Our Big Move to Den Haag 🇳🇱 | First Impressions & New Beginnings!

[@1336mg]

The bush at 5:55 is a Fuchsia. It's the type that can have a little frost, which there isnt much of because you live close to the sea. In a very harsh winter it might freeze and has to grow all over again from the ground.

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thanks for letting us know!

[@katarzynaroszak7981]

Try the Dutch tap water, it’s delicious and safe to drink. There really is no need to buy packaged water besides the times you are on the go and forgotten your reusable water bottle.

[@RiversRoamEurope]

I love the tap water! It's absolutely amazing you can drink it here. That is not something we can do back in the States. It's so toxic :-(

[@taal1979]

The Noordeinde Palace you saw on your left is being used as the official workplace of King Willen-Alexander and his wife Queen Maxima. They live in another palace in The Hague, called Huis ten Bosch which means House in the Woods and lies in a wooden section of The Hague. The statue infront of the palace is William of Orange and was the leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish Habsburgs that set off the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648) and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces (which later became the Netherlands) in 1648. Born into the House of Nassau, he became Prince of Orange in 1544 and is thereby the founder of the Orange-Nassau branch and the ancestor of the monarchy of the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, he is also known as Father of the Fatherland. You could say he is the founding father of the Netherlands.

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thank you so much for all of that history! It's very interesting. We actually saw Huis ten Bosch today so that'll be in our next video ;-)

[@RAMDH]

Noordeinde Palace is the King's working palace, not his residence. The orange flag hung on the flagpole, which means that the king is present.

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Dang, the internet failed me again. Thanks for the clarification!

[@LouisaH864]

@@RiversRoamEuropehe did lived there , when he was single

[@Eric_Maastricht]

@@LouisaH864 No, He'd bought the house right next to it -- when you stand in front of the palace courtyard, it's the house on the left... So that was his home as an adult single. The palace however does have bed rooms -I suppose small apartments- used for sleepovers (hah...) of visiting heads of state and their spouses.

[@_PJW_]

10:25 : Maison de Bonneterie. An old school luxury department store.

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thanks for that!

[@Eric_Maastricht]

Welcome to The Hague! You've found a really nice place in the centre of the city, I suppose it's rented with furniture provided (not common in NL), and by the looks of it and location it must be quite pricey. I lived in The Hague for the first 42 years of my life so I know the place well. I immediately recognised the Prinsegracht and with your view from the patio I identified the masonry of the wall of the "hofje" across the sidestreet. One thing though, The Hague has a lot more to offer than fastfood (even if that's what you like...). Weather is improving the next couple of days, so go see the beaches, it's a bit much for a walk so use the tram lines 1, 9 or 11 for Scheveningen beach. Just take any of the trams having a stop near your front door towards Central Station and switch trams there. If you already have a Dutch bank account, your bank card can be used to check in and out on Dutch public transport (never forget to check out as well!).

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thank you so much! We got very lucky with this place. You have a good eye ;-) Yes, we are aware of the other food options ;-) I think we just needed some comfort food that week while we settled in. We don't normally eat fast food at all, at least we never did in the States. Yes, we saw! I can't wait for warmer temps. We are planning to go to the beach very soon! We don't have bank cards yet, there is a whole process we have jump through in order to get them. We just Uber with Tarlo until we get them ;-)

[@Eric_Maastricht]

@@RiversRoamEurope I know that sidestreet and the masonry so well because family had an apartment close by. So visiting them, arriving from Maastricht by train at Central Station, I took the tram to your nearest tram stop, in Dutch "halte", then walked through that sidestreet to them or because a relative was at that large hospital near you.

[@Katt-._.7.]

Nice video! Welcome to the Netherlands and enjoy your time here! 😃

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thank you so much!

[@albertlay8927]

It's the statue of William OF Orange, not William THE Orange. The orange man is some other guy.

[@janlooden3643]

😂

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Ha! Thanks for that! I'm not sure if my internet search came up with that or if I just mistyped it. But good call!

[@vanderquast]

Enjoy your new begin in Den Haag. Don't forget to visit the very nearby towns Leiden and Delft 😊

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thank you! Yes, they are on our list. We briefly saw Delft when we got off at the wrong station, oops! It was very pretty but we'll go back and really see it.

[@gekkegerrit933]

welcome in our beautiful city!

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thank you!

[@gekkegerrit933]

@@RiversRoamEurope when you want a walk around in your new city with a hagunees and interested in historic and beautiful places, i will show you around for for free go to Mesdag Panorama, Escher museum, the likes.

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

When in the Hague, eat Indonesian foods, go find an Indonesian restaurant. They have the best in the EU.

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thanks for the suggestions! We will try some :-)

[@DrQuatsch]

​@@RiversRoamEurope There are two Indonesian restaurants I can suggest near your location. De Poentjak (near parliament) is the most famous Indonesian restaurant, and you do need a reservation for it. The other one is Waroeng Padang Lapek, which is even closer to you guys, which is more specialized to a certain Indonesian region.

[@urbandiscount]

@@DrQuatsch Eh. Onze Toko or bust!

[@katiemann8006]

Wow, so different than Brussels but beautiful as well. I love your courtyard. The bush with the flowers that look like hummingbirds would love is called a Fuschia. They have so many varieties of them. I adore your guys new place. 😉😘❤️❤️

[@RiversRoamEurope]

It is so different but still very pretty. Thank you! It's such a lovely spot to have in the middle of a city ;-) I knew you would know what that plant was ;-) thank you for letting me know! Is it very cozy and a much better place for us. Our other one was fine, but not for long term.

[@Dutchbelg3]

To be completely correct those are called Fuchsia. There are indeed many colors around! The other blossoming bushes in pink and reddish pink are hortensias. The color is dependant on the pH -acidity of the soil they're in. If you spread a layer of chalk around the base they become purple or even blue.

[@arthurhagen3826]

There is a church hidden in the back yards on the Prinsengracht. You can enter its garden next to Brouwersgracht 7, end of the ally to the right. You can walk out another ally, next to number 24 . Not sure if dogs are allowed, but it's an amazing place to be. Peaceful.

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Aww thank you for that recommendation! We will definitely got check it out. I hope dogs are allowed.

[@Lanamateva]

Wow so different from Brussels!! That's crazy how small the fridges are compared to the U.S.!

[@RiversRoamEurope]

It really is so different from Brussels! Isn't it crazy the size difference?! It helps cut down on food waste though and things expiring ;-) you can't lose much in these fridges haha

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

It is because we have shops with fresh stuff here, and markets, at walking distance, or bike distance..

[@chipdale490]

Welcome to Planet Earth!

[@peli71]

A fridge? I don’t have a fridge. I buy my food everyday fresh! And no, not pizza or all other processed and crap food as showed in the video. Only health fresh food.

[@MarcoTheHague]

Here we just do daily shopping for groceries there are supermarkets etc everywhere.

[@freddyfrieza6742]

Palace noordeinde is the kings office, hé And the queen work from there when they’re home. At the back is the garden, you can hang And chill there.

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Yes, thats what another viewer said as well. The gardens are open to the public?

[@taal1979]

@@RiversRoamEurope Yes they are. The Palace Gardens are open to the public daily between sunrise and sunset, while the buildings on the palace grounds are only open to the public during specific days of the year. Entrace to the gadens is from the other side. Also the Royal Stabels is part of the Palace grounds.

[@MarcoTheHague]

​@@RiversRoamEurope yeah its not that pretty though 😂 its just a park. Pretty popular spot when its warm, lots of people.

[@OP-1000]

6:08 Fuchsia

[@NL2500]

Welcome to The Hague

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thank you!

[@MartinWebNatures]

Nice entrance and home 😍

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thank you so much! We really lucked out.

[@MartinWebNatures]

@@RiversRoamEuropethat staircase is a classic 👍😍

[@somedude5951]

The woman statue is queen "Wilhelmina". Not sure how this is spelled in English, it's female for William. "William" is English for the Dutch "Willem". Google doesn't translate it. You can recognize her image in the statue from video's from WW2, when Wilhelmina was queen. Queen Wilhelmina also gave speeches in the USA. Names between English and Dutch are translated, like, "Charles" in Dutch is "Karel", "James" in Dutch is "Jacobus", "John" in Dutch is "Jan, Johan or Johannes". And thus, William is Willem. Unfortunately, I don't know any female names translated between English and Dutch, from my head now. "Wilhelmina" could maybe become "Williamine", but I doubt that name exists in English. Willem in German is Wilhelm, but I already typed to much. Thank you for making the nice video.

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thank you so much for letting us know! I assumed her name was Wilhelmina from the piece that was across from her but I wasn't sure who she was. I really appreciate you letting us know. And about the names as well. It's so very cool how names are similar across the different languages, but also different!

[@ItStartsWithAStep]

Looks like a beautiful apartment in a lovely neighbourhood :) its great its dog friendly and so spacious :) I have yet to visit Den Haag but did check out Delft. Its great but quite pricey to park the car there i found.

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thank you so much! We've had fun exploring so far. I hope you get to visit soon!

[@Mrevolva]

what a nice place , congrats

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thank you so much! We really lucked out!

[@vickymaaskant6784]

Dear people of this video. I started watching this as I was curious how foreigners experience the first few days in my city/ country. I always love that. And I learn new things about my own city🎉 But then... you showed us your home and I was really taken aback. I realise you are from another culture, and how you perceive things and communicate them are different than we do. However, I do want to share my first thoughts and feelings that came across my mind in those first 5 to 10 minutes. Just to let you see, and hopefully understand, that what you think and how you communicate things is perceived rude in the Netherlands. Now, I communicate this to you in a very Dutch way. Be aware, it's direct. I will immediately tell you how your comments make me feel. So please don't take this as rudeness, but as a Dutch way of letting you know 'hey, this is not okay, these are the reasons why not so you can learn and adjust yourself, and then you will be able to connect to the culture and perhaps one day become a part of it'. Dutch directness is way of giving feedback, to make you reflect about yourself/ situation you are in, to give you a chance to adapt. So the bluntness of us is actually a way of trust building. So there we go. Below, you will find my direct thoughts. I hope my introduction of Dutch culture helps to accumulate them😂: 2 minutes in.... you are calling this a simple kitchen. You should be ashamed. What I am seeing is pure luxury, only affordable to the elite and lucky few. Your washing room isn't small. It is huge. Plus, you have a washing room. 99% of the people don't have that. Little garden? Little (private) parking spot?! Like.... what? It is really big.... please stop calling everything little. You are really overstepping yourself here, making everything Dutch small and unimportant. Are you not aware you have moved into another culture? That The Netherlands are as big as a post stamp? That we have to make do with what we have? Who are you to put us down so much? It's giving me the feeling you are not realising you are in an elite position, in another country. In a very large and luxurious home. It comes across as ignorant. The house you have is not something most of us can afford. I am 40, worked in pharma, and even as an (ad interim) director, I was not able to buy a house or afford a rental place with a bedroom. Instead, I got a studio (a one room apartment with just a staircase bathroom with toilet) without sunlight but with lots of moulds. So I was already in an elite position (with the job and salary) and even I could not afford a 'normal' house. Most of us don't know how to make ends meet and live on the 12th floor looking out to another concrete building. The area in which you are living is only for the rich and some social housing initiatives. Or people who have lived there since the 80's/90's. Those were my thoughts....I hope you take them in and learn from it. That you may enjoy my city and country as you were already doing on your first strolls! Best of luck and one day we might actually come across each other, I don't live that far from you guys. Tchau

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thank you for your comments and thoughts. I appreciate you trying to educate us because those are things we did not know. I understand how my comments may have come across but I hope you know, that wasn't my intention. We made this channel for our friends and family to follow our journeys and this video blew up, which neither of us were expecting. Had I known that the whole world would be watching it, I would have used other language. We are incredibly grateful and thankful to living in this space, surrounded by a beautiful garden. That is something we do not take for granted. Cheers

[@peterf1]

@@RiversRoamEurope I think this exchange is a little bit funny, and is quite indicative of a typical exchange between Americans learning about the Netherlands, and the Dutch, who are -- by character -- used to correcting a perceived wrong. I just discovered your channel, and am happy to see this video "blowing up" ... IMHO there are LOTS of Americans like me who are very curious about those who have made the leap to Europe and especially NL. A big congratulations on the move, and on your channel. @vickymaaskant6784 There's a popular TV show here in North America called "Househunters International" which, as the name indicates, followers 'adventurous' people from outside the EU and their search for a home in various places. Predictably, like clockwork, the home shoppers comment on "HOW SMALL" the kitchen, bath, house, yard, etc. etc. is. It's so cringy to watch because as you say... it's a little insulting and it makes it seem as if the person has done zero research. It happens in NL, Germany, France, the U.K... I'm not trying to justify the comment, but am asking for an understanding that it is a common 'first reaction'. You are right to call it out. I hope to continue to see your comments. I love the Dutch approach: direct, blunt, honest, polite and thorough.

[@Dija-says-freePalestine]

​@@RiversRoamEuropedon't listen to that person. I myself did not get insulted by your comments. When I saw the kitchen I said that kitchen is a mismatch it doesn't suit the house imo and I understand why you called it simple because it is quite simple and there is nothing wrong with it. I wouldn't call it luxurious because it is not. That person is just complaining because that's a typical Dutch thing to do and that parking spot was small do don't know why they got so butthurtef about it. And I understand that everything IS smaller than the states and that person knows so I don't understand their need to complain in an unpleasant way and calls it Dutch directness. What a weird person. Just say whatever you want however you want it, you can do that in the Netherlands. That is your right! Hope you enjoy our country.

[@RiversRoamEurope]

@@Dija-says-freePalestine I really appreciate you saying all of this! Truly. I'm learning to not take these kind of things to heart since not many people are good at giving others grace. Thank you!!!!!

[@MartinWebNatures]

How long ago did you moved to here 🇳🇱? Welcome in my country.

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thank you! Just 2 weeks ago.

[@MartinWebNatures]

@@RiversRoamEurope wow i had the feeling a few months. It seems you feel at ease there 👏👏 I also subscribed

[@Khakzoy]

6:07 that is a Fuchsia. Probably wierd in english… 😂 Foochsia ok?

[@urbandiscount]

Indo food is the best in The Hague

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thanks for the tip! Someone else mentioned that too. We have a couple places to try.

[@kwarts]

13:41 Koningin Wilhelmina

[@Treinbouwer]

Al begonnen met Nederlands leren?🙃

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Not really, Chris is getting better at reading menu's since words repeat but we will have to take classes. Sadly, with the way my brain is wired, it will not be easy for me at all.

[@realdutchdave]

@@RiversRoamEurope Well we (for the most part) speak all English here, you'll be fine...

[@peli71]

@@RiversRoamEuropeLeer Nederlands. Je kunt er niet vanuit gaan dat iedereen in Nederlabd Engels spreekt of wenst te spreken.

[@peli71]

@@realdutchdaveDat is dus niet zo. Ik bemerk steeds meer weerstand om Engels te spreken. Zeker met expats. Niet alleen de lusten!

[@Relaxbadkneeadventures]

Lucifer plant 👍😉🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱 enjoy

[@AlexK-yr2th]

Nice impression of your first Dutch experience(s). You are still quite a bit off though... It's is "Den Haag" or (officially) "s-Gravenhage". The Haque is merely a translation of the unofficial name. Don't be surprised if the Patio turns out a shared one for all occupants. If I am not mistaken, that plant is a Fuchsia and attracts hummingbirds. Don't compare a Belgium town with one in The Netherlands please. We have our own culture and Europe is not a federal state. It is not "Willem the Orange" but "Willem of Orange" as a translating which of course in Dutch is "Willem van Oranje". "Noordeinde" is a working palace, not a residence. You have to let go of the American indulgence soon of burgers and sauces. It is merely a variation of the same. Please start orientating what is considered Dutch food (not the fried stuff, American or tourist modelled snacks) that you can find in supermarkets and, sadly, you have to cook yourself. Dutch are dippers, not drown'ers when it comes to processed sauce and we enjoy real cheese, not a cow-fat variant they sell as a sauce. Half of our plates for dinner are vegetables, quarter meat and quarter protein (mostly boiled potato) as a rule of thumb, usually finished with a dairy product for dessert that is not overly sweet. All I see in your video is sauce, buns, burgers, bacon and some fried potatoes but no vegetables at all unless it's on a bun. We eat proper sliced bread with a little butter or margerine, topped with sliced meat, cheese among others. What you been eating so far is NOT (local) Dutch at all but a variation of what you are used to back home! As an American, you should visit the Peace Palace (Vredespaleis) that seats the International Court of Justice, which funny enough the US is the only Western country, together with other 3rd world and authoritarian leadership countries, does not recognize whatsoever. In 's-Gravenhage, the Dutch government is seated as well and the building(s) is/are so much more beautiful than the British parliament or even the US government buildings, called "het Binnenhof".

[@mcorrelje]

The city of Den Haag dropped the "s-Gravenhage" name and only use Den Haag which is the official name and is internationally easier. Also closer to the original name "Die Haghe".

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thanks for your comment! We understand each country has its own culture but I am allowed to compare each city we visit/live in. Also, we don't eat meat so you will not be seeing much of that on our plates. I eat a bit of pork here and there but not often and that is very recent (we do eat eggs). Also, we didn't eat any dairy while living in the States so our eating habits have changed drastically since we arrived. This was our first week here so I know our food choices will evolve with time. I cooked every day when we lived in the States so I'm fully enjoying not cooking for a bit. But we know we will cooking at home again at some point. Thanks for the suggestions!

[@HeikoEbeling]

​@@mcorreljethis is confusing even to locals. The official name is still 's Gravenhage, that's why that is on all official documents issued by the municipality like ID cards. And it is the name used by the postal services. Everywhere else, the shorter informal name Den Haag is used.

[@AlexK-yr2th]

@@RiversRoamEurope Of course you are allowed to compare, but you have to compare on the basis of equality. You cannot compare on the one hand of everything and all you know in the US and compare it with impressions and, sadly, online information about the Netherlands from an American prospective. Glad you cook. I wrote that comment not only for you bot mostly for your audience to not give them the impression that that's how it goes over here and that we are the mediocre version of the American MSG culture. Together with numerous vlogs that have been put online over the years, Americans think our diet is stroopwafels, herring and poffertjes. What I was trying to point out that is streetfood and mostly for tourists. You go to a local market outside of the Randstad, you hardly can find that food. Try the Dutch bread, dairy products, meat, etc. They are of a different level here with so much more taste and not full of hormones and preservatives, please. You will enjoy it.

[@AlexK-yr2th]

@@mcorrelje Complete nonsense. The official name is still 's-Gravenhage after the name change to "Den Haag" was rejected in 1990. Floris V noemde het "die Haghe" toen het nog een dorp was in 1291 AC and he built a "jachtslot" there (hunting castle/mansion). The Hague still has no city rights till date and is officially still a "dorp". Since early 17th century, the name 's-Gravenhage has been used. Please get your facts straight. Thank you.

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

Art? Go to the Maurits Huis...

[@Eric_Maastricht]

And its associated gallery. Also there are the Kunst(=art)museum (formerly known a Gemeentemuseum = municipality museum), Gevangenpoort, Museon, Panorama Mesdag and Mesdag museum, car museum, and still a lot more. And that's just only the Hague itself! For all your rainy days...😪

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thanks for all those suggestions! We would love to see them. I wonder if any of them allow dogs? That's always the question

[@PatQuakernaat]

Foodies huh?! How, you're only having buns and burgers.

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Have you seen any of our other videos? We eat a bunch of different foods. Also, these may be things you take for granted but we don't have egg buns in the States. They have egg biscuits. Also, we didn't eat many of things in the States due to food allergies so we have really enjoyed these.

[@joeycee5680]

What do you know? She didn't film every minute of every meal.

[@jvanboe9]

Would you care for some tips from locals regarding foods? (both eating out and buying at local shops or markets)?

[@RiversRoamEurope]

@@jvanboe9 we would love some! Thank you for offering. I do know how to shop at the local stores ;-) but haven't seen any markets yet

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

No bookshelves??? Better go to ikea...

[@RiversRoamEurope]

We have some in our second bedroom but we really don't need any. Our book collection is back in the states.

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

Yeah just like you have Statues of George THE Washington... lol

[@joeycee5680]

You never make mistakes?

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

It is den HaaG, not haak, with a CH sound as in loCHness, no h or k what so ever.

[@dasja9966]

Lol, give m some time to practice. 😂Hard g is a hard sound to pronounce for non dutchies. Even i switched from full on hard g to something inbetween hard and soft g, it's just more comfy for the throat. Edit: was kinda intrigued by your username and pleasantly surprised to see footage of the city i live in. Loved the storks in the tree nests, only seen m on stork nesting poles thus far. Did sub, nice to watch awake, but also good to feel asleep to. Watching pretty flowers and hearing the birds sing works better for me than counting sheep.

[@Treinbouwer]

​​@@dasja9966 Ik ben Nederlands en ik kan de harde g ook niet uitspreken.😂 De zachte g is nog weer iets anders dat wat je beschrijft. De ch zit bij een zachte g meer naar voren dan de harde g en de g is bij de zachte g de stemhebbende variant van de ch. Chloor en gaan beginnen voor mij niet met de zelfde klank. In het overgangsgebied tussen de harde en zachte kan dat wel het geval zijn overigens. Dan wordt alles uitgesproken met wat voor mij de ch is. Een medeklinker op het eind van een woord is overigens altijd stemloos. Lach en dag rijmen dus wel.

[@geertstroy]

"European kitchens"... she knows them all , are " simple"... says an American privileged to finally see a modern concept kitchen not made from tacky plywood and bulging fridges , I leave this channel NOW.

[@RiversRoamEurope]

Thanks for your lovely comment! I hope someone shows you as much grace as you have shown us when you move to a new country.

[@rmyikzelf5604]

​@RiversRoamEurope even though the tone of that comment was totally uncalled for and I like your toned-down response, you may want to be a little more mindful before using generalising (bordering on condescending) statements like the one you used to characterise that kitchen. There are enough ignorant Americans going around Europe on YT spouting unfounded generalised 'truths' about 'Europe'. I reckon you don't want to be placed in that category.