The Dark Side of Living in The Netherlands

If learning the language of the country you move to is a "dark side" of that country for you, you shouldn't move out of your country at all. Of course you need to learn enough of the language to be a functioning adult in that country!

I can't stand how Americans and other English speaking countries just expect everyone else to speak English too and tend to get upset when they realize there are other languages out there. Learn at least some of the language not just out of necessity but as a courtesy to the native people as well.

The fact that this list doesn’t have any real problems on it makes me want to move even more

Here is the real list, from a foreigner, a Spanish speaker, living in the Netherlands: - Rents too high (buying surprisingly not so much) - Healthcare has good quality, but it's difficult to get something investigated. They tend to disregard your problem saying it's probably nothing (you may pay 300 euros for going to the emergency room in the middle of the night, where the only thing they did was listening to you and then telling its probably nothing). - Weather sucks most of the time, even in the summer, but when it's sunny it is amazing. - Dutch food isn't the best and the majority of foreign food also suffers from this. I'm amazed that Uber eats options are so much in Cuba. Luckily there are some good options once you find them and you can always cook your own. - Taxes are very high. However, the country functions very well. Good things: - Dutch people are amazingly nice and welcoming (I love them). They are genuine and transparent, which sometimes can come across as rude to foreigners. But overall a good trait once you get used to it since it goes both ways, you can also be truly free to speak your mind. - Virtually everyone speaks good English, French and in some cases Spanish, which I love they make the effort. - It's a safe and peaceful place to live and they also don't care about looks or other superficial things. - The country works so well. Everything is so organized.

Being direct, honest and doing what you say are bad things now? The world has gone insane! 😂

I wouldn't translate "Afspraak is afspraak" "A meeting is a meeting" but rather "An agreement is an agreement" (Honor your agreement)

3:29 this is LITERALLY the main reason i want to move to the netherlands, because it isn't as stupidly car-centric as the usa. it feels like this guy is finding good things about the netherlands and trying to make them sound bad.

Is that the worst you got? To be honest I've heard all this before about Europe at large. Nothing that bad. Don't forget the taxes have two components, you get something in return for those taxes and second wages are adjusted to accommodate those taxes. Housing is legitimate but depending on where you are at in the US housing is insane here.

I totally disagree with the language part. Dutch people are excellent English speakers. This is the main reason why it's so difficult to learn Dutch. You just can't motivate yourself enough since literally everyone speaks perfect English starting from the young age. You won't have a situation when someone doesn't understand you. But if you do learn Dutch and you're trying to use it in conversations, people are more than happy to help you.

I'm a Brit living in the Netherlands for the best part of 25 years, I've lived in rural zeeland and now the port city of Rotterdam.... I'm afraid I don't recognise half of the comments made here... Yes the taxes are high and the Dutch pretty much play by the rules ( sometimes to the point of being blinkered) But the public transport system especially in the big cities is second to none,in fact in the city a car is a liability, the Netherlands is a very small country with a relatively large population and the majority of towns and cities were built so long ago there was no need for wide streets, and the houses were taxed on the width of the building ( so we have a lot of narrow, long and high buildings in the inner cities, this is not what the young countries with plenty of land are used to....as for the language issue,i know many people who live and work here from all over the world that don't speak Dutch but have English as a first or second language within any problems...( Don't forget there is a labour shortage like everywhere these days and people of all languages are welcome regardless) The health care system is extremely good and so are the labour and employment regulations and workers rights. The Dutch people are nothing like the way described as not easy to get into the circle of friends.....I have some of the closest friends I've ever had both in zeeland and Rotterdam, made just as if I had been in their lives for years and years....... So yes taxes are high,a car can be expensive in the big cities, housing is in a problem but it's being addressed with big building projects all over the country ( which in itself is problematic because of the lack of young people who want to work in the building trade, the good wages and well regulated workplace has attracted lots of East European builders have arrived and make a huge difference, however they also need to be housed which leaves less for the local people, add to that the people who need to be rehoused in order to demolish the older buildings and build new) Living and working here having no Dutch is not only possible but a good experience.....

As an introvert that likes cold weather and direct ppl living a high standard life, this is the perfect place for me ❤

How strange.... a Dutch speaking county mostly having signs in their native language. Oh well.

Although the myth of Dutch people speaking English at a very high level is still promoted, foreigners do not seem to grasp the reality of Dutch speaking Dutch. In the Netherlands Dutch is the first language and that's why signs are in Dutch. If you really expect that all Dutch people will switch to English the moment that they notice that you're not Dutch you will be disappointed. A lot of Dutch people will insist on speaking Dutch even though they are quite capable of speaking English, German or French. The general thought is that if you're not willing to learn some basic Dutch sentences, why should Dutch people go to through the trouble of switching to a foreign language in their own country? When you're in Rome, act like the Romans, when you're in the Netherlands, at least make an effort to speak Dutch. We do not expect you to speak fluent Dutch. We won't hold it against you if make mistakes. We will however ignore you if you can't be bothered to at least make en effort to learn some basic Dutch words sentences. What's difficult about: Hallo = Hello Tot Ziens = See you later Goedemorgen = Good morning Goede avond = Good evening Bedankt = Thanks Dank u = Thank you Sorry = Sorry Alstublieft = (if it pleases you) = Please

Hoped for some stronger reasons against my country. 1) It's not that expensive, yes taxes are high but you also get a lot in return if you have a low income. It's however difficult to live very extravagant. 2) The Dutch are the best non-native country at speaking English, you will be fine if you only speak English and within cities you can socialize with other expats. Learning Dutch does help of course. 3) Accommodation is fair, it's very difficult to find affordable housing. 4) its expensive to own a car, but the great thing you don't even have to because you can live with just a bike. Half of the people I know within a city do not even have a car and it saves them a few hundred bucks a month. 5) It is always difficult to make friends, Dutch are welcoming but you need to make the first step. They also don't look at you weird if you say I need friends, we understand. 6) The weather, fair. 7) Taxes are high, already mentioned in 1. Yes they are but they also pay for a high quality of living, healthcare, childcare, infrastructure, safety, job security etc. 8) And yes we are direct, but not rude! We like to help and try to give solid advice if you would come to this country and are running into some things. I add 9). Food, if you are a foodie you can of course go to restaurants etc. But it is not as a big thing as in other countries like France or Italy. Only point 3 and 6 are fair. Point 5 is more dependent on you as a person. Point 1 is fair if you want to be a millionaire, show of your Ferrari and expect some praise of how successful you are. We do not do that here.

Housing shortages have been in the Netherlands since the Second World War and never went away. Just a very small country with lots of people.

It's gets "cold" in the Netherlands. Have you been to Chicago? XD. I've been in the Netherlands for like 3.5 years and visited in the winter prior to living here, but it has never been Sub-Zero xD.

I would make it an international law, if you move to another country, you MUST learn their language to a reasonable level, within five years. I find it immensely ignorant when people move to another country and can barely speak the language even after 5 - 50 years. In addition, you must respect their culture and way of life, whilst keeping your own. Lastly, you must never make demands that suit your culture on your new country. As the saying goes, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.” If you don’t agree with any of the above, then stay in your country. End of.

Making friends in the Netherlands is still difficult when you're Dutch 💀. Especially if you live in a different region than the one you were born in (because the locals will notice, and will subtly let you know that they don't see you as 'one of them'- at least that's my experience as a Hollander living in Brabant). You have the best chance in a group where nobody knows each other yet, like in a first year's student class.

Except for the housing shortages this is basically every country

“It may take a while for the Dutch to include you into their inner circle.” Isn’t that anyone though? Sounds like a lovely place to me! The only pause I have is that it’s a “cold country” but I grew up in the Midwest so I don’t think it’d be too bothersome. The Netherlands is one of my top choices! ❤