At DutchReview, we like to celebrate all of the wonderful things that make the Netherlands great, but let’s be fair: there are some things the Netherlands just doesn’t have (but should).
If you’ve lived in Holland your whole life, you may not realise, for example, that there are real places in the world where the not-so-mythical sun actually shines. ☀️
However, we complain about the weather enough. Instead, let’s focus on some other vitally important things that the Netherlands doesn’t have.
1. Space and housing
Ok, so this one is quite simple. The Netherlands is small and has a lot of people. It would be nice to have a bit more space to put all these people.
It’s not as if we don’t have the technology. We’ve been making land out of water for hundreds of years. Why stop now?
READ MORE | Maps of the Netherlands: 9 maps to understand the Dutch landscape
A logical follow-up to the lack of space is the lack of houses (at least, that’s certainly what it feels like).
Ever tried finding a reasonable place to live in Amsterdam? It’s really super easy, as long as you don’t mind homelessness or crippling debt.
2. Good curtains
Although we love sneakily looking into people’s homes, we’ll never truly understand why the Dutch don’t have curtains. And it’s not just in the bedrooms that curtains (or the lack of them) can cause problems — it’s in every window! 🪟
READ MORE | Dutch Quirk #46: Never close their curtains
Have you ever tried one of those lovely summer evening strolls in the Netherlands? There you are, just strolling calmly along the sidewalk, and suddenly your gaze drifts to the right.
Next thing you know, you’re blank staring at the neighbouring family inside eating dinner. You quickly turn back before you’re caught creeping, hoping it was fast enough. What would they think if they saw you?
You know the Dutch, they’re not afraid to speak their minds. 📢
Good curtains are just something that the Netherlands doesn’t have, but definitely needs if we’re ever to avoid more such awkward encounters.
3. Delicious Dutch cuisine
Yes, Dutch food does exist, but is the cornucopia of fried snacks and glorified mashed potatoes really a claim to fame?
Wouldn’t it be nice if the Dutch had…good food to call their own?
It’s not as though there is a lack of ingredients. The Dutch are some of the world’s most renowned experts when it comes to growing with greenhouse technology. Not to mention they have no issue producing high-quality meat and fish.
Why then, have the Dutch settled for sticking a potato, a plain piece of meat, and some broccoli on a plate? Simply put, it seems the Dutch, on the whole, lack an appreciation for truly flavourful food. 🧆
To be fair, it’s not as though they have no tastebuds, and there are plenty of exceptions — but a love for food just isn’t as ingrained in the Dutch.
It’s not too strange to see a Dutchie bring their own sandwich to work (consisting of nothing but bread and cheese). 🥪
Have you ever seen a Frenchman do that? Or an Italian?
4. A good men’s football team
I’m super happy with the state of Dutch football. Well… the women’s team, that is. Nothing to complain about there. Let’s keep that up.
But when it comes to the men…well, let’s just say it seems that a good men’s football team is just another thing that the Netherlands doesn’t have. ⚽️
Though the men’s team have qualified for the 2026 FIFA world cup, the Dutch football women have historically done much better overall. Let’s not forget when a Dutch female player was named FIFA’s Best Women’s Goalkeeper in 2019.
I’m staying optimistic for this year, though!
5. Toilets with leg space
Why can’t the Dutch just put the toilet in a room where you aren’t resting your knees halfway up the wall in order to fit your legs?
Why even bother putting a toilet if you end up squatting on top of it anyway? And it’s not as though the Dutch are small people, either!
READ MORE | Why are there no public toilets in the Netherlands?
While there might not be leg room, this wonderful country definitely has room for improvement!
Is there anything else you think the Netherlands doesn’t have but should? Tell us in the comments below!
Correction…Article starts off with: “What the Netherlands Doesn’t Have: Good Curtains” . I believe it should be “Don’t” have…..would like to take it a step further and say “What the DUTCH Don’t have” 🙂 🙂
The Netherlands doesn’t, is correct. The Dutch don’t, is correct. The Netherlands is a country, The Dutch, is a collective noun.
What the Dutch don’t have is public toilets as far as I know.
When I lived in the Netherlands as a young boy, we did have curtains and they were not transparent. We lived in a town house and the bathroom was small, yes, but, there was leg room while perched on the toilet. Lol. The bath tub was a little round thing that a child could fit in but an adult could not. Oh, and the voetbal team, I was scouted by both the Olympic and National teams and old have played with them had I not immigrated to Canada. Oranje over alles. ?
I have a slightly different view of some of your points. Your issue with Dutch curtains brought a chuckle. You didn’t mention that not only do the Dutch not like curtains, they keep their windows sparkling clean (insult to injury, if your will). The flip side of that is that the Dutch really like to know what is happening out on the street. I only lived there 3 years, but that was my sense…seemed like a charming personality quirk at the time. As I recall, some households even install side mirrors outside their windows, so they can see what’s happening further down the street. If I somehow caught someone’s eye on the inside, since I was able to read their newspaper from the street, I would just wave and smile.
The food photo you chose was a little disgusting, but I like Dutch food. It has a simplicity that I feel reflects the beauty of the Dutch people. They make delicious soups. Boerenkool (notwithstanding your photo) is quite delicious and definitely falls into the category of comfort food. Whenever I wanted something spicy, there was always an Indonesian restaurant to go to. So, really, Dutch food contains both ends of the spectrum. I still miss the fried egg on my Nasi Goreng~!
Clifford
The mirrors outside the windows are to see who is ringing your door bell. Not to see who’s on the street.
some mountains here and there would be nice too 😀
Two words: A roof.
I find the issue of space flabbergasting. In the 1970’s when my family left for Canada, the government basically encouraged Dutch citizens to emigrate. You were given incentives to leave, and many of us did. Now when I visit the Netherlands I notice it has received a staggering influx of foreign settlers from 3rd world countries. If overpopulation was/is a problem, then why was this influx of immigration allowed to happen?
Oh gosh yes! Send all these “third world settlers” back to where they came from. Poverty, bad sanitation, low mortality rates – what’s not to like? Give us a break Sylvia, you were hardly pushed out of the country. Personally I think somewhere remote in Canada is probably the best place for you!
?? Well said Cathleen! Thankyou
NL is missing a good coffee culture. Just been to Prague where there’s great coffee everywhere, buzzy cafes even in obscure locations… back to Amsterdam where we have set up a great little place that’s largely being ignored by locals, who will all whinge when the tourists discover us!
Amazon. Where do you get your stuff!? How do you function! And stationary shops where you buy boxes and envelopes for posting stuff.
full sheet set, not just fitted sheet!
Ceiling fans. I can do without airco (truly unnecessary 98% of the time), but I really really wish ceiling fans were a thing here. Just think of how effective those little ventilation slots above the windows would be!!!
Would’ve thought a decent healthcare system would be number 1
Good customer service. Everybody here believes in work-life balance but if everyone has a life who tf is working?
I have lived in India and have friends all across the world but trust customer service is the worst here.
More non working holidays!😉
I always say if you don’t like it in Holland Leave!!!! But talk about the things you do like we have our way of living and we like it so why change for the ones who are criticizing?I lived all over the world and I came back for the medical part here is paid 100 % and in most places people can’t afford it . That’s very important
Agreed.
I often find these “articles” are just space fillers rehashing expat gripes in a “sassy” tone. Is the country perfect? Of course not! But really, what it needs it will get. If the Dutch have managed to build a freaking province, they could certainly get any of those items – IF they wanted them. They clearly don’t.
The only issue is density, and we’re part of the problem, so…
Author forgot to mention that service doesn’t exist at all here. Nobody cares about customers
Neospirin and sudafed.