👉 Join my Patreon community for exclusive content, resources, updates, and more: www.patreon.com/davidwen 🇳🇱🇺🇸 What are your thoughts on life in America vs. The Netherlands/Europe?
The older I get, the more I realise I would never, ever want to live in the US. It's a bit too: "You're on your own, except when you have a lot of money lol rofl good luck" for my liking.
I share similar sentiments. In my youth, I contemplated the possibility of relocating to the United States. However, as I have matured, the USA has become utterly unattractive.
@@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536I don't get the numerous amounts of Americans that are against other ways of living and feel the need to constantly berate European, for example being anti density, anti cyclists, anti tax, anti Vax, anti climate, etc. Obviously we have people like this everywhere but the proliferation of these ideologies in developed European countries is nowhere near to the extent it is in The US. I too like the idea of moving to The US and hustling in a big metropolitan area, but the more you think about how your life would actually be like, the more you resent that ideology and culture. I mean just look at American cities, the amount of noise, air, waste and light pollution is crazy, the lack of greenery, the unkept roads and infrastructure, the car dependency, the political turmoil, the obsorbirant healthcare and education costs, the segregation, profit motive has really infiltrated the fabric of American society for the worse in my view.
Exacly. But only if it adds to something not just for 'being innovative' That is wasted energy. Like they later talk about, everything in the Netherlands works..so we do something right. Don't charge if it isn't broken. And fix what needs to be fixed.
Agree! The US moves quickly with unvetted new ideas because it's a high stakes poker game kind of place. In America u can win big & lose big. In general the The Dutch like money but they don't worship it the way Americans do.
Netherlands and the whole of Europe is missing out on AI and cloud technology. The German car industry was caught off guard in electric vehicles. Europe is not that innovative. We are lagging behind. Our money is burnt in a hopeless war in Ukraine while we are paying the price of the boomerang sanctions on Russia.
Maybe not in his field of expertise, but the Netherlands overall is definitely one of the most innovative countries. regardless if you take (tech) inventions like the microscope, telescope, bluetooth, wifi, to concepts in fields like finance with the first in the world stock exchange, to embracing policies like the first in the world to have legalize sex marriage and these are just a few of many more. He might just not be aware of all this
The Dutch are not innovative? The SEALS are a Dutch invention, submarines are a Dutch invention, microscope is a Dutch invention, the telescope is a Dutch invention, the cassette tape is a Dutch invention, the Compact Disc is a Dutch invention (the hole is the size of a 10 cent Gulden coin), the DVD, the HD-DVD, the Blu-Ray, Bluetooth, WiFi. The list is endless with innovations. Heck, even the donut is Dutch and derived from Oliebollen. Pancakes are Dutch, too. So yeah, a big disagree on the fact that we are not innovative. Maybe not as much, but if we do, we make sure it sticks.
@nielsdebakker3283 Actually, someone from Tweakers made a brick keyboard once. Also, Philips was a big chip manufacturer and also produced top-class testing equipment for electronics. That is before Philips separated their chip division, which went on solo as NXP. Also... Edison might have invented the lightbulb, but Philips perfected it. Then, after dominating the light marked... Philips also shedded off that division. 🤦♂️ Honestly... Philips' their decisions make zero sense, but indeed, ASML is still key in all chip manufacturing worldwide.
@BrianFarro Disagree, as it predates the Netherlands before the Netherlands existed. Saint Nicolas of Myra (Santa Claus) was celebrated from at least the years 1000 onwards. However, many Catholic celebrations came to include "Barbaric" (Northern European Tribes) elements. The sleigh is a horse here, and the Norse god Odin rides over the rooftops on Sleipnir. The elves are not elves and also not saved black children from the slave market called Black Pete, but they are actually a devilish entity called Krampus. Which is named after its claws called in old German "Krampen," which is where the word "cramps" comes from when your muscles get so tight they feel like a claw is gripping them tight. So that isn't a Dutch invention. Donuts and pancakes are, though. 😁
@BrianFarro True, but it was not a Dutch invention per definition. You will find the Dutch have had far more influence in the USA than you are told. The English, with their hatred towards the Dutch, tried to wipe out most traces of influence.
Moral of the story: Most European countries, like the Netherlands, are made for the people. The US is made for companies, to work your ass off 247 (as an employee 40+ hours a week) whereas in the Netherlands most people don't work more than 36 hours a week, some even less. The US is gorgeous and has many possibilities, but are you willing to take that risk when you can have everything in the Netherlands with less work and more enjoyment? Because with 12 hours driving, you can be in Spain or Italy or whatever suits your needs. And as someone who has been born in the Netherlands and has seen a lot of countries my choice would be a country without much crime, good weather, no 247 work life, enjoy the day. So my preference would be Spain (southeast/south weather-wise) otherwise I would've chosen the Netherlands any day. Also, the government of the Netherlands is going downhill quickly, too many stupid things happen and they don't want to fix it.
I totally agree! That is basically the same reason I left the US. It's so toxic there, life is just.... for the lack of a better word, simple. The sense of communtiy, the genuine care of each other, the peacefulness. I love it here!
I came from another country to live in the Netherlands. Never experienced discrimination for being different from dutch people. I prefer to sit alone in bus or tram but that's because I am a bit broad in the shoulders. If somebody wants to sit next to me , he or she should be small because of space. I find the dutch way of life very relaxed, all the hustle and bustle is not nessesary, we are not so money driven and rather wait with buying than get into debt. So you see, like it here and will stay till the end.
More money would make me much happier because I would share it to save wild lands, endangered species, and many more organizations that get ignored. The voiceless, helpless and defenseless.
Haha yeah as I get older...I see a lot of people aging fast...and those who look good...I'm learning the importance of good sleep, nutrition, working out (especially strength training as we naturally lose muscle mass as we age), and quality relationships/social connection
This was one of my favorite interviews yet! I share a lot of similar views. I love your videos! I'm moving to The Netherlands next May and your videos always get me so excited to experience a different way of life from the US.
Excellent interview. So few channels about the Netherlands actually provide any nuance to the living situation, but your interviews generally do a nice job of presenting the grey areas of life.
Thank you Dave.... A compelling post. I love America as it is my birth country. At 60 years old, I grew up during a time (despite being raised in a lower middle-class home) where there was no explicit restrictions on what you could dream or strive to be. As an African American, I can speak from experience in saying 'Stop looking outward for validation from strangers/acquaintances. There will always be someone who may find a reason to not like you or not see your value. Know thy self and reinvest in the gifts/talents that make you unique, valuable, and peaceful.' @5:40 I struggled to watch this episode without pausing because I believe Mark reflects a recurring issue in America. All bad things that happen to African Americans IS NOT due to racism by the general public or law enforcement. Reflexively seeing all interactions with law enforcement through a lens of potential racism, impacts the actions of law enforcement AND those making the accusations. Nothing good will come from this. America (as a nation) originated from a concept of a 'melting pot' where through assimilation, the collective citizenry would be stronger, innovative, and successful. In order for America to work, you need citizens (want to be citizens) to be hungry for a better life, optimistic about the future, and prepared to invest in self. In 2024, A person talented, optimistic, and hungry for a better life DOES NOT have to come/live in America to have a chance of success and people around the globe are not picking the United States (for a variety of reasons). America is slowly being consumed from within because we have lost the ability to see recurring problems and discuss/address them with civility and honesty. We have devolved into name calling, accusations (based on feeling/less facts), and treating social media as an equal to formal education/training. In late 2026, I will spend half of my time in the Netherlands and hope to be a positive contributor (sober in mind and reality).
Wow, this is a very intelligent and insightful comment which I agree with a hundred percent. As a dual citizen, I vote in both country's elections and still hope for a positive outcome in the upcoming American election. Have a wonderful stay in the Netherlands, and if you haven't been already I would recommend visiting other cities that IMO are more beautiful and less crowdy than Amsterdam: Utrecht, Leiden, Breda, Den Bosch, Deventer, Hoorn, to name a few, and anywhere in the seaside provide of Zeeland.
You're welcome and thanks for sharing, Chris. Really insightful to hear another perspective too. Also nice to hear a bit more about you and your story too. 2026 will be here in no time
Chris, an important point is that there can be both systemic racism and a truth that not everything is affected by it. I have the privilege as a white American to know it's less likely the police will commit a crime against me or murder me, yet as a former soldier I know that they are a much greater threat to me based on past and recent history than the average citizen because they are always armed and never charged with murder and rarely charged with other crimes. Aside from the police, the US has much higher crime rates in general and much higher violent crime rates. So even taking race out of the discussion, there is much more risk in the US in regards to life, health, wellbeing, and other basic needs of life. Also if we don't hear from people like him in regards to other countries, we also won't know how it feels coming from that perspective that many people share. I appreciate your positivity, but I relate more to his perspective than yours.
@@vtxgenie1 I have the privilege as an African American with significant choices to live in nice areas on both coasts. At 60 years old, I have never been had a bad interaction with Law Enforcement. I keep my affairs in order so should I encounter an interaction with law enforcement my past does not raise initial concerns. My local law enforcement has been very responsive to concerns I have raised but never assume it will always be the case. As an African American (with resources) I am given the opportunity to see recidivism by White Americans in the form of entitlement and the expectation of ‘getting a pass’. Too often at my local pub, the owner has to chase down White patrons who attempt to dine and dash. When caught, the excuses flow like water down a river. I have found White Privilege is highly overstated and has dramatically diminished in value. Body cameras have gone a long way of exposing bad behavior by all and the myth of the ‘All American/Patriotic Citizen’ has been exposed. Law enforcement training over the last decade has helped officers understand implicit (favorable) bias and how it puts their lives at risk. Those accustomed to privilege (by default) are shocked when the expectation no longer exists. US crime (lack of) correlates highly with economic status (which makes sense). I enjoyed Mark’s message and will be spending 1/2 of my time in the Netherlands soon. I currently spend 10% of my time in Holland each year and have a strong grasp on the local culture/norms - eyes wide open. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
"The Dutch aren't that innovative" ... scuse me? well... maybe in our personal lives because it is true... if it ain't broke, don't fix it. but the Dutch in general are very innovative. We are ranked 7th on the GII for a reason.
Yea, the fact that the the Netherlands continues to exist at all is pure innovation. It's supposed to be underwater, the world can learn a lot from the Netherlands with the upcoming climate change. The Netherlands is also a much smaller country than the US, so not fair to compare in terms of total innovations.
@@Cergorach Compared to a country with 1/19th the population though ... Unless those numbers account for population, the Netherlands produces more innovations per capital. I mean I have no idea how that's calculated.
@@ThisIsSuperSelf That is just looking for excuses... What's the most innovative country in the world? Switzerland. Which has less then half the population of the Netherlands (or 1/40th of the US)... So it's not based on innovations per capita. We're just lazy Fs compared to the US! ;)
@@Cergorach That's interesting if that's the case, can't really blame it on a strong social safety net as Switzerland may have stronger programs than the Netherlands. Also, encouraging as well because people say that if that US spent more tax dollars helping it's citizens then we wouldn't be as innovative.
im dutch and living in the netherlands i can tell / guarantee you that your experience as a black guy here in the netherlands is the same as other black and white people here in the netherlands have , we dutchies dont give a flying f*ck about your skin color or you working / worked with celebrities , we just dont care about that kind of celebrity status , and as long as you are a good person and treat people right then we will treat you right
I'm Dutch, I'm white and I've grown up in that melting pot that's the Dutch school system. I can tell you from experience that there are always racist Dutch somewhere. And even if it's only one out of a hundred or thousand+ experiences having a different skin color in the Netherlands will get you some racist interactions somewhere in your life or you are living a very sheltered life. As a white person we'll never be discriminated to in that way, so we'll never experience that. Just the 'no one sitting beside Mark' comment in public transportation is just one example. Which by the way doesn't have to be related to skin color. Mark doesn't seem like a small guy, I'm not exactly small either (just in different dimensions ;) )... So two big guys sitting next to each other in anything besides first class NS is not a happy experience. In public transport I prefer to sit alone and often even prefer to stand over sitting next to someone else. I sit most of the day, so standing isn't that bad from my perspective. I can only say from a personal perspective, I don't give a flying F about someones skin color. I might have issues with things you do/behave. Example: I don't care that you're Turkish and have a certain color of skin, but I did not think it was a good or appropriate thing to slaughter the goat on the flat's balcony, I don't want my white neighbor doing that either... That's less about racism and more about a culture clash. And it's not about culture that much either, it's about a nuisance and the nuisances from other cultures just stand out more. If we're realistic white people often proof themselves WAY more of a nuisance then someone from another culture. A dark skinned person from America will probably have more of an issue being American then being dark skinned... A large portion of the Dutch population detests the 'American car-salesman' sales tactics, the pushy nature of the 'Hustle', being overly patriotic is also viewed pretty negatively, etc.
@@djTLMtvtwan is very White, and i can be wrong but his last name would implie from a rather afluent background. Twan probably doesn't have many Black friends getting stopped by Police more than him, or theater diferently in bars by the bouncer. Now ther is less racism, yet i now my White experience is a bit different then that of the morocan or black experiene. Ever worked in a calcenter? Never wondered why Mohamed call3d himself Klaas?
You foreigners put too much emphasis on fitting in and "doe maar normaal." There are enough people that stand out and probably have their own circles. When someone makes a suggestion about something that nobody ever thought about, there are enough instances where people will encourage them to figure it out. That may require more time because, in general, in Europe, it has to be near perfect, while in the US, it is fine once marketable.
Spot on! Precies dat... In America you work to consume, consume, consume. And to be able to consume you are always in a 'sales'-mode... I guess Mark is not yet ready to abandon this mindset although he has learned a lot.
You foreigners.... Ha... I am a strong believer of knowing history and the Netherlands/Amsterdam of 2024 was not always as bicycle centric as we see today. Strong leadership in the 70s decided the Netherlands could not thrive under a car-centric model and began the process of developing standards/best practices around roads and streets focused on humans and not cars. A ton of time/effort was invested developing the initial plan and making small refinements over time. The Netherlands has been a culture adverse to debt in personal and government levels and this is reflected in societal customs. In the United States, 'states rights' makes it incredibly difficult to develop a collective vision for how the government should serve the people and this is reflected in how poorly U.S. infrastructure is developed/maintained. Long-term infrastructure projects are rarely fully funded and best practices are rarely adopted across states. Billions of dollars are wasted as each state thinks it knows best and rehashes old failed ideas (repackaging these ideas as new). America operates on iterative design/development because 1) full project funding is rarely secured, 2) consensus building for the greater good is hard to come by in American culture.
@@chrispnw2547 No, government had to give in and discontinue it's plan to make the Netherlands car centric because all kind of protests and initiatives.
Great interview!!! ❤ Mark may well have saved his soul by leaving that fast paced hustlers life behind! Also very inspiring to hear him talk about how he adapted his brand to grow along the lines of his life here in the NL. More power to both you guys!
I don't sit next to anyone on the bus or train. Goes with a lot of my friends. Most of the bus/train trips are much less than 30-45 mins so it's comfortable to stand.
The Dutch will not sit next to anybody if there is a possibility not to. When all double seats are occupied by one, some will prefer to stand. If you want to sit, you have to choose. Even subconsious you will choose. Some will "choose" not to sit next to a black person. So its logical for a person coming from a place with much more racism, it might feel like racism. But its more likely for the same reason as someone would not prefer to sit next to the most beautiful girl in the bus. Maybe that actually is a form of racism. But is comes from not being comfortable be in the personal circle of a person not similar to you. And that can be on any aspect.
@TMonist yes I agree with you. Me myself as a black Dutch woman don't like to sit next to a person. It's nothing racist about it at all. Here in the Netherlands we will all sit where there no one are sitting FIRST and then when it the bus is getting crowded I would sit next to someone else.
I understand the guy's perspective, yet I don't think they're less innovative and/or more reluctant to innovate here in the Netherlands. I believe there may be a difference in focus though. In the US there appears to be a stronger focus on commercial Innovation while in north-west Europe the focus is more on functionality and efficiency of things and activities. It may be a slight difference, but noticeable. Mindset and drive all intertwined with the way society rolls and the way people get nurtured with what to prioritize in life and work.
e.g. Eindhoven Brainport... that's just ONE example! The NL is rich in innovation and innovators. The only problem is the Dutch government's "betuttlen".
@@brianquigley1940 Imo, if the interviewee were to describe what he means by "innovation" one would find that the word is being misused here. I think he means that the scramble to the top is so intense in the US that Americans are always on the lookout for different ways of getting there. It really is a dog eat dog world. Don't get left behind or you're in a trailer park, or on the streets, and using fentanyl. According to some media, Europe is being flooded with fentanyl but, if Europe stops drifting to the Right, and retains its socialist policies, we will, I hope, not go the way of the US.
@@gerrygallen5911 The US is not all "dog eat dog", not by a long shot. Did you know that the US is the most giving country in terms of charity in the world? All 50 states lack in social services, yet the public(!) make up for it in charity, either by gifting their time, money, services, or donations. The US has many problems, but it's not all doom and gloom. There are many positive aspects to the US. And just like everywhere else in the world it depends greatly on the people you mix with.
@brianquigley1940 The US is the "most" this and the "most" that. It's a notion Americans grow up with. The US is not the most giving, nor the second, nor the third... check the CAF statistics. Donations in the US are very much connected to tax deductions, which does not apply in most countries.
Depends, i guess in his line of work fitness, personal training and image building of celebrities, we aren't really a leading and innovative country. Our little country is more innovative in other more "pragmatic" matters, but that isn't his line of work.
@@arranchace1306 What do you mean? I mean in a way I understand- we are already the fittest people in Europe. There's no need to get crazy with specific methods, if you already have a good living pattern in regards to excercise (cycling is good enough for the basic health benefits we all should need) honestly, even the walkability adds to that.
He was talking about new concepts, a new fitness business etc. It's common knowledge it's much easier to get going and get funding to start a new company in the US.
@@mradventurer8104 yeah because giving the companies more and more power is innovative...? 🤡...common knowledge and assuming random shit aint the same thing mr Dunning Kruger. a fact means nothing unless they are rightly understood.
Sorry, but i dont want it on the American Way, we are the Netherlands, and we innovate in a good way, not on the American Way, he make people consume more than necessary, that is how a lot of Americans have credit debts. We only replace when repair is necessary, has nothing to do with innovation. When we repair, it is mostly with our own money, instead of creditcard debts. He realised that the Netherlands is an expensive country, people earn less than in the states, but he still wants that people buy everything what is new. I dont want that my country will have a large national debt, like the states. There is more crime in the states, because people have so much debts, that they can buy their food, and still want to consume. They want still believe in the American Dream, and that's is what it say's it is a Dream, nothing more and nothing less. He want to sell us the American Dream, but it is the American Hell for more than 90 % of the American People.
The problem with the united states was never guns. Its broken homes, specific drugs such as Fentanyl, Meth and heroin that are super popular there. I dont trust meth heads with firearms.
I am Dutch and I prefer many things here over the US but it is still true that innovation/starting a new business or concept is easier in the US. That has nothing to do with credit cards (unless credit cards are used to start businesses which is only partly true).
Thanks for sharing. I believe what Mark also meant was..."How can we learn from different cultures and perspectives on how to innovate?" I've researched a lot on innovation...and innovation often comes from combining different perspectives and making something "different." There's a lot we can learn from each other
That is also a very shortsighted view of what was said. We already have 'workaholics' in the Netherlands, it's just not the cultural norm. And let's be honest, the average Dutch person just isn't very 'ondernemend' en we have an issue we call 'vastroesten' in your place in the workforce. Many in the working class had parents that worked for others their whole lives and never owned their own home, we also never learn about that in school. So many never get outside that cycle because they are not culturally motivated to do so. Changing a little towards the 'American way' doesn't have to be so bad and I think we've done so over the last 40+ years. As long as it's a choice... We also have credit cards and we have the option to pay them completely off each month. So no interest fees and no building debt. And we've had debt before the general acceptance of credit cards in the Netherlands, be it mortgages or personal loans. Wehkamp mailorder that you paid off in 10+ months, etc. Even before CCs were introduced in the Netherlands, there was already a large portion of the Dutch that were having personal debt issues. Because there were no checks in place to see if people could actually pay off their debt structurally. That's why we have BKR and why things like phone subscriptions were added to BKR checks. The only thing Mark was 'selling' us, was personal wellness. THAT is also not for everyone, the great part of the Netherlands is that we can choose what we want to do. You can also just ignore this video or this comment... ;)
@@Cergorach Once we start changing to 'the american way' we'll lose everything that makes this country great ! . . . and we'll turn into the hideously overconsuming and hatefull country that is America. Alltough the Dutch were involved in the development of the kapitalist system , we've always had a healthy group of citizens that opposed excesses in that very system. Being down to earth and living a 'simple' maybe even boring live to some , is the core of wellness , security and stabilty that we all love. Greed , kapital and showing of only produces aversion , jealousy and hate.
If the American dream is such a dominant cultural meme, why is its social mobility index (ranks 27) even worse than that of a class society like the UK (ranks 21) and dismal compared to The Netherlands (ranks 6).
here we tend to avoid sitting next to anyone on the bus if we dont have to. thats a normal thing. unless you know the person anyone would rather sit by themselves.
@@hi.davidwen Your party made clear that one can just Be in The Netherlands; opposite to life in New York. You sit with him as a Dutch person could do being used Not keeping up with the Jones's. You've grown into the calmness of Dutch life. As a Dutch person I would choose for Spain to have more sun (and less people per square kilometres). Respect and friendliness have more weight in Holland than in America IMMO. 🤔✨😎
Another excellent podcast, David, appreciating too your added graphs of information. Mark Jenkins should give us all a break about who prefers to sit where on trains, which I ride all the time. And I've observed that, if given a choice, women often tend to take an empty seat next to another woman, maybe an older woman too, which is more an automatic reaction to personal comfort. I don't think it has much to do with skin colour. If someone's dressed in dark clothing and wearing a hoodie that may be a natural deterrant too. On the whole, the Netherlands is a basically tolerant culture, as Mark points out. As well as a work to live, not live to work, culture. And this he's no doubt finding nice to raise his family and retire in. I wish him the best of luck.
Thanks! Yeah I get your point. I also don't know what it's like to be Mark, but I do know many of us have these unconscious biases as humans. How we respond/react to people even if we are not aware of it. But I do agree on the whole, the Netherlands is quite tolerant.
I agree, as a woman I prefer sitting alone or next to another woman. I look for safety first and most of the time I check their facial expressions, not their skin color
The thing that attracts me the most to the Nertherlands is their cycling infrastructure and how common place for people to completely get around by cycling.
Dutch guy here: Nice video! One point I want to highlight is the entrepreneurship culture in the US; it is definitely harder to get something new going here. You can still do it but funds are not as easily available as in the US and you may have to finance more yourself (depending also on the type of business you are in of course). But the very driven entrepreneurs can still make it.
Thanks for sharing. I can understand that as well. I've found it very easy to practically "start" a business...but to maintain and grow it...yeah that's a different story (I guess entrepreneurship is hard anywhere though)
Welcome here in NL, we’re happy to have you. One thing I would ask everyone moving here is: think about how you can contribute to NL and our culture, beyond what it and we can do for you. I meet a lot of hyper individuality focused people that expat here and in large numbers that negatively affects our community oriented Northern European culture. Helps us keep NL NL
If he's looking for a relaxing life with the money he has earned over the past decades, then he can easily do that.. And yeah starting a business doing personal training he can do that too, not only in The Netherlands but over the entire European continent. But i have to agree with this fellow that we in The Netherlands and perhaps all over Europe need to take blunt risks in conducting ideas or innovations into real results.. We have a very established system where you don't have to worry about your personal well being like the healthcare system or welfare or any subsidized rights. I can see why Americans are way more prone to work as twice as hard not to fall behind due to the lack of these things. But Europe definitely needs to start innovating so Europe can be put back on the map again as a global influence then just the US and China.
Thanks for sharing...yeah I can understand what you mean. Even from my experience working here in HR and seeing how companies/employees work internally here...it's more relaxed here (vs. the US). I became more relaxed. Which is a good thing if one wants balance. But I do miss the drive and ambition of American work culture of achieving greatness. It can be too much of course. But I personally miss it at times (then again, I grew up in that system so it's very much in my DNA)
I don't think he fully grasps the Northern European attitude towards fitness. Why join a fitness club when you get your basic cardio from daily activities like biking to work?
Because biking everyday works out only certain parts of your body? I grew up on a cycle (This is the Dutch Way...) and even later in life I biked an hour+ each day with virtually no impact on my weight. I could probably kick you very hard, but it didn't do much for much else of my body. Not that I want to go to a gym or think it would help much, but there is more to 'fitness' then cycling.
On the topic of people not sitting next to you in the train -- just being large can do that. I'm a white native Dutchman and my seat is always empty until the tram/bus/train is completely full, simply because of my large size where people will not want to sit next to me. Given how fit Mark is I think that is a factor sooner than his skin colour.
I think US innovation is more customer facing (consumer goods), and that's where his perception of innovation comes from. Overall I do think that the US is slightly innovative though but not to the extent he perceived it IMHO
Hey David, great interview! Interesting to hear Mark's perspective and life history. Would love to sit down with him, and you as well haha, and shoot the breeze. As opposed to the bristling Dutch, I see Mark's point on innovation. We Dutch are not risk takers as the Americans. Sure there are innovations but they are usually funded through our educational system, subsidies or sheer necessity (water, agriculture). I don't think most commenters understand the depth of American hustle culture. Either way, glad to hear his and your thoughtful perspective and don't get the same old tired shit about the weather, a broodje kaas or our supposed inferior healthcare system. I work in an international environment, just for context.
Thanks for the thoughtful response 🙏 Mark teaches fitness classes all around Amsterdam..he’s also the type of guy who is always open to talking to people too!
As an 11-generation Dutch Jew living in Israel, I enjoy your perspective, which is only confirmed by many things Mark said. My kids grew up here but they're still very Dutch: honest, personal, principled, no money wolves, etc.
im gonna make a very typically Dutch direct statement: The very last thing, THE NUMBER ONE THING WE NEED THE LEAST is more people in this country that take the occupation of "coaching". We need medical employees, teachers, builders, IT specialists and the like.
@@chef7658 - as I write this comment I am aware that it's only my humble opinion, but based on what I do I believe and have observed I can add that we are currently flooded with IT specialists and infrastructuralists. We DO have a big lack of medical professionals, especially in the lower provinces. These are very needed, yes.
First of all, Awesome video! The innovation part I strongly disagree with. Netherlands always rank amongst the top of the world for innovation and digital competitiveness , but if you just live your daily life you just don't realize it due to the "doe normaal" culture. Dutch aren't against trying new ideas, but as said, they want to see the synergy first, understand the logic of the pitched idea rather than just winging it because it's possible. It has to make sense.
The Netherlands have been falling behind innovation wise the last decade though. Governments that cut down on education funding and don't want to invest that much in science don't help.
@@ffqmEducation spending has been on the increase since 2000 (19,8 billion, 4,8% of GDP) to 2022 (58 billion, 5,6% of GDP) according to the Ministry of Education website. And according to the Rathenau Institute we are between Finland, Austria and Denmark (above) and Norway, Sweden and France (below), but above the US with direct R&D government subsidy for science and innovation (data from Eurostat). In 2024 The Netherlands is one of the four innovation leaders and ranked number 9 (last year 5th) according to The European Innovation Scoreboard. It is not all dismal like leftwing parties wanna make us believe.
I think it is not a difference in innovation. We have a very good trackrecord on successful innovation. There is however a difference in risk apetite which we also see in social context not just business.The Dutch mitigating social risks that the American gamble on. Like guns and health insurance. The whole basis of the American dream is in essence working hard to win the lottery. While it is more Dutch to state that some things aren't worth the gamble. Resulting in less payout when you win the lottery, but with an higher average of stable day to day live.
Thanks for sharing this. Makes sense. In America, it's big risk...big reward. But also big downfall too. Exactly like a lottery. There are people who like that game...and many who don't. If you have an entrepreneurial mindset and want to do big things in life/the world...America can be great for that.
@@hi.davidwen Mental health is a recurring topic in your videos; the risk, and the stress that goes allong with it, is felt mostly by people with a lower income. Johnny Harris posted an, I think, interesting story which you might find interesting aswell. While in the Netherlands it is sort of the same story, as is with every capitalist country, I expect the gap to be smaller here. But we need a statistic based Dutch equivalent of Johnnys story for that, to be sure. th-cam.com/video/NfMdvee5HoY/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared
9:00 Mark Jenkins is misreading the Dutch when he says they are racist. The "what are you doing here" questioning look is cast on whoever you are, even white guys whoa are not from the neighborhood. It's a cultural thing. And most people forget that there is a class structure based on how much money you have. Most Dutch people are the opposite of racist. That's not to say that racism doesn't exist in the NL, it does.
Thanks for sharing. Just want to note that Mark never said the Dutch are racist (though he did say he feels a lot of racism in the US). We cannot say Mark misread anything because we are not him. It's his experience. But the fact is...unconscious bias is everywhere in society. We are all biased in some way whether we know it or not
I noticed the Netherlands is very segregated. This is why these problems exist here. As a black woman, whenever I walk in the city center in Utrecht, I feel very uncomfortable and out of place.
@smithhbea And, sadly, it's getting worse. And it goes both ways. One weird thing I've started to see that makes me cringe is women walking ten paces behind their men. During my first stint in the NL in Amsterdam in the 80s, I had lots of friends from the middle east. A couple years ago, I remarked to my girlfriend (this was in Hilversum) that there seemed to be a lot more moslims than in the 80s. She told me I was being racist! It still shocks me today to know that women are being segregated from men in the NL, sometimes in their own home! I was raised as a child in Ireland, experienced racism for being Irish as a teen in the 70s. My second best friend was from Pakistan. I used to shop in Uxbridge in "little India" and then have a great curry for dinner. I had a Jamaican girlfriend, Persian (Iranian) girlfriend. I've lived in Ireland, England, NL, Saudia Arabia, and California. I've travelled all over Europe and the US. I've seen racism in every one of these countries. Overt and covert. We had a lovely server in a restaurant in Rome. We got a bit chummy when she found out I had lived in CA, USA. She opened up and told us that many Italians acted friendly towards you but were actually very racist, especially against darker skinned people. She was a student from the East Coast (Massachusets, I think) who came to study and work in Italy to improve her Italian. And, yes, she was black. My point is that... racism is "taught" to us by our parents, either directly by example in behaviors shown towards others or in "traditions" that seem harmless.
Don't be so easily offended Dutch people!!! ❤ Mark has the right to share HIS HONEST opinion based on HIS experiences in The Netherlands!! It's all good 👍
Great video. Thank you for making it. It makes me feel so much blessed to live in my country. As a person who grew up here, we are programmed to see the U.S. lifestyle as an ideal. Life in the U.S. seems more interesting and I remember that in my twenties Holland felt like being an animal in a zoo as compared to living in the jungle that is the U.S. I wanted to live in that jungle then but I'm so glad now that I'm a happy 'looser' in Holland now with no property and little societal success. It's so perfectly okay here, not to 'make something of yourself'. More so once you find out that, in the end, it's still you.
The grass ain't always greener...but I would also say it depends on what each person values and where they are in life...there are pros and cons of the US depending on what you do/where you are (what Mark said). But cheers to "it's still you"...it's OK to be yourself. Thanks for your comment, I hope you have a nice summer!
Both of you are very level headed gentlemen with a very balanced perspective about a change of country and culture. I always encourage my son to go see the world to broaden his horizon and his perspective of life in general. The consensus seems to be that making money and maintaining mental health should be evenly balanced.
I agree. But then, in Europe (notably the smaller countries, but including the large ones) we don't have to travel far to go beyond our horizons. (Just think of languages.)
@@chrislaarman7532 The education system encourages it which is a good thing. I myself am not a native born Dutch person so perspective is very subjective. Being in a different country as a tourist is different from actually making your home in that Country. The intricacies of subtle cultural differences can only be experienced if you live it a certain amount of time. Appreciation of certain things can only come if you have time to compare.
Thanks! Yeah I think the best education I had was when I spent a year backpacking in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East in my 20s...didn't have much...but it was one of the most transformative forms of education. To learn about different cultures and about myself (by being in different environments). I hope your son sees more of the world if he wishes!
@@hi.davidwen My son is indeed traveling the world. Being biracial helps him conform a bit better to different cultures although in some ways he is so very Dutch. The worldly views experienced through your children's eyes are often hilarious but oh so precious.
The train part is really easy to explain, If I have to sit next to you I'll rather stand this is with everyone but when it's jam packed you'll either have some sitting next to you or people eye balling your spot for when you leave
I hope that with “this is for everyone” you mean that YOU prefer to sit next to no one, and you don’t mean that everyone doesn’t want to sit next to a “black” person! The latter is certainly no true … at least for me.
@@IeneMieneMutte10I think what he meant is he doesn't like to sit that close to anybody.. which I understand in a way.. if there are people sitting on a half-full bench, I'd rather go the the bench next to it that is entirely empty because I feel they would feel annoyed at having their personal space impeded on or i would be afraid they would feel uncomfortable with me accidentally touching their arms or them smelling me (I have a weird fear of smelling bad lol so that part is probably just me). If the entire carriage is full except for one seat, I would prefer sitting, so in the end I always pick comfort over that social anxiety mentioned before though, or even if it is almost full I'd much prefer to sit next to Mark then stand, I wouldn't mind sitting next to him or anyone anyway (black/white/male/female/etc). But the things I mentioned might be what a lot of others in NL also consider when deciding where to stand or sit
Indeed, nothing new. I hate bothering strangers or sit next to someone I don't know, I rather just stand and wait till someone leaves or till I arrive lmao.
The part in the bus or train. I usually don't really sit next to anyone I don't know and if the journey is short will just stand. Only if the journey is long I will see if I can sit next to someone. I feel like more people in the Netherlands have this? Could be wrong tho
Personal space, yes...same here. My friend in Finland and I often joke about this as they are notorious for wanting to be left alone by strangers (no matter who it is). We have this same mindset to a lesser degree in the Netherlands, but I'd say it is more towards the not wanting to be a neusance to others in that regard.
It’s always interesting to hear other people’s experiences and opinions but they are specific, you can’t generalise. Living in New York City is very different from living in rural Montana and living in Amsterdam is very different from living in a Dutch village. I am British and moved to the USA, I went from London to a small Californian town, the differences are mostly to do with the differences between a city and a town, rather than the 2 countries. Is one better than the other? Different people would form very different opinions.
We still like our money, we just don't have to swim in it. But we like at least paddling in it. I think that is a big difference . The gap between the ultra rich and the poor in the US is to much. There in not a lot of difference in feeling happy between having enough or being crazy rich, but there is a hudge difference between having enough and strungling every day to get bills payed and worrying how you can take care of your family and yourself.
Sidenote: there are Dutch people that are really rich, but they leave The Netherlands, because of the taxes, so here are a lot of reasons why we are different, you cannot compare a big big huge country as the U.S.A to The Netherlands.
Awesome interview. I think many Americans should see it. Not to come to the Netherlands too, but to start changing things at home. They live in a 'normal' they are not aware how insane it is.
Thanks! Yeah a lot Americans can learn from. But change is hard (you know us humans)...sometimes it takes leaving and experiencing something new/different for one to change (like Mark said about learning from different cultures).
Hey there. I've been in the US due to personal reasons (still no job, there's been a lot going on in "life"). Thanks for asking though and hope you are well
Interesting, the comment about the seat in the subway, in general people try to avoid sitting to anyone, and often they first go for the seats next to woman. I am white and blond but the seat next to me also always stays empty ;-)
Thanks for sharing your experience! Yeah I don't know...I generally try to sit alone by myself first...and then probably whichever seat is next to someone who seems QUIET and calm (oh, I've had some bad experiences taking public transport through the years)
Already many reactions to our lack of innovation. Interesting if you see how much things he uses and has used that were invented in the Netherlands. Like compact cassettes, CD, wifi, bluetooth and important contributions on software, eg python and key low level algorithms. So probably the difference is that he is used to individual innovation that is aimed at getting rich fast, whereas much of Dutch innovations are aimed at improving life for a larger group, that may or may not include the inventor. Just my 2 cents.
Me (Dutch, in the Netherlands), I'm under the impression (not an opinion) that it's the American society that lacks innovation, both social and technical innovation. Nor is this impression a disqualification of any sort! :-)
Thanks for sharing! You bring a good point...there are many Dutch inventions that the world doesn't know is Dutch...perhaps it's related to the Dutch mentality of not "showing off?"
Google maps' core algorithm is called the Dijkstra algorithm, named after the Dutch mathematician who invented it on a napkin while drinking coffee. In the fifties. The code for Google Earth was written by a Berlin wizkid. In many cases American Innovation consists of taking (sometimes legally stealing) stuff that already exists and make a shitload of money with it.
Honestly speaking it’s quite exhausting living in the US as a black man. Especially once you experience the vast contrast in how you’re treated outside of it vs inside of it. Kudos to you for finding someplace you feel more at peace, I’m working on it too. There’s so much more to life than working until you retire at 65, broken, broke and with poor health.
Thanks for sharing...we're conditioned by so many things from our past and our environments...I do think Mark has gone through a lot and has used that "energy" to his advantage to overcome a lot of obstacles and create a better life for him/his family though
@waterdiver3900 Onze welvaart klotst tegen onze oksels. Op het gebied van de rechtstaat, democratie, mensenrechten staan we dankzij de ultra-conservatieve beweging aan de afgrond.
Yesterday I have read an outcome of an research that the Dutch associates the amount of salaries with the appriciation of their company and more the ability to grow in the company. Maybe that's the mindset you noticed regarding enough money is oke and focus more on hobbies and free time. That said, smelling roses sounds more like Portugal and south of Spain, at least thats what we probably fantasize about (old Dutch pension plan)
He hit the nail on the head when he said he got tired of the "Hater Culture" and the racism of America and it will continue to get worse. Amsterdam or Rotterdam has always been on my radar as a place to live for quite a long time and I really want to be there forever!! And I am really working towards making it happen. I can no longer be here in America. Fantastic interview!
His remark and thought that the reason that a “white” Dutch person doesn’t want to sit next to him in public transport is because of his “black” skin color, I find very disappointing; it even makes me angry. It’s a racist remark and thought itself. I’m a Dutch “white” woman and I’m very much against racism (or any form of discrimination)! I find it ridiculous that people are being called “black” or “white”. This keeps racism ‘alive’. So please let’s us stop that nonsense! No human being is black or white. Human skin colors come in different shade of brown, from very light beige to dark pure chocolate brown. The white trousers of the interviewer and the black t-shirt of the interviewee are proof.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. Yeah, I do wish one day we can live in a world where we all see each other as humans. Though...we are all biased in some way living in society...and it's good to be aware of these conscious and unconscious biases...but yeah, it starts with calling it out
I think about the public transport and that his seat stay free next to him hasn't to do with his skin colour. He his bigger on his shoulders then average so people will choose a seat next to a smaller person for more space.
The word 'market' has not been working too well here in the Netherlands (look at the housing problem f.i.) When there is quality, your market will grow from 'hear say'. Don't try to make the Netherlands into a clone of the US. Where I live in Amsterdam, some rules begin to change in this English speaking (very international) neighbourhood, for American people are used to complain about everything and local government have to react to complains. Please let us have the Dutch way of acknowledge and cope with differences, speak about it and try not to live in only your own bubble of habbits.
Thanks for sharing your perspective Louise. I believe what Mark was sharing is "How can we learn from each other-different cultures-especially in international markets...to innovate?" But also to promote empathy and understanding. At the same time, 100% understand your concern...there needs to be balance in maintaining traditions and listening to locals. Thanks for mentioning that
Well... there is no such thing as the perfect place. I've been to many countries and lived there too. I really think the Netherlands stays on top and Japan comes next. Dutch should consider that our country is still much more livable than most of the countries on this planet. We Dutch like to complain, but at the end we will take the punches. Although this country is very crowded but outside of the cities are people more relaxed and maybe conservative, depends where you are. But still, act normal and don't show off mentality could be considered the core of the Dutch way. I've been also to the States many times.. and it always comes to my mind.. How bad could be a person's life, if you consider the states as the place to escape the poverty and see it as heaven on earth (immigrants). Dutch should be consider that our country, although things are changing, is blessed. Go travel to other parts of the world and you'll see...
Thanks for sharing. Yeah it's good to have perspective...makes us appreciate the good in our lives. And there's also a lot of good to learn from other cultures as well
The Dutch are very willing to try new things. But if the new is not better than the old we stick with the old. And for fitness: we cycle and walk. That is enough exercise and it is FREE. ;-)
I am so confused about the story. 1) She called the police about a possible criminal on her property at night 2) Police came to investigate and found no intruder 3) Police came inside and spoke with her 4) She was in the house (very messy/sloppy) and had boiling water on the stove 5) Officers asked her about it and she went into this muttering of words 'I rebuke you in the name of Jesus” 6) Officers felt her behavior was odd (mental health issues) and thought she was going to throw the pot of boiling water at them and told her not to do it 7) The officer thought she had something in her hand and shot her What did I miss?
@@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536 NO, LEOs normally don't walk into the home of a citizen (after inspecting their property at night for a prowler) to then shoot them for boiling water on a stove. I'm not saying it did not happen but the circumstances are confusing.
@@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536 i get what chrispnw is saying, it's a weird case and unless we know the details it's impossible to judge it. - it could be ethnic profiling in the sense that the cops saw a black lady and immediately jump to the conclusion that she must be the bad person because of her skin tone. - it could be a mental unstable women who just happened to misunderstand the cops and because of the trigger-happiness of US cops it ended in a shooting, while in the same situation in Europe it would have been solved with talking. (or non-lethal force) - it could be that she did intend to trow the pot of boiling water at the cops and the cops acted accordingly. threatening a cop is never a good idea, especially in the US. so unless you know exactly what everyone said, what happened before the cops arrived (like the 911 call) and what happened at that house, it's impossible to say who was in the wrong. ps. ethnic profiling has it's place. if it's a fact that in a particular area people from a particular group/ethnicity cause trouble it's common sense to focus on people from that group. let's take an Dutch example: there is a gathering of people from the Moluccas and the past has shown these types of event attract people with two vastly different opinions about the current situation of the Moluccas. so the cops are tasked with keeping it safe. people from the Moluccas have another colour than Europeans, so it's logical to divert attention from European looking people to people with more colour (like the colour of the people from the Moluccas). in this example you use the ethnicity of people to filter out people who (most likely) aren't a threat to the situation.
I wish to move to the netherlands, thats been my main goal since about 2 years ago, as someone about to graduate highschool with 0 skills, and no plans on doing college as I'm not very smart, I hope to still be able to move there, even if Im forced to do construction or trades jobs, as thats what im currently doing now, are they in need of trades?.
May I ask, if somebody knows..please reply too 😅 we have some relatives from America coming to the Netherlands soon. I want to prepare some goodiebags. The only thing I can think of if cheese, stroopwafels and peanut butter 😂. Is there anything more original that they do not have in the states? Do americans know Speculoos? It should be something they can take back to the states as hand baggage. So herring is not an option 😅 hope to receive some tips 😊
If you Google "Mark Jenkins," he's out there. I remember watching Diddy (Puff Daddy) training for the New York City marathon, and there was MTV show (a popular music channel back in the day) about him training for it..and Mark was his marathon trainer. I didn't realize it..but yeah I remember Mark when I was a kid watching MTV in America instagram.com/themarkjenkins/
I wish Mark Jenkins the best of luck. He seems like a very cool dude. My guess is that he will have to leave the NL because he will not find many people willing to pay for a personal trainer, no matter how rich they are. Culture! [What kind of visa does he have? I bet he doesn't have a verblijfsvergunning.]
I can only imagine his style of fitness innovation is geared towards a bigger market like in the U.S while we know it doesn't really work like that here. There is no new great thing that will bring success. Even our very best singers are working in a small pond so don't make that much money. But when it comes to medical innovation, farming, tech, there is a lot of new work being done. So it just depends on what part you are looking at.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. Yeah definitely, there's a lot of innovation happening in NL...in different fields. The fitness game is very different in the US compared to here. I know it's something that affects us all as humans...but yeah it's a different culture as well. I do wonder how we can learn from other cultures though. Not so long ago...from a wellbeing perspective, Eastern practices were "woo woo." Now, Eastern practices like yoga and meditation are very mainstream in the West. So I do wonder how we can learn from other cultures to "innovate."
@@hi.davidwen I think dutch people use fitness to get healthier and feel better but they will include free things like walking and biking, they just wouldn't want to pay for a new fitness program and they don't make the gym their life. I can't imagine how you can innovate in that. The only thing I can think of that took of is nordic walking and you'd see groups of people with a leader going down the sidewalk with their sticks but that is long over too. Sometimes if something is doing it's job we do think it's fine, there is no hussle culture or run for glory to make new things happen. I do not see the downside in that, as we are totally innovating where it matters, I may soon be part of a medical trial, they are building a new building at the hospital to have the newest tech innovations nearby. I think that's the dutch culture, work hard on what's needed. water management, flood prevention, clean power. Why waste time on things that already work well.
Im actually quite shocked to hear this man describe the casual racism he is experiencing in The Netherlands. Im a white Dutch guy so I might be a bit ignorant in that regard, but it is horrible this guy feels like people dont really want to sit next to him. I know its a bit of a thing in smaller, more remote villages where people are just less used to foreigners or everyone who looks different in any way but this really shouldnt be a thing in cities in 2024 where people from all over the world live. But yeah, it makes me a bit sad. This is a very accomplished man, well dressed, well spoken and can obviously easily carry his own weight so he should be made to feel welcome in every possible way.
Thanks for sharing your kind words. Yeah, I also cannot relate to his experience as a black person. But I can try to understand (we all have unconscious biases as humans). But he definitely feels a lot safer and more welcome in the Netherlands =)
As a Indo living in Zeeuws Vlaanderen (you cant get any more remote than this ;) ) im not really shocked by the casual racism happening. Not that i approve of it but its just what it is i guess. I have had my share of racial slurs or actions in my lifetime now and then but im just not bothered by it whatsoever (its just the way i think). I know it might make you feel sad, i mean i have always lived with the philosophy of every person should be able to live the way the want to live, so i have never understood why another person could discriminate another person for whatever (usually just because they arent anything like themselves), but i think you should just face reality that racism and/or discriminiation is still very much a thing all over the globe, so not just here. I mean just look at how the latest elections went. I dont really know what im trying to say to be honest, i guess it makes me sad that it makes you sad, when i know its a unsolvable problem. I think i just want to say the fact that you address this point and that you re actively thinking about it makes you a better person than any of the ignorant people who can only see their own small world. Just do the things you think being a good person is and try to make a change like that. I know we re not going to change the whole society like this but at least some people might change their views on people who are different to them seeing they are just normal people like them. Its just nice to be nice.....
@@chocvanr227 Im sorry to hear that. People with roots in Indonesia are as Dutch as any of us. Its just a multi cultural society in general, all the way back to the 16th century when Portuguese jews moved here to seek religious refuge all the way to the days of the empire with colonies all over the world. So racism is just, well, dumb because it means you dont understand what made the Dutch history and culture great in the first place.
@@ageoflove1980 it is yea. And I guess its thaught too. There are no babies who are bigots or racists right out the womb. I saw a human rights activist say sometime 'hatred can be gone in 2 generations, as long as we dont keep teaching our children'. I never really thought about it like that but it does make sense, and it gives a little bit of hope for humanity :)
Wait, his name is Mark Jenkins and he has a like the slightest accent that reminds me of when a dutch person speaks english. I know he grew up in the US, but considering his last name, does he have Dutch parents?
Even though our country is not perfect, I still feel proud that we can make US citizens feel more safe over here than in their home country. I'm honored they have deciced to this little nation when they could've moved anywhere. Thank you for sharing these stories.
Hey, I hope you are doing well, thank you for sharing valuable information, Your videos have inspired me to choose Netherland for my further study, But I want to know few things, Can you please reply me answer here, I am Joe from India, Coming to the Netherlands in February 2025 to pursue a master's course, (with 6 months pre master course) So I just want to know, can my wife and child get a dependent visa? and can my wife work there while I am on a student visa?
I'm a retired (white) American living in France, and I'd encourage Mark to try France, for the following reasons, -among many others : (1) The food is MUCH better (Dutch food is almost as dreary as American.) (2) The weather is INFINITELY better. (It almost never stops raining in Holland, and it rains normally in France) plus it's much warmer, everywhere in France; (3) The French have SUPERLATIVE health care-- and it's available, after a huge amount of bureaucratic hassle, to Americans; (4) The wine, by definition, is vastly better; (5) With all due respect to the Dutch, who certainly have some lovely cities, France is a MUCH more beautiful and varied country. Amsterdam has its advantages, but it will never be Paris, and even smaller cities, like Aix en Provence, and beautiful and interesting; (5) All the advantages you list for Holland (no guns, materially less racism than the US, excellent public transportation; excellent public services)also pertain in France. Plus the French are generally highly educated, and seriously respect the arts and their rich, ancient, culture. Finally, the language is a BIG advantage. Dutch is a basically a useless language, a nd impossible to learn,with only modest literature; while French is universal, with a VAST repertory of literature, music and arts. I could go on, but you get the point.
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🇳🇱🇺🇸 What are your thoughts on life in America vs. The Netherlands/Europe?
Europa is way more enjoyable than America. It provides you with options, mobility, flexibility and efficiency.
The older I get, the more I realise I would never, ever want to live in the US. It's a bit too: "You're on your own, except when you have a lot of money lol rofl good luck" for my liking.
@@spacegerrit9499 I think I agree I prefer biking than driving anyways 😂
I share similar sentiments. In my youth, I contemplated the possibility of relocating to the United States. However, as I have matured, the USA has become utterly unattractive.
@@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536I don't get the numerous amounts of Americans that are against other ways of living and feel the need to constantly berate European, for example being anti density, anti cyclists, anti tax, anti Vax, anti climate, etc. Obviously we have people like this everywhere but the proliferation of these ideologies in developed European countries is nowhere near to the extent it is in The US.
I too like the idea of moving to The US and hustling in a big metropolitan area, but the more you think about how your life would actually be like, the more you resent that ideology and culture. I mean just look at American cities, the amount of noise, air, waste and light pollution is crazy, the lack of greenery, the unkept roads and infrastructure, the car dependency, the political turmoil, the obsorbirant healthcare and education costs, the segregation, profit motive has really infiltrated the fabric of American society for the worse in my view.
What a likable guy, very interesting to hear his story and perspective. Great interview!
Thanks! Mark's a great guy
And yet the Dutch are one of the most innovative countries in the world. So the hustling is not necessarily needed to be innovative.
Exacly. But only if it adds to something not just for 'being innovative' That is wasted energy. Like they later talk about, everything in the Netherlands works..so we do something right. Don't charge if it isn't broken. And fix what needs to be fixed.
Agree! The US moves quickly with unvetted new ideas because it's a high stakes poker game kind of place. In America u can win big & lose big. In general the The Dutch like money but they don't worship it the way Americans do.
The hustling and the American dream came from New Amsterdam, not from the classist and mercantilist English.
Netherlands and the whole of Europe is missing out on AI and cloud technology. The German car industry was caught off guard in electric vehicles. Europe is not that innovative. We are lagging behind. Our money is burnt in a hopeless war in Ukraine while we are paying the price of the boomerang sanctions on Russia.
Maybe not in his field of expertise, but the Netherlands overall is definitely one of the most innovative countries. regardless if you take (tech) inventions like the microscope, telescope, bluetooth, wifi, to concepts in fields like finance with the first in the world stock exchange, to embracing policies like the first in the world to have legalize sex marriage and these are just a few of many more. He might just not be aware of all this
The Dutch are not innovative? The SEALS are a Dutch invention, submarines are a Dutch invention, microscope is a Dutch invention, the telescope is a Dutch invention, the cassette tape is a Dutch invention, the Compact Disc is a Dutch invention (the hole is the size of a 10 cent Gulden coin), the DVD, the HD-DVD, the Blu-Ray, Bluetooth, WiFi.
The list is endless with innovations. Heck, even the donut is Dutch and derived from Oliebollen. Pancakes are Dutch, too.
So yeah, a big disagree on the fact that we are not innovative. Maybe not as much, but if we do, we make sure it sticks.
On what brick would you be typing without asml...
@nielsdebakker3283 Actually, someone from Tweakers made a brick keyboard once.
Also, Philips was a big chip manufacturer and also produced top-class testing equipment for electronics.
That is before Philips separated their chip division, which went on solo as NXP.
Also... Edison might have invented the lightbulb, but Philips perfected it. Then, after dominating the light marked... Philips also shedded off that division. 🤦♂️
Honestly... Philips' their decisions make zero sense, but indeed, ASML is still key in all chip manufacturing worldwide.
@BrianFarro Disagree, as it predates the Netherlands before the Netherlands existed. Saint Nicolas of Myra (Santa Claus) was celebrated from at least the years 1000 onwards. However, many Catholic celebrations came to include "Barbaric" (Northern European Tribes) elements.
The sleigh is a horse here, and the Norse god Odin rides over the rooftops on Sleipnir.
The elves are not elves and also not saved black children from the slave market called Black Pete, but they are actually a devilish entity called Krampus. Which is named after its claws called in old German "Krampen," which is where the word "cramps" comes from when your muscles get so tight they feel like a claw is gripping them tight.
So that isn't a Dutch invention. Donuts and pancakes are, though. 😁
@BrianFarro True, but it was not a Dutch invention per definition.
You will find the Dutch have had far more influence in the USA than you are told. The English, with their hatred towards the Dutch, tried to wipe out most traces of influence.
Python the programming language was also made in the netherlands i think
Moral of the story: Most European countries, like the Netherlands, are made for the people. The US is made for companies, to work your ass off 247 (as an employee 40+ hours a week) whereas in the Netherlands most people don't work more than 36 hours a week, some even less.
The US is gorgeous and has many possibilities, but are you willing to take that risk when you can have everything in the Netherlands with less work and more enjoyment? Because with 12 hours driving, you can be in Spain or Italy or whatever suits your needs. And as someone who has been born in the Netherlands and has seen a lot of countries my choice would be a country without much crime, good weather, no 247 work life, enjoy the day. So my preference would be Spain (southeast/south weather-wise) otherwise I would've chosen the Netherlands any day. Also, the government of the Netherlands is going downhill quickly, too many stupid things happen and they don't want to fix it.
Thanks for sharing
I totally agree! That is basically the same reason I left the US. It's so toxic there, life is just.... for the lack of a better word, simple. The sense of communtiy, the genuine care of each other, the peacefulness. I love it here!
I came from another country to live in the Netherlands. Never experienced discrimination for being different from dutch people. I prefer to sit alone in bus or tram but that's because I am a bit broad in the shoulders. If somebody wants to sit next to me , he or she should be small because of space. I find the dutch way of life very relaxed, all the hustle and bustle is not nessesary, we are not so money driven and rather wait with buying than get into debt. So you see, like it here and will stay till the end.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I also prefer to sit alone on public transport
Yes me too I prefer to sit alone in the tram or bus as well, lots of people have that here.
Enough money makes you happy.
More money doesn’t.
yup. thats why i dont grind. last thing i wanna do is think about making money all day.
More money would make me much happier because I would share it to save wild lands, endangered species, and many more organizations that get ignored. The voiceless, helpless and defenseless.
this dude is 54? damn, i need to start working out.
Haha yeah as I get older...I see a lot of people aging fast...and those who look good...I'm learning the importance of good sleep, nutrition, working out (especially strength training as we naturally lose muscle mass as we age), and quality relationships/social connection
Sprinting can keep you young. Look it up.
Thank you David for making videos about reasons people left! It's very refreshing to hear that. I hope that you're doing alright
Thanks Aidan, appreciate it! I'm doing fine, the ☀️ helps. Hope you're well!
This was one of my favorite interviews yet! I share a lot of similar views. I love your videos! I'm moving to The Netherlands next May and your videos always get me so excited to experience a different way of life from the US.
Thanks Jessica, glad to hear! May is a great time to come...the start of spring...tulip season...best of luck on the move!
@@hi.davidwen Thanks! :)
I also moved from the US yo the Netherlands. You're right to be excited. It's like a different world.
@@xpaartan6916 That makes me so happy to hear!
Excellent interview. So few channels about the Netherlands actually provide any nuance to the living situation, but your interviews generally do a nice job of presenting the grey areas of life.
Ah thanks, appreciate the kind words!
I agree - David Wen is a gifted interviewer
Thank you Dave.... A compelling post.
I love America as it is my birth country. At 60 years old, I grew up during a time (despite being raised in a lower middle-class home) where there was no explicit restrictions on what you could dream or strive to be. As an African American, I can speak from experience in saying 'Stop looking outward for validation from strangers/acquaintances. There will always be someone who may find a reason to not like you or not see your value. Know thy self and reinvest in the gifts/talents that make you unique, valuable, and peaceful.' @5:40 I struggled to watch this episode without pausing because I believe Mark reflects a recurring issue in America. All bad things that happen to African Americans IS NOT due to racism by the general public or law enforcement. Reflexively seeing all interactions with law enforcement through a lens of potential racism, impacts the actions of law enforcement AND those making the accusations. Nothing good will come from this.
America (as a nation) originated from a concept of a 'melting pot' where through assimilation, the collective citizenry would be stronger, innovative, and successful. In order for America to work, you need citizens (want to be citizens) to be hungry for a better life, optimistic about the future, and prepared to invest in self. In 2024, A person talented, optimistic, and hungry for a better life DOES NOT have to come/live in America to have a chance of success and people around the globe are not picking the United States (for a variety of reasons).
America is slowly being consumed from within because we have lost the ability to see recurring problems and discuss/address them with civility and honesty. We have devolved into name calling, accusations (based on feeling/less facts), and treating social media as an equal to formal education/training. In late 2026, I will spend half of my time in the Netherlands and hope to be a positive contributor (sober in mind and reality).
Wow, this is a very intelligent and insightful comment which I agree with a hundred percent. As a dual citizen, I vote in both country's elections and still hope for a positive outcome in the upcoming American election.
Have a wonderful stay in the Netherlands, and if you haven't been already I would recommend visiting other cities that IMO are more beautiful and less crowdy than Amsterdam: Utrecht, Leiden, Breda, Den Bosch, Deventer, Hoorn, to name a few, and anywhere in the seaside provide of Zeeland.
You're welcome and thanks for sharing, Chris. Really insightful to hear another perspective too.
Also nice to hear a bit more about you and your story too. 2026 will be here in no time
Chris, an important point is that there can be both systemic racism and a truth that not everything is affected by it. I have the privilege as a white American to know it's less likely the police will commit a crime against me or murder me, yet as a former soldier I know that they are a much greater threat to me based on past and recent history than the average citizen because they are always armed and never charged with murder and rarely charged with other crimes.
Aside from the police, the US has much higher crime rates in general and much higher violent crime rates. So even taking race out of the discussion, there is much more risk in the US in regards to life, health, wellbeing, and other basic needs of life.
Also if we don't hear from people like him in regards to other countries, we also won't know how it feels coming from that perspective that many people share.
I appreciate your positivity, but I relate more to his perspective than yours.
@@vtxgenie1 I have the privilege as an African American with significant choices to live in nice areas on both coasts. At 60 years old, I have never been had a bad interaction with Law Enforcement. I keep my affairs in order so should I encounter an interaction with law enforcement my past does not raise initial concerns. My local law enforcement has been very responsive to concerns I have raised but never assume it will always be the case.
As an African American (with resources) I am given the opportunity to see recidivism by White Americans in the form of entitlement and the expectation of ‘getting a pass’. Too often at my local pub, the owner has to chase down White patrons who attempt to dine and dash. When caught, the excuses flow like water down a river. I have found White Privilege is highly overstated and has dramatically diminished in value. Body cameras have gone a long way of exposing bad behavior by all and the myth of the ‘All American/Patriotic Citizen’ has been exposed. Law enforcement training over the last decade has helped officers understand implicit (favorable) bias and how it puts their lives at risk. Those accustomed to privilege (by default) are shocked when the expectation no longer exists.
US crime (lack of) correlates highly with economic status (which makes sense). I enjoyed Mark’s message and will be spending 1/2 of my time in the Netherlands soon. I currently spend 10% of my time in Holland each year and have a strong grasp on the local culture/norms - eyes wide open. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
Well spoken sir!!
Nice to see how talented people enjoy this small part in the world, a honor 🌎 🇳🇱🏆
🇳🇱
"The Dutch aren't that innovative" ... scuse me? well... maybe in our personal lives because it is true... if it ain't broke, don't fix it. but the Dutch in general are very innovative. We are ranked 7th on the GII for a reason.
Yea, the fact that the the Netherlands continues to exist at all is pure innovation. It's supposed to be underwater, the world can learn a lot from the Netherlands with the upcoming climate change. The Netherlands is also a much smaller country than the US, so not fair to compare in terms of total innovations.
Yes, NL = 7th and the US = 3rd, so from an American perspective the Dutch are less innovative...
@@Cergorach Compared to a country with 1/19th the population though ... Unless those numbers account for population, the Netherlands produces more innovations per capital. I mean I have no idea how that's calculated.
@@ThisIsSuperSelf That is just looking for excuses... What's the most innovative country in the world? Switzerland. Which has less then half the population of the Netherlands (or 1/40th of the US)... So it's not based on innovations per capita. We're just lazy Fs compared to the US! ;)
@@Cergorach That's interesting if that's the case, can't really blame it on a strong social safety net as Switzerland may have stronger programs than the Netherlands. Also, encouraging as well because people say that if that US spent more tax dollars helping it's citizens then we wouldn't be as innovative.
im dutch and living in the netherlands i can tell / guarantee you that your experience as a black guy here in the netherlands is the same as other black and white people here in the netherlands have , we dutchies dont give a flying f*ck about your skin color or you working / worked with celebrities , we just dont care about that kind of celebrity status , and as long as you are a good person and treat people right then we will treat you right
Unfortunately, that's just not true.
I'm referring to the part about skin color and black and white people having the same experience.
I'm Dutch, I'm white and I've grown up in that melting pot that's the Dutch school system. I can tell you from experience that there are always racist Dutch somewhere. And even if it's only one out of a hundred or thousand+ experiences having a different skin color in the Netherlands will get you some racist interactions somewhere in your life or you are living a very sheltered life. As a white person we'll never be discriminated to in that way, so we'll never experience that.
Just the 'no one sitting beside Mark' comment in public transportation is just one example. Which by the way doesn't have to be related to skin color. Mark doesn't seem like a small guy, I'm not exactly small either (just in different dimensions ;) )... So two big guys sitting next to each other in anything besides first class NS is not a happy experience. In public transport I prefer to sit alone and often even prefer to stand over sitting next to someone else. I sit most of the day, so standing isn't that bad from my perspective.
I can only say from a personal perspective, I don't give a flying F about someones skin color. I might have issues with things you do/behave. Example: I don't care that you're Turkish and have a certain color of skin, but I did not think it was a good or appropriate thing to slaughter the goat on the flat's balcony, I don't want my white neighbor doing that either... That's less about racism and more about a culture clash. And it's not about culture that much either, it's about a nuisance and the nuisances from other cultures just stand out more. If we're realistic white people often proof themselves WAY more of a nuisance then someone from another culture.
A dark skinned person from America will probably have more of an issue being American then being dark skinned... A large portion of the Dutch population detests the 'American car-salesman' sales tactics, the pushy nature of the 'Hustle', being overly patriotic is also viewed pretty negatively, etc.
@@Cergorach I totally agree
@@djTLMtvtwan is very White, and i can be wrong but his last name would implie from a rather afluent background. Twan probably doesn't have many Black friends getting stopped by Police more than him, or theater diferently in bars by the bouncer. Now ther is less racism, yet i now my White experience is a bit different then that of the morocan or black experiene. Ever worked in a calcenter? Never wondered why Mohamed call3d himself Klaas?
What an amazing interview and Mark sounds like a great guy. I’m glad for him, he’s living a better way of life now.
Mark's a really good and humble guy who's had a really interesting life (and started with not much)
You foreigners put too much emphasis on fitting in and "doe maar normaal." There are enough people that stand out and probably have their own circles.
When someone makes a suggestion about something that nobody ever thought about, there are enough instances where people will encourage them to figure it out. That may require more time because, in general, in Europe, it has to be near perfect, while in the US, it is fine once marketable.
Spot on! Precies dat... In America you work to consume, consume, consume. And to be able to consume you are always in a 'sales'-mode... I guess Mark is not yet ready to abandon this mindset although he has learned a lot.
Good point. Don't come to the Netherlands and then bring your baggage with you by attempting to make the culture here 'little America'. 😉
You foreigners.... Ha... I am a strong believer of knowing history and the Netherlands/Amsterdam of 2024 was not always as bicycle centric as we see today. Strong leadership in the 70s decided the Netherlands could not thrive under a car-centric model and began the process of developing standards/best practices around roads and streets focused on humans and not cars. A ton of time/effort was invested developing the initial plan and making small refinements over time. The Netherlands has been a culture adverse to debt in personal and government levels and this is reflected in societal customs.
In the United States, 'states rights' makes it incredibly difficult to develop a collective vision for how the government should serve the people and this is reflected in how poorly U.S. infrastructure is developed/maintained. Long-term infrastructure projects are rarely fully funded and best practices are rarely adopted across states. Billions of dollars are wasted as each state thinks it knows best and rehashes old failed ideas (repackaging these ideas as new).
America operates on iterative design/development because 1) full project funding is rarely secured, 2) consensus building for the greater good is hard to come by in American culture.
Who's a foreigner? I'm a Dutch citizen with dual ID and have lived and worked here in the Netherlands going on 25 years. 😎
@@chrispnw2547 No, government had to give in and discontinue it's plan to make the Netherlands car centric because all kind of protests and initiatives.
Great interview!!! ❤
Mark may well have saved his soul by leaving that fast paced hustlers life behind!
Also very inspiring to hear him talk about how he adapted his brand to grow along the lines of his life here in the NL.
More power to both you guys!
What an interesting tale! You do a nice open interview, I'd love to see more of these styles of videos.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Will try to see if I can do more of these...
I don't sit next to anyone on the bus or train. Goes with a lot of my friends. Most of the bus/train trips are much less than 30-45 mins so it's comfortable to stand.
Thanks for sharing your perspective
The Dutch will not sit next to anybody if there is a possibility not to. When all double seats are occupied by one, some will prefer to stand. If you want to sit, you have to choose. Even subconsious you will choose. Some will "choose" not to sit next to a black person. So its logical for a person coming from a place with much more racism, it might feel like racism. But its more likely for the same reason as someone would not prefer to sit next to the most beautiful girl in the bus.
Maybe that actually is a form of racism. But is comes from not being comfortable be in the personal circle of a person not similar to you. And that can be on any aspect.
@TMonist yes I agree with you. Me myself as a black Dutch woman don't like to sit next to a person. It's nothing racist about it at all. Here in the Netherlands we will all sit where there no one are sitting FIRST and then when it the bus is getting crowded I would sit next to someone else.
I understand the guy's perspective, yet I don't think they're less innovative and/or more reluctant to innovate here in the Netherlands. I believe there may be a difference in focus though. In the US there appears to be a stronger focus on commercial Innovation while in north-west Europe the focus is more on functionality and efficiency of things and activities. It may be a slight difference, but noticeable. Mindset and drive all intertwined with the way society rolls and the way people get nurtured with what to prioritize in life and work.
e.g. Eindhoven Brainport... that's just ONE example! The NL is rich in innovation and innovators. The only problem is the Dutch government's "betuttlen".
Thanks for sharing your perspective...yeah I can see that too, makes sense
@@brianquigley1940 Imo, if the interviewee were to describe what he means by "innovation" one would find that the word is being misused here. I think he means that the scramble to the top is so intense in the US that Americans are always on the lookout for different ways of getting there. It really is a dog eat dog world. Don't get left behind or you're in a trailer park, or on the streets, and using fentanyl. According to some media, Europe is being flooded with fentanyl but, if Europe stops drifting to the Right, and retains its socialist policies, we will, I hope, not go the way of the US.
@@gerrygallen5911 The US is not all "dog eat dog", not by a long shot. Did you know that the US is the most giving country in terms of charity in the world? All 50 states lack in social services, yet the public(!) make up for it in charity, either by gifting their time, money, services, or donations. The US has many problems, but it's not all doom and gloom. There are many positive aspects to the US. And just like everywhere else in the world it depends greatly on the people you mix with.
@brianquigley1940 The US is the "most" this and the "most" that. It's a notion Americans grow up with. The US is not the most giving, nor the second, nor the third... check the CAF statistics. Donations in the US are very much connected to tax deductions, which does not apply in most countries.
Weowowowoww... "Not innovative" say WHAT??!!
This dude has a LOT to learn..
Depends, i guess in his line of work fitness, personal training and image building of celebrities, we aren't really a leading and innovative country.
Our little country is more innovative in other more "pragmatic" matters, but that isn't his line of work.
@@arranchace1306 What do you mean? I mean in a way I understand- we are already the fittest people in Europe. There's no need to get crazy with specific methods, if you already have a good living pattern in regards to excercise (cycling is good enough for the basic health benefits we all should need) honestly, even the walkability adds to that.
He was talking about new concepts, a new fitness business etc. It's common knowledge it's much easier to get going and get funding to start a new company in the US.
@@arranchace1306 image building? they need a psychiatrist! 😂
@@mradventurer8104 yeah because giving the companies more and more power is innovative...? 🤡...common knowledge and assuming random shit aint the same thing mr Dunning Kruger.
a fact means nothing unless they are rightly understood.
Great interview! Thanks 🙂
Such a likeable guy. I'm glad he's found happiness in The Netherlands
David great interview!
Thanks a lot!
Being Dutch and always having looked up to the US work ethic and drive, this is a very sobering take. Thank you for keeping it real!
What a coincidence, I had a training session with Mark a few weeks ago. He's great at what he does, likable guy as well!
Oh nice! Yeah he does classes in different gyms/studios in Amsterdam. Great guy!
Sorry, but i dont want it on the American Way, we are the Netherlands, and we innovate in a good way, not on the American Way, he make people consume more than necessary, that is how a lot of Americans have credit debts. We only replace when repair is necessary, has nothing to do with innovation. When we repair, it is mostly with our own money, instead of creditcard debts. He realised that the Netherlands is an expensive country, people earn less than in the states, but he still wants that people buy everything what is new. I dont want that my country will have a large national debt, like the states.
There is more crime in the states, because people have so much debts, that they can buy their food, and still want to consume. They want still believe in the American Dream, and that's is what it say's it is a Dream, nothing more and nothing less.
He want to sell us the American Dream, but it is the American Hell for more than 90 % of the American People.
The problem with the united states was never guns.
Its broken homes, specific drugs such as Fentanyl, Meth and heroin that are super popular there.
I dont trust meth heads with firearms.
I am Dutch and I prefer many things here over the US but it is still true that innovation/starting a new business or concept is easier in the US. That has nothing to do with credit cards (unless credit cards are used to start businesses which is only partly true).
Thanks for sharing. I believe what Mark also meant was..."How can we learn from different cultures and perspectives on how to innovate?"
I've researched a lot on innovation...and innovation often comes from combining different perspectives and making something "different." There's a lot we can learn from each other
That is also a very shortsighted view of what was said. We already have 'workaholics' in the Netherlands, it's just not the cultural norm. And let's be honest, the average Dutch person just isn't very 'ondernemend' en we have an issue we call 'vastroesten' in your place in the workforce. Many in the working class had parents that worked for others their whole lives and never owned their own home, we also never learn about that in school. So many never get outside that cycle because they are not culturally motivated to do so. Changing a little towards the 'American way' doesn't have to be so bad and I think we've done so over the last 40+ years. As long as it's a choice...
We also have credit cards and we have the option to pay them completely off each month. So no interest fees and no building debt. And we've had debt before the general acceptance of credit cards in the Netherlands, be it mortgages or personal loans. Wehkamp mailorder that you paid off in 10+ months, etc. Even before CCs were introduced in the Netherlands, there was already a large portion of the Dutch that were having personal debt issues. Because there were no checks in place to see if people could actually pay off their debt structurally. That's why we have BKR and why things like phone subscriptions were added to BKR checks.
The only thing Mark was 'selling' us, was personal wellness. THAT is also not for everyone, the great part of the Netherlands is that we can choose what we want to do. You can also just ignore this video or this comment... ;)
@@Cergorach Once we start changing to 'the american way' we'll lose everything that makes this country great ! . . . and we'll turn into the hideously overconsuming and hatefull country that is America.
Alltough the Dutch were involved in the development of the kapitalist system , we've always had a healthy group of citizens that opposed excesses in that very system.
Being down to earth and living a 'simple' maybe even boring live to some , is the core of wellness , security and stabilty that we all love.
Greed , kapital and showing of only produces aversion , jealousy and hate.
If the American dream is such a dominant cultural meme, why is its social mobility index (ranks 27) even worse than that of a class society like the UK (ranks 21) and dismal compared to The Netherlands (ranks 6).
Good point...something I am exploring myself...so thanks for sharing this...I'm hoping to dive deeper into this
Very enlightening to hear about the many aspects of hustling in various contexts
Grew up in The Netherlands as a kid and love it.
Everything he said resonated with me & I'm ecstatic to see his wellness Lollapalooza dream come true!
I'll pass on the kind words!
here we tend to avoid sitting next to anyone on the bus if we dont have to. thats a normal thing. unless you know the person anyone would rather sit by themselves.
Nice conversation. 😎
Thanks! Curious...what was your biggest takeaway?
@@hi.davidwen Your party made clear that one can just Be in The Netherlands; opposite to life in New York. You sit with him as a Dutch person could do being used Not keeping up with the Jones's.
You've grown into the calmness of Dutch life.
As a Dutch person I would choose for Spain to have more sun (and less people per square kilometres).
Respect and friendliness have more weight in Holland than in America IMMO. 🤔✨😎
valid points made. San diego native who wants the netherlands specifically maastricht and this video can help others understand.
Thanks and hope you make it to Maastricht! I lived there for a year, loved it!
Another excellent podcast, David, appreciating too your added graphs of information. Mark Jenkins should give us all a break about who prefers to sit where on trains, which I ride all the time. And I've observed that, if given a choice, women often tend to take an empty seat next to another woman, maybe an older woman too, which is more an automatic reaction to personal comfort. I don't think it has much to do with skin colour. If someone's dressed in dark clothing and wearing a hoodie that may be a natural deterrant too. On the whole, the Netherlands is a basically tolerant culture, as Mark points out. As well as a work to live, not live to work, culture. And this he's no doubt finding nice to raise his family and retire in. I wish him the best of luck.
Thanks! Yeah I get your point. I also don't know what it's like to be Mark, but I do know many of us have these unconscious biases as humans. How we respond/react to people even if we are not aware of it. But I do agree on the whole, the Netherlands is quite tolerant.
I agree, as a woman I prefer sitting alone or next to another woman. I look for safety first and most of the time I check their facial expressions, not their skin color
I've never heard of him. What a nice guy! Wish he was my trainer.
Google 'Mark Jenkins' - hard to miss 😉
He's a really cool guy! He does classes in various gyms/studios in Amsterdam, you can check out his instagram (instagram.com/themarkjenkins/)
Great video!
Thank you!
Amazing conversation!
Thanks!
The thing that attracts me the most to the Nertherlands is their cycling infrastructure and how common place for people to completely get around by cycling.
What an interesting interview with Mark, great guy!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Mark's great!
Thanks both! Very interesting perspectives.👍
Thanks for watching!
Dutch guy here: Nice video! One point I want to highlight is the entrepreneurship culture in the US; it is definitely harder to get something new going here. You can still do it but funds are not as easily available as in the US and you may have to finance more yourself (depending also on the type of business you are in of course). But the very driven entrepreneurs can still make it.
Thanks for sharing. I can understand that as well. I've found it very easy to practically "start" a business...but to maintain and grow it...yeah that's a different story (I guess entrepreneurship is hard anywhere though)
Welcome here in NL, we’re happy to have you.
One thing I would ask everyone moving here is: think about how you can contribute to NL and our culture, beyond what it and we can do for you.
I meet a lot of hyper individuality focused people that expat here and in large numbers that negatively affects our community oriented Northern European culture.
Helps us keep NL NL
Thanks for sharing your perspective. Yeah, I think society benefits if we can all be open and help each other.
Praat voor jezelf pik.
If he's looking for a relaxing life with the money he has earned over the past decades, then he can easily do that..
And yeah starting a business doing personal training he can do that too, not only in The Netherlands but over the entire European continent.
But i have to agree with this fellow that we in The Netherlands and perhaps all over Europe need to take blunt risks in conducting ideas or innovations into real results..
We have a very established system where you don't have to worry about your personal well being like the healthcare system or welfare or any subsidized rights.
I can see why Americans are way more prone to work as twice as hard not to fall behind due to the lack of these things.
But Europe definitely needs to start innovating so Europe can be put back on the map again as a global influence then just the US and China.
European Union is securing the tech industry bit by bit. Players like ASML are still European.
Thanks for sharing...yeah I can understand what you mean. Even from my experience working here in HR and seeing how companies/employees work internally here...it's more relaxed here (vs. the US). I became more relaxed. Which is a good thing if one wants balance. But I do miss the drive and ambition of American work culture of achieving greatness. It can be too much of course. But I personally miss it at times (then again, I grew up in that system so it's very much in my DNA)
I don't think he fully grasps the Northern European attitude towards fitness. Why join a fitness club when you get your basic cardio from daily activities like biking to work?
Do you grasp it? Have you ever joined a gym? Especially the newer generations go to the gym a lot.
@@luka1790 So would you say local gyms are as packed as they are in the US?
Local gyms are a complete rip off ... unless you want to socialize or need the motivation of company (same thing).
Not really it is about the price@brianquigley1940
Because biking everyday works out only certain parts of your body? I grew up on a cycle (This is the Dutch Way...) and even later in life I biked an hour+ each day with virtually no impact on my weight. I could probably kick you very hard, but it didn't do much for much else of my body. Not that I want to go to a gym or think it would help much, but there is more to 'fitness' then cycling.
On the topic of people not sitting next to you in the train -- just being large can do that. I'm a white native Dutchman and my seat is always empty until the tram/bus/train is completely full, simply because of my large size where people will not want to sit next to me.
Given how fit Mark is I think that is a factor sooner than his skin colour.
Thanks for sharing your perspective and observation. Yeah there could be many reasons why people won't sit next to you on the bus...
Cool video, really intresting interview.
Glad you enjoyed it! What was the biggest takeaway for you?
What about the university of Wageningen on different farming development or TU Delft! Water management or traffic infrastructure
Good examples of innovation!
I think US innovation is more customer facing (consumer goods), and that's where his perception of innovation comes from. Overall I do think that the US is slightly innovative though but not to the extent he perceived it IMHO
Hey David, great interview! Interesting to hear Mark's perspective and life history. Would love to sit down with him, and you as well haha, and shoot the breeze.
As opposed to the bristling Dutch, I see Mark's point on innovation. We Dutch are not risk takers as the Americans. Sure there are innovations but they are usually funded through our educational system, subsidies or sheer necessity (water, agriculture). I don't think most commenters understand the depth of American hustle culture.
Either way, glad to hear his and your thoughtful perspective and don't get the same old tired shit about the weather, a broodje kaas or our supposed inferior healthcare system. I work in an international environment, just for context.
Thanks for the thoughtful response 🙏 Mark teaches fitness classes all around Amsterdam..he’s also the type of guy who is always open to talking to people too!
As an 11-generation Dutch Jew living in Israel, I enjoy your perspective, which is only confirmed by many things Mark said. My kids grew up here but they're still very Dutch: honest, personal, principled, no money wolves, etc.
Stop colonizing and go back to europe
Free Palestine 🇵🇸
Wtf is an 11-generation Dutch Jew?
@@BoonBoom-48 yeah wtf!? 😄
Stay there please 🙏 not in thr Netherlands please not welcome here 😊
Thank you. ❤ Great interview.
Thanks!
Very insightfull, very personal. Thanks for that. Always well balanced videos 🤘❤️🇪🇺🇺🇲
Thanks for the kind words, glad you enjoyed it!
Sick! I’m a strength coach and want to move to the Netherlands. This will be very insightful I’m sure and I can’t wait to watch.
im gonna make a very typically Dutch direct statement:
The very last thing, THE NUMBER ONE THING WE NEED THE LEAST is more people in this country that take the occupation of "coaching".
We need medical employees, teachers, builders, IT specialists and the like.
Glad to hear. And I hope things work out for you...whatever you decide to do!
When you finish, would be interested to hear your thoughts!
@@chef7658 - as I write this comment I am aware that it's only my humble opinion, but based on what I do I believe and have observed I can add that we are currently flooded with IT specialists and infrastructuralists. We DO have a big lack of medical professionals, especially in the lower provinces. These are very needed, yes.
To top it off, the country is full.
First of all, Awesome video!
The innovation part I strongly disagree with. Netherlands always rank amongst the top of the world for innovation and digital competitiveness , but if you just live your daily life you just don't realize it due to the "doe normaal" culture. Dutch aren't against trying new ideas, but as said, they want to see the synergy first, understand the logic of the pitched idea rather than just winging it because it's possible. It has to make sense.
The Netherlands have been falling behind innovation wise the last decade though. Governments that cut down on education funding and don't want to invest that much in science don't help.
@@ffqmEducation spending has been on the increase since 2000 (19,8 billion, 4,8% of GDP) to 2022 (58 billion, 5,6% of GDP) according to the Ministry of Education website. And according to the Rathenau Institute we are between Finland, Austria and Denmark (above) and Norway, Sweden and France (below), but above the US with direct R&D government subsidy for science and innovation (data from Eurostat). In 2024 The Netherlands is one of the four innovation leaders and ranked number 9 (last year 5th) according to The European Innovation Scoreboard. It is not all dismal like leftwing parties wanna make us believe.
@@ffqmtrue, but innovating ideas often happens when resources are little
Well, "Doe Maar Normaal", is either the de facto Dutch Slogan, or the answer to "Two famous Dutch bands?"...
Thank you. Great video as always!!
Thank YOU! Appreciate it =)
I think it is not a difference in innovation. We have a very good trackrecord on successful innovation. There is however a difference in risk apetite which we also see in social context not just business.The Dutch mitigating social risks that the American gamble on. Like guns and health insurance. The whole basis of the American dream is in essence working hard to win the lottery. While it is more Dutch to state that some things aren't worth the gamble. Resulting in less payout when you win the lottery, but with an higher average of stable day to day live.
Thanks for sharing this. Makes sense. In America, it's big risk...big reward. But also big downfall too. Exactly like a lottery. There are people who like that game...and many who don't. If you have an entrepreneurial mindset and want to do big things in life/the world...America can be great for that.
@@hi.davidwen Mental health is a recurring topic in your videos; the risk, and the stress that goes allong with it, is felt mostly by people with a lower income. Johnny Harris posted an, I think, interesting story which you might find interesting aswell. While in the Netherlands it is sort of the same story, as is with every capitalist country, I expect the gap to be smaller here. But we need a statistic based Dutch equivalent of Johnnys story for that, to be sure. th-cam.com/video/NfMdvee5HoY/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared
9:00 Mark Jenkins is misreading the Dutch when he says they are racist. The "what are you doing here" questioning look is cast on whoever you are, even white guys whoa are not from the neighborhood. It's a cultural thing. And most people forget that there is a class structure based on how much money you have. Most Dutch people are the opposite of racist. That's not to say that racism doesn't exist in the NL, it does.
Thanks for sharing. Just want to note that Mark never said the Dutch are racist (though he did say he feels a lot of racism in the US).
We cannot say Mark misread anything because we are not him. It's his experience.
But the fact is...unconscious bias is everywhere in society. We are all biased in some way whether we know it or not
I noticed the Netherlands is very segregated. This is why these problems exist here. As a black woman, whenever I walk in the city center in Utrecht, I feel very uncomfortable and out of place.
@smithhbea And, sadly, it's getting worse. And it goes both ways. One weird thing I've started to see that makes me cringe is women walking ten paces behind their men. During my first stint in the NL in Amsterdam in the 80s, I had lots of friends from the middle east. A couple years ago, I remarked to my girlfriend (this was in Hilversum) that there seemed to be a lot more moslims than in the 80s. She told me I was being racist! It still shocks me today to know that women are being segregated from men in the NL, sometimes in their own home! I was raised as a child in Ireland, experienced racism for being Irish as a teen in the 70s. My second best friend was from Pakistan. I used to shop in Uxbridge in "little India" and then have a great curry for dinner. I had a Jamaican girlfriend, Persian (Iranian) girlfriend. I've lived in Ireland, England, NL, Saudia Arabia, and California. I've travelled all over Europe and the US. I've seen racism in every one of these countries. Overt and covert. We had a lovely server in a restaurant in Rome. We got a bit chummy when she found out I had lived in CA, USA. She opened up and told us that many Italians acted friendly towards you but were actually very racist, especially against darker skinned people. She was a student from the East Coast (Massachusets, I think) who came to study and work in Italy to improve her Italian. And, yes, she was black. My point is that... racism is "taught" to us by our parents, either directly by example in behaviors shown towards others or in "traditions" that seem harmless.
Don't be so easily offended Dutch people!!! ❤ Mark has the right to share HIS HONEST opinion based on HIS experiences in The Netherlands!! It's all good 👍
haha, i agree.. everyone is offended by the comments about innovation :) it sounds to me like he is talking about business model innovation mostly...
Great video. Thank you for making it.
It makes me feel so much blessed to live in my country. As a person who grew up here, we are programmed to see the U.S. lifestyle as an ideal. Life in the U.S. seems more interesting and I remember that in my twenties Holland felt like being an animal in a zoo as compared to living in the jungle that is the U.S. I wanted to live in that jungle then but I'm so glad now that I'm a happy 'looser' in Holland now with no property and little societal success. It's so perfectly okay here, not to 'make something of yourself'. More so once you find out that, in the end, it's still you.
The grass ain't always greener...but I would also say it depends on what each person values and where they are in life...there are pros and cons of the US depending on what you do/where you are (what Mark said). But cheers to "it's still you"...it's OK to be yourself. Thanks for your comment, I hope you have a nice summer!
Both of you are very level headed gentlemen with a very balanced perspective about a change of country and culture. I always encourage my son to go see the world to broaden his horizon and his perspective of life in general.
The consensus seems to be that making money and maintaining mental health should be evenly balanced.
I agree. But then, in Europe (notably the smaller countries, but including the large ones) we don't have to travel far to go beyond our horizons. (Just think of languages.)
@@chrislaarman7532 The education system encourages it which is a good thing. I myself am not a native born Dutch person so perspective is very subjective. Being in a different country as a tourist is different from actually making your home in that Country.
The intricacies of subtle cultural differences can only be experienced if you live it a certain amount of time.
Appreciation of certain things can only come if you have time to compare.
Thanks! Yeah I think the best education I had was when I spent a year backpacking in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East in my 20s...didn't have much...but it was one of the most transformative forms of education. To learn about different cultures and about myself (by being in different environments). I hope your son sees more of the world if he wishes!
@@hi.davidwen My son is indeed traveling the world. Being biracial helps him conform a bit better to different cultures although in some ways he is so very Dutch. The worldly views experienced through your children's eyes are often hilarious but oh so precious.
The train part is really easy to explain, If I have to sit next to you I'll rather stand this is with everyone but when it's jam packed you'll either have some sitting next to you or people eye balling your spot for when you leave
Thanks for sharing your perspective
I hope that with “this is for everyone” you mean that YOU prefer to sit next to no one, and you don’t mean that everyone doesn’t want to sit next to a “black” person! The latter is certainly no true … at least for me.
@@IeneMieneMutte10I think what he meant is he doesn't like to sit that close to anybody.. which I understand in a way.. if there are people sitting on a half-full bench, I'd rather go the the bench next to it that is entirely empty because I feel they would feel annoyed at having their personal space impeded on or i would be afraid they would feel uncomfortable with me accidentally touching their arms or them smelling me (I have a weird fear of smelling bad lol so that part is probably just me). If the entire carriage is full except for one seat, I would prefer sitting, so in the end I always pick comfort over that social anxiety mentioned before though, or even if it is almost full I'd much prefer to sit next to Mark then stand, I wouldn't mind sitting next to him or anyone anyway (black/white/male/female/etc). But the things I mentioned might be what a lot of others in NL also consider when deciding where to stand or sit
Indeed, nothing new. I hate bothering strangers or sit next to someone I don't know, I rather just stand and wait till someone leaves or till I arrive lmao.
The part in the bus or train.
I usually don't really sit next to anyone I don't know and if the journey is short will just stand. Only if the journey is long I will see if I can sit next to someone.
I feel like more people in the Netherlands have this? Could be wrong tho
Thanks for sharing your perspective.
Personal space, yes...same here. My friend in Finland and I often joke about this as they are notorious for wanting to be left alone by strangers (no matter who it is). We have this same mindset to a lesser degree in the Netherlands, but I'd say it is more towards the not wanting to be a neusance to others in that regard.
It’s always interesting to hear other people’s experiences and opinions but they are specific, you can’t generalise. Living in New York City is very different from living in rural Montana and living in Amsterdam is very different from living in a Dutch village. I am British and moved to the USA, I went from London to a small Californian town, the differences are mostly to do with the differences between a city and a town, rather than the 2 countries. Is one better than the other? Different people would form very different opinions.
True. Thanks for sharing
@@hi.davidwen Thank you for replying!
We still like our money, we just don't have to swim in it. But we like at least paddling in it. I think that is a big difference . The gap between the ultra rich and the poor in the US is to much. There in not a lot of difference in feeling happy between having enough or being crazy rich, but there is a hudge difference between having enough and strungling every day to get bills payed and worrying how you can take care of your family and yourself.
Thanks for sharing...yeah all the science shows money does make you happy...but only up to a certain amount
Sidenote: there are Dutch people that are really rich, but they leave The Netherlands, because of the taxes, so here are a lot of reasons why we are different, you cannot compare a big big huge country as the U.S.A to The Netherlands.
Good stuff. Thanks
Awesome interview. I think many Americans should see it. Not to come to the Netherlands too, but to start changing things at home. They live in a 'normal' they are not aware how insane it is.
Thanks! Yeah a lot Americans can learn from. But change is hard (you know us humans)...sometimes it takes leaving and experiencing something new/different for one to change (like Mark said about learning from different cultures).
@@hi.davidwen Indeed, and it helps us Dutchies enjoy better what we already have.
Hello David, can you update us on your job or if you moved back to the US
Hey there. I've been in the US due to personal reasons (still no job, there's been a lot going on in "life"). Thanks for asking though and hope you are well
I’m curious, do you speak Dutch? How hard is it to work in business in the Netherlands not speaking fluent Dutch?
The English say: "The more you speak Dutch, the more they speak English to you"😊
Interesting, the comment about the seat in the subway, in general people try to avoid sitting to anyone, and often they first go for the seats next to woman. I am white and blond but the seat next to me also always stays empty ;-)
Thanks for sharing your experience! Yeah I don't know...I generally try to sit alone by myself first...and then probably whichever seat is next to someone who seems QUIET and calm (oh, I've had some bad experiences taking public transport through the years)
Hey David in terms of celebrating festivals and carnivals how is Netherlands ??
Does any concerts happen in Amsterdam?
Do you ever feel bored ?
Already many reactions to our lack of innovation. Interesting if you see how much things he uses and has used that were invented in the Netherlands. Like compact cassettes, CD, wifi, bluetooth and important contributions on software, eg python and key low level algorithms. So probably the difference is that he is used to individual innovation that is aimed at getting rich fast, whereas much of Dutch innovations are aimed at improving life for a larger group, that may or may not include the inventor. Just my 2 cents.
Me (Dutch, in the Netherlands), I'm under the impression (not an opinion) that it's the American society that lacks innovation, both social and technical innovation. Nor is this impression a disqualification of any sort! :-)
Thanks for sharing! You bring a good point...there are many Dutch inventions that the world doesn't know is Dutch...perhaps it's related to the Dutch mentality of not "showing off?"
Google maps' core algorithm is called the Dijkstra algorithm, named after the Dutch mathematician who invented it on a napkin while drinking coffee. In the fifties.
The code for Google Earth was written by a Berlin wizkid.
In many cases American Innovation consists of taking (sometimes legally stealing) stuff that already exists and make a shitload of money with it.
not the whole Netherlands is expensivesmall villages
are sometimes cheaper but just have luck and search Netherlands is not only Amsterdam
Thanks for your inspirational global mindset vision Mark!
Honestly speaking it’s quite exhausting living in the US as a black man. Especially once you experience the vast contrast in how you’re treated outside of it vs inside of it. Kudos to you for finding someplace you feel more at peace, I’m working on it too.
There’s so much more to life than working until you retire at 65, broken, broke and with poor health.
So sad that because of his experience he seems to see racism in everything now. Good luck to him.
Thanks for sharing...we're conditioned by so many things from our past and our environments...I do think Mark has gone through a lot and has used that "energy" to his advantage to overcome a lot of obstacles and create a better life for him/his family though
We kunnen een hoop zeiken op ons landje, maar we moeten ons realiseren dat we het op veel vlakken ook best goed voor elkaar hebben.
we staan aan de afgrond.
@@Waterdiver3900 en waarom denk je dat?
@waterdiver3900 Onze welvaart klotst tegen onze oksels. Op het gebied van de rechtstaat, democratie, mensenrechten staan we dankzij de ultra-conservatieve beweging aan de afgrond.
@@Boodschap 13 jaar Rutte...en daarvoor Balkenende
@@peterang6912 Je vergeet de Eu te noemen.
Yesterday I have read an outcome of an research that the Dutch associates the amount of salaries with the appriciation of their company and more the ability to grow in the company. Maybe that's the mindset you noticed regarding enough money is oke and focus more on hobbies and free time. That said, smelling roses sounds more like Portugal and south of Spain, at least thats what we probably fantasize about (old Dutch pension plan)
He hit the nail on the head when he said he got tired of the "Hater Culture" and the racism of America and it will continue to get worse. Amsterdam or Rotterdam has always been on my radar as a place to live for quite a long time and I really want to be there forever!! And I am really working towards making it happen. I can no longer be here in America. Fantastic interview!
His remark and thought that the reason that a “white” Dutch person doesn’t want to sit next to him in public transport is because of his “black” skin color, I find very disappointing; it even makes me angry. It’s a racist remark and thought itself. I’m a Dutch “white” woman and I’m very much against racism (or any form of discrimination)! I find it ridiculous that people are being called “black” or “white”. This keeps racism ‘alive’. So please let’s us stop that nonsense! No human being is black or white. Human skin colors come in different shade of brown, from very light beige to dark pure chocolate brown. The white trousers of the interviewer and the black t-shirt of the interviewee are proof.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. Yeah, I do wish one day we can live in a world where we all see each other as humans. Though...we are all biased in some way living in society...and it's good to be aware of these conscious and unconscious biases...but yeah, it starts with calling it out
I think about the public transport and that his seat stay free next to him hasn't to do with his skin colour. He his bigger on his shoulders then average so people will choose a seat next to a smaller person for more space.
Welcome in the Netherlands, easy does it. As we say, doe normaal, doe je gek genoeg. ❤️
🙌🙌
The word 'market' has not been working too well here in the Netherlands (look at the housing problem f.i.) When there is quality, your market will grow from 'hear say'. Don't try to make the Netherlands into a clone of the US. Where I live in Amsterdam, some rules begin to change in this English speaking (very international) neighbourhood, for American people are used to complain about everything and local government have to react to complains. Please let us have the Dutch way of acknowledge and cope with differences, speak about it and try not to live in only your own bubble of habbits.
Thanks for sharing your perspective Louise. I believe what Mark was sharing is "How can we learn from each other-different cultures-especially in international markets...to innovate?" But also to promote empathy and understanding. At the same time, 100% understand your concern...there needs to be balance in maintaining traditions and listening to locals. Thanks for mentioning that
Well... there is no such thing as the perfect place. I've been to many countries and lived there too. I really think the Netherlands stays on top and Japan comes next. Dutch should consider that our country is still much more livable than most of the countries on this planet. We Dutch like to complain, but at the end we will take the punches. Although this country is very crowded but outside of the cities are people more relaxed and maybe conservative, depends where you are. But still, act normal and don't show off mentality could be considered the core of the Dutch way. I've been also to the States many times.. and it always comes to my mind.. How bad could be a person's life, if you consider the states as the place to escape the poverty and see it as heaven on earth (immigrants). Dutch should be consider that our country, although things are changing, is blessed. Go travel to other parts of the world and you'll see...
Thanks for sharing. Yeah it's good to have perspective...makes us appreciate the good in our lives. And there's also a lot of good to learn from other cultures as well
The Dutch are very willing to try new things. But if the new is not better than the old we stick with the old. And for fitness: we cycle and walk. That is enough exercise and it is FREE. ;-)
Good point!
great video but why is it so pixelated? Max quality is 1080p and that is what its on.
Thanks! Ah not sure why it's pixelated...but 1080p is what I export
The story about Sonya Massey is absolutely disgusting 😢
I am so confused about the story.
1) She called the police about a possible criminal on her property at night
2) Police came to investigate and found no intruder
3) Police came inside and spoke with her
4) She was in the house (very messy/sloppy) and had boiling water on the stove
5) Officers asked her about it and she went into this muttering of words 'I rebuke you in the name of Jesus”
6) Officers felt her behavior was odd (mental health issues) and thought she was going to throw the pot of boiling water at them and told her not to do it
7) The officer thought she had something in her hand and shot her
What did I miss?
@chrispnw2547 She died, didn't she. Not enough?
@@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536 NO, LEOs normally don't walk into the home of a citizen (after inspecting their property at night for a prowler) to then shoot them for boiling water on a stove. I'm not saying it did not happen but the circumstances are confusing.
@chrispnw2547 Ethnic profiling, while it shouldn't happen, does.
@@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536 i get what chrispnw is saying, it's a weird case and unless we know the details it's impossible to judge it.
- it could be ethnic profiling in the sense that the cops saw a black lady and immediately jump to the conclusion that she must be the bad person because of her skin tone.
- it could be a mental unstable women who just happened to misunderstand the cops and because of the trigger-happiness of US cops it ended in a shooting, while in the same situation in Europe it would have been solved with talking. (or non-lethal force)
- it could be that she did intend to trow the pot of boiling water at the cops and the cops acted accordingly. threatening a cop is never a good idea, especially in the US.
so unless you know exactly what everyone said, what happened before the cops arrived (like the 911 call) and what happened at that house, it's impossible to say who was in the wrong.
ps. ethnic profiling has it's place.
if it's a fact that in a particular area people from a particular group/ethnicity cause trouble it's common sense to focus on people from that group.
let's take an Dutch example:
there is a gathering of people from the Moluccas and the past has shown these types of event attract people with two vastly different opinions about the current situation of the Moluccas.
so the cops are tasked with keeping it safe.
people from the Moluccas have another colour than Europeans, so it's logical to divert attention from European looking people to people with more colour (like the colour of the people from the Moluccas).
in this example you use the ethnicity of people to filter out people who (most likely) aren't a threat to the situation.
The Netherlands awesome place always something to do there
I wish to move to the netherlands, thats been my main goal since about 2 years ago, as someone about to graduate highschool with 0 skills, and no plans on doing college as I'm not very smart,
I hope to still be able to move there, even if Im forced to do construction or trades jobs, as thats what im currently doing now, are they in need of trades?.
May I ask, if somebody knows..please reply too 😅 we have some relatives from America coming to the Netherlands soon. I want to prepare some goodiebags. The only thing I can think of if cheese, stroopwafels and peanut butter 😂. Is there anything more original that they do not have in the states? Do americans know Speculoos? It should be something they can take back to the states as hand baggage. So herring is not an option 😅 hope to receive some tips 😊
Great talk...
🙏
interesting story where can we find more about his businesses?
If you Google "Mark Jenkins," he's out there. I remember watching Diddy (Puff Daddy) training for the New York City marathon, and there was MTV show (a popular music channel back in the day) about him training for it..and Mark was his marathon trainer. I didn't realize it..but yeah I remember Mark when I was a kid watching MTV in America
instagram.com/themarkjenkins/
I wish Mark Jenkins the best of luck. He seems like a very cool dude. My guess is that he will have to leave the NL because he will not find many people willing to pay for a personal trainer, no matter how rich they are. Culture! [What kind of visa does he have? I bet he doesn't have a verblijfsvergunning.]
I can only imagine his style of fitness innovation is geared towards a bigger market like in the U.S while we know it doesn't really work like that here. There is no new great thing that will bring success. Even our very best singers are working in a small pond so don't make that much money. But when it comes to medical innovation, farming, tech, there is a lot of new work being done. So it just depends on what part you are looking at.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. Yeah definitely, there's a lot of innovation happening in NL...in different fields. The fitness game is very different in the US compared to here. I know it's something that affects us all as humans...but yeah it's a different culture as well. I do wonder how we can learn from other cultures though. Not so long ago...from a wellbeing perspective, Eastern practices were "woo woo." Now, Eastern practices like yoga and meditation are very mainstream in the West. So I do wonder how we can learn from other cultures to "innovate."
@@hi.davidwen I think dutch people use fitness to get healthier and feel better but they will include free things like walking and biking, they just wouldn't want to pay for a new fitness program and they don't make the gym their life. I can't imagine how you can innovate in that.
The only thing I can think of that took of is nordic walking and you'd see groups of people with a leader going down the sidewalk with their sticks but that is long over too.
Sometimes if something is doing it's job we do think it's fine, there is no hussle culture or run for glory to make new things happen.
I do not see the downside in that, as we are totally innovating where it matters, I may soon be part of a medical trial, they are building a new building at the hospital to have the newest tech innovations nearby.
I think that's the dutch culture, work hard on what's needed. water management, flood prevention, clean power. Why waste time on things that already work well.
Im actually quite shocked to hear this man describe the casual racism he is experiencing in The Netherlands. Im a white Dutch guy so I might be a bit ignorant in that regard, but it is horrible this guy feels like people dont really want to sit next to him. I know its a bit of a thing in smaller, more remote villages where people are just less used to foreigners or everyone who looks different in any way but this really shouldnt be a thing in cities in 2024 where people from all over the world live. But yeah, it makes me a bit sad. This is a very accomplished man, well dressed, well spoken and can obviously easily carry his own weight so he should be made to feel welcome in every possible way.
Thanks for sharing your kind words. Yeah, I also cannot relate to his experience as a black person. But I can try to understand (we all have unconscious biases as humans). But he definitely feels a lot safer and more welcome in the Netherlands =)
As a Indo living in Zeeuws Vlaanderen (you cant get any more remote than this ;) ) im not really shocked by the casual racism happening. Not that i approve of it but its just what it is i guess. I have had my share of racial slurs or actions in my lifetime now and then but im just not bothered by it whatsoever (its just the way i think). I know it might make you feel sad, i mean i have always lived with the philosophy of every person should be able to live the way the want to live, so i have never understood why another person could discriminate another person for whatever (usually just because they arent anything like themselves), but i think you should just face reality that racism and/or discriminiation is still very much a thing all over the globe, so not just here. I mean just look at how the latest elections went. I dont really know what im trying to say to be honest, i guess it makes me sad that it makes you sad, when i know its a unsolvable problem. I think i just want to say the fact that you address this point and that you re actively thinking about it makes you a better person than any of the ignorant people who can only see their own small world. Just do the things you think being a good person is and try to make a change like that. I know we re not going to change the whole society like this but at least some people might change their views on people who are different to them seeing they are just normal people like them. Its just nice to be nice.....
@@chocvanr227 Im sorry to hear that. People with roots in Indonesia are as Dutch as any of us. Its just a multi cultural society in general, all the way back to the 16th century when Portuguese jews moved here to seek religious refuge all the way to the days of the empire with colonies all over the world. So racism is just, well, dumb because it means you dont understand what made the Dutch history and culture great in the first place.
@@ageoflove1980 it is yea. And I guess its thaught too. There are no babies who are bigots or racists right out the womb. I saw a human rights activist say sometime 'hatred can be gone in 2 generations, as long as we dont keep teaching our children'. I never really thought about it like that but it does make sense, and it gives a little bit of hope for humanity :)
Wait, his name is Mark Jenkins and he has a like the slightest accent that reminds me of when a dutch person speaks english. I know he grew up in the US, but considering his last name, does he have Dutch parents?
Ah interesting observation...I don't know his parents...I don't think so though, I can ask next time
Jenkins is not a Dutch name. It is an English name.
Even though our country is not perfect, I still feel proud that we can make US citizens feel more safe over here than in their home country. I'm honored they have deciced to this little nation when they could've moved anywhere. Thank you for sharing these stories.
Thanks for watching and sharing!
Hey,
I hope you are doing well,
thank you for sharing valuable information,
Your videos have inspired me to choose Netherland for my further study,
But I want to know few things, Can you please reply me answer here,
I am Joe from India,
Coming to the Netherlands in February 2025 to pursue a master's course, (with 6 months pre master course)
So I just want to know, can my wife and child get a dependent visa? and can my wife work there while I am on a student visa?
I'm a retired (white) American living in France, and I'd encourage Mark to try France, for the following reasons, -among many others : (1) The food is MUCH better (Dutch food is almost as dreary as American.) (2) The weather is INFINITELY better. (It almost never stops raining in Holland, and it rains normally in France) plus it's much warmer, everywhere in France; (3) The French have SUPERLATIVE health care-- and it's available, after a huge amount of bureaucratic hassle, to Americans; (4) The wine, by definition, is vastly better; (5) With all due respect to the Dutch, who certainly have some lovely cities, France is a MUCH more beautiful and varied country. Amsterdam has its advantages, but it will never be Paris, and even smaller cities, like Aix en Provence, and beautiful and interesting; (5) All the advantages you list for Holland (no guns, materially less racism than the US, excellent public transportation; excellent public services)also pertain in France. Plus the French are generally highly educated, and seriously respect the arts and their rich, ancient, culture. Finally, the language is a BIG advantage. Dutch is a basically a useless language, a nd impossible to learn,with only modest literature; while French is universal, with a VAST repertory of literature, music and arts.
I could go on, but you get the point.