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The Kerstgrotten in Valkenburg are AWESOME! Been there, done it and really enjoyed it.

Eet smakelijk!! En als de oliebollen afgekoeld zijn kunnen we prima heeeeeel kort even in de magnetron. The taai-taai and pepernoten are made with a hint of anise so yeah it should be a bit ‘droplike’. 😅I think after kruidnoten, taai-taai are the best Dutch holiday snack 🫣 And I would call the erwtensoep (or snert) texture call ‘starchy’? If you wanna try Dutch liquors/beers don’t forget about Beerenburg 😏

I completely agree with Tianna on most stuff (except the almond paste, I think it's very good) and I am Dutch myself. Taaitaai is the worst, I was force fed these things at school and never liked them. It was a tradition on my elementary school to decorate it by putting on some kind of sugary glue and then put smarties, sprinkles and other stuff on top and then eat them in class. I felt forced to eat them because everyone in my class did. And I don't know if it was my young age, but these things were huge. It traumatized me and turned me into the supervillain I am now. Just so horrible are those big "kruidnoten". I just threw them away, they are completely tasteless and hurt your teeth. I didn't like those chocolate frogs/mice either too much but these were atleast edible. Another problem was that I didn't like to eat from the floor, so those pepernoten (which I do like) and other candy that were thrown by the Pieten I didn't eat anyway. And yes, the classic pepernoten are still the best, the fancy ones with the chocolate are not that great. I also thought pepernoten and kruidnoten were the same tbh lol. Speculaas is very good. Advocaat is also pretty good but not to drink it without adding something or adding it to something. It's good to put it vanilla vla/yoghurt/desserts etc. Appleflaps are generally just sweet goodness (when fresh). Erwtensoep (pea soup) is fine but has a very thick texture you have to like (same texture as humus). In traditional erwtensoep you can literally stick your spoon in and it will stay in place. It's very good when it's cold and snowing and you want to warm up. Supermarket and market stall/restaurant erwtensoep are 2 different worlds. I can also see the christmas bread be too overpowering with different flavors. I like it, but I can see people not liking it.

Hey sweeties. LOL, you ate so much junk. To be honest, I like everything you ate [except the Erwtensoep... ewwwwww] hahahaah. Try Bruinebonensoep, it's better then Erwtensoep. But homemade is always the best option, from a can or sack is meh, not as good, like every other soup from a can or sack. Guess I'm old fashioned but hey, I'm an old grandma. *winks* Raun sounds as if he has the flu or a bad cold. Btw, Roggemeel is Rye, you also make bread with it, Rye bread. Ok, till next time! Hugs for Zola and the other kiddos

great video next time boeren jongens

Hi sweetpies! That is truly beautiful, what an island! I'm not the real vacation and traveling type, I'm more a hermit. I appreciate my own bed and home more then a far away country or even other city. When I was young we went campinh with my parents every year and I hated it. When I was older I went on a vacation to Blankenberge - Belgium [1978] and to Haifa - Israel for 3 months [1984] and a weekend to London - England [2011]. Those where the only real travels I made. Because I don't like to leave my house, I extra enjoy your video's of places you went to. So I still can see beautiful places. Have a good upcoming week and a hug for Zola!

I would be very annoyed when the waiter comes check me all the time. I love it that we get the time to enjoy our diner.

😂😂😂 ze houdt niet echt van een harinkje

AMERICANS ARE. UNBELIEVABLE SUPERFICIAL PEOPLE !!!!

We are not direct, we are honest , telling polite lies is considered rude here... nobody here will invite you, and not mean it, or ask you how are you and not mean it,..no lies. Wasting some ones time with empty blah blah is rude...Taxes? Go to a restaurant and ask for the bill.....the prices are what they are, the service gets paid by the restaurant, no tipping, no toll ways also...you pay more than we in taxes and extras, our taxes are used to keep the country above water, and electrified, even after a storm.. the usa is without power after every storm. Or floods.

You can en ensure your dental too... healthcare was privatised and since that time it got expensive and we now have to waiting lists...

We have like 18 million people we are not that small, we are the second biggest country as a food producer in the world, after the USA, so economically we are not small at all.. we are 1/4, of Russia economically... Scandinavia is way richer than the Netherlands..

Well the former usa is at its end now, it is 1933 over there... Liberal is a code word for conservative here.. Americans are so into prostitution and drugs... Dutch are not, it is an Amsterdam slums thing, and it is regulated to stop excesses..

Hi sweeties! Pfiewwww, I'm really happy you knew how to escape Alcatraz! Nice building though, could be a great hotel hahahaha. Can't wait to see more of your vacation. Bu bye and a hug for Zola

Adorable 🧡🎃🧡

Hey sweeties, That was so much fun! I loved all the pumpkins but yeah, the one with Zola in it was the cutest. I think the inside of a pumpkin, like those ones, is so gross! I only eat and prepare the ones whom look like a bottle. Men, she is getting big! Haven't seen her in a while and she got so big! Do you miss the whole USA Halloween scenery and festivities? I mean, here there is almost nothing to do, even though in some cities it's starting to come up a bit more. Well, till next time and a hug for Zola and the other two sweeties. OH!! And your Dutch is getting so good!!

You really have to stop thinking about influencers and start thinking for yourself.... Influencers make money from their advice and it's merely a consequence of the American consumption society and economy and the use of your credit card. You do not gain IQ by being famous and recognized. Sadly, without it, that economy cannot function. Basically, get down to earth and start being Dutch. Save first, then buy. Think first and then buy. And if you don't see the use of it, don't buy. Don't be so influenceable to begin with. Clothing, the first year you get so many "presents" and after that, be Dutch and buy on sale. Just because you have the option to spend, doesn't mean you have to. You not need help all the time for the basic of things or ask Siri for guidance and the manual. Your video is all about American perception that there is, or needs, to be an aid for all itches in life. And you do not need 2-3 versions of everything, one to go left and one to go right. As and American you must realize by now you only need one urgently for going backwards, without really understanding what's left and right to begin with (if you get the innuendo). Hope you get de-Americanized soon... And "tummy time" is just hilarious. As if we all have a weak neck for generations. It's the same as a fur baby and that everything all of a sudden is AI.

Hey sweeties!! Long time no seen, missed you. While watching the video I was like "wow, I'm really lucky that my three kids survived without all that stuff" whahaahaha. And that nose sucking thing, I mean... what? Never heard of it. I really wonder if my kids used all that stuff for their kids LOL. Well, till next time, I hope it won't take this long and a hug for Zola!! 😉

Our son (16) is 1,85 m. He is already taller than his dad (59), who is 1,83 m

Most of the taxes are going to causes that are not visible, unless you look closely of are directly involved with it. But indirecty, there are effects that you may notice. Or not, because they are taken for granted. But nothing happens by itself! If you are really (really really really) interested, and superfluent in reading Dutch, and bored enough, you can read the so called "circulaires" from the government. It's basically the document where the budget is being published. You can e.g. see, that the government has budgetted € 55 million to deal with homelessness. We do have (to many) homeless people, but how many do you see on the streets? The homeless people are profiting directly form it, but society in general is benefitting, because we don't have our parks and streets packed with tents.

You should move to Limburg, we don't have that "hard" G. Probably easier to pronounce for americans.

The Netherlands used to be a liberal country. But the liberals translated liberalism into "Anything goes, as long as your not a Dutch citizen." That's why a lot of Dutch citizens decided that the conservatives are better for the Dutch because they support the Dutch more than any foreigner who abuses our healthcare system and social welfare system.

Taxes: well, suppose Raun gets fired, or gets injured in a way he cannot work anymore. And probably without taxes, there would be several yards of water in your home. And yes, there is also some redistribution of wealth, so hardly any homeless people pulling a knife on you.

Waiting lists for healthcare: often not necessary!!! Your GP just refers you to the nearest hospital that is in contract with your insurance. But almost every hospital in the Netherlands will in contract. Call your insurance company. They are required to check on heath care delivery and thus will know which hospital is running at (or over) max capacity and which hospitals are not. Most likely you can get your scan in weeks rather then months within an hour travel.

It's blasphemy to put ANYTHING on top of a stroopwafel.😢

Hey sweety. Welcome to my hometown, born and raised. All the Stroopwafel stores in downtown Amsterdam are way to expensive tourist traps. The ultimate best Stroopwafel, they make it the moment you ask for it, is at the Albert Cuyp market.... Try them next time. What was Zola eating? Lange vingers? Soepstengels? She seems to like them. :) Greetings from grandma Yolanda and a hug for Zola.

Eet smakelijk! And I agree… to me stroopwafels with ‘toppings’ are like pizza with pineapple. The best stroopwafels in Amsterdam are definitely sold and fresh made without add-ons at the Albert Cuyp market 😊

No, just like pizza nothing beats the freshly made original.

The thing about prostitution and drugs is that when you normalize it you can control it better. Languages? We are the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and mind the s. Dutch is our lingua franca, but we have Frisian with their language and limburg was also a seperate state back in the day.

(Around 14 minutes in) You talk about wether or not to go back to work, but that it would not make sense because you would have to pay more stuff yourselves. A lot of people feel the same way. Guess why the taxes are high.

Hi there, my opinion about the health insurance and the way how and why the doctors and hospitals work like that have his reasons and to be honest is complicated and a lot to explain but how longer you will be living in the Netherlands how better you will going to understand the system and appreciate so my advice is give it a few more years and experience it better and you will have a way different opinion on it a 100% with in the year you will be managing, understanding it and changing your health insurance package way better then now 😉 nice and very interesting video bye the way.

Roads are exelent, streets are very clean, education is really on a high level, there is a lot of police, the prices in the stores are included tax, social care....if you haven't got a job you are not homeless so there are a lot of things where the taxes go, road tax doesn't cover all the road work that is where your tax money will go to

Taxes go to everything. Military. Cities. Energy. Dikes. Environment stuff. Unemployment. Nature. TV. Museums. Judiciary. Schools. Police/Firemen. Archaeology. Immigrants. Civil servants. Covid help. Rent and health care allowances. Etc. etc. It's a really long list.

Try asking why in Amerika you pay alot more and not get anything back for it. Want nice things you need money to pay it.

There is a different way every city works with waste. Some want all split, but now more are going combined again and sllit after collecting. This because there are always people not "that good" at splitting their waste. But in the end all will get split.

😂😂Americans have been lied to about their history since childhood, America is great, superior🤡. Those times are long gone, Americans who come to Europe will open a new world for them.The American government projects their shortcomings onto other countries, that's what they tell their people.But that's the world upside down, Americans are also brainwashed in this way and often don't know it

Health insurance is between 130 and 150 euro's for Dutch people. Extended insurance I have with dental is 175 euros that covers everything hospital, doctor, specialist, ambulance, dentist. That is pretty affordable. This health insurance would be much higher if you would not pay taxes. Same goes for road taxes would also be much higher and public transport would be more expensive. You talk about Amsterdam so I assume you live there. Amsterdam is one of the most expensive cities in The Netherlands. You can t compare rent in Amsterdam to the rest of the country as the rest of the country thinks rent prices in Amsterdam are ridiculous. A lot of other stuff in Amsterdam is priced much higher than the rest of the country as well. Foreign investors buy houses in Amsterdam because they can make profit of them. Problem is the house prices keep going up in Amsterdam because of it. I live in a smaller town my rent was 340 euro's for years. I moved recently and now my rent is 700 euro's. No one in my area would go live in Amsterdam because of the ridiculous prices of everything. What some people do is go live in a cheaper town nearby Amsterdam so they can still enjoy Amsterdam but dont pay Amsterdam prices. Buncharted, Soul to Soul travels, Nate and Katrina and Dutch Americano all are all Americans who make TH-cam video about the Netherlands. What things cost, where to go, what to eat, and more.

The prices of houses depends on the area where you live. In the big cities houses are more expensive then in the country. In the north of the Netherlands like Groningen the prices of houses are lower then in the rest of the country. And as someone already said Amsterdam is not representive for the rest of the Netherlands. People focus way too much on Amsterdam as how we, the Dutch, live and that is the biggest misconception of all time. Soft drugs like weed is regulated and tolerated but that doesn't mean that many of us take that. Likewise with prostitution. It is now seen as a regular job and persons working in this industry pay regular taxes and have worker rights unlike before. As a tourist it seems we have universal health care as you have to pay a fraction to nothing of what you have to pay in the US but as a Dutch citizen you still pay health insurance like in the US only for a procedure or hospital stay you don't have to pay thousands of Euro's extra like in the US what can leed to bankruptcy. Another difference is that our health insurance isn't linked to a job, so no matter if and what kind of job you have and do you have a health insurance with one of the may health insurance companies we have. And btw the Netherlands isn't part of scandinavia. Each country in Europe has their own system for health care, childcare and so on.

Napoleon salmiak candy 😍

Your video is so to the point. Thank you for that. I hope many Americans watch it and get struck by reality. Doubt that though. Lol. The Americans are totally confused what is left and right and anything in between. No clue what is socialism, communism or a social welfare state. For them it is all the enemy and insist to see their Capitalistic 1% society is a Democracy somehow. Even worse as an example to everyone else. We continue to have a good laugh about that. Go anywhere, any city in the US and there are streets full of women, which you cannot find anywhere in The Netherlands. The prevalence (per 10,000 population) in the US is 31 and in the Netherlands its 15. We have less than half, even with European open borders. Think about that for a change. Multiply that with having 18 million citizens in the Netherlands and 340 million in the US and you should be terrified... Not to mention that we hardly have a drug problem or Dutch use it, where in the US, the doctors are the biggest suppliers. All lawfully moreover. It is a tourist thing but moreover solely American perception that think they life is a movie of some kind, an American movie that is... nothing close to reality and that they are the ones everybody is watching and are the good guys somehow. Talk about indoctrination. The number of users is the US is 107 million (Daly 6.7) compared to The Netherlands 158,000 (Daly 1.6) and those numbers are not inclusive of those on medical prescription which is the biggest problem in reality. It nothing more than American perception. I mean, we still consider clows as pleasant... and our 50y old houses do not have ghosts in it, not even the 600y old ones and we do not have things from outer space flying over either. We do not see MGM or Universal as a news channel. The rental prices are mostly controlled in the Netherlands and not offer and demand. And food, we do not copy of other cultures and create a mediocre version ourselves that we can call our own but actually bring in the cook(s) as well to keep it original. American perception is that, because we do not copy, we also have no culture while in the US, everything is just a copy of the same, processed and drowned with everything from a bottle, full of MSG, sugar and hormones but nothing is original. Fantastic, big, beautiful kitchens, straight out of a magazine, showroom models, but just for Pizza Fridays and Taco Tuesdays... oh, and cookies made from a prepacked kit with a manual included. In reality, the US had 0 food culture. And fast-food is not defined as a restaurant in the Netherlands but rated for the crap it is. Real restaurants here, sell culture, not rubbish. All countries, all of them, in Europe have a very long history and culture of their own. Not the East is British and the rest are pioneers to end up in the Spanish West. Your culture consists mainly in movies and are overexposed for sure... Healthcare is a right in the Netherlands. Yes, your basics, you pay more. The system needs to work and be paid for. But wait till you have a minor BooBoo in the US and end up with a $25,000 bill, same as a basic thing as giving birth. And yes, dentistry is expensive because it is considered cosmetic most of the time and not a necessity. We don't all walk around with bright white teeth and smile like a horse, we have mostly the noses we were born with and our eyelashes and hair (or the lack of it), is real. Not to mention the silicone airbags and botox kisses. The medical system is not private but government controlled. It is not money making business like the US but based on the (immediate) need and Kardashian expectations. That simply means that you have to wait because people that actually need healthcare, get priority, not the one with the credit card that binge watch reality TV. And we do not take someone to the doctor for a cold either. Everything, you have to consult your GP first. And (s)he will send you home with the advice to take 2 paracetamols and sleep it off and not refer you to a hospital, occupying and taking time away from the people that really need it. We are not a consumption society where everything got counselling and a pill to pop for it. The Netherlands is the port of Europe and provides most of the rest of mainland Europe, not withstanding that we are big producers in meats, flowers and agriculture as well. Hence the trucks. Dutch directness is just being to the point, no fuss, no flowery talk, just be normal. No need to blow up your ego whatsoever and after work we are all equal. Americans do not understand our taxes. Or appreciate the use of it. You pay for sure more here (and we don't like it either) because you get so much in return. Hence the bad state of your country. You bluntly say you pay 50% taxes and that is just calculating with a flat rate. Calculate properly and you will realize even when the flat rate is 50% you end up with paying less than 35% because of the franchise, deductibles and a much lower taxable amount than your gross income. Now compare that to the US and we hardly pay more. In reality, in the US you got almost nothing in return from your tax and it's used to fight people with a different opinion at the other side of the world and to create and maintain the big companies' market position with an almost not existent corporate rate which, if you think of it, is nothing more than unfair competition and market distortion. Thank you so much for your video. Finally an American that says it how it is.

I think that comparences should not be made on specific subjects, but spendeble income in general. How much money you monthly have after all regular costs are deducted like taxes, healrthcare, rent, insurences, internet, phone etc. Than the differenced between the usa and rhe netherlands are much smaler than seen on first glance.

If you cannot find a gp, ask your health insurance if they can help out finding one who is accepting new clients.

Foreign people should learn, that The Netherlands isn't just Amsterdam.

Agreed. Is why we came back to US last month. :) 😂

And we don't live in windmills and always wear wooden shoes. *winks* Nice to hear your viewpoints about my country. :) Have a great week and a hug for Zola.

Thanks Tianna, great clarification of things in NL, this was a short but true vision.

Well, on the whole they are just that. ....... American misconceptions.

Left wing parties are the most conservative because they like Islam and Islamists are conservative. The PVV wants the best for the Dutch people and they don't want too much refugees which cost 91000 euro a year if they stay in a hotel. And a lot of women are forced to work in prostitution, it's not a nice thing.

Hey sweeties. OMGosh, did you see how Zola was almost hypnotized at the Ravelein show with the dragons and knights? She was REALLY watching it. I'm NOT a thrill seeker so all those 8banen are not my thing. I go for the easy going things and of course the fairytale forest. I'm glad you had an awesome day at the Efteling! Till next time and a hug for Zola. :)

I was there last monday.