Still, learn Dutch. if you want to stay! Many expats who lose a great job may end up working in bars and restaurants. This is because your most fitting job may be out of reach when you don't speak Dutch.

At the end of 1998 I went to work in the Netherlands. I was on secondment from British Telecom and was posted to Amsterdam initially for 6 months but it lasted 4 years. I was an engineer/technician maintaining a Swedish built exchange system built by Eicsson’s, a digital exchange. I was initially on shift work. My employers arranged for Dutch classes but as I was either working or sleeping I didn’t get to any classes. My Dutch colleagues told me not to bother, they preferred me speaking English! They spoke excellent Engli8sh and best of all they were so good they understood all my jokes, even though I’m Welsh with a strong accent.

Thank you for shaking people from the Netherlands awake again, because many forget very quickly how good we actually have it here, including me lol 🤗

If you really want to settle you need to master Dutch. Yes many speaks English although not as good as they think. But in a social setting, eveyone is back to Dutch after 5 minutes. This is personal experience in a highly educated social circle,

My and my wife were on holiday in Portugal last month. We were totally taken by the friendliness of the the people ( as long as they are not in their cars 😜 ) We were totally taken by the relaxed atmosphere in Lisbon. If I ever would retire in any other country ( I am Dutch ), I think it would be in Portugal. I hear your appreciation of the Netherlands, but don’t underestimate your own country. Portugese people ( as long as they are not in their cars 😜 ) are the most sincere and relaxed people I encountered.

Glad you feel so safe and free and welcome in the Netherlands. Thank you for your contribution to this society.

What a very interesting video. I always like it when Dutchified foreigners who moved here talk about how we compare to their original country. It has made me look at my own country with way less complaints. 😁

Very knowledgeable observations, compliments! PS My favorite Dutch visit tip; a combination between Art and Nature; Kröller-Müller Museum - Nationaal Park De Hoge Veluwe; Visit the museum with stunning work of Van Gogh etc. After bike around one one of the many free white bicycles tru the stunning nature of the park. Have fun!

a very pleasant video to watch, easy to follow and wel spoken. good examples and also well documented. well done.

One of the most detailed and insightful reviews.

Very informative, Mafalda. Hope you're having a good time in our beautiful country. :)

1:10 It is seen as polite to speak the language of someone you want something from. Then, they are feeling more comfortable, which makes people more likely to trade with you. But, although people are not likely to tell you, in reverse it is rude not to learn the language if you are trying to do so. Outside of Amsterdam and other big cities people will not like it if people keep speaking English when staying permanently. (Amsterdam is just weird. When I was there "Ik wil graag afrekenen", 'I want to pay', was to hard for the staff.)

Impeccable video! Thank you. I must say, however, that speaking Dutch is important if one really wants to become well integrated in Dutch society.

I've been on a few holidays to Portugal, and there are many lovely cities and smaller towns there as well. ... Yeah... good memories.

Nice video! 👍

You make me (Dutchman) smile a lot, I will share it with all Dutch people who complain, and not just about public transport. We complain a lot. But probably complaining is a universal phenomenon :-)

beautiful video

We really appreciate you all to make the effort and learn Dutch also. Just polite.

Nice to see that someone compares us to another country. We tend to forget how good we have it.

i am happy you enjoy life here in the netherlands! :)

Greetings, fellow alumni! Glad you enjoy the Lowlands!

My best friend and I are considering moving to the north of Portugal, that’s funny I see this video now. We’re both Dutch! 😅

Netherlands seems to be the model for the world for cycling, and probably many other areas. All the best with your YT channel. I hope you add some interviews in future videos.

I am impressed by your vlog and very good explanation of the Netherlands and the Dutch people. And by the way, your English is of a excellent standard.

We need more people like you here. Instead of people from muslim countries or with bad attitude dont want to work and have no problem with criminality.

Tnx!!

Nice video! Appreciate your angles. Dutch people should view it so that perhaps we can turn down our criticism a little bit 🤪

Really enjoying your channel. You look like the actress Anne Hathaway but have a far, far better accent and voice! I'd like to visit the Netherlands some day based on what you say.

I'm Dutch and I have been to Portugal in the early eighties for work, 2 months at the Algarve (Portimão/Praia da Rocha), while working on top of the mountain Foia and 4 month in Cascais, while working in Lisbon Airport. I liked it there, I liked the people, the beaches; the Vinho Verde; the Dão red wine and the fado restaurants in Lisbon. I still play the fado music, that I bought in Portugal in that time.

Even though your superb command of the english language can help you a lot to live in The Netherlands, I'm sure that an intelligent person as yourself, can and will, overtime, learn the Ducht language.. Some Dutch friends of mine told me that this language is one of the most difficult to learn, but if I was of an age to emigrate there, my priority would be to make a serious attempt to learn it. Learning english from spanish,(in my forties) as in my particular case, was a challenge and a lot of work, though today I'm able to even write in that language, let alone how much I've learned about a culture so different than my own. Good video, keep them coming amiga. Greetings from Toronto.

The efficiency and productivity per hour work in the neterlands are better and higher then in many other countries

Very interesting video. As a person in the process of emigrating from Canada to Portugal I'm always interested in the insights of a person that has left Portugal to live in another country.

I like your accent so much!

I agree with everything in this video, except one. I don't think it happens very much, but I always think it sounds very cringy when people call their parents by their first name.

I'm glad that you feel safe in my country, but we do have a problem with organised crime. It generally doesn't spread to the streets: they keep things to themselves.

Hi Mafalda, the differences in culture has been researched by maastricht professor Geert Hofstede. Calling your boss by its first name is an aspect of the “power distance” dimension of his theory. Netherlands ranks 38, while Portugal ranks 63, explaining this difference. There are 4 other dimensions that really explain some of the differences you mention in this video. Thanks for the video and greetings from a maastricht university alumnus.

Seems to be fun, to live there.

As a Dutchman with a disability and using a wheelchair, I'm so lucky that I live in The Netherlands. The Netherlands is good organized and the facilities are very nice. People with a disability, really participate in the Dutch society. Oke ... some parts it can be better. Nice to hear all that positivity about our country. I think you're a really positive person and a realist. I like that. Welcome!

Very enjoyable tube. Well articulated, kind and fairly flattering. I wonder if you learned your English in Maastricht? That would be funny, because native Maastrichters speak something like ''Veer höbbe ore laank mèt ‘ne rögzak op euze pókkel mote loupe''. One slight criticism. ''Mountains are very much missed''. That's not correct. Since Hugh Grant's movie 'The Englishman who Went up a Hill but Came down a Mountain', we all know that a hill becomes a mountain at a thousand feet. About 305 meters. Less than 30 km from Maastricht you could have climbed the flanks of the famous Vaalserberg, which is 322 meters high and mostly covered in icy clouds all year round.

A side note for especially the American viewers on the topic of working part-time and vacation days. In the US many secondary benefits are linked to working full-time so over there working part-time would be a bad thing. But in the Netherlands you are considered working full-time as of 32 hours per week and working less than that doesn't make a difference for your secondary benefits. The vacation hours of 20 days is the minimum in the EU and they are paid vacation days. A lot of companies give more vacation days over here, however. Also by law you must take at least two consecutive weeks of vacation per year and the responsibility for this lies with the employer.

I am a Real Dutchy. Now I realise Holland is not that bad. But we always like to complain and improve.

Thanks for the video. I heard the train schedule is worsening in 2023. What do you think? Mostly using bicycle?

Nice video.......!! I'm surprised on your take on safety in Lisbon........I've been to your capital and walked around at night and never felt unsafe. I know it's a while ago, but has things changed that much....?.......if so, that's quite disappointing....!!

you'd be number 1 reason to move there, you're fire girl.

Hi, you made a nice review of Dutch society but of course if you used to all this there’s always something different you might miss… and that’s what I’m trying to find in Portugal… some space in a natural surrounding, some social tradition, some sun in wintertime, … I guess NL and Portugal can complement each other in many things

As a Dutch guy I like to thank you for your kind words about us. We still can be a difficult people to be around, but mostly when the newcomer is willing to adapt we will be too.

I watched your video Reasons why I love the Netherlands and send invitation for me.

What you mean is that in the Netherlands your grade doesn't matter, rather your contacts and ethnicity. If you are Dutch or Western European, you can get a good job just with passing grades, while if you have a non-Western European sounding name, you won't get a good job even if you have very good grades. And it depends on the school if you call your teacher by first or last name. In my school we used last names. Strange that you never experienced people judging you based on your background. I experience that all the time, perhaps even most of the time when I meet someone new. But I don't have a Dutch last name. Typically they don't see me as Dutch, even though I was born here, have a Dutch passport, a Dutch mother and my mother tongue is Dutch. Even in official statistics I am not counted as Dutch! But I guess you may have to live here for longer to fully comprehend how the system works here, or to read the subtleties of exclusion and generalization.

About the dutch jugding your background: the dutch don't particularly judge where you come from or what job you do as you stated. We judge actions/decisions you have made more. And we will bluntly state that it is wrong when we think it is.

I enjoy visiting your museums, but I prefer France. It's so much better in so many ways.

I had doubts, but after this video, I felt I wanted it, I want to move to the Netherlands! going to work on my application now.. thank you Mafalda

Whilst it is true that the job culture is more flat and more relaxed, I would still be carefull skipping ranks by going to your boss's boss, not because the boss's boss will mind (they usually won't, unless you keep going to them for every small thing), but out of respect for your own boss, which is the person you would normally go to for problems. In emergency situations or situations where time is of the matter, then yes, absolutely go directly to person you need. In University, please don't be afraid to just talk to your professors. Whereas elsewhere they might say they will answer questions and you should respect some social rule not to make use of the opportunity, in Dutch schools the teachers will actually be more happy if you do communicate with them and ask them your questions. Dutch culture is heavily based on the ethos of competence over hierarchy. In your job you will usually be expected to be self sufficient and independent. This is the only reason they will ever look at your diploma. You pass Uni? Congrats, you are able to act independently. 99% of the information you learned in school, you'll never apply in your job, 99% of the social competencies you've had to learn in order to pass Uni you will use every day in your job (giving presentations, writing intellectually, reading scientifical papers and extracting the correct data, teamwork with collegues etc.). Did you pass Uni with honours? Congrats, you still have the same competencies, but you've also shown you are steadfast and driven, giving you a nudge on your job application over other applicants. When you apply for a job, the company will usually first look at your working experience and how well they think you fit into the social structure of the company (this is why your job interview is so important). Your actual grades in Uni is usually only of secondary concern, and sometimes won't even be considered. Only the honours really matter (cum laude or summa cum laude).

There are several ‘mountains’ 😇 in the province of Limburg. Germany with the Eifel mountains or Sauerland is near

Nice review of the Dutch live style. I am a dutchy. I total agree :)

Hi Mafalda, could you make a video about the things that are better in Portugal? I am a Dutchie who is considering moving to Portugal. Would be interesting to hear what your experiences are as a native Portuguese. Thanks in advance!

Thanks for making me feel proud 😊

Thanks for the positive words about my country. KR, JW B from NL.

👍🥳 Nice reaction.. We Dutch always complain.. we Have a very nice country.. But we live here.. so we don't appreciate it so much.. Greetings from Amsterdam✌

It is true that the public transport is impressive in the 'Randstad' of The Netherlands, but it is not very good in rural parts of the country.

What I have noticed as a Dutch person (I am living abroad), countries with 'slower' economies (like .pt) creates a culture where, because people are not financially stable (or not have ample opportunities) they will introduce (silly) hierarchies in society where education and family background is valued a lot because it signals upward mobility. Being uneducated in such a country is viewed much worse than being uneducated in the Netherlands. Dutch people do not care about education or hierarchy because the baseline of knowledge is high regardless of completed education levels. Sometimes education is even viewed as 'wasting your time' - depending on your work-field. You can get a good paying job without education in NL. This 'inflexibility' and 'hierarchy' that .pt has, I see this mindset all over Europe - especially the poor parts.

Do you have a Dutch husband? please forgive me for asking your last name Boers it sounds Dutch. Other than that glad to know that you like it here in the Netherlands and also glad to have you you are more than welcome over here. Great video btw keep up the great work👍 En nog een prettige dag toegewenst😊

Hi Mafalda, Thank you for this nice representation of my country. Most things I can completely identify with and you are friendly and correct. Personally there is 1 topic which applies to me a little less... my contract says to work 38.5 hours a week, where I worked 50 hours or more every week. Just because I love my work. In 2009 and 2010 I even worked 1.5 jobs (60 hours) a week. That was because I had +/- 10.000 euro debts. In less than 2 years I worked that away. And the love comes from both sides: I was always there when I was needed and more. The other side was that if I wished to have a day off, it was granted immediately. It works both ways. To me, one of our strongest abilities is to make people feel at home and at ease. Discrimination is something we abhor and we choose to adapt where ever we are. I was in the Philippines in 2011 and I did not book a hotel, but stayed with the people in their suburb (poor housing etc). The evening I arrived... it was already dark and somebody touched my shoulder and handed me a cold drink. It was like 7-up but an unknown brand. I sat down of the street, took a first zip and it was a really cold drink and tasted good. Children were sitting all around me, so I gave the drink to the child next to me and told him to take one zip and give the bottle to the next child, etc. That way I was able to make many friends and we had a lovely time together. Instead of investing money in an expensive hotel I spent almost everything in the people there. It was amazing how people were drawn to me... they never met someone like me before. And still I am in contact with a young woman, who calls me 'papa Henk' and it is a good contact. Sorry if this response is a little bit long. :-)

I was told that the Netherlands have officially 2 - languages = Fries(-land boppe) and for the gentiles: dutch right?

To to get visa sponsorship ma'am?

hi there . i am dutch and lived all over europe . when i moved to italy i learned italian FIRST ! when i lived in germany i learned german FIRST . and so on .. i dont understand why ppl are moving abroad before learning even basic things in that language .. its a other rule when a business moves you to a diverent country but basic words ... c'mon ((( put in some effort plz !

I'm from Kenya I need to come there and work as a manager in a company

If you want to integrate into Dutch society, you will have to learn Dutch. When we are amongst other Dutch, we speak Dutch.

Just to make sure everybody understands the Dutch perspective on foreign languages, of which English is the best example: Yes we, The Dutch, may speak a little English, but English is absolutely not our mother language. So please try to understand that you actually are putting us, The Dutch, into a very uncomfortable situation when you force us into any other language than Dutch, because we do not know, in general, how to express ourselves entirely in English or any other language but Dutch. The level of English we, The Dutch, speak is only for superficial chitchat and to tell you the way, when you're lost. Exceptions obviously do exist, but they are seldom. Remember that it really is Dutch which we speak here in general and especially among friends and chitchat English to strangers. So for you choosing to stick to English as a language will secure your "stranger" status. Go sit in a group of Dutchies and have a one to one chitchat conversation with one of the Dutchies. It takes just one remark of one other Dutchy and the whole group starts laughing and the conversation continues in Dutch and in Dutch only. Why, you say? : well because we all are Dutchies and Dutch is the spoken language and English is, no matter how you look at it, to us Dutchies a foreign language, just like German, French and Spanish is. So it will take an extra effort for a Dutchy to keep on translating words and form a correct sentence in English and yet, in general, we always prefer to speak our own language. And it is bluntly rude to assume that we, The Dutch, will always convert to the chosen language a foreigner demands. If the Dutch language is a bridge to far, then have a conversation with the Dutch in German: a foreign language to you, and also another foreign language to the Dutch. By the way: to all of you English speakers: Dutch is the closest language to English, so stop whining and learn Dutch. It is after all you visiting us and not the other way around.

Your English is easy to understand. No need for the read-out.

if you want to live and work here: learn Dutch... it'so more polite..

very nice video and pleasant voice. To be specific; you do NOT have the right to adjust your work hours. You can always work less, not more. Working less is basically quit for part of your job. Your employer can delay it to protect the working proces but not refuse. Take note that a great portion of the part-timers would rather work full-time. The reason being that working more doesn't pay off. This has to do with taxes and the many benefits you lose if you make more money. for example; you work 30 hours an make 3000. You could work 40 hours and make 4000. you would net 150,- euro more. (less than an euro per hour) So most people take the time. You must be aware of the worker shortage, wich is a direct result of this. Expats are the easy solution but shortages in other areas increase. You live somewhere, you make use of social benefits, healthcare etc Anti immigration sentiments are on the rise against all sort of immigrants, as is anti european sentiment. A shame really, could always more people like you.

An employee can not just adjust his hours and an employer can defenitely dissolve your contract if you just start working less

Life will get way more expensive here: the country has gotten more crowded, harder to find an affordable home, food and energy prices will continue to go up thanks to the government. Work life balance will get worse since is the burden of the welfare state rests on the shoulders of a group of workers that is getting smaller in ratio. Atlas is shrugging. More and more Dutch people migrate to cheaper countries within Europe. Farmers (bullied by the gov) and other entrepeneurs in particular. I still want to stay here because of my language, some friends and because I like where I live.

maybe if you can find a place to live for reasonable price!~can be real problem here in netherlands

Where are you from

0:26 that does not mean you shouldn't learn dutch though..

How come that you have a Dutch last name Mafalda?

I am truly glad that you like living in the Netherlands. But it is my opinion that, when you live in a country you should learn the language. I am Dutch. And when I go and live somewhere else I can promise you that they will not speak Dutch to me. I will have to learn another language. So - make the effort to speak the language of the country you live in.

I am glad you are having a good time in the Netherlands. As a Dutchman I have a far more negative vieuw of my home country than you do. I still hope you like it here and enjoy it, even if I increasingly do not. The only advice I would give you is to not trust Dutch people at face value. You will find especially in a company setting that we are incredibly two faced. As soon as something is a slight inconvenience to them they will let you fall with a smile on their face. Also note that tolerance here is very superficial and most of the time performative. It is expected, nothing more.

11:57 You say 55.000 but the text says 35.000?

Can you connect me to come there

I agree with the positives, but one thing that needs to be mentioned is that there is a real shortage of living space (houses, apartments, etc.) here. Because we live in a tiny country with a huge population, the rents are high, land is expensive, and buying a house is very expensive too. This is causing lots of complaints from the 'native' population, for some time fuelling the rise of right-wing parties, but now the center-right political parties take a tougher stance on immigration to win back votes. Adding to that, the environment is under heavy load, and recent environmental regulations for nitrogen deposition cause big conflicts between government and the livestock farmers plus a large part of the rural population. Due to these regulations and the limited 'nitrogen deposition budget', building activities are often blocked as well, making it hard to solve the shortage of living space.

10;00 not in production... htere is a lot of overtime, printing store I used to wotk for had no breaks, and overtime was just added to your workday, so, you'd be working 10-14 hours straight... 5 nightshifts in a row, one day off and early shift next,... you are just talking office jobs....

What I do not like about the Netherlands is that they allow French Canadians from Quebec to exchange their driver's license, but if your are from English Canada you are not. When I question why this is, the response is "That is so"....? Why be bias?

About not being compartmentalised and judged: this is because you're an immigrant, you have a completely different status, you don't even feature in their status ranking.

So often it is said that the Dutch are "direct". I am Dutchman, but I disagree. Indeed so much is hidden in this country behind this screen of so-called directness. The same is true to an extent for the lack of hierarchy you found. That as well is just an image. In reality in many sectors in the Netherlands a culture of arbitrary decisions by managers gained ground, turning the so-called "inspraak" of employees or civilians in general into a farce. Well of course, compared to many other countries in many respects the Netherlands are a good place to live, but I think you are emphasising too much the positive sides. I hope that stays so. There is nothing more enviable than some one who is really happy .... Success !

no rooms available anymore

If you really want to exclude yourself from Dutch society, insist on keeping to speak English. Although many Dutchmen speak English the country is Dutch speaking, not English speaking. Be aware that the moment that an English speaker walks out of the room English doesn't exist anymore. Lack of speaking Dutch will be considered as a major red flag for lack of commitment.

your name is very dutch, so welcome home😂

Don't tell the Americans, you have to bring good food and coocking skills to our country.

While I have thoroughly enjoyed my stays in the Netherlands the population was just a little too white for me (a black man) to feel comfortable in. Add in the constant predictions of the Oceans rising and I would think the country is doomed. Beautiful country, beautiful people, needs mountains! JK!

You don't know anything about the Netherlands. You were just catching a glimpse from this country with your own safe bubble perspective in Maastricht.

Oh you beautyful lady... I wish I was 25 years younger... but never mind that. ❤ At this moment our government want us all to work 4 - 5 hours a week to work longer. And somehowe they will manage this. Yes the Netherlands are very inviting... and I wish you the best, for als long as it lasts! But the Netherlands is still getting towards the right wing. No not all of us... but the left wing is decimated now. We are a minority now. So please take caution of the right wing parties. The left party's have less that 40 % of the votes. You can finish your study in the Netherlands probably quite well. But I cannot tell you how our land is, in about 3 years! ☹

This video might was good 20 years ago now Netherlands its more like hamas land

I do not appreciate it when you start talking English to me in The Netherlands. At first it is fine, after a while jus learn Dutch. Most Portuguese understand Spnish well, Would you like it when we just kept on speaking Spanish? I don't think so (I am Portuguese too btw). I think Portugal is safer than NL. You could look up the numbers here too. You cannot compare Lisbon to Maastricht, but more to Amsterdam also. And there is a big difference between "feeling safe" and how "being safe." I bike 52 km per day and yes it is a good workout for sure! Otherwise a sensible video.

Can i marry you 🙊😍

After this video the Portuguese will be very annoyed with you. 😂

enjoy it while you can... give it 5 years , and we wil be a muslim state

You are a remarkably beautiful woman. Mister Boers is a lucky man.

Nature? In the Netherlands? Lol. Every bit of land is cultivated, aside from Veluwe, which is small and full of roads, and Loonse/Drunense duinen, which is about the size of a small city, we don't have any nature. We have parks, there is no real nature here. If you want that, Germany or Poland is where you need to go. About directness you are right, I absolutely have and will tell again my employers when they make decisions in workflow that I find bullshit. I'll not beat around the bush I will just say "your idea won't work, this is why it will be less efficient". Which is I guess not done In a lot of countries. Also if an employer asks me to work overtime, but I already have plans I will tell him no. (and if i work overtime, you better compensate me with either vacation hours or financial, if you don't I will work overtime once and never again) And finally, people here very easily assume to be on a first name basis with their employees, if they do, then it works 2 ways and I will not call you boss or mr so and so. If I'm john, you are mike.