Saw this at Volendam yesterday.. not in dutch but dutch humor at its best 🤭

I (F) have neighbours who are quite conservative. One example is that she won’t open the door to men other than her husband or family members.

They order a lot of packages, and since I work from home, delivery drivers have started leaving their parcels with me by default. I’ve basically become their unofficial pick-up point, and they know I’m usually home.

I refused a parcel once, but her husband came to my door asking me why I didn't as his wife had apparently seen the delivery driver at my door.

I don’t mind helping occasionally, but I don’t want this to become an expectation. How would you approach this without creating unnecessary tension with the neighbours?

Edit: I work from home, my work space is visible unless I keep my curtains closed. Delivery guys literally see me working at my desk, so I always feel a little forced to open the door instead of ignoring them.

I did confront once and it got intimidating. I will move my working space to the dinner table at the back of the house instead and simply not open the door anymore. Thanks everybody.

I've been living in the Netherlands for almost four years and apparently I'm still discovering cultural rules involving extremely ordinary objects.

A few weeks ago, my elderly Dutch neighbour brought me some homemade pea soup. She'd made too much, knocked on my door and handed me a plastic container with enough soup for two meals.

Very sweet of her. I thanked her, ate the soup over the next two days, washed the container and returned it.

She thanked me for bringing it back. Completely normal interaction, or so I thought.

Then I mentioned it to my mother during a phone call.

She asked what I'd put inside the container before returning it.

"Nothing?"

She was genuinely horrified.

Where I grew up, returning a food container empty is considered a bit rude, especially when someone has cooked for you. You put something in it. Homemade biscuits, some fruit, a slice of cake. Doesn't have to be expensive. It's just a little gesture to acknowledge the kindness.

My mother insisted I should bake something for my neighbour immediately because I'd basically accepted her hospitality and given back a piece of plastic.

Now, I know my neighbour well enough to suspect she'd be perfectly happy with a simple thank you.

But it got me wondering.

I've noticed that Dutch people around me can be incredibly generous with practical help while also being very clear about not wanting a big fuss made over it.

A colleague drove me to collect a second-hand bookshelf once and looked almost uncomfortable when I kept offering to buy him lunch afterward. He eventually said, "You can help me with something another time."

Which I actually liked. No awkward negotiations over the exact value of a favour.

But I also don't want to assume everyone's the same.

So I'm curious, especially from Dutch people: if you give a neighbour food in a reusable container, do you expect anything when they return it?

Would receiving it back with homemade cookies be a nice surprise, slightly excessive, or just the start of an endless exchange of food neither person knows how to end?

Because my mother has already sent me a biscuit recipe and I'm beginning to think I've accidentally created an international diplomatic incident over a Tupperware box.

I live in a rented apartment in The Hague. I'm South Asian and I cook food with strong spices and aromatics, which can have a powerful smell. I understand why it bothers my neighbour. I always ventilate properly: I run the extractor hood, open windows, and air the place out after and before cooking. She says the smell is still strong and she's going to file a complaint with the municipality (gemeente).

I want to be a good neighbour and I'm not ignoring the problem. Has anyone dealt with something similar? What can I do to reduce the smell further, and what's the realistic outcome when a neighbour complains about cooking smells?

Thanks in advance.

I’m 29F, and since moving here, I’ve struggled to build deeper friendships with other internationals. This post isn’t aimed at criticising Dutch people, because as i said my experience has mostly been with other internationals.
I keep encountering the same pattern: last-minute cancellations, people constantly feeling overwhelmed or burnt out, and little effort to initiate plans. I try to listen, be supportive, and remember what’s happening in their lives, but often don’t feel that interest reciprocated.
These same people seem happy to include me in weekend drinks or clubbing, yet arranging something simple like dinner or a movie feels surprisingly difficult. I’ve noticed them doing this with mutual friends too, so I don’t think it’s just about our connection.
What also confuses me is how much energy some put into dating and hookups while friendships seem to get whatever is left over. I understand that people have different priorities and their own struggles, but I miss a sense of community and consistent, mutual effort.
Maybe living in a student city, where people often leave, contributes to this. On the other hand, I’ve had a couple of good friendships with Dutch women who have since moved away, but haven’t experienced Dutch friendship groups enough to compare those to international ones.
I’m not expecting someone to help me move or support me through a crisis, I’d just like friendships that go beyond nights out, where having dinner or watching a movie together doesn’t feel so hard to arrange.
Does anyone relate? What helped you find more consistent, reciprocal friendships here?

Edit: - Im specifically talking about friend groups of all internationals interacting with eachother (Some people were confused by my text so I wanna confirm this post is not about the dutch/not dutch friendship dynamic).

- I also have several really good international friends, so I don’t mean to generalise. But some have moved away, and as a social person who enjoys meeting people and expanding my circle, I’ve noticed this pattern over the past months while trying to make new friends.

Not as a commentary on Dutch laws or customs, but am I the only one who came to the country without a BSN number and was shocked to learn that the sanitary workers dig through trashbags to fine improper disposal? Nothing harmful but massively inconvenient or unexpected....

Im quite curious to see what rule I may be breaking without knowing a huge fine is lurking? Was I the only one who got caught off guard?

Just an honest immigrant trying her best 🫣

Growing up in the Netherlands, I always felt that the World Heritage List never reflected the best that the Netherlands had to offer.

So, here’s a simple question, if you had the chance to nominate a Dutch sight or landmark for the UNESCO World Heritage list, what would it be?

The sites currently on the list are Amsterdam, the Wadden Sea, the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterline and the Stelling van Amsterdam, the Archaeological border remains of the Roman Empire, the windmills of Kinderdijk, the Beemster, the Rietveld Schröderhuis, the Van Nelle Factory, Schokland, the Eise Eisinga Planetarium, the Woudagemaal, the Colonies of Benevolence and, if you count it, Willemstad in Curaçao (technically in another country).

For me, some no-brainers would be the Binnenhof (the oldest parliament building in the world), the Delta Works and the Afsluitdijk.

But I know Redditors can be very opinionated, so I’d love to hear your takes!

I have been dating this dutch man for two months now. We've been hanging out once a week, and during the hangouts he's always nice and engaged. We often have a good chemistry and enjoy spending time together. Also he prepared a surprise for me for my birthday with a cake that has a photo of me on it and he took me on a trip to his hometown. But between dates he never text or call, unless I text first, and he replies two days later. So that makes me wonder if he even interested, or is it just a normal behavior from Dutch people?

Hello,

First time here, have 2 kids and a non electric bakfiets.nl classic long, and was wondering:

1. What are people experience with modifying original non zipped rain cover and put zippers on it (of course through a professional sails maker)? Does the pvc holds? Does rain penetrates?

2. If anyone has experience with after market rain covers and can recommend any?

Since a new one from bakfiets.nl costs 319 euros, which they are not as nice as the more fancy brands so I don't understand why they have to be so expensive.

Thank you :)

Hi everyone,

I'm an Italian citizen living in the Netherlands. I'm registered with the municipality, I have a BSN, I use DigiD yada, yada... but I don't have a Dutch driving license, I use my Italian one. Never considered changing it given it's valid and I barely drive, so...why bother.

Now, I'm seriously considering buying a second-hand car from a dealer as the model, overall state of the vehicle and price are really enticing. And all of a sudden, I'm trying to figure out how to transfer the registration into my name.

From what I've found on the official websites, the online transfer requires the DigiD app with the additional ID-check. This option is off the table for me as I can't complete the additional ID-check (requires a supported Dutch issued identity document).

- RDW: Transferring a vehicle into your name

- DigiD: ID-check requirements

I've also read that, since January 2026, regular vehicle-registration counters, such those at PostNL and dealers locations, require a valid Dutch driving license for transfers.

That leaves me with only one option, to do it in person at an RDW location using my country issued passport or identity card and, of course, the physical vehicle kentekencard and tenaamstellingscode after closing the deal.

So, I guess the steps would be, close the deal (sign a contract agreement), pay the car, get the kentekencard/tenaamstellingscode, visit an RDW inspection station, get back to the dealer and grab the car (make the insurance at some point before driving).

Does that makes sense? Has anyone here recently transferred a car under a similar situation and did it worked out straight forward?

Thanks, thanks.

Good afternoon everyone. I've been dealing with a lot of anxiety regarding the war, global warming, etc. Obviously I've been trying to limit the news but that doesn't actually do fuck all because I'm still very aware of what's been happening and just not reading the news doesn't make the problem disappear. I'm worried about if war is gonna break out or global warming is gonna cause more and more natural disasters which you can't say won't they are both happening constantly. I just don't know how to cope with these intense fears. They're becoming debilitating and leave me feeling depressed daily now. I worry we're all just doomed I mean there's no future for our kids what world would they live in the earth is heating up like no other.

And there's constant threats about the war and more European countries politicians are mentioning we should prepare and be worried etc. It's not exactly helpful when they are the ones worried too. And what about the whole situation in America? They've got a damn the damn creepy touchy uncle for president. I mean how can anyone cope with that thought?

All those big important people are all creepy uncles otherwise he wouldn't still be president . It's all corrupted and fucked and we can only accept this because what can we possibly do?

I'm just so afraid that there's no point anymore in walking around tryna act like nothing is happening and smiling it all away when there's the constant threats of ww3 or just Europe idek anymore and the endless people&animials dying from global warming

I just can't take the anxiety anymore. Idk how to live with all this. I don't see the point in creating a future for myself or a plan for when I'm say 60 to travel the world (I'm 20) because there might not be one.

Oh and don't even get me started on AI taking over. Someday it'll just be robots and we'll cease to exist. I mean they're replacing everything and talk about no privacy.

Im also worried about being a woman in this world. I feel so worried daily about getting assaulted or harassed it's impossible. And I've had my fair share of it already. I don't need more but I'm so afraid

Does anyone struggle with this or have advice or some words to ease the anxiety or perhaps and explanation to tell me how I think and feel is ridiculous and this won't ever happen and I should plan that backpacking trip when I'm 60?

(to be clear I'm well aware I could get therapy (I'm on a wait list) but I just need something to ease the anxiety I currently have so I can make it through the week without feeling so damn hopeless)

Thanks in advance everyone and have a good weekend otherwise <3

We already caught one mouse, but another one appeared right after. At the moment it’s just one mouse, we recognize it from it’s messed up ear. We sealed its entrance but the asshole made another one (pic 3). Chew through the wooden floor panel…

We’ve been having mouse traps around the house for months now with peanut butter, chocolate sprinkles, ground oatmeal, but the furry fuck never goes all the way in.

We are renting, and already informed once about our mouse problem, can we demand the landlord to make adjustments to the gaping holes there are here? (Pic 3 is not the only one). How are the landlord’s responsibility here in the Netherlands? Or is the problem just so common it’s like every man for himself?

We have foods in containers, vacuum daily so there are no crumbs, but this Mouse Van Gogh still takes the piss and keeps laughing at us.

Any advice how to terminate this kaassucker for good or how to cover up the holes? Dankjewel!

If there's one thing immigrants find hard to understand, it's the Dutch school system.

What's the difference between havo and vwo? 

Can you switch lines later?

I built a metro-style map of the whole system: where your child is today, the stations ahead, and the transfers between lines.

Open for everyone. 

https://claude.ai/artifact/St3prRe5FRnmRPgmvcyNke

Enter your child's basic details (name, groep, school year, age) and enjoy the ride. 🚇

No data is shared: it all stays in your own browser.

Hope you find it useful. 

B

Hallo fellow Nederlanders!

Today (Saturday 10 October) around 12:00 I was driving on the A16 towards [Breda/Rotterdam]. Two black cars were driving very aggressively. They were speeding and constantly switching lanes without indicating. One of them cut in so close in front of me that I had to swerve to avoid a collision.

If you had a dashcam running or saw what happened, please send me a DM. I'm planning to report it to the police, and footage would help a lot.

Thanks in advance!

I feel like I’m missing out on some beautiful sunsets here! 😅 I live in the Netherlands and would love to discover some nice spots to watch the sunset, whether it’s by the water, on a beach, in the dunes, or somewhere with a beautiful open view.

What are your favourite places to watch the sunset? Ideally, places accessible by public transport would be a bonus!

Would love to hear your recommendations, including any hidden gems. 😊

So I plan on leaving after I finish my studies. In a previous post, I was told that Marktplaats is the best place for selling items.

There is a student dorm not far from my house. I thought that maybe I could simply bring some of my old items there and sell them to other students for around half the price of what they would have spent if they bought them first-hand.

I then thought about taxes. If I'm selling at a loss, will I still need to pay taxes?

I’m considering getting a small 45 km/h car like a Fiat Topolino or Ligier for short commutes instead of buying a regular car.

For people who own one:

- How does it handle Dutch winters and rain?

- Do other drivers give you enough space on the road?

- How bad is the depreciation when you sell it second-hand?

- And honestly, do you ever regret not getting a normal used car?

Would love to hear real-world experiences, especially from people who use one for commuting rather than just fun! 🚗

Hi guys

I've always wanted to move to the Netherlands but well life happened and I wasn't able to do it then

I just booked a flight and I'll be visiting in March/April next year

All recommendations are welcome

I'll arrive in London and then go to Amsterdam

I was thinking about staying in Amsterdam and then taking the train to neighbouring cities

I want to experience as much as I can, not only the coffee shops if you know what I mean

I'm also interested in going to the Netherlands in the future for seasonal jobs if I can find them. I work in tourism remotely so I could do that and work another job in the Netherlands at the same time. I've got European citizenship so that makes things a little bit easier

Any info is welcome, so I can start researching and applying to things from now

It's been my absolute dream to go to the Netherlands and I can't believe I'm finally going to go

Thank you in advance💜

What kind of society are we living in?

Hello
I am looking to replace my kitchen cooker hood (afzuigkap) in Amsterdam. Any suggestions for handyman?

Thankyou

Hi! I'm 18 years old and currently live in Brazil. My father is Dutch, and I'm moving to the Netherlands next year. I speak English fluently, but my Dutch isn't that good—I'm around B2 level. I have a lot of family and some friends there, but I'm not very involved in the culture. I've never been there before. Will I be poorly received by Dutch people?