (You can imagine why). Which I think is why these 'public bathrooms', usually are only urinals. I think the reason they are 'open' is more diverse. Open 'bathrooms' are quicker to use. Urinals are also quicker to use than regular toilets (which is why queues at female restrooms are usually longer). And it keeps people from doing things in the toilet-stall that they should not be doing (drugs, homeless people sleeping there, or sex). About the 'hand washing' after bathroom... there is a ton to say about that. First of all, i think its gross people dont wash their hands, but its not as bad as you think. First of all: what germs? Urine is usually sterile, there are no germs in it (and if there are, you have a urinary tract infection, and will probably have other problems to worry about). So what are you going to wash off? Well... Urea which is in urine, and when exposed to air, it becomes amonia, which stinks. But if you didn't get any pee on your hands, then you should be fine. There may be some germs on your skin, but washing those of your hands wont realy help, actually, its more healthy to have some natural 'skin flora'. Of course, people's poo does contain a lot of germs. And yes, these may make (other) people sick (mostly E-coli bacteria). So if you had a dump... wash your hands! But how? Water generally won't kill germs, not even warm water. Most bacteria in your body live in a wet environment (the inside of your body) and thrive at 37 degrees celcius (the temp of your body), and can survive in hotter/colder temperatures for a while. So unless you plan on washing your hands with very hot or even boiling water, for a loong time... don't expect too much. Want to get rid of germs? Try some soap, try desinfectants, or rubbing them off with a clean towel. But the warm-water thingy won't do much!

[@starship2235]

I’m sorry, but men literally hold their genitals in their hand when they urinate. I don’t care if there’s no actual pee on his hands - I don’t want a handshake or anything afterwards if he doesn’t at least give his hands a good rinse (of course, washing with soap is best). That’s just gross.

[@TheRiddle87]

@@starship2235 well i agree. Most men touch their genitals when urinating. And i agree, please wash your hands before handshakes. But if you look at the biology, its probably not a problem if they don't.

[@MrKhushrenada]

There is no difference in the efficacy between warm/hot water and cold as to washing yourself. The only thing that would be "better" is boiling water but I wouldn't recommend pouring boiling water on yourself for obvious reasons.

[@halapunjete]

It's all about comfort why you would want to wash your hands with warm water, the same way you would take a shower with warm water.

[@A_Casual_NPC]

The Netherlands also has in ground urinals that only come out of the ground during events and at night for people going out

[@Spitsz01]

With the fast (40kmp+) electric bikes becoming more popular you see helmets being worn. But at those speeds it's like being on a moped, one you don't hear coming!

[@Anonymous-sb9rr]

Parking half of the car on the sidewalk is only done in very few streets in the Netherland, in Germany that happens everywhere.

[@roykliffen9674]

The Cheese-item reminded me of my grandmother. She used to say "zuivel op zuivel brengt de duivel" which roughly translates as "dairy on dairy brings the devil". If you think about it it makes some sense; For a low-income laborer's family like my great-grandparents when my grandmother was still a kid in the 1910's both dairy butter as well as cheese were the height of luxury for a laborer and to use both on a single slice of bread was really squandering (financial) resources which were meager, to say the least. Doing it often enough could lead to poverty which could explain the "devil"-part. Maybe not using butter on a cheese sandwich in the US has the same roots. The old gal was quite superstitious; she freaked out when we opened an umbrella indoors (might signify a leaking roof) or put our shoes on the table (might indicate having to fix worn shoes if you didn't have money to buy new ones). Probably being very poor in her childhood may have caused some mental trauma.

[@DenUitvreter]

There is a story about Maurits of Nassau, Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic and Prince of Orange, Europe's most admired military comander of the late 1500's and early 1600's, who on a campaign lunched at a Dutch farmer's house. He got told off by the farmer for putting both butter and chease on his sandwich.

[@onehandcowboy]

I'll put it in dutch; wat met de boterham met kaas ook veel word gedaan, is in plaats van boter bessenconfituur of siroop (stroop) gebruiken.

[@nienke7713]

regarding helmets: -people who cycle in the US tend to be cyclists (i.e. people who cycle because they enjoy the activity of cycling, particularly at higher speeds like the kind of cycling done in Tour de France or Giro d'Italia) whereas people who cycle in the NL tend to be commuters (i.e. people who cycle because they need to go somewhere and cycling is the best way for them to get to their destination); cyclists in the NL who also tend to go higher speeds also often wear helmets -The US has terrible infrastructure for cycling, and thus you are forced to share the road more often with cars thus making it less safe, whereas in the NL you usually have separated cycling infrastructure unless it is in a low-speed and/or low-traffic-density setting, making cycling a lot safer -The US has drivers who don't care about people who cycle, but in the NL nearly every driver also cycles from time to time and thus drivers tend to be kinder to people on bikes because they can relate -Wearing helmets only has a marginal benefit for safety, whilst they may give a false sense of safety that encourages less safe behaviour which would lead to more accidents, so in the end we have a choice between few accidents without helmets or more accidents with helmets -It certainly lowers the barrier to go cycling if you don't need to go trough a whole routine of dressing up in an additional layer of 'safety' gear, both because it saves time (and considering most people cycling are commuters, time is of the essence, if it takes a lot of extra time, those cycling trips suddenly become less ideal for certain trips) and also might lower the mental barrier (because if you need to gear up, it may also feel as an inherently dangerous activity which could make people hesitant)

[@nienke7713]

@Martin OnTheWeb If she answers, that's cool, but I also get that she can't respond to every comment

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

No, this is not true. Here in the Netherlands we also have very many recreational cyclists. Normal people who just like to ride their bike on their day off. More and more older people too since the invention of electric bikes. Just cycling around the country without a particular destination. Not everyone who enjoys cycling is racing. Just enjoying being outside when the weather is dry and sunny. Where I live that is probably the majority of the people you see on a bike. The commuters you mostly see early in the morning or late afternoon. Quickly going to work or home.

[@nienke7713]

@@gert-janvanderlee5307 I never said those don't exist, but they tend to cycle more in nature and away from (busy city) traffic, and they also don't tend to go the high speeds (especially trough corners) that racing cyclists do, so that also makes them not really need a helmet either, whilst racing cyclists still have more use for it

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

@@nienke7713 There also tends to be more than just nature and busy city traffic. Especially for cycling there is a whole world between those two. Yes, in busy city traffic most cyclists might be mostly commuters and in nature they might be mostly recreational cyclists. In between those it's probably more 50/50.

[@nienke7713]

@@gert-janvanderlee5307 relax dude, it's just about the helmets, it doesn't need to be explained in the finest of details to get the point across as to why most people in the NL don't need to wear bike helmets

[@RFGfotografie]

In Gouda a few cars get into the canals each year, So not everyone can park right xD

[@BettieBoeBoeppidoe]

How you smother the bread😂😂!!!

[@titiasplantedaquariums]

When being at home, I rinse with cold water and dry my hand after number 1. And I use cold water and soap after number 2. In public spaces I always try to use soap whenever it's available. Using cold water saves on the gas bill for heating the water. That is another thing we typically have, boilers who heat the water at the moment you need it. We usually don't have these tanks where hot water is stored. Also with cars parking half on the street and walkway, it is done to still let other cars pass by without causing a traffic jam. This weird parking is usually for a short period to on or upload stuff from or to the car. I like butter on my bread, but I personally don't like the taste of real butter. It makes the bread taste less dry, 'smeuïg' we call it, creamy, a state between dry and to wet or soggy. And full fat milk and yoghurt with a sandwich with full fat cheese, hmmm 🤤

[@anitaatsisteract]

Bike helmets only help with bike-bike accidents, for bike-car impacts they do abdolutely nothing except maybe give a false sense of security.

[@jwenting]

which is the last thing bikers need, as they feel invincible anyway and do stupid things that cause a lot of accidents as is.

[@bastiaan4129]

Unlike car drivers, who dont feel invincible, dont speed and arent the cause of about 90% of all road fatalities?

[@woutervanr]

@@jwenting Indeed, they actually found this was the case. Plastic hat wearing makes people take more risks and actually only help(ed) in a vanishingly small number of accidents.

[@rpfs2691]

Nope. Bike helmets can help a lot, especially those going at speeds out over 20kph. If you fall, either as a result from a collision or from a steering mistake, and you smack your head on the edge of the pavement (sidewalk, if you're an American) a cycling helmet will prevent a lot of the potential damage to your brain.

[@jwenting]

@@rpfs2691 maybe, but the same can be said for padded knee- and elbow- pads. Let's make those mandatory as well? Or go all the way and require a full padded suit to even leave the house, not just for cycling but walking as well because you might fall or hit something and get injured. Or better yet, leave people freedom to choose for themselves and take their own responsibility in matters rather than cuddle them to death under ever greater government oversight.

[@rw80]

Advantage of these urinals is that it’s much smaller than the dixies. And there’s no need to have warm water to wash your hands. Warm water doesn’t kill germs. Soap does. If Americans care so much about private space, why are they always so loud?

[@xa26vi]

A guy from Amsterdam told me that open urinals are to avoid drunk people fall into the canals when they pee on them.

[@therealcleany]

I don't recognize the "not washing hands" thing. My wife and I were brought up washing our hands after almost every task where we touch dirty things. I even was brought up washing my hands before and after going out of the house. We teach our children to wash their hands as much as possible and always ask them if they did it after going to the bathroom and after every meal or when they were playing outside. Why would you put butter on bread when you're eating cheese? I don't get that? Yes, I'm Dutch.

[@marinakamphuis3144]

In certain narrow streets It is van mandatory to park half om the sidewalk

[@koalapossumwombat]

Don’t be so prudish when walking past a public urinal. Just look the other way. Besides, I always wondered why bathroom stalls in semi public places (bars, airports) in the US always have these super tiny doors, that start half a meter above the floor and don’t go up to the ceiling. You have no privacy whatsoever there! Why.???

[@Doubleranged1]

The cars on the sidewalk is done because pedestrians can just walk around it. It can be annoying in some cases, but often you can still pass easily. Or just walk over the road.