“So, this is the room!” The agent stands awkwardly underneath a sloped ceiling, making way for you to step into the 6m2 space. You stand nose-to-nose with them while you discuss the price.
“And it’s…€750 per month.” They say with a very faint smile.
They know it’s bad. You know it’s bad. But it’s probably the best you’re going to get in the current market.
Why? Because Dutch landlords are embracing the current housing crisis with open, welcoming arms.
What is it?
Unfortunately, this phenomenon is very well known in the Netherlands.
If it’s got four rickety walls and enough room to squeeze a single bed into, you can expect to pay hundreds of euros in rent per month to your landlord. We mean it.
Does it have insulation? You are one lucky duck! (That’ll be €400 extra.)
Why do they do it?
With a shortage of housing and plenty of desperate people in a concentrated area looking to find somewhere to live, Dutch landlords have no problem asking a ridiculous amount of money for you to live in a glorified broom closet.
After all, the demand is there. Why not fund a lavish lifestyle at your expense? You’re lucky to have a roof over your head — now cough it all up.
Why is it quirky?
In this case, it’s not so much quirky as it is downright extortionate.
Regardless of how we describe it, the Dutch are especially good at making use of a crisis when they can.
Would an Italian landlord dare to rent an old storage space to you for €800 per month? We’d like to think not.
Should you join in?
If, by the grace of Gouda, you somehow manage to become a homeowner in the Netherlands with the opportunity to rent to someone, we would like to ask that if you do rent out your broom closet, at least make sure it has insulation.
Oh, and maybe don’t charge half our income for it.
What do you think of this Dutch quirk? Have you experienced it? Tell us in the comments below!
In Amsterdam, one landlord’s attempt to handpick tenants has backfired hard. He’s now facing a €10,000 fine after insisting he would only rent to “Dutch working women”.
The trouble began when a rejected male applicant filed a complaint, prompting the municipality to investigate.
Discrimination might turn into a costly lesson
The municipality has issued an intention to impose both an order subject to penalty and a fine, reports De Telegraaf.
If the landlord cannot refute the accusation or change his behaviour, he faces a €10,000 fine. For now, he still has the opportunity to submit his own statement before the decision becomes final.
Amsterdam alderwoman Zita Pels made it clear that this kind of selective renting is not accepted in the city.
Standing firm in a municipality press release, she says, “Whether it concerns discrimination based on skin colour, religion, sexual orientation, or gender, it’s all prohibited. We will always try to take action against this kind of behaviour.”
A warning to all landlords
Tenants are encouraged to report unfair practices through Amsterdam’s special reporting point in the municipality.
As Pels states: “Reporting is helpful, both for yourself and for others who are affected. That’s why we’re calling on Amsterdam residents to report any discrimination they experience from a landlord.”
Yeah, you read that right. Creative TikTok users are making thirst traps of politicians from the Netherlands, with former prime minister, Mark Rutte, being the star of the show. Naturally, we had to compile some of these gems, for educational purposes.
For those of you (millennials) who are unfamiliar with the terms “thirst trap” and “TikTok,” allow me (a Gen-Z) to explain.
You can think of a “thirst trap” as a creative choice whereby footage of the subject is edited to make it “sexy.” This is usually done by slowing down the video clip and adding some come-hither music. TikTok is where it’s all at.
But enough explanation — let’s just show you.
Jetten takes tiktok
Fresh meat incoming! Rob Jetten’s recent groundbreaking election as the first openly gay man to the position of prime minister is a point of pride (wink wink) for many Dutchies.
But let’s be honest, he also just looks good up there!
Yup, that’s right: Daddy de Jo — I mean former Minister for Health, Hugo de Jonge. To be fair, when he tweeted those vaccination openings back during the pandemic, it was just: 😘.
Undeniably, the internet is excited for them. So cute!
@drinksforgayz 🎉 Exciting times in the Netherlands! Meet Rob Jetten, their new Prime Minister and his fiancé Nicolas Keenan from Argentina! 🇳🇱❤️🇦🇷 Just like The Queen Máxima, who brings her Argentinian charm to the royal family, Rob and Nicolas are a beautiful blend of cultures! Let’s celebrate democracy, love and unity in their kingdom! ✨🌈 #gay#gayboy#foryou#fyp#memes♬ original sound – Drinksforgayz
Safe to say, everyone will tune in for the wedding photos of these two.
Which light festivals in the Netherlands are happening, and where and when? (let us enLIGHTEN you).
More often than not, when it gets to wintertime, we tend to stay indoors. In the mornings, we cling to our beds, desperately grappling for a few extra minutes of sleep.
In the evenings, we might stay out late in a cosy bar or a cinema somewhere (or curl up in the foetal position next to the fire), but did you know you could be spending some of the country’s darkest months wandering the streets of a brilliantly illuminated city?
Amsterdam Light Festival
When: November 27, 2025 — January 18, 2026
Every December, the capital city comes alive in an eruption of light and colour.
As if Dutch canals weren’t already beautiful enough, there are loads of light sculptures and installations to see.
You’ll always find some along the River Amstel and at the central Canal Ring, so a great way to experience the festival is by boat.
Tip: Remember to book in advance because this event gets super popular!
You can opt to have a guide or an audio tour as you cruise along if you like.
If you live here and have paddled down the canals plenty of times, then it’s probably best just to go for an evening cycle or a relaxed stroll.
You can get nice and close to all the artworks and at the same time be on the lookout for any events going on (there are some places — museums, theatres, restaurants and shops — that love to get involved).
It’s the perfect atmosphere for the festive season, but if you want to come after Christmas or New Year, the light party continues well into January. It’ll certainly cheer you up if you’re one for post-holiday blues.
Gouda bij Kaarslicht
When: December 12, 2025
Every year, the heart of Gouda switches off its electric lights and illuminates itself with hundreds of thousands of candles.
The programme will feature live music, community singing, and a Christmas story — so if you’re trying to get into the holiday spirit, you definitely want to give this a go!
De Lumineuze Nachten
When: December 6, 2025 — January 4, 2026
Set in the largest, most luxurious castle in the Netherlands — Kasteel de Haar — this promises to be an event full of magic and wonder!
The Lumineuze Nachten, or Luminous Nights, is a series of evening walks through the grounds and castle, featuring enchanting illuminations and historical stories.
Magical Maastricht
When: November 29 — December 30, 2025
Funfairs, festive food and fairy lights: what more could you want?
Magical Maastricht is a lovely light route which runs every December for the Christmas season, perfect timing for buying cute presents for someone you love.
Even if the ice rink, Ferris wheel and Santa’s Grotto in Vrijthof Square aren’t for you, you’ll certainly be lured in by a variety of bars and cafes.
Don’t forget to pass the market stalls on the way, though — you might see something you’d like to try (just imagine cradling that comforting hot chocolate or nibbling on a pastry as you gaze up at the surrounding luminescent trees 😍).
Whatever you do, be prepared to leave positively enchanted!
Trajectum Lumen Utrecht
From sunset until midnight every Saturday, you can follow a trail of light art through Utrecht’s historical city centre.
Since 2010, the Trajectum Lumen route has featured wicked light installations by distinguished national and international light artists.
If you follow the drop trail light on the ground, you’ll eventually see buildings and bridges lit up in cool and creative ways.
It might make you think differently about what you’d normally overlook — a basic brick wall or a dingy alleyway, for example.
Can you see it all in one night? Of course!
The entire walk can be done in about 1.5 hours, but if you want to take your time and maybe pop in a few bars en route, then it’ll obviously take longer.
Scheveningen Light Walk
When: November 22, 2025
This December, Scheveningen will come alive for thousands of walkers to follow a magical route through the city and beach.
Participants will be treated to captivating light displays, various musical acts, and seasonal refreshments.
You can register for routes of differing lengths (5 kilometres, 10 kilometres, or 15 kilometres), so there’s one for everyone!
After the walk, all participants will be invited to have a celebratory drink at De Pier. This also includes Pier Tasting, where a number of restaurants have their delicacies on offer!
Nederlands Ijsbeelden Festival
When: December 13, 2025 — March 8, 2026
This entrancing festival in Biddinghuizen features ice sculptures crafted by the best artists in the world!
The talented artists will translate this year’s theme of “An Undiscovered World” into ice sculptures over six metres high.
If you’re in the mood for a fabulous display of lights and artistry, you don’t want to miss out on this festival!
Have you been to any before? What did you think? Let us know in the comments section below!
Grab your wool scarves, put on your crunchy-leaf-stompers, fill your mugs with pumpkin spice lattes, and prepare your film cameras — it’s time to romanticise Amsterdam’s autumn season on TikTok. 🧶 🐿 🎃
“A picture speaks a thousand words”, they say, but what about a video? 📽
Enter, cinephiles: the filmmakers who have taken over this year’s DutchTok with their romantic depictions of autumn in Amsterdam.
Characterised by slow-motion videos with soft orange filters, melancholic music, and artistic imagery, these TikToks immortalise the (very rare) good autumn days. 🍂
1. Orange filters and Mazzy Star
Let’s start with the perfect example of what we mean by DutchTok’s romanticism of autumn.
Did someone say Gilmore Girl-ify your Amsterdam autumn? Sign me up! 🧤🌇🛍
5. Of course, our most beloved canals had to make an appearance
Did you really think this list could be complete without mentioning Amsterdam’s canals — one of the city’s most cherished and unmissable treasures? (I mean seriously, they’re everywhere.)
The pink fluffy clouds, glistening water beneath, and romantic sway of the boat fit right into the aesthetic. ☁️✨
6. POV you’re a bike on a chilly autumn evening
If bikes could speak, they would have immense attachment issues — we overuse them during the summer and spring, but forget about them during the autumn and winter. 🚲
With special appearances by: poffertjes (mini pancakes. And yes, they’re truly tiny), steamy dumplings that slip between chopsticks, and of course, the most tasty and cherished Dutch delight — the Febo wall food.
10. Reality check time!
As much as we hate to leave on a sad note, we need to face reality — the reality that Dutch weather just isn’t like most TikToks… ☔️
It might finally be time to dust off that sledge in the shed. According to meteorologist Andrej Flis, Europe (and the Netherlands as a result) could be in for a proper, old-school winter this year.
But before you dream of frozen canals, rosy cheeks, and maybe even a little Elfstedentocht(Eleven cities tour), just know that it’s not for certain.
What makes him think it will be really cold?
Flis points to a few major clues in the global weather system that indicate that this winter could be colder than usual.
The first is that the polar vortex (that swirling mass of icy air that normally stays parked above the North Pole) will be disrupted this year.
When this happens, it can send blasts of cold air much further south.
Then there is a La Niña coming. What’s this? It’s a cooling of the Pacific Ocean that tends to mess with weather patterns worldwide.
Based on historical weather patterns, Flis predicts that all these factors combined could lead to an extra nippy winter this year.
But before you start panic-buying thermal socks, Buienradar’s own meteorologist William Huizinga has a few words of caution.
Speaking with RTL, he says that the prediction “definitely makes sense” and praises its historical depth, but warns that seasonal forecasts are still, well, a bit of a gamble.
Not so accurate yet
He explains that “Minimal shifts in weather systems can have major consequences in Europe. So I don’t really dare to trust it completely.”
Still, there’s something exciting about the possibility, isn’t there?
Even if these forecasts are more of an educated guess than a guarantee, they’re part of the growing effort to understand long-term weather patterns better.
One day, seasonal predictions might be as reliable as your daily rain radar. Until then, we’ll just keep an extra scarf handy… and maybe start dreaming of skating on the canals again. ⛸️
Do you dream of a white Christmas, or are you more of a sun, beach, and tan kind of person? Tell us in the comments!
The Dutch have moved on from AI-generated actresses to AI-generated judges. The Regio Songfestival (Regional Song Festival) has unveiled a new judge — and they’re made of code.
You can think of The Regio Songfestival as a kind of Eurovision, but instead of countries putting forward performers, each of the Netherlands’ 13 broadcasting regions will have a contestant.
Usually, each region will also provide a judge for the festival, but this year, there will be a fourteenth judge: Robin.
Something new
Robin will be the song festival’s first non-binary AI-generated judge.
The NOS reports that, according to his creator, Arthur Marres, Robin provides “a modern twist without compromising the original format.”
Thanks to a new study, it looks like there may be a grain of truth to “Dutch courage” after all: a moderate amount of alcohol may actually improve your Dutch pronunciation.(If you’re German, that is!)
Dubbed the awards that honour “achievements so surprising thatthey make people LAUGH, then THINK”, the Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate quirky research, from how wombats poo in cubes to whether cats can be considered both a liquid and a solid.
But, wombats and cats aside, what’s the scoop on Dutch courage?
Drunk Germans, alcohol, and language research
The study was the brainchild of four university researchers: Maastricht’s Fritz Renner, Freiburg’s Jessica Werthmann, and Inge Kersbergen and Matt Field from the University of Liverpool.
Fifty native German speakers, who’d recently learnt some Dutch, were wrangled to be the study’s guinea pigs.
One lucky half was given a “low dose” of alcohol, and the other received a “control beverage” that contained no alcohol.
Once the respective groups had guzzled their drinks, each participant took part in a Dutch discussion with an experimenter. The audio recordings of these discussions were then judged by two native Dutch speakers.
The result? German participants who’d consumed some alcohol had significantly better ratings for their Dutch pronunciation.
So, will a beer help me speak vloeiend Nederlands?
Helaas, a few beers aren’t likely to make you a cunning linguist overnight if you’re starting from level zero.
Germans rejoice: you can flex your snazzy Dutch pronunciation skills on the rest of us at borrels. Image: Depositphotos
Based on the conclusion, the alcohol’s effects were primarily on pronunciation skills, and all the participants had some knowledge of Dutch beforehand.
So, if you haven’t got the vocabulary to back up your alcohol-enhanced Nederlands, you may be better off signing up for some Dutch classes rather than heading off to the nearest bar.
A tense standoff at Radboud University in Nijmegen came to an end early this morning after 23 pro-Palestinian activists were arrested.
The protest began yesterday afternoon, when demonstrators barricaded themselves inside a university facility to demand that Radboud cut ties with Israeli institutions.
Inside the high-stakes occupation
The facility allegedly housed superconducting magnets and cooling gases, equipment that police later said posed a serious safety hazard.
Both Nijmegen mayor Hubert Bruls and the police warned that the situation could have turned deadly.
As they explained to De Gelderlander, if the magnets had become unstable, they could have released nitrogen, which would have dangerously reduced the oxygen levels in the room.
Police hesitated to storm the building for hours out of fear that intervention could endanger both protesters and emergency responders.
In various posts on X, Jip Trommelen, reporter for De Gelderlander, captured some tense confrontations outside the building:
Situatie grimmig nu. Sympathisanten weigeren terug te stappen en worden daarop teruggeduwd. Vanuit gebouw klinkt geschreeuw #radboudpic.twitter.com/5lIkj9wED3
The Mobile Unit and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service (EOD) were deployed to the scene as a precaution.
According to the group Nijmegen Student Encampment, which claimed responsibility for the occupation, the activists had researched the safety aspects in advance and did not believe their actions put anyone at risk.
Police began dispersing parts of the demonstration during the evening, but the main occupation continued until after midnight.
Around 1:30 PM, the remaining protesters decided to leave voluntarily, after which all were taken into custody. As reported by De Gelderlander, authorities even struggled to find enough detention cells to accommodate the large number of arrestees.
It remains unclear whether those involved were students of Radboud University.
Do you think the protesters were right to barricade themselves inside the university, or is there a more peaceful way to deal with it? Tell us in the comments below.
We like to admire the Dutch for being smart, innovative, and even cute. But let’s be real, nobody’s perfect, and even the Dutchies can, in fact, be quite annoying.
As an international in the Netherlands, there are probably at least a dozen things that come to your mind already.
We put our heads together and asked for your help to compile the ultimate list of the most vervelende (annoying) things Dutch people do.
Disclaimer: Yes, we know — not EVERY Dutch person does these things. But we’ve seen them done more often than we would like, which is how they’ve all earned a well-deserved spot on this list. 😉
1. Always switch to English
As amazing as the Dutch’s ability to speak English is, it can sometimes make learning the local language an impossible endeavour. Why? As soon as a Dutchie hears a hint of a foreign accent, they will automatically switch to English.
Sometimes, you don’t even have to open your mouth — they just see your face (or height, in my case) and resort to English straight away.
Think learning Dutch is easy? Try having a conversation with native speakers, who switch to English almost immediately. Image: Freepik
There’s one thing we’ve gotta give them, though: if you explain to a Dutchie that you’d really like to master the guttural “g” and everything else that comes with speaking Dutch and ask them to practice with you, they will be more than happy to help out.
2. Split bills to the cent & send Tikkies for everything
The Dutch stinginess, ehm… thriftiness is probably not a new concept to most, and we could ramble on forever about the downright stingy things Dutch people do.
However, this list of annoying things wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t mention the infamous Tikkie. And what’s more Dutch than Tikkie itself? Being Tikkied for literally every cent, no joke.
If you think we’re exaggerating, the stats don’t lie: 10,000 Tikkie payments for under €2 are made in the Netherlands every day!
3. Argue for discounts
If there’s one thing the Dutch love more than bicycles and bread for lunch, it’s discounts.
Nothing will separate a Dutchie from their discount. Image: Depositphotos
We’ve even heard stories of Dutchies asking for discounts because they didn’t use the mini sachet of mayo that came with their meals. 🤔 Now, THAT is frugality at its finest.
4. Use diseases for swearing
Has anyone ever called you “cancer”? You would think that it would be considered weird (not to mention extremely inappropriate) to swear with deadly diseases.
If you do find this odd, you probably haven’t been familiarised with Dutch swear words yet. A large percentage of these are, weirdly, made up of illnesses… cholera, typhus, plague, you name it.
Come on, folks, at least use a trigger warning (or use less emotionally charged bad language 😉).
5. Plan everything in advance
If you love going on spontaneous adventures or showing up at your friends’ place unannounced just to say hi, we suggest you move to a different country.
An empty agenda is unheard of in the Netherlands. Image: Depositphotos
See, the thing is, Dutch people don’t like surprises — and they love to plan stuff.
Life in the lowlands is dictated by the omnipresent Dutch agenda.
Want to grab a cup of coffee with a Dutch friend? Make sure you send a written inquiry a couple of weeks in advance so they can fit you into their tight schedule…just kidding — kind of.
(Warning: this habit is highly contagious.)
6. Invade other countries with their caravans in the summer
Have you ever arrived at a beautiful campsite (in or outside the Netherlands) just to see all the spots occupied by massive white caravan trailers that ruin all the views? That’s Dutch people on vacation.
We suspect that the reason they love them so much is the fact that camping holidays are extra goedkoop (cheap). 🤔
7. Put condiments on chips — not next to them
Whether you order your friet with mayo, pindasaus, or something else, the sauce will inevitably be placed on your chips. The result?
One-third of your chips are squishy and soaked in a sauce before you even start eating, and the rest of your cone is drier than a piece of a forgotten hunk of brood.
Dutchies will squish a blob of sauce on top of your chips even when they serve them in a little tray that has a separate compartment specifically designated for the sauce.
8. Say leuk, lekker, and gezellig all the time
Got a new pair of shoes? Leuk! They’re your favourite colour? Also leuk! And you got them at a discount? Superleuk!
You probably got the point — Dutchies are not very creative when it comes to adjectives.
It could almost be an awesome drinking game — down a shot of tequila every time you hear leuk and a shot of vodka every time you hear gezellig at a Dutch party…or maybe not.
However, Dutch is a difficult language to master, so perhaps this lack of diversity is not at all that bad.
9. Talk loudly, especially on trains
As if the guttural “g”, harsh “sch”, and impossible-to-pronounce “ui” weren’t distressing enough about life in the Netherlands, the Dutch also love to make these sounds very loudly for some reason, especially when they’re on a train.
While some say that this is a way for the Dutch to show that they’re not keeping secrets, others simply maintain that they love to talk — and more importantly, they love to hear themselves talk.
And the sanctity of the designated silent carriage? Well, it might as well not exist.
10. Turn streets into dumpsters on King’s Day, Carnival, or any other day, really
The Dutch sure know how to celebrate events such as King’s Day or Carnival.
What they apparently don’t know, though, is how to pick up the trash that they scatter around the streets during said events, and on the other 361 days of the year.
A familiar sight after King’s Day. Image: Depositphotos
One particularly appalling habit that many of our readers hold in contempt is dropping cigarette butts.
Put that together with spitting in the streets and picking the nose in public, and you have the ultimate trifecta of some of the grossest things Dutch people do.
11. Forget to pick up their dogs’ poo
Let’s start this one with a leaderboard, shall we?
The Hague: 1,373
Rotterdam: 1,234
Utrecht: 638
Tilburg: 520
Noordwijk: 473
This is the number of “dog fines” given out in each city from 2016 to 2020, according to research published on Beslist.nl.
Sure, not picking up dog poo is just one of the possible fines included in these dog fines stats — but it’s definitely an issue. Sixty percent of Dutch people still think dog poop is a problem in their neighbourhood.
Dog poo is quite an issue in the Netherlands. Image: Depositphotos
Imagine you’re out for a picturesque picnic wearing a cute little dress and nice open summer sandals, when suddenly you feel something warm and watery squish under your foot. Heel vervelend! 🤮
12. Go crazy with fireworks on New Year’s Eve
One of our readers called this phenomenon a “firework civil war”, and honestly, there’s probably no more appropriate name than this one.
The Dutch like to start the New Year with a bang — literally.
So it doesn’t really come as a surprise that fireworks (and their alternatives) are a hotly debated topic in the Netherlands.
The messy bundle of human beings you can observe when you’re trying to get on public transport, pay for your groceries at Albert Heijn, or just get on an escalator can’t even be described as a queue — it’s more of a hot mess.
Eager Amsterdammers trying to get on a ferry. Image: Depositphotos
A vivid scene from literally any Dutch train station perfectly captures the essence of this phenomenon.
Just watch as the desperate travellers form several clusters in places where they expect the train door to appear and then let a group of even more desperate travellers exit the train through an ever-narrowing gap.
14. Give unsolicited comments and then hide behind “Dutch directness”
Are the Dutch direct, rude, or just emotionless? The answer probably depends on your personal cultural background.
However, the Dutch can definitely take their directness a step too far. As one of our readers sensibly stated, “What’s the benefit of calling someone fat?”
The line between directness and being passive-aggressive or giving unsolicited advice is a fine one to walk.
To a soul uninitiated into the intricacies of the local culture, we understand that it can sometimes feel like the Dutch are overstepping some serious boundaries — and being more than a little annoying.
15. Insist on bread for lunch (and breakfast, and sometimes dinner)
The Dutch are just as creative with their lunch as they are with their adjectives.
This is exactly why you won’t find much more than boterhammen (sandwiches) — most likely with kaas (cheese) or hagelslag—in Dutch canteens.
A beloved Dutch classic. Image: Amin/Wikimedia Commons/CC4.0
I mean, how would you react if you were a seasoned almost-Nederlander cycling full speed on a path that is exclusively dedicated to fietsers having to manoeuvre around a group of five tourists with two big-ass suitcases each?
But then again, Fast & Furious-style cycling isn’t the only annoying thing about Dutchies and their bikes.
There’s also drunk cycling, cycling without lights, not indicating direction, or accidentally derailing other cyclists who are trying to overtake you because you’re looking at your phone instead of on the road. (No, this one is unfortunately not a made-up example, just to be dramatic…)
And then you also have those people who cycle in the worst possible weather — rain, hail, snow, or all three — and then shove it in everyone’s face, making them feel bad about not wanting to sit on a wet bicycle when it feels like the world outside is ending.
We can also understand this one, though, because cycling is just so much cheaper than using public transport!
17. …and even worse habits when it comes to parking bicycles
Bike parked where you need to walk on the street? Annoying. Is your bike parked in front of your front door? Annoying.
Bike crammed in next to your bike in an official bike parking spot, but making it a huge tangle of handlebars and pedals, so it’s practically impossible to unlock and use your beloved two-wheeler? Super annoying!
This sight is not for the faint-hearted. Image: Depositphotos
The unwritten and unspoken rule about parking bicycles in the Netherlands is this: if the gemeente doesn’t remove it, you can leave it pretty much anywhere.
There’s no such thing as “there’s no space to leave my bike here” — believe me, this mentality has really grown on us over the years.
The real badass people will even park their bikes right in front of a ‘Geen fietsen plaatsen’ (no bike parking) sign.
18. Complain about things, but then do nothing about them
Exhibit A: politics. Despite being one of the most politically stable countries in the world, we haven’t met a Dutchie yet who doesn’t love to complain about their politicians.
Yet somehow, the Dutch have managed to re-elect the very same prime minister that they like to complain about not once, not twice, not thrice — but FOUR times.
But maybe this Dutch habit is also changing. After all, they did eventually vote Rutte out of office. Not sure if they have less reason to complain now, though.
19. Don’t take criticism very well
While the Dutch will happily criticise other people (or countries) under the pretence of directness, they aren’t always necessarily so open to receiving criticism themselves.
Step one to pissing a Dutchies off: offer them the mildest form of criticism. Image: Depositphotos
Just think of how adamantly some Dutch people still defend Zwarte Piet as a harmless, jovial “tradition.”
Or how defensive they get when somebody else than a Dutchie (especially an American) dares criticise the Netherlands.
They also get offended when people point out some of the not-so-nice things they do. Disagree? Just scroll down to the bottom of this page (or this page) and look at the comments section a few weeks from now.
We’ve all been annoyed by Dutchies, and they have certainly been annoyed by us.
So next time you find yourself in one of these situations, just laugh it off andfind comfort in the knowledge that other internationals have probably been there too.
Or, if that doesn’t work, you’re welcome to vent in our comments section. After all, we always love to hear a good story from the lowlands.
What’s the most annoying thing YOU have experienced in the Netherlands? Let us know in the comments below! 👇
