2 main reasons for the good road condition in The Netherlands. 1, Wish and eye for quality and durability. 2, Paying road tax (wegenbelasting) which is used for new roads and maintenance.
As with all countries road tax is just another income stream for the government part of which is spent on infrastructure. Road tax isn't directly spent on roads. We've got vastly less impermeable surface area (mostly asphalt) per person than the Americans do however making it much cheaper to maintain the roads that we do have compared to the Americans. The cause of that is partly because of population density, but more of it is caused by the city development pattern with the American style of development of single family house suburbs being highly inefficient
Do you know the Dutch word for pothole? That is a trick question. There is no word for pothole. We don't really need a word for something we don't have. But legally, when one suffers damage or injury because of bad design or bad maintenance of the road, the owner of said road can be held liable. So damage is probably fixed before it can get dangerous.
My brother once hit a rare dutch pothole (gat?) driving his motorcycle. Complained and claimed damage. Got fully refunded for the damage by rijkswaterstaat.
À pothole is a Zinkgat Zink = sink and gat = hole It's a good word: it is what happens, the pavement is sinking down because the sand underneath has been washed away 
@@bosenlommer54261 Een zinkgat in English is a sinkhole, which is a different thing than a pothole. A sinkhole is formed by rainwater moving through spaces and cracks underground, slowly dissolving limestone and creating a network of cavities and voids. A pothole is created by lack of maintenance. The number of potholes is directly proportional to the amount of road tax you pay. USA: low taxes, many potholes; the Netherlands: high taxes, virtually no potholes. And if you have any damage here due to an insufficiently maintained surface, be it a road, a bike path or a sidewalk, you can claim your damages with the organisation that is in charge of that road, e.g. the ministry of transport (Rijkswaterstaat) for highways, the province for provincial (80km) roads, or the municipality for streets and sidewalks.
As a Dutch guy I travelled to New York recently. It’s an amazing city with incredible private wealth. But also with unseen poverty and a crumbling public infrastructure. It’s the result of raw, unregulated 19th century capitalism. And that is a political choice !!
Plus, many of the preservatives used in the US are actually banned in Europe. Because they pose health risks. So yeah, there's that too. I'd rather keep my bread in the freezer than eat bread that doesn't spoil. That's suss as F...
Roads in general are very smooth and well maintained in the Netherlands, and actually in Dutch residential neighbourhoods the streets are often made from brick and even laid in an uneven manner on purpose (!) to make car drivers slow down...
That back ally is to get inside the backyard with your bike to park it in the shed. Nothing to worry about to be there if it's dark. There are lights (sensored ones)
I am anazed about your attentiveness about the Netherlands, and i like your prognose. I apprecieted you more and more, because you are so efficient to lett us know how you came to that conclusion. And it doesn't matter if it is postitive or negatieve for the Netherlands. You show us who you are, and that is a right thinking person with his own opinion. Thank you,
brick roads make more noise when driven over, and thereforpeople tent so drive at a lower speed. that is why you find those roads were you can find many pedestrians, cyclists and town centers. also in the netherlands you can hold those who are responcible for the maintence of the road responsible if you get an accident due to lack of maintnance and upkeep. that goes even for pedestrians when the sidewalks are badbly maintained and you fall becouse af that an need medical atention.
When my American husband started visiting me in NL, he'd buy a big loaf of bread (or 2). I told him not to do that because we wouldn't finish that much in just a couple of days. He did it anyway because according to him it would be fine. It spoiled in a couple of days, as I had told him. He was shocked! Months later I was in the USA and his cousin had to do a school project: making bread go moldy. She tried in multiple ways to purposely make it go bad. After a month or 2, the bread still looked fine, no mold. This time I was shocked 😂
10:18 So the 'alley' is what we call an 'achterom', or 'behindway'. It's used to access your backyard, which is often where the shed is to park your bike. That way, you don't have to bring your bike through the house (because dutch houses are mostly build in rows, rarely ever semi- or fully detached).
I have driven Belgian roads often and yes, they are one of the worst in Europe. Still many, many major roads in the USA are way worse. So bad that often you start driving in other lanes because it’s unbearable to stay in the lane you were. Bouncing around, hitting potholes that can literally be compared to driving up a curb and when passed safely, you’re happy to not having to pull over and call road repair to replace some tires. In 2.5 years and 250K miles or 400K kilometers, I have replaced about 50 (!!!) tires. I do drive a heavy 18-wheeler but that’s still utterly ridiculous.
@@petter3995 I agree on that. Still most roads in Wallonië are better than most roads in the USA. The number of vehicles that breaks down or get flat tires is insane in the USA. Most vehicles are not maintained as well as in Belgium but it’s not just the maintaining of the vehicle that makes them strand on the side of the road. I have always driven new trucks (never over 200K miles) and extremely well maintained and even I have to pull over at least a couple times a year because of something going wrong. The constant bouncing and shaking because of bad road conditions is ruining everything.
those red asphalt roads are open to both cars and bicycles, but cars are "guests" on the street. You really should watch some of the "not just bikes" videos about roads and neighborhoods. You could learn about both the Dutch and the North American situation.
The broad red 'bike lane' that you followed (from 6:25 on) is in fact a multi-purpose lane where cyclist have priority, and cars are welcome but have to give way to cyclists and drive slowly. The red color signifies that it is in fact mainly meant for cycling. At the start of that lane there will be some kind of sign saying: "Fietsstraat, auto te gast" (bicycle road, cars are guests). They become more common now in suburbs when the roads get a make over. They typically cover short distances. The main bike infrastructure consists of separate lanes for bikes and cars where traffic volumes are too large, or where speed differences are too large to let them occupy the same space.
Not entirely correct: Though (fortunately) most people give way to cyclists, a 'fietsstraat' legally does not differ from a 'regular' 30 km/u erftoegangsweg. So cyclists don't have right of way.
@@martinvrieling8675 They have. So I was not the one who was not 'entirely correct'. I guess a legal document would be necessary here to prove your point.
I always love it when newly imported Dutchies start making those small asides about the weather. It shows you really start to get the vibe of our small little country. "It's sunny now, but there's probably hail after the downpour after the storm before it gets calm again in the afternoon."
That bikeline you were walking along where there's also cars. That's just asphalt. With some colour added to it. It might be a version called ZOAB. Zeer Open Asfalt Beton (Very open asphalt concrete). It's very porous and very good ad letting water through. It's also used on most highways and has the big advantage in rain that there's a lot less spray from the cars in front of you.
Notice how slow all off the backround cars were driving through the streets of the neighbourhood. That's not accidentally, but mostly due to the infrastracture of the town roads (besides having a maximum allowed speed ofcourse)
Between the biggest cities and towns trains do run at night, although less frequent. Bigger cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam have night busses that also run less frequent compared to the rest of the day .
I think you're forgetting a very important safety luxury. In that late night video you passed a policecar, and they didn't even jump you. No for demanding id, no detaining in cuffs and a high possibility of arrest. I've seen so many videos of police officers doing things like that while saying " i ( we ) need to know all these things so when something happens i know you were here in the neighbourhood, bc normal people are a sleep at this hour"! And im now describing an encounter that was pretty nice compared to the rest. 😢😊 Oh and most often in a no stop and id state.
The reason the roads here are well kept is because we increase our taxes accordingly and the higher density in our towns means there's more taxes coming in per m² of road surface (compared to urban sprawl).
@@henkvandervossen6616you’ll get fined if you don’t have a health insurance and if you still don’t have one after two fines the state will take an insurance in your name and have you pay for it.
Thanks again for your insights, the NS used to have some night trains, mostly from bigger cities, if Irc they rode until 5 am while the first ride of the morning was at 6 am. I think they mostly stopped with that because to little people made use of it and drunk people cost way to much money. Groetjes uit Brabant!
Dutch person with periodical insomnia here. I've walked around at night and sat in parks at night alone all my adult life. Never had anything bad happen to me. It's overall pretty safe here. That said: crime does exist, and you can be unlucky when you're at the wrong time at the wrong place with the wrong people. I've only seen aggressive behaviour in and around cafés and clubs. I also once had 2 kids going to the jackass movie throw an egg at me. It bounced of and broke on the street.😂
When I still worked, I often fall asleep early in the evening, to wake up in the middle of the night. And had to walk with my dog, but I didn’t mind. It’s such a magical hour, everyone is asleep the streets are empty and it’s so silent. Edit: I never went out in the weekends, because people returning home drunk.
Many roads with bricks are roads that do not have a lot of heavy traffic. Usually they are in residential areas or areas where the maximum speed limit is 30-50 km. These types of roads are much more durable because subsidence and any holes can be repaired with some sand. Asphalt is more difficult to repair and at the same time keep it nice and smooth
The difference in house prices has multiple factors but most impotent once are build quality is much higher in the Netherlands than US (more brick/concrete) and isolation that makes a home more expensive but it will last longer, needs less maintenance and are very energy efficient.
You forgot to mention a very important thing about the food part. No matter where you are in the Netherlands, you're 10 min walking away from the nearest supermarket, there are NO food deserts. Meaning that getting fresh food regularly is EXTREMELY doable. I personally get food JUST for dinner for that same night on my way home from work, as fresh as it gets daily, no freezing, no excess preservatives, just goodness.
The stones for the roads are called ‘straatklinkers’ or road pavers in English, they can be ceramic or concrete. And street muggings do occur, but are rare, especially in towns. Mostly it gets on the news if it does happen. I live in a town and cannot remember any street mugging last year and the first month of this year. The SVB (Sociale Verzekerings Bank, Social Insurance Bank) is the governmental organization responsible for people without a paid job or with minimum wage jobs to have mandatory health insurance, state pensions, social benefits, subsidies and support.
should those roads develope a depression or a pot hole they are easily repaired. Under the brick pavers is sand - lift up bricks, replace sand -road fixed
Funny, when you walk along a 'fietsstraat', where cars are allowed as guests, you only see cars passing, no bikes. It's not because of the weather this time.
Probably "free"ways had to do with the quality of the roads in the US. The "free"ways were built by automanufacturers that paid for the construction so more people would buy cars. Eventually the city has to pay for the maintenance of these roads. Also the US had way more cars that are used on a daily and they usually drive bigger cars as well. These heavier vehicles do more damage to the road. Another thing could be weather altho that depends on where you live. In NL I know they do a lot research into them and yes even asphalt has to be made to withstand a certain climate. Also in the winter we use a lot of salt on our roads which does in fact damage the asphalt over time. Brick road in residential areas is pretty clever because you can open it up very easily and maintain it just as easily. Our water, gas, electricity, internet/phone lines and sewage are all underground. Every roughly 15 years there will be a road inspection and if it's not up to snuff they maintain it.
Also here in NL, fuck the fietsstraat. I do not like 'm but I guess it phytologically makes people more aware whilst driving. Reasons for me. They are usually the best quality newly paved streets whit nicely sloped speedbumps you can just race over. Idk about you but compared to the situations before they were introduced, I can say that they allow you to drive faster.
The TH-cam channel Money & Macro, the episode NL vs USA shows how in the US the middleclass is shrinking en the lower class and the upperclass are growing.
what looks like bigger bikelanes (red color) means that cars are guests. bikes and pedestrians go first. Usually only aplies to 'bestemmingsverkeer', meaning they would not allow cars but it is the only way to get there for people that live there (or those that visit them) Hard to explain to foreigners. just know that cars are only allowed when need too and normal traffic rules do not apply. the bikes and pedestrians are sacred on these roads.
19:19 I'd say universal health insurance like we have in the NL is the acknowledgement that health care is a human right. Is our system perfect? No, care chains are often ridiculously bureaucratic, not all health care is covered, especially not if you need un-accredited treatment, something that regretfully often happens f.i. when kids need treatments that have only been tested on adults. But in general, the ideal is that everyone can get the basic healthcare that they need, and the system is designed around achieving that ideal without it costing half the country's budget.
About the food, bread, there was another video from expats, if you late at the store, there is no bread, because they bake is fresh every day. so funny for us dutchies it is so normal.
@@JordanGreenYT usually after 4pm you wont find any bread or the ones that are left is the bread no one wants.. best time to get bread is from 9am to 1 pm
0:35 You refer to potholes may I say? We in .NL also have potholes. There is one in the town where I work; it has been there for at least four weeks. And a mile or so to the south there is a nasty crack in the tarmac. So bumpy roads are also common here. 3:22 In fact it does make sense. When the city spends almost the entire budget on building ( _more_ ) roads, because voters want this, there is nothing left to maintain said tarmac ribbons. 4:40 Here you see the herringbone brick change over in a square pattern. The latter is a kind of temporary surface. Probably still, or till recently used by heavy building equipment. Or it needs to settle post an excavation. 6:30 You see a sign; " *auto te gast* " ( _car as guest_ ). It is a bike lane thus red, and cars can use it as a guest as long as you keep in mind, the biker is the main user. This type of lane still has to find a way into the laws defining road use. 10:08 Why not walk there at night? It's only backyard entrances. It's where your bike ride starts and ends. In the olden days we also called it a " brandgang " ( fire alley ). It also is used as a shortcut. 10:43 I rather miss a connection two, or three times a year than take extra time _every_ train ride. Trains depart at least every 30 minutes. On the main lines, the next departs in 15, 10 and some 7 minutes. 15:45 Who needs ten bedrooms other than starting a hotel? 20:45 I got a grocery store at a nine-minute walk from home, and three others at twelve minutes. In between also a baker, a butcher, a cheese shop, a greengrocer. So many shops to get my produce, I never need to get more than I can eat in two days. Look around in your neighbourhood. I bet there are more shops when you start to walk ( _or bike_ ) around.
the Netherlands invests in its infrastructure, not just roads and dykes, but also internet, electricity-network, natural network. If one takes into account the infrastructure the Netherlands is the richest country in the world
You can’t really compare NS to Swiss trains because the Netherlands has the most trains running per day. Very intensive use of the network and Switzerland has much less intensive use, much less track length and much less trains.
You would say that there is hardly any policy in this area in the US. No sense of responsibility or administrative knowledge. It also seems that residents cannot exert any influence.
You can't compare the US "super mansions" with Dutch houses. US homes are wood framed with paper walls: One food, fire or hurricane and your house is gone.. if not, the pine wood will rot away in 80 years. Dutch houses survive everything and easily last +800 year.
People please, bread at the supermarket is not fresh bread or even bread at all. I recommend to go to a bakery and a lokal farmer, that's even more fresh vegetables and close from the source🤗
The brick roads are made of brick on purpose to calm the traffic in the residential areas you walk through , after a year you must have noticed that bigger roads in the netherlands are always made from asphalt , but in suburbs and downtown city centers they are often brick, if you drive a car on brick roads you hear a lot of noise and vibrations in your car. this helps the driver to slow down as it is uncomfortable to go very fast. (some dickheads still do it )
In all my 45 years of walking through alleyways, even in bigger cities during late evenings or nighttime, I've only experienced one moment of "what the heck man" for lack of a better describement. Someone throwing a piece of firework (a "strijker") when I was walking in there. That's it. All there was. Note: there ARE alleyways you do want to avoid at nighttime, being the "working"-areas for the ladies of nightly companionship and drug abuse. But those are so, so, so evident that you just recognize them and wouldn't walk in on accident.
You mentioned not just bikes in a previous episode. Check out their strong towns docu on why american suburbs are a ponzi scheme and the cost of maintenance of roads cant be paid off taxes
That’s such an excellent video. Just an hour ago I used that information. An American living in Germany argued on his channel that space isn’t an issue in the USA. In my comment I disagreed, using the information about the costs of the spreading suburbs. Space is an issue.
There's a reason our public transport isn't 24/7. Our entire society isn't 24/7, it's 9/5, so our public transport is also that way. Train, subway, tram and bus are available outside 9/5, but the schedule is slowed down. For example, If you can catch a bus every 10 minutes between 9/5, you can still catch the bus after 9/5 but it will come by every 30 minutes or every hour or so. And at midnight, things shut down almost entirely. Nighttime is for sleeping after all. 24/7 everything is just silly, no one needs that.
the reason why the public transportation is not 24/7 is because of noise.. there are area's where houses are close to the train tracks and people been complaining about the noise at night... and the NS is not allowed to run at a set time from night to morning... fraight trains still run same with bus and trams after i believe 11 in the evening they are not allowed to operate and never will either.... difference from here and new york is public transit is under grounds !!!! can't compare the 2 !!!! I suggest you really start to study things here and get your facts right
Dutch people are certainly not humble ;) I'm Dutch btw. House prices are higher for smaller houses, because there is far less space to build. Land prices are high. In most cases, in popular areas, the ground is worth much more than the house that is build on it. Health insurance is mandatory and that keeps it affordable. Many conservatives that are not healthy, are allowed in the US, but are not allowed here/ the EU. For example skittles (the candy) have been banned here. Chicken from the US is also banned since 1997 in the EU, because of the chlorination of chicken.
lot more is banned here from the usa.. cheese, pork, cerials, some deodorants, the laundry detergent ,hotpockets, actually 80% of the US foods is banned here in the EU for their harmful addatives and conservatives
I had the why does youtube recommend me this thought. Don't get me wrong nice channel with good video's just something i don't daily watch. But then i looked again and did spot this is recommended because it is filmed extremely close to where i live. TH-cam seems to use your location to recommend things to you as well. If you like to film while walking outside please show the world the rest of our wonderful small town (about 30000 inhabitants) maybe the city center would be nice for showing?
Freedom in the USA means something different from freedom in the Netherlands. In the USA people just want freedom from government. That's basically it. And you need a gun to have it for some reason. In NL people want the freedom to do what they want, freedom from fear (no need for a gun), freedom from working 80 hours a week. The government's job is to make sure everyone has those freedoms. You are experiencing these differences between our two cultures. And it's not as bad as you'd expected I assume. Americans often call european countries "socialist" countries. But I hope you're learning that the Netherlands isn't exactly a socialist country. However, the Dutch culture is a collective culture. We actually care about what our neighborhoods look like. (in stead of just our own house and garden) This is, as you mentioned, how the Netherlands is much safer. It's important to people that everyone has the means to live their own lives the way they want to. In rural America you see some of this collective culture as well. But it's more rudimentary. The government is less involved.
About the roads: Why is it not possible in the US to sue a government for your damaged car that drove through a pothole? Edit: A motorcyclist could even get a accident Roads here are good because of this.
@@JordanGreenYT , sometimes you find in the aldi in the Netherlands things with the brand name Trader Joe, haha. I loved going to trader Joe in California.
Tbh. lack of street crime is not unique to dutch, its pretty similar all over europe - if you compare them to the americas. Even in the capital of "backwards" hungary i wouldnt think twice about filming. ...and dutch are VERY inequal. I mean people like owners of heinekken are dutch and uber rich. There is simply a lack of poverty. As such noone bothered by others having more, when they are plenty well off. I would argue though, that lack of "we belong to the same group/area/nation" that exists in both north and south america is the root of more crime. People are way less likely to move, and well, robbing your grannies cousin twice removed aint something one does.
I never considered that last point, but it makes perfect sense. I've noticed that homogeneity is a fundamental part of most high-functioning societies. The US is a melting pot--for better and for worse.
@JordanGreenYT I wouldnt say its due to homogenity, i would say the reason is a feeling of belonging to the group of people in the area you live. It really doesnt matter what your skin colour is. What matters is feeling like you are part of a community - and feeling that you would wrong people you care about by committing crimes.
yeah reading the comments and i am just halfway in the video... you really need to do some research and study to get your facts right and get yourself e secondhands theorie book used for driving lessons then you will learn the signs... it is always good to know the road signs even if you do not drive or ride a bike
I hope your viewers know that road tax spdns 550 billion euros (2024 budget) wile taking in 6 (!) bilion. The fact that car drivers pay a teeny tiny fraction of the costs they cause should be kept in mind with all discussions about cars and transportation
SVB.. social insurance bank. Is your SS. If you stay here and retire this will be paid monthly depending on how much you paid and how much your SS pays. But is same you pay in your taxes with other things. You pay more percentage in taxes ..not much more for me as a single women in States and not home owner. Love it here.
Actuly the concrete roads in the USA ar build to last and need les maintenance, they are however more expensive and time consuming to build and when they do need maintenance yup not so great. th main reasone why European and especialy dutch roads are so great is because we know how importend they are and we wanna also have very safe ones. Its not a luxury thing but common sense when we discoverd walkeble/bikeable none carcentric places where better for everyone including the econamy. But you americanes seem to think zoning laws invented to keep black people out of the suburbs are more importend. Well i guess to each there own but no its not a luxary if you think so and i can understand why, been to states enough that it feels like a luxary if you are from there. But what we call it is an investment and its paying off big time. and that wasn't a bikeline you where waling next to but a bike priority lane. So cars can drive on it but bikes have the right of way. So if you stuck behind a bike to bad for you. and you probable are perfectly safe in that allyway at night but yes its a shitty place if you get unlucky.
Trust me about the foods been to states enough to defenitly have an opionion about that. Youre food sucks to high heaven. Not sure if i said it on youre channel but the bread and cheese sucks but the do last wich was sort of ok with me cause i travvelled a lot by car, so it didn't spoil. It tasted pretty bad though wich was ok for the few weeks i needed it. But damm some places in the states i couldn't even get decent fresh fruits, even the expencive apples tasted like toilet cleanings.
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2 main reasons for the good road condition in The Netherlands.
1, Wish and eye for quality and durability.
2, Paying road tax (wegenbelasting) which is used for new roads and maintenance.
As with all countries road tax is just another income stream for the government part of which is spent on infrastructure. Road tax isn't directly spent on roads. We've got vastly less impermeable surface area (mostly asphalt) per person than the Americans do however making it much cheaper to maintain the roads that we do have compared to the Americans. The cause of that is partly because of population density, but more of it is caused by the city development pattern with the American style of development of single family house suburbs being highly inefficient
Do you know the Dutch word for pothole? That is a trick question. There is no word for pothole. We don't really need a word for something we don't have. But legally, when one suffers damage or injury because of bad design or bad maintenance of the road, the owner of said road can be held liable. So damage is probably fixed before it can get dangerous.
My brother once hit a rare dutch pothole (gat?) driving his motorcycle. Complained and claimed damage. Got fully refunded for the damage by rijkswaterstaat.
Remember last year we had a pothole in one of the highways and it made the news 😂 I think they even used the word pothole for lack of a better word.
Gat in de weg 😂😂
À pothole is a Zinkgat
Zink = sink and gat = hole
It's a good word: it is what happens, the pavement is sinking down because the sand underneath has been washed away

@@bosenlommer54261 Een zinkgat in English is a sinkhole, which is a different thing than a pothole. A sinkhole is formed by rainwater moving through spaces and cracks underground, slowly dissolving limestone and creating a network of cavities and voids. A pothole is created by lack of maintenance. The number of potholes is directly proportional to the amount of road tax you pay. USA: low taxes, many potholes; the Netherlands: high taxes, virtually no potholes. And if you have any damage here due to an insufficiently maintained surface, be it a road, a bike path or a sidewalk, you can claim your damages with the organisation that is in charge of that road, e.g. the ministry of transport (Rijkswaterstaat) for highways, the province for provincial (80km) roads, or the municipality for streets and sidewalks.
As a Dutch guy I travelled to New York recently. It’s an amazing city with incredible private wealth. But also with unseen poverty and a crumbling public infrastructure. It’s the result of raw, unregulated 19th century capitalism. And that is a political choice !!
I'm an American. Yes. U r correct!
Supermarkets are usually in walking distance, but always in biking distance, so you can go twice or more times a week.Dutchies prefer fresh food.
Plus, many of the preservatives used in the US are actually banned in Europe. Because they pose health risks. So yeah, there's that too.
I'd rather keep my bread in the freezer than eat bread that doesn't spoil. That's suss as F...
you can t never get fresh food from a supermarket
Roads in general are very smooth and well maintained in the Netherlands, and actually in Dutch residential neighbourhoods the streets are often made from brick and even laid in an uneven manner on purpose (!) to make car drivers slow down...
That back ally is to get inside the backyard with your bike to park it in the shed. Nothing to worry about to be there if it's dark.
There are lights (sensored ones)
I am anazed about your attentiveness about the Netherlands, and i like your prognose. I apprecieted you more and more, because you are so efficient to lett us know how you came to that conclusion. And it doesn't matter if it is postitive or negatieve for the Netherlands. You show us who you are, and that is a right thinking person with his own opinion. Thank you,
True we generaly don't mind negative feedback, as most of us see at as knowledge to find ways on how to improve things.
Once again, this another great video. It's very informative. Keep it up!👏👍
brick roads make more noise when driven over, and thereforpeople tent so drive at a lower speed.
that is why you find those roads were you can find many pedestrians, cyclists and town centers.
also in the netherlands you can hold those who are responcible for the maintence of the road responsible if you get an accident due to lack of maintnance and upkeep.
that goes even for pedestrians when the sidewalks are badbly maintained and you fall becouse af that an need medical atention.
Brick is also easy and quick to maintain, bricks out, new even layer of sand, bricks back and the road is open again.
And looks nicer.
@@DenUitvretergoedkoper en grond verzakt minder
Yep it's one of many methods of 'traffic calming'.
When my American husband started visiting me in NL, he'd buy a big loaf of bread (or 2). I told him not to do that because we wouldn't finish that much in just a couple of days. He did it anyway because according to him it would be fine. It spoiled in a couple of days, as I had told him. He was shocked! Months later I was in the USA and his cousin had to do a school project: making bread go moldy. She tried in multiple ways to purposely make it go bad. After a month or 2, the bread still looked fine, no mold. This time I was shocked 😂
Your husband sounds annoying 😅
@LalaDepala_00 Ah yes, because you clearly know exactly how is based on a short story about 1 thing he once said.
You can store breed very good in the freezer. Also in the refrigerator it keepster longer good. I always buy bread for a few weeks.
10:18 So the 'alley' is what we call an 'achterom', or 'behindway'. It's used to access your backyard, which is often where the shed is to park your bike. That way, you don't have to bring your bike through the house (because dutch houses are mostly build in rows, rarely ever semi- or fully detached).
Those alley's you're walked through.....
Great for making out when its dark....
I still got sweet memories of the alley's in my hometown 😊
They are called: brandgangen.
I remember those days too 😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
LOL!
Roads in Belgium are better than in the US? Not possible!
😂
Visit Fort Worth, Texas, and you'll see exactly what I mean 🤣 CONSTANT low tire pressure.
I have driven Belgian roads often and yes, they are one of the worst in Europe. Still many, many major roads in the USA are way worse. So bad that often you start driving in other lanes because it’s unbearable to stay in the lane you were. Bouncing around, hitting potholes that can literally be compared to driving up a curb and when passed safely, you’re happy to not having to pull over and call road repair to replace some tires. In 2.5 years and 250K miles or 400K kilometers, I have replaced about 50 (!!!) tires. I do drive a heavy 18-wheeler but that’s still utterly ridiculous.
@@davidc.w.2908I found the roads in Wallonië to be worse than in Vlaanderen.
@@petter3995 I agree on that. Still most roads in Wallonië are better than most roads in the USA. The number of vehicles that breaks down or get flat tires is insane in the USA. Most vehicles are not maintained as well as in Belgium but it’s not just the maintaining of the vehicle that makes them strand on the side of the road. I have always driven new trucks (never over 200K miles) and extremely well maintained and even I have to pull over at least a couple times a year because of something going wrong. The constant bouncing and shaking because of bad road conditions is ruining everything.
those red asphalt roads are open to both cars and bicycles, but cars are "guests" on the street. You really should watch some of the "not just bikes" videos about roads and neighborhoods. You could learn about both the Dutch and the North American situation.
The broad red 'bike lane' that you followed (from 6:25 on) is in fact a multi-purpose lane where cyclist have priority, and cars are welcome but have to give way to cyclists and drive slowly. The red color signifies that it is in fact mainly meant for cycling. At the start of that lane there will be some kind of sign saying: "Fietsstraat, auto te gast" (bicycle road, cars are guests). They become more common now in suburbs when the roads get a make over. They typically cover short distances. The main bike infrastructure consists of separate lanes for bikes and cars where traffic volumes are too large, or where speed differences are too large to let them occupy the same space.
Not entirely correct: Though (fortunately) most people give way to cyclists, a 'fietsstraat' legally does not differ from a 'regular' 30 km/u erftoegangsweg. So cyclists don't have right of way.
@@martinvrieling8675 They have. So I was not the one who was not 'entirely correct'. I guess a legal document would be necessary here to prove your point.
You can safe walk in the allyways behind the houses allso at night in 99% of the places.
Of course. That was the American,in Jordan, statement. It will take time to adjust too leaving in another country, without danger.
I always love it when newly imported Dutchies start making those small asides about the weather. It shows you really start to get the vibe of our small little country. "It's sunny now, but there's probably hail after the downpour after the storm before it gets calm again in the afternoon."
That bikeline you were walking along where there's also cars. That's just asphalt. With some colour added to it. It might be a version called ZOAB. Zeer Open Asfalt Beton (Very open asphalt concrete). It's very porous and very good ad letting water through. It's also used on most highways and has the big advantage in rain that there's a lot less spray from the cars in front of you.
Notice how slow all off the backround cars were driving through the streets of the neighbourhood. That's not accidentally, but mostly due to the infrastracture of the town roads (besides having a maximum allowed speed ofcourse)
Are you not wondering why bread and produce last so long in the USA ?
I'm just glad I live in a city in America where I have felt safe going out any time of the day which is definitely rare here in America!!!
Which city if i may mask?
@l.g.3535 Sorry for privacy purposes I can't say!!!
@ the reason i asked is that a friend of mine want to move to the US. But she want to live in a safe city, because she has a lot of anxiety.
@@l.g.3535 Northern California has some safe cities I can at least tell you that!!!
I believe Lidl has some of the best produce (fruit & vegetables) of all supermarkets and it's a budget supermarket
unless you got a nettorama near you they are number 1 in ruit & vegetables and still a little cheaper then Lidl
Between the biggest cities and towns trains do run at night, although less frequent. Bigger cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam have night busses that also run less frequent compared to the rest of the day .
Besides bike lanes, sidewalks are also everywhere.
I think you're forgetting a very important safety luxury. In that late night video you passed a policecar, and they didn't even jump you. No for demanding id, no detaining in cuffs and a high possibility of arrest. I've seen so many videos of police officers doing things like that while saying " i ( we ) need to know all these things so when something happens i know you were here in the neighbourhood, bc normal people are a sleep at this hour"! And im now describing an encounter that was pretty nice compared to the rest. 😢😊 Oh and most often in a no stop and id state.
The reason the roads here are well kept is because we increase our taxes accordingly and the higher density in our towns means there's more taxes coming in per m² of road surface (compared to urban sprawl).
You need a health insurance from day one in the Netherlands.
In fact, health insurance is legally required.
@@henkvandervossen6616you’ll get fined if you don’t have a health insurance and if you still don’t have one after two fines the state will take an insurance in your name and have you pay for it.
Thanks again for your insights, the NS used to have some night trains, mostly from bigger cities, if Irc they rode until 5 am while the first ride of the morning was at 6 am. I think they mostly stopped with that because to little people made use of it and drunk people cost way to much money. Groetjes uit Brabant!
That makes sense. I appreciate the insight!
Dutch person with periodical insomnia here. I've walked around at night and sat in parks at night alone all my adult life. Never had anything bad happen to me. It's overall pretty safe here. That said: crime does exist, and you can be unlucky when you're at the wrong time at the wrong place with the wrong people.
I've only seen aggressive behaviour in and around cafés and clubs. I also once had 2 kids going to the jackass movie throw an egg at me. It bounced of and broke on the street.😂
When I still worked, I often fall asleep early in the evening, to wake up in the middle of the night. And had to walk with my dog, but I didn’t mind. It’s such a magical hour, everyone is asleep the streets are empty and it’s so silent.
Edit: I never went out in the weekends, because people returning home drunk.
@jannetteberends8730 i love nighttime for the same reasons. Air smells way better too.
Many roads with bricks are roads that do not have a lot of heavy traffic. Usually they are in residential areas or areas where the maximum speed limit is 30-50 km. These types of roads are much more durable because subsidence and any holes can be repaired with some sand. Asphalt is more difficult to repair and at the same time keep it nice and smooth
The difference in house prices has multiple factors but most impotent once are build quality is much higher in the Netherlands than US (more brick/concrete) and isolation that makes a home more expensive but it will last longer, needs less maintenance and are very energy efficient.
The little alleys you mention are fire exits.
Fresh produce. I usually visit the Albert Heijn every afternoon to buy the things I will eat that evening for dinner.
The stone/brick roads you mentioned are designed to be not super pleasant. Its to make you drive slower, thats why they are common in neighbourhoods.
You forgot to mention a very important thing about the food part. No matter where you are in the Netherlands, you're 10 min walking away from the nearest supermarket, there are NO food deserts. Meaning that getting fresh food regularly is EXTREMELY doable. I personally get food JUST for dinner for that same night on my way home from work, as fresh as it gets daily, no freezing, no excess preservatives, just goodness.
Bike lanes are made of red asphalt or red concrete tiles.
The stones for the roads are called ‘straatklinkers’ or road pavers in English, they can be ceramic or concrete. And street muggings do occur, but are rare, especially in towns. Mostly it gets on the news if it does happen. I live in a town and cannot remember any street mugging last year and the first month of this year. The SVB (Sociale Verzekerings Bank, Social Insurance Bank) is the governmental organization responsible for people without a paid job or with minimum wage jobs to have mandatory health insurance, state pensions, social benefits, subsidies and support.
should those roads develope a depression or a pot hole they are easily repaired. Under the brick pavers is sand - lift up bricks, replace sand -road fixed
Funny, when you walk along a 'fietsstraat', where cars are allowed as guests, you only see cars passing, no bikes. It's not because of the weather this time.
Probably "free"ways had to do with the quality of the roads in the US. The "free"ways were built by automanufacturers that paid for the construction so more people would buy cars. Eventually the city has to pay for the maintenance of these roads. Also the US had way more cars that are used on a daily and they usually drive bigger cars as well. These heavier vehicles do more damage to the road. Another thing could be weather altho that depends on where you live. In NL I know they do a lot research into them and yes even asphalt has to be made to withstand a certain climate. Also in the winter we use a lot of salt on our roads which does in fact damage the asphalt over time. Brick road in residential areas is pretty clever because you can open it up very easily and maintain it just as easily. Our water, gas, electricity, internet/phone lines and sewage are all underground. Every roughly 15 years there will be a road inspection and if it's not up to snuff they maintain it.
Also here in NL, fuck the fietsstraat. I do not like 'm but I guess it phytologically makes people more aware whilst driving. Reasons for me. They are usually the best quality newly paved streets whit nicely sloped speedbumps you can just race over. Idk about you but compared to the situations before they were introduced, I can say that they allow you to drive faster.
The TH-cam channel Money & Macro, the episode NL vs USA shows how in the US the middleclass is shrinking en the lower class and the upperclass are growing.
American trucks are not that heavy as European trucks
And trucks are the main reason the roads needs maintenance
Met "truck" bedoelen Amerikanen meestal van die grote pickup trucks, geen zware vrachtwagens. Die noemen ze daar "semi's" of doubles
what looks like bigger bikelanes (red color) means that cars are guests. bikes and pedestrians go first. Usually only aplies to 'bestemmingsverkeer', meaning they would not allow cars but it is the only way to get there for people that live there (or those that visit them)
Hard to explain to foreigners. just know that cars are only allowed when need too and normal traffic rules do not apply. the bikes and pedestrians are sacred on these roads.
Roads, in nl the government is liable for accidents if the road is crapp. That makes a hugh difference. It keeps the council responsible.
19:19 I'd say universal health insurance like we have in the NL is the acknowledgement that health care is a human right. Is our system perfect? No, care chains are often ridiculously bureaucratic, not all health care is covered, especially not if you need un-accredited treatment, something that regretfully often happens f.i. when kids need treatments that have only been tested on adults. But in general, the ideal is that everyone can get the basic healthcare that they need, and the system is designed around achieving that ideal without it costing half the country's budget.
About the food, bread, there was another video from expats, if you late at the store, there is no bread, because they bake is fresh every day. so funny for us dutchies it is so normal.
So THAT'S why they're always out of the bread I like; we usually go around 9 PM! Thanks for telling me this 👍🏾
@@JordanGreenYT usually after 4pm you wont find any bread or the ones that are left is the bread no one wants.. best time to get bread is from 9am to 1 pm
@@JordanGreenYTat 9PM the good stuff is gone 😂
01:42 That metal strip provides a safe passage for amphibians. Most probably not found in American streets.
An animal crossing
In dutch health insurance, you do not pay for dependants till 18. As of 18 you have to have your own.
0:35 You refer to potholes may I say? We in .NL also have potholes. There is one in the town where I work; it has been there for at least four weeks. And a mile or so to the south there is a nasty crack in the tarmac. So bumpy roads are also common here.
3:22 In fact it does make sense. When the city spends almost the entire budget on building ( _more_ ) roads, because voters want this, there is nothing left to maintain said tarmac ribbons.
4:40 Here you see the herringbone brick change over in a square pattern. The latter is a kind of temporary surface. Probably still, or till recently used by heavy building equipment. Or it needs to settle post an excavation.
6:30 You see a sign; " *auto te gast* " ( _car as guest_ ). It is a bike lane thus red, and cars can use it as a guest as long as you keep in mind, the biker is the main user. This type of lane still has to find a way into the laws defining road use.
10:08 Why not walk there at night? It's only backyard entrances. It's where your bike ride starts and ends. In the olden days we also called it a " brandgang " ( fire alley ). It also is used as a shortcut.
10:43 I rather miss a connection two, or three times a year than take extra time _every_ train ride. Trains depart at least every 30 minutes. On the main lines, the next departs in 15, 10 and some 7 minutes.
15:45 Who needs ten bedrooms other than starting a hotel?
20:45 I got a grocery store at a nine-minute walk from home, and three others at twelve minutes. In between also a baker, a butcher, a cheese shop, a greengrocer. So many shops to get my produce, I never need to get more than I can eat in two days. Look around in your neighbourhood. I bet there are more shops when you start to walk ( _or bike_ ) around.
In winter some roads get bad due to winter conditions, frost damage. Repairs are made in the spring.
the Netherlands invests in its infrastructure, not just roads and dykes, but also internet, electricity-network, natural network. If one takes into account the infrastructure the Netherlands is the richest country in the world
You can’t really compare NS to Swiss trains because the Netherlands has the most trains running per day. Very intensive use of the network and Switzerland has much less intensive use, much less track length and much less trains.
You would say that there is hardly any policy in this area in the US. No sense of responsibility or administrative knowledge. It also seems that residents cannot exert any influence.
2:28 You walked the yellow brick road!
You can't compare the US "super mansions" with Dutch houses.
US homes are wood framed with paper walls: One food, fire or hurricane and your house is gone.. if not, the pine wood will rot away in 80 years.
Dutch houses survive everything and easily last +800 year.
Fun fact: There is this Dutch strange law:
It is forbidden to disgrace the Swiss flag.
People please, bread at the supermarket is not fresh bread or even bread at all. I recommend to go to a bakery and a lokal farmer, that's even more fresh vegetables and close from the source🤗
The brick roads are made of brick on purpose to calm the traffic in the residential areas you walk through , after a year you must have noticed that bigger roads in the netherlands are always made from asphalt , but in suburbs and downtown city centers they are often brick, if you drive a car on brick roads you hear a lot of noise and vibrations in your car. this helps the driver to slow down as it is uncomfortable to go very fast. (some dickheads still do it )
Those bricks are called pavers (bakstenen).
Or klinkers.
What town do you live in?
In all my 45 years of walking through alleyways, even in bigger cities during late evenings or nighttime, I've only experienced one moment of "what the heck man" for lack of a better describement. Someone throwing a piece of firework (a "strijker") when I was walking in there. That's it. All there was. Note: there ARE alleyways you do want to avoid at nighttime, being the "working"-areas for the ladies of nightly companionship and drug abuse. But those are so, so, so evident that you just recognize them and wouldn't walk in on accident.
You mentioned not just bikes in a previous episode. Check out their strong towns docu on why american suburbs are a ponzi scheme and the cost of maintenance of roads cant be paid off taxes
That’s such an excellent video. Just an hour ago I used that information. An American living in Germany argued on his channel that space isn’t an issue in the USA. In my comment I disagreed, using the information about the costs of the spreading suburbs. Space is an issue.
I've actually seen that video, and it was truly eye-opening!
Houses in the US are made if wood, here in the Netherlands made of brick.
Les maintenance.
There's a reason our public transport isn't 24/7. Our entire society isn't 24/7, it's 9/5, so our public transport is also that way. Train, subway, tram and bus are available outside 9/5, but the schedule is slowed down. For example, If you can catch a bus every 10 minutes between 9/5, you can still catch the bus after 9/5 but it will come by every 30 minutes or every hour or so. And at midnight, things shut down almost entirely. Nighttime is for sleeping after all. 24/7 everything is just silly, no one needs that.
the reason why the public transportation is not 24/7 is because of noise.. there are area's where houses are close to the train tracks and people been complaining about the noise at night... and the NS is not allowed to run at a set time from night to morning... fraight trains still run same with bus and trams after i believe 11 in the evening they are not allowed to operate and never will either.... difference from here and new york is public transit is under grounds !!!! can't compare the 2 !!!! I suggest you really start to study things here and get your facts right
B and c roads in Belgium can be terrible.
Dutch people are certainly not humble ;) I'm Dutch btw. House prices are higher for smaller houses, because there is far less space to build. Land prices are high. In most cases, in popular areas, the ground is worth much more than the house that is build on it. Health insurance is mandatory and that keeps it affordable. Many conservatives that are not healthy, are allowed in the US, but are not allowed here/ the EU. For example skittles (the candy) have been banned here. Chicken from the US is also banned since 1997 in the EU, because of the chlorination of chicken.
lot more is banned here from the usa.. cheese, pork, cerials, some deodorants, the laundry detergent ,hotpockets, actually 80% of the US foods is banned here in the EU for their harmful addatives and conservatives
I had the why does youtube recommend me this thought. Don't get me wrong nice channel with good video's just something i don't daily watch. But then i looked again and did spot this is recommended because it is filmed extremely close to where i live. TH-cam seems to use your location to recommend things to you as well. If you like to film while walking outside please show the world the rest of our wonderful small town (about 30000 inhabitants) maybe the city center would be nice for showing?
The more roads you have the more you have to maintain
Freedom in the USA means something different from freedom in the Netherlands.
In the USA people just want freedom from government. That's basically it. And you need a gun to have it for some reason.
In NL people want the freedom to do what they want, freedom from fear (no need for a gun), freedom from working 80 hours a week. The government's job is to make sure everyone has those freedoms.
You are experiencing these differences between our two cultures. And it's not as bad as you'd expected I assume. Americans often call european countries "socialist" countries. But I hope you're learning that the Netherlands isn't exactly a socialist country.
However, the Dutch culture is a collective culture. We actually care about what our neighborhoods look like. (in stead of just our own house and garden) This is, as you mentioned, how the Netherlands is much safer. It's important to people that everyone has the means to live their own lives the way they want to.
In rural America you see some of this collective culture as well. But it's more rudimentary. The government is less involved.
About the roads:
Why is it not possible in the US to sue a government for your damaged car that drove through a pothole?
Edit: A motorcyclist could even get a accident
Roads here are good because of this.
Not just bikes has a really nice video why the American and Canadian roads are so bad.
Trader Joe is owned by Aldi !
Really? I had no idea! I haven't really been to Trader Joe's, but I've been to Aldi a few times.
@@JordanGreenYT , sometimes you find in the aldi in the Netherlands things with the brand name Trader Joe, haha. I loved going to trader Joe in California.
don't forget we have super soft sinking ground in a lot of parts the netherlands..the US has no excuse..It's bad maintanance on top of extreme use
Tbh. lack of street crime is not unique to dutch, its pretty similar all over europe - if you compare them to the americas.
Even in the capital of "backwards" hungary i wouldnt think twice about filming.
...and dutch are VERY inequal. I mean people like owners of heinekken are dutch and uber rich.
There is simply a lack of poverty.
As such noone bothered by others having more, when they are plenty well off.
I would argue though, that lack of "we belong to the same group/area/nation" that exists in both north and south america is the root of more crime. People are way less likely to move, and well, robbing your grannies cousin twice removed aint something one does.
I never considered that last point, but it makes perfect sense. I've noticed that homogeneity is a fundamental part of most high-functioning societies. The US is a melting pot--for better and for worse.
@JordanGreenYT
I wouldnt say its due to homogenity, i would say the reason is a feeling of belonging to the group of people in the area you live. It really doesnt matter what your skin colour is. What matters is feeling like you are part of a community - and feeling that you would wrong people you care about by committing crimes.
yeah reading the comments and i am just halfway in the video... you really need to do some research and study to get your facts right and get yourself e secondhands theorie book used for driving lessons then you will learn the signs... it is always good to know the road signs even if you do not drive or ride a bike
you been walking in a new build town, so the road is a new one.....where are you walking?
I hope your viewers know that road tax spdns 550 billion euros (2024 budget) wile taking in 6 (!) bilion. The fact that car drivers pay a teeny tiny fraction of the costs they cause should be kept in mind with all discussions about cars and transportation
You are not always safe in the Netherlands but for 90% you are
SVB.. social insurance bank. Is your SS. If you stay here and retire this will be paid monthly depending on how much you paid and how much your SS pays.
But is same you pay in your taxes with other things. You pay more percentage in taxes ..not much more for me as a single women in States and not home owner.
Love it here.
It's better to do groceries 2x a week.
Actuly the concrete roads in the USA ar build to last and need les maintenance, they are however more expensive and time consuming to build and when they do need maintenance yup not so great. th main reasone why European and especialy dutch roads are so great is because we know how importend they are and we wanna also have very safe ones. Its not a luxury thing but common sense when we discoverd walkeble/bikeable none carcentric places where better for everyone including the econamy. But you americanes seem to think zoning laws invented to keep black people out of the suburbs are more importend. Well i guess to each there own but no its not a luxary if you think so and i can understand why, been to states enough that it feels like a luxary if you are from there. But what we call it is an investment and its paying off big time.
and that wasn't a bikeline you where waling next to but a bike priority lane. So cars can drive on it but bikes have the right of way. So if you stuck behind a bike to bad for you.
and you probable are perfectly safe in that allyway at night but yes its a shitty place if you get unlucky.
Trust me about the foods been to states enough to defenitly have an opionion about that. Youre food sucks to high heaven. Not sure if i said it on youre channel but the bread and cheese sucks but the do last wich was sort of ok with me cause i travvelled a lot by car, so it didn't spoil. It tasted pretty bad though wich was ok for the few weeks i needed it. But damm some places in the states i couldn't even get decent fresh fruits, even the expencive apples tasted like toilet cleanings.
A car centric city with messed up roads & potholes. That's poor city planning and poor city budgeting.
So we are humble people and we live in luxury? Bro, you should look around you more often. Neither of these claims are true.
Go walk whit your camera in Rotterdam or Amsterdam see if youre still safe😂😂😂
Go ride in Serbia!
Why your all videos you walking 🚶♂️ sit and talk
unc 😂😂
netherlands dont have blacks so they can have nice things
false
Nonsense. There live many people from all over the world in the Netherlands. With all kinds of skin- colour.