interviews

Several people with a foreign origin have been interviewed about their experiences in the Netherlands. 

devon, 19 years old

1. Where do you live? Southern Henrietta, New York, USA.

2. When did you come to the Netherlands and what was the reason for your visit/stay? I visited the Netherlands in March 2017 with my high school as an exchange trip. In June 2018 I travelled around Europe together with some family members, and I stayed in Amsterdam to see a friend (Vera, founder of this website). 

3. What is your favourite Dutch food? Stoopwaffles - Stroopwafels

4. What activities should a trip to the Netherlands definately include? Spend a day (or more) in Amsterdam, especially go to Body Worlds and take a canal tour. And of course visit a nice girl named Vera. 

5. What is the weirdest thing that you witnessed during your time in the Netherlands? Hahahah well, actually Vera had to remind me of this. When we were in the city of Amsterdam together, we walked passed a woman who was shouting around that religion is the most important thing in life. She was dressed in very vague clothing and she was carrying multiple bords with quotes about Jesus on it. I was genuinely shocked by her appearance, because in America we would never see something like this!

6. Do you understand the thing Dutch people have with bikes? Yes I do, during the first week that I was in the Netherlands, the exchange, I was staying with my friend Vera at her home. Unfortunately she lived in another village than the one she went to school in, so we had to cycle at least 20 kilometers a day. Once we went to the beach, where I drove the bike of Vera's dad off a large dune. At the bottom of the dune, I suddenly had to turn left. This went enormously wrong and I drove into a pole, and broke the bike of Vera's dad...She was quite angry with me as she had already warned me but I did not listen. 

7. What is your favourite Dutch holiday and why? Koningsdag, because it is the only holiday I know except for Sinterklaas. I just don't like the Black Pete's. 

8. What do you think of the Dutch Royal House? If you're talking about the people I think that it is kind of redundant to have a fine head king. 

9. When you left the Netherlands, what did you miss and what will you never miss? I really miss my friend Vera, and I will not miss the rain a single day of my life.

10. What prejudice about Dutch people is true? They really love their bikes!

irene, 18 years old

1. Where do/did you live (before you moved to the Netherlands)? I live in Italy

2. When did you come to the Netherlands and what was the reason for it? I came to Heemskerk. I was an exchange student there. I wanted to experience in one year a different reality and to discover as many traditions and cultural aspects as possible

3. What is your favourite Dutch food? Probably poffertjes, they are just so lekker!!

4. If you come to the Netherlands, what should you absolutely do/visit? You should definitely visit Amsterdam, Leiden, Alkmaar and Rotterdam, in my opinion. You should try some typical sweets such as poffertjes, stroopwafels, pannenkoeken. It would be nice to experience some celebrations such as sinterklaas and koningsdag. You shouldn't miss a bike ride and an experience with skates on natural ice!

5. Have you ever been to a Dutch birthday party, if so, what are your opinions on this? I’ve been to many Dutch birthday parties. They are really great, the atmosphere is super gezellig and everyone is nice and talkative. The food is also generally really tasty, also thanks to the cakes.
The only awkward moment is the “gefeliciteerd circle” a cerimony of celebration which doesn't seem to have a real meaning in the perspective of a foreigner.

6. What is the weirdest Dutch thing you witnessed during your time in the Netherlands? There are many weird things that happened to me during my stay in the NL. One was probably being obligated to cycle also during stormy days or super windy ones (even though every one seemed used to it, it appeared as a real struggle to me!)
People cutting spaghetti while eating them. Sorry it's just really weird and hard for us Italian to experience such a thing.
Eating a raw herring was also pretty strange. Some may say that is the same principle as eating sushi… I can assure you that the taste is completely different!!

The fact that every family (or well many) owes its own little boat that usually belongs to the children. It's something I found really cute and a great hobby for children. I don't think it's possible in many other countries to go “sailing” in the channel in front of your house.

It's also strange the way Dutch people deal with English… Everyone loves it and everyone can speak perfectly English but after a while everyone expected me to understand and speak Dutch… Like how?!

7. Do you understand the Dutch thing with bikes? Yes and I think that's a great habit. I love the fact that everyone constantly uses a bike in the nl for all sorts of need. I wish it could be the same in Italy.

8. What is your favourite Dutch holiday and why? My favorite Dutch holiday was probably the one in February ( I will take my experience as example, I can't talk in general).
The weather was amazing. Even though it was freezing, it reached - 4 degrees, the sun was always shining, I loved that kind of light. The channels were frozen and the nature was just beautiful. I visited many cities in those holidays and I loved it!

9. What do you think of the Dutch Royal house? I don't have a real opinion about it. I personally find it a bit strange that there are still countries with kings and queens, even though we live in the 21 century…
About the Dutch Royal House, I know they are engaged in many voluntary activities and that's really good and I know that they don't really cover a role in politics so if they make Dutch people happy just as a symbol for the country, I think that's okay.

10. If you leave the Netherlands, what will you miss and what will you absolutely not miss?

I miss my Dutch family and friends a lot, I miss the nature and beautiful surroundings, I miss Amsterdam and I miss spending time with friends doing many social activities. ( while here I never really have time outside school).
I don't miss the weather at all and I don't miss the difficulty I sometimes had in communicating with Dutch people, being used to overwelcoming Italian standards.

11. What prejudice about Dutch people is true? It is true that Dutcht people are pretty direct and quite cold.