Hey guys! I've now been here 5 YEARS and still vlogging about the Netherlands! Check out the playlist for more travels and life in the Netherlands stories! th-cam.com/play/PLuC3D-YbieHRCZ3IZJ7KH6AJR5FnAjBAu.html
3:42 In my personal oppinion as a Dutch person. I also tend to speak English whenever I'm talking to someone that has a hard time speaking dutch, however, I've lived with a few international students and most of them didn't even learn to say "thank you" so to speak. We speak English for convenience and to be able to include internationals, though, this is not an excuse to live here a relatively long time and not pick up a thing or two of Dutch culture. We have a saying that goes "voor wat hoort wat" roughly translated to "you have got to give in order to get". We speak english to make the transition living in The Netherlands easier but its appriciated if that person took the liberty to learn something about The dutch if he/she is going to live here. It kinda feels like a kick in the balls when you take for granted the fact dutch want to include you and that person not showing willingness to include themselves into our way of living.
I totally agree with you. I lived there years ago and thinking of getting back and always made an effort to speak the language. Most people were super sweet about helping me improve my Dutch but also continued in English when they realized I struggled. Live the country though. Miss it...
I agree. It is expats' responsibility to mingle with the society, and to learn the language and the culture. Even more in the Netherlands, where the locals are so patient, friendly and helpful.
The problem is that not everyone came to Netherlands to associate with culture. You would be surprised how fast people are turning their back at you, because you don't want to become a Dutch. I strictly came to Netherlands for businesses and it's sad that you are treated roughly, just because you don't want to learn the local language. Like it's just a tool to communicate, not to prove my kindness. If we both have a common language why not use that one?
The reason why the Dutch are so good at speaking English isn't because of the international communities, it's because we watch English speaking movies and series with subtitles, while the French and Germans dub their movies
Same in Greece, but since tourism is so important for our economy, kids are not only taught English in school, but most of them are encouraged/expected to pay for private lessons or attend private language learning groups to learn it.
that it's true, but you have a capital where it's a problem moving around by speaking only your native language and it's just easier with just English, and that's tells already enough. In Netherlands you can't avoid to practice it. Also, Dutch is not as a popular Language such as Spanish, French, German, Italian. It'd be unthinkable for a wealthy trading country like NL to not know an international language and stick only with Dutch
I was born and raised in Amsterdam. I can tell you that to most Dutch, Amsterdam is not Dutch anymore. English seems to be the standard language now and lot’s of nice small shops have closed or are now selling icecream, waffles, souvenirs etc. Try Leiden, it’s a small version of Amsterdam.
As an Dutch person I say to all the foreigners out there, don't just visit Amsterdam. There are lots of other great cities to visit like Delft, Leiden and Gouda.
I visited Amsterdam as a Kenyan and I didn't like it. Everyone was smoking, the air just smelled like smoke and it was really crowded. I only spent a day there, maybe I was just unlucky. But I spent the rest of my 2 month visit in Breda, Den Haag, Delft etc. Amazing places.
I was in Amsterdam while solo backpacking Europe this year. It ended up being my favourite city, the people were friendly and I loved the vibe of the city. My advice to anyone, don’t be that person walking in the bike lane (it’s usually the red part of the street)
Amsterdam is what it is because of tourists and foreign people . Started with the northern germans in the 14th century and flourished by the dutch-east trade . It butt hurts i know but fuck it, just embrace it like we embrace the weather :)
I'm Filipina too! When I moved in the Netherlands... I know already the country by reading their history, people and culture that's why I knew it very well including my family..... that this country is one of the safe haven on earth. The people there in Amsterdam talked usually in English and most of them are students came from different countries too! If you are living longer in another country like the Netherlands,.... You. Should be ready to learn their language. Go to ROC School and ask how to enroll and learn Dutch! In every Restaurants in Europe.... , when you finished choosing food and ready to order, please put down the menu folder on top of the table, otherwise if you keep on seeing the menu.....the waitress thinking you are still choosing what to order and they will not come to you, unless you call them. This is Europe with different culture and far different from our country Philippines🇵🇭!!One thing important to know,.... The Dutch people are the most educated people in the, world....they are courteous, hardworking, responsible, patience, do not like trouble or problems, very open minded! People tend to forgot this.. They have a tasteful and refreshing safe drinking water here and no chlorine at all.
Hello greetings here in the Philippines Manila can i ask is there any work or job for my age im in my 50s hope u can give me recommendation to any agency here im separated and have 1 son .. thanks my kababayan... Godbless u and your entire family.
Hi. I am a Filipino living at utrecht. I notice that most dutch are very proud if you can speak their language. Sobrang saya nila pag nakikipagusap ka sa salita nila at alam nilang galing ka ibang bansa.
One can draw a somewhat similar comparison with New York for instance, the average tourist may mistakenly take it as a representation of the US. Which it obviously isn't.
@@Marie-pw8dl, in Europe a customer can be unhappy about the service and therefore will not return to that place, (café, restaurant) but it is generally accepted that a service has to be paid. If the service is really bad that will affect the number of customers and the income of the waiter. The tip is included in your bill. It varies but in general, it is situated between 15 to 20% of the total.
I find it somewhat odd that there seem to be so many expats in a city like Amsterdam who in the end have trouble making Dutch friends because they have to learn Dutch! Duh! I myself speak fluent English (as well as French and German) and have no trouble or hesitation communicating with non-Dutch speakers all day long. And the fact that I took the trouble to become proficient in other languages has made that easy. But yes, my immediate circle of friends and family are Dutch-speakers and very few come from other language groups. At some level, I sort of EXPECT overseas visitors who made the choice of becoming long-term residents of The Netherlands to learn Dutch. If you're not prepared to do that, it's obviously a choice you have a right to make. Nobody will particularly care. You may be happy to muddle on because you find enough people you can communicate with all day in English or even Tagalog! But don't be surprised that ultimately you will remain on the fringes of Dutch society. Which is kind of unfair because while the Dutch take the trouble to acquire (language) skills required to talk to newcomers from all corners of the globe, it may not be expected, but certainly appreciated, if the courtesy is extended on both sides!
I always recommend to expats to learn the Dutch language. I think its a normal thing to do when you live abroad: learn the local language. We do speak English but it's not our first language; without Dutch an expat-friend wouldnt be able to speak to any of my family, cause they don't live in Amsterdam and do not speak English. So if you don't learn the language you yourself choose to isolate yourself of the majority of the (non-English speaking) Dutch. I do agree with the lousy service of the Dutch.
@@tomaskalinauskas4974 in the Netherlands we learn English for business and because it's the world language (just like any other non native country in the world) if you want to make friends and want to live here, then of course you should learn Dutch. It is very important part of our culture that if you want to live or go somewhere else (or do anything actually), that you are 100 % devoted and prepared for that thing. If a Dutch person moves abroad, this person already knows about the language and culture and integrates and assimilates as quickly as possible. It is seen as very rude to not learn the language of the country you're moving to. Many foreigners don't learn Dutch while living here, this has upset many Dutch people because we see learning the language of the country you live in as a sign of respect (so many foreigners seem disrespectful due to this unfortunately). My guess is that this is not the case for other countries/cultures. Sorry for the long paragraph, had to get this off my chest.
@@tomaskalinauskas4974 English language ok, if you move to a country it would be normal to learn the language, not for the people there but for your own comfort. we would rather use our own language with friends, and keep english our second language. so then not learning the language and saying you have a hard time making friends seems a bit weird.
Somehow wherever an expat comes from, they always like service back home best. Opinions on various things differ, but that is nearly always a constant. Nurture thing probably.
PJ V 😂 this is the typical ignorance you will come across in the Dutch Culture. Ofc not everyone is like this dude however if you stay in this country for awhile you’ll get disgust by these type of people.
@PJ V every country has people who think like you.. some of us don't have jobs at home country or we move because we are simply looking some place we would fit in beeing our selves. It's not that we move to another country because we think its fun i hope you never expirience that because its not easy at all
For most Asians like Filipinos, it is tough because for them what is in Europe Autumn is for them very cold winter lol, I'm from Slovakia and I live in Japan where during the winter is like max 4 to 7 degrees and they are shaking here with cold. They'll start putting scarfs on and winter clothes, thick furry gloves every year when the temperature reaches around 13 degrees. I understand that they are very weak when it comes to cold weather, just makes me laugh...
@@ILoveCiniminis ah dusty, it's not true. In my taalles, my Russian friend is always complaining about how cold winter in the Netherlands. We were surprised, and said to her " Come on, you're from Russia. How can you say that it's cold now ". Then she explained that even if it's -20C in Siberia ( she came from Siberia ), it feels not that cold like in the Netherlands ..here in the Netherlands we have strong winds, and that made it feels colder, even for her. So, it is not about Asian people, it is cold for everyone too.
i'm American, and will be moving to the Netherlands in 2 months in the Groningen area. i can say with 100% certainty that Amsterdam is not the same as the rest of the country. i highly encourage you to explore the smaller towns and cities in the eastern parts of the country :)
@@sazsha it's going great! I've lived here now for 1 year and 3 months around the city of Groningen. I find it much more attractive than the over-filled streets of tourism in Amsterdam.
I am still thinking where to move for study and stuff or after study for my MBA Too much stuff going on. I don't even know if I am comfortable moving .
As a student living in Amsterdam for also 2 years, I have to say that that the thing I'm struggling the most with is feeling equal. It might sound like a paradox because the Netherlands is a super tolerant country. The quality of life here is high and everything works, but you can hardly fit in. The locals mostly don't like internationals because they feel overwhelmed by them. From one side I understand it because English is slowly taking over Dutch and the locals want to protect their culture, but on the other hand, I came to study here and I feel like (sorry) sh*t almost every time I'm talking to a Dutch person, which is every day. You can't really have a chance to show your personality. I have been feeling ashamed of speaking English because I feel judged. I tried to learn Dutch but it also takes some time, especially while studying at a university. There are, of course, some people that are very very nice and accepting, but generally, if you don't like individualistic culture and if you can't just stay quiet while the other person is yelling at you, it might happen that you will struggle a lot in the beginning. I know that many people say that Amsterdam is different from the rest of the country and even people from the other parts of the Netherlands wouldn't live here. I live here because of my university and somehow got used to it, but there is always something that surprises me and all I can do is just quietly get over it. However, in general, if you mind your business like others, you can get life experience. Stay motivated and understanding and you can also meet people that will change your life as I did!
Lucia; in which circumstances do you find that people are rude at you for speaking English? As a Dutchman, I'd personally get a bit annoyed if someone automatically orders simple things in English rather than learning the basics to at least be able to do that in Dutch. So I'm just wondering if that's the kind of situation you're talking about.
In 3 years I'm going to be moving to the Netherlands to study at a university in the south west of the Netherlands. I'm moving there to live with my friend to. I was wondering if learning Dutch is mandatory and is there a best way to do it?
Learning a bit of dutch will help you get a long way. This isnt even to be saying "you have to speak dutch our you fall out" as more "its The Netherlands and i cant even order my meal in dutch in amsterdam". as you said dutch people are tolerant and all that, but if you live here a while it would be nice to learn dutch rather than force everyone else to help you fit in.
@@zaylek6568 not at all mandatory but greatly appreciated. Most universities have English oriented education so it won't be that you need to learn dutch for anything having to do with school, though it will help you with social aspects to show willingness to learn dutch and get the know the culture. I think you will find that when you try most people want to support and help you while if you don't they are more likely to shunt you.
we have had nice relaxed winters for the last years. I remember in 2009 cycling to work with -15 degrees celsius, and ice everywhere. We havent had this for a very long time. Also the bipolar weather is one of the things I personally really like, walking through 'shitty' weather makes you feel alive, its just a matter of perspective I think.
The title must be : How’s is like to live in Amsterdam! 😅try to live in other provinces in the Netherland ,You might suprise for two years u must learn dutch!
Ye I live in Arnhem and I think to get by Dutch is a lot more needed. I’m moving to Den Haag next year where from my experience it’s less so but I’m glad I’m here first, only Been here a month and learnt more Dutch than 8 months in Den Haag!
true sis..ito ung mga vlogger n hnd ngsearch maigi...sabe ko dapat title how to live in Amsterdam..saka law ng netherlands n mginburgering kya natawa ko dun sa no need n sya mgaral ng dutch eh kahit saan dto sa holland verplicht n mgaral nun
I like watching videos like this just to see how my country treats immigrants and it always makes me happy to hear positive things :) Also I think there are plenty of Dutchies like me who love having international/expat friends, it's one of the main reasons I moved to Amsterdam! I'm sure you'll find them if you keep looking, but of course learning Dutch can't hurt
Thank you for your video. I'm moving from the USA and when I've been there I think the prices are very reasonable. I also have some experience in the Philippines and I think you should consider that many service workers there don't make a living wage. I'd much rather treat people giving me a massage or manicure as a luxury and know they can have a comfortable life.
I was looking for this kind of answer,yes,a massage you should consider as a luxury and people doing such are mostly working for their own salary and they want to have a life too..Restaurants in the Netherlands don't work with a check and a tip for their workers,nope,their workers getting paid a somewhat normal salary.While abroad those kind of workers depend on those extra's as tipping them.No customers means no money..This can't be a good thing.Just go in a restaurant,let them know you are in a somewhat hurry ,at least that they see you and see what happens,a tip is allowed though,something extra on top of their salary is always welcome.I do not think that when your a working expat,receiving a lot of money ,and perhaps even the place you live in are being paid for ,that you want to relay/depend on passengers giving you a few coins and you have to count the collected money and see if you can survive for another day,week..Those expats,who make a lot of money,do however like to get a worker from the Philippines at their homes ,let her taking care of their children,doing all the households, shopping etc etc, and pay them almost nothing.. Free living and food,that's what they think should be enough..If you experience such,call the cops,because you are treated like you're their slave..Never ever give them your passport and if you did not receive any money after a month,just leave and find something better.
I think learning the language of the country you go to is a way to show respect. If you learn Dutch you show that you care about their culture and that you want to learn more, and in turn, people will accept you (even if you don't speak it perfectly). Not wanting to learn the local language of the country you live in just because you don't have to feels a bit rude to me. I don't even live in the Netherlands but I work with clients in the Netherlands and I still learned few words, and am learning about their culture. :)
It’s always good to learn the language of your host. I learned German while I lived in Germany as an exchange student for a year. Learning another language opens up in understanding more of your host culture & other nuisances.
Yes, Amsterdam is bike friendly in comparison with other big cities like London but it is also the most difficult Dutch city to bike. The rest of the country is so much easier. And our service is indeed very poor. Maybe we even can skip this word out of the dictionary : ) The winter is indeed very harsh, but the spring is then extra welcome because you earned it : ) Keep enjoying Amsterdam and take care : )
5:55 : "Winters here are terrible.." Really?? Lol. I mean, especially the last decades, we have been in doubt wether to call it winter or perhaps an extended autumn. Barely any frost and snow. A white christmas is something long and far away here in the Netherlands... Not to mention our ice skating traditions. We have to get lucky to be able to ice skate.
the temperature isn't that bad but the wind makes it feel a lot colder. so when you get to an open area (parks, plaza's or even smaller city's) the wind can be a real pain. riding a bike at even 5 degree (Celsius) with a wind of 20km/h (or more) isn't that fun, not even for people who are born and raised here in the Netherlands. that's the downside of living in a country next to the North-Sea and having almost no elevation (most of the country is only a few metres below/above sea level) there's nothing to really (slow down or) stop the wind
*I swear I never had so much fun in all my life all the times I visited the Netherlands. I love the Dutch, I love their humanitarianism and I also love the dark skies with all those dark clouds, rain and freezing winters and the cool Dutch summers are fantastic*
Just a few quick tips :) -If you really want to integrate and feel at home take your time to learn the language (this goes for al countries!). -Tip the waiters/waitresses! While they don’t have to rely on tips to make a living, it is still greatly appreciated and common courtesy. The average tip isn’t that high just a few euros should be enough. -Please don’t complain about our traditions, without having grown up here it’s near impossible to understand and judge it. -Edit: Regarding my last statement, feel free to complain or let us know how you feel about it. Please just keep in mind that most of us grew up with these traditions and thus it’s hard for us to completely understand you sometimes.
if people don't want to learn a language, they should not be forced to do it. dutch people have this attitude as if it was right, as if NL was not a free country and speaking another lanugage was forbidden (and there are countries where some languages are actually forbidden). the discrimination and the hate are real, people just want to look to the other side
Metal Videos I’m not saying you should tip the people at Mac Donald’s or other places like that, but if you go to a fancier place and the service is good you should at least try to give a little extra if you can afford it. :)
Ricardo Garcia what the fuck are you on man. What does this have to do with the genocide of Jews??? I’m saying that if you’re going to live in a country for a while the least you can/should do is try to learn the language and integrate a bit. In the end that will make you and the people around you feel better and more at home…
Well i'm from London England i moved to Amsterdam last year, before i moved i started learning the Dutch language in preparation, I'm not fluent yet but each day im improving, ...i live in the Leidseplein buurt of Amsterdam, i prefer it out here to london
I'm soooo glad I found your channel! I've been making serious life changes lately & moving to Amsterdam from the US has kind of been on the table for some time. Love that you're Filipina too like me cause your comparisons make even more sense to me.
I feel that Filipinos at heart love and enjoy the tropical weather year round and when I see Filipino xpats on social media I can tell they would smile a lot more in a warm sunny beach. I’m the same sorta, I live in southern Cali and when I visit cold climates I realize how much I took for granted the sunny days where weather is not on my conscience.😀✌🏼 salamat for insight on your current city Natasha🌹
Love the fact that you were transparent about the weather and seasonality cons.Before I moved to Amsterdam I only saw nice edited pictures of Amsterdam.Keep the good work!
Integrating in Amsterdam is a difficult thing for anyone. It's not because you're an expat or you don't speak dutch. People in Amsterdam are just not very accessable. You should try living anywhere else in the Netherlands to get a real sense of what Dutch culture is like. The provence Noord Brabant it's habitants are know to be very open and welcoming. Amsterdam is (like every country has one) a world-city and it doesn't really represent the Dutch social culture.
51 percent of the people in amsterdam is not even native dutch. lol. so she shouldnt have a hard time to find her place there. i mean findin a native dutch person there is like searching for a needle in a hay stack. pretty much impossible
your scond con, the short days, in summer in Nederland) the days are from 4am till 11 pm (thats much longer than in the Philippines (6am till 6pm) only in winter the days are shorter from 5 pm till the next morning 8 am.
I don’t think there’s a country in the world where you won’t feel more integrated when you speak the national language. Dutch is for example closely related to English, every conversation no matter how trivial is a chance to practice, and in the beginning of learning a new language you’ll notice the most progress.
Netherlands is a country full of surprise,I've been living here ( not Amsterdam and never ill say) since 3 years and always give me new feelings..I'm honoured to enjoy this beautiful place and,yes,I'm also studying Dutch.. dutch people love to listen to foreigners speaking their language
@@Timmy_Turner27 yes they must be the most developed country in that area . The only thing that i do not like here is that there is not much privacy, if you look up someone's registerplate on the car you can see the income the age and where the person lives and if he/she committed a crime and if you pay you even see what crime !!!!!!
The Netherlands is not a city... and living in Amsterdam is very different to other parts of this country. Other than that I agree with most of what you said 👍🏼
I think most Dutch people feel like anyone who speaks English to them is a guest, but once you speak Dutch you start becoming part of the household. You will definitely not starve not speaking Dutch out here, but if you want to be a part of the furniture (so to speak) you're really going to want to learn Dutch.
You did an excellent video! But if you live outside of Amsterdam you must learn Dutch. Also Dutch people will speak English for efficiency however, they don't like to. Fair enough though because its their country, I couldn't imagine someone coming to New Zealand and expecting me to speak their language. The Dutch are also very direct and dogmatic.
Moving from Alberta to the netherlands wouldn't really be the biggest change in terms of weather, as we've gone from 30+ to 20- in the span of 3 days... In September. So if anything it would probably be an improvement!
Great video. Nice editting too. Not so many nice comments but as a Brit interested in relocating this was really helpful, well presented and well produced without being overwhelming. Keep it up.
The main reason that it sure seems to rain so much in the Netherlands is that the weather can be very unpredictable and the lack of mountains, means there is nothing to block any incoming depressions from the sea. ... it does feel like it's always raining because of that. Same goes for Belgium, a neighbour country of the Netherlands. As jet streams flow from the Pacific to Europe, they bring in warm air, filled with water molecules. As they reach Belgium, they increase the air humidity and hence also increase the chance of rainfall
I enjoyed this vlog, yes it was short but insightfully correct. I'm of Dutch descent living in Bali - Indonesia. So yes there are pros and cons to living anywhere, it's what you want out of living there that's key. With all you've mentioned I enjoy staying in Holland and think the pros certainly out way the cons.
If there was the most perfect city than anywhere else in the world will always have cons because they're surrounded by envious foreigners and make it look bad by making people unfriendly and focus on hatred. Our president Ferdinand Marcos was hated for no reason and caused our economy to fall down. I'm from Philippines btw was once wealthiest country in Asia after Japan. If Dutch climate was friendlier would you allow my country to thrive as well unless it's not?
About the weather: My father always said to me as a child when it was raining and we had to go outside, "you aren't made of sugar are you?" Made me love the rain. I like a nice little drizzle. Not to hard, not to soft. Put your head up high and enjoy the cool sensation. It's wonderfull.
Amsterdam is one of the most expansive city of the Netherlands in the most of the things. My tip is to travel around the Netherlands and look where you feel like home. In my city Dordrecht we have friends from America and they speak a little bit or even not dutch but they are our friends/new family for us. So my tip is to look around in the Netherlands. We are bigger than you think.
To all expats, try to live in a village outside Amsterdam and you’ll really experience the Dutch culture. Nowhere near will Amsterdam represent the typical Dutch culture.
@@TheTravellingFoxes well you want to live in the netherlands so learn the language. dont be so lazy. thats the problem with amsterdam. me as a dutch person always speaks dutch in amsterdam (if i am there which is almost never) no matter who is talking to me. its the capital city of my country. not going to speak english in my own country. nothing to do with being rude or anything. its just how it is. if you want to live here learn the language. i cant go to the Philippines as well and start speaking english. i am sure that more then the half of the people there wont understand me.
@@TheTravellingFoxes No you don't. I helps a lot and if you want to spend several years here, you should. But plenty of people can understand Dutch but rather talk in Englisch.
@@metalvideos1961 I know this is an old comment, but just wanted to point out, that you apparently don't know that English is the second official language in the Philippines. Everyone would understand you.
I am actually planning to move to the Netherlands in a few years, already learning the dutch language and even tho that this was more if an Amsterdam perspective (which is not my city if choice) I still like the video and feel supported in my plan to move there by this video. (Coming from germany)
@@metalvideos1961 Sorry for the late response but germany has a lot of bad sides especially if it comes to acceptance and going with the time. I am gay and so for no longer allowed to donate my blood nor plasma in germany, I am also constantly confronted with people that have an overall problem with people like me and curse me on a regular basis which creates a really unhealthy environment. Then another big point is that we have a terrible network infrastructure in germany, many places are have almost no connection to the internet and in my place for example I will not be able to get any messages unless I leave the house and using the wifi requires time and dedication since everything is old and slow. Same goes for the political matters, germany overall is really old and stuck in the past in to many ways for me to see it as the place where I wanna spend my life or where I create a home and family. I just love the positivity and openness for new things about the Netherlands, without giving up much of the good stuff from germany since it is literally around the corner.
@@LikeaNoobplays wait so because you are gay you cant give blood? they just changed that law in the netherlands well last year. the law was first that gays or bi sexual man had to wait 12 months before giving blood. so that meant 12 months no sex. but they changed the law to 4 months. which is still ridiculous as well ofc. but at least they can give blood. didnt know that it was still forbidden in germany. well they want to change the laws around that from what i read quickly. and well about internet i am not that surprised. germany is the biggets country in europe. cost alot of money to put cables everywhere. so they probably just put cables and network and all that stuff at places where the most people live. which makes sense to me. still its annoying though. But just to go by those 2 reasons to live in the netherlands is kinda strange. i get your point though and if you want to live here then nobody is stopping you from it. but if you want to have peace and quiet then dont live to far in the west of the netherlands or in the south. alot of immigrants. i my self live in the province drenthe close to germany. north/east of the netherlands is still the best place to live if you want a peaceful living. but overal i dont have much to complain about the netherlands. its just that its one of the most expensive countries in europe. so by that standard i wouldnt mind to live in germany. everything over there is cheaper. you will notice it when you are going to live here as wel
my online best friend lives in Southern Holland and i live in Australia 😭😭😭🥺 i really wanna see her irl 😭 i love her so muchhh,, she’s the best ever!!!!!! i’m half filo thoo
i JUST GOT THE PASSEL OF THE ATTACK HERE. FIRST AN ASIAN THEN A FRIEND SUPPORT and ALWAYS END WITH THE AUSTRALIA.... DENMARK PALACE IS THAT YOU Should MOVE CLOSE TOO and play this with the danish as the rest of the Europe will not by all this bullying against the dutch. I am European (not Dutch) but they are know as a most supportative and kind people here in Europe by us .... you can have your opinion by all means but not EVERYONE is o the bore like it seems to me you are. Seek to the dutch tell you feel a bit 'helpless' and they would help you .
I spent the first week of September in Amsterdam and loved it. The people were so kind and friendly and the city was incredible. I'm sure the weather is harsh in the winter, so when I come back I will aim for the Spring or Summer.
I have to agree with several of the other commenters here: as you say yourself, Amsterdam is very much an international community, and it has ample commute connections to the rest of Europe. As such, it can hardly be called representative of the Netherlands anymore. Therefor, basing your judgement (pros as well as cons) exclusively on your experiences in Amsterdam, is unfair. Go live in Haarlem, Beverwijk, Alkmaar or Leeuwarden - to name but just a few - and you'll get a totally different idea of the Netherlands. True, most people still speak English wherever you go, but the mentality is quite different from place to place. One thing is true, though: like everywhere on the planet, the best way to truly experience and understand the local culture and to integrate into it, is to learn its language. Many Dutch people even learn some of the language of their vacation destinations, just because it helps understand the local cultures better, which in turn helps you integrate more fully.
THE LAST SENTENCES IS VERY TRUE. Some people who go to a vacation where they do not speak the language sometimes even take courses after the whole day work for to learn to talk at least as much that they can shop or not be fooled
@@elizabethnilsson1815 exactly! And knowing just that little bit about the language, often helps them make friends there, too. Some of my friends have RL friends all over the world, whom they met while going on vacation there.
Seems like you're confusing "The Netherlands" with Amsterdam! The title is therefore somewhat confusing. Amsterdam isn't what it used to be, that's for sure! From an old Amsterdammer, born and raised but expat since 1979!
leaving Amsterdam was the best decision i have made. it has become an expat city. the rest of the Netherlands is much better, greetings from a dutchman.
Hei, cheer up Amsterdam is one of the most friendly city Ive ever been .Its my fav city moved there 2yrs ago. I also think it was expensivw until i moved up north compare to ams.its affordable price I guess you should just go deeper in the heart of Amsterdam Proost 🥂
amsterdam is literally the most expensive city in europe. 51 percent is foreigner. pretty much no native dutchmans are living there. they expect you to speak english. which i will never do no matter who is talking to me. and the city in general is just pure shit. especially now groenlinks is at power. the whole city is going to shit even more then when job cohen was still mayor. nah amsterdam is literally the worst city of the netherlands.
My wife is from the Philippines , she is here now for 28 years in the Netherlands , and she loves it , she is really integrated in society , speaks the language well , and she feels really at home , what you said about learning how to speak Dutch makes it indeed so much easier to feel at home , she is a Dutch Naturalized citizen now , and feels really at home !
My daughter lives in the Netherlands and I visited for a month 25 yrs. ago. Yes, I would love to live in The Netherlands but alas I am 73 yrs. old. Fortunately she comes home 2-3 times a year. She misses home in Portland Oregon USA so I think we share the best of both countries.
The title says The Netherlands but the video is Amsterdam only. Many Dutch people don't even like Amsterdam. It's like saying Manilla represents the Philippines. It's stupid.
@@naurrrr1337 That's relative. For many foreigners distances in The Netherlands are so short everything is near Amsterdam. For the Dutch it's often a blessing not living near Amsterdam. The original people of Amsterdam all moved out and live somewhere else.
You do realize she lives in Amsterdam right? Do you expect her to do a comprehensive tour of the country just to satisfy your cultural sensitivities? It's TH-cam content dude.
@@forkless I expect the title to represent the content. That's all. That's how i select what video's to watch and this was a waste of time because of the misrepresentation.
I really loved your content!! 🔥 I can totally agree with what you said and I would add as a pro: - the open and sport- minded Dutch mentality - the variety of food you can find everywhere from everypart of the world - The startup ecosystem: one of the best city startups hubs And as a cons: - the rental system, it gets so difficult to find a new home - one of the most expensive city in Europe, the cost of living is so high 💚
This variety of food is found in the bigger cities. Not in most villages let alone the rural area's. Ecosystems? You mean cutting down all trees to burn and make electricity so rich people can get a subsidie for buying an electric car?
My personal opinion is learning the local language is extremely important regardless of which country you are in. This is especially the case if you are planning to be in the country/city for a long time and not a short term stay of say 6 months to a year. It is understandable that locals would feel more comfortable speaking in their mother tongue even if they are fluent in other languages ie. English.
I don't really understand all these comments saying that (Dutch) people speak English but they don't like to. I'm not Dutch, but if a foreigner lives here in my home country, I'm very happy to speak with them in English, I don't care if they want to learn the local language or not. I love to meet different people from different cultures and I really appreciate the differences between us as much as the similarities. I don't understand the obsession that expats need to learn the language of the country. Of course, it helps them to know some of it, but when I read that people take it personally if someone doesn't learn the language? Sure, if the person is rude and disrespectful in general, that's bad, of course, but not knowing to speak a language doesn't make anyone rude.
I was 12 when I first went to the Netherlands for a school competition (It was in The Hague) and I remember everyone was acting like those cringey tourists, taking pictures of random stuff like birds or trees and running across the road when the little man was red. I felt so embarrassed so I kept trying to distance myself from them because they were genuinely horrifying. We went shopping once and they kept going around being loud and overbuying but I tried to keep myself on a budget (mostly cause I didn't have that much money lol, I probably would have bought more). When we were checking out, everyone was holding up the line because they had to double back and get the money from my teacher but I just came with the exact amount of money (i calculated again because I didn't have money) so when the cashier told me my money in Dutch, I just gave it to her, and she gave me my change and I left, and I felt a kind of satisfaction that she didn't think I was one of the noisy foreigners even though I was lowkey one😂
omg, i totally agree with the pros and cons! im a filipino as well and living here in Rotterdam for 5years, although i have couple of dutch friends and already can speak basic dutch, i still feel an outcast especially if I'm the last one laughing at the jokes! but overall, i love it here :) thanks for this vlog!
About the first con... you’re sticking to English because it’s your native language and can express yourself best in... what about us?! XD We might speak English very well, but Dutch is still our native language. Having a small conversation in English is different from having daily/weekly conversations with friends. We prefer those languages in Dutch ;) Second con: UK and Ireland are a lot wetter! And because of the hills/mountains, I found it got dark even sooner in winter where I lived in Ireland (close to Cork). Third con: waiters are people too. They don’t go above and beyond, because “doe nou maar normaal, dan doe je al gek genoeg”. Customer is not king in the Netherlands. Not in restaurants, but not elsewhere either. And I like that. Dutch are very direct. If a waiter would go ‘above and beyond’, I would be wondering what’s wrong to be honest (“What’s he hiding?!”). I go out to eat for “de gezelligheid”. So I only want a waiter there to give the menu, and otherwise we’ll let them know if we want something. We don’t want our social night out being disrupted by a waiter every 5 minutes while we don’t need anything. It also feels nice, you don’t feel you’re rushed to leave.
About language, Filipino (Tagalog) is (one of the) native languages, not English. Conversing in English with a Filipino means we both use a 2nd, not native language so no linguistic advantage for each of us.
Amsterdam doesn’t feel like the rest of the Netherlands tbh, Amersfoort is beautiful and the people are so kind,Arnhem has some amazing restaurants, Apeldoorn has stunning wildlife, check these places out they’re amazing! I’d also say it’s really important to AT LEAST know a little bit of Dutch, like phrases and stuff, enjoy!
Weather is a tough one. Here in Australia we tend to get used to the heat. I used to cycle to work when I lived in the outback when it was 45 centigrade and it was fine. 50 euros for a massage is fine. I paid (the equivalent of) that today for a traditional Thai massage and it was definitely worth it. This is a great video. Quite balanced 👌
I live here for 6 years.. and you have to change your title "How to live in Amsterdam".. I dont hear from you talking about other places here... most people live in Amsterdam are foreigners ..did you ever been went to other part of europe? Winter here are not worst as you say.. some points you said i disagree 😁
just for context, in the Netherlands it's common knowledge that we haven't had a real winter in years. but coming from a tropical country, I get it;).. if you want to see a real dutch winter and what we do when that happens? look up the dutch " Elfstedentocht" (11 dutch cities on ice skates..)
Your first con i can agree but its not typical dutch, that will happen to you in any country, as a matter of fact it happen to me (im a Dutch man from Amsterdam) in Manila i speak reasonable English and so do most Filipinos but to realy intergrate you need to speak the countries language where ever you go.
i disagree, if the local people speak english to a conversational level, they are very willing to hang out with you. not the case in NL. on the other hand, this way of thinking promotes hate. There are all kinds of stories. from a Serbian girl that got her bike thrown in a canal because the dutch neighbor didn't like foreigners in his neighborhood (in Groningen) to a spanish guy that was beaten outside the train station (the hague) by 3 drunk dutch guys because he did not understood what they were telling him
As an Italian, I'd pay to have Netherlands-like summers! I went there a few years ago, here in italy it was like 35 degrees every day and up there it was 17 😅 I know I'm an exception to the rule though..
@@carl8adey4 vero! E aggiungo che sicuramente è più alla portata rispetto ad un eventuale trasferimento in olanda 😅 forse ti mancherebbe un po' la morfologia che accomuna Puglia e olanda, ma non si può avere tutto, immagino. 🤣ti aspettiamo!
I think a big reason as to why Dutch people can speak english so well is the big simularity between the 2 languages. Some even argue that Dutch is easiest for native English speakers to learn. There's not a mutual intelligibility per say, but both languages have almost the same grammar, syntax, letters, and quite a few of the words and pronunciations are virtually the same! It helps to learn Dutch too if you also speak German.
I was considering retiring to the Netherlands, to a small but well equipped town within a 15 or 20 min train ride to Amsterdam. There are many. And they all look so very pleasant! We would train into Amsterdam often. I thought it would be better then actually living in the city itself.
Yes I agree! I don't live in the city center but close to a train station - very convenient to visit the city, plus some towns offer more affordable cost of living than staying in the center.
yeah who would have thought right? but nah foreigners expect that we do what they want. look at all those immigrants in the Netherlands. we have to accept them but they dont have to accept us. its exactly with people like her.
@@metalvideos1961 hey not all of us man, I moved here about a year ago and everyday I try to learn dutch by myself, I have a couple of dutch friends and they do appreciate my efforts even though I'm not fluent yet, I love the country, the culture and I want to integrate! I do however understand the point, I work in a company full of expats and they basically just hang around each other, an expat bubble and none try to learn the language, I try to avoid that and the locals really appreciate it!
@Rico Swavay on Facebook why? Because in the end, she does admit that not knowing the language is causing her some problems living here. If you go live in another country and if you want to truly understand the people and their culture, learn the language!
@Rico Swavay on Facebook because you live in a country that speaks dutch. She have to do some kind of effort to learn it. Just a sign of being lazy and egotistical. People like her is wat makes amsterdam horrible. I will never speak English to anybody in Amsterdam. Learn the language or don't live here. It's that simple.
@@HelduikerJon not talking about you. You try and want to put your time in it. That's fine. But for people like her who refuse to learn it I have problems with. She expect that we will do what she wants. Fuck that. Learn the language or fuck off. Wish we had the same law in Sweden. If you can't speak some Swedish you can't move there. But we have also immigrants here that lives here for 20 plus years. And they still can't speak some Dutch as well. I will never speak English to anybody in Amsterdam or in the Netherlands. Unless I really know that they are on vacation here. That's totally different. But it you live in a foreign country learn the language from the natives. It's literally that simple. Don't be so egotistical.
Well, I suppose whenever you're not willing to speak the local language, it is their NATIVE language, you probably have no incentive to stay. For as long as you stay at least make an effort, you won't make friends otherwise. You then become another of those expatriates who take what they believe it is their right.
It's the same for every country. Definitely not just in the Netherlands. I do know quite a few words and phrases but I need at least 2-3more yrs to get better at it. It is an awfully difficult language ;) However, in Asia I believe even as an Expat you can easily have local friends. Not making an effort is not the issue, it's a cultural thing I guess.
@@TheTravellingFoxes Contrary what you might think, the US state department has published a list where the easy and hard languages are classified. According to the department, Dutch is one of the easiest to learn to an acceptable level. The hardest are Japanese and Chinese. I think, if you are fluent in English, the state department list is accurate. Cultural differences, however overwhelming it is to you, are the main problem, not the language.
@@TheTravellingFoxes The dutch are very prideful people and this sometimes results in arrogant behaviour. It is therefore remarkable, however, how much they care about what others think of them (hence the amount of dutch viewers for your video). Most dutch people are so stuck-up, that they can only be around like-minded people. If they are around other cultures, they can't help themselves to tell others what is "wrong" with their culture and country and how great The Netherlands is. If you are not dutch, or dont look dutch, just accept that you will not fit in and search for the people around you that are open to new cultures, ideas and lifestyles! But don't forget, there are some dutch people that are welcoming to other cultures from around the world!
4:50 Try Brabant or Limburg. You will like southern hospitality compared to the north. It has roots going back to the divide between catholic (south) and protestant (north). The north was much more 'strict', less into alcohol and having fun in general after they became protestant. The south still has this 'bourgondische' inslag. Also make sure to check out southern carnaval. Its great.
Services being a luxury and lacking the "customer first" mentality is a pro for me. Knowing that people don't take employee labour for granted like in many other places seems quite appealing
Thank you for your video! It's always interesting to hear what expats or tourists think of my country. I honestly did not know that it is so hard to find Dutch friends as an expat. Maybe it's because most Dutch people already have a social circle and are not looking for friends? I would love to become friends with some expats, cultural differences are so interesting :)
"I didnt have to learn the dutch language because everyone here speaks English " well this isnt how it works, if you wanna live in a certain country just learn the language.
@@drpepper3838 integration is different for everyone and possible in The Netherlands without speaking Dutch which as she mentions, is great. I am sick and tired of comments like yours it is nothing but judgmental.
@@melodymantel7869 integration isnt different for everyone, you integrate or you don't, and I'm sick and tired of people coming here and not integrating
As an American visitor, I enjoyed visiting Amsterdam, but the only other places I've ever visited outside of Amsterdam was the town of Uden near Volkel and Eindhoven. The Dutch people I encountered during my travels were very kind and friendly. I learned a little bit of the Dutch language when I worked with members of the Koninklijke Luchtmacht, the Royal Dutch Air Force, when they came to the United States, so I took every opportunity to use what I learned, and if I didn't understand something, I would switch back to English and ask questions. I had only positive experiences there.
Well organized and your speech was put very well together. Thank you very much for the little tour as well instead of just sitting in the same spot. Love the video 10/10!!!!
Hey guys! I've now been here 5 YEARS and still vlogging about the Netherlands! Check out the playlist for more travels and life in the Netherlands stories! th-cam.com/play/PLuC3D-YbieHRCZ3IZJ7KH6AJR5FnAjBAu.html
3:42 In my personal oppinion as a Dutch person. I also tend to speak English whenever I'm talking to someone that has a hard time speaking dutch, however, I've lived with a few international students and most of them didn't even learn to say "thank you" so to speak. We speak English for convenience and to be able to include internationals, though, this is not an excuse to live here a relatively long time and not pick up a thing or two of Dutch culture. We have a saying that goes "voor wat hoort wat" roughly translated to "you have got to give in order to get". We speak english to make the transition living in The Netherlands easier but its appriciated if that person took the liberty to learn something about The dutch if he/she is going to live here. It kinda feels like a kick in the balls when you take for granted the fact dutch want to include you and that person not showing willingness to include themselves into our way of living.
Facts, we dutch people really dont like amsterdam for that reason, but we arent mad at tourists or anything.
I totally agree with you. I lived there years ago and thinking of getting back and always made an effort to speak the language. Most people were super sweet about helping me improve my Dutch but also continued in English when they realized I struggled. Live the country though. Miss it...
I agree. It is expats' responsibility to mingle with the society, and to learn the language and the culture. Even more in the Netherlands, where the locals are so patient, friendly and helpful.
The problem is that not everyone came to Netherlands to associate with culture.
You would be surprised how fast people are turning their back at you, because you don't want to become a Dutch.
I strictly came to Netherlands for businesses and it's sad that you are treated roughly, just because you don't want to learn the local language. Like it's just a tool to communicate, not to prove my kindness.
If we both have a common language why not use that one?
I believe this goes to say for every country and every community in the world
The reason why the Dutch are so good at speaking English isn't because of the international communities, it's because we watch English speaking movies and series with subtitles, while the French and Germans dub their movies
Same in Greece, but since tourism is so important for our economy, kids are not only taught English in school, but most of them are encouraged/expected to pay for private lessons or attend private language learning groups to learn it.
that it's true, but you have a capital where it's a problem moving around by speaking only your native language and it's just easier with just English, and that's tells already enough.
In Netherlands you can't avoid to practice it. Also, Dutch is not as a popular Language such as Spanish, French, German, Italian. It'd be unthinkable for a wealthy trading country like NL to not know an international language and stick only with Dutch
And school teaches us aswell
It is because Dutch is more similar to English than German or French.
English, Dutch and German are all languages stemming from old germanic. That's why dutch people can read German text and kinda understand it.
I was born and raised in Amsterdam. I can tell you that to most Dutch, Amsterdam is not Dutch anymore. English seems to be the standard language now and lot’s of nice small shops have closed or are now selling icecream, waffles, souvenirs etc. Try Leiden, it’s a small version of Amsterdam.
Ingeborg Bosgraaf touché Ingeborg!!
How is Apeldoorn? If you don't mind me asking. I'm thinking of moving there in a couple years at least.
Urm yet an Arab man ran my mum out of his store for speaking English??
@@aranielleb7718 he's probably had bad experiences with Americans.
@@aranielleb7718 .... not saying it was right for him to do that btw
"the weather is shit"
Me being a Brit wanting to move there:
I was born ready babayyy
Agree!!! I went to Amsterdam in early sept for a week for my vacation and it rained every single day!!! All day everyday!
lol, is it windy also in britain, because we have a lot of winds aswell
😂😂😂 love this comment
I've lived in Galicia (northern Spain) for 16 yeas... So I'm ready too xD
When she said that I laughed pretty hard too 😂 (from eastern Canada)
As an Dutch person I say to all the foreigners out there, don't just visit Amsterdam. There are lots of other great cities to visit like Delft, Leiden and Gouda.
I visited Amsterdam as a Kenyan and I didn't like it. Everyone was smoking, the air just smelled like smoke and it was really crowded. I only spent a day there, maybe I was just unlucky. But I spent the rest of my 2 month visit in Breda, Den Haag, Delft etc. Amazing places.
Gouda reminds me of the cheese
@@LilKenuthia nice to hear!
amsterdam was nice but i feel in love with den haag.
where can I find good weed and prostitutes?😅
As a Dutchman, Amsterdam is where I go when I want to spend time in a foreign city xD
yeah, i like to speak english XP where i life i use my english like 1 time a year X.X
😆👍👏
Yup that’s why I’ve only been there 4 times. Avoid.
😂😂😂 I'm an expat too but I live in Rotterdam . And Amsterdam is way too touristy for me.
Sorry maar amdam is echt totaal niet representatief voor de rest van NL.
I was in Amsterdam while solo backpacking Europe this year. It ended up being my favourite city, the people were friendly and I loved the vibe of the city. My advice to anyone, don’t be that person walking in the bike lane (it’s usually the red part of the street)
Haha yes of course! Every new person visiting Amsterdam definitely needs to know that. Bikers here can be quite aggressive!
Amsterdam sucks, Rotterdam is better
every city in the west of the netherlands sucks ass. amsterdam rotterdam the hague haarlem. all those cities sucks ass.
@@dewisselspeler9080 rotterdam is just as bad as amsterdam. fuck the west of the netherlands.
Metal Videos 😂
Amsterdam sadly has became too touristic to call it a true dutch experience.
These days, Yogi Berra's observation applies to the centre of Amsterdam, "Nobody goes there any more, it is too crowded."
True, but as an expat, i very much relate to this video even tho i live in the hague
Valt nog mee in Barcelona Is het veel erger
Amsterdam is what it is because of tourists and foreign people . Started with the northern germans in the 14th century and flourished by the dutch-east trade .
It butt hurts i know but fuck it, just embrace it like we embrace the weather :)
And also more dangerous than before
I'm Filipina too! When I moved in the Netherlands... I know already the country by reading their history, people and culture that's why I knew it very well including my family..... that this country is one of the safe haven on earth. The people there in Amsterdam talked usually in English and most of them are students came from different countries too! If you are living longer in another country like the Netherlands,.... You. Should be ready to learn their language. Go to ROC School and ask how to enroll and learn Dutch! In every Restaurants in Europe.... , when you finished choosing food and ready to order, please put down the menu folder on top of the table, otherwise if you keep on seeing the menu.....the waitress thinking you are still choosing what to order and they will not come to you, unless you call them. This is Europe with different culture and far different from our country Philippines🇵🇭!!One thing important to know,.... The Dutch people are the most educated people in the, world....they are courteous, hardworking, responsible, patience, do not like trouble or problems, very open minded! People tend to forgot this.. They have a tasteful and refreshing safe drinking water here and no chlorine at all.
Hello fellow Pinay! Good to know that you're enjoying the Netherlands!
I undestood
@rayonnaise why are you nervous? It is really safe here
@rayonnaise It will be alright dont worry, people are really friendly!
Hello greetings here in the Philippines Manila can i ask is there any work or job for my age im in my 50s hope u can give me recommendation to any agency here im separated and have 1 son .. thanks my kababayan... Godbless u and your entire family.
Hi. I am a Filipino living at utrecht. I notice that most dutch are very proud if you can speak their language. Sobrang saya nila pag nakikipagusap ka sa salita nila at alam nilang galing ka ibang bansa.
Amersfroot?
Amsterdam is Amsterdam, I don't even consider it to be part of the Netherlands. It's an entirely different culture.
You just hate amsterdam. Maybe because you live from the south holland
@@nikim8372 not Holland but the Netherlands.
@@FromLake only Eindhoven Kappa
Niki m amsterdam teveel touristen
One can draw a somewhat similar comparison with New York for instance, the average tourist may mistakenly take it as a representation of the US. Which it obviously isn't.
Just one remark: yes, you pay more for services in general but it also means a better income for those who serve you. You should praise this!
I think that if the waiters were paid normally in the Philipines they wouldn't be all around the customers hoping to sell more or getting a tip
Well at least you get service!! In the NL everything is expensive and no service at all!
I think...better salary for the worker, but the customer will be not be happy paying more, for so-so services.
@Bart Feeburg, if u go to the Philippines for expensive services...u
will get (10X) much better/ cheaper services than a small companies.
@@Marie-pw8dl, in Europe a customer can be unhappy about the service and therefore will not return to that place, (café, restaurant) but it is generally accepted that a service has to be paid. If the service is really bad that will affect the number of customers and the income of the waiter.
The tip is included in your bill. It varies but in general, it is situated between 15 to 20% of the total.
Most Dutch people wouldn't want to live in Amsterdam, its a tourist nightmare over there.
Nova Verse I want live there😂
@@kyaxara7321 I'm sure you do buddy.
Nova Verse Ik woon in NL hoor 😂
@@kyaxara7321 Lol, doe je goed Jonge.
Ieder geval ik woon niet in A-dam.
@@Zoza15 may i know what does this mean ?
I find it somewhat odd that there seem to be so many expats in a city like Amsterdam who in the end have trouble making Dutch friends because they have to learn Dutch! Duh! I myself speak fluent English (as well as French and German) and have no trouble or hesitation communicating with non-Dutch speakers all day long. And the fact that I took the trouble to become proficient in other languages has made that easy. But yes, my immediate circle of friends and family are Dutch-speakers and very few come from other language groups. At some level, I sort of EXPECT overseas visitors who made the choice of becoming long-term residents of The Netherlands to learn Dutch. If you're not prepared to do that, it's obviously a choice you have a right to make. Nobody will particularly care. You may be happy to muddle on because you find enough people you can communicate with all day in English or even Tagalog! But don't be surprised that ultimately you will remain on the fringes of Dutch society. Which is kind of unfair because while the Dutch take the trouble to acquire (language) skills required to talk to newcomers from all corners of the globe, it may not be expected, but certainly appreciated, if the courtesy is extended on both sides!
I always recommend to expats to learn the Dutch language. I think its a normal thing to do when you live abroad: learn the local language. We do speak English but it's not our first language; without Dutch an expat-friend wouldnt be able to speak to any of my family, cause they don't live in Amsterdam and do not speak English. So if you don't learn the language you yourself choose to isolate yourself of the majority of the (non-English speaking) Dutch.
I do agree with the lousy service of the Dutch.
I agree
I will learn it when I get there
But you like foreign companies to invest in your country? No? I mean English language not ok.. but English money is ok? Correct?
@@tomaskalinauskas4974 in the Netherlands we learn English for business and because it's the world language (just like any other non native country in the world) if you want to make friends and want to live here, then of course you should learn Dutch. It is very important part of our culture that if you want to live or go somewhere else (or do anything actually), that you are 100 % devoted and prepared for that thing. If a Dutch person moves abroad, this person already knows about the language and culture and integrates and assimilates as quickly as possible. It is seen as very rude to not learn the language of the country you're moving to. Many foreigners don't learn Dutch while living here, this has upset many Dutch people because we see learning the language of the country you live in as a sign of respect (so many foreigners seem disrespectful due to this unfortunately). My guess is that this is not the case for other countries/cultures. Sorry for the long paragraph, had to get this off my chest.
@@tomaskalinauskas4974 English language ok, if you move to a country it would be normal to learn the language, not for the people there but for your own comfort. we would rather use our own language with friends, and keep english our second language. so then not learning the language and saying you have a hard time making friends seems a bit weird.
4:07 "Almost everything is written in Dutch here" Wow what a surprise.
DKLK she said ALMOST everything weirdooo
Somehow wherever an expat comes from, they always like service back home best. Opinions on various things differ, but that is nearly always a constant. Nurture thing probably.
@Janka XYZ You clearly don't get around much.
PJ V 😂 this is the typical ignorance you will come across in the Dutch Culture. Ofc not everyone is like this dude however if you stay in this country for awhile you’ll get disgust by these type of people.
@PJ V every country has people who think like you.. some of us don't have jobs at home country or we move because we are simply looking some place we would fit in beeing our selves. It's not that we move to another country because we think its fun i hope you never expirience that because its not easy at all
Winter is tough?😂😂 We almost don't have winter in the Netherlands , I hope to see some Snow this year..
June Artz ze moest in jaren 80 hier zijn dan zou ze zien wat winter is😂
For most Asians like Filipinos, it is tough because for them what is in Europe Autumn is for them very cold winter lol, I'm from Slovakia and I live in Japan where during the winter is like max 4 to 7 degrees and they are shaking here with cold. They'll start putting scarfs on and winter clothes, thick furry gloves every year when the temperature reaches around 13 degrees.
I understand that they are very weak when it comes to cold weather, just makes me laugh...
@@ILoveCiniminis ah dusty, it's not true. In my taalles, my Russian friend is always complaining about how cold winter in the Netherlands. We were surprised, and said to her " Come on, you're from Russia. How can you say that it's cold now ". Then she explained that even if it's -20C in Siberia ( she came from Siberia ), it feels not that cold like in the Netherlands ..here in the Netherlands we have strong winds, and that made it feels colder, even for her. So, it is not about Asian people, it is cold for everyone too.
@@diansiwi7819 Yep, Russian girls are not what they used to be :D
I am hoping for snow! And Ice!!! And an elfstedentocht 🙏🏻 - because then we can show the whole world our unique culture ❤️
i'm American, and will be moving to the Netherlands in 2 months in the Groningen area. i can say with 100% certainty that Amsterdam is not the same as the rest of the country. i highly encourage you to explore the smaller towns and cities in the eastern parts of the country :)
How was Amsterdam??
How is it going now? :)
@@sazsha it's going great! I've lived here now for 1 year and 3 months around the city of Groningen. I find it much more attractive than the over-filled streets of tourism in Amsterdam.
@@draimonde17 That’s amazing! I hoping to move there some day when I am a little bit older and have finished my education
I am still thinking where to move for study and stuff or after study for my MBA
Too much stuff going on.
I don't even know if I am comfortable moving .
As a student living in Amsterdam for also 2 years, I have to say that that the thing I'm struggling the most with is feeling equal. It might sound like a paradox because the Netherlands is a super tolerant country. The quality of life here is high and everything works, but you can hardly fit in. The locals mostly don't like internationals because they feel overwhelmed by them. From one side I understand it because English is slowly taking over Dutch and the locals want to protect their culture, but on the other hand, I came to study here and I feel like (sorry) sh*t almost every time I'm talking to a Dutch person, which is every day. You can't really have a chance to show your personality. I have been feeling ashamed of speaking English because I feel judged. I tried to learn Dutch but it also takes some time, especially while studying at a university. There are, of course, some people that are very very nice and accepting, but generally, if you don't like individualistic culture and if you can't just stay quiet while the other person is yelling at you, it might happen that you will struggle a lot in the beginning.
I know that many people say that Amsterdam is different from the rest of the country and even people from the other parts of the Netherlands wouldn't live here. I live here because of my university and somehow got used to it, but there is always something that surprises me and all I can do is just quietly get over it.
However, in general, if you mind your business like others, you can get life experience. Stay motivated and understanding and you can also meet people that will change your life as I did!
Lucia; in which circumstances do you find that people are rude at you for speaking English? As a Dutchman, I'd personally get a bit annoyed if someone automatically orders simple things in English rather than learning the basics to at least be able to do that in Dutch. So I'm just wondering if that's the kind of situation you're talking about.
In 3 years I'm going to be moving to the Netherlands to study at a university in the south west of the Netherlands. I'm moving there to live with my friend to. I was wondering if learning Dutch is mandatory and is there a best way to do it?
Learning a bit of dutch will help you get a long way. This isnt even to be saying "you have to speak dutch our you fall out" as more "its The Netherlands and i cant even order my meal in dutch in amsterdam". as you said dutch people are tolerant and all that, but if you live here a while it would be nice to learn dutch rather than force everyone else to help you fit in.
@@zaylek6568 not at all mandatory but greatly appreciated. Most universities have English oriented education so it won't be that you need to learn dutch for anything having to do with school, though it will help you with social aspects to show willingness to learn dutch and get the know the culture. I think you will find that when you try most people want to support and help you while if you don't they are more likely to shunt you.
Jonathan Roorda I don’t mind if people in my country can’t speak my language. Even basic stuff is hard. I try to be helpful rather than judgmental:)
we have had nice relaxed winters for the last years. I remember in 2009 cycling to work with -15 degrees celsius, and ice everywhere. We havent had this for a very long time. Also the bipolar weather is one of the things I personally really like, walking through 'shitty' weather makes you feel alive, its just a matter of perspective I think.
No matter the weather in Amsterdam anyway, it's still a beautiful city :)
The title must be :
How’s is like to live in Amsterdam!
😅try to live in other provinces in the Netherland ,You might suprise for two years u must learn dutch!
right, cause only people in Amsterdam speak english..........................😅😅😅😅😅
Filipinos reached there also :D?
Ye I live in Arnhem and I think to get by Dutch is a lot more needed. I’m moving to Den Haag next year where from my experience it’s less so but I’m glad I’m here first, only
Been here a month and learnt more Dutch than 8 months in Den Haag!
What other cities would you guys suggest?
true sis..ito ung mga vlogger n hnd ngsearch maigi...sabe ko dapat title how to live in Amsterdam..saka law ng netherlands n mginburgering kya natawa ko dun sa no need n sya mgaral ng dutch eh kahit saan dto sa holland verplicht n mgaral nun
"It's like comparing apples and oranges"
It's funny, because the royal dutch family is named "Orange"
Oranje
no it is ´´Orangje´´
and the New yorker for Apple.
I like watching videos like this just to see how my country treats immigrants and it always makes me happy to hear positive things :) Also I think there are plenty of Dutchies like me who love having international/expat friends, it's one of the main reasons I moved to Amsterdam! I'm sure you'll find them if you keep looking, but of course learning Dutch can't hurt
foreign clowns get a house instantly when Dutch people get put on a list of 10 years.... go a way man
We have more expats in The Hague. I don't promote The Hague and tell people it represents The Netherlands. We don't.
@@StevanOutdoor Amsterdam doesn't represent the Netherlands. I haven't heard a single Dutch person ever say it does, so we agree I guess :P
I love to travel to Neitherland in the near future !
Plz can any one help mn about Netherland visa plz
Thank you for your video. I'm moving from the USA and when I've been there I think the prices are very reasonable. I also have some experience in the Philippines and I think you should consider that many service workers there don't make a living wage. I'd much rather treat people giving me a massage or manicure as a luxury and know they can have a comfortable life.
Where you gonna move to?
Haven't decided yet, maybe North Brabant, the belly of the beast! 🤣🤣
I was looking for this kind of answer,yes,a massage you should consider as a luxury and people doing such are mostly working for their own salary and they want to have a life too..Restaurants in the Netherlands don't work with a check and a tip for their workers,nope,their workers getting paid a somewhat normal salary.While abroad those kind of workers depend on those extra's as tipping them.No customers means no money..This can't be a good thing.Just go in a restaurant,let them know you are in a somewhat hurry ,at least that they see you and see what happens,a tip is allowed though,something extra on top of their salary is always welcome.I do not think that when your a working expat,receiving a lot of money ,and perhaps even the place you live in are being paid for ,that you want to relay/depend on passengers giving you a few coins and you have to count the collected money and see if you can survive for another day,week..Those expats,who make a lot of money,do however like to get a worker from the Philippines at their homes ,let her taking care of their children,doing all the households, shopping etc etc, and pay them almost nothing.. Free living and food,that's what they think should be enough..If you experience such,call the cops,because you are treated like you're their slave..Never ever give them your passport and if you did not receive any money after a month,just leave and find something better.
I think learning the language of the country you go to is a way to show respect.
If you learn Dutch you show that you care about their culture and that you want to learn more, and in turn, people will accept you (even if you don't speak it perfectly).
Not wanting to learn the local language of the country you live in just because you don't have to feels a bit rude to me.
I don't even live in the Netherlands but I work with clients in the Netherlands and I still learned few words, and am learning about their culture. :)
It’s always good to learn the language of your host. I learned German while I lived in Germany as an exchange student for a year. Learning another language opens up in understanding more of your host culture & other nuisances.
Yes, Amsterdam is bike friendly in comparison with other big cities like London but it is also the most difficult Dutch city to bike. The rest of the country is so much easier. And our service is indeed very poor. Maybe we even can skip this word out of the dictionary : ) The winter is indeed very harsh, but the spring is then extra welcome because you earned it : ) Keep enjoying Amsterdam and take care : )
my husband said, you forgot to mention that it is very expensive to live in Amsterdam. He used to live there, he studied there..
Yes especially accommodation .
5:55 : "Winters here are terrible.." Really?? Lol. I mean, especially the last decades, we have been in doubt wether to call it winter or perhaps an extended autumn. Barely any frost and snow. A white christmas is something long and far away here in the Netherlands... Not to mention our ice skating traditions. We have to get lucky to be able to ice skate.
I remember last year the canals froze! But only for a short time...it barely snows here now in the Netherlands...just frozen cold :)
@@TheTravellingFoxes "Frozen cold" is not 4 degrees...not 1 degree, not -5 degrees even
@@ILoveCiniminis It is for me, where I live, the temperatures are between 13 and 31 degrees hahaha
the temperature isn't that bad but the wind makes it feel a lot colder.
so when you get to an open area (parks, plaza's or even smaller city's) the wind can be a real pain.
riding a bike at even 5 degree (Celsius) with a wind of 20km/h (or more) isn't that fun, not even for people who are born and raised here in the Netherlands.
that's the downside of living in a country next to the North-Sea and having almost no elevation (most of the country is only a few metres below/above sea level)
there's nothing to really (slow down or) stop the wind
She’s from the Philippines so a slight breeze from her refrigerator would freeze her.
*I swear I never had so much fun in all my life all the times I visited the Netherlands. I love the Dutch, I love their humanitarianism and I also love the dark skies with all those dark clouds, rain and freezing winters and the cool Dutch summers are fantastic*
Just a few quick tips :)
-If you really want to integrate and feel at home take your time to learn the language (this goes for al countries!).
-Tip the waiters/waitresses! While they don’t have to rely on tips to make a living, it is still greatly appreciated and common courtesy. The average tip isn’t that high just a few euros should be enough.
-Please don’t complain about our traditions, without having grown up here it’s near impossible to understand and judge it.
-Edit:
Regarding my last statement, feel free to complain or let us know how you feel about it. Please just keep in mind that most of us grew up with these traditions and thus it’s hard for us to completely understand you sometimes.
AxelvBeek 415 everyone has to admit that every culture has weak spots !
I never tip. Waste of money. I can use the money very well for my self
if people don't want to learn a language, they should not be forced to do it. dutch people have this attitude as if it was right, as if NL was not a free country and speaking another lanugage was forbidden (and there are countries where some languages are actually forbidden). the discrimination and the hate are real, people just want to look to the other side
Metal Videos I’m not saying you should tip the people at Mac Donald’s or other places like that, but if you go to a fancier place and the service is good you should at least try to give a little extra if you can afford it. :)
Ricardo Garcia what the fuck are you on man. What does this have to do with the genocide of Jews??? I’m saying that if you’re going to live in a country for a while the least you can/should do is try to learn the language and integrate a bit. In the end that will make you and the people around you feel better and more at home…
Well i'm from London England i moved to Amsterdam last year, before i moved i started learning the Dutch language in preparation, I'm not fluent yet but each day im improving, ...i live in the Leidseplein buurt of Amsterdam, i prefer it out here to london
Well done Victor on learning the language. People do appreciate it!
Wow you live around leideplein? You must be rich to be living around there.
I am from.london and thinking about move to Amsterdam. What do you love about Amsterdam more than London ?
Woon je hier nog steeds na Brexit?
@@lienbijs1205 Ja ik woon hier nog steeds, geen land is perfect alle land heeft zijn eigen problemen, maar Amsterdam en Nederland is 👌🏿
Dating a guy that is from the Netherlands and I'm in the US so trying to learn about him right now It's exciting
Yoooo same hahahaha
Dating in dutch means finding out how old he is, or from what century.. "Dateren"...lol..
Ahh you guys will never learn lol
I'm soooo glad I found your channel! I've been making serious life changes lately & moving to Amsterdam from the US has kind of been on the table for some time. Love that you're Filipina too like me cause your comparisons make even more sense to me.
I feel that Filipinos at heart love and enjoy the tropical weather year round and when I see Filipino xpats on social media I can tell they would smile a lot more in a warm sunny beach. I’m the same sorta, I live in southern Cali and when I visit cold climates I realize how much I took for granted the sunny days where weather is not on my conscience.😀✌🏼 salamat for insight on your current city Natasha🌹
I agree, we are tropical girls at heart ;) Thank you for watching!
She sounds very Dutch tho...
Love the fact that you were transparent about the weather and seasonality cons.Before I moved to Amsterdam I only saw nice edited pictures of Amsterdam.Keep the good work!
Thank you! Haha yea not a lot of people show the real side of a city. Just pretty Photoshop pictures and not so much the reality 😊
Integrating in Amsterdam is a difficult thing for anyone. It's not because you're an expat or you don't speak dutch. People in Amsterdam are just not very accessable. You should try living anywhere else in the Netherlands to get a real sense of what Dutch culture is like. The provence Noord Brabant it's habitants are know to be very open and welcoming.
Amsterdam is (like every country has one) a world-city and it doesn't really represent the Dutch social culture.
In Amsterdam you are better of learning Arabic LOL
51 percent of the people in amsterdam is not even native dutch. lol. so she shouldnt have a hard time to find her place there. i mean findin a native dutch person there is like searching for a needle in a hay stack. pretty much impossible
@@StevanOutdoor exactly. it wont take long or that will be the native language of amsterdam haha
Amsterdam & de Amsterdammers zijn best gezellig hoor, Bram 😉
@@TomRoes hahaha 😄.... Brabander 😉
your scond con, the short days, in summer in Nederland) the days are from 4am till 11 pm (thats much longer than in the Philippines (6am till 6pm) only in winter the days are shorter from 5 pm till the next morning 8 am.
Thats true .In most of Asia there is not much variation between in Dawn and Sunset year around .
I don’t think there’s a country in the world where you won’t feel more integrated when you speak the national language. Dutch is for example closely related to English, every conversation no matter how trivial is a chance to practice, and in the beginning of learning a new language you’ll notice the most progress.
Netherlands is a country full of surprise,I've been living here ( not Amsterdam and never ill say) since 3 years and always give me new feelings..I'm honoured to enjoy this beautiful place and,yes,I'm also studying Dutch.. dutch people love to listen to foreigners speaking their language
I moved to Sweden from the Netherlands for 8 years ago.... did not regret
What did you like better in Sweden than in the Netherlands?
@@Timmy_Turner27 the space, the rest and no stress 😃
@@nohaste4me do people have good internet in remote places there?
nohaste4me you are sure you are not Floor Jansen?
@@Timmy_Turner27 yes they must be the most developed country in that area . The only thing that i do not like here is that there is not much privacy, if you look up someone's registerplate on the car you can see the income the age and where the person lives and if he/she committed a crime and if you pay you even see what crime !!!!!!
The Netherlands is not a city... and living in Amsterdam is very different to other parts of this country. Other than that I agree with most of what you said 👍🏼
Definitely agree I've been to Amsterdam a few times and even with the cons i believe it's manageable. I would love to move to Amsterdam someday
Nice to know! Just pack up well for the winter and you'll be fine 😬😅
I think most Dutch people feel like anyone who speaks English to them is a guest, but once you speak Dutch you start becoming part of the household. You will definitely not starve not speaking Dutch out here, but if you want to be a part of the furniture (so to speak) you're really going to want to learn Dutch.
You did an excellent video! But if you live outside of Amsterdam you must learn Dutch. Also Dutch people will speak English for efficiency however, they don't like to. Fair enough though because its their country, I couldn't imagine someone coming to New Zealand and expecting me to speak their language.
The Dutch are also very direct and dogmatic.
Hello, can we be friends
I want marry from Amsterdam I am seriously I am from Jordan I want girl 😊😊
4:58
Moving from Alberta to the netherlands wouldn't really be the biggest change in terms of weather, as we've gone from 30+ to 20- in the span of 3 days... In September.
So if anything it would probably be an improvement!
Great video. Nice editting too. Not so many nice comments but as a Brit interested in relocating this was really helpful, well presented and well produced without being overwhelming. Keep it up.
Thank you for your comment! Netherlands is a good choice - the pros still outweigh the cons :)
the netherlands isnt amsterdam
And if she would have made the video while living in Rotterdam, Den Haag, Nijmegen, Groningen or Maaskantje it would have been?
@@forkless no but she is making pro's and con's about amsterdam and like i said amsterdam is not the whole of the netherlands
@@forkless wauw maaskantje XD
Im from London. Visited Amsterdam a few times. It is by far one of my favourite cities in europe
The main reason that it sure seems to rain so much in the Netherlands is that the weather can be very unpredictable and the lack of mountains, means there is nothing to block any incoming depressions from the sea. ... it does feel like it's always raining because of that. Same goes for Belgium, a neighbour country of the Netherlands. As jet streams flow from the Pacific to Europe, they bring in warm air, filled with water molecules. As they reach Belgium, they increase the air humidity and hence also increase the chance of rainfall
I enjoyed this vlog, yes it was short but insightfully correct. I'm of Dutch descent living in Bali - Indonesia. So yes there are pros and cons to living anywhere, it's what you want out of living there that's key. With all you've mentioned I enjoy staying in Holland and think the pros certainly out way the cons.
If there was the most perfect city than anywhere else in the world will always have cons because they're surrounded by envious foreigners and make it look bad by making people unfriendly and focus on hatred. Our president Ferdinand Marcos was hated for no reason and caused our economy to fall down. I'm from Philippines btw was once wealthiest country in Asia after Japan. If Dutch climate was friendlier would you allow my country to thrive as well unless it's not?
Why don't live outside Holland in the countryside?
I just got this in my feed, and being Dutch this sounds about correct. I can't disagree with anything so you got the gist of it.
Feeling like an outcast because you dont speak the local language is common everywhere, not just Amsterdam.
Not everywhere.
Try Serbia, for example.
About the weather: My father always said to me as a child when it was raining and we had to go outside, "you aren't made of sugar are you?" Made me love the rain. I like a nice little drizzle. Not to hard, not to soft. Put your head up high and enjoy the cool sensation. It's wonderfull.
Amsterdam is one of the most expansive city of the Netherlands in the most of the things. My tip is to travel around the Netherlands and look where you feel like home. In my city Dordrecht we have friends from America and they speak a little bit or even not dutch but they are our friends/new family for us. So my tip is to look around in the Netherlands. We are bigger than you think.
To all expats, try to live in a village outside Amsterdam and you’ll really experience the Dutch culture. Nowhere near will Amsterdam represent the typical Dutch culture.
Agree :) but then you need to learn Dutch to integrate:)
@@TheTravellingFoxes well you want to live in the netherlands so learn the language. dont be so lazy. thats the problem with amsterdam. me as a dutch person always speaks dutch in amsterdam (if i am there which is almost never) no matter who is talking to me. its the capital city of my country. not going to speak english in my own country. nothing to do with being rude or anything. its just how it is. if you want to live here learn the language. i cant go to the Philippines as well and start speaking english. i am sure that more then the half of the people there wont understand me.
@@TheTravellingFoxes No you don't. I helps a lot and if you want to spend several years here, you should. But plenty of people can understand Dutch but rather talk in Englisch.
@@metalvideos1961 I know this is an old comment, but just wanted to point out, that you apparently don't know that English is the second official language in the Philippines. Everyone would understand you.
I am actually planning to move to the Netherlands in a few years, already learning the dutch language and even tho that this was more if an Amsterdam perspective (which is not my city if choice) I still like the video and feel supported in my plan to move there by this video.
(Coming from germany)
Why would you want to live in this shit country when Germany is better in every way?
Maastricht is the BEST!!! And when you are a bit homesick you go shopping in Aachen, just around the corner ❤️
@@metalvideos1961 Sorry for the late response but germany has a lot of bad sides especially if it comes to acceptance and going with the time. I am gay and so for no longer allowed to donate my blood nor plasma in germany, I am also constantly confronted with people that have an overall problem with people like me and curse me on a regular basis which creates a really unhealthy environment. Then another big point is that we have a terrible network infrastructure in germany, many places are have almost no connection to the internet and in my place for example I will not be able to get any messages unless I leave the house and using the wifi requires time and dedication since everything is old and slow. Same goes for the political matters, germany overall is really old and stuck in the past in to many ways for me to see it as the place where I wanna spend my life or where I create a home and family.
I just love the positivity and openness for new things about the Netherlands, without giving up much of the good stuff from germany since it is literally around the corner.
@@LikeaNoobplays wait so because you are gay you cant give blood? they just changed that law in the netherlands well last year. the law was first that gays or bi sexual man had to wait 12 months before giving blood. so that meant 12 months no sex. but they changed the law to 4 months. which is still ridiculous as well ofc. but at least they can give blood. didnt know that it was still forbidden in germany. well they want to change the laws around that from what i read quickly. and well about internet i am not that surprised. germany is the biggets country in europe. cost alot of money to put cables everywhere. so they probably just put cables and network and all that stuff at places where the most people live. which makes sense to me. still its annoying though. But just to go by those 2 reasons to live in the netherlands is kinda strange. i get your point though and if you want to live here then nobody is stopping you from it. but if you want to have peace and quiet then dont live to far in the west of the netherlands or in the south. alot of immigrants. i my self live in the province drenthe close to germany. north/east of the netherlands is still the best place to live if you want a peaceful living. but overal i dont have much to complain about the netherlands. its just that its one of the most expensive countries in europe. so by that standard i wouldnt mind to live in germany. everything over there is cheaper. you will notice it when you are going to live here as wel
my online best friend lives in Southern Holland and i live in Australia 😭😭😭🥺 i really wanna see her irl 😭 i love her so muchhh,, she’s the best ever!!!!!! i’m half filo thoo
You have an ONLINE best friend?
i JUST GOT THE PASSEL OF THE ATTACK HERE. FIRST AN ASIAN THEN A FRIEND SUPPORT and ALWAYS END WITH THE AUSTRALIA....
DENMARK PALACE IS THAT YOU Should MOVE CLOSE TOO and play this with the danish as the rest of the Europe will not by all this bullying against the dutch.
I am European (not Dutch) but they are know as a most supportative and kind people here in Europe by us .... you can have your opinion by all means but not EVERYONE is o the bore like it seems to me you are.
Seek to the dutch tell you feel a bit 'helpless' and they would help you .
Well long distance relationship don't work unless you've solid plan
@@yacineaouimeurlol
Fruitful information about great country!
Thank you very much for sharing information about the Netherlands!
I spent the first week of September in Amsterdam and loved it. The people were so kind and friendly and the city was incredible. I'm sure the weather is harsh in the winter, so when I come back I will aim for the Spring or Summer.
The sea climate makes our winters mild and wet.
I have to agree with several of the other commenters here: as you say yourself, Amsterdam is very much an international community, and it has ample commute connections to the rest of Europe. As such, it can hardly be called representative of the Netherlands anymore. Therefor, basing your judgement (pros as well as cons) exclusively on your experiences in Amsterdam, is unfair. Go live in Haarlem, Beverwijk, Alkmaar or Leeuwarden - to name but just a few - and you'll get a totally different idea of the Netherlands.
True, most people still speak English wherever you go, but the mentality is quite different from place to place.
One thing is true, though: like everywhere on the planet, the best way to truly experience and understand the local culture and to integrate into it, is to learn its language. Many Dutch people even learn some of the language of their vacation destinations, just because it helps understand the local cultures better, which in turn helps you integrate more fully.
THE LAST SENTENCES IS VERY TRUE. Some people who go to a vacation where they do not speak the language sometimes even take courses after the whole day work for to learn to talk at least as much that they can shop or not be fooled
@@elizabethnilsson1815 exactly! And knowing just that little bit about the language, often helps them make friends there, too. Some of my friends have RL friends all over the world, whom they met while going on vacation there.
Seems like you're confusing "The Netherlands" with Amsterdam! The title is therefore somewhat confusing. Amsterdam isn't what it used to be, that's for sure! From an old Amsterdammer, born and raised but expat since 1979!
leaving Amsterdam was the best decision i have made. it has become an expat city. the rest of the Netherlands is much better, greetings from a dutchman.
Peter Koek I’m so interested living there in my future, what other parts (cities, towns) of the Netherlands should you recommend me to visit/live?
Sstt niet zeggen,lekker naar Adam laten gaan.
Thanks for the balanced commentary. There are always pros and cons!
two points that I cant tolerate, too cold weather and having no local friends 💕👍
Yes!!! Very hard...but if you know how to dress for the cold weather, it becomes tolerable I guess :D
I think it would be easier to make local friends in any place but Amsterdam, People there seem to have a different attitude, In my experience.
Hei, cheer up Amsterdam is one of the most friendly city Ive ever been .Its my fav city moved there 2yrs ago. I also think it was expensivw until i moved up north compare to ams.its affordable price I guess you should just go deeper in the heart of Amsterdam
Proost 🥂
amsterdam is literally the most expensive city in europe. 51 percent is foreigner. pretty much no native dutchmans are living there. they expect you to speak english. which i will never do no matter who is talking to me. and the city in general is just pure shit. especially now groenlinks is at power. the whole city is going to shit even more then when job cohen was still mayor. nah amsterdam is literally the worst city of the netherlands.
It's really weird for me to see Wanderlust as an English word, because it's actually German.
My wife is from the Philippines , she is here now for 28 years in the Netherlands , and she loves it , she is really integrated in society , speaks the language well , and she feels really at home , what you said about learning how to speak Dutch makes it indeed so much easier to feel at home , she is a Dutch Naturalized citizen now , and feels really at home !
My daughter lives in the Netherlands and I visited for a month 25 yrs. ago. Yes, I would love to live in The Netherlands but alas I am 73 yrs. old. Fortunately she comes home 2-3 times a year. She misses home in Portland Oregon USA so I think we share the best of both countries.
The title says The Netherlands but the video is Amsterdam only. Many Dutch people don't even like Amsterdam. It's like saying Manilla represents the Philippines. It's stupid.
Dutch Bushcraft Image not living near Amsterdam 😐
@@naurrrr1337 That's relative. For many foreigners distances in The Netherlands are so short everything is near Amsterdam. For the Dutch it's often a blessing not living near Amsterdam. The original people of Amsterdam all moved out and live somewhere else.
You do realize she lives in Amsterdam right? Do you expect her to do a comprehensive tour of the country just to satisfy your cultural sensitivities? It's TH-cam content dude.
@@forkless I expect the title to represent the content. That's all. That's how i select what video's to watch and this was a waste of time because of the misrepresentation.
@@StevanOutdoor I'm curious what you feel is misleading/misrepresenting about the title. Last I checked Amsterdam was still in the Netherlands.
I really loved your content!! 🔥
I can totally agree with what you said and I would add as a pro:
- the open and sport- minded Dutch mentality
- the variety of food you can find everywhere from everypart of the world
- The startup ecosystem: one of the best city startups hubs
And as a cons:
- the rental system, it gets so difficult to find a new home
- one of the most expensive city in Europe, the cost of living is so high
💚
Thanks dear! I agree to all your points!! You won't get bored with the variety of activities and food here :)
This variety of food is found in the bigger cities. Not in most villages let alone the rural area's.
Ecosystems? You mean cutting down all trees to burn and make electricity so rich people can get a subsidie for buying an electric car?
Rob Blokdijk bro ik kreeg oprecht meerdere vormen aids van jouw verschrikkelijke Engels
My personal opinion is learning the local language is extremely important regardless of which country you are in. This is especially the case if you are planning to be in the country/city for a long time and not a short term stay of say 6 months to a year. It is understandable that locals would feel more comfortable speaking in their mother tongue even if they are fluent in other languages ie. English.
I don't really understand all these comments saying that (Dutch) people speak English but they don't like to. I'm not Dutch, but if a foreigner lives here in my home country, I'm very happy to speak with them in English, I don't care if they want to learn the local language or not. I love to meet different people from different cultures and I really appreciate the differences between us as much as the similarities. I don't understand the obsession that expats need to learn the language of the country. Of course, it helps them to know some of it, but when I read that people take it personally if someone doesn't learn the language? Sure, if the person is rude and disrespectful in general, that's bad, of course, but not knowing to speak a language doesn't make anyone rude.
I wish there are more people like you
I was 12 when I first went to the Netherlands for a school competition (It was in The Hague) and I remember everyone was acting like those cringey tourists, taking pictures of random stuff like birds or trees and running across the road when the little man was red. I felt so embarrassed so I kept trying to distance myself from them because they were genuinely horrifying. We went shopping once and they kept going around being loud and overbuying but I tried to keep myself on a budget (mostly cause I didn't have that much money lol, I probably would have bought more). When we were checking out, everyone was holding up the line because they had to double back and get the money from my teacher but I just came with the exact amount of money (i calculated again because I didn't have money) so when the cashier told me my money in Dutch, I just gave it to her, and she gave me my change and I left, and I felt a kind of satisfaction that she didn't think I was one of the noisy foreigners even though I was lowkey one😂
omg, i totally agree with the pros and cons! im a filipino as well and living here in Rotterdam for 5years, although i have couple of dutch friends and already can speak basic dutch, i still feel an outcast especially if I'm the last one laughing at the jokes! but overall, i love it here :) thanks for this vlog!
About the first con... you’re sticking to English because it’s your native language and can express yourself best in... what about us?! XD We might speak English very well, but Dutch is still our native language. Having a small conversation in English is different from having daily/weekly conversations with friends. We prefer those languages in Dutch ;)
Second con: UK and Ireland are a lot wetter! And because of the hills/mountains, I found it got dark even sooner in winter where I lived in Ireland (close to Cork).
Third con: waiters are people too. They don’t go above and beyond, because “doe nou maar normaal, dan doe je al gek genoeg”. Customer is not king in the Netherlands. Not in restaurants, but not elsewhere either. And I like that. Dutch are very direct. If a waiter would go ‘above and beyond’, I would be wondering what’s wrong to be honest (“What’s he hiding?!”). I go out to eat for “de gezelligheid”. So I only want a waiter there to give the menu, and otherwise we’ll let them know if we want something. We don’t want our social night out being disrupted by a waiter every 5 minutes while we don’t need anything. It also feels nice, you don’t feel you’re rushed to leave.
About language, Filipino (Tagalog) is (one of the) native languages, not English. Conversing in English with a Filipino means we both use a 2nd, not native language so no linguistic advantage for each of us.
Your comment on the weather being bipolar is really great. Haven't heard it before, I'll never forget, thanks.
Amsterdam doesn’t feel like the rest of the Netherlands tbh, Amersfoort is beautiful and the people are so kind,Arnhem has some amazing restaurants, Apeldoorn has stunning wildlife, check these places out they’re amazing! I’d also say it’s really important to AT LEAST know a little bit of Dutch, like phrases and stuff, enjoy!
Weather is a tough one. Here in Australia we tend to get used to the heat. I used to cycle to work when I lived in the outback when it was 45 centigrade and it was fine.
50 euros for a massage is fine. I paid (the equivalent of) that today for a traditional Thai massage and it was definitely worth it.
This is a great video. Quite balanced 👌
I live here for 6 years.. and you have to change your title
"How to live in Amsterdam"..
I dont hear from you talking about other places here... most people live in Amsterdam are foreigners ..did you ever been went to other part of europe? Winter here are not worst as you say.. some points you said i disagree 😁
We are always complaining that the trains are late 🙃
In my country they are late or they arrive so full of people that they don't stop for you :'(
Amsterdam: Nice en beautiful for one day .
After that ; Back to the provence, where real Dutch people live.
just for context, in the Netherlands it's common knowledge that we haven't had a real winter in years. but coming from a tropical country, I get it;).. if you want to see a real dutch winter and what we do when that happens? look up the dutch " Elfstedentocht" (11 dutch cities on ice skates..)
oohh i'd love to try proper ice skating here! I remember the time the canals froze and the Dutchies were trying to skate :)
I am Dutch and I totally agree with the pros and the cons you mention. Very good video !
Your first con i can agree but its not typical dutch, that will happen to you in any country, as a matter of fact it happen to me (im a Dutch man from Amsterdam) in Manila i speak reasonable English and so do most Filipinos but to realy intergrate you need to speak the countries language where ever you go.
jim de nooij I’m agree of u
i disagree, if the local people speak english to a conversational level, they are very willing to hang out with you. not the case in NL. on the other hand, this way of thinking promotes hate. There are all kinds of stories. from a Serbian girl that got her bike thrown in a canal because the dutch neighbor didn't like foreigners in his neighborhood (in Groningen) to a spanish guy that was beaten outside the train station (the hague) by 3 drunk dutch guys because he did not understood what they were telling him
As an Italian, I'd pay to have Netherlands-like summers! I went there a few years ago, here in italy it was like 35 degrees every day and up there it was 17 😅 I know I'm an exception to the rule though..
sono anch’io un’eccezione, essendo pugliese, in estate sembra di vivere letteralmente in un forno
@@carl8adey4 siamo gli unici due secondo me. Se potessi piazzerei direttamente settembre dopo maggio 🤣 saluti dall'Abruzzo!
peppe von Matterhorn per lo meno in Abruzzo ci sono località montane e paesaggi invernali molto affascinanti!
@@carl8adey4 vero! E aggiungo che sicuramente è più alla portata rispetto ad un eventuale trasferimento in olanda 😅 forse ti mancherebbe un po' la morfologia che accomuna Puglia e olanda, ma non si può avere tutto, immagino. 🤣ti aspettiamo!
I think a big reason as to why Dutch people can speak english so well is the big simularity between the 2 languages.
Some even argue that Dutch is easiest for native English speakers to learn. There's not a mutual intelligibility per say, but both languages have almost the same grammar, syntax, letters, and quite a few of the words and pronunciations are virtually the same!
It helps to learn Dutch too if you also speak German.
Awesome vlog. Thanks sharing all this useful information 👌
I was considering retiring to the Netherlands, to a small but well equipped town within a 15 or 20 min train ride to Amsterdam. There are many. And they all look so very pleasant! We would train into Amsterdam often. I thought it would be better then actually living in the city itself.
Yes I agree! I don't live in the city center but close to a train station - very convenient to visit the city, plus some towns offer more affordable cost of living than staying in the center.
Perhaps learning Dutch isn't such a bad idea...?
yeah who would have thought right? but nah foreigners expect that we do what they want. look at all those immigrants in the Netherlands. we have to accept them but they dont have to accept us. its exactly with people like her.
@@metalvideos1961 hey not all of us man, I moved here about a year ago and everyday I try to learn dutch by myself, I have a couple of dutch friends and they do appreciate my efforts even though I'm not fluent yet, I love the country, the culture and I want to integrate! I do however understand the point, I work in a company full of expats and they basically just hang around each other, an expat bubble and none try to learn the language, I try to avoid that and the locals really appreciate it!
@Rico Swavay on Facebook why? Because in the end, she does admit that not knowing the language is causing her some problems living here. If you go live in another country and if you want to truly understand the people and their culture, learn the language!
@Rico Swavay on Facebook because you live in a country that speaks dutch. She have to do some kind of effort to learn it. Just a sign of being lazy and egotistical. People like her is wat makes amsterdam horrible. I will never speak English to anybody in Amsterdam. Learn the language or don't live here. It's that simple.
@@HelduikerJon not talking about you. You try and want to put your time in it. That's fine. But for people like her who refuse to learn it I have problems with. She expect that we will do what she wants. Fuck that. Learn the language or fuck off. Wish we had the same law in Sweden. If you can't speak some Swedish you can't move there. But we have also immigrants here that lives here for 20 plus years. And they still can't speak some Dutch as well. I will never speak English to anybody in Amsterdam or in the Netherlands. Unless I really know that they are on vacation here. That's totally different. But it you live in a foreign country learn the language from the natives. It's literally that simple. Don't be so egotistical.
What i love about the Dutch is they are very very Humor full and like to laugh,they are kind,humble,warm and open!
Well, I suppose whenever you're not willing to speak the local language, it is their NATIVE language, you probably have no incentive to stay. For as long as you stay at least make an effort, you won't make friends otherwise. You then become another of those expatriates who take what they believe it is their right.
It's the same for every country. Definitely not just in the Netherlands. I do know quite a few words and phrases but I need at least 2-3more yrs to get better at it. It is an awfully difficult language ;) However, in Asia I believe even as an Expat you can easily have local friends. Not making an effort is not the issue, it's a cultural thing I guess.
@@TheTravellingFoxes Contrary what you might think, the US state department has published a list where the easy and hard languages are classified. According to the department, Dutch is one of the easiest to learn to an acceptable level. The hardest are Japanese and Chinese. I think, if you are fluent in English, the state department list is accurate. Cultural differences, however overwhelming it is to you, are the main problem, not the language.
@@TheTravellingFoxes The dutch are very prideful people and this sometimes results in arrogant behaviour. It is therefore remarkable, however, how much they care about what others think of them (hence the amount of dutch viewers for your video). Most dutch people are so stuck-up, that they can only be around like-minded people. If they are around other cultures, they can't help themselves to tell others what is "wrong" with their culture and country and how great The Netherlands is. If you are not dutch, or dont look dutch, just accept that you will not fit in and search for the people around you that are open to new cultures, ideas and lifestyles! But don't forget, there are some dutch people that are welcoming to other cultures from around the world!
@@TheTravellingFoxes Don't worry to much, english is just fine....
@@joran257 I agree and i'm Dutch myself 😉
4:50 Try Brabant or Limburg. You will like southern hospitality compared to the north. It has roots going back to the divide between catholic (south) and protestant (north). The north was much more 'strict', less into alcohol and having fun in general after they became protestant. The south still has this 'bourgondische' inslag. Also make sure to check out southern carnaval. Its great.
Services being a luxury and lacking the "customer first" mentality is a pro for me. Knowing that people don't take employee labour for granted like in many other places seems quite appealing
That can be true, but it doesn’t mean they should be sloppy with service.
Thank you for your video! It's always interesting to hear what expats or tourists think of my country. I honestly did not know that it is so hard to find Dutch friends as an expat. Maybe it's because most Dutch people already have a social circle and are not looking for friends? I would love to become friends with some expats, cultural differences are so interesting :)
"I didnt have to learn the dutch language because everyone here speaks English " well this isnt how it works, if you wanna live in a certain country just learn the language.
according to what? the above everything law that works for everyone? such a typical idiotic comment, from a typical idiotic person
@@melodymantel7869 something about integration, have a nice evening
@@drpepper3838 integration is different for everyone and possible in The Netherlands without speaking Dutch which as she mentions, is great. I am sick and tired of comments like yours it is nothing but judgmental.
@@melodymantel7869 integration isnt different for everyone, you integrate or you don't, and I'm sick and tired of people coming here and not integrating
@@melodymantel7869 it's about having respect. But you o obviously don't know what that is
You live in the wrong part in the Netherland to feel not a outcast in the Netherland
As an American visitor, I enjoyed visiting Amsterdam, but the only other places I've ever visited outside of Amsterdam was the town of Uden near Volkel and Eindhoven. The Dutch people I encountered during my travels were very kind and friendly. I learned a little bit of the Dutch language when I worked with members of the Koninklijke Luchtmacht, the Royal Dutch Air Force, when they came to the United States, so I took every opportunity to use what I learned, and if I didn't understand something, I would switch back to English and ask questions. I had only positive experiences there.
Nice! I’ve never heard or been to Uden town? Good for you for learning Dutch quickly and applying them!
Well organized and your speech was put very well together. Thank you very much for the little tour as well instead of just sitting in the same spot. Love the video 10/10!!!!
Glad you enjoyed it!!