The Netherlands is a wonderful place to live, especially for internationals. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t inexplicable, strange, and extremely important things you need to know before moving here.
I have now lived in the Netherlands for many years, and I can honestly say that it is an amazing place. It has beautiful cities, a laid-back pace of life, and friendly people.
On top of that, it’s rated one of the happiest countries in the world!
Blending in with the Dutch
However, as for many expats, moving here was also an overwhelming experience. New traditions, customs, habits and, on top of that, a whole new language.
READ MORE | 9 things no one tells you about living in the Netherlands for the first time
Once I arrived on Dutch soil, I was confronted by a series of questions.
What is the correct way to act to blend in with the Dutch? What situations should be avoided? What the heck is going on, and how can I possibly survive?
It was a lot to take in, and almost every international goes through it.
READ MORE | The 21 weirdest things Dutchies don’t realise are only Dutch
Luckily, during many years of living in the Netherlands, and writing about my experiences on my blog, Accidentally Dutch, I have learned how to navigate some of the most confusing situations (mostly by falling headfirst into them 🙃).
1. The country isn’t called Holland (apart from when it is)
When talking with a Dutch person, never refer to the country they come from as Holland. It is called the Netherlands.
Holland is only a part of the country (two of the western provinces to be exact).
While we’re at it, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the 12 different provinces in the Netherlands. Only two of them (North Holland and South Holland) make up what we call Holland.
The Dutch are very adamant that their country is called the Netherlands. It is not called Holland… never!
READ MORE | What’s the difference between Holland and the Netherlands?
… unless when they’re supporting their country in an international sporting event. That’s when they can be heard shouting, “Hup Holland hup,” as if their lives depended on it. 🥳
2. They don’t wear bicycle helmets
The Netherlands is a country well-known for cycling. It’s a large part of Dutch culture and identity. Bicycle safety? Not so much.
The Dutch have been cycling for so long (and have become so in tune with their bicycles) that they don’t understand the need for bicycle helmets.
Anyone who wears one stands out as odd.
That’s why wearing a bicycle helmet is not considered a good survival tip, in the Netherlands at least.
If you want to blend in with the locals, it’s best to forgo the protective headgear, and don’t even think about wearing a high visibility vest. 😳
3. They will put your biking skills to shame
In addition to not wearing a bicycle helmet, it’s important to learn how to bike. You might think, “I already know how to bike,” but trust me, you’re wrong.
You might know how to propel a bicycle through a peddling motion, but you don’t really know how to cycle — not like the Dutch. 💪 🚲
READ MORE | 7 types of cyclists found when biking in the Netherlands
Cycling in the Netherlands means you can cycle with your hands in your pockets, while towing a second bike alongside yourself, or confidently give someone (adult or child) a lift on the back of your bike.
It means you can cycle while transporting any number of weird and wonderfully large and impractical objects, or all of the above at once.
4. Strange (Dutch) people might offer you candy
Many Dutch treats are a delightful experience to discover. Stroopwafels, hagelslag, poffertjes, to name but a few.
When you try them for the first time, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them. 🤤
On the other end of this spectrum is drop — a small black sweet that would be the equivalent of liquorice in other countries, if it wasn’t for the extreme, insanity-inducing salty taste. 🥴
I can only assume that Dutch taste buds have evolved to withstand it because apparently, they love the stuff.
READ MORE | These are 7 Dutch foods you need to try before you die
To be fair, there are less extreme tasting varieties of drop, but it’s the double salt varieties that the Dutch enjoy offering to expats, so they can watch their shocked reactions.
If a Dutch person ever offers you this black little sweet, do not accept it.
In fact, it is probably best to cut off all contact with that person from now on. They clearly can not be trusted. 🤨
5. Everything you know about queuing no longer applies
Maybe it has something to do with Dutch directness. Maybe everyone’s in a rush.
There’s no way of knowing, but one thing is obvious: the Dutch don’t queue (at least, not in the same way as us obsessive-compulsive Brits).
READ MORE | 5 ways the Netherlands is better than the UK according to a Brit
Any attempt to board a train, tram or bus quickly descends into chaos, as everyone crowds around the open doors and tries to force their way through before all the available seats are gone.
When queuing in the Netherlands, there are no rules. Only survivors. 😅
6. You will hear a non-threatening alarm on the first Monday of the month
On the first Monday of the month at noon, a loud alarm rings out across the whole country.
It’s an ear-splitting sound, reminiscent of an old air-raid siren. It sounds like you should definitely run and hide, and yet, the Dutch don’t react to it at all.
That is because they know it is simply the monthly test of the nationwide alarm system (which is designed to warn people of a sudden emergency), and nothing else. 🚨
The test always makes it easy to spot tourists and newly arrived internationals. They will be the ones with a look of absolute terror and confusion on their faces.
As for what happens if there is a real emergency on the first Monday of the month at noon… No one really knows.
7. When it comes to the language, you can fake it till you make it
Dutch is an extremely difficult language, a fact the Dutch seem to take great pride in.
When a Dutch person hears that you are trying to learn their language, they will gleefully explain how it is one of the trickiest languages in the world. Fun! 😅
READ MORE | Living in the Netherlands without speaking Dutch
So naturally, it’s much easier to learn how to fake-speak the language. During a Dutch conversation, simply nod and smile a lot.
Occasionally, interject with the word ‘dus‘ or ‘ja zeg‘ in agreement. You’ll sail through that Dutch conversation without issue (as long as they don’t ask you any questions they expect an answer for).
8. It’s a good idea to bring throat soothers with you at all times
If you attempt to learn the Dutch language for real, be prepared to have a sore throat for a few months as you try to master some of the more difficult sounds.
That’s another point of pride for the Dutch: that their language includes a lot of sounds that cannot be found elsewhere.
In Dutch, the sounds created by the combinations of the letters ‘ie’, ‘ou’, and even just ‘u’ are very difficult for a non-Dutch person to get right (or even hear how they’re getting them wrong).
However, it’s the ‘g’ sound known simply as ‘the hard g’ that causes the sorest throats amongst non-Dutch people.
It’s hard to describe the sound it creates in writing. However, when most non-Dutch people attempt it, they sound like they’re choking and in need of the Heimlich manoeuvre.
9. A Dutch birthday party might not be all that fun
When you’ve made your first Dutch friend and get invited to their birthday party, you might get very excited, and you should be. It’s a great honour.
Buuut you really shouldn’t expect too much. 👀
You might have envisioned an off-the-hook party, a night of music, dancing and drinking, but the reality is usually very different.
You won’t be dancing. You’ll be sitting in a circle chatting.
You won’t be surrounded by twenty-something party animals. You’ll be surrounded by three generations of the birthday boy or girl’s family, and the strongest thing you’ll be drinking is coffee. ☕️
And finally… doe normaal! Whatever that means…
What are your survival tips for life in The Netherlands? Tell us in the comments below!
Number 7 of this list is absolute nonsense. Basic Dutch can be learned in a very short period. As with any other language it will take a lifetime to become perfect. Since a perfect command of a language is impossible (even for Dutch speakers), don’t be afraid to make mistakes. The Dutch themselves make many mistakes. The Dutch will say their language is difficult learn but they only say this to discourage you. So learn Dutch. Don’t be afraid!
I agree that Dutch is not all that difficult for English speakers learn at a basic level–I learned basic Dutch a long time ago with cassette tapes and a book (Hugo’s Dutch in Three Months–if I remember correctly). Frankly, I find German much harder.
Siren?! I’ve never heard this.. And I frequently visit NL as my husband is Dutch.
Every first Monday in the month. At noon. The sirens go off everywhere.
I’ve lived in The Hague for years and don’t remember ever hearing a siren!
It’s such a part of life you might just be tuning it out…?
Maybe you were in the Netherlands years ago. It’s since 2003 that it goes off every first monday of the month and yes it’s not possible to not hear it.
make it fun to learn dutch,
dont be afraid to make mistakes, we might laugh but dont feel offended, we admire you very much for trying, put stickers on all your belongings with the dutch text, whenever possible, listen to whatever dutch blah blah blah, radio, tv,etc. write down the things you have difficulties with, then hang them beside the toilet, we have more “learning moments” then we realize, first learn the sounds of the alphabet, make it fun, dont be to serious, it take 2 years before you can have simple conversations,
i did learn a bit of russian, it made travel a lot easier and opened many doors,
as a Haagenees, living in Australia for many years, I must comment on the style and subjects of your publications. I always look forward to the next issue and find the lighthearted, honest look at the (NEDERLANDERS) creative, full of good humour, informative and a source of many a chuckle at recognition. In short, please keep up the good work and my compliments to everyone involved in the production. Bravo!!!
In WW2 stories, the give-away of a German trying to pass as Dutch was that Germans could not pronounce Scheveningen with a proper Dutch “tongslag”. My parents who left Hulst in the 1920s (I learned Dutch from them) dropped the last syllable. We said “Schevening”. I didn’t know the correct spelling till I visited the place. Now I wonder if “Schevening” is a local or maybe an old fashioned pronunciation. Anyone know?
In WW2 stories, the give-away of a German trying to pass as Dutch was that Germans could not pronounce Scheveningen with a proper Dutch “tongslag”. My parents who left Hulst in the 1920s (I learned Dutch from them) dropped the last syllable. We said “Schevening”. I didn’t know the correct spelling till I visited the place. Now I wonder if “Schevening” is a local or maybe an old fashioned pronunciation. Anyone know?