Picture this: one side of the street has a lineup of bikes, and on the other, your neighbour’s wooden bench doubles as the neighbourhood cat’s bed. For Dutchies, this isn’t just a street — it’s the perfect location to pull up a table, a few chairs, and a plate of sandwiches for a meal!
Forget the garden! The Dutch know the real spot to soak up the sun is the public sidewalk next to the street.
Strangers peeking at your lunch and bikes zooming by at an alarming speed? Doesn’t faze them.
What is it?
It’s a popular Dutch neighbourhood habit to use as much area in front of their house as possible.
It’s usually a tradition among the tenants of the ground floor, but sometimes, the whole building joins in on the fun as well. 🥳
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This area — which also happens to be a public footpath — is transformed into a convenient space for Dutchies to host dinners, have drinks, or simply read a good book while getting some fresh air. 📖
If a building or a house happens to have a set of outside stairs — that’s a whole new world of possibilities. 🌟
We’re talking about a makeshift table for a stereo or afternoon tea. A place where the pets can lie down while the owner unwinds on a foldable chair with their front door wide open.
Get creative with it! 😎
Why do they do it?
In a country as small as the Netherlands, we know how important it is to use every space as efficiently as possible.
Who wouldn’t want to throw a bench in a sunny spot to soak up some vitamin D in the cold months? 🥶
That’s not all there is to it, though. The possibility of a social gathering space right next to your very own front door in itself is tempting.
Why is it so quirky?
If you’re more of a homebody but still enjoy the occasional breath of fresh air, then it’s the perfect solution!
You’re just a few steps away from your fridge, making it easy to grab all your favourite snacks and drinks without breaking a sweat.
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No need to worry about reserving a table or stressing about what time the restaurant closes. It’s the perfect (built-in) borrel spot. 😋
However, if you’re the pedestrian trying to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible, bumping into someone’s furniture on the side of the street isn’t exactly convenient. 😬
On the bright side, you do get to witness the amount of creativity these Dutchies have to turn any space into an opportunity to hang out.
Should you join in?
Are you going to be disruptive in any way?
If the answer is yes, then we would suggest finding another hangout place, we suggest you find an actual park close by or a friend’s backyard. 🌳
But if you want to have a nice mid-sized planter underneath your window with some bright flowers to bring you and others joy, then by all means, go for it.
What do you think of this Dutch quirk? Have you ever used the public sidewalk for your own pleasure? Tell us in the comments below!