Adjusting to Dutch culture as an expat

Intro

Adjusting to Dutch culture is a topic I have been asked to talk further about. Moving to a new country can be a thrilling, but also a challenging experience. As an expat in the Netherlands, you may face several cultural differences that can take some time to adapt to. Here are a few examples and tips to help you in adjusting to Dutch culture as an expat, and make the most of it.

Social life

One of the first things you’ll notice is the strong sense of community and the importance of social life. The Dutchies highly maintain close relationships with family and friends. They also take part in their neighborhood community. As an expat, there are several things you can do regarding this. Make an effort to get to know your neighbors and join local clubs or groups to help you feel more connected. You can also join some volunteering programs.

The Dutch maintain a great work-life balance. They give their absolute 100% but once time is up, they just leave. It’s common to see people leaving work on time to go home and spend time with their families or pursue hobbies.

Most of the companies have vrijmibo. Vrijmibo stands for vrijdagmiddagborrel. Vrijdag (“Friday”) +‎ middag (“afternoon”) +‎ borrel (“informal meetup including snacks & drinks”). It is one a week, usually on a Friday. Everyone stops working 30 mins early and gathers to socialize and enjoy drinks. It is a great way to get to know your colleagues a little bit more.

Communication style

Another aspect of Dutch culture that may be different is the communication style. The Dutch are known for their direct and straightforward manner of speaking. Which can sometimes be mistaken for rudeness by expats. However, it’s important to remember that this style is just a cultural norm and not meant to be offensive. I found it extremely difficult in the beginning to adapt to it, but I actually prefer it now. I believe it is better to be direct and honest rather than sugar-coat everything. They also tend to ask a lot of personal questions to get to know you better. If you feel a bit uncomfortable with some questions, just don’t answer. Make sure you ask questions back, to show interest.

Time

The Dutch are known for being on time and very time-efficient. It’s considered rude to be late for appointments or social events, and I agree with that. So be sure to allow extra time for travel and try to be on time. Once you arrive late to a meeting or a gathering, you will definitely be told that you are late. A good example is if you walk a few minutes late to work, you will hear good afternoon rather than good morning.

Personally, I don’t have any issues with this, as I was brought up to respect time. Growing up, I always heard my parents say the quote; “Time is like a sword: if you don’t cut it, it cuts you.” Time is like a sword. If you don’t use the sword properly, you may hurt yourself with it. Hence, if you don’t use or take advantage of time, time will fly and will consume your life. Manage your time wisely and don’t waste it on nonsense.

Bicycles

The most iconic aspect of Dutch culture is the widespread use of bikes. Biking is more than a way of transportation, it is a way of life in the Netherlands. You’ll find bike lanes and bike parking everywhere you go. The Netherlands is the only country with more bicycles than people. As an expat, it can be a great way to get around and experience the country like a local. Make sure you check my other blog about bicycles. It contains all the information you need.

Personal experience

Personally, adjusting to Dutch culture can be hard. Making a close friendship with them is a bit difficult since Dutch people stay friends with the same childhood friends. They tend to keep the same group of friends. You may make friends, but it will stay a surface friendship. What makes it worse is if you are not fluent in Dutch. It does get better once you start speaking the language. Working in an international company will help you build better closer friendships. There are different international groups where you can meet expats for some activities. I am a member of an expat football group where we play once a week. It helped me adapt in the country better and make friends who share the same situation.

Regarding the straightforwardness, you will eventually adapt to it. I found it complicated at first, but after some time things went a bit better.

Biking will be a part of your life especially if you live in the city center. Using the bike will ease a lot of your commutes and is a great way to explore the city. Make sure you get a bike you like, like I did.

Conclusion

Overhaul, adjusting to Dutch culture as an expat can be a bit overwhelming in the beginning. Once you start socializing and communicating openly, it will be a rewarding experience. Do you have more recommendations or questions? Please make sure you write them down in the comments section.

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Or you can go back to my Blogs where you can enjoy reading several topics related to my life in the Netherlands. Here