Tikkies
You have probably heard of the expression ‘’going Dutch’’ and honestly, it's no exaggeration. In the Netherlands, we are masters of splitting the bill with precision. When you go for dinner or meet with Dutch friends, you can expect a Tikkie (payment request) of ‘’€6,43 for drinks and snacks’’ before you’re even home. The Tikkie app is, therefore, quite a must-have in the Netherlands: it allows you to pay directly to the person who paid the bill, or to send your own Tikkie through WhatsApp. Luckily, asking someone to pay for their part is fully socially accepted here, and there is barely any awkwardness when it comes to money.
Dinner at 6
As an international student, you are probably used to having dinner at 8 PM or even later. In the Netherlands, however, dinner is usually served at 6 PM sharp. So, if you are invited to a dinner with Dutch friends, make sure you are there before 6 PM ;).
Punctuality
Speaking of time, Dutch people are very punctual; arriving late to an appointment is not appreciated. If you have a meeting at 2 PM, you are expected to be there at 1.55 PM at the latest. In fact, arriving exactly on time may already be too late…
Planning
Spontaneous visits to friends or family are quite a no-go here. If you’re thinking of dropping by a Dutch friend after lectures unannounced, you might want to change your plans. The Dutch love to plan everything in advance. Want to meet with friends? Then check with them and their agendas to plan a date ahead. The good thing is, once you have scheduled a gathering, it is set in stone!
Bikes
The Dutch and our bikes are inseparable! Biking here is not just a means of transportation, it is a lifestyle! While public transportation might let you down and travelling by car could mean getting stuck in traffic, we trust our bikes with our lives. No wonder that every Dutch person owns 1,3 bikes on average. Biking with a suitcase, dog, child (or two: one in the back and one in the front), sofa or another bike… it is all completely normal here. So, forget about the GO scooters or fat bikes: buy yourself a bike and you will fit right in!
Bringing your own lunch
Buying a warm meal during lunch? Not in the Netherlands! Here, everyone brings their own lunch to work or university – at least most of the time. And this lunch is usually quite simple: a sandwich with cheese or hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles) is very common in Dutch lunchboxes. If you are used to hearty, warm meals, this might be quite a culture shock. However, with such a variety of delicious bread and cheeses, you might find yourself bringing your own broodje kaas to university before long.
Directness
We Dutchies are known for being very upfront. We say things as they are, without any beating around the bush. If you’re asking a Dutch person what he thinks about your new outfit, expect an honest answer: if he doesn’t like it, you will be told so. And if you are asking someone for a favour, be prepared for a no if they can’t help you. If you’re not used to our Dutch directness, you might interpret this as rudeness. However, we mean well! Once you are used to this, you might experience the benefits of our directness: our communication is clear, you won’t be told lies and conflicts or problems will be discussed directly instead of being tucked away.
Paracetamol
Feeling sick? In the Netherlands, you will probably be told to take paracetamol and rest. Here, paracetamol is the answer to any symptom. Have a cold, fever or a broken leg? Paracetamol is the cure for all of them. While in other countries, you might be used to getting prescribed antibiotics or other medication quite easily, in the Netherlands, we’re a bit more reserved about that.
Rain
The weather in the Netherlands can be quite unpredictable and, in the end, you can’t avoid the rainy days. Whenever it rains here, you will see people bike through it unbothered. We just put on our raincoat and don’t let the rain bother us. As much as we like talking about the weather, avoid complaining about the rain, because you will likely hear our Dutch saying that ‘’you are not made of sugar’’. If you want to know when you can go outside without getting soaked, make sure to download the Buienradar app. We trust this app with our lives: if Buienradar says it’s not going to rain, then it is not going to rain!
Three kisses
If you’re meeting someone Dutch, you might get greeted the typical Dutch way. When someone is going for a kiss on the cheek, be prepared that it’s not going to be just one, not even two, but three kisses!
Compliments
The Dutch and compliments are not the best combination. We are usually not that generous in giving them, nor are we very good at receiving them. If you tell a Dutch person you like his or her coat, you will probably receive an answer like: ‘’Thanks, I just bought it for €20 in sale!’’ The Dutch in general are just quite modest and reserved. However, when you do receive a compliment, you can be sure that it’s genuine!
Gezellig
Gezellig is not only hard to pronounce but also to translate. Gezellig is the Dutch word for describing something nice, sociable and cosy. Whether you are drinking a coffee in a cafe, going for dinner with friends, or just spending a night chatting with your roommates in the living room: the Dutch concept of gezelligheid applies to all of them.
How are you?
What might be just a normal small talk question for you, in the Netherlands, this question is usually not answered with ‘’Good, thanks!’’. Again, we like to be honest, so be prepared to receive an extensive answer about how life is really going. Are you looking for more casual small talk, just stick to talking about the weather instead and you will be safe!
There you have it! With this guide, you will hopefully navigate through Dutch life easily, without too many culture shocks. And obviously, these habits and traits might be a bit exaggerated here and there, so take them with a grain of salt 😉.
