🇳🇱🤯🇺🇸PART 2: Culture SHOCK as an American in The Netherlands - Jovie's Home

Hi, welcome to Jovie's Home!
In this video, I'm sharing the remaining culture shocks I experienced when I moved from the USA to The Netherlands. Do you relate to anything I'm saying here?!
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Thank you, as always, to Daan for his excellent editing help.
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My name is Jovie and I am a Mama to two beautiful children. I make videos about my life as a mother and everything that goes along with it (cooking, cleaning, organizing, tidying, grocery hauls, the laughs, the tears, the ups and downs and everything in between).
My goal is to create a supportive community for others where we can celebrate our differences as parents and learn from each other.
Thank you for stopping by!
#DutchLife #CultureShock #LifeInTheNetherlands

[@squishy_thighz]

I can totally see how you, as an American would find out customer service a bit disappointing. I personally find the 'lack' of customer service quite nice to be honest. I hate walking into a store and have someone almost immediately walk up to me to offer me help and I think quite a lot of Dutch people get annoyed by that.

[@Tardis216]

Yes indeed. `Can I help you' is very annoying, almost impolite, as if we (the costimers) are normally helpless. `Good morning/afternoon' from behind the desk will do. That's a friendly way to let us know there's a shop keeper around in case we have a question or going to pay for the thing(s) we want to buy. p.s. Nose picking in public is indeed disgusting behavior. Apparently those people don't have a handkerchief with them. Fortunately I don't see it happen very often. p.s.2 Checks are weird. We Dutchies feel they don't belong in the 21st century, a bank employee probably doesn't know what it is and what to do with it.

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

What is even worse is when they don't just walk up to you but follow you around constantly. If that happens I sometimes just walk around the store randomly. It usually takes very long for them to find out you are making fun of them.

[@lievevlindertjes.7933]

@Jeongyeon x Nayeon. Spreek lekker voor jezelf. Ik vind het juist zeer klantonvriendelijk. Zeker als ik een vraag ergens over heb dan vind ik het zeer klantonvriendelijk om aan mijn lot over gelaten te worden. Als ik dan maar zelf naar een medewerker toe moet stappen om het alsnog te vragen en ik dan ook nog eens onfatsoenlijk te woord word gestaan en ik het lekker zelf maar mag uitzoeken. Dat vind ik gewoon echt onbeschoft.

[@krista9150]

yes! When I was in the US, I had the opposite and I was like "Please leave me alone I'm eating in peace what do you want from me????"

[@daniellaklijn8054]

Als ze mij gaan volgen ga ik weg. Super irritant. Alsof ze bang zijn dat je wat gaat stelen

[@sneeuwgetsie]

I'm so happy and proud to live in Holland....all your culture shocks make me realize in what a great country i live in.

[@LovingLipgloss]

As a Dutch medical student your first point made me think for a minute why it is the way it is. I think as you said it mostly has to do with cost-effectiveness. What I do know about that for example is the PSA test to check for antigens which can indicate prostate cancer in men above 50 years. We discussed to have that as an annually exam and we found out a big con for implementing this. If you look at the statistics there is a high number in what it's called false-positivity, which indicate a positive test result without actually having cancer. All those men that are positive need to get a punction which is invasive (can lead to infection) and a lot of men can experience it as traumatic. Also all those extra tests costs more in the end than the way it is now. So that's why they don't use that annually and only when something is suspicious. Of course this is not the same with other diseases and all need to be looked at independently! Another thing I do think the Dutch healthcare system does really well is our cautious use of antibiotics. I'm a firm believer that antibiotic resistance is a future epidemic coming up in the next 50 years and thus we cannot use antibiotics too easily for preventic use. That's also a reason I think why we have that "just take a paracetamol" mentality hahaha

[@doornroosje4695]

Yeah i think its about cost effectiveness. Only the of the age that the risk is big they get breast or ... exams. I think also being to preventive you can create a fear culture about health and sickness and can cost you a lot while like with breastcancer the change that you get it in your twenties is quit litlle

[@lindaraterink6451]

Totaly agree with you on this. But I also am on Jovi side. The paracetamol culture here is rediculous and I'm not saying we should be a little looser on the antibiotica. But when you come with some issues, maybe get into it a little deeper befor just brushing it of. When I go for a blood test, wich I'm willing to pay for outside of my insurance, just to check if something is wrong. I'm talking vitamins, cholesterol, diabetic, etc. The doctor asks why or what makes you think something is wrong with that? Seeing your parents (who also were her patient) getting illness and died of some issues, that potentialy can be hereditary makes me think that. What can be so wrong on checking blood when there is not a direct reason for it? I think that does have to do with money and it shouldn't be.

[@mandybisseling5997]

I think if you have a full check-up each year, there will be at least a few strange outcomes that you then have to follow up on, with new more invasive test. Also, and I'm just guessing here but, the salary of doctors in the states are much different earned than in the Netherlands. On the hospitallity note, I know we are not the most kind people in the world, but if someone would speak to me like that, I would just go. I did that ones in the LIDL. I left a ( realy full ) grocerycar behind becaus one of the employees was realy rude to me.😂😂😂

[@femsff7090]

@@lindaraterink6451 Most doctors will hand you the checklist for your blood test to take with you for when you're getting your blood drawn; if I want to test more I just check more boxes. And that's not because my GP ignores my concerns, more like I forgot to ask them or didn't consider it. My GP is always very cooperative and helpful, probably helped by the fact that I see him at most twice a year and not on a monthly/weekly basis.

[@JoviesHome]

Thank you so much for this insightful comment. I should have added that my father was specialized in geriatric and internal medicine so certainly his (and my) reference age group for preventative care was older. And as for antibiotics, I am firmly in the "use only when necessary" side with you. One big difference between the US and NL cultures is that in NL you are encouraged to take days off work to rest and recover from a cold/flu whereas in the US you're encouraged to go to work with a disgusting slimy nose and cough, so people might see their doctor and beg for antibiotics just so they can go to work and not worry about being fired for being sick. Thanks for watching and commenting and good luck with your studies!!

[@Marco_Onyxheart]

I'm surprised that you say that the Netherlands practices reactive medicine and the US practices preventative medicine. Maybe some annual tests are not really a thing, and maybe that's cultural. But a lot of Americans only go to the hospital when a problem has progressed to the point that it's become an emergency, even when it could have been prevented. Many of those Americans are uninsured or can't afford the crazy deductibles/out of pocket costs. That would never happen in the Netherlands. In that sense, Dutch medical culture would be more preventative than American medical culture.

[@1972Sylvester]

performing tests when not necessary might lead to false positives and unnecessary surgeries and/or medicines.

[@1972Sylvester]

thepatientfactor.com/canadian-health-care-information/world-health-organizations-ranking-of-the-worlds-health-systems/ Netherlands is ranked 17, USA is ranked 37. The lowest of the western world. So i do trust our system better.

[@Bruintjebeer6]

She is right about preventing medicine in the US. Only about half the population can’t afford it because they have no insurance or there insurance does not cover it.

[@narvul]

@@Bruintjebeer6 "Or their"....... US school system has some flaws too ;)

[@BramBergs]

This is so true. You get to a dentist twice a year here, preventive. You have to get your car checked every year, preventive. Why not preventive check yourself at a doctor? This mindset really accomodates treating an upcoming illness/disease really early on, instead of going to surgery because you basically never knew you had something going on.

[@Jantrao]

The reason you don’t get called in for a pap smear before the age of 30 is simply statistics: the chances of having developed cervical cancer by then are so low that doing pap smears for everyone every year would be very costly while very few cancers would be discovered by it. Besides overloading the medical system with essentially healthy people who take up precious time of medical professionals, it just causes lots of worry and concern in the patients. Also, there’s no need for an expensive gynecologist to take the pap smear; it’s a simple enough procedure for any doctor to perform, which then gets send to the lab for testing anyway. In the US, where everyone pays crazy amounts for health care, you get some kind of entitlement: I paid for it, so give me care. Here, health care costs are a burden shared by all, which means sensible choices need to be made that weigh cost and benefit. It might indeed mean that some people are unlucky enough to be statistical outliers, but comparing that to a system where millions are completely uninsured, I know what I prefer. Also, getting checked for breast cancer is generally senseless before the age of 50, which is when Dutch women are called in. Unless there’s a history of breast cancer in your family, there is no reason to believe you would suddenly develop breast cancer. And even then, this is something you can check yourself as well with self-examination, and then you simply go to the doctor if you are worried about something. I am saying all this as someone who had to get a small procedure done after my first ever pap smear (they basically were preventing the prevention, removing cells that had a potential to become cancerous in future), and whose mother has had breast cancer. What you’re describing in the US isn’t so much preventative care as it is fear-mongering. And certain doctors and HMOs certainly fare very well by it, so why would they bother telling you it’s actually pointless?

[@elmammoth]

Like to add that you can call and get a STD-test/papsmeer/breastexamination done if you do wish to do so before the required age. it's just one phonacall away, so if you really wanted it that could be done, but like said above.. statistics etc.. :)

[@NiDeCo]

Hey, Dutch guy here. When I'm in a shop/cafe/whatever and I ask the staff a question, they'd better not be rude, because I'm out of there fast. Bad service is just bad service. And though it might be true the Dutch retail/horeca industries should focus a bit more on customer friendliness (at least in my honest opinion, I've worked in retail/horeca too and I think it is important), I'm very happy with the passive assistance I normally receive in Dutch shop / horeca places. If I have a question, I'll ask, I don't need a conversation every time I go into a shop.

[@MagereHein]

Another native here. Unfortunately rude waiting staff is not rare in the Netherlands and has been so for as long as I know. Ordinarily service staff try to be helpful and polite, but they're paid a salary and don't live from tips. As a consequence they can get away with nastiness and they know it. That said: "the customer is always right" doesn't work here either. Rude or unreasonable customers are happily ignored. Yelling at a shop assistant can easily get you removed.

[@martianpudding9522]

Checks are like ancient technology here. I remember cleaning up at my grandparent's house and finding a check book and my parents telling me "yes child that is a checkbook, something they used when we ourselves were small children". I would be really annoyed too if someone gave me money in a way that required me to go to a bank. Nobody physically goes to banks here on a regular basis.

[@janboterletter1398]

True, cheques are very old-school. We used to have Giro Cheques, you paid with them in shops or could retrieve cash from the post office, also abroad, in the pre-ATM times. I think they were abolished at least 25 years ago. Nowadays you hardly have any physical banks to go to anyway, all online.

[@narvul]

It's cheques not checks..... for god sake! Nederland kennisland yeah right.

[@computeraddic675]

@@narvul Zeker spellingcontrole uit geschakeld..

[@narvul]

@@computeraddic675 "Checks" is een bestaand woord dus komt glansrijk door de spellingscontrole.

[@MrEric1947]

@@narvul Checks is the US spelling, cheques the British. Both are correct.

[@myrrhsense]

I think your "car" comment is more about the horrible weather. It's very confusing I agree. But you have to know how to deal with the weather. There are ways, that don't nessesarily involve a car. Plus we have a saying in Dutch (ofcourse), that's "je bent toch niet van suiker" meaning "you aren't made of sugar, right?". Basically, you won't melt in the rain, you'll survive 😂

[@twenteeen]

Hey Jovie. Comments on a couple of points you raised: 1. Customer Service - As a lifelong customer service professional, I know EXACTLY what you mean, lol, having been born in The Netherlands and moving to Canada at the age of 13 and living there for 30 years. I've lived in 8 countries (mostly European) in my time, and the best customer service (overall) is definitely found in Canada and the US. However, compared to the rest of Europe, customer service in The Netherlands is actually pretty darn good. I lived in Malta for a little over 4 years, and for a tourist destination country, the customer service there is generally pretty shockingly bad. I thought it was the worst until I moved to Prague, CZ, where it's actually worse! Unbelievable. My guess is that it has a lot to do with the differences in tipping culture, and the fact that most employees in the service industry actually get paid a better salary relatively speaking, compared to their North American colleagues. The way I choose to deal with it (due to me being a typical straight forward Dutchie) is by commenting on it directly. So if I receive bad service, I will definitely speak up about it to the clerk/server/manager of the establishment. I consider it a public service ;) I have been a restaurant manager, and a manager of various customer service departments large and small, and I would want to know where my crew is failing so that I can improve the service we provide. So please, don't be shy and let the establishment know when they could be doing better. Some may not appreciate constructive criticism, but that's their problem. 2. Salary schedule - Yeah, going from a weekly/bi-weekly payment schedule to a monthly one was a bit of a change for me too. You guessed right, though, in that it is a European thing, as monthly salary payments are standard in all European countries (at least in the 7 that I've worked in). 3. Weather - Trust me, you are definitely NOT the only one who has issues with Dutch weather. It is after all the favourite topic of complaint in The Netherlands, and you're probably aware by now that Dutch people are champion complainers! ;) 4. Using a car - I can totally understand how having a car improved your quality of life. The US has after all the ultimate car culture. It's pretty much necessary in Canada and the US to have a car due to the extreme distances involved. I myself owned a car from as soon as I was legally allowed to drive on my own (16 in Alberta, Canada), and would not have been able to survive without it. Having lived in places like London, Prague, and Malta, however, has allowed me to get used to life without my own vehicle quite simply. Public transportation in most European countries is excellent, much more efficient than in most places in North America. Let's face it, other than in major cities in Canada and the US, public transport is pathetic and hugely time-consuming (mainly due to the distances, of course, but also due to the aforementioned car culture). It's just not used enough for economies of scale to make it both affordable AND efficient. 5. Cheques - Yeah, so this one. You can still use cheques in Canada, but almost no-one does, and haven't for quite some time. I think the last cheque I wrote/received in Canada was sometime in the '90's. The automated debit/money transfer systems used in Europe are MUCH more efficient than in North America. Also, no chance of writing/receiving a bad cheque, because EFT transfers can only be made if the money is actually there. In this case, just like with the adoption of the metric system, the US is far behind the rest of the world. The major issue here is, imho, the geographical and economic size of the US. This allows too many US residents to remain insular/ignorant, not needing/wanting to be exposed to other cultures and ways of doing things. I think that most educated US residents (like you) who are exposed to European cultures long term would enthusiastically subscribe to some of these "different" ways of doing things because they are simply more efficient. After all, 12 inches in a foot, 3 feet in a yard, 1760 yards in a mile, 2025 yards in a nautical mile ... Wouldn't moving the decimal point left or right be so much easier???

[@marilynfernandez3279]

I live in the US and have not used a check in years! I pay everything using my debit card and EFT for all my payments. To give gifts I use Zelle, I just add the recipient's name and bank information to the list on my bank account and they have their money. Stores and online I use debit/credit cards. The only persons I know that still use checks are elderly and they are not comfortable using new technology.

[@xiiioet3556]

Oh yeah, I live in the US and people definitely still use checks, especially older folks

[@AnataWaDareDesuKa]

About the warm/cold water in bathrooms, it might depend on what you’re used to? If I wash my hands with warm water a few times, my skin gets red, dry and cracks and bleeds on the knuckles 😳. Yes my hands are drier when the weather is cold, but that’s because of the weather, not because of the cold water. I think the reason is, by the time the warm water reaches the faucet(?), you’ve usually already finished washing your hands. And if they need a good scrubbing with some warm water, it’s usually not after going to the bathroom, but after working outside or something, and then I wash my hands in the kitchen. I was an au pair in a different country, and I made sure to stand by them when they washed their hands. Not to make sure they did so, but I was afraid they would turn on the hot water, and burn their hands 😅

[@a.l.feenstra]

Hi Jovie, I watched some of your videos. Interesting to hear about the cultural differences. I've been to the USA 4 times (have been a guest at several people's homes), so I can relate to a few things. What I find typical American is that you apologize a lot for your own opinions (sorry, but that is the way I feel about it). That is so not Dutch! lol. I know Americans do that, but if Dutch people do that, to most of us they come across as insecure. Talk about cultural differences. ;-)

[@r0der1ck_0nl1ne]

You’re totally right about the customer service. I’ve often gotten in altercations with very obnoxious employees who have the nerve to snap at you for asking them a perfectly polite question. Some are so self centered that they feel so attacked by you confronting them with their behavior they start getting racist and xenophobic. It’s an amazing thing to experience.

[@TTTzzzz]

The average life expectancy is higher in the Netherlands than the US.

[@asphalthedgehog6580]

Exactly. Eat junk food all day, and take preventive medicines. Not very effective.

[@naess004]

Yep. I think that's what this whole exchange boils down to. You can be as preventative as you want, in the end your population is less healthy than ours. STD rates are one 3rd of the USA so go right ahead and have your pap smeared, we'd rather educate our kids not to catch it.

[@koriliano7823]

naess004 less healthy on average though. Since the divide between rich and poor seems much greater in the US, it might just be that the poor are skewing the average downward.

[@PaxV]

There are very good types of clothing available for rainy weather, Don 't buy a cheap raincoat in a country having 150-180 rainy days a year.... Just go out and buy a breathing multilayered outdoor jacket. They cost a lot more but will keep you dry(er) and less smelly, and will definitely improve your experience, nature is something you live with, you are nature as well. The jackets are also really nice for biking. Maybe being more aware of nature is also a reason why people do not use so much make-up... To show nature. Elder people are generally senior and more respected. Just pasting your face to look younger lowers your status. Cold water is no problem, warm is a luxury. Oh and picking your nose and looking at it, well... also compares to the classical Dutch toilet, with the table (which is phased out slowly) so you can see what you produce. It helps to stay aware of things. Self diagnosis as you wish. Colorless firm boogers are okay, red or brown means nose bled, if it bleeds for a long time your clotting sucks, green means bacterial sinusitis or other inflammations or foreign objects, fluid colorless is cold, virus or allergies. Same with stool... It can tell you a lot as well... Though I consider most people not (enough) aware of their biological existence, and possible not observe their waste. Saves a lot of preventative medicine... Just being aware of yourself. And public transport tends to be a good vector for germs anyhow, like schools, daycare and other places where you come into contact or travel very close to other people.

[@MiriamBoon]

@@naess004 So, education will not save you from HPV (the STD that causes cervical cancer). HPV is transmitted by shedding skin all over the groin area, so a condom won't protect you. The only thing that will protect you is not letting your groin area touch the groin area of someone who has HPV. And since the cancer-causing HPV strains do not cause warts, the only way to know that someone has HPV is regular screening, or having cancer advanced enough to be symptomatic. The thing about cervical cancer (and this is not true of all cancers, but it is true of some) is that if treated early, you have an excellent prognosis. If treated too late, you have a very bad prognosis. I come from Canada originally. We have universal healthcare, and we do regular pap smears there because it is more cost effective and humane than an expensive last-ditch effort to save the life of a woman dying from cervical cancer because it was detected too late.

[@Guust_Flater]

About the service....Rude is never OK, but also...the customer is not always right! I have read posts on reddit about customers in the US..... The 'Karens' with their 'I want to speak the manager' or 'I get you fired'....even if the customer was wrong, people did get fired or had to follow a (mandatory) course in customer support.... The laws here protect the workers much more....to get fired due to a customer complaint, is almost unheard of....and never wenn the customer is wrong. Monthly salary....divide in 4 and don't spend more than that amount in each week.....😉😃

[@efjeK]

We had cheques about twenty years ago.

[@hansreymen5339]

Here in Belgium cheques disappeared with the introduction of the euro, so probably the same is true for the Netherlands

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

About the customer service: If customer service is shit I just leave. And yes, it happens. Never had a salesperson say they are busy but I have had stores where I had to wait a very long time because everyone was busy or because there just wasn't enough help around. If that takes too long I will go somewhere else.

[@bibianborst2736]

I am curious if you could do a reverse culture shock kind of thing? Like things that are very normal in America, never thought about it, then when you lived in the Netherlands you were like... why do Americans do it this way? I always said that i learned as much of the Netherlands living in the states as about the states themselves

[@JoviesHome]

I feel like everything in America is backwards now to be honest. But I love this video idea... 😉 thank you!

[@anhelmig9848]

Good idea!

[@thetruthhurtsyou147]

@@JoviesHome OMG I hate your personality. So happy you left America. You're not good enough.

[@jarrettalyssaneville1122]

I am a Dutch person, moved to the US because of my husband. I am experiencing the same things here everything what you have mentioned but the opposite. :)

[@cathje832]

A lot of people in the Netherlands find it to much in your face if you walk in a store and they jump in your nek. I dont like it my self. But it's normal to be greeted and asked if you need help. And they should do that. So i think you just had some bad experiences. Because that women in the pizzeria was plaine rude!!! That is not the Dutch way.

[@efosdk2925]

I had to laugh so hard about the nose picking thing. Personally I love that you included that one. It's good to hear the things people are often afraid to bring up. I don't see people nose picking in public here, but maybe I unconsciously ignore it as I don't think it's the worst thing. That's the thing with most culture shocks, you experience them because you have a different reference point. Like with the service industry, I actually feel attacked with the friendliness in other countries sometimes. Like someone is stepping into my comfort zone. With the people being on their phone I wouldn't mind bothering them as it's their job to help, but at least they will let me be until I ask for help. However they should just be doing their job which can't be only answering questions so they're being bad employees in that sense.

[@TYCHO2003]

Cheques.... oh god, that is like medieval isn’t it... do they still carry gold nuggets in the States ? 😂😂

[@Saartje05]

Can hardly remember cheques, lol

[@houtjeboom]

LOL.... they have them still in France.... my goodness what a pain in the ass is that when you are standing in line for the Kassa..... it takes hours to write them... it is 2019

[@wolfgangengel7786]

I am not sure about the Netherlands, but pretty sure they still have cheques as we do in Germany. But usually we don't use them as a private person because we have bank transfers and this is safer for the recipient. But as far as I understand the US the real matter is the lack of bank transfers in the US.

[@houtjeboom]

@@wolfgangengel7786 We don't any cheques any more !!!!

[@Labios_Rotos]

We don't do checks anymore, this lady is from the stone age.

[@rob60tom]

I'm only saying, don't think I'm "getting at you", but in the US you can only have preventitive care is if you have insurance. Without insurance you are totally on your own with no options

[@JoviesHome]

You’re very right and that is such a tragedy. Everyone in the world should have access to affordable and quality healthcare. And especially in the USA. I don’t understand how anyone can possibly disagree with the concept of universal healthcare. 😰 thanks for watching and commenting!

[@joshfromholland9077]

Very interesting to see our country from an outside perspective. I just happened to find your channel and find it very entertaining and educational. 👍

[@JoviesHome]

Thank you Josh!

[@PhoenixNL72-DEGA-]

Most dutch people would, when ignored like that by store workers behind the checkout desk, get angry and at the very least send a snarky remark their way. And very likely ask to speak to their manager if they still wouldn't service them. Either that or simply leave the store and go to a different one and not going back to that store and tell the story to everyone who would be willing to listen. Word of mouth is a powerful thing.

[@MyTubeSVp]

As soon as you apply yourself to learning Dutch, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you will get the hang of it. Our languages are actually quite similar. I don’t know if you know the Joey Jaq channel, but I sure admire him for the speed at which he picked up our language !

[@marilynfernandez3279]

Very interesting! I look forward to your Tuesday and Thursday vblogs❤

[@mgalgenbeld]

The customer service thing is a bit different to the US. When we go out to eat, we see it as an outing. We don't want to be seated, get our food immediately and then be sent out the door. We spend that time as quality time with our friends and family and we want to take our time for that. That also stems from the fact that we mostly cook our meals at home, so going out to eat is a luxury. Related to that is also the non-tipping culture. In the US tips make up they majority of the wages of the waiters and waitresses, so it is in their best interest to have as many paying customers as possible a night. In the Netherlands waiters and waitresses have a good basic wage, so they don't need to live of tips as much. Granted, when you ask to be serviced you should not be snapped at, that is just rude.

[@Dutch3DMaster]

PAP-smears are not done mainly for checking for STD's, but first and foremost to screen women for cervical cancer (this is basically a preventive part of the health-care system of The Netherlands). The reason they are done from 35 and on (I think till 65 years of age) is because that is like the average age most women diagnosed with cervical cancer turned out to have. Sort of the same thing applies to breast-cancer screening (you might have seen the "GGD"-trucks near busy spots like city squares) that usually is done in mobile checkup-centers from the GGD (Gemeentelijke GezondheidsDienst) that take a part of the burden of the check-ups that would otherwise flood hospitals (which in more rural areas could also be reasonably far away to have to travel to). If they find something there, you will be send to the hospital for further research. The thing about being in a restaurant, waiters are not that dependant on tips like in the US, so waiters consider customers a lot more as someone equal to them, so being overly polite isn't always the thing here like it is in the US. About creating a budget for a month: some people have the saying "I try to make a budget, but at the end of my budget I still have a piece of month left". Washing hands with cold water is not a really big problem, washing your body with it, that's a whole different story for me :P. Well, it's not probably people's choice to be all dressed up, but if you are working at the Zuidas (Amsterdam-Zuid), you have to, because that's where all the posh jobs are (that I always consider to be the "crunching numbers"-type of jobs that come over as heavenly boring to me, but ok). On the other hand, hearing about those people picking their nose re-assures me that they are still people :P. (sometimes, overhearing their supposedly very important but annoyingly cringy phone conversations they sound like a robot). Concerning being sexually active: most Dutch schools have good sexual education (and in cases, sexual education that goes beyond the "mostly scary pictures of STD's that have gotten totally out of hand" in the biology book) and getting contraceptives or basically any kind of birth control is not such a politically charged thing like it seems to be (for Dutch people) in the US. If you are concerned, that's the moment you go to your general practitioner/home physician. Most STD's can be traced by a simple bloodtest, by the way and do not need physical examination, unless the doctor suspects you are either not telling the whole story (concerning the amount of time that passed between possibly getting infected and seeking treatment or simply by not telling the whole story by leaving out symptoms some people might feel ashamed about). Some people, because of this like to go to a completely different general practitioner (for instance, their replacement for when their regular doctor is on holidays or has some time off), which I still find funny in a way, because their file will get updated and their general practitioner will see it anyhow.

[@narvul]

Josie's from energy slurping country #1 to take it in perspective.

[@lajvanegmond]

the netherlands have one of the lowest incidences of cervixcarcinoma in europe although other european countries are more equal to your idea of preventive medicine with anual papsmear from 18 yr. i don't think that a visit to the gynaecologist could prevent you from catching a STD's 😉

[@maitemarquez2]

Hi Leonard that maybe true but the netherlands is the third country that has breast cancer mortality in europe, mainly by late diagnosis. Women here get a eco/mamogram every 5 years. In my opinion is too long because by the time you feel something on your breast it maybe too late and then you have to go for more aggressive treatments. Preventive care is very important, maybe not in the extreme of countries but is necessary

[@ankavoskuilen1725]

@@maitemarquez2 The mammogram is every 2 years not 5. And when you have had breastcancer (like me) it is every year. But you have to be alert yourself: you can have a mammogram and it is good and the next month you can have a tumor. Even once a year is too long then.

[@ConnieIsMijnNaam]

OMG Checks are so pre-historic!

[@korab.2938]

Like she mentioned in the video; if someone is giving you gift, he will give you money gift in Check. Apartment rent is payed with a check.

[@1972Sylvester]

About paying salaries. Depends on the company or if one works for a temp agency. I have been paid monthly and 4 weekly. some temp agencies pay weekly.

[@MrAronymous]

The cold water thing is indeed to save costs. In the old days they would have only two points for hot water; kitchen and bathroom. That's because there were tankless water heaters. Stand-alone toilet wasn't among them (don't even know if they had the mini sinks back then). But even now when I'm using the bathroom sink I use cold water to wash my hands. So it's what you're grew up with. Partly because I'm used to cold water for washing hands anyway, partly because it takes a while for the cold water to flush out of the warm water pipes (has to come from the attic). That's why most kitchen sinks still have seperate devices underneath them to make sure you get instant warm water.

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

There is preventive healthcare in The Netherlands. I don't know about the pap thing. Don't even know what it is, but for breast cancer there is a whole bevolkingsonderzoek set up where all women of a certain age get their breasts examined each year. That started in the 90's and the first time my mother went there, she was diagnosed with a very early stage of breast cancer. The preventive healthcare probably saved her life. Something similar is set up now for colon cancer too. So we probably do it a bit different but saying that there is no preventive healthcare is not true.

[@JoviesHome]

I’d love more info about these screenings; had NO idea that they exist and am so pleased to hear that they do!!

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

@@JoviesHome Just tell me what you want to know and I'll see if I can answer your questions. On this or any other subject.

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

@@JoviesHome I have found some links you might find interesting: www.rivm.nl/en/breast-cancer-screening-programme www.rivm.nl/en/bowel-cancer-screening-programme

[@Vero12]

The thing with these preventative screenings here is that they are done from the age where most people get diagnosed (I think or where most people just have it, basically it’s know as a risk group) these type of screenings are most often done at a central point (usually something mobile like a special bus) in the town. Everyone within the age group that is at risk of getting this disease gets a letter at their home to take part in this big screening. In the letter it says where the screening takes place and when you are expected to be there. People can choose themselves if they want to take part in this. There are also some at home screenings (like for colon cancer) where you basically take a sample (often poo or urine) in a cup that they send you in the mail and then you send it to the lab for screening. I don’t really know how you get the results back (probably in the mail or via your gp). There are also regular screenings for people that have special reasons (like family members with a specific hereditary disease) I think. I’m pretty sure that it is done this way because the government did a cost benefit analysis of screenings vs waiting for problems to occur and decided that it was most cost efficient with a relatively low amount of health risk to do screening only for specific ages. Hope this helps!

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

@@Vero12 No, with the colon cancer screening you do not put a sample in a cup. You are sent a test tube. In that tube is a stick. You take that stick and dip the point o of the stick in your poo and then put it back in the tube. You send the tube to a laboratory where it is tested for a certain substance. If that is detected you get a letter to report to a doctor for further examination.

[@mseb3909]

To add to your bit about the health care for women. Girls do get a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer (of course it's optional) which is funded by the government. Also about breast cancer I don't which age they start but my grandmother did get hers so there is a test for it

[@parmentier7457]

When I was young, I worked in 1998 as a cashier in a (Konmar) supermarket. I remember the pay-checks. I hated that, because it took a lot of work (at that time) to process the whole payment. First the customer had to write the amount, then I've to check the ID and signature, then the pay-check had to go in a machine en printed the amount on the pay-check. A lot of checking,... And I think pay-checks are useless in The Netherlands. There are no banks and if there is a bank nearby they don't have cash.

[@PhoenixNL72-DEGA-]

Most houses in the Netherlands have their Central Heater located in the attic. So it can take minutes for the tap water on the ground floor to start to warm up due to the length of pipe the hot water has to travel through first. And dutch people are impatient so by the time the water reaches temperature they would have washed their hands, dried them and be out of the toilet already. Also in old houses (Pre 1980's) it is pretty common for there not to be a washbasin in the toilet at all unless they have been added in an extensive remodeling. I live in a house that was build in 1937. After doing my business I have to wash my hands at the kitchen sink.

[@Macca-zx7gz]

Cheques still exist in America? 😂 Haven't seen one since the 90s

[@bmw803]

Of course checks exist. We have a SHIT load of baby boomers that can't or refuse to adapt. I haven't written one in years, but there are still businesses that are outdated.

[@Macca-zx7gz]

@@bmw803 lol don't even think they issue them to customers anymore in the UK.

[@flashpeter625]

The first point is kinda funny, apparently coming from a relatively rich American. Famously, the USA have basically no organized healthcare system, so what healthcare Americans get depends entirely on how much healthcare they can pay for themselves. Whereas in standard mixed economies with general health insurance, everybody gets sufficiently good healthcare. I live in such a country, and if I wanted, I could go to several yearly check-ups covered by my general health insurance.

[@ianp7661]

Whilst in Amsterdam me and my partner went for a meal in a tourist restaurant, walked in, sat down, waited for 10 minutes, no one came to see us. The place was half busy and there were staff, VISIBLE. We walked out. I'm from the UK and this is so so rude. Maybe it was a one off but your video makes me think it's common. The UK isn't the best, but still.

[@williamgeardener2509]

Sorry that you had to suffer "Dutch hospitality" the Amsterdam way. Luckily Amsterdam isn't exemplary for the civilised parts in the Netherlands where you still get service instead of being treated like you're just a nuisance for the servers. Perhaps tourists should start avoiding Amsterdam and visit other parts in the Netherlands to experience what real hospitality is.

[@EpicKate]

Great video! I love listening to you talk. I'm inspired to do culture shock videos now! I think I'll do one of reverse culture shock of being back in the US. I'm so glad I found your channel. 😁

[@JoviesHome]

Thanks Kate! I presume you mean when you visit the US, right? You're not moving back, are you?!

[@EpicKate]

@@JoviesHome yep, just visiting. Gotland Sweden is my home for the next few years at least!

[@jeroen669]

I agree on the lack of customer service here, but too much service can be annoying as well, even if it's well intended. I remember restaurants in the states where the waiters were coming like every 2 minutes at our table to check if everything was fine, while in my head I was already almost screaming to them: "please, leave us alone!".

[@JoviesHome]

Culture shock can be a pretty strong feeling. So many others can feel upset and feel ignored when they go to different cultures. I'm sorry you had a negative experience! Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@NeoOnyx]

In order to 'wish there was a bit more preventative medicine in the Netherlands" it should really start with the question: "What are the percentages of women getting cervical cancer (or which ever disease you want to compare) in the States and in the Netherlands?" If the percentages are much lower in the US, then there's something to be said for preventative medicine, otherwise it's a waste of money and an extra worry for patients, not to mention the things medication can do to a person's body. I don't think you can judge one or the other without knowing the numbers. The fact that you grew up being the daughter of a doctor who firmly believes in preventative medicine, doesn't really weigh in this discussion. If I was born in the Bible Belt, I would most likely be Christian, but if I was born in Afghanistan, I would be Muslim. That's just circumstance, what you're taught and what you grow up with ;-) The weather sucks here, I agree. I have seen video's of Americans visiting the Netherlands and commenting on Dutch girls and women. How most of them look 'plain' and usually without make-up, compared to American girls/women. Now, if you come from a part of the world where it only rains for 6 days a year, then I can understand women paying more attention to their looks and outfits, but if you're in the Netherlands, what's the use, right? Make-up, a cute outfit and a nice hairdo don't go well with it raining all the time, especially if you have to get on your bicycle every day. The customer service really sucks, although I don't like it if I walk into a store and they immediately come up to me, and I don't even got a chance to look around. If I have a question, I'll let them know. But in a restaurant it's a different matter. Only a few restaurants really get what good customer service is and it's one of my pet peeves when going out to dinner. They either ignore you, or it takes way too long to bring the food, drinks or even the cheque, or they give you the "How dare you walk into my restaurant unannounced"-look. If waiters/waitresses weren't paid and had to live off of their tips, I think the customer service in the Netherlands would go up leaps and bounds. People who pick their nose in public should be smacked in the head on the spot. It's so gross and I can't watch them do it. When I'm driving in my car and waiting at a stop sign, I more than often see someone in the car behind me burrowing their nose and almost touching their brain. So gross, it turns my stomach.

[@NeoOnyx]

@@jbird4478 I agree, but 'preventative medicine' suggests that people are treated for a desease they do not yet have, and will not get because of the preventative medicine. Imo in this case one cán compare percentages. The number of people getting cancer and/or dying from it is another discussion. But I do agree that it's difficult (if not impossible) to compare the US with the Netherlands, because the countries are totally different: healthcare, demographic, economic situation etc. There are so many variables to consider when making a comparison, that it's too easy to just say one is better than the other, which was my initial point ;-)

[@elsbethfongers4476]

report.nih.gov/nihfactsheets/viewfactsheet.aspx?csid=76 www.volksgezondheidenzorg.info/onderwerp/baarmoederhalskanker/cijfers-context/sterfte-en-overleving#node-sterfte-baarmoederhalskanker The mortalityrate of cervical cancer is exactly the same in The Netherlands as in the USA. Anual examination is expensive and does not lead to a decreacse of cancer. Best would be if everyone would get vaccinated for HPV, that's the most effective preventative medicine!

[@fransezomer]

Dude, not sure where you get the "American women look better than Dutch women"-argument from... But believe me, they do not!!! I am a VP IT with an American ecommerce fulfillment company, based in Amsterdam and I reside ~50% of my time abroad, of which much in the US (mostly Santa Clara area). Depending upon the region I think it is fair to say that women in NL are a solid 8, in the US more like a 4/5 on average, in looks and fashion... Exceptions are Florida (Miami especially) and California, and most of the East Coast. If you seek beautifully garnished women you need to go to Eastern Europe: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, etc...

[@NeoOnyx]

@@fransezomer 'Dude', as I said I was just repeating what I hear American vloggers/expats say about Dutch girls. Personally I don't share this belief. I love the natural look with much less make-up.

[@SimpleHappyZen]

I would LOVE something like an annual women's wellness exam. That would make me feel so much better, and more on top of my own health. 😊 Thanks for sharing, enjoyed the video!

[@PeteyPeteee]

the cold water thing is just a money saver. in Scotland we have warm water in the bathrooms :)

[@rdevries3852]

I think I already saw it mentioned elsewhere before, but we did actually used to have cheques around here, but they have long since been phased out and are now considered antiquated. Since everyone has debit cards ("pinpas") anyway and you can use them to pay for almost anything anywhere, there just wasn't much use or call for them any more, while they did cost a lot of money to keep around. Paying electronically was (and is) just simply cheaper and safer and, most of the time, easier as well.

[@Serenoj69]

Nice story. If you believe in preventitive medicin how about Insurance? If you want your country to be healthier, provide good Insurance foor all the peope. But you don't. If you do not have the money, there is nothing you can orevent. Peipel in the US go blind with cataracts which are perfectly treatable with IOLs. Other point is: how does this all pan out? Well your system is already extremely expensive and all this just is in favour of the companies providing it. I would lvoe to see how preventitive medication has a significant adavtage over "our" way. But again: people annot afford even basic medicin becuase it is SO expensive. Let alone preventitve medication.

[@JoviesHome]

I’m working on a US video and will address some of your points.

[@claymountain1300]

You are totally right about the pap smear! I was expecting a letter when I turned 18, but I was shocked to learn that I have to wait till 30. I'm gonna go see if I ca get it anyways, because it seems very scary to me.

[@watermark086]

The first medical check is 30 years old. The moment I started to developed breast my mym teached me how to check for lumbs or anything. She learned me that everytime I was in the shower I needed to check. In the shower there was a card with instructions :)

[@goodluck1070]

interesting, thanks Jovie!

[@creativecheersoffashionlau7364]

And yes, as I asked you before, would love you to talk some Dutch!! Don’t be afraid to mess up. I do too in English when I do my channel.

[@mastermikeyboy]

I remember biking to school in the winter, and when I got there the cold water felt like it was scolding. :)

[@NancysMosaic]

I loved watching this, always like to know more about different cultures since it's the main point of my major, super interesting and what I great discussion in the comments, wow! I think that Germany and the Netherlands have a lot of similarities :)

[@dominicwisnewski8587]

You're so close to 2k!! Good luck!!!

[@gerardflach2588]

haha, the 'nose-picking' part is nice and direct, very Dutch :) Congrats!

[@MagereHein]

My parents taught me not to pick my nose in public and I won't, but if you pay attention to it: yes, it's quite common.

[@Roel_Scoot]

The difference in preventive medicine in the Netherlands and the United States is, that the preventive examinations in the Netherlands are for everybody, not only the happy few with enough health insurance.

[@obelic71]

There is a resaon why in public restrooms the water has only cold water. It is mandetory because of health safety issues! The reason was the biggest outbreak of Legionairs disease in worldhistory at a gardenshow in 1999. 32 people lost their life and 200+ became permanent disabeled The Legionella bacteria growt explodes dramaticly between 30 and 45 degrees celcius. In public places like swiming pools and schools the water is on regular base tested and expensive filters and detection systems are installed to prevent the growt of the bacteria.

[@annekedebruyn7797]

The monthly salary is depended on your job. I get paid weekly personally. As for the body checkups, you can do these yearly without extra pay (outside possibly own risk(/eigen risico.) You can call with your insurance to check) with at your home doctor(/huisarts) assuming that you are insured. The one at 30 is "mandatory." (You aren't forced to go but it is highly advised that you do.) If you are over 50 you'll get a free scan every 2 years in a buss that comes to every city. And while it's true that checks are considered outdated, most banks will support them fine until 2020 (if you have a Dutch bank account, contact them about it. Some will support checks longer.) It's just that giving money is easier for most people. Tho businesses rarely takes checks due to fraud concern.

[@WhiteRabbitKurai]

Hey Jovie! I've been binge watching your Dutch Culture and Life videos, and thank you for stating your honest opinions on them. After reading through some comments I can say that most people are definitely not coming at you, they're just.. Well, being very direct, haha. Ever since my (Online) friend group included mostly Americans, did I start to realize just how Direct I was, and that some people indeed thought I was rude. I've learned to dial it down a little bit, and as my gran always said, if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. So in a way it really helps me to watch videos of people not from here, and them giving their honest opinions. So honestly, thank you for that! To address a few things I've heard you mention, if a person that works somewhere, or is in some position that involves Customer Service, and they are rude to you? they're being awful at their job. I personally think that with the Dutch waiters and such not relying on tips makes them more honest, and if they do a good job, they deserve that tip for a job well done. Also very interesting to see your opinion on the Healthcare! We could all learn from each other, and make it more obvious that you can ask for these tests, or make them available to everyone that falls into the right demographic. (Sexually active, etc.) Now to stop my giant comment here, I have a question for you! My friends like to call where I live ('s-hertogenbosch/Den Bosch) Fairy land. Did you experience the same thing when you came here and how everything looked? And what is your absolute favorite thing you learned here in terms of our culture?

[@Snakesborough]

Hello Jovie, you might consider buying a GoreTex rain suit! I love biking in the rain. PS Here in the east of the Netherlands restaurant personnel is always very kind. PPS The Dutch are very frugal and efficient, It's not for nothing that we are the largest exporters of agricultural goods in the world, only second to the USA, whilst only having 17.5 million inhabitants. PPPS I always shower with cold water, summer and winter.

[@burgienl]

The last time I saw a cheque was over 20 years ago. I'm 45 and I think I must have used one at some point but can't remember it. The debit card was introduced a long time ago and is easier to use. The phrase you were looking for is "plaatsvervangende schaamte". As for the customer service, the problem is that employees do not depend on you for their pay check. A shop owner will treat you completely different (most of the time).

[@JoviesHome]

Yes!! Thank you for the phrase! And thanks for watching/commenting!

[@beautifullEternal]

Schadenfreude

[@user-os7xb9fq8q]

Hi Jovie! Love your channel! I've been slowly watching all your videos and they've been so helpful. I wonder if you are open to doing a video about car ownership in the Netherlands? My partner and I are moving there soon and we're considering shipping our car over but we are worried about the expense and difficulties of owning a car there.

[@worklife21c]

Thanks again, Jovie, for sharing all your candid, sometimes amusing experiences. Although I myself, (in Canada), haven't used cheques in years, I'm surprised to hear that they don't use them in The Netherlands. I mean, I'm pretty sure lots of (other) people still use them here in Canada. Thanks for the warning about the cold water in the public restrooms; and the nose-picking???!!! Yikes!!. And fascinating to hear that you worked in Intl Criminal Law. Anyway...I've also been meaning to say I love your purse collection! ;) :D

[@irisachternaam]

In the Netherlands, the focus lies on secondary prevention. You get that when youy have a condition that could cause worse problems down the line. So things like diabetes, hypertension, COPD, astma get regular care. PAP smears get a lot of false positives in women under 30, because of sexual activity. It has NO added benefit under the age of 30. The general breast cancer screening happens from 40, 45 years and up. You don't get a palpation, but a mammography. This screening comes to your municipality, so you don't even have to come to the hospital. There are also screenings for colorectal cancer and all of them are available at a much younger age if a relevant relative has had a similar form of cancer. If you have mother who had breast cancer at a relatively young age, you will be invited earlier. There is a lot of preventative medicine in the Netherlands beside this: vaccines, consultatiebureau, midwives, safe public spaces, difficulty to obtain firearms, traffic safety, proper sex ed, first aid classes in many schools, public health services, and so on. A lot of this will be offered to you when it applies to you.Teachers, police social workers, general practitioners, etc are all required to act/report when they see someone. lab results get a lot of false positives if you check everyone without screening people for symptoms beforehand.

[@femsff7090]

You being Dutch at the end was very good. Keep it up! I had to chuckle earlier in this vid (also in the previous, part 1) where you started off apologizing in advance and saying it wasn't meant as an attack etc. because that's very non-Dutch :) As for customer service; I hate it when staff comes up to me the moment I enter the store. They don't even need to say hi if they see me (not that I'll ignore them when they do), just be helpful when I approach them. Waiting 20 mins in the restaurant is a long time, but most people will flag down a server as soon as they get seated/are ready to see the menu or place an order. Otherwise you can "wachten tot je een ons weegt". Same with staff ignoring you in shops. You just step up and say "I'd like to buy these items" or "Can I ask a question?". If they keep ignoring you (which is rare), then just ask them plainly if they would like to receive your money or not.

[@1972Sylvester]

The reason why they say hi to you, is to let you know that they have seen you. It helps prevent theft. One of the problems in retail here is that the people are no longer properly trained. They don't recognize the different types of customers and often react the wrong way. I have worked 25 years in retail and one of my biggest pet peeves in retail are checkout persons who ignore you and are talking to other people or colleagues. Scanning my products and talking over the shoulder to someone else.

[@anhelmig9848]

I am Dutch and I agree on how customers are often treated. They do not have to be with me immediately, but when I ask for help or want to pay, I expect to be helped in a decent way, they are paid for it. Now I often have the feeling that I am bothering them during their other activities, such as talking to colleagues and other things that do not belong to their work.

[@ellenstam-mulder3002]

Jovie make learning dutch a priority. Because u must do it for helping your kids and afcorse yourself.

[@GiblixStudio]

bad service happens. varies heavily all over the place. Van Der Valk for example is one chain and is not the same everywhere. In one place it takes ages to get served, while elsewhere they're great. its very much hit and miss. I've walked out often enough as a dutchman myself. You get a salary once a month. And we do indeed barely use cash anymore. Everything is automated PIN or Tikkie's as mobile phone app. And now the VVV-coupons are gone, you can't really give people that as a gift anymore either.

[@jojanneke1239]

Hi Jovie, what a lovely video again. I wanted to let you know that we used to have cheques. They were called eurocheques (when you had a bankaccount) or 'girobetaalkaarten' (when you had an account at the 'giro' or 'postbank'). This is now ING bank. And I totally agree on the lack of service in our shops, restaurants etc. It's an annoyance to me for many years. I love the American service :-)!. The picking of the nose-story : I am going to keep my eyes open to see if I can agree on that one !

[@samknetsch]

You can go the house doctor, for test and get all test you want at any age

[@watermark086]

I am Dutch,I work as an service employee and my goal is always to be as helpfull as I can. And I can not stand places where the service is bad. But I can also not stand people who do not except no for an answer 😂 some times I am closing my till and have a sign that I am closed and still people want to ask questions,and when I say: sorry I am closed they get offended 😂

[@CleanwithChristina]

Wow! Yeah the lack of good customer service would be hard for me to deal with!!! I’m so used to good customer service and being able to complain if there’s bad customer service, especially as someone who worked in customer service for 10 years and was yelled at by customers but always responded politely… I do not deal well with a customer service person being rude to me ha ha

[@margretsdad]

Weekly or bt-weekly pay in the US ? After the age of 18 when I stopped working in a local grocery store I was always paid on a monthly basis.

[@mymemeplex]

I hate the cold water with the toilet. And the ridiculously small sinks with even smaller taps, you can hardly fit your hands under them!

[@irmabresser9218]

About 30 year ago or something we dus have cheques tho. I can remember my mum had them. Why it's discontinued i got no idea. Love to hear what think of us.

[@dagmarkeizer2549]

Hi Jovie. As a dutch doctor there is something that we might need to do more often: explain stuff. Why we do what we do and what we don't. So if you find something to be different ask them cause for the most part they should be able to explain. For breast exams: Self exams of the breast were actually a thing in the past (also in the Netherlands) but have been researched. The specificity (people that felt something and it is actually cancer) was found to be too low for screening purposes but it did make for a lot of worries in women who thought they felt something which than turned out to be totally normal fluctuations in breast tissue. PAP smears were done from 30 years up because it takes time for cancer cells to develop, the age is also based on research. Nowadays however they test on HPV which could be done at younger ages but we also started vaccinating. The lack of preventative medicine is mostly because there is lack of evidence that is benefits the society as a whole in which they also take into account false positive test result that can cause a lot of distress. (by the way also a short person here! I have al my trousers/ jeans made shorter at a local sewing shop, not optimal but most of the time my only option) Love your youtube channel!

[@motherslittlehelper8055]

About customer's service.... I think I can relate. In Holland, we like our privacy and most people dislike it when shopkeepers come up to them right away. We like to look around for ourselves and be not distubed. But if you ask an assistent for service, it would be considered very rude if they wouldn't help you right away or speak to you politely. You should not accept that. I hope my English isn't too poor... An old Dutch saying is (translated): the customer is king. In English it probably translates to: the customer is always right. I think most shopkeepers are very nice. The bad ones should find another job.

[@lifae]

The experience you had with the girl saying she was busy is not normal to me, and I'm Dutch. I've worked in retail for over 10 years now and I've always been told that you should greet customers, show that you are there to help when they have questions and offer help to anyone who looks like they're searching for something. If you're busy your work can wait till after you've helped the customer. In general, when shopping I like to be left alone unless I actually need help and I think most Dutch people feel that way. I hate very active (and sometimes aggressive) sales techniques.

[@GHWMR]

Another few points: when it's winter your hands are so cold so that the cold water will feel warm. And when I lived in the US I was shocked to have to go to an office to pick up an actual pay check and then take it to the bank to put the money into my account, it felt ancient.

[@jamkop5298]

How awesome, didn't know you're a law graduate. I'm currently working on a master thesis on criminal European law, very much in your expertise as well I assume!

[@stijnnomden]

We had cheques a long time ago. We moved on to more futuristic ways to pay like paying wirelessly or using ''Tikkie''. Most time at birthdays or with a new birth we give gift cards or just cash money. I also have two questions. Here in the Netherlands we sometimes celebrate our birthday at a different day. For example we celebrate at Sunday but our birthday is at Monday. 1. Do people in the US do this too? Because in Germany they only celebrate on the day itself. Also what about wishing someone a happy birthday. I know in Germany is is seen as bad luck when you celebrate before someones birthday. 2. Does something like this also happen in the US? 😀

[@darryltoombs1076]

You can get cheques cashed in the Netherlands but it would have to go to the main branch of the bank and be cleared. One other thing is not every business pays monthly and every job I have had here has paid weekly. I'm not Dutch but Australian with dual Australian and English nationality and have lived here for 7 1/2 years (my wife is Dutch). Have also lived in America as well.

[@annieg2863]

Loving the flowers and complaining about the rain, or the wether in general, is soooo incredebly Dutch! Welkom, je bent nu 1 van ons😉

[@donnalilly4010]

To be honest Ive lived here all my life and every day rain or no rain I’ve gone to school on my bike and tbh I could do without

[@cathyB3713]

It is very interesting that you talk about all these screenings etc that you do in the USA to prevent sickness. I have lived in Sweden , Ireland , Belgium and also 4 years recently in US . I also live a short time in South America. I have to be honest and say I have never lived in a country that is sooooooooo FOCUSED on sickness and medications like the US is . Also I have NEVER met and seen soooooooo many sick people as I did in the US . So many people on oxygen , so many children with broken bones, so many people with allergies etc There is an expression or perhaps Law of attraction that whatever you focus on gets drawn to you or gets bigger. I think that is the problem in the USA . They have so much focus on sickness and a pill for everything . Going to the doctor in an unusual thing in all the other countries I have lived in .

[@jeroent5079]

We have a saying: “At the end of my money, I still have a piece of month left” (instead of vice versa).

[@Suedseeker65]

Thanks for sharing your view of the Netherlands in this great video! In my opinion the healthcare system is too reactive, issues need to escalate before actual steps are taken. Regarding STDs, we do have proper sex-ed with great attention to STDs in high school, in contrast to some states in the US. Moreover, there are free STD test clinics in which you anonymously can check you sexual health. Keep up the videos :)

[@jessica1yale]

OMG the cold water in the toilet! I was so surprised by that. And it doesn’t feel as clean!

[@jolandafrijlink6103]

That's why you use soap

[@ib.8593]

A part of the directness here is that you don’t have to apologise for your own opinion or explain yourself for having one

[@1336mg]

We are used to the cold water in the bathrooom. I had a friend, also not born here, who had warm water installed in her toilet-room. I would never use it. Your hands just don't feel fresh with warm water. When companies started to build big blocks of houses, the only places where warm water was 'made' was in the kitchen with a 'geiser' and before that a kettel of hot water. They wouldn't build in an extra water pipe from the kitchen to the bathroom. Let alone warm water. Too expensive for the companies who rented out the houses. After the war everything was difficult to get, so dont spent it on a hot waterpipe. And so for generations we grew up with cold water in the toilet-room. Those who wanted warm water to wash their hands would go into the kitchen.

[@mansour2629]

Hi Jovie, loving ur uploads. The reason why dutch people don’t have warm water in the toilet is because it is not practical. Most houses have a cv and by the time the tapwater has warmed up 3 people could have washed their hands while waiting. Is would be time consuming, expensive and not environment friendly.

[@nerdytech7836]

Leuk video!

[@jasperhoner2429]

“if you are acting normal you are already crazy enough”. Loud, directness and being concrete in the way speak, act and present ourselves is al about that sentence. If I am looking in mine surrounding people most value what I say above how you say it. You have to know what you’re talking about more then talking alongside. That makes people straight foreword in business and it make people eager to learn. Make you’re point in what you say, ore ask if you don’t understand.

[@severinepele9864]

Hi! First I would like to say that i love your videos for so many reasons! Mostly because I can relate on so many levels. I am a new mom of a 2 month old baby boy. I am French working for a Dutch company, my partner is Serbian and we live in Germany, which has a culture quite similar to the Netherlands I would say (from a French perspective at least, please don't tell Dutch people I have said that! ;-) I had the same culture shocks relating to bad customer service and directness arriving in Germany. It is so true, and the term "shock" is no understatement ! But after a while... (7 years!) I am now used to it. But I want to say kudos to you!!! Because on these two subjects, you went from an extreme to another on the culture map (by the way I strongly recommend this book giving advice on the intercultural communication and business) Now another thing made me laugh in this video is how much you missed your car. this is so American! I remember when I spent a university semester abroad in a little town in California, we were shopping for our groceries by bikes and the town looked like a ghost town to us. There was absolutely nobody on the streets neither by foot or bikes. And this was not a question of bad weather because the weather was just amazing there! :-) Now talking about bad weather, there is an expression in northern Germany, which I just love. There is no bad weather, there is only bad clothes. I wanted to share this with you, maybe this might help next time you are caught under the rain lol ;-)

[@tahirrizwan6759]

As somebody who grew up in The States and returned after 9 years and and had a job in cs, I have to say that it was quite shocking how my other colleagues were so upfront with people. Like I could never tell them off like they would when we had a rude customer. The good thing is though that people in Holland don’t get taken advantage of because they don’t have the customer-is-king mentality over there as much as we have in the US/Canada. The manager is always on your side and joins in XD I find Canadian customer service a mix I’d say between US and the Dutch style, like polite but firm. I had to remind myself that “excuse me” was not a thing in Holland when passing or bumping into people. That switch was kinda hard to make. Now that I live in Canada i’m sorrying anything and everyting that moves haha

[@aapjestokstaartje]

Prescribing paracetemol doesn't have anything to do with costs. In the Netherlands we don't care about costs because we have a good healthcare system. We prescribe 'lighter' medicine because we give the body the chance to fight the virus itself. As in other countries where they do prescribe heavy antibiotics people get immune to it and that reduces the antibiotic options people have later in life. So i understand why you would think preventive medicine is the way to go but in the long run it is not that well.. and even quit dangerous.

[@anne-wiljustaworkmommeijne3002]

Love youre direct moment😆

[@halapunjete]

The Netherlands is based on a top down society where the government is seen as the most important entity in the societal chain, then the municipality, followed by corporations and businesses and last but not least the people The USA has a bottom up society where the people or better said the consumer is the most important. A prime example of this is Barnes and Nobles bookstore chain which allows you to read an entire book in their stores sitting in a comfortable sofa while enjoying a latte macchiato. This philosophy behind this is that the bookstore is catering to the consumer’s needs. A happy costumer is a returning costumer who’ll eventually spend their money on a book at some point, the store will earn money by serving coffee and mouth to mouth marketing eventually will lead to more business. More business means more employment and more taxes for the city which well leads to a good bottom line for the federal government. In the Netherlands this Barnes and Nobles concept will never happen as the costumer is the last person to benefit. A Dutch person will agree with the owner of the store that you can’t have people reading in the store as that is a form of bad business. And it will be too much of a hassle to also have a coffee bar as the business already has a monopoly position in its region controlled by the city. This is a classic example of the top down society. A society where the people always get the short end of the stick, while at the same token, they inherently believe that the government have their best interest. The government needs to constantly instill the idea that the Dutch way is the only way and all other systems are wrong. So even the most obvious thing that is better done in the USA, the Dutch will come and spin it around and make it negative while defending their system to the nth degree. Take for instance the example of healthcare, Even a 12 year old would agree on the fact that preventive care is better than reactive care. But then comes a typical indoctrinated Dutch response that will spin it around and say that the American got it wrong for being paranoid, while the Dutch have it right. Who in their right mind will go out and defend terrible customer service except for the Dutch i guess. But let this be the other way around and the Dutch will have a field day berating the US for bad customer service My question to the vlogger ( and I don’t mean this is in a sarcastic way)is why are you cutting yourself so short by living in the Netherlands? Move back to the USA, get yourself a nice mansion instead of a freaking small row house where you can’t even distinguish the one house from the other. Get yourself a nice SUV that is affordable, go out to eat when ever you want and life a free life without being judge buy the Dutch moralist. Life it so short to be try to abide by the Dutch sober, meager way of living.

[@LindaCasey]

I'm from a different generation of course, but spent my entire career in some form of preventative medicine or other. You're right, the Dutch do things with less 'urgency' than we do in the States (which at first drove me crazy), but they DO offer annual exams for women over a certain age free of charge. Their form of prevention is to visit your doctor or dentist every 6 months for a check-up (something I STILL don't like to do). I actually have Dutch friends who say they like it when they go to the States where the customer is king and Americans drip in saccharin when wishing you to have a nice day, much better than the 'don't take a number' pushing in front of each other to get to the front of the line mentality of the Dutchman. 😁 PayPal works wonders and saves a whole lot of trees when wanting to give a gift to people in foreign countries. I LOVE the ability to pin everything. OMG, you brought your American 'dubbeltje op zijn kant' with you? Yes, one of the most important things in life is to be able to cut up the credit cards and live within our means. Oh honey, just wait till you see them EAT their boogers .. now THAT'S a culture shock I still can't get over!😜 Even if you find it hard to integrate fully into the Dutch culture, DON'T WAIT to learn the language!!! And learn it well. You will be respected far more if you do. I can't wait to have a good sit down talk with you someday so we can compare generational notes. We'll have a gay ol' shits and giggles time of it, I swear. 🌹

[@miepmiep2274]

Sometimes i wander were you go for shopping and dinner. I only happend to me a few times and then i just dont go back for food there

[@peteroorthuis4945]

Been new at this channel, must say I enjoy it. And I can understand that somethings are very shocking if you’re new to this country. But you must also admit that not everything is a rainbow of happiness in the USA. And yes, you’re right, sometimes the service in shops is not really nice. But then again, if I go shopping and an employee from that shop pops up nd asks me:’he, can I help you? What’s your size??’ I would be annoyed, because we (I ) first want to look around and then ask someone. And then there is always someone there. One time I was at my regular electronics shop and there was a man giving tips to new employee...and then he saw me...the guy started to come over and the man said:’no, no...he needs no help...he knows what he needs...and winked at me.’ Knowing I couldn’t handle it. 👍🏻 But at the pizza place, wrong wrong....I would pack up and leave..😀 Keep going...it’s fun to watch...and good business for Daan.😂🇺🇸🇵🇾