What's It Really Like

I know that when we get back home, someone will ask “what’s Holland really like?” Well, the simple answer is that it’s just like everywhere else only very Dutch.

  A charmer in Aalsmeer

From where we’ve been sitting, being Dutch means that your yard and house are well kept; your windows are spotless; you speak three, maybe four languages; you are polite but also direct--no beating around the proverbial bush.  Citizens of The Netherlands take themselves and their pocketbooks seriously but laugh easily. They like to follow rules, even when driving.  Their stores are modern, neat, clean and stocked; their churches well attended, their farms carefully tended.  

Town Hall, Gouda Style

The Dutch are fond of their animals; we’ve never seen a stray dog, not even in big cities. There are cats all over but we’ve never noticed one looking hungry or neglected .  Sleek and fat, every single cat who’s crossed our path has enjoyed teasing our Yogi-dog in some way, usually with a twinkle in their eye and a big cat-grin on their face.

One can’t be Dutch without a bicycle. Even people who don’t own a boat (a rarity) own a bicycle. Whether you are 5 or 105, if you can remain upright then you are on a bicycle.  Sturdy and utilitarian bikes are ridden everywhere by everyone, always, of course, in one of the ubiquitous bicycle lanes.   We love to watch the little ones, about 5 or 6, their tiny feet blurred by furious pedaling in order to keep up with mom or dad who are always riding on the traffic side of the bike lane while keeping a loving, reassuring hand on their little one’s shoulder.

Bicycling over a canal, Gouda

Recently, a radio announcement stated that the Dutch are pulling their troops out of Afghanistan.  The BBC commentator noted that the Dutch troops would rather negotiate than shoot and that they were more likely to be found riding on bicycles rather than in armored vehicles.  Now what does that tell you about these people?

Paragons of virtue?  Of course they are…… except when it comes to picking up dog poop but we suspect that there is a Dutch law that states “leave it lay”.  

Although, if you happen to run across one of the few people in this country who take their pocketbooks waaaay to seriously, obscenely over-charging for services rendered, you might be inclined to change your opinion about the Dutch being perfect. 

On the other hand, we’ve been overcharged for something in every country we’ve been in, so we guess people are people where ever you find them.  Ain‘t that the truth?