Fair February

Love is in the air today, so instead of focusing on just one aspect, I thought, why not celebrate an entire country? After all, gratitude fits perfectly into the realm of positive impact.

Ever since moving to the Netherlands for the first time in February 2012, I have been singing praises and raving about all things Dutch. Salty liquorice for dessert? Irresistible! Words that sound like someone is scratching the back of your throat? Music to my ears! Scheduling a date one year in advance? A dream come to true!

Little did I know that what was initially intended as a brief six-month student exchange would evolve into a long-lasting love affair with the Netherlands. I guess my fondness for places, much like for people, is immediate and intense.

What is it that endears this tiny country to me so much? Here are my 14 reasons:

1. CYCLING

Cycling and bikes are as natural to the Netherlands as windmills, cheese, and tall people. It’s a very flat (and compact) country: its highest point, Vaalserberg, is only 322.7 meters high. Biking here is easy, convenient, and fun – just be sure to get a good lock! The average Dutch person cycles about 102 hours and 1,108 km per year, whereas there are about 23.5 million bikes in a population of 17.5 million. Go get ’em those fit thighs.

2. BORRELS, HAPJES & BROWN BARS

One of the quintessential Dutch experiences is partaking in a borrel. Roughly translated as a “very informal reception,” it’s an event centred around drinks and hapjes (snacks), which may or may not include bittergarnituur. The borrel embodies the Dutch love for socialising, a sense of belonging, and gezelligheid. Any excuse will do: it’s Friday (known as vrijmibo), Christmas, graduation day, or even a 🚀spontaneous🚀 gathering planned months ahead.

Now, onto the culinary delights – bitterballen and bittergarnituur. The Dutch may not be known for their haute cuisine, but when it comes to beer snacks, they’ve got it down to an art form. A spread of cheeses, sausages (if you eat meat), and other delectable treats, both cold and warm. And let’s not forget the pièce de résistance – bitterballen, those little balls of random leftover goodness that have become a staple of Dutch cuisine. Trust me, they’re addictive.

The essence of a borrel is amplified when hosted at a bruine kroeg, or “brown bar” – an old, laid-back café with smoke-stained walls and a cozy dark wood interior. These establishments typically score 11 out of 10 on the gezelligheid (cosiness) scale, making them the perfect setting for a borrel. With its relaxed atmosphere and warm ambiance, a bruine kroeg enhances the camaraderie and enjoyment of the gathering. Proost! 🍻

3. LANGUAGE

Tell a Dutch person you find their language attractive and they might send you to a mental institution for a check-up. I’m certainly in a minority here: it makes sense why a language with prominent guttural sounds is often described as harsh, sputtering, and not particularly ear-pleasing. Enrolling in a beginner’s Dutch course might leave you with a sore throat, prompting you to question why cough syrup isn’t part of the package.

In reality, Dutch is a very fun language to learn. Just look at some of their words: handschoenen (“hand shoes”, gloves), luipaard (“lazy horse”, leopard), een bakje troost (“a cup of comfort”, a cup of coffee). It gets better when you tackle idioms: haar op de tanden hebben (“to have hair on one’s teeth”, to be able to hold your own/to have a sharp tongue), met de deur in huis vallen (“to fall with the door into the house”, to get straight to the point), het zal me een worst wezen (“that would be sausage to me”, I don’t really care). Then you start paying attention to some Dutch first names – Fokke, Taco, Joke – and last names – Naaktgeboren (“born naked”), Suikerbuik (“sugar belly”), Zeldenthuis (“rarely at home”), Kaasenbrood (“cheese and bread”). Perhaps Anna Zeldenthuis would suit me well, what do you think?

Then you have the love for diminutives. Diminutive denotes smallness, familiarity, affection, or triviality and can be created by adding a suffix to the word. In Dutch, there is one universal suffix ‘-je’ that you can add to practically any noun. So, instead of your regular toothbrush, you now have tandenborsteltje, a book becomes boekje, and your beer (because that’s important) – biertje. Cute. 💖

4. THOSE FIVE SECONDS OF SUN

The Netherlands looks and feels like a completely different place when it gets its 5 seconds of sunny weather. It is almost like the entire country drops everything, clothes included, and heads outside. For once, you are reminded that it is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. Parks get crowded, numerous cafe terraces get packed, boats make rounds in the grachten – a sight to behold!

5. PRAGMATISM

For a country that defies nature, with 26% of its land below sea level, the Netherlands thrives, and it’s not by chance. The Dutch, known for their practicality, turned swamps into habitable zones, built dykes and dams, and seamlessly integrated canals into cities and villages. Amsterdam, briefly constructed on a bog with 11 million wooden poles, exemplifies their ingenuity. The city’s structures rest on 15-20 m long poles, sunk through mud and fixed in a 12-meter-deep sandy layer; Amsterdam Centraal alone required nearly 9,000 of them.

The Dutch approach to life is marked by rationality, civility, and liberalism, fostering a harmonious coexistence of diverse individuals. Rather than outright prohibition, the Dutch prefer regulation, whether addressing drugs, euthanasia, prostitution, or immigration. This pragmatic ethos has historically forged strong diplomatic ties with larger neighbours, relying on soft power over hard power, establishing a robust position on the continent.

6. CANALS

Dutch canals offer not just practicality but also opportunities for two exciting activities: boating and ice skating. While not every winter permits canal skating, luck may grant you a glimpse of the Elfstedentocht, a 200 km long skating tour in Friesland, held only if the ice reaches a thickness of 15 cm. In 2012, during my first stay, the country’s cold spell heightened expectations for the tour, but thin ice in the southern part of the province dashed those hopes.

Fortunately, boating is a year-round delight. In my opinion, it’s the best activity, especially in good company (gezellig), under sunny skies (lekker), with a side of bittergarnituur. However, a word of caution: swimming might not be the best idea—you might just stumble upon a submerged bike.

7. ARCHITECTURE

Dutch architecture is a visual delight, ranging from traditional and classical houses that define the iconic Dutch landscape to the sleek designs of modern museums. Walking or biking through these streets is a continuously captivating experience.

One fascinating example is the building that now houses the Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder in Amsterdam (“Our Lord in the Attic”). This 17th-century canal building once accommodated a Catholic Church on its top three floors, capable of hosting up to 150 people. Constructed between 1661-1663, the church served as a clandestine space for Catholics to practice their faith, which was officially prohibited at the time. Later transformed into a museum in the late 19th century, it stands as the second oldest in the city.

8. PECULIAR CUSTOMS

I find the Dutch and their ways endearingly odd, if not straight-up weird, but this is probably why I like them. Besides their interesting dietary choices (such as broodje hagelslag, a toast with butter and chocolate sprinkles), birthdays are a peculiar affair. Don’t expect someone to show up with a cake at your party – it’s the birthday person’s responsibility. That’s just tragic 😦

Your friends from the Netherlands will likely remember your birthday by consulting an obligatory birthday calendar in the toilet – Dutch pragmatism strikes again. Some other oddities include keeping curtains open almost all the time and the meticulous scheduling of even the scheduling itself.

9. NATIONAL CHARACTER

Despite being a small nation, there is a distinct national character. I believe it is both despite and because of the “Doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg” mentality (roughly translated as “just act normal”) that the Dutch have their own pronounced cultural identity. On one hand, conforming to unspoken social norms is necessary to comfortably live in a tiny country in consensus with another 18 million people.

Yet, the Dutch are still an individualistic society. They thrive in heated, assertive discussions, partly because directness and honesty are cherished values. This isn’t just an observation; even the study I conducted for my Master’s thesis provided evidence for this claim.

Finally, the most important point concerning the Dutch identity is, who else on Earth would voluntarily wear this much orange?

10. LIVING BY THE WATER

There’s something inherently serene and calming about living by the sea (unless it’s warm and sunny out – see point #4), and I firmly believe that a stroll along the beach is good for the soul. The Dutch even have a word for it – uitwaaien, meaning “to walk in the wind” or, in essence, to take a walk outside to clear one’s mind.

One of the most known things about the Netherlands is, perhaps, its habit of eating raw herring. The traditional eating method involves holding the fish covered with chopped onions by its tail, tilting your head back, and taking a bite.? According to the Nederlands Visbureau (Dutch Fish Bureau), the Dutch consume as many as 76 million herrings per year. That is… a lot of fish.

11. HOUSEBOATS

Many converted ships and barges serve as charming houseboats in Dutch canals. Renting one is a unique experience, offering a romantic view of swans, coots, and mallards right outside your window.

12. FLOWERS

From the first tulip imported in the 16th century to the Tulipomania in 1636, tulips became more than just a luxury status symbol for the European elite. In that frenzy, a single tulip bulb could cost 10 times a skilled craftsman’s annual income by 1637. Learning their lesson, the Dutch turned the tables, creating a thriving horticultural industry. Today, their flower fields, dominated by local tulip growers, contribute two-thirds of the world’s total flora sales.

13. ENJOYING LIFE

Dutchies live by the motto that deeply resonates with me: work to live, not the other way around. They have Europe’s shortest workweek, not out of laziness but to embrace the fun of life. Festivals abound year-round, borrels fill the calendar, and a friend who owns a boat (or being that lucky friend), life is set. In 2019 alone, Dutch residents took 22,045,000 trips abroad, enough to make Dora the Explorer envious. They champion a healthy work-life balance, ensuring they don’t miss out on the wonderful experiences unfolding around them.

14. IT JUST MAKES ME HAPPY

he Netherlands holds a special place in my heart for various personal reasons. My time as a student in Leiden remains a cherished memory. Moving to Amsterdam as a fresh graduate exposed me to the real rollercoaster of life, and I fell in love with the city all over again, now as a resident, discovering “my” spots. Meeting people from around the globe led to fascinating conversations—some were fleeting encounters, some evolved into lasting friendships, and some changed my life forever. Regardless of the highs, lows, or craziness of my experiences, it’s the one place I look forward going back to. ¹🧡

***

Not many updates on the sustainability front; the past couple of days have centered around relaxation and replenishing energy reserves.

To sum up, this is today’s progress:

SUCCESS	FAIL
Vegan food	No single-use plastic (random mail wraps)
Unplug devices that are not in use	Five-minute shower (there we go again)
Compost (coffee + fruit peels)

1. It is not my intention to idealise the country as a whole or my personal experiences. It’s important to acknowledge that there have been a fair few challenges and disappointments along the way. No place is flawless, but the Netherlands has become home ❤ . ↩︎