The five essential Dutch values driving the positive design of streets & public spaces: Anthropology

In the episode, I welcome back Cathy Tuttle, an anthropologist, and planner currently living in Utrecht in The Netherlands, to discuss her recent work in and studies of the values and cultural norms influencing the Dutch built environment we've become accustomed to, including the overlapping mobility networks and their current approach to public space.
The values discussed:
- Common Sense/Logical/Practical/Punctual
- Consensus Building/Polder Model/Listening
- Tolerance/Openness to Others/Cultures
- Sharing/Self Reliant
- Saving Money/Frugality
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Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
- Ep 140 feat. Cathy: • How can a car manageme...
- Seattle Neighborhood Greenways www.seattlegreenways.org/
- Bike Loud PDX: bikeloudpdx.org/
- Marco and Thalia’s book Movement: bookshop.org/a/85379/97816428...
- Geert van der Wilt aka De Filmende Fietser ride: • A guided tour of Utrec...
- Episode 182 with Kylie van Dam in Houten: • Hear from a Houten res...
- Bicycle Dutch bicycledutch.wordpress.com
- BikeFlip bikeflip.nl
- Woom bicycles: woom.com/en_US/
- Cargo Bike Festival (Oct 25-6 2024 in Utrecht) cargobikefestival.com
- My interview with Jos Sluijsmans: • I'm headed to the Inte...
- De Filmende Fietser defilmendefietser.nl
- Dutch Cycling Embassy dutchcycling.nl
- Fietsersbond www.fietsersbond.nl
- Swapfiets swapfiets.nl
- Cargoroo: cargoroo.nl/en/
- Utrecht Fietsersbond utrecht.fietsersbond.nl
- Ventraco colorful asphalt ventraco.nl/nl-nl
- Avondvierdaagse 4 night student walk www.avond4daagse.nl
- Avondvierdaagse (Wiki): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avondvi...
- Gluren bij de Buren home-based music festival: glurenbijdeburen.nl/nl
- Marco te Brömmelstroet: bit.ly/43Q2qqA
- Thalia Verkade decorrespondent.nl/thaliaverkade
- Handboek Openbare Ruimte Utrecht: bit.ly/4aEBsVe
- Houten The Green Embraced book by Robert Derks and André Botermans
- Modacity Life Chris and Melissa Bruntlett www.modacitylife.com
- Not Just Bikes / @notjustbikes
- Soep uit iedere Hoek www.lekkerdivers.nl/soep-uit-...
- Polder Model/Consensus Building: bit.ly/Polder-Model
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Credits: Video and audio production by John Simmerman
Music via Epidemic Sound: bit.ly/3rFLErD
Resources used during the production of this video:
- My recording platform is Ecamm Live: bit.ly/3rwsUup
- Editing software Adobe Creative Cloud Suite: bit.ly/35DBDDU
For more information about the Active Towns effort or to follow along, please visit our links below:
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Background:
Hi Everyone! My name is John Simmerman, and I’m a health promotion and public health professional with over 30 years of experience. Over the years, my area of concentration has evolved into a specialization in how the built environment influences human behavior related to active living and especially active mobility.
Since 2010, I've been exploring, documenting, and profiling established, emerging, and aspiring Active Towns wherever they might be while striving to produce high-quality multimedia content to help inspire the creation of more safe and inviting, environments that promote a "Culture of Activity" for "All Ages & Abilities."
The Active Towns Channel features my original video content and reflections, including a selection of podcast episodes and short films profiling the positive and inspiring efforts happening around the world as I am able to experience and document them.
Thanks once again for tuning in! I hope you find this content helpful and insightful.
Creative Commons License: Attributions, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives, 2024

[@leanderbuijtendijk6241]

Brave of you learning Dutch. In my personal opinion it's not an easy language but people here will really appreciate it of you going for it

[@ActiveTowns]

I'm impressed with and proud of all my North American friends who've made the move to The Netherlands and who are actively working on "mastering" the Dutch language. Hey, thanks so much for watching. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@Aviopic]

Both languages are Germanic and many words are identical and/or almost identical in spelling or sound. Which is why learning learning Dutch from English or vice versa is easier than learning French or Japanese for both.

[@BogFiets]

@@Aviopic I don't speak Dutch (yet) but the FSI ranks it in the easiest tier of languages for native English speakers to learn. Easier than Spanish, or German, for instance (far less conjugation!)

[@Aviopic]

@@BogFiets Just don't be bothered about the pronunciation too much and you'll do just fine 💪🏻

[@irisachternaam]

@@BogFiets The challenge isn't understanding it. The challenge is getting the pronounciation of vowels right enough to the point people understand you without effort and they don't switch to English.

[@giselavaleazar8768]

This is what I did to go to school as a kid in the 70s in Amsterdam: 1. 4-6 yrs old: I walked to school alone, which was only across the street. 2. 6-9: I walked to school alone, which was about 1 km away. 3. 9-12: I cycled to school, which was about 1.5 km away. 4. 12-18: Cycling, about 2.5 km.

[@ActiveTowns]

Thank you so much for watching and for sharing your experiences. It is much appreciated. I sincerely believe it is very important for children to have this level of independence in mobility, as it helps to build self-confidence and self-efficacy. Again, thanks for tuning in - I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

You were so fortunate. With my kids growing up in Seattle, we managed to walk WITH them to their schools until they were 12. We didn't fear them getting lost or strangers. We always worried about distracted people driving cars. Thanks for your comment! ~ Cathy Tuttle

[@herfkr]

Great interview and a nice channel! I am Dutch and I learned how typical Dutch the “poldermodel” is, when I worked abroad. Before that I considered it to be normal. "Polderen" is not innate, our parents teach us at a very young age to contribute to decision-making. I also learned that it is particularly Dutch to start with "polderen", the flat-hierarchy consultation model, long before there is a clear plan. It is in our culture to discuss the basic goals, the different ways/strategies to achieve those goals and what is important, nice and/or convenient for everyone involved. And this already in an exploratory phase of a plan, when there is just only a vague idea.

[@ActiveTowns]

Thank you so much for watching and for this contribution to the conversation. I really appreciate it. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

It's wonderful to experience Dutch polder plans in practice in the middle of cities! Thanks for your comment! ~ Cathy Tuttle

[@garyharty1902]

Cathy Tuttle is a delight to listen to. Regarding program allowing bike exchanges as children grow I reflected on my time in a Schwann dealership during a bike boom of the early 70’s. There was a tension between parents wanting a bike big enough to grow into and we on the shop side wanted to assure proper fit for safety and efficiency. This was at a time when dealers could sell every Varsity they could get their hands on.

[@ActiveTowns]

Good stuff, Gary! Thanks so much for watching and for this gem of a contribution to the conversation. Thank you as well for your steadfast support of the Channel. I really appreciate it. Cheers! John

[@garyharty1902]

@@ActiveTowns John, your channel continues to inspire us and Judy and I have been trying to re-create some of your previous rides around Delft. Riding in The Netherlands is a wonderful experience.

[@ActiveTowns]

@@garyharty1902 Hehe 🤣 That puts more pressure on me to better document my routes.

[@cvt1222]

Children are happier and safer on bikes that fit them -- as are adults. Thanks for your comment! ~ Cathy Tuttle

[@garyharty1902]

@@cvt1222thank you Cathy. I have really enjoyed your conversations with John. We got to do little riding in Utrecht 3 days ago before heading back to Delft. We even saw a large group of high school aged students in safety vests. We assumed it was either a field trip or more bike certification exams. Headed back to USA tomorrow. We are going to miss The Netherlands.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

I was cycling on my own before the bicyle exams. And that was in the time of the "bad" infastructure (seventies) in and around Haarlem. Thing is, Dutch kids are expected to be willing to explore their world. The only limits were: Do your homework, be home punctually for lunch or dinner, go to school and go home when the streetlights light up. Later, at 12, I could even stay with friends all night long on my own, returning home at 4 am. No problem, as long as my parents knew where I was, and I was not getting into trouble (and my school grades were good enough). I never got into any trouble and well, the school grades.... let's say eventually I ended up at university. That freedom was normal for Dutch kids and I believe it still is.

[@ActiveTowns]

Love it! Thank you so much for tuning in and sharing your experience with us. I really appreciate it, and I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

Freedom to move is one of the best gifts Dutch parents -- and Dutch streets -- have given to their children. Thanks for your comment! ~ Cathy Tuttle

[@00vaag]

I'm a bit younger. Did the cycling exam in 2004. I walked alone to school from the age of 6. You play with your bike around the neighbourhood, go to friends throughout your childhood. It's exactly the same as you describe Ronald. The cycling exam and traffic theory lessons felt more as preperation for trips outside the neighbourhood and eventually highschool. Which as i was from a small village, highschools were in the towns around us. In my case 18 km away. By the age of 12 when you go to highschool you go there alone by bike. Though getting on the bike at 7 am to go to school was never a thing I enjoyed much 😂

[@Lisdodde]

I think instead of frugality we would call it sensibility, probably combined with our attitude of ‘acting normally is crazy enough’ where we think flashy expensive stuff (personal status symbols or extravagant city design projects) is silly/a sign of having bad priorities in life. If it’s worth it and reasonable, we will spend money. Like with the mid-level street design: that’s not the cheapest but it’s worth it because of liveability, practicality uniformity and maintenance costs etc. We’re very sensible people and will often brag about getting things cheaper than usual, but we’re not usually going to cut corners where it will cost us in the long run either.

[@ActiveTowns]

Makes sense to me. Thanks so much for tuning in and for contributing to the conversation. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

That's an important point. Goedkoop should not be translated as "cheap". It is, like you said, good value for the money. Often buying something durable and taking good care of it is the best value of all. Thanks for your comment! ~Cathy Tuttle

[@mavadelo]

Cathy, at 19:58 On your left here is an icecream shop. If you haven't yet, be sure to try it out. It is one of the best in town If I compare Utrecht now with Utrecht 15 or even 10 years ago, it is a world of difference. Lots of chokepoints around the city got handles, entry to neighborhoods upgraded, the entire Public Transport epicentre renewed. New buslines all over etc. They have been working hard and are still not done. Thank you Cathy for talking so highly about my hometown, it made me feel somewhat proud.

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks so much for watching. I'll make sure Cathy sees this. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

I see crowds around that shop every day. I'll need to stop by. And yes! I love Utrecht. You are right to be proud of it. Thanks for your comment! ~ Cathy Tuttle

[@janetuttle5541]

Such a great and informative program thanks Cousin Cathy!

[@ActiveTowns]

Yay! Glad you enjoyed the conversation. Your Cuz rocks! 😀

[@hfloor]

The 'avondvierdaagse' is done everywhere in the Netherlands. Started in worldwar 2. Organised walking tours were prohibited during the day by the Germans. So people started doing them in the evening. And it became kind of a tradition to do them on a large scale once a year after the war.

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks so much, Hennie! Really appreciate you tuning in and contributing to the conversation. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

Avondvierdaagse is a terrific community building event. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avondvierdaagse Thanks for your comment! ~ Cathy Tuttle

[@colleenharrison2942]

Great podcast. Loved learning about Utrecht and seeing the pictures of the city.

[@ActiveTowns]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@CrownRider]

I met Elly Hoogteijling, one of the pioneers of the Fietsersbond, many, many years ago in my hometown Ede in the Netherlands. She wasn't very agreeable and that's how she got so much done for the bicycle community. Great personality.

[@ActiveTowns]

Fascinating. Thank you for watching and sharing. Much appreciated. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

Now I have to go look up Elly Hoogteijling. Good advocates can be abrasive -- up to a point. I think maybe the best are advocates who make us think -- and laugh! thanks @CrownRider ~Cathy Tuttle

[@hfavandepas]

the 'ambulance' actually was a police car :-)

[@ActiveTowns]

Yep. That seems to be the consensus. Thanks so much for watching. I hope you enjoyed the episode and enjoy poking around on the Channel. Cheers! John

[@marijkedeen1756]

Great conversation. We are a small but densely populated country. So I think the five values that Cathy summed up come as a result of that as well. You have to think and act efficiently about housing and transportation, carparking, bikeparking, etc, while at the same time creating healthy, social, enjoyable shared spaces.

[@ActiveTowns]

Can't argue with that logic. Thank you so very much for watching and for your contribution to the conversation. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

This is a good point @marijkedeen1756. Making the most of a very small country encourages many values of sharing and care. Thanks for your comment! ~Cathy Tuttle

[@XxXx-Evo]

I'm dutch, working in building (and sometimes a bit of planning) infrastructure. I recognise the values mentioned. Maybe I can add one more: we are never satisfied and like to complain, nothing is ever good enough, but because of that ( maybe in combination with our poldermodel), we do find even better solutions...

[@ActiveTowns]

Seems like this could also fit with the spirit of continuous improvement that we mentioned. Thanks so much for watching and for this contribution to the conversation. I hope you’re enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

Thanks @XxXx-Evo. I often see that quality of constantly complaining -- but complaints tend to be very pointed, not random grumbling. I'll be sure to add that to the model. Thanks for your comment! ~Cathy Tuttle

[@XxXx-Evo]

@@cvt1222 Thank you for calling it a quality. You are right, people usually can tell exactly what is bothering them. I usually like the fact that people care enough, to tell me their worries. It becomes annoying if they are not intested in other peoples interests and are unwilling to compromise. But most people understand if you explain.

[@Ilske]

Gluren bij the buren means peaking or watching at the neighbours. De 'avonvierdaagse' is all over the Netherlands every year. I did it to as a child. It was lovely

[@ActiveTowns]

Yay! Thanks so much 😀

[@cvt1222]

I met a few neighbors at the winter Gluren bij the buren and hope to meet more this summer. Avonvierdaagse is such an important community building event. It builds memories, social cohesion, and stronger bodies! Thanks for your comment @Ilske ! ~Cathy Tuttle

[@j.vanderson6239]

It’s just simply about the transport options I have: When I visit friends far away, I take my car. When I go to work, I take the train. When I go to the city center, I take my bike. When I do my daily groceries, I walk

[@ActiveTowns]

Love it! This is precisely what I mean when I say: "there is power in having a variety of viable mobility options." Thank you so much for watching and for sharing your experience. Much appreciated. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

It's great to live in a place where you have these options! thanks @j.vanderson6239 ~Cathy Tuttle

[@reneolthof6811]

Enjoyable and informative conversation. It always strikes me that The Netherlands are portrayed as paradise. For foreigners with urbanistic views it very well may be, and I am always proud that we as a country can serve as a model state. However, it must come as no surprise that we have our (huge) problems as well, although they are in certain ways on another level. The most serious one: fatalities in traffic are on the rise again. Including the percentage of fietsers in these numbers. This is worrying all experts since the solution is not obvious.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yep. Exactly. I try to share this frequently. Y'all have come a long way (and are way ahead of most places), but no place is perfect, and thus there are always opportunities for improvement and refinement. Thank you for watching and sharing. Much appreciated. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

I appreciate your comments. Thanks @reneolthof6811 ~ Cathy Tuttle

[@stacyliles5534]

We're actually heading to Utrecht today to begin our tour of the NL.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yay! Have a blast. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

Have a great trip @stacyliles5534 Thanks for your comment! ~Cathy Tuttle

[@Conservative-Leftie]

She is right..the walk is called a 'vierdaagse' (fourdays) it was introduced by the dutch 'federation of physical exercise'...to promote fitness...the vierdaagse van Nijmegen is the first and most famous one...often attended by foreign soldiers including the US...the largest distance is 4x 40 km...blisters are guaranteed..!..😊

[@ActiveTowns]

Cool! Thanks for this information and for watching. Cheers! John

[@outtatrex]

Thanks for this great interview. Regarding Swapfiets being expensive, I think €16.-- per month for renting a bike, is very good value. I mostly agree with what you call Dutch values. You shortly brought up how the Dutch cycling community fails to reach out to minorities / immigrants, and I wished you could have talked about that a bit more. I totally agree that we do not do a good job at including all people in the Netherlands cycling space. From what I can observe on the cycle paths in Amsterdam, I still see mostly white cyclists, and minorities like Muslim people over 50 years of age, you rarely see on bikes. My believe that if you really want to be integrated in the Dutch society, you should participate on a bicycle to really understand the Dutch culture. So that so-called tolerance that you hear a lot about when talking about the Netherlands, a lot of times it is more a form of indifference, instead of real respect for people who come from a different background. (Also, thank you for avoiding to call Dutch people "cheap".)

[@ActiveTowns]

Thank you so much for watching and for sharing this observation. Much appreciated. I rather agree with you on the Swapfiet value proposition, especially as Cathy points out you are worried about the security of the bike or want to have a dependable, well-maintained ride. Yes, I know there are programs, several of which I've profiled in the past that are actively working to help with that very integration challenge. One was mentioned in my interview with Angela van der Kloof: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4u0nIuieJqgrrc Again, thanks for tuning in - I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@PH61a]

Remark to 17:00: it's called "poldermodel" or "polderen": trying to get consensus. You were almost right.

[@ActiveTowns]

Cool! Thanks so much. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@tubularap]

During the 1980s, when the Fietsersbond had established itself as a serious entity, I heard that the city planning departement happily let the Fietsersbond do the research and set out the guidelines for a new project that involved cyclists. The Fietsersbond person said it with both some satisfaction that the Fietsersbond had archived such standing, and with some indignation, bacuse the City itself should have that expertise and vision, and not leave it to a mostly volunteer organisation. I think it is a good balance of top-driven policy and civilian participation.

[@ActiveTowns]

I can't argue with that assessment. Thanks so much for tuning in once again and for contributing to the discussion. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

The Fietersbond is a complex organization. thanks for your comment @tubularap ~Cathy Tuttle

[@cargo_roam]

Great episode John!

[@ActiveTowns]

Thank you so much. Delighted that you enjoyed it. 😀

[@kylievandam3723]

Superstar work!!!! ❤

[@ActiveTowns]

Awe, thanks so much, Kylie. See ya soon. Cheers! John

[@Mrevolva]

great talk, i enjoyed this

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks so very much for tuning in. Much appreciated. Cheers! John

[@dutchbicyclerides-ss1ko]

You are looking for 'polderen' its basically the 'we are in this on all levels, so we have todo something we all kind of agree on' logic. My last video on the lekdijk is a good example how water management has been done for 700-900 years. Its again very practical if we all not take care of our lands we will all be under water. Polderen has its good sides but can also become a burden in some areas of life. The tolerance is a tricky one yes its true but keep in mind even in the 1600-1700 timeframe the tolerance came from not that most people agreed really but being tolerant allows for different cultures to come in so we can make money. As a dutch person i still feel that happens a lot the tolerance at times is a result of practical reasons and logical but not always what is in their hearts.

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks so much, Daniel! 🙌

[@eduardveres3501]

Have you seen the changes on 3rd Avenue NY ? Your country rocks.

[@ActiveTowns]

I have not seen them personally. Thanks for watching. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

I got to bike about 100 miles in December 2023 in NYC -- Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn. It's definitely improving! Thanks for your comment @eduardveres3501 ~Cathy Tuttle

[@JosSluijsmans]

Great interview, Cathy and John. I really enjoyed it. Pity, though, I couldn't join yu 'live'. And thank you for the mention of the International Cargo Bike Festival. See you there in October at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, right next to the huge bike parking facility.

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks so much, Jos! I'll hopefully even sooner than that... I'll be around in June and July. Cheers! John

[@JosSluijsmans]

@@ActiveTowns Great! We'll definitely meet in June or July then. Looking forward to it. Cheers, Jos

[@cvt1222]

I'm so excited for CargoBike Fest in Utrecht in October! Thanks for your comment! ~ Cathy Tuttle

[@Lunytunes62]

The fietsersbond is old and powerful. The municipalities listen to them and when possible do what they demand. They are never overruled or ignored. A nice example I read about was a group of fietsersbond senior citizens on standard Dutch bikes with panniers (like the one Cathy shows in a picture) loaded with empty glas milk bottles or coca cola, whatever.... If they rattled too much the bike path location was written down so the path could be resurfaced by the municipality a.s.a.p. Which they did.

[@arthurhagen3826]

And fun fact, the organisation that serves the needs of cars, the ANWB started as an organisation for cyclists. De Algemene Nederlandse Wielrijders Bond ... the general Dutch CYCLIST union :)

[@ActiveTowns]

I love it! Thanks so much for watching and for this great example. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

It's eye opening to see an advocacy group for people who bike that is listened to carefully. NOT the case in the US. Still, the Fietsersbond needs to do the work and evaluate many projects as they change.Thanks for your comment @Lunytunes62 ! ~Cathy Tuttle

[@taunteratwill1787]

39.25 "That's an ambulance"! NO! it isn't, it is a police patrol car. "Gluren bij de buren" does NOT mean performance by the neighborhood. It means peeping into your neighbors house. 😂

[@ActiveTowns]

Thank you. Much appreciated. I hope you enjoy the Channel. Cheers! John

[@antoinewesthoff4417]

Thanks for sharing this podcast @ John

[@ActiveTowns]

You are quite welcome! So glad you could make the Premiere. Cheers! John

[@DeputyChiefWhip]

Whats cool about NL bike paths is that there are many modes of wheeled vehicles you can use on most bike paths. Push bikes, electricbikes (25kph), pedelec bikes (45kph) bakfiets cargo/kids carrier bike, racing bicycle, slow scooters (30kph) and often normal mopeds/escooters (50kph).

[@ActiveTowns]

Yes. And managing these different modes and the speed differentials has been and will continue to be a bit of a challenge, especially in areas where there are a lot of users. Thanks so for watching and for commenting. Cheers! John

[@aricatt]

Very enjoyable and informative!

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks so much for tuning in. Delighted that you enjoyed it. Cheers! John

[@arthurhagen3826]

Poldermodel ... or as a verb, polderen, to polder .... work towards consensus, because if one owner does not want to make an effort to strengthen a dike or dig a bigger canal or build a bigger pump, the whole polder might be lost and people will drown when the polder floods.

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks so much for watching and for this definition. Cheers! John

[@vincenzodigrande2070]

In the Netherlands living near enough to work to be able to commute by bicycle is seen as a luxury, in the US being able to do that by car is seen as a luxury.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yep. Unfortunately for us. Thanks so much for tuning in.

[@plukkie070]

Having a car here is seen as a Luxury, since you can commute with various other sources (bike, public transport etc etc), in the States having a car is more of a necessity since it's more of a car country, not really a luxury.

[@ageoflove1980]

Whar we as parents liked to do when our son was still very young was to track his phone to see if he made it to school and such. So you can still keep an eye on him without him having the feeling he is being supervised. Living right in the center of Amsterdam it did give us some peace of mind while giving him the opportunity to learn to move around independantly. For Americans who really wonder if this is safe enough: Yes it is. The thing is that in case of an accident with a car, which fortunately rarely happens, the car driver is always in the wrong even when he technically followed all the rules. Because the driver always has to consider the vulnerabilty of the cyclist.

[@ActiveTowns]

This is so brilliant! Thanks so much for watching and providing this first-hand account. Much appreciated. Cheers! John

[@ageoflove1980]

@@ActiveTowns Well the thing is that for American parents it must be a horrible idea to let their kids go all by themselves because they would be right. In that enviroment it is. But the first priority of every participant in traffic over here is to always look out for kids. Because kids are kids and they will do dumb stuff and its not just your responsability to follow the rules, its your responsability as an adult to make sure everybody is safe,. Even if that means you need to go slower than you are allowed to or make and extra stop if that particular situation requires you to do so. Japan is probably even a better example of this happening. Ive seen video's of 3-4 year olds walking to school by themselves and their whole society is aware of this sort of social responsability to make sure they can do so safely. And what, as a society, could ever be more important than that?

[@cvt1222]

What indeed could be more important that keeping children safe! Thanks for your comments @ageoflove1980 ~ Cathy Tuttle

[@ageoflove1980]

@@cvt1222 Yes it is. Thats how of course the Dutch transportation model we currently have came in to being. It was first and foremost an endevour to reduce traffic accidents that really were a big issue back in the 60s and 70s. And thats the key to succes in the US in my opinion: A positive message! The current model is just outright hostile to kids and that is unacceptable. So, its not about being anti-car, its about seperating local traffic from car traffic. The Netherlands is a very car-centric place, I mean, there are huge highways all over the place. The mission however is to remove that as far away as possible from residential areas where the maximum speed for all traffic should not exceed 30 km/h. And it works! The total number of people that died due to a traffic accident in The Netherlands in 2023 was 684. In the US, this number went all the way up to 40,990. When you take the population sizes in to consideration, you are about three times more likely to die in a traffic accident in the US. Those are some very serious statistics.

[@pietoudshoorn7387]

The photo at 1.05.55 is nog Utrecht, but my hometown Veenendaal (see text at the bottom ). This Hoofdstraat is now pedestrians and bikes only. Veenendaal was chosen by the Fietsersbond as Fietsstad (byciclecity) in the year 2020.

[@ActiveTowns]

Cool! Thanks so much for watching and commenting. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@captainchaos3667]

It's good to know that the fietsexamen is optional and doesn't carry any legal weight. You don't have to pass one to be allowed to cycle, and indeed most kids are cycling independently long before they take the exam, or never take it at all.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yes, thanks for mentioning that. And yeah, I kind of assumed that most kids were getting around on their own well before that age based on what I have observed over the years.

[@cvt1222]

I haven't learned a ton about the fietsexamen yet. It does seem smart to help children to learn road signs and biking tactics at this age, as they are transitioning from elementary to middle schools that are further away and take kids through more complex environments on their bikes. The bike exam gives extra skills and confidence to both the kids and their caregivers. Thanks for your comment @captainchaos3667 ! ~Cathy Tuttle

[@captainchaos3667]

@@cvt1222 Definitely. I think it's more about the training than the actual exam.

[@dascandy]

wrt that clip at @23:00 the interesting bit is that roads with more than 3 lanes are very rare over here. It turns out that in most cases, more than 3 lanes are not very efficient, and increase danger at best. Two times two is better than four, for total capacity and safety. Usually the center parts are the "non-stop" lanes passing by a major city, and the side parts are the "exit-heavy" one, where you can take exits but have to drive slower. Having no exits on the faster route, and all exits on the slower one, means that neither is the "best" one to drive on, making the traffic naturally separate into non-stop and take-exits, saving a lot of lane changes and potential accidents.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yep. And yet, over here in North America, way too many people way too long have thought that more lanes would solve all problems... this is slowly changing... very slowly... those of us producing this type of content are doing what we can. Hehe 🤣 Thanks so much for tuning in. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

There's a need for multi-lane, fast-moving traffic, but the Dutch seem to have learned the lesson that these roads are special, and don't need to be redundant. This saves money -- and also makes ordinary travel safer. Thanks for your comment @dascandy ! ~Cathy Tuttle

[@Streetsinsideout]

I think the cultural traits you see in the Dutch are quite correct. We are very aware of the cost moneywise. Probably helped by high costs on cars/petrol. But in general the Dutch are zuinig 😊 I think nobody will call it polderen, but it is about getting a consensus. Although in urban planning there is a lot of NIMBY, even here in NL.

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks so much for watching and for this fine addition to the discussion. It’s much appreciated and I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

I had to go look up zuinig! Good word. thanks @Streetsinsideout ~Cathy Tuttle

[@vincenzodigrande2070]

Poldermodel, which is a sort of flat hierarchy model, where everybody has a voice because you can not deny anyone, else you will basically drown. That is where it originates from, because there is this common goal of staying dry, everybody had to play their part and be listened to and be taken serious.

[@ActiveTowns]

Makes sense and is quite pragmatic in the long run. 😀

[@vincenzodigrande2070]

@@ActiveTowns Yeah born out of necessity from the geography the Netherlands has, and applied to everything eventually from businesses to politics to even households.

[@ActiveTowns]

@@vincenzodigrande2070 Brilliant, really. 🙌

[@ovief]

And we also use the word “Polderen”. It is used as a verb and means something like discussing a subject and with the goal to come to a consensus.

[@cvt1222]

@@ovief I plan to use polder in my next conversation! ~ Cathy Tuttle

[@petergeuke]

Hi, I like to watch your videos, very interesting to see as if the Dutch are from a different planet 🙂, hopefully your work will help to change America into a better place for living with less cars. Also, small correction; on 39:27 this is a Police car, not an ambulance.... Keep on doing making these videos. please try to 'fiets' in the east and northern parts of Nederland, Nederland is not only North- and South- Holland. Greeting from Nederland.

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks so much! Yes, we got the word on the police car and I do plan to visit the East and Northern parts this summer. I really appreciate you tuning in. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

I've biked as far north as Groningen, south to Maastricht and Monster, and east to Den Bosch, Apeldoorn and Eindhoven. When I got here with a long-term visa, the airport security staff didn't understand why I wasn't planning to visit other countries. The Netherlands may be tiny relative to the US, but there's still a lot I haven't seen! Thanks for your comments @petergeuke ~ Cathy Tuttle

[@plukkie070]

All our emergency services come with different size vehicles, even the size of at the fire truck mentioned, the one you saw on the bike path was a police car, but i can understand the confusion.

[@ChristiaanHW]

but if needed (most of) our fire trucks are able to drive over a (bidirectional) cycle path. if for example that is a shortcut or the road next to it is blocked by cars. it's the same with those bollards (modal filters) used in The Netherlands, emergency vehicles have a key to remove bollards and use the path it blocks as a shortcut to get to the incident faster. so almost all of our cycle infrastructure is usable for emergency services if needed.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yes. Many different sizes.The only thing I haven't seen yet in The Netherlands is one of our massively oversized fire trucks. Hehe 🤣 Thanks so much for tuning in. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@FrankDijkstra]

About the percentage of using a car for working far away: we prefer to live close to our jobs because otherwise driving takes a lot of our own free time, and us Dutchies do like our free time! 🙂 I walk 12 minutes to work.

[@cvt1222]

It's great to live in a place where can live close to where you work! thanks @FrankDijkstra ~Cathy Tuttle

[@ActiveTowns]

It seems like this is consistent with some of the values discussed. 😀 Thanks so much for watching and commenting, @FrankDijkstra. It's much appreciated. I hope you're enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@cajum24]

Polderen is indeed a dutch verb. It is the name of a way of coming to consensus

[@ActiveTowns]

Cool! Thanks 😀

[@pablokav]

Regarding Micro Mobility I want to suggest electric mini cars for mobility needs, where the are an alternative for using a car. In our family case we are visiting 4 to 5 times a week a family member in care home. When we are taking the laundry or often when driving in the dark, or when it is raining for the 5 km distance we take instead of a bike or the car the Opel Rocks, (same as Citroen Ami), a small electric car that costed us 8300 euros. It is an intermediate solution for us as elderly people and living in the hills in the east of the Netherlands.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yes! Reasonably sized vehicles, when a vehicle is truly needed or desired, make way more sense and cause much less damage to society than our massively oversized cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks in North America. Thanks so much for watching. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

Yes! Micro cars are a great option when bikes are impractical. Thanks @pablokav ~ Cathy Tuttle

[@joslauwers7960]

As my car is getting a yearly service so is my bicycle of 22 years old.

[@ActiveTowns]

Good plan! Thanks so much for watching. Cheers! John

[@martijn_sch]

I think you meant: Poldermodel Greetings from Utrecht (5 min walking from Vredenburg) ;)

[@ActiveTowns]

Yes. The Poldermodel. Thanks so much for tuning in and confirming that. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

Hello neighbor. We should take a bike ride sometime! Proost ~ Cathy Tuttle

[@shadeblackwolf1508]

my imported husband: i know it's two for one but do we really have to bring two? they're heavy. Me: yes. Leaving free stuff on a shelf is heretical in this culture

[@ActiveTowns]

Hehe 🤣 Love it! 🙌

[@mrcarlotje]

“Polderen”, or the Polder Model. The Polder Model is a process of decision making based on consensus, of solving problems via dialogue with every party having an equal say. The model is exemplified by the 1982 Wassenaar Agreement, which established a grand bargain between trade unions, employer associations and the Dutch government around a new policy for economic renewal. The policy, which put a limit on wage growth in return for the adoption of policies to combat unemployment and inflation, demanded concessions by all parties and mutual trust that each would honour the accord. This polder model did not emerge on the political scene out of nowhere but rather, as historian Stijn Kuipers argues, dates back to 1920 with the Dutch High Council of Labour. History Professors Maarten Prak and Jan Luiten van Zanden even suggest that this model is the outcome of “a distinctive Dutch political economic tradition that stretches […] over a millennium”.

[@ActiveTowns]

Thank you so much for watching and for sharing this fascinating information. Much appreciated. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@annagaw5312]

We have brick sidewalk spaces used as accents around intersections, but heavy vehicles have been tearing them up for years and I have to walk carefully not to fall. Recently they patched places where the bricks have been chipped way. They filled those patches with asphalt. I’m glad it is less hazardous but my god, we really spend only pennies on our infrastructure. The Dutch puts America to shame.

[@ActiveTowns]

I hear ya. We have such a long way to go. Thanks so much for watching. Cheers! John

[@cvt1222]

thanks for your comments @annagaw5312 Yes the US needs to invest more in maintaining what it has, improving it for people, and pulling out redundant streets it no longer needs ~ Cathy Tuttle

[@graemetunbridge1738]

Fire truck looks normal to me - Australia.

[@ActiveTowns]

Good to hear. Cheers!

[@51bikerboy]

What about Groningen?

[@ActiveTowns]

Yes! I'll definitely be returning to Groningen this summer. Thank you for watching Cheers! John

[@MichielGroenewegen]

39:23 that is not a ambulance but a police car.

[@ActiveTowns]

That seems to be the consensus. Thanks so much for watching. I hope you enjoyed the episode and enjoy poking around on the Channel. Cheers! John

[@apveening]

@@ActiveTowns Not only concensus, it is clearly written on the back of the car (POLITIE).

[@ActiveTowns]

@@apveening 🤣 yeah, yeah, rub it in... remember we're recording this live in real time and the images are often quite small on our screens... sure I can clearly see POLITIE later in the editing bay but I certainly didn't notice it while we were discussing it... and the point stands, it's about emergency services vehicles... doesn't really matter what type.

[@Conservative-Leftie]

Great...small mistake though ...it wasn't an ambulance...it was a police car...all ambulances are yellow including the chopper air ambulances, motorcycle-ambulances and very fast small size yellow cars....and also the most common ambulances..they are about the same size as in the US...

[@ActiveTowns]

Yeah, thanks. That seems to be the consensus. Hehe 😅 Thanks so much for watching and contributing to the conversation. Much appreciated. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@JustClaude13]

I think America ins an outlier in how dependent children remain, to an advanced age. In Japan children make their first independent errand some time before they start first grade. There's even a show following the kids as they go shopping for the first time. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGaqc2Crnr1nnJY

[@ActiveTowns]

Yeah, I hear ya. I’m actually listening to the new book by Jonathan Haidt, The Anxious Generation, which addresses many of these trends and challenges

[@MM-ih4rj]

Poldermodel / polderen

[@ActiveTowns]

🙌

[@TrinyDade-cm8oc]

Dutch tolerance seems to have limits as well. Don't mistake our tolerance for weakness.

[@ActiveTowns]

Absolutely. I would never view tolerance as a weakness. Thanks for watching. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@in551125do]

It's called "Poldermodel"....basically trying to come to a consensus.......

[@ActiveTowns]

Yes! Thank you so much for watching and for sharing. Much appreciated. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@shadeblackwolf1508]

The american will brag that his new car retails at 80k. The dutch will brag that he got a deal on the same car and only paid 40k

[@ActiveTowns]

Yep.🙄

[@marcovaneersel4532]

t's a shame that she turns it into a political talk 07:25. The green parties did not even exist when the Netherlands started building bicycle infrastructure. Police and ambulance personnel complain a lot about these green ideas, which also have a dark side. They close roads to traffic without consulting the population, who are not very happy about this. Greetings from Rotterdam,

[@ActiveTowns]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I suppose the modern reality is that if public funds are involved in a democracy it is by definition political, in a dictatorship not so much. Hehe 😜

[@Aviopic]

A reaction to Kathy's request must be that there is a difference between cities like Utrecht and rural areas not often understood by immigrants. Cities like Utrecht, Amsterdam and Leiden are usually led by a sensible centre/left wing local government. Leave the city behind a 100 meter and all of a sudden left is right, up is down and earth is flat, no not as extreme as the southern US states but still no sensible decisions can be expected from those folks. For example my little ~15.000 people town located some 20km south of Schiphol airport has a train station, not at a very convenient location, not really walkable for anybody but a few. For years there wasn't even path to walk on, now they've made a shelf path on which you're most likely going to break your legs. Of course it has a unguarded bike parking which made the change your bike was still there on return close to zero which made you walk back home on a path that wasn't there, now after +40 years or so somebody is watching over the bike parking finally and we have a path.....sort of. Our train station does have a large car park which locals can't use because it's free and thus always full, 24/7. A sensible local government would turn the free into a paid parking with maybe a timeslot of some sort like all other places have done between the airport and us, not the rural right wing government of course. Instead they put another deck on top so now there are twice as many cars parked for free and locals still can't use it, why ? Because our station is the nearest free parking from the airport, it's only a 10-15 minute train ride and you can park for as long as you like. Public transport, i worked at the airport for about 41 years. Not the passenger side of things but on the east side, the area where people actually work. Travel time by car ~20min, on my motorbike ~10min, by public transport 1.5 hours there you go. I'm sure the Kathy's and Jason's of this world mean well but are completely oblivious of the bubble they are living in which is a shame really. End of rant 😂

[@Michiel_de_Jong]

You're a shining example of Dutch community building, consensus seeking tolerance.. .

[@Aviopic]

@@Michiel_de_Jong tolerance is no substitute for stupidity 😉

[@Michiel_de_Jong]

@@Aviopic You're right, but it would have been nice if it had been a substitute...

[@Aviopic]

@@Michiel_de_Jong No. If stupidity is met with tolerance, which it has been for way too long, nothing will ever change.

[@ActiveTowns]

Thank you for watching and sharing. Much appreciated. That's fascinating that you worked at Schiphol, I actually enjoy riding to and from there with my luggage when my destination is within a reasonable ride. It brings me such joy to see many of the airport area workers on the extensive cycle system out there riding to work. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@wimahlers]

52:00 Origin "avondvierdaagse" (4 evenings of walking), see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avondvierdaagse

[@ActiveTowns]

Thank you so much for watching and for sharing this information. I've included this link in the video description/show notes. Much appreciated. I hope you are enjoying the Channel. Cheers! John

[@shadeblackwolf1508]

nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avondvierdaagse to summarise, the 4 evenings walk, was a way to adapt when the 4 days walk was restricted during WW2. the day version was instituted originally as an exercise routine for the army in 1909.

[@ActiveTowns]

Ah, gotcha! Thanks so much 🙏

[@wimahlers]

Mentioned before, but here is some additional information: (practical and cultural difference) 39:30 Not an ambulance but a police car. This is an ambulance, see: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqWtdGdrd7l3oac In contrast, this is an American ambulance on a super wide city street, see: kzbin.infoF9MF6OKexC0 Note, American solution: Make street wider.

[@ActiveTowns]

Yeah, it can be so frustrating. Thank you so much for watching and for sharing this information. Much appreciated. Cheers! John