Being an international student in the Netherlands is a one of a kind experience. The Dutch culture is full of passionate celebrations, a lot of partying, strange yet quite tasty cuisine, crazy football fans, painfully direct coworkers, talkative neighbors and cyclists with no mercy on the road. Floating in this ocean of uniqueness, a bit of extravagancy and a ton of cultural shock is never an easy job. Being familiar with some of the most useful words and phrases in Dutch is not a want but a need when it comes to living in this orange country made of cheese, canals and beer.
Mooi weertje hé? - Good weather, right?
Talking about the weather is always a good topic to start your day with. As it is usually cloudy and rainy, the warm sunny days are definitely worth celebrating. Once the thermometer hits the extraordinary 20 degrees, you can see the whole Dutch population gathered in the city center, having picnic at the park or even going for a swim at the beach or the nearby river.
Wat een slecht weer! – What a bad weather!
What is even more Dutch than complimenting the weather, is complaining about it. This phrase is perfect for when you are getting off your bike after half an hour of cycling, soaked to the bone, cold, sweaty, tired and grumpy. However, it is important to mention that in the past couple of years, the Netherlands has definitely seen quite a lot of sunshine.
Atje voor de sfeer! - Drink your beer in one go for the vibe!
The Dutch love their beer more than anything else. This is one of the most popular drinks you can see people consume when they go out partying. That’s why there are approximately 165 breweries in the Netherlands. There is even a Dutch song which many internationals have probably heard during the Carnaval period called ‘Atje voor de sfeer’ during which many people take the challenge to drink their whole beer at once.
Stuur maar een tikkie – Just send me a tikkie
Everything in the Dutch culture is about equality. When it comes to sharing, there are some unwritten rules that Dutch people follow, sending a tikkie being one of them. As an international it is important to remember that there is nothing here in the Netherlands that could not be split into half. So don’t be surprised if your new Dutch friend sends you a tikkie of 0,50 cents after a fun time out.
Waar is mijn fiets? – Where is my bike? / Zet je fiets op slot! – Lock your bike!
Locking your bike is a must wherever you are in the Netherlands. Bike theft is so popular that it can even be considered a leading business here. However, there is something positive in this situation as well. If your bike gets stolen, don’t lose hope. You can definitely find and rebuy it once again on one of the many online bike stores.
