Finland Vlog #12 - Cultural differences between Finland and The Netherlands

Today I wanted to sit down with you guys and talk about some cultural differences between Finland and The Netherlands. Small differences in the way in which people treat eachother.
I don't want to generalize to much or talk badly about any of these two countries. They are both great countries with great people living in them. I am not saying these differences are bad nor good. Just differences.
While waiting for the next vlog:
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[@duohou123]

Finland isn't in Scandinavia...

[@jakekukka599]

+michCOdel Yes it is.... Not the whole Finland, but Oulu for example is the capital city of the Northern Scandinavia. So check your facts. :)

[@erichani1]

I know that now! I used to think that finland was part of Scandinavia and come to find out its not part of Scandinavia!

[@olivialehti11]

Finland i s part of Northen coyntries but not Scandinavia

[@vesakaitera2831]

I am a Finn, and I have worked in Netherlands for a couple of weeeks in the 80'ies. So I am no expert, but according to my knowledge the Dutch style to see things doesn't much differ from the Finnish one. The Dutch people are surely more experianced to communicate with different kind of people than the Finns. The Finnish style is a more introvert and reserved, but this doesn't usually hinder doing things in working. If you want honest feedback in Finland, do it with papers without any names. We Finns don't say negative things to somebody's face, it is unpolite. I know, that in some parts of Pacific the people might lie to you only to make you more happier. We are not quite like that, but our critic is often softer than it should be. You told about your problem with your bike in Finland. Because you didn't clearly show, that you would have needed assistance, nobody came to help you. You see, because you didn't ask for help, it would have been unpolite to step in. By doing that the man (or woman) would have humiliated you by the Finnish standard. Our country, our rules. I have lived most of my life in major cities of Finland. I have often seen a group of tourists. As long this group seems to know what it is doing, I don't involve. But if there seems to be different opinions or some of it's membes seem lost, then I will offer my help.

[@mikrokupu]

I'm a Finn who has traveled to Nederland a lot. In a way the country feels like a more relaxed version of Finland, it just took time to get used to the straight way of talking, a person I hardly knew could say to me in a bar: "You look terrible, didn't sleep last night?" That's enough to shock a shy Finn :) I love Nederland most of the time, I just hate when it's often cold inside the houses in winter. My Dutch friends can't understand what is that eskimo complaining for ;) My Dutch friend has similar feelings for Finland, feels comfy most of the time. He sometimes feels Finns are almost rude being so reserved. I try to explain Finns need a lot of personal space and it's kind of expected all need that peace and quiet...

[@jounikorhonen]

One thing. :D If you have a problem, visibly, and there are people slowing around or circleing you, it means they would like to help, but need your approval. Which you have to give by asking help, before anyone dares to speak to you. :D

[@snowveil97]

So you think an assignment has to be absolutely perfect for the person who did it to get an A? Wow. For me 10/10 or an A means that the assignment was good enough considering the requirements on a certain level. Even if one has room for improvement (which btw is the case every single time) it shouldn't mean they don't deserve to get 10/10. Then again, ofc, if you don't work on your skills and try to improve yourself, you won't get that A for much longer. If you only got an A for perfect assignments (no flaws or room for improvement what so ever) such a grade wouldn't exist. I'm Finnish btw:)

[@veer49]

You aren't very likely to get a 10/10 in the Netherlands after middle school (only on tests if it is multiple choice and you answer everything correctly) . 6/10 or higher is a passing grade, so it is not like you are failing if you don't have a 10/10.

[@MrPaavola]

I'm a finn and I have lived with my friend in Belgium for two months in 2015. My personal experiences were 50/50, do I like or hate this country. I know it is different to the Netherlands (Holland seems more Nordic and it's better country), but still a neighbor country so I give a comment to your vid. When we arrived to Belgium our apartment was a shock, it was cold and the air inside the house was quite terrible to breath :D Always needed to open the windows to get some fresh air, no automatic air condition and no double windows. Also shower was mostly cold and changed the water colder to warmer. I had never been living so low stantard flat since when I was in Belgium. Stantard of living is lower or it starts lower in Belgium or that's how I felt. Things which I liked: happy people which aren't too drunk in bars and can behave well. In Finland I always find people who want to start a fight when they are drunk. Me and my friend felt more safe on the street. Bars, cafés, shops are huge +++, I don't find it same way in Finland sadly :( And I'm a thin young man, the clothes in Belgium fit perfectly for me, I never find clothes here in Finland 'cause everything is for prototype of huge viking man. I miss the shopping streets and bakeries, especially eclair was my favourite. And private restaurants who offer nice personalized dishes. In Finland many restaurants are chain restaurants. Finland doesn't really have street culture imo, that's a reason why I like central and western european countries. And I was living in Flanders, people spoke flamish or dutch, and really good english. Finland and Nordics are more organized socities: in Belgium trains were often late and so old trains argh, it pissed me off really :D Brussels wasn't our favourite city, Antwerp was. It felt so clean and nice, opposite of Brussels. And what comes to people: Do people in Belgium feel sadness? They don't show it? Do they just hide it or are they thinking only positive things? Faking happiness? Finns show more their sad feelings, and my belgian friend was like what... when I told that finns listen to sad melancholic music and then they feel emotional and cry. That really happens. I felt that belgians were hypersocial and talking needless things (shit) cause they just need to talk. Silence was too awkward for them. It's annoying thing, and I found that people are more material/superficial in Belgium. They buy much clothes for fun, mostly cheap clothes and then use it maybe couple times and throw it away. I only buy for need :D Same with talking, as a finn I enjoy deep conversations which may include really personal and hard things. Finns are shy and u may need time to get known with one. Then u will start talking all your things. I met one belg who had been in Sweden so I had really good connection with her and we talked about the differences between our nations so much. She was like mentally born to be Nordic. Finns may look grey outside but we are warm inside or I am :) I just show it to group of chosen people. Maybe we all are scared of being judged. Showing your happiness openly like smiling etc to other people on street is just weird. Everyone scares envious people here or maybe we are mentally broken. When someone comes to me I'm mostly helpful and humble. Well whatever that's how we just are here in Finland and Nordics, talk straight, not shit and if u don't like sth, pls don't fake u like it, be honest :D

[@WithoutVlogs]

How cool, you got to spend a couple of months in Belgium. Offcourse there are differences between the Netherlands and Belgium (especially concerning school en education I think) however, as you say they are still neigbouring countries with similar historical background. I know especially the very cheap student housing in larger cities can be very bad. Maybe that has something to do with that the government subsidises less then in Finland? I also heard a lot of stories about drunk Fins, Haha. These stories made me avoid going out in Finland :p I completely feel the same about the 50/50 feeling tough.

[@marsa9226]

People in Turku are kinda rude. They have their own groups and they don't make a effort to get to know new people. Up north people are more open and friendly. I lived in Turku for 1,5 years and I didn't enjoy at all. Beautiful city, but that's all!

[@torpmorp1324]

In Finland many say it’s a beautiful town spoiled by its inhabitants, so you’re not alone

[@torpmorp1324]

Mar Sa I totally agree with you. I’m moving back up north

[@WithoutVlogs]

Don't take this video to seriously guys. I know I sound a bit negative in the video and that is by no means what I wanted to.

[@erichani1]

but finland is not part of Scandinavia I know they were under swedish rules I know there's a lot of Finns swedes

[@erichani1]

that's what I heard there not chatty like we Americans are

[@StPaul76]

+elena richani Finland is a part of Fenno-Skandia and used to be a part of Swedish Kingdom for about 700 years. Most of our laws are similar to Swedish and propably that's why our sociates are quite similar. However sweden lost Finland to Russia during the Napoleanic wars in 1809 and Finland became a Grand Dutchy of Russia and in that sense quite an independent nation of people compared to most other nations in similar situation. Swedish speaking Finns are a historic relic of the 18th century Swedish rule in Finland. They are Finns in every way but their mother's tongue is Swedish and more like 18th century Swedish mixed with Finnish words.

[@WithoutVlogs]

+StPaul76 it is True that the Swedish the swedish speaking Finns speak is different from "regular" Swedish. In the first couple of weeks it was very hard for me to understand it. Even tough I can understand Swedish. Later on, when I learned a bit Finnish as well, I realised the Fin-swedes indeed pronounced the words in the Finnish way and mixed in Finnish words, that was why I had such a hard time understanding it in the beginning.

[@StPaul76]

Without Vlogs Yes they have a very special way of talking and there are differences also inside Finland. For an example a Swedish speaking Finn from Ostrobotnia area, from the coastal regions, speaks different than a Swedish speaking Finn from Helsinki. I speak and write Swedish quite fluently, but I have difficulties to understand anybody in Sweden who lives south from Stockholm :D After a while a I start to get some of the throat-vocabulary they sport but it always takes a while. My own dialect of Finnish is more of a Helsinki slang which is a dying dialect I'm afraid. It's a mixture of words from Finnish, Swedish and Russian. For an example "Likka" is "a girl" and in Swedish it's "flickan". And a bar is "kapakka" and in Russian it's "Kabakh" and so on.. :)

[@sakarikestinen]

Never been to NL but judging from what I've read, conversated and watched, one of the biggest differences is the stance on cycling (sorry about my rant, because as a cycling advocate the one thing I'd adopt here is de fietsinfrastructuur van NL). Depending on the city of course, for example Oulu/Uleåborg is pretty Dutchy regarding to cycling (they do it year around despite harsh weather and about 30 % of trips are done by bike there) but at least in southern Finnish cities cyclists in the city centre are something that have only existed for a few years now. Many middle-aged or older Finns even think that bikes are children's toys and one can not simply live without a car, because how would you do your groceries with a bike (they apparently haven't heard of baskets, let alone bakfietsen). And the mansplaining about biking is rampant: as a cyclist you're a reckless person per definition, and the most important thing you should have is HELMET (don't worry about headlights, they're not so important - at least if you listen to Liikenneturva's (=Traffic security council) propaganda). Then also the infrastructure is completely different, in NL you don't seem to have these combined footpaths + bikepaths at all, whereas in Finland we "build" (or just put the traffic sign) even on sidewalks along streets in the city centre, which is just stupid, because bikes and walking people just don't mix, especially when there's opening doors from the parked cars and buildings. And that leads to that people just treat every sidewalk as a bike path, even when it's 2 meters narrow, full of pedestrians and the street is empty and with a 30 km/h speed limit so it'd be far safer to ride on the street than on a sidewalk. I guess you as a Nederlander have noticed the same, people riding on the stoop that is. End of rant :D

[@sakarikestinen]

though I have to add that Turku/Åbo is an exception, they ride on sidewalks much less than in Tampere for example where about 90 % of cyclists seem to be unaware of the fact that they should be on the road, not on the stoop. :D but that's perhaps just because there are zero meters of combined footpaths+bikepaths in the city centre unlike here. Both cities would deserve proper bike lanes however!

[@WithoutVlogs]

+Sakari Kestinen I completely agree! Almost all bikes are sold Without headlights in Finland. In the Netherlands, you can get a huge fine for that. When I said that I went to the university by bike every day and they asked me if that wasn't far away. They looked really strange when I answered with: no, it's just a short ride, maybe 20 minutes.

[@aniitikonen2534]

You keep talking about Scandinavia and same Finland. I'm a bit confused.. Finland is not a part of Scandinavia - and in Scandinavia there are three differend countries. So you are comparing one country to three countries with differend cultures and talking about Finland..and Finland isn't part of those three countries so.. Yep. I'm lost :).

[@WithoutVlogs]

As I said in a different comment: it depends what definition of scandinavia you use. There are several definitions of Scandinavia and Some of them include Finland and Iceland, Some of them do not. I am sorry if I hurt any feelings, it is very hard to give a lot of nuance in a 12 minute video. Indeed all the northern countries are very different and have their own historical background and cultures, however there are some similarities as well. The same with Western, eastern and southern Europeaan countries. They have differences and similarities.

[@TheEmily711]

+Without Vlogs I've seen so many people get the definition of Scandinavia mixed up. it's completely ok to count Finland as a part of Scandinavia :) the main reason some people don't like being associated with the Scandinavians is the old grudges we have against the Swedish from centuries ago. I personally think people really should get over themselves and allow themselves to understand the fact that Scandinavia isn't just the geological term for a couple countries it is also the cultural area we live in. Btw I love your vlogs! Xx

[@WithoutVlogs]

aawh, thank you! I like making them for you :) I can understand the grudges between Finland and Sweden. In the Netherlands it is the same with Germany. It is hard to get something like that out of a culture.

[@SaunaFinland]

+Without Vlogs Officially, the Scandinavian countries are Sweden, Norway and Denmark. If you add in Finland and Iceland, it is called the Nordic countries. Please use that term instead, since it is much clearer in what you mean. I don't take offence if someone is including Finland in Scandinavia, but this is just to avoid confusion. The Nordic countries is an existing term, so people should use it. It's a bit like saying Holland when you mean the Netherlands! ;) And the thing about the broken bike: If you want help, you have to ask for it. If you're not asking for help, people think you don't want help. Finns often don't want the help of strangers. I know I wouldn't want help in your situation. If someone asked if I wanted help, I would have said no, unless I was really desperate. But then I would have asked for help. And lunch time is pretty bad, since people are usually in a hurry.

[@anni8456]

Finland is not even part of Scandinavia😂 and it's a bit annoying comparing small Holland to the whole nordic state bc Finns and Swedes for example are the complete opposites but still I really enjoyed the video tho and you've got some truths there

[@WithoutVlogs]

+tteyk eii Thank you for you comment! What are the largest differences between Sweden and Finland do you think? I studied at a Swedish university here, so I think a lot of the similarities I saw, were due to that. Even so, in political and geographical sense you are correct about Scandinavia, however in historical and cultural sense Finland is included in the Scandinavian countries as is Iceland.

[@anni8456]

+Without Vlogs well Scandinavia is a geographical term for Sweden Norway and Denmark so Finns just usually get annoyed when people call us Scandinavians😂 swedes tend to be a bit more open and friendly but Finns make deeper friendships more easily. and just the fact that the Swedish stereotype of a Finnish person is a dark grumpy alcoholic suicidal oldish guy who doesn't say a word and the Finnish stereotype of a swede is a skinny gayish overly cheerful ikea worker makes it quite obvious that we at least think we're totally different😂 but it also might just be the totally different languages etc that make us think we're not so alike

[@WithoutVlogs]

Hahaha, your stereotypes made me laugh so hard. The languages are very different indeed and your historical background is very different as well I think. Because of that you have for example very different traditions with Christmas. I didn't know I was insulting when I call Finnish people Scandinavian. Sorry for that! I won't do it again ;)

[@ifeellikedying4040]

+Without Vlogs Finland is part of scandinavia and Finland and sweden are really really similiar, i have lived in Sweden for 8 years and 10 years in Finland, i guarantee you people are the same in Sweden and Finland.

[@anni8456]

Someguyontheplanet depends on the part you live in. I find no difference between Stockholm and Helsinki

[@Alejojojo6]

Finland is as close to the Netherlands as Italy is. Just see how many differences there are from Italy and The Netherlands, so the same is expected to happen with Finland ^^ which is at a similar distance.

[@mikrokupu]

+Alejojojo6 Netherlands and Finland are both small (mostly) Protestant countries in Northern Europe, despite some cultural differences there have a lot of in common. Italy is something else, great country, one of my favorite places to visit but the culture is different form North in many ways.

[@Alejojojo6]

mikrokupu It's sort of true but at the same time it isnt as easy as that. The Netherlands and Finland are indeed culturally closer than lets say Finalnd and Italy or the Netherlands and Greece. But, the Netherlands is half Catholic, Half protestant and they profess mostly calvinism, while in Finland is Lutheranism. At the same time, the Netherlands is more into Western or North-Western Europe rather than North North Europe as is the case for Finland. I understand what you mean but their culture due to its historic-geografic context varies greatly (lowland versus borealic forest etc). It's like saying that Austria, southern germany or croacia are similar to Spain or portugal because they are both catholic countries and lie pretty much in southern or central southern Europe. Althought they may be closer between them than lets say Austria and Finland or Spain and Sweden.

[@id1666]

You should take into account that religion is not an important part of life in the North-Europe, much less so in Scandinavia. Only a minority of registered members of religion are practicing ones, majority are secular and there's also quite a large number of atheists. So the differences in which school of Christianity is most popular really doesn't affect normal lives nor culture at all. We haven't got any celebration customs which haven't got pre-christian roots.

[@Alejojojo6]

I dont know if your comment is for me or for the other guy that commented in here. Anyways, Religion is not an important part of life in either Northern or Southern Europe. I think in General in Europe. I know, but it has shaped the culture because Europe was religious for most of our histroy and religion tends to shape the mind and the culture of a country. Thats why I wrote about it. But what really makes the countries culturally different is it's different History and Geografical context. This two makes people adapt to certain particular situations that shapes the culture. Thats why 2 countries dont have the same culture. For example: Belgium an the Netherlands are still different from each other because of slight different histories and geografical variants. Although their cultures are similar, are still a bit different.

[@SleepingGroke]

Its actually called Nordic Coutries, when you add Finland and Iceland. Scandinavia Only has Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

[@TheChristianJuntunen]

In Sweden we do criticize each other and yes we talk to strangers (before they talk to us). But I think it depends much on where you live, here in Stockholm we have 2 milion citizens so people are more into their bubble and doesnt care so much about others.

[@WithoutVlogs]

In my experience teachers allways try to bring the bad news in some sort of a eufemistic way. However, friends or children together do indeed criticize eachother. When I was 12 I lived in a very small town somewhere in Norrland. I think the culture is really different there from the culture in the south or in larger cities. Indeed people in the south of sweden are more open and less shy to say something to a stranger.

[@erichani1]

here in the states we do that too specially when you take the bus

[@phyotyla]

+Without Vlogs Let's just say that I don't recognize the lack of critique from my time as a university student. :D I suppose it could be a difference between universities but I really think you might be getting a free pass as an exchange student as far as grading goes.

[@WithoutVlogs]

That is an interesting point. It would be highly unfair to treat exchange students differently from native students. I can imagine it is sometimes hard to deal with all the different school systems exchange students are used to. But still...

[@TheChristianJuntunen]

I think the finns are more reserved than the swedes. In southern Sweden where I am from we talk to everybody, we are also closer to the continent and may have some more influences from abroad. We have the bridge Malmö - Copenhagen so Denmark is not far away

[@shoukatalilashari4255]

You are beautiful madam Hoe gaat het met jou How are you

[@howaregras]

Finland is not Scandinavian country!!

[@jakekukka599]

+Finnish 1980 Yes, the whole Finland is not. But part of Finland is. Oulu for example is the capital city of Northern Scandinavia.....

[@sensori]

I think the first difference you mentioned has more to do with the group members than our culture. Maybe. I want that constructive criticism as well. Otherwise you can't learn & improve.

[@WithoutVlogs]

+sensori Exactly! I totally agree with you.

[@johannabehm5412]

Thank you, this is very interesting video. I am moving to Netherlands soon and I have been wondering what people will think about me and my Finnish habits. :D So no warm meal during day time? Ouch! That will be hard...

[@WithoutVlogs]

+Johanna Behm Nope, just bread with some peanutbutter and maybe a glass of milk ;)

[@M.0252]

Don’t call Finland “Scandinavia” please don’t🇫🇮♥️

[@daddyleon]

Finno-Scandia!

[@mann7298]

ive only seen this video from you, but i would assume you havent really traveled around finland enough to generalize us about taking critisism. if that happens in the place youre studying, too bad, but i get proper critisism on my school work and in group assignments its not simply done one way bc someone says it first. ive seen many people from abroad do this, generalizing the whole country based on their experience, which is wrong. not everyone is like that, you should know that. idk if you were generalizing by accident or on purpose, but its still wrong when you only know how few people work

[@ImForwardlook]

The political correctness and "everybody gets a trophy" is the cancer of the school system of today. Don't worry about Scandinavia and the Nordic countries terms, many Finns even use both for the same meaning even if it isn't completely correct. As a native from Turku I can tell you that this town is known in Finland for its introverted people...when you move towards the east (not Helsinki, lol) and the north people become more open minded towards strangers.

[@WithoutVlogs]

+ImForwardlook Interesting that there can be such a cultural difference in one city! I have to travel more trough Finland then ;)

[@torbenjohansen6955]

In denmark we criticize eatch other a lot so its not a scandinavien thing. ( Scandinavien is Norway Sweden and Denmark) it's not Finland and Iceland. But they offcorse are part of the nordic contryes. Why Finland isn't part of scandina i don't know. BUT they arn't ( I think it has something to do with the fact that finland was part of russia (1809 - 1917) when the term scandinavia became popular. ( my gess ) oh i have a lot of german colleges and they get realy offended when you tell them that their is room for improvement in their work.

[@jakekukka599]

+Torben Johansen Once again. A part of Finland is also Scandinavian. Actually Finland has the capital city of the Northern Scandinavia...... :)

[@handehannu8136]

We are not shy, it is pride. Otherwise we do not need help from anywhere.

[@jpm83]

I think that criticism is just more subtle and hidden in sort of "body language" and actions but it is there. But I really don't have experience in Dutch criticism.

[@WithoutVlogs]

+Janne Interesting point, in The Netherlands criticism is really direct. Sometimes a bit to much even, if you ask me.

[@erichani1]

don't they realize that it could've happened to them too

[@m33s.39]

Netherlands iTS THE best

[@OcWale]

really good vlog and your pretty cute tbh time flew by while i was watching your video loool check me out im a new youtuber too!

[@WithoutVlogs]

+Oc Wale Aawh, thank you! Offcourse I'll take a look. KZbinrs have to support eachother right?

[@OcWale]

loool you got that right ahah

[@armandoamaral6977]

what your name?

[@tdfefdsa4656]

Interesting vlog!

[@juhaleskinen7383]

I didn't get your point at this video.. Maybe you should be at one country more time that you could actually tell about it something? I find this kind of offensive as a Finnish person.. And negative. I hate your kind of peoples that judge us without having a some point about what they are saying about us. Don't need to be here or come back :)

[@sausagefinger12]

+Juha Leskinen miksi olet noin hyökkäävä, minä en tajua sinun argumenttejä

[@erichani1]

here in usa we are chatty I feel ya Finns are conservative and swedes for what I hear

[@mikrokupu]

+elena richani There are just cultural differences, American small talk culture just doesn't always work in Finland. Finns are bit like Japanese, they have a high tolerance for silence and that is seen as a good behavior, I know it's different in US. Yes Finns are generally more reserved in their social life than Americans but not more conservative. America is more religious and there seems to be more taboos, like Finns are more relaxed with nudity, thanks to the sauna culture I think.

[@TheRawrnstuff]

+elena richani Depends on how you interpret 'conservative'. If it's by wanting to respect old ways and tradition, yes, but even the traditional habits and views in Finland are far more social-liberal than in the USA. Finnish culture doesn't have a history of owning slaves or being overly religious, since Finns in general used to be serfs for the Swedish aristocracy, and Finns were forced to adopt christianity - something the Finns never truly did. They just pretended when asked, but continued honoring the paganistic traditions like Midsummer and Yule. In fact, the exact translation for christmas (kristusmessu) is hardly ever used in Finnish language. A Yule-based word 'Joulu' is used of the holiday season and day instead, even though the contemporary way of celebration doesn't differ much; children are given gifts (though that happens on christmas eve), there's plenty to eat, and it's quite regarded as family time, even if it's becoming more and more common to spend the festivities among friends instead, due to young people having children less and later. Among friends Finns are extremely close and invested. So invested in fact, that it would be impossible to do with everybody. Could Finns be warmer towards strangers? Yes. But once you make friends with a Finn, you make friends for life. Finns are honest and sincere, but they don't really have a culture of keeping up appearances. A Finn might not go out of their way to call you, but they're also less likely to mind just hanging around together, talking about deep stuff and having long moments of silence in between ideas. Globalization has brought Finns closer to American culture though, and younger generations are adopting many american customs. This includes (what some could consider meaningless) chit-chat and "lying" to strangers who ask what's up. Older generations are less likely to chit-chat or not mention their digestive problems (not considered meaningless; after all, it's been troubling him for days - maybe because of all the coffee he's been drinking) when asked how the day's been. Sorry for the long post.

[@erichani1]

+Tim Smithen yeah I read about it

[@erichani1]

+Tim Smithen but here in the u.s it's like your waiting on the bus to come specially African Americans they can be chatty

[@jormapoikolainen6525]

I'm a Finn but during my professional career I also lived in the Netherlands..

[@WithoutVlogs]

Jorma Poikolainen What did you think about Dutch working culture?