Gaelle Salem

Born and raised on the island of Sint Maarten, Gaelle moved to the Netherlands in 2018 to attend university. Still trying to survive the erratic Dutch wind and rain, she has taken up the hobby of buying a new umbrella every month. You can probably find her in the centre of The Hague appreciating the Dutch architecture with a coffee in one hand and a slice of appeltaart in the other.

The Domino Day Sparrow might be the most ridiculous thing to ever happen in the Netherlands

A world record attempt. Four million dominoes. A lone sparrow. And a chain of events that led to a devastating (and ridiculous) domino effect.   Ever...

Dutch TrainTok? This TikToker shames people running to catch Dutch trains

Pas op, Nederlanders! Someone has gained popularity on TikTok by capturing videos of people in the Netherlands running to catch Dutch trains — and...

Dutch Quirk #48: Say no to credit cards

As a newcomer in the Netherlands, it might come as a shock to discover that you can’t buy so much as a frikandelbroodje at...

Dutch Quirk #28: Not tip (and not need to)

Picture this: you’re out enjoying an ice-cold biertje with some vrienden, it’s time to pay, and then you pause: Should you leave a tip?...

Dutch Quirk #101: Bike while using their phones

The Dutch certainly know how to ride their bikes, and with great bike riding comes some pretty nifty skills. An extra special one? Biking...

Case Studies