The Delftians

Expats from the Delft region organise drinks, sports, games, baby-sitting, etc.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Welcome to The Delftians

About the group

We are a social group for expats in Delft and region. Our subscription-free services include social events, networking facilitation, wanted/for sale ads and practical information for expats in and around Delft.

Our activities include pub drinks every 2 weeks, weekly squash meets, and evenings of board games, poker, DVD films, Dutch conversation, cooking, restaurant outtings, our own pub quizzes, cinema outtings, etc.

The group is centred on members' involvement: members organise and host the group's activities for each other, and contribute to blog entries such as 'top-and-worst-things-about-Holland, etc.

To find out more about the group, check our FAQ section.

You are welcome to join if you are...


- an expat (or closely affiliated to the expat life)

- over 18
- not using the group for non-expat commercial promotion
- not using the group as a dating service: if you find the love of your life through us (as has now happened a couple of times!), that's marvelous, but please do not see the group as an opportunity to score.
- respectful of other members' opinions, cultures, etc.

Should inappropriate behaviour come to our attention, we reserve the right to remove the concerned member from the group.

How to join

E-mail us on delftians@gmail.com, answering the following questions:

STANDARD QUESTIONS

- E-mail address
- First name
- First letter of last name
- Gender
- Nationality
- Native language
- City of residence in NL
- How you have heard from us (e.g. Google, personal recommendation, Facebook, other website, leaflet, etc.)

OPTIONAL QUESTIONS

- Age
- How long lived in NL
- How long planning on staying in NL




PRIVACY: Your contact details shall not be disclosed without your prior permission. Other information (e.g. nationality, age, etc. is only for group statistics).

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Events and activities

INTRO TO THIS SECTION

Events and regular activities promoted or organised by The Delftians.



REGULAR ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES

Babysitting circle
Posted: 27 Oct 2009; Event date: on hold (need volunteer organisor)

Laure-Anne will be the coordinator for the babysitting circle. Details to follow. If you are interested, contact Laure-Anne on delftians@gmail.com.

The idea is that babysitting for another couple gives you points, while receiving babysitting takes points away from you.

Board games
Posted: 27 Oct 2009; Event date: as and when

If you'd like to host a boardgames nights at your home once in a while, come forward (send an e-mail to delftians@gmail.com). Doesn't matter what boardgame - it's all about breaking the ice (and winning, of course!).

Drinks
Posted: 27 Oct 2009; Event date: every other Thursday

This is how the group started. Drinks are every other Thurdsay in Delft, starting around 8pm. If you are a group member, you shall receive an invite a few days before the next drinks.

An evening of Dutch conversation
Posted: 28 Oct 2009; Event date: as and when

Susan and Joe host a night of Dutch conversations. The idea is that only Dutch is spoken (although we regularly lapse). All levels of Dutch proficiency are welcome. Some of the guests are 100% fluent, and others have just arrived. Bring your pocket Dutch/English dictionary in case you get stuck!

Photography outings
Posted: 27 Oct 2009; Event date: as and when

Donna organises outings for enthusiastic amateur photographers (digital or film) to hone their skills. Planned activities include field trips, gallery visits, discussions, encouragement and friendly critique (if desired).

Poker night
Posted: 27 Oct 2009; Location: The Hague, Jens' place; Event date: as and when

Casual poker night - big spenders beware: max losses are around 2 euros! Just a night of relaxed fun and a great way to meet other expats without the pressure of small-talk!

Pub Quiz
Posted: 27 Oct 2009; Location: Delft. Event date: as and when

A trivia quiz in English organised by The Delftians, for The Delftians. Great fun, and lots of drinking. Details of each one are announced to members through Evite.

Restaurant night
Posted: 27 Oct 2009; Location: Delft; Event date: as and when

Members regularly organise restaurant nights. If you want to set one up, let me know when you have booked the restaurants and I'll send an invitation to the group.

If you're going to one, only confirm if you are definitely sure you will come: don't leave the organiser with empty seats and an angry chef!

Squash
Posted: 27 Oct 2009; Location: Squash Delft Sports Centre (http://www.squash-delft.nl/), Sportring 3 - 2616 LK Delft; Event date: as and when

A relaxed evening of squash for amateur players. All levels, including beginners, are welcome. It's more about the chats and beer afterwards anyway. Contact Laure-Anne on delftians@gmail.com if you would like to be added to the squash list.

COORDINATING A DELFTIAN EVENT

(you must be a member of The Delftians) Create a comment and indicate:

  • Your name;
  • The activity;
  • The location;
  • The suggested date(s);
  • Any pre-requisites (if applicable);
  • Cost (if applicable);
  • Other note-worthy information (if applicable);
  • Deadline for contacting you (if applicable).
Note I: Your e-mail address will be given to the group

Note II: Please answer when people contact you

Note III: Avoid clashing with other activity - See calendar above.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Frequently Asked Questions

Intro to this section

Frequently Asked Questions and their answers. Ask any additional questions by click on 0 comments below).

Do you need to live in Delft to join?

No, some members (including myself) do not live in Delft. See our Stats section to see who lives round your way.

What does the group do?

Anything that will help local expats: share local knowledge, build a social network, practise sports, etc. We are always looking for new activity ideas and volunteers to organise them.

Our actitivies are listed in the Activities section. Here is a summary: drinks every 2 weeks, squash, poker, board games, restaurant nights, cooking nights, pub quizzes, etc.

We also have a message broadcast service: members send me an e-mail and I'll pass it on to the group: e.g. looking for a job or apartment, furniture to sell, pet-sitter, etc.

NO SPAMMING: All messages have to go through me, so no trash.

Your entries are welcome in the following sections: recommended expat associations and services, and handy Dutch webpages: public transport, estate hunt, etc.

If you feel you're alone in getting irritated, or marvelling at a particular aspect of our adoptive nation, check out our top 100 things about Holland (and, incidentally, worst 100 things about Holland) for a colourful portrait of Holland in the eyes of us expats.

Can anyone join?

Yes, as long as you are an expat (i.e. you have experienced the typical expat hurdles: culture shock, having to find your bearings, friends frequently departing, language barrier, etc.).

How much does it cost?

There is no joining fee, it's free. You just need to pay for your own consumptions (and no one's going to stop you getting a round in!).

When are the drinks?

The drinks are every other Thursday, from around 8pm to whenever.

Where are the drinks?

You shall receive an invitation a couple of days before the drinks confirming the exact location/time.

Our usual haunts are (all in Delft):

  • de Belvedere Belgian Beer Cafe - Beestenmarkt, 8
  • 't Proeflokaal - Gasthuislaan, 36
  • Locus Publicus - Brabantse Turfmarkt, 67

If you can't find us, ask the bar staff for the table of 'The Delftians' expat club.

Can I bring someone along?

The drinks are for group members. Feel free to bring someone along for a taster, but we like to keep things organised and know how many members we have, etc. so if they like it, we would like them to fully register.

Do I need to respond to the Evite even if I don't come?

You only need to respond to the Evite if you are coming (yes) or thinking of coming (maybe). Otherwise, just ignore the invite.

How will I recognize the group's table?

We tell the staff at the bar who we are. We'll likely be the only large English-speaking group, and we are generaly in small pubs. If you can't find us, ask the bar staff for The Delftians expat group.

What is the group's gender, nationality, etc. mix

The drinks are a multitude of people from different ages, professions, languages, etc. Here is some stats on the group:

Nationality: At the moment, the majority are Americans and Brits.

Age: The majority of us are in our 30's and 40's, but there is increasing trend toward the 20's, as more and more PhD students decide to join us. We also have a fair few people in their 50's and 60's.

Profession: Lots of TU researchers, IT professionals, and expat partners/home-makers. We have quite a few people from the classic expat employers of the region: EPO, Unilever and Shell.

Town of residence: The greatest majority of us live in Delft. A lot of people come from The Hague and Rotterdam. Some come from further off, like Gouda, Leiden, Almere, Utrecht, etc.

How many people typically turn up for the drinks?

On average, around 20 people come to the drinks, but this can vary between 5 on a quiet night and 40 on a bash.



What is the point of the group?

To form a close-knit expat community in Delft, so noone feels disconnected or disoriented. It should help if you want to:


- meet new people, some of which you're bound to become friends with
- get answers to local knowledge questions (expat resources, indispensible Dutch websites, etc.)
- dig in our numbers to organise group activities like picnics, murder mystery, etc. (see activities)
- regularly play squash (see activities)
- broadcast messages to the group (for sale, looking for, announcements, questions, etc.)

Essentially, you shouldn't have to walk through Delft feeling like a stranger, without meeting a couple of familiar faces.

What is the group's language?

It would be handy if you are fluent in English, or you may not feel included in the conversatoin, but all are welcome. Chance is you'll find another native of your mother tongue anyway.

What about privacy and spamming?

PRIVACY: I only use your information for my stats. I never ask for postal address or surnames.

NOT PASSING PERSONAL DETAILS: Unless you are organising an event, I do not give out your contact information. If you are looking for the contact details of another member, I shall ask them to contact you.

NO JUNK MAIL: Broadcast messages go through me, so I won't let junk get through.

How long has The Delftians existed?

The Delftians started on 3 May 2006.

Who is the organiser (my bio)?

I am a French-speaking Belgian, but have spent my late teens and 20's in Northern England. I moved to a small village close to Delft in 2004, where I live with my (Dutch) husband and son. I am an IT consultants and I HATE computers (go figure).


I love facts - the more useless the better, lists, small ugly dogs, good summaries, facts from all cults and religions, French and English history, and painfully cheesy stuff (read David Hasselhof, royal families and garden gnomes).

How did the group start?

My social circle was slow to pick up again after moving to a village. I was living the usual expat frustrations: local etiquette, regulations, language, finding good restaurants, doctors, shops, etc..

I couldn't find expat groups in Delft at the time, so I sent messages to expat mailing lists to see if anybody was interested in setting something up in Delft. 7 people met up for our first drinks on 3 May 2006. We had a great laugh, and it all started from there.

The drinks have continued every 2 weeks, and word of mouth took care of the rest. We now have the blog, over 200 members, a weekly squash night, and other activities, our Top and Worst 100 things about Holland', a mailing list, etc.

I love that some people who have met through the group are now close friends, I love that a couple of pubs know our faces when we walk in, I love that I can't walk in Delft without bumping into a fellow expat, I love that my local knowledge has increased, that I always have someone to call if I want to go and socialise, and most of all, I love that I am meeting a colourful bunch of warm, quirky and interesting people with such diverse personal histories.

Top 100 Dutch things

Intro to this section

To make sure we stay positive about our adoptive country, I started making a list of POSITIVE things about it. So go on, let's show the world the nice things about living here.

If you want to add an item, click on '0 comment', type your text and save it. Don't forget to leave your name with your comments!

1/ My man

Best thing to come out of any country (Laure-Anne, )

My man is also a wonderful thing about Holland (Geneviève, )


2/ Cycling

I am not what you would call a practising cyclist, but I can see the attraction from a safe distance. Don't try to get me on one, though. Too much chance of rain, flat tyre, panting and sweating. (Laure-Anne, )

A complete lifestyle. Cheap, clean, silent, convenient, efficient, funny, good for health (Vincent, )


Everywhere is accessible by bike (Amanda & Julian, )

3/ Effectiveness

You can say a lot about the Dutch, but they really don't mess when it comes to getting things done. (Laure-Anne, )

4/ Technology

Where else do you have map stations on the street? Chose your destination, press OK, et voilaaaa: you have a free colour map of the route to take, all for free! (Laure-Anne, )

5/ Tall, blond hair, blue eyes

Aaaah, good old batavian, nordic genes. It's like the country's full of supermodels. Oh, and if (like me) you are a short-arsed, brown-haired, brown-eyed, big-boned Walloon, you'll even pass as exotic! (Laure-Anne, )

6/ Petting zoos -AKA kinderboerderijen

They're huge, they're everywhere, they're free + you can go in the enclosure with the animals! I recommend it anyday, with or without the kids! (Laure-Anne, )

7/ Herons

I still get very excited when I see one, and boy, are they a frequent occurrence. (Laure-Anne, )

The herons are fine indeed, but the diving Great Crested Grebes in the canals, frequently with their offspring on their back, are just sublime, taking into account that these birds were almost invisible 30 years ago in city centers!(Leo, ?)


8/ Windmills

I find it special that there are windmills all over the place, and that the locals don't even bat an eyelid at them. (Laure-Anne, )

9/ Old historical city centres

Delft, Gouda, The Hague, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, Alkmaar, Groningen, ... You name it, any city in The Netherlands (short of having been bombed in WWII) has a breathtaking city centre. This could be to do with the fact that they were so loaded in the 17th century, which happens to be a centry of very pretty buildings. (Laure-Anne, )

Amsterdam, one of the most beautiful and best cities on earth. Good thing that the Germans only destroyed Rotterdam ... (Vincent, )


10/ Policemen

So smiley and polite and helpful, even catch you doing something you really shouldn't do... One of them actually apologised to me for telling me off (mildly) for a driving licence about 2 years out of date. Makes you wonder, though, is politeness a skill reserved for the police in Holland? Bit like a secret weapon? (Laure-Anne, )

11/ Public transport

Easy and speedy public transport (Geneviève, )

Trains - Coming here from Britain it makes a pleasant change to actually have access to a rail network with clean modern trains, which run on time most of the time, or if not are bizarrely either precisely five, ten or twenty minutes late. If someone can please explain how they manage to ensure that the trains are punctually late I would appreciate it. (Ralph, )


12/ Proximity to water

Be it canal, sea, or lake (Geneviève, )

Water everywhere. Nature is a bit weird here ... well, it's nature under the control of human work. It seems that there not a single piece of land in this country which has been left to a "random" development. Even if it is "natural", it has to conform to some standards, to some form of discipline ... But the result is interesting. Netherlands, really an unusual place. (Vincent, )


Canals are a wonderful thing, offering homes to coots, ducks, and providing the local heron with something to stare at for hours on end, being overwhelmed wth water-lilies and terrace-boats in the summer, and offering young children and wildlife manifold skating opporunities in the winters of yore. More importantly, they offer hours of entertainment - as you watch the tourists try to park their cars by the canal side - and your boss another excuse to be late for work. (Ralph, )

13/ Flowers

Beautiful fresh-cut flowers year-round, and for cheap! (Geneviève, )

14/ Dogs welcome

A small-to-mid-size, well-behaved dog is welcome everywhere (this may be a negative to some, but a positive to me!). (Geneviève, )

15/ Sun light

The way the sun shines here (when it does), it make everything look like a Rembrandt or Vermeer landscape- gorgeous. (Geneviève, ).

The skies in The Netherlands are simply breathtaking. (Laure-Anne, )

16/ Loempia

Loempia stands on every corners of Rotterdam. (Geneviève, )

17/ Bread

The bread- all of it, the delicious full-grain truly brown bread, with a slice of yummy Dutch cheese! (Geneviève, )

18/ Garden gnomes

Wow! Those microscopic gardens packed with tacky garden ornaments. You just have to love them. (Laure-Anne, )

19/ Clearly marked deviations

Their deviation road signs are actually very, very, very clear. Even I don't get lost for days when I follow them, and I am uber-navigationally challenged. (Laure-Anne, )

20/ Safety and crime

I can walk round at night in city centres and I don't feel even slightly threatened. Try doing that in Paris, Brussels or Birmingham... (Laure-Anne, )

21/ English spoken

They all speak SUCH good English. There was this Irish guy organising Dutch conversation classes for expats, and he could not for his life find Dutch people who didn't speak English. I think he stopped after 3 years or so. (Laure-Anne, )

22/ Cows and sheep

I love the cows here: all sorts of colours and patterns. I particularly like the Laekenvelders (with the big stripe). In , they tend to be just black-and-white. Oh, and the black and brown sheep. I hadn't really seen so many of them anywhere else. I even saw a pink goat in a kinderboerderij the other day (Laure-Anne, Belgium)

23/ Culture of tolerance

Culture of tolerance. Bla-bla-bla the Dutch immigration Theo Van Gogh etc.. this is not a perfect place but as a matter of fact, this is certainly one of the most advanced countries in the world on that topic, and for a while - for example, where else were all religions tolerated in the XVII century ?. Where else can you freely smoke your pot if you like it? (Vincent, )

24/ Melting pot

No, not the coffee shop, I mean the international atmosphere. (Vincent, )

25/ The mad entrepreneur spirit

I think that nothing is impossible for people who extended 1/3rd of the country land, taken from the sea ... Crazy Dutch ! If I had a tough and challenging job to outsource, I would be confident to give it to that kind of guys ... (Vincent, )

26/ Quality of life

Just amazing. Everything here seems to be easy, planned, efficient, organized, clean... Working hours, work ethic, home-work commuting, ... This looks like civilisation at its best. (Vincent, )

27/ Food

To me the food in the Netherlands, is one of the great things about this country because it is literally so lethal. Croquettes, Mexicanos, Frites with Frite-saus, sate, and cakes which feature bright pink icing which surely must contravene some health and safety directive, if not good taste. All absolutely fantastic stuff, but then again I am British. (Ralph, )

28/ No ageism

The Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) is the first to have a company of professional dancers 'over the age of forty'. Unfortunately, this year (2006) this company of veteran dancers was disbanded. However, I think it is amazing that Jiri Kylian had the courage to form a company that showed that it really is a crime to stop people doing what they enjoy doing just because they are viewed as being 'too old'. (Ralph, )

29/ Healthy

Most Dutch people look, well, healthy. Sooo healthy you'd think they're straight out of some Yakult advert. Is it the 2 liters of milk they drink per day? (Laure-Anne, )

When I arrived here, I could not understand how the Dutch looked so healthy on their diet. I presumed it was because they cycled everywhere, or because they were genetically very lucky, or because the winters, which seem to stretch from August to June are so cold and wet that all that food is burned off through shivering. But then someone pointed out the awful truth, the really awful truth. The gyms are alwyas full, apparently. I should mention that I have not been in a gym since I left school and have no intention of setting foot on one, ever again, but from what I have heard, between the hours of 18.00 and 21.00, the young Dutch like nothing better than to waste time on treadmills, aero-cycles and other equally tortuous devices. The poor dears... (Ralph, )


30/ Cleanliness

Streets tend to be really, really clean. (Laure-Anne, )

31/ Decadence

For some reason the Dutch do like to do things that are clearly very unhealthy such as eat the food, smoke, and sunbathe on the four days of the year when you can actually go to the beach without an overcoat. (Ralph, )

32/ Office buildings architecture

Not to anybody's taste, but I really like the hyper modern architecture of newly built office buildings in business centres. Take the World Trading Centre in Amsterdam: the ING and ABN buildings are really, really impressive. I also like (I must be the only one) Rotterdam's dead centre. Each building has a strong identity. (Laure-Anne, )

I am not sure I agree on this at all. To me the architecture in this country is too practical to be exciting. For the most part, the big office blocks are well ... big and blocky, and no amount of Colorcote steel or glass is going to disguise the fact that they are actually terribly functional. Personally, I like modern buildings that are wholly impractical, unmaintainable, and which completely upset the balance of a city's architecture, as long as I don't have to work in one of them. (Ralph, )


33/ Motorway surface coating

Ever driven from Belgium to Holland on a rainy day? You have a 2-meter visibility in Belgium, and as soon as you hit the Dutch road, it's like the waters are parting for your car. Aaaah, the Dutch are even great surface coating designers. (Laure-Anne, )

30/ Fashion

Anything goes. I heard a story from an expat. about how when she arrived here, she was shocked by how cold and wet it was, so she went out and bought a coat, a second-hand lime-green fake fur (at least I hope it was fake). This is the fantastic thing about this country, you can actually get away with wearing some very bizarre outfits, such as bright-red chinos, ultra-violet white cotton jackets, and snake skin shoes that are so long, you would not be able to reach the bar in an English pub (fortunately they have at-table service in most Dutch bars). All absolutely fantastic stuff, and certainly more interesting than the average high street. (Ralph, )

35/ Little mice with clogs on

They do exist apparently and are clearly a wonderful house-hold pet. Unfortunately, to see them you have to live in a windmill on old Amsterdam, and be prepared to suffer the most enormous hangover. (Ralph, )

36/ School for virtues

A good thing about living in this country is how virtuous it is possible to be. In order to cope with an alien set of manners, poor customer service, and homicidal secretaries, one needs to take a more relaxed attitude to life, and learn the virtues of patience, tolerance and understanding. (Ralph, )

37/ No dubbing

I love that you can see a movie in its original version (i.e. not dubbed). I cannot stand the French habit of systematic dubbing. Am sure that's why most Dutch teenagers reach adulthood perfectly bilingual in Dutch-English. (Laure-Anne, )

38/ Interior design

Most Dutch homes make me blush with our humble deco. Walking into a Dutch home can feel like a furniture show-room, with lots of deliberate arty touches, calculated colour schemes and really tidy. The only drawback: am scared of using the very expensive design furniture in case they sue me for damages. (Laure-Anne, )

39/ 'je' not 'u'

For the French speakers among us, I am talking about the 'tutoiement', about the fact that you can address a complete stranger as 'je', and be on first-name basis with a complete stranger. It's at odds with some Flemish regions where you say 'u' to your parents, and even your pet (am that's a fact!). (Laure-Anne, )

40/ Public toilets

I should preface this by saying that I don't actually spend that much time in public toilets, but this does deserve a mention. Most public toilets on railway stations, and in department stores are pretty similar, all very functional, white tiles, and very clean and tidy, except for the ones at Leiden Centraal station, which are quite tatty. However, the toilets at Den Haag Hollands Spoor, or rather the gentlemen's toilets are a little more civilised featuring an array of grooming products, fresh flowers by the door and complimentary mints. Indeed, this probably represents the very pinacle of civilisation. (Ralph, )

Same at the ladies' in Holland Spoort. Little known fact: the ladies' toilets at Holland Spoor have won the 'Best public toilet in The Netherlands' award a few years running - how's that for trivia? (Laure-Anne, )


41/ Drop

I have not stooped to the level of 'The Dutch I Presume' which includes 'cheese slicers' and 'drop' as examples of Dutch icons. (Ralph, )

Ooops, Ralph, looks like you just have (stooped so low). I find drop (the black, anise-flavored sweets) is really worth a mention. It is typically Dutch, and a good 'inburgeringstest'. I now proudly master the zoete ones. OK, the salty ones still elude me. I guess you need to have lived here for over 5 years to overcome the gagging reflex. (Laure-Anne, )


42/ Nijntje - aka Miffy

Easily the best Dutch export since, like, ever. The Japanese tried to steal the design with Hello Kitty, but there's only one Nijntje. Here's some little facts about her: a/ she's a female; b/ Dirk Bruna wrote the books as bed time stories for his one-year old son, c/ she's supposed to live in the Dutch dunes. I have a glow in the dark knuffel-Nijntje that I take everywhere with me. (Laure-Anne, )

Oh Nijntje! I agree. She's cute, simple, and a fantastic thing to send home to my nephew and cousins. I love how the beach at Hoek van Holland is divided in Nijntje characters! Or at least it used to be. I was tanning in the Nijntje boat section last year! (Geneviève, )


43/ No office cubicles

There's no cubicles anywhere. My building may just be a block, but it's a block where everyone gets an office, not a cubicle, and where every office gets one of its walls made of floor to ceiling windows. There's truly something to be said about a 2.5m by 4m window on the 16th floor. I might have to share this with one more person, but at least I don't get as vitamin D deprived here as I did in Canada! And you know what, being able to close my door when I'm having a bad day, or when I'm having a sensitive phone conversation- really, who thinks a cubicle is a good idea, anyway? Certainly not the Dutch, and I give them kuddos for it! (Geneviève, )

44/ Cookies with the coffee

That free cookie with your coffee deserves its own mention. And I love how there's usually a big basket of them in a meeting room and there's always that one tactless collegue who paws at the little bags to guess the shape and make of the treat inside and throws back the ones that don't pass muster- that's good for making me feel bad I'm not the idiot being picky about cookies in front of the firm's partners! Even better when the idiot is a partner so I can feel superior to them too! (Geneviève, )

45/ Library on the beach

Library on the beach- now that's brilliant. I don't know if they copied it from another place, but the national library system opens up library branches on the main beaches in the summer, as a way to bring the books to the people when and where they are most likely to be reading. You can walk in from the sand in your wet bathing suit and get kids' books, magazines, papers, short novels- all available free of charge to anyone on the beach, and I think that's grand. (Geneviève, )

46/ Long holidays

6 weeks paid vacation. Coming from a country where 2 is the norm, I certainly don't underestimate the value of lenghty paid vacation. It not only avoids having employees use sick days as vacation days, but it keeps everyone much happier. (Geneviève, )

47/ Tulip fields

Tulip fields you see in bloom when passing by train. I like simple pleasures, and sudenly seeing a field of purple, red, yellow, pink, white and orange all of a sudden appear after a bend... wow. No one should ever grow so blasé as to not appreciate the beauty of mass-produced flowers. So pretty it looks fake! (Geneviève, )
Indeed, tulip fields are fabulous. Nothing like flying above Holland in spring time. (Laure-Anne, )

48/ Inner courtyards - aka binnenhofs

Inner courtyards. I happen to live on a second floor apartment which has views in the back on a private courtyard. It's quiet, secluded, and beautiful. There's modern art on display, Christmas lights in the winter, and little kids play safely away from the nastiness that could be downtown Rotterdam. I love that there's so many of these secret gardens in the big cities. Sure, you can't always see them, but knowing there's such pretty things hidden away makes me happy. (Geneviève, )

49/ Snertrein

Not that I've ever been on (much to my dismay), there's a tram in Rotterdam devoted entirely to serving pea soup and showing the sights of Rotterdam. Isn't that the best? Just pay the fair (more than a regular tram ride) and get a bowl of hot pea soup in the winter. It's painted with silly pictures of people surfing green peasoup waves! And in the summer, it apparently turns into an icecream tram! How weirdly appealing. (Geneviève, )

50/ Cinemas

One of the most decadent experiences is to actually visit a traditional cinema. Unlike the multiplexes, some still allow smoking, serve beer and all the traditional snack-foods like bitterballen, and also, for those who are truly idle actually have at-seat service, so you don't even need to queue for popcorn and the like during the interval. This to me is the mark of a civilised society, although I think there might have been a good reason why they actually put a stop to smoking in most cinemas, but I cannot think what it was. (Ralph, ).

I agree. I love Dutch cinemas. Well, the ones I have been to anyway. The Lumen in Delft is great, so is the Apollo. I love that the seats are really big, that the room is not packed (well that could be down to my choice of movies), and you have an interval in between for loo break and beer refills, and that your beer gets served in a GLASS glass, and not in some paper beaker. (Laure-Anne, ).


51/ Getting a mortgage

It's so easy to get a mortgage in Holland and even for 110%. You just go to the Hypotheek Advisor and choose the cheapest product, like in a supermarket. (Oscar, ).

52/ Sinterklaas surprises

Here's how it works: around 5 December, you invite some friends around. Each has to buy a present for another person at the party (picked previously at random). You are supposed to wrap the present in something creative that you made yourself, and write a poem about the present's recipient (preferably in Dutch for an extra challenge. Shouldn't be difficult, everything ends with 'en'). The combination of tacky presents, terrible DIY and bad poetry just makes me shiver with anticipation. Laure-Anne ().


53/ Plenty of places to take the children for free

e.g. garden centres with play areas: you can sit and have a cup of coffee and the kids have great fun in the play area. (Dawn, )

54/ Poffertjes and stroopwafels

No comment, just very very very good. (Jeremy, )

55/ Calvinism

I have been converted by their enlightened Calvinism. (Anees, /)

56/ No aristocracy

Might sound British, but it's definitely a very good thing about Holland (Anees, /).

57/ Queen on her bike

The Queen of Holland rides her bike to the supermarket. Well, Albert Heijn, but still (Anees, /)

58/ Birthday cakes

The cakes people give out for their birthdays. (Brian, )

59/ Urban planning

The routing of bike paths is different here, winding through parks and green spaces instead of simply sticking to roadways. Somehow they even get permission from owners of expensive homes to allow paths that "intrude" right behind their private and expensive properties. For the country with the highest population density in all of Europe, it's amazing how long I can commute and not even realize I'm in a city. (Nikki, )

60/ Happy campers

Their love for camping in the outdoors seems disproportionate to what I've seen in other countries. Camping doesn't seem to be just for the poor. I've met some highly educated professionals camping in the French Alps and a former coworker here says it's their hobby to take the caravan and the fiets and go off for the weekend. (Nikki, )

61/ Appreciation for nature

Quite a few Dutch have told me the best stress management is to "get out in nature," a phrase people from other cultures have never told me so frequently. I suppose reclaiming the land and water management and their great landscape art could also be seen as an appreciation for nature too. (Nikki, )

62/ Post-natal care
Maybe epidurals are not common here, but at least you are given options of giving birth at home, at the hospital or a birthing center. Kraamzorg (at home baby and new mother nursing services which include light housecleaning and babysitting of sibblings) after the birth is a real perk. (Lucie, )

Monday, August 28, 2006

Worst 100 Dutch things

Intro to this section

Let's have it for the less positive points of Holland. To add a comment, click on 0 comment and leave your comment and your first name. Overly vitriolic, and rude remarks, will not be incorporated.

If you're a Dutch reader and feeling touchy, please check the Best 100 things about Holland before taking offence.

1/ Etiquette

The threshold of what is considered rude seems way higher here: what would constitute downright ungraciousness in most other countries is merely seen as a concern for efficiency, much needed honesty, or healthy assertiveness. From an expat's perspective, the everyday experience is of a near total absence of gallantry, tact, or diplomacy.

When it comes to table manners, anything seems to go, even from the seemingly most refined dinner partners: speaking with one's mouth full, passing dishes over your plate, and bending so low towards one's plate one could practically do away with cutlery altogether.

Oh, and don't ask where someone is if there's the remotest chance they're in the loo: you'll be told that: 'Ze zijn aan het pissen. Mmmm, too much information! (Laure-Anne, ).

Licking their knives! A local obsession maybe, but shocking to find everyone at the table at a wedding did it! (Miranda, )


2/ Food

Food presentation seems to be of very little importance here, unless you are paying through the nose for a more upperty restaurant. I am sadly restricted to medium-priced restaurants, where I'll mostly eat worse food than my worst student days. (Laure-Anne, ).

I have found a country where food is even worse than it is in the UK. Even many places called bar-restaurants only serve very average sandwiches or salads, or some kind of local finger food - broodjie and the likes - which I really can't identify as food. There are few good food shops. But the opening hours are absurd. To cut a long story short: nothing really encourages to gastronomy. (Vincent, )

3/ Poor, poor, poor vegetarians

Goodness... If I have to eat another piece of cheese or plain lettuce whilst watching the others eat their main course... Sometimes too, despite ordering the veggie menu, you'll often be served chicken in your noodles, because it "....ALWAYS comes with it" (same caution to be applied with the tomato soup served with as a "veggie" meal despite the fact that it, you've guessed "... ALWAYS comes with meatballs"). (Laure-Anne, )

4/ Traffic and road planning

What's the idea with going from 4 to 2 lanes at the busiest junctions and, closing every road known to man on what feels like EVERY summer evenings? Oh and I would really like to see a roundabout somewhere near a motorway exit instead of having to drive to the next COUNTRY for the next opportunity to turn back. Oh, and there is a total lack of traffic light synchronisation on long roads, meaning that you stand to get EVERY light red for miles 99% of the time. (Laure-Anne, )

5/ Nature - lack thereof

Within a 50 km radius of where I live, you'd be hard pushed to not see constant concrete and soviet-style architecure, unless you're in a historical town centre. If you want to see nature, just steer clear of the Ranstad. (Laure-Anne, )

Maybe I am a bit blind to this, as I live in a Dutch village, but I am supposed to be surrounded by it. Unfortunately it is flat, and in straight lines - water, pieces of land, and trees - not really conducive to the word 'Nature'. And the Dutch think it so wonderful that you must go and cycle round it, every day! (Miranda, )


6/ Customer service

Unless you approach your query in the most apologetic, self-effacing, contrite manner, the staff will give you a scolding for your impertinence. On a rare, lucky day, you may get eye contact or, God forbid, a smile. Last time a shop staff smiled at me, I married him - no kidding.

God forbid you actually have a slightly non-routine query. Since moving here, I have heard the stern 'It's not possible' so often that it could pass as the national anthem. (Laure-Anne, )

Service is crap. Bars, restaurants, shops, etc.. People have no conscience of what is a customer and how to treat him. As I never hesitate to complain when I am spending my money and I am not satisfied of the service, I have some interesting moments ... (Vincent, )

No customer service to speak of here in Holland! (Amanda and Julian, )

This year the government renamed the Sofinummer (social security number). It is now the Burgerservicenummer (citizen service number). Ever wondered why you see this foreign word (service) so widely used, even by the government? You may regard it as English or French, but is certainly not Dutch, which has its own perfectly good word: dienst. Answer: they have to use a foreign word, because service is a foreign concept! (Paul, /)

7/ Opinions

OK, this one bugs me soooo much: what's with the unrequested opinions? It seems totally OK to just voice your opinion at any time despite the fact that: 1/ You're no expert, in fact, most times you don't know the first about the subject; 2/ Your opinion is actually pretty offensive, 3/ Noone asked you for it. (Laure-Anne, )

8/ Bumper kleven

It doesn't matter whether there is another car in front of you, whether you're overtaking with quite a respectable speed difference, or whether you are on the right lane way above the speed limit and with all other lanes free, someone WILL stick to your bumper. Boy do I love to pretend I am slamming my breaks when that happens. Driving in Holland can be downright ecstatic for the self-righteous on a mission. (Laure-Anne, )

9/ Bread

Since moving here, I can no longer assume that bread will be hard on the outside and soft on the inside, and not the other way round. I am yet to find good, fresh, homemade bread in a bakery in Holland. Instead, the bread is made by factories and delivered to the bakery chains (Laure-Anne, )

10/ Shop opening hours

How I miss convenience shopping: stock choices, free parking, interesting offers, and ... great shopping hours. (Laure-Anne, )

Opening hours for most of the shops are 10am to 5pm +/- 30mn. So when do you expect us - your potential customers - to have time to go shopping? My assumption : you earn too much already. Otherwise, you would have longer working days ... (Vincent, )


11/ Fresh fruit and vegetable

Here's a little challenge for you: go to a Dutch supermarket (any, even the more upmarket ones) and find a fruit basket without at least 20% of the fruit on offer being overripe, if not downright rotten. The other day, I actually brought a putrid case of oranges to the cash register, and the shelf-boy dutifully placed them back on the shelves... (Laure-Anne, )

12/ Supermarkets

I really miss UK supermarkets: you have choice, some semblance of shelving logic and consistency, and a minimum quality of goods. Gawd it's so frustrating to have to look for UHT milk, soy milk, yoghurt, and cheese in 4 different departments because, God forbid they are all stacked under 'Dairy'! Along the same lines: sauce is not a cooking ingredient, honey does not belong with the breakfast spreads, and rice does not belong with the pasta. It just HAS to be a horrible marketing ploy to have us wander round and to see more goods. (Laure-Anne, )

13/ Silly speed limits

80 km/hr on a motorway? That is the case on parts of major ring roads (e.g. Rotterdam and The Hague). Oh, and 100 km/hr on major motorways (e.g. that 5-lane bit around Schiphol)... In case you miss being ground to a halt by horrendous traffic (sticking to people's bumbers doesn't help, Mr Dutchman; nor does the total absence of synchonicity of traffic lights, and, to my great dismay, the opening of draw bridges on motorway lanes at peak times), but never fear. On the rare occasion when that is not happening, the Government is giving you the wonderful opportunity to relive those precious moments by slow traffic through ridiculously low speed limits. (Laure-Anne, )

Speed cameras seem to be everywhere (Dawn, )

14/ Social life

I just don't get it. Firstly, everybody seems to have one and only one obsessive idea in mind, starting from 4:30pm : going back home ASAP ! If you try the "fancy a drink after work ?" - which you don't even need to ask in the UK -, you havn't got a single chance to get a positive answer unless you made an appointment at least 3 weeks in advance. This is just a no-go. Mainly because of that, I just can't see how it is possible, for expats, to developp some form of social life with the locals. The shame is that, as a direct consequence, the local females - often gorgeous - become quite difficult to target. (Vincent, )

15/ Process-oriented

Ha - process-oriented people ! You have to fill that form, follow the process, and wait in the line. And you may have to wait a while before something starts to move. Yes, 2 months to get my ADSL connection, in 2006. 2 days in the UK, 1 day in Australia, etc... (Vincent, )

16/ Language: if you speak such good English...

Everybody speaks a more or less reasonable language here. I mean... English. But, given the advanced state of Dutch-English biliguism here, why is it then that such an internationalized-globalized modern and advanced society still has 99% of its admin docs, websites, etc.. all only in Dutch? (Vincent, )

17/ Weather

Can't do much about it, but man ... (Vincent, )

Weather - Admittedly, it is rather cold and wet in this country for most of the year, but this surely must be a good thing. Firstly, it means that your unlikely to get skin-cancer as you will probably be covered most of the year in waterproofs. Secondly, when the sun does shine you appreciate it so much more, like an old friend you have not seen in ten years. On the down side though, the beaches are always packed when the sun is out, and I presume the next day, so are the surgeries, as the unpleasant side effects of all that binge-sunbathing - namely the freshly roasted lobster look that is so appealing - makes its appearance. (Ralph, )


18/ Taxes

Here you basically work more than half of your time for the government. Fortunately, I've got a clever arrangement, so that does not count ... :) (Vincent, )

And you have to fill in the form yourself, to add insult to injury ; ) (Laure-Anne, )


19/ Traffic lights

I've sometimes found myself having a whole phone conversation (yes, handsfree) without the light turning green. I've timed a major one in Rijswijk which is red for 2 minutes - am not kidding - and green for about 20 seconds. Oh, and don't get me started on green waves (lack thereoef). (Laure-Anne, )

20/ GPs

Insensitive, flippant, unhygienic, unprofessional, rude, pushy, greedy and in an undisguised hurry, sums up my experience with virtually all local GPs. I started to ask around on expat sites, and all I could get was more accounts of appalling rudeness. I've FINALLY found a good one and, surprise surprise, he's half British, half French. Oh, and he speaks Spanish and has divine taste in wall colour and great magazines in the waiting room! If you're around Leidschendam, you can always ask me for his details. (Laure-Anne, )

21/ Banks

I think Banks here are one of the worst things here in Holland. Never ever lose a card or let a machine eat it (when the power goes out) or you are screwed and moneyless for at least 5 working days (at least with postbank). And you can't even use your damn passport to access your money. (Kerri, )

22/ Garden Gnomes

Garden Gnomes!!! (Miranda, )

24/ Queueing

Mmmmh. What queue? It's every man to himself. Oh, and to the men who arrive AFTER me at the bar and don't think it proper to tell the barman to serve me first, thank you for your gallantry. (Laure-Anne, )

Now, it is not just the queueing per se that is a problem here, it is the way everyone pushes in. I have found the old women the worst - after men who think it is their 'equal right' to push in front at every opportunity. So many old women have pushed in - or tried - and been horrified when I haven't let them get away with it. And also 'Man-handling' - people physically putting their hands on you and moving you out of their way, without a word or anything, is the thing I found most shocking of all in this country and what there should be a public outcry about! - but again, it is old women who are particular bad at this - second only to the men! (Miranda, )

25/ (In)tolerance

I don't get how one of the biggest stereotypes about the Dutch is their tolerance. My experience has been rather contradicting this myth. Try to show the first sign of something that your interlocutor vaguely disapproves of, or is unfamiliar with, and you will be greeted with shouts of "onzin" and brutal "natuurlijk niet". Try not being white, expressing a new opinion or getting your grammar wrong to test middle-class Dutch tolerance. (Laure-Anne, )

26/ Individualism

It seems that fair-play and self-sacrifice are often considered weaknesses in cities here. There seems to be an untold rule of the "survival of the most assertive". Here is some common examples:

· not holding the door open for someone walking close behind you;
· not giving away your seat for an older or pregnant lady: even sneaking in the seat that was just liberated for them;
· pushing someone out of your way (PHYSICALLY!) instead of helping them with the fruit scales at the supermarket, the train ticket machine at the airport, etc.

· taking the first taxi at the airport although you KNOW it wasn't your turn

Sigh... I find this constant fight for the most basic privileges exhausting. (Laure-Anne, )


27/ Women = men

Now, you can call me old-fashioned, but I had grown up knowing that women's orders get taken first in restaurants; the one waits for you if you get separated from the group; that one offers to walk you home/to your bus at night; and that, yes, one pays for the restaurant. At least on the first date. Independence? Yes, but where's the charm of the weaker sex? (Laure-Anne, )

28/ Secretaries

I am soooo scared of the typical over-assertive Dutch secretary. Over a 6-year stint at the same company, 3 department secretaries were the scariest social encounters of my life. Unless you shower them with compliments, proove that your request is not demeaning and in fact part of their basic duties, and only express your demand in the most sheepish way, expect downright refusal. Reminding about the coffee ordered hours ago for the meeting room becomes a biiiig diplomatic event. This is not to mention the one that actually hurled a stapler at a colleague; and another one who burst into a meeting room and called an attendee a 'farmer' because he didn't answer his phone (Laure-Anne, )

Maybe it is because I am a man, albeit rather a compact figure, (especially here), or because I am just such a saintly person (untrue), or because the organization I work for is super-professional (unlikely), but I can't agree with Laure-Anne's experience. All the secretaries I have dealt with in the organization I work for have been amazingly efficient, above and beyond the call of duty, even when you need them to do something during lunch-time. In fact, one of our secretaries even paid me a compliment last week, which believe me does not happen often. However, I wonder if the secretaries are more willing to help me, because I am still so new here, and clearly have no idea how anything works, or possibly because unlike some of my colleagues I always use my oblique, indirect English way of asking them to do things. (Ralph, )


Now I was a secretary/PA here for almost 3 years before becoming a full-time mum and my general consensus is that Dutch secretaries can be really crap! You do get those, at high level, who are great and go above and beyond the call of duty, but overall it is rare. The majority of Dutch secretaries are complainers and will not do more than is in their 'job description' which they will quote at you if you ask them to do anything they think is 'unreasonable' - and a lot is unreasonable with them. Once they have a permanent contract, you are in trouble, they will become the proverbial slacker! (Miranda, )

29/ Lunchtimes

I have to add something negative here I am afraid to say. Personally, I do not understand why the Dutch spend so little time at lunch, probably because they all want to be at home early. A normal lunch with Dutch colleagues can take as little as twenty minutes, which is hardly long enough to enjoy the delightful artery-clogging, hyperactivity-inducing fayre they serve here. Maybe I am just strange, but I need time to relax at lunch, to have a little snooze perhaps, or go for a little walk in the 'picturesque concrete jungle' of the new town. Actually, now I think about it, maybe they are right. (Ralph, )

30/ Birthday or housewarming circles

OK, every expat has heard of the dreaded birthday circle: you're meant to sit on a chair in a circle and eat your food on your lap. You must formally introduce yourself to the persons left and right of you, and proceed to have a good time... NOW! I can't think of anything less... gezellig. Admittedly, my one attempt at celebrating my birthday here in Holland ended up just like that. I just don't get it: is it in the genes that a circle be required upon celebrating one's birthday? (Laure-Anne, )

31/ Gezellig

I would be grateful not to have to hear another emotional speech about how unique the word 'gezellig' is. Guys, it's not that it can't be translated: it's more that there are a gazillion different subtle types of 'gezelligness' in other languages, which each got a word of their own (cosy, relaxed, convivial, friendly, comfortable, warm, ... shall I go on?). (Laure-Anne, )

33/ Beeping at traffic lights

Getting beeped at when my car is actually moving within less than a second of the traffic light turning green gets my goat, and is a frequent occurence. (Laure-Anne, )

I am a beeper at traffic lights! I hate people not being ready to go ASAP - mainly cuz the traffic lights in Holland only like to be on Red - going to Green makes them nervous so they only stay there a couple of seconds. Can't be doing with slow drivers! (Miranda, )

34/ New Year's eve fireworks

How kids and drunken people are allowed to handle fireworks (we're not talking crackers, here, but full-blown rockets), I have no idea. As far as I'm concerned, I have serious concerns about risking a limb again by celebrating Outennieuw in a crowded Dutch city centre. Oh, and regularly aiming the fireworks AT people seems so much more fun. I swear that night feels like a war zone: loud bangs all over you, and the background sound of ambulance sirens. (Laure-Anne, )

35/ Telly

As someone who quite likes the food here and hates gyms, it will come as no surprise that I actually like telly. Unfortunately, Dutch television is truly, truly awful, dominated by American imports, or documentaries about the Netherlands in the old days, and frankly rather dull lifestyle programmes. The highlights are few and far between but include a quiz programme in a taxi, Cash-Cab, an improvised comedy, Talpa's 'Rauw', the anti-thesis of all talent shows, 'Nix Factor'. (Ralph, )

36/ Humour

I don't get the Dutch sense of humour, and it would be interesting to find out why this is. Over the last year, I have spent some time in the cinema, watching such films as 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', 'Wallace and Grommit in the Curse of the Warerabbit', 'Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy' and 'Grissly Man'. Whilst the former three are all comedies, and the latter is a documentary by Werner Herzog about a failed actor, Timothy Treadwell, who was eventually mauled to death and eaten by the grissly bears he was 'studying', only the latter elicited hearty laughter from the mainly Dutch audience. Admittedly, some of the jokes don't translate well, but surely I should not be the only one howling with laughter at Slarty Bartfarst eventhough Bill Nighy was not a patch on Richard Vernon), or Grommit's attempts to seduce a twenty foot-high ware-rabbit. (Ralph, )

37/ The Undutchables

The Undutchables is one of those books that a Dutch colleague suggested that I should read. So, dutifully, I went into a book-shop picked up a copy, flicked through one or two of the entries, and almost died of shock. Maybe, I was looking at the wrong page, but it featured some of the most poisonous, viriolic writing I had seen in a while. I know this is going to seem ironic but there are many good things about living here, and once you begin to accept that things are different here, you really can begin to love this place and its people ... most of the time. (Ralph, )

I was given this book before moving to Holland. After reading it, it took a lot of convincing for me to re-pack my bags and still agree to come! Here's something noteworthy: my Dad looooves this book. It's a little discomforting that a father should take such delight at reading the potential plight of his daughter as a resident of The Netherlands, but hey? (Laure-Anne, )


On the book, totally agree, thought it was shocking, although that was before I moved here and I haven't picked it up since. But I did see the authors when I worked at Shell, they came to do a talk - one from UK , one from US - and I have to say they were very funny. BUT I don't agree about the job agency, they were the only one who sent me to jobs that actually suited my profile and that I actually wanted. I found them quite good. But like all job agencies in Holland - you have to do contact them continually and look on their site and let them know what jobs they have for you! (Miranda, )

38/ Salminjak - spelling?

If you've tried it, you'll know what I am talking about. It's a 'sweet' that actually tastes salty and pepperey. It's only redeeming feature is that I imagine the gag reflexes it provokes could be used as a first aid vomitive. Piece of international knowledge here: in most other countries, pepper and salt sweets are sold in joke shops. (Laure-Anne, )

Can you seriously put Salmanjiak down as a bad thing? I actually quite like the stuff, but then again I do have very strange tastes, or maybe eating it appeals to my sense of machismo. Oddly though, I have yet to meet another ex-pat. who likes this stuff though, which makes me wonder whether the production of this stuff is actually a Dutch practical joke. I presume not as Venco make Salmanjiakrondos, but you never know. (Ralph, )


39/ Cheese slicer

I think cheese slicers are worthy of a mention. Here's why:

a/ Ask a Swede about cheese slicers and he will claim it is a Swedish invention. All I know is it is as popular here in Holland. The mystery of its origins remains but my interest is fast waning...

b/ I have a theory as to why it is so popular in Holland: cheese is cheaper in a block than in slices!

c/ No matter how hard I try, nothing like a slice comes out of it. Cheese masher more like. I vote for pre-sliced cheese anyday.

(Laure-Anne, )

Now my Dutch hubby calls it 'raping the cheese' when someone 'unpracticed' attempts to slice it and leaves it all bumpy. After years of practice I can now do it, but I can't buy those wedge shape pieces, have to be block shaped - and if it is 'jong' cheese you will have no hope of slicing it properly as it is too soft. We buy 'extra belegen' - very nice too! (but then we do live on the outskirts of Gouda). Keep practicing! It also depends on your slicer, we have a good wide one.(Miranda, )


40/ Dutch policemen on bicycles

NO NO NO, this is sooooo not right, they might look cute for the tourists but I want to feel some kind of police presence that gives me confidence in our local constabulary, it's akin to having "Noddy" police the streets of Delft. Once they get to 55?, is this what the do to them, take them out of a patrol car and give them "Bike Duty".......I haven't seen any that haven't got grey beards, shirts that have been ironed, god forbid using starch! , shiney "see your face in" Boots AND they get to keep the .38 calibre, which is comical, (an armed Papa Smurf?) if not scarey.....the local criminal community must be surely quaking in their boots at this phenomenon..........shakes head in disbelief.................... (Simon, )

41/ Parking "spaces"

Perhaps it should be named a "parking narrownesses" instead of a "parking spaces". I know we're overpopulated here, but there is such a thing as the laws of physics! To shed a positive light on it:

a/ After enough time in Holland, you can try for your truck driver licence, because you can now officially park ANYTHING, ANYWHERE.

b/ What a great incentive to loose weight. Try attempting to squeeze out of the car with what's left of your dignity after the 15 failed parking attempts in front of all your staring colleagues. (Laure-Anne, )


Need more parking spaces. Always a struggle to park anywhere. (Amanda & Julian, )

42/ Expensive bicycles

I went to a shop to look for a bicycle the other day and it was over 1,000 euros! Just been advised to not buy a new bicycle in Holland, though. Seems most people buy stolen ones instead! (Brian, )

43/ No time to pack groceries at supermarket

You never get given enough time to pack your groceries before the next person's groceries come along at the supermarket! (Loreto, )

44/ Ageism

If you are over fourty you are too old to find a job!!! Employer can ask for applicant's age, and even gender! (Dawn, )

45/ Bikes have all rights

The highway code does not seem to be applicable to bikes. They will frequently amble along, chatting with 3 of them side-by-side, while a queue of frustrated motorists just grows and grows behind them. They'll also just cross the road just in front of you because, well, I guess they didn't like waiting, the poor souls. Oh, and traffic light are like a starting block, and the motorists have no chance as the bikes will squeeze in front of you and actually look affronted when you take your rightful priority (Binnenwatersloot to Phoenixstraat in Delft ring a bell?). (Laure-Anne, )

46/ Quality = last priority

They're possibly an action-oriented and extraverted culture that maybe doesn't put much emphasis on quality all the time. They eat standing or on the run and never seem to relax in public--except coffee shops. They relax at home, which makes them home-bodies. (Nikki, )

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Recommended expat clubs/services/activities

INTRO TO THIS SECTION

This section contains international activities and associations recommended by our members.

To add an entry (you need to be a member of the Delftians), click on 0 comments below. Enter the name of the expat resource, a description of what it does and their website and/or contact details. Don't forget to mention your name and native country.


INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Anglo American Theatre Group

Amateur theater group based in The Hague and Wassenaar.

Website: http://www.aatg.nl/


British Society

The oldest English-speaking expat network in The Netherlands. Huge organisation, so regular activities abound (e.g. bridge, movie nights, book clubs, squash, tennis, cooking, yoga, badmington, cricket, golf, sailing, etc.). Mostly concentrated around Amsterdam. You do not need to be British to join.
Website: http://www.britishsocietyofamsterdam.org/

Delft Photography Group

The Delft Photography Group aims to create an informal, dedicated environment for enthusiastic amateur photographers (digital or film) to hone their skills and to meet up with like-minded people. The group was founded by Donna, a Canadian national. Planned activities include field trips gallery visits, discussions, encouragement and friendly critique (if desired), as well as occasional social outings.

The emphasis is on enjoyment, by way of combining a relaxed social atmosphere with the nitty-gritty of getting out and shooting.

Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/delftphotography


I.D.E.A. Panto

International Drama Group of English-speaking Associates: amateur theatre group based in Dordrecht (south of Rotterdam).


Website: http://www.idea-panto.nl/

Legal aliens

Social meet-ups and message board covering The Hague, Delft, Leiden, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. This dynamic group has an array of activities for expats in many city centres in the Ranstad.
Website: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/legal_aliens

Leiden expats

Message-board based group aimed at Leiden-based expats.

Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Leidenexpats/

Living with a Dutchie

LWAD organises informal, social drinks once a month in each of the following cities:
  • The Hague
  • Rotterdam
  • Eindoven
  • Amsterdam
  • Gouda
Aimed only at expats who have moved to Holland to live with their Dutch partner. Beware: only the expat half of the couple is invited to the drinks!

E-mail: livingwithadutchie@yahoo.com.

Rotterdam people

Message-board based group aimed at Rotterdam-based internationals. Activities include drinks every two weeks in Rotterdam and the possibility to organise your own events.

Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ROTTERDAM_PEOPLE

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES

Access The Hague

If you need help, support or advice with expat-related issue, that's a great starting point. They have access to a network of professional counsellors, listings of expat-related courses and worshops, a job board, etc.

Website: http://www.access-nl.org/

American Vlaai

Website set up by an American expat in The Netherlands. Full of useful links and resources, and mainly: insightful views and articles on culture shock and how to deal with it.

Website: http://www.americanvlaai.com/


Breathing and the Buteyko method

Explore your own breathing for a different approach to regaining health. Courses and lectures are held in a fitness centre near Voorburg (outskirts of The Hague). The lectures are given in English by a fellow expat.

Address: Buteyko Practice, P.o. Box 1040, 2260 BA Leidschendam



Delft MaMa: parenthood support for internationals

Delft maternity and motherhood assistance, including pre-natal courses in English. Provide information and support on pregnancy, childbirth and raising children in Delft.

Website: http://www.geocities.com/delftmama

Delft.com

Official site from Delft City in English. Information on administration, tourist attractions, events, city map, accommodation, restaurants, etc.

Main website: http://www.delft.nl/webEN/index.jsp

Internationals section: http://www.delft.nl/webEN/content.jsp?objectid=36623

DOC English story-telling

Story telling workshop for English-speaking children. Organised by American Adele Sanders. Parents to read stories and organise craft activities.

Telephone: +31 (0)15 213 24 68

Address: Kruisstraat 71, 2611ML Delft

Expatica

Expatica is THE information source for expats. Very professional presentation and with jobs and housing ads, on-line dating, business directory, info on employment/housing/education/health regulations. The classifieds section is great for bargains on electronics and furniture as us expats tend to have to pack up and leave at the drop of a hat, so aren't always fussed about the price!

Website: http://www.expatica.com/

Le Forum

Discussion forum for French-speaking expats in The Netherlands (in French). The forum has sections on health, legislation, meet-ups, etc. Really nice, informal atmosphere. Le Forum is a very effective way to locate other native French speakers in your area.
Website: http://www.leforum.nl/

Salsa in English in Delft
Post date: 19 Sep 2006; Event date: permanent

Salsa Ventura has classes in Delft. The English class is on Tuesday nights.

Website: http://www.salsaventura.nl/lesrooster.php?cur=308


The Hague on-line

Listings of expat resources The Hague and region, including very complete listing of expat clubs. Also info on tourist attractions in The Hague, with a section for kid-friendly outtings. The Hague On-Line also offers expat-focused classifieds.

Website: http://www.thehagueonline.com/

EXPAT BLOGS

Exiled

Expat weblog by Egor Kloos, our very own expat hybrid: half-Dutch half-Irish. He organises events and meet-ups for anybody who wants to see and do more in Rotterdam.

Website: http://dutchcelt.nl/rant/exiled.html

The Holland Ring

An expat the other way round! Blog by a Dutch lady who's moved to the US. The site aims at increasing knowledge of The Netherlands in a really palatable way. It has a really cool 'Did you know' section, recipes for Dutch meals, explanations for traditions, quick summary of country's history, etc.

Blog: http://www.thehollandring.com/

Itsnotpossible.nl

A scathing account of our Dutch hosts' less endearing habits. Warning: quite a bit of swearing. You might want to re-read our top 100 things about NL to cheer yourself up after this one. Not a It's got quite a negative slant, but most observations were uncannily familiar to me. Brace yourselves: This blog joins the ranks of the NOT AT ALL happy customers, and it will revive your urges to educate a whole nation on the basic principles of service. Not for the fans of positive thinking.

http://hollandlife.blogspot.com/

Something to say about life in The Netherlands

The hilarious and touching saga of an American couple in the low lands.

http://hollandlife.blogspot.com/

Local cafes, restaurants, shops

INTRODUCTION TO THIS SECTION

Local restaurants, cafes, shops and services that our members would recommend.

If you go to one of these restaurants/shops, please tell them how you've heard from them, the author might get a discount!

To add a recommendation (only for Delftians members), click on '0 comments' below and add the required information.


RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS
Required information


Please complete the following information in your restaurant recommendation.


  • Price: rough average per head per main course, excluding drinks.

  • Style: e.g. Pizzeria, Ethiopian, Fusion, Concept, etc.

  • Service: e.g. friendly, good English, quick service, keen to accommodate special requests, etc.

  • Veggie-friendliness: veggie courses clearly marked? Just same courses without meat, or actual effort made to replace meat with something exciting? Large selection?

  • Non-smoker-friendliness: Some of our members are allergic to smoke, or absolutely cannot be in a smoking environment. Information requested: how smoke-free is the non-smoking zone? Is there a non-smoking zone?

  • Food presentation: e.g bit of a blob on a plate but nice taste

  • Decor/Venue: e.g Thai deco, or cafe-type, or cafetaria-like

  • Note: Anything note-worthy that was not mentioned before.

  • Address + telephone: Self-explanatory

  • Review author: Your first name, Your native country


Abessinië

  • Price: about 15 euros a head
  • Style: Ethiopian

  • Service: Very friendly, sometimes a bit slow

  • Veggie-friendliness: Absolutely. Eventhough their menu is a bit mixed up - they present veggie meals in the normal section and fish meals in the veggie section ...

  • Non Smoker-friendliness: ?

  • Food presentation: The food is presented on a giant Ethiopian pancake, you eat with your fingers, generous portions - beware it might not look like much food but it is extremely filling

  • Decor/venue: A small place with Ethiopian decor. Simple but sweet.

  • Address: Kromstraat 21, Delft. Tel: 015 - 213 52 60

  • Review author: Aline ()

de Kurk

  • Style: French/Dutch/International

  • Price: about 20 euros a head

  • Service: OK

  • Veggie-friendliness: ?

  • Non Smoker-friendliness: Not very

  • Food presentation: Very good. Good portions

  • Decor/venue: Attached to a bar

  • Address: Kromstraat 20, Delft. Tel: 015-214 14 74

  • Review author: Laura ()



Malee

  • Style: Thai

  • Price: About 15 euros a head

  • Service: Smiley enough, but not much English (or Dutch...) spoken

  • Veggie-friendliness: Very much so (but WARN them!)

  • Non Smoker-friendliness: ?

  • Food presentation: Several small courses

  • Decor/venue: Quite a smal, narrow room, thai theme

  • Note: There is only 1 meal to chose from: the plat-du-jour. Let them know you're a veggie on time! They'll get the tofu out then.

  • Address: Voldersgracht 29, Delft. Tel: 015-221 07 81

  • Review author: Laure-Anne ()

Mariage (le)

  • Style: Concept

  • Price: About 30 euros a head

  • Service: Very polite, knowledgeable and helpful

  • Veggie-friendliness: Not so much

  • Non Smoker-friendliness: ?

  • Food presentation: Very nouvelle-cuisine

  • Decor/venue: Modern, design

  • Special notes:
    1/ You get 2 half-portions of 2 different dishes for each course, all on the same plate. Great idea.
    2/ Watch out for the pricey drinks (soft and alcoholic). Can add quite a sting to the bill.
  • Address: Hippolytusbuurt 8, Delft. Tel: 015-212 28 05

  • Review author: Laure-Anne ()

Pasta Company

  • Style: Italian/modern mix

  • Price: 3 course meal for 12.50 or a la carte meals for around 15-20 euros per person.
    Pre-book and sit down to eat before 6pm and get a 20% discount

  • Service: Friendly and helpful, excellent english - understandably slower when busy

  • Veggie-friendliness: Good selection.

  • Non-smoker friendliness: Usually have a non-smoking section but not always when they are busy

  • Food presentation: Really decent sized meals and excellent value for money

  • Decor/venue: Nice modern setting and outdoor seating when the weather is nice.

  • Address: Vrouwjuttenland 11, Delft. http://www.pastacompany.nl/ Tel: 015 - 214 6633

  • Review author: Renee ()


Pijpenla

  • Style: French/Dutch

  • Price: About 22 euros a head

  • Service: Very polite, knowledgeable and helpful

  • Veggie-friendliness: Not so much

  • Non Smoker-friendliness: ?

  • Food presentation: Carefully presented

  • Decor/venue: Plush medieval pub atmosphere

  • Address: Hippolytusbuurt 10, Delft. Tel: 015-212 28 05 (co-managed by Le Mariage owners)

  • Review author: Laure-Anne ()



Prinsenkelder

  • Price: about 25 euros a head

  • Style: French/Fusion

  • Service: Excellent

  • Veggie-friendliness: ?

  • Non Smoker-friendliness: ?

  • Food presentation: Excellent, fantastic

  • Decor/venue: In cellar, has garden for nice weather

  • Address: Schoolstraat 11, Delft. Tel: 015 - 212 18 60

  • Review author: Laura ()


Redjeki

  • Style: Indonesian

  • Price: About 18 euros a head

  • Service: Really friendly, polite and helpful

  • Veggie-friendliness: Yes! Really nice stuff to replace meat

  • Non smoker-friendliness:?

  • Food presentation: Lots of separate little dishes for every one to share

  • Decor/Venue: Two reasonably large dining rooms, Indonesian theme

  • Address: Choorstraat 50-56, Delft. Tel: 015-212 50 22

  • Review author: Laure-Anne ()


Roti 4 U

  • Style: Surinamese/Hindustani/Javanese

  • Price: about 8 euros a head

  • Service : Quite friendly. Well they would be. We go there all the time!

  • Veggie-friendliness: They serve Saytan for the veggies. Yam.

  • Non smoker-friendliness: ?

  • Food presentation : Unpretentious. Very generous portions.

  • Decor/venue: Small, unpretentious, functional.

  • Address: Molslaan 39, Delft. Tel: 015-212 93 90

  • Review author: Laure-Anne ()


de Ruif

  • Style: Officially eetcafe, but the cuisine is more high-quality Fusion/traditional

  • Price: 25 to 20 euros a head

  • Service: Accommodating, flexible, polite, fast and English spoken.

  • Veggie-friendliness: Very little choice on official menu, but chef quite flexible.

  • Non-smoker-friendliness: No non-smoking area.

  • Food presentation: Researched, definitely not a blob on a plate

  • Decor/Venue: Medieval decoration/building. 2 seating areas around a wide bar + a lovely garden terrace outside along the canal. Situated alongside the New Church: very pittoresque location.

  • Address: 22-24 Kerkstraat (Delft). Tel: 015 214 2206. Site: http://www.ruif.nl/.

  • Review author: Laure-Anne ()


San Marco

  • Style: Italian

  • Price: about 12 euros a head

  • Service: Very quick, quite friendly. Gets very busy, though, so potential wait for a table.

  • Veggie-friendliness: Very ready to accommodate by making same but without meat, but not such large vegetarian selection on the menu

  • Non smoker-friendliness: Large 1/2 open-roof 'garden' ensures no smoke in the room, but don't know about winter

  • Food presentation: Authentic, fresh ingredients

  • Decor/venue: Deceptively large restaurant. Small medieval house, with narrow dining area opens up to large dining area at the back, with an openable roof for those nice days.

  • Address: Brabantseturfmarkt 23, Delft. Tel: 015-213 16 29

  • Review author: Laure-Anne ()


de V

  • Style: French/Dutch/Fusion

  • Price: about 16 euros a head

  • Service: OK

  • Veggie-friendliness : Good selection

  • Non smoker-friendliness:?

  • Food presentation : Original recipes, nicely presented

  • Decor/venue: very large cafe type atmosphere

  • Address: Voorstraat 9, Delft. Tel: 015-214 09 16

  • Review author: Laure-Anne ()


Vlaanderen

  • Style: Fusion

  • Price: about 20 euros a head

  • Service: Quite friendly

  • Veggie-friendliness : Not so much

  • Non smoker-friendliness: ?

  • Food presentation: Original ingredient mix, nicely presented

  • Decor/venue: Cafe-type atmosphere

  • Special note: Nice design terrace-garden in the back

  • Address: Beestenmarkt 16, Delft. Tel: 015-213 33 11

  • Review author: Laure-Anne ()


RECOMMENDED BARS AND CAFES
Required information

Please complete the following information in your bar/cafe recommendation.

  • Style: e.g. modern, trendy

  • Service: self-explanatory
  • Non-smoker-friendliness: Some of our members are allergic to smoke. Information requested: how smoke-free is the non-smoking zone? Is there a non-smoking zone?
  • Decor/Venue: e.g design, trendy
  • Note: Anything note-worthy that was not mentioned before.
  • Review author: Your first name, your native country

de Be-Bop Jazzcafe

  • Style: Deep dive, in the good sense of the word. Dark and cosy.

  • Service: OK, speak reasonable English. Can take a while to get served if very busy.

  • Non-smoker-friendliness: Can get quite smokey. Fantastic garden seating area in the back of the pub. Can even sit there with a light drizzle (protected by the canopy of the old trees).

  • Notes: Nice selection of foreign beers. Live music at times. The garden is a must-see.

  • Address: 13 Kromstraat (Delft).

  • Review author: Laure-Anne ().


de Doerak

  • Style: Local corner pub atmosphere

  • Service: The pub owner speaks perfect English. She is helpful, friendly, quick and ... pretty! The perfect combination.

  • Non-smoker-friendliness: Can get smokey as it's a small pub, but doors tend to be open so still quite airy atmosphere, unless really crowded. Seating is available outside weather permitting.

  • Decor/Venue: Very small pub. Nostalgic deco. Large front bay-window makes for a very light and airy atmosphere. Lovely view on the canal.

  • Note:
    Nice selection of foreign beers.
    The staff's familiar and friendly welcome will make you feel like a local after a couple of visits.
    Just a couple of street aways from tourist-trodden market pubs, but it makes for a completely different, cosier atmosphere.

  • Address: Delft, 17 Vrouwjuttenland. Site: http://www.cafedoerak.nl.

  • Review author: Laure-Anne ().

de Ruif

  • Style: Very old bricks: medieval, even.

  • Service: The staff behind the bar are cooperative, friendly and efficient. They all speak quite good English.

  • Non-smoker-friendliness: No non-smoking area.

  • Decor/Venue: 2 seating areas around a long and wide bar, so can seat quite a few people, really. Medieval decoration/building.

  • Notes:
    Nice selection of foreign beers.
    Situated alongside the New Church, really pittoresque location.
    Garden-terrace along the canal an absolute treat. They even have their own terrace-boat moored outside the terrace.

  • Address: Delft, 22-24 Kerkstraat. Site: http://www.ruif.nl/

  • Review author: Laure-Anne ()


RECOMMENDED SHOPS AND SERVICES
Required information

Please complete the following information in your shop/service recommendation:


  • What: e.g. Cooking utensils shop

  • Why you like it: e.g. Very knowledgeable staff and fantastic goods quality.

  • Note (optional): anything note-worthy that you haven't mentioned yet

  • Address: Self explanatory. Add tel. number and website if you have it. If you've been recently, that stuff's on the receipt.

  • Review author: Your first name and country of origin


Dutch shops opening hours

Shops in The Netherlands tend to close excruciatingly early (about 6pm), but each city has its weekly late-night shopping day (until about 9pm). Here's for the ones I know:

  • Amsterdam: Thursday
  • Delft: Friday
  • Den Haag: Thursday
  • Rijswijk: Thursday
  • Rotterdam: Friday

Delftse Hout (petting zoo)

  • What: kinderboerderij (petting zoo) with really nice play area

  • Why I like it:
    Free entrance.
    Really nice, large enclosures for the animals and very close interaction with the animals is allowed for the kids.
    Kids love the play areas which are large and imaginative.
    They also have pigs and donkeys (most kinderboerderijen only sheep and goats).

  • Note: Open from 10am to 4.30pm.

  • Address: Korftlaan 3, Delftse Hout, Delft (in Delft's wood). Tel: 015-214 02 63. http://home.deds.nl/~kinderboerderijdelft/

  • Author: Laure-Anne ()


Natuurwinkel (ethical mini-market)

  • What: Ethical shopping (organic, veggie stuff, etc.)

  • Why I like it: Good choice of veggie goods. Quite a large surface. They also do cafe food in opening hours.

  • Address: Vrouwjuttenland 33-35, Delft. Site: http://www.denatuurwinkel.com

  • Author: Laure-Anne ()


Trumpy (baby-sitting)


  • What: Baby-sitting service

  • Why we like it:
    Run by women students.
    They're all over 18 and most speak adequate English.
    Been using them for 3 years, very happy with them (Laura).

  • Notes:
    For week-end and evening baby-sitting: 5,68 / hour for the first child; then 1,50 / hour for every additional child.
    Not sure how far away from Wateringen they go.

  • Address: In Wateringen. Contact: Sabrina Thoen Tel: 0174 22 50 30. Site: www.trumpy.nl

  • Authors: Monika () and Laura ()

Recommended Dutch websites

INTRODUCTION TO THIS SECTION

Essential Dutch websites. The websites every local knows and making your life soooo much easier.

Flags indicate whether the site is in Dutch and/or English.

Recommend websites by clicking on '0 comments' below and indicating the following information:

  • Website name
  • Language: e.g. Available in Dutch, English, French, etc.
  • What it's about:
  • Why you like it:
  • Internet address:
  • Review author: Your first name, Your native country

RECOMMENDATIONS


Alternative Arts Productions AAPA


Written in Dutch and English. Non-profit on-line group for people interested in alternative art. Includes independent reviews of alternative works in music, cinema and photography. The group is used as a launchpad to art initiatives. The idea is to help creative projects through collaboration and promotion and reviews.

http://www.aapa.nl/

Dictionary (Dutch-English-Dutch): Travlang

On-line Dutch-English (and English-Dutch) dictionary. Invaluable if you have, like me, struggled to find that fast, free, on-line, single-term translation service.

http://dictionaries.travlang.com/DutchEnglish/

Creches and day care listing: Kiddo

(in Dutch) Listings of daycare centres and creches organised per town.

http://kiddo.net/kiddo/kiddosite.php

(Lucie, )

Estate sales/rentals: Funda

(in Dutch) Listings of estate for sale or rent. Really complete, clear information on estate on offer. Very complete search criteria can be entered, searches can be saved. Funda is one of the standard advertising platforms for estate agents, so a great central place to look for estate in The Netherlands.

http://www.funda.nl


(Oscar, )

Kids outings: Uit met kinderen

(in Dutch) Lists recommended days-out with the kids in The Netherlands. Very user-friendly searches (click on a map of Holland to zoom to your region only) and very large selection of activities are promoted. You can also recommend activities on the site yourself.

http://www.uitmetkinderen.nl/

(Dawn, )

Movies timetables: Belbios and Cinema.nl

(in Dutch) Belbios: Listings of movies showing at all movie houses and cinemas in Holland. Very flexible search criteria, complete information and good user interface.

http://www.belbios.nl

(Laure-Anne, )

(in Dutch) Cinema.nl: You could also try cinema.nl for really complete movie summaries, etc.

http://www.cinema.nl

(Oscar, )

Pets: dierenplaats.nl

(in Dutch) Very complete on-line information resource for anything to do with owning a pet in the Netherlands. It has a sections on pensions, local vets, animals up for adoption, etc. It also has links to scientific research on animal welfare, animal protection organisations, animal-related attractions (e.g. zoos and safaries) in The Netherlands, etc.

http://www.dierenplaats.nl/


(Laure-Anne, )

On-line market (sim. to e-Bay): Marktplaats

(in Dutch) Buy or sell anything from second-hand sofas to musical instruments. Bit like a local Dutch version of e-Bay.

http://www.marktplaats.nl


(Laure-Anne, )

Public transport travel planner: 9292

(in Dutch) Public transport routes and timetables. User-friendly interfaces, and very complete information.

http://www.9292ov.nl/


(Laure-Anne, )

Restaurant reviews: IENS

(also in English) Very complete reviews, contact details and price listings for all participating restaurants in Holland. Very advanced search criteria are possible. User-friendly interface.

http://www.iens.nl/

(Laura, )

Traffic information: traffic net

(in Dutch) Graphic display of routes in The Netherlands (red = very busy, etc.). Very regularly updated.

http://www.trafficnet.nl/traffic.asp

(Laure-Anne, )

Vegetarian in Netherlands: Vegatopia

(only in Dutch) Resource page for veggies in The Netherlands. Shows recipes, restaurants!, a forum, news, etc. All veggie-oriented.

http://www.vegatopia.com/


(Laure-Anne, )

Weather forecast

(in English) 3-day weather forecast for Amsterdam.

http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Amsterdam.1to3.shtml

(Laure-Anne, )

Yellow Pages

(in English too) Yellow pages for shops and businesses in The Netherlands. Link below for English version.

http://http://yellowpages.goudengids.nl/displayhome.ds/


(Laure-Anne, )