The challenges of living in the Netherlands

[@mbuck5044]

I experienced the same crappy service in Germany. As an American, customer service is the complete opposite in the states. I'd rather have over the top politeness than rude wait staff. Great vlog!

[@MakingitinHolland]

Thank you for watching!

[@SJHarrisonVoicePerformance]

100% depends where in the states.

[@therealhueblanes]

I think everything you’re saying is true from my experience

[@MakingitinHolland]

Happy to hear this resonated!

[@therealhueblanes]

@@MakingitinHolland regretfully so

[@alexanderespinoza7287]

It is true and also they say very disrespectful comments about guests they come to spend the time on bars or restaurant

[@MakingitinHolland]

Unfortunately this happens…

[@goodsmile5170]

This is so interesting. So I have to get clarification on the Dutch healthcare system in America they will never tell you “this won’t be covered by your insurance and you pay out-of-pocket “!you will get a bill whether you have insurance or not for thousands of dollars usually and no one really has that here. they charge you for things like printing paperwork I got a bill for $12 once. I’m curious how much that hospital visit was? As far as the limited variety one thing I noticed and really appreciate about the Netherlands is it is a limited variety but it’s healthy the overall products are very healthy in comparison to America which makes complete junk for its community the yogurt is full of sugar, fat and artificial flavors they even try to slip it in a product as simple as peanut butter you really have to look at labels in America sure there’s a lot but it’s all junk that’s why we are so fat. I loved walking in the Netherlands and seeing the specialty bakeries the meringues are outrageous there. My American moment was getting coffee I needed four coffees compared to one Dutch size coffee ☕️

[@MakingitinHolland]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! For me the whole experience was quite traumatizing and when you’re in a health related situation for me (personally) last thing I want to/ need to think about is money. Of course this is coming from a privileged place since I’m very careful with my finances and always have an emergency fund for things like this. This might be something not many people have. Regarding the variety - I don’t mean a whole bunch of processed foods but just different types of shops. For example, it’s quite a shock to me (still after having lived here for so long) that all train stations have the identical set of shops.

[@britishabroad4022]

Very interesting video thank you for sharing your experience there im living abroad too in China now with my wife.

[@MakingitinHolland]

Thank you for watching!

[@AkborVideo]

I am not sure the level of service is related to the price. I think it is more about the person. I eat out a lot in Rotterdam, and I think the service is quite good anywhere. Sometimes they don't do much chitchat, but I think they just don't want to disturb you. I often talk with waiters and bartenders and that goes very well.

[@MakingitinHolland]

Glad to hear you’re having a more positive experience! 😊 Thank you for sharing.

[@bertkassing8541]

Maybe I choose the wrong (or good) restaurants or cafes, but I never really have anything to complain about the service. A few days ago at Blue in Amsterdam: perfect. Yesterday at Palladium in Amsterdam: perfect. But I also usually find friendly service at other locations. Or could it be because of me?

[@MakingitinHolland]

Definitely going to be checking these places out.

[@diegocotamoraescaldeira4713]

I agree completely with you 👍🏻👏🏻

[@axela7418]

I saw agree on the level of service ( i leave in rotterdam) but went to Eindhoven this weekend and the service level is so higher, i was sooo surprised! same for the doctor, it's always a fight with my doctor to be taken seriously. They always wait for the worst to happen and then they kind of move, annoying!

[@MakingitinHolland]

It's interesting because despite having not a great experience at the hospital in Eindhoven, I've always found the service there to be a lot better compared to the Randstad as well...

[@beyourself7215]

In America healthcare cost is high , but you won't get turned down at the hospital when you need medical treatment .Even when you have no money to pay for it at that moment..They do will send you the bill afterwards and they also accept payment plan

[@mariadebake5483]

I wouldn't like it if I was shown a place to sit in a café or restaurant. I want to choose for myself where I want to sit. Horeca = hotel, restaurant, café. I myself feel uncomfortable when they show me an (in my eyes) excess level of service and kindness. It feels fake. But then, I am Dutch of course. And yes I am not spontaneous! Nice video! I quite enjoy your video's. Although I don't recognize the socialist part. And you should have gone to the huisarts or huisartsenpost first, before going to the hospital.

[@MakingitinHolland]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I totally understand about being seated at cafes/ restaurants - I think many wouldn’t feel comfortable. For example, one thing I like about NL is at stores the assistants don’t follow you everywhere. But in restaurants sometimes it’s nice to be guided. About the huisarts - yes I know I technically should go there first but when there’s an emergency that’s out of sight it’s quite a challenge to go to the hospital. I know they do this to put more order in place but sometimes you just really need to see the doctor. Thanks for watching & commenting!

[@mariadebake5483]

@@MakingitinHolland But the huisarts is a doctor too you know..... Good night!

[@claudialiebenberg9740]

How interesting re service in cafes etc... I've not been to NL yet but this means that South Africa a service culture, no matter what the spend, you get good and friendly service 95% of the time 😊😀🥰

[@MakingitinHolland]

I’ve not been to South Africa yet, but people have told me it’s different there.

[@claudialiebenberg9740]

@@MakingitinHolland It's wonderfully diverse here.

[@DenUitvreter]

Dutch health care is generally rated among the best in the world. The issue is that it's not a consumer's market where ask and pay for antibiotics for exmaple to feel you have been treated, but public health care with the G.P./physician in a position also regarding public health in general. So if you're not admitted to the ER because of an emergency, you go to your G.P. who will asess whether and to which specialist you have to be send at what urgency. The ER is not for cycling to unless a few rare exceptions. So you were wrong and have given the ER has a bureaucratic issue with the bill. Bureaucracy, a very expensive and unnecessary one, is the issue with Dutch health care, not the quality.

[@MakingitinHolland]

Hey Lynott, good point here. When I mention the Dutch healthcare is not good - the bureaucracy is a very big part of it indeed.

[@MrPootzen]

Your experience with the hospital sounds very much like how it would be in the US, except you'd be stuck with $50,000 bill afterwards. 😷

[@MakingitinHolland]

Yeah, that definitely isn’t something I would have enjoyed… at all (to say the least)

[@alexanderespinoza6753]

Yes, service sometimes is a bit awkward

[@MakingitinHolland]

Did you have a particular experience?

[@alexanderespinoza6753]

yes, i have had in KFC rude reactions and also in a local restaurant when the guy did not want to come to the table to bring the receipt when i was trying to ask to him, absolutely he was the waiter and serving the food but his job was not bringing receipts, pff, i had to get up and go to the cashier, a bit strange for me

[@MakingitinHolland]

@@alexanderespinoza6753 yeah, that sounds like things I've also experienced... and I find that to be a very poor level of service.

[@DenUitvreter]

This issue with service is two fold. First it's a bit informal and non intrusive with the idea that the customer is not the boss or someone to suck up to. Secondly, there is Amsterdam with many arrogant posers believing it's an honour to get served by them in their special hip restaurant or bar. You as a custumor disturb them while they were busy being the coolest and the greatest.

[@MakingitinHolland]

Haha, I had to read this one twice. And I really have had such experiences - especially in Amsterdam. Actually, this doesn’t only apply for Dutch people working in horeca, internationals who do are also not very service minded.

[@void_star_void]

Hmmm, What kind of resaurant u went and they didn't bring u the menu?

[@MakingitinHolland]

There isn’t one special place, but it’s just a general experience of going to several cafes or restaurants.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

I need to come at the defence of my country here. What happened to you at the eindhoven hospital is ONLY possible for foreign students, and then ONLY if they have a crappy health insurance from their home country. When you live here, any emergency treatment in hospital is covered by an obligatory Dutch insurance (minus the 385 Euro that you need to bear yourself every year). My point is, you cannot relate that to the Dutch healthcare system, but to your crappy insurance you had at the time. Also, the fact that you did not have an ambulance is not because of the crappy Dutch healthcare system, but to the crappy reaction of your teacher/fellow students who should have summoned one. Or at least bring you there by car and take care of you. It might even be (under Dutch law) a criminal offence that they did not do that. Again, not the Dutch healthcare system that was at fault here. I agree on the restaurants, although I have noticed that outside tourist areas the service is much better, also in cheaper places.

[@MakingitinHolland]

Hey Ronald, thank you for your comment. What happened to me in Eindhoven at the hospital was with a good Dutch insurance. So my “crappy” insurance was Dutch. And I guess we were all young & inexperienced so I can see why I should have probably asked for help more obviously to be brought to the hospital by car at least. I have since changed my insurance provider and luckily didn’t experience something like that again. It’s interesting to hear your view point on the service at the restaurants. In areas outside of tourist parts that it’s better. That’s an interesting observation.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

@@MakingitinHolland Ah, ok, still that kind of help is covered by Dutch insurance, so you were misinformed.

[@MakingitinHolland]

I guess I was misinformed which is unfortunate. Because when I went to the reception they told me this kind of help is not covered (without even looking at my insurance or asking me any more details). So as you can imagine when you’re in pain, the last thing you want to hear is a question about money. 😅

[@void_star_void]

Curious person here, how much did the hospital cost if u remember?

[@MakingitinHolland]

In the neighborhood of around 800 euros.

[@michaelkulak6318]

Hi We are thinking about moving to Netherlands. We would like to know your opinion which suburb is better to invest Zaandam or Almere? Thanks 😊

[@MakingitinHolland]

Hey Michael, that’s a difficult one for me to answer! They are both great. It would depend on your lifestyle to be honest. 😊

[@igor_rybovic]

What are your thoughts about Belgium?

[@MakingitinHolland]

Good question! I don’t have enough experience with Belgium to share a lot personally. One thing I know from driving there several times is that the traffic is quite hectic. That’s about it.

[@shaunmckenzie5509]

Foreigners always xomplain about the healthcare system, but then you see dutch people have a high life expectancy and low rates of various diseases. They must be doing something right.....

[@MakingitinHolland]

yeah, that's a very good point!

[@madgames1984]

I like the video but i have a question I tried my best to find information about air force reserve in Netherlands but i cant find shit do you have any tips to find some information about air force reserve?

[@MakingitinHolland]

Hmm 🤔 not sure I can help you with this one

[@SJHarrisonVoicePerformance]

Ahahaha wait staff doing you a favor? This was England until England joined the EU. (weighty pause as we contemplate what this means now... my hope is that the culture has permanently changed)

[@MakingitinHolland]

Yeah, it really feels like they're doing me a favor. I got used to it by now, but it still occasionally shocks me.

[@Staemtraction]

I don't expect service as you describe it. I see it more like as s kissing and I hate the over the top fake being nice.

[@MakingitinHolland]

There’s a balance between being over the top fake and just being hospitable in an industry that’s related to hospitality.