Gefeliciteerd!!! I was also a little bit shocked when the first time heard that you need to buy your own birthday cake on your own birthday.

The circle is not on purpose. It's just that the first people start sitting on the couch, and when there's no room left on the couch, you grab a chair, and you're not gonna sit with your back to anyone, so everyone ends up in a circle. Now I'm curious how other people would celebrate birthdays.

The kind of birthday party described in the video is a birthday party which you would throw for your family. If you throw one for your friends (as a teenager/young adult), it can look more like a house party.

We, Dutch people, are very straight forward with gifts. We say exactly what we want for our birthday; and we usually ask for something that we need (for example a pan, money, a watch etc) sometimes we even say the exact type of item we want and where they can buy it. I think it is a very practical system, since everyone gets what they actually want and need. No one is let down by the gifts they get, because they get exactly what they asked for.

Introvert 101: Just congratulate the birthday boy/girl first and their family Then just wave your hand and say "Gefeliciteerd allemaal!" Trust me It works You'll get your piece of pie sooner You'll love it

Wow, very impressed by the pronounciation of "lang zal ze leven"!!

I live in the UK at the moment and whenever it’s someone’s birthday, i congratulate everyone and people just stare at me hahaha. And when it was my birthday i was very confused when people told me I couldn’t open my presents yet. Also the fact that people didn’t give me what I asked for confused me hahaha. Whoops!

Ik dacht dat het zo'n beetje wereldwijd verjaardagen zo werden gevierd. Zo te horen hebben wij toch wel _Nederlandse cultuur_

dont forget kaas met vlaggetje:)

The circle + the congratulating everybody thing makes I always arrive early. I hate it and when you are early the cicle is still small.

The circel actualy is not a cirkel because we want it to be. Most houses there is a lack of space in the living room to put all the people. And you are not going to sit with youre back to all the people. So you automaticly get a cirkel when the room is full. How else would you sit?

"influenced by American birthdays" what? They may be similar but if anything American birthdays were 'influenced'. Not everything started in the US.

Once I witness they gave shoehorn as a birthday present and the birthday person had asked it before. They would ask something they need, not just what they want. I personally like the culture, very straight forward, simple. Don't you think it would be much easier to just live like the Dutch?

In Flanders it similar but i was confused when it was my (dutch) boyfriends birthday that the guest came to congratulate every member of the family. Like oh yeah thanks yeah we do our best to keep him alive 😅

This explaines a family birthday. Birthdays for friends is a lot more fun. We play (card)games, order dinner, staying till late in the evening, have lot's of snacks.

I'm Dutch and I hate, hate, hate the traditional birthdays. They often quickly devolve into awkward staring contests because no one has any real interesting stuff to say, most people in the circle are fossilized artifacts of the past who like to do nothing more than bore you to death and indeed, too often, there isn't even any music. It's always much better if there's dinner involved. A barbeque, a buffet, something, anything at all! And if I know the host or hostess well enough I'll gladly get up and help them with cake, snacks and drinks, just so I can break away from the Circle of Boring Death and walk around and do something. Also, having to congratulate everyone in the room upon arrival one by one and then saying goodbye to everyone one by one when I leave has always been the biggest nonenese ever to me. I didn't come here for all those other people and even if I did, why the heck can't I just say "Gefeliciteerd allemaal!" (congrats to all!) and be done with it? Luckily my aunt makes some killer pie and amazing curry, spaghetti and what not. Going there isn't so bad XD

The whole circle thing is actually based up on including everyone and allowing everyone to feel equal. Everyone should feel more at ease to talk to whoever they wish or about whatever they wish. It takes away walls that you may otherwise have. The kissing thing is actually based up on Napoleonic France, all of the (greeting) kissing in Dutch culture comes from that actually. The Dutch parties do vary, you do have parties that have music and are actually rather different from what is described in the video. The food isn't there to fill you, it's to snack up on. Also a French thing again which includes the croquette for example. Gifts are indeed opened right away, this is a Dutch way of showing respect towards the person giving the gift and sharing the experience of opening and the reaction with everyone. It's a social experience for the Dutch. For a duplicate item, well it is true that the Dutch are rather direct. Which is not meant as insult in any way. It is more about being honest and realistic. That last one is typical Dutch, not American. It's actually a very old concept which is also why it uses rather outdated words. I personally have not done anything with my birthday at all for at least 10 years, just can't be bothered with the pointless preparations if it only turns out you stay alone or end up with more to clean then you started with. Last gift I received was in my early teens, that is even further in the past.

I'm a Canadian married to a Dutchman and we live in Zuid-Holland...the circle party with drinks and snacks/cake is absolutely the way my inlaws celebrate. For close friends or family, one person will collect money (whatever you want to contribute) towards a larger gift. There's usually some background music and sometimes a board game later on. It's relaxed and easy. I find congratulating everyone a bit odd and I'm a handshaker or hugger not a kisser.

Leuk om te kijken als Nederlander!

Wij zijn veel te nuchter om het anders te vieren dan dit 😂 geef je nuttige cadeaus en ga dan maar weer weg. Doei.

Gefeliciteerd met uw verjaardag! Gezondheid en geluk! Dank U wel!

It isn't weird to give someone a trash can on his birthday. You knew the person was moving, and he probably needed a trashcan for his /her new house. So instead of buying one, you just ask it for your birthday. This way you save money on buying a new trashcan :D.

Gefeliciteerd met uw verjaardag meneer de Pau!..Have a wonderful day..Dankjewel voor de gratis app...

As a native Dutch i never understood the circle type of birthdays... not as a kid..and not as an adult. The expats are right about that one.

That's only with family. With friends we don't sit in a circle and just talk and eat.

Leuk om te zien. En ik heb ook weer veel geleerd over hoe je een aantrekkelijke video maakt! Nog gefeliciteerd !

nog vele jaren in goede gezondheid, meneer de Pau!

Just want to mention that Katie 's voice is really nice, and she looks to speak dutch really good! Great job Katie!

Gefeliciteerd met uw verjaardag meneer de Pau! 🎉😁

I love our Dutch tradition on celberating birhtdays> I think it is polite and we are used to it that when you come in you congratulate others with the birthday of the party animal. It is also a way to introduce yourself to people you don't know, it makes making contact easier. You talk to anyone you want, and swop places. It is very polite to open presents directly, people put effort in it buying it, so you open it and after that you thank them with kisses of course. There can be music and dancing if you want to.

Gefeliciteerd Bart! Dank je!

Feliz aniversário, Bart!! What an appropriate video for the day. ;-)

Gefeliciteerd met jouw verjaardag!!!

Congratulations on your birthday today, Bart!

Its almost insulting how people find our traditions odd, i mean i don't find other traditions odd why are the dutch, my people of all sorts so weird then 😂😂

Happy birthday Bart mate sir! 😃😃😃😃👏👏👏🎉🎉🎉 I Hope you’re having an excellent birthday! 😃😃😃😃🎉🎉🎉🎉 You totally awesome lovely Dutch people keep making me wanna watch a film in Dutch, with Dutch subtitles on top with the English translation at the bottom! 😃😃😃😃 And ya also making me wanna meet one of you totally lovely awesome people in person! 😃😃😃

Little did they know american birthday party's came from the Dutch

Gefeliciteerd Bart! And dankuwel!

Gefeliciteerd Bart! En nog één keer, hoi docent Parya 😃

Ab.. Thanks for sharing the birthday Song 🥰

Yeah first it's like almost no food but around 7 we the eat krokketen frikandellen and bitterballen.

Well not every Dutch birthday is like that

As a Dutchman this is quite entertaining to watch

My family usually sits together in the living room, with drinks and lots of food on the table. The moment a new person walks into the room, that person is to greet everyone and say happy birthday with your mom/dad whoever, to every person. We don't always give gifts, but cards and greeting are very common. Also when I was a kid, I got to choose my own birthday cake, when you get older you will have to buy the cake yourself

It's the same in Belgium. And the worst part is that you have to throw (and fund) your own party. If you work or go to school, it's expected that you bring sweets or cake or pie to treat everyone. Basically, celebrating your birthday here means everyone gets treated except you, the birthday boy/girl. Which is bs, if you ask me. But it also happens a lot that people go to clubs or raves or themeparks etc for their birthday, inviting friends. But again, it's still expected that the birthday boy/girl pays for everything. So it's pretty expensive to grow older over here xD

I'm Dutch. You all described all the parties I had in my entire life 😹 Except the food. When my family has something to celebrate, we can feed a whole orphanage with the leftovers. Who's party is that too? 🤚🏻

"I already have that, can I return that? In the US we would never say something like that". And you guys still have Boxing Day where you literally return the presents that you don't like... We call it "Tweede Kerstdag" where you go to your other family to celebrate Christmas that you couldn't see the first day.

1:30 perfect example of the directness of us Dutch people. If we have an opinion, we'll tell you right in your face. No hesitation.

Happy birthday, Bart. Hoe oud ben jij? I leer Nederlands aan jauw website en het is heel interessant en goed. Dank je for the application, it is already downloaded on my phone. Keep up the wonderful job!

Here’s a big explanation if you have further interested in Dutch bdays. 😜 Birthdays for family and friends are celebrated differently. I know a lot of Dutch people (including me) who even mix it up on the same day. During the day your family and closest friends come. They just have some snacks, a piece of cake, some drinks and talk to each other. Because of this, my friends and family know each other and talk to each other. I like how personal it is. Usually everyone congratulates each other personally (with three kisses or a handshake) by entrance or just the bday person and main family members and maybe a general ‘congratulations everyone’ if there’s too much people. The guests choose the time to give your present (some friends wait for more people to come) and at that moment it’s normal to open it and show your appreciation. And it’s true that it’s usually something you asked for or they already know what you want to have. But it can also still be a surprise, because not everyone knows what they want for their bday and like to be surprised. Normally we end up in a circle to face everyone, but we can also have separate tables to stand around. Then we make a huge batch of pasta with salad (or any other easily prepared food) for whoever decides to stay for dinner (which is usually a lot of people). Sometimes we ask before who wants to stay for dinner, so we know how much to make. Family leaves during the end of the day or after dinner and other friends come during dinner time or after. Then we turn up the music, make space to chill and dance and get drunk. After that we all usually go to a bar or club to celebrate further. 🎉

Gefeliciteerd!!

So recognizable OMG !

So for you guys it is weird to sit around a table, eating and talking with family.. Realy? Is this So weird?

1:30 i have never really seen this happen here not with my family not with friends not with friends of family

Guys but if you try and speak with rolling r, do you employ it even when it's at the end of words like "LATER", too?

yo if u eveg going to a dutch birthday party or party (mainly if hosted by a dutch person) in general eat before u leave the house

We don't ALWAYS sit in a circle at a birthday party and the food also depends from person to person.

I married into a dutch family! YES! They sit in a circle!! For like EVERYTHING LOL Showers, Christmas, birthdays . And the collective gift. And the cheese and olive! OMG ! I loved this video

i started singing along to "lang zal ze leven"

Those girls on the end actually sing it quiet nicely :) Greetings, a dutch dude.

I usually don't go around and congratulate everyone in the circle... usually just the birthday person and their direct family, then I just shout 'congratulations!' to the rest of the people in the room before sitting down.

I was born in Amsterdam and have not been there in a long time and have forgotten how to speek but we still sing the birth day song and when she was like "hip hip...?" I just couldn't stop laughing like don't other countries do hip hip hooray?????,😂😂

As someone that life in the Netherlands, I found the birthday really boring.

It's so nice to hear the other birthday traditions from the other countries. And my non-Dutch colleagues despise the circle, it's pretty funny. I personally am not a fan of it either. So... I moved the circle to a table instead XD what a difference. Playing some games, eating some snacks. It's just about the 'gezelligheid', really. No crazy activities or dinner plans... Just you, some friends, some little games. Just whatever you and your friends might like in general.

The circle is an excuse for having the whole family together

I think the circle is mostly a rural thing. The part from my family from the country did that (and I hated it), the part in Amsterdam didn't. I like getting a big gift together, I hate buying/receiving a gift that's instructed up front. It's a gesture and a matter of empathizing.

Gefeliciteerd met uw verjaardag !!!! But where is the app ?? Ik kan het niet vinden....

What do these people do on their own birthday? Probably nothing.... A lot of younger people have great birthday parties, when they get older they just do it smaller.

The cake is divided by all who arrive in your home for coffee and tea be it 10, 25, etc.pieces until it's all served. Don't expect a second piece. In school you provide the birthday snacks to your friends which is called tracteren (auto correct might mess this up).

You know what is a far more dutch thing then our birthdays...so much so that even foreigners pick it up... its leaving the last cookie... noone ever takes the last cookie , it's such an incredible phenomenon , youll see the plate go empty in 5 minutes flat but soon as it reaches that last cookie its done

actually it seems a very nice way of expending a birthday!

The congratulations for EVERYONE was what confused me. Sitting in a circle I’m used to from Norway. It’s gezellig.

its crazy, i’ve lived in the netherlands all my life and never experienced a birthday where everyone sits in a circle, we usually just sit at the table or in the kitchen with snacks and music..

The guy on the left is your ideal birthday party guest.

Only the "gefeliciteerd" part was accurate😂

Jezus christus we zijn raar of niet dan

That explains a lot.

I can't stop laughing! I thought everybody was like that until I got to England. I was invited for tea which was not forthcoming. I got up and said I better leave you to your dinner and they said but we invited you hahaha

I am raised to always say thank you even if You already have it and we do eat a lot at my birthdays.

I'm Dutch and it's very true, we sit in a circle and talk. But I usually put on music! Hahaha

I don't get the 'congratulate everyone in the room' thing either, and I'm Dutch

As a halfy of half Dutch half Aussie and whatever is in-between, as a kid it was more time playing games and eating food with friends. As i grew older such as 15+ it was more of a circle along with my aunts and uncles, grandparents and parents birthdays too. A circle does not have an ending or a start so everybody is included, if more people arrive than expected, the circle expands. I was bought up it's rude to have your backs turned when someone aught to be joining in unless they well, go to another room to be alone, so a circle is inclusive and everyone is treated equally. Food is spread out, sometimes music is quiet in the background and sometimes not, and everyone gets whatever drink they want... unless they're too young, it's just fun and chill. I been to birthdays where folks were very exclusive and avoidant, so I'm quite happy with the b-days i got, it tells a story of treating folks well. Though not to stereotype, every family and every member of a family celebrate differently, however similar or different it is. Just a reminder for folks not to stereotype 'every' dutch person the same way, because people are different.

That gift thing depends on which kid you give the gift (I’m Dutch)

Dutch people reserve the big parties usually for special occasions. Like for the 18th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th or 80th birthday. Or to celebrate receiving your degree from school. Or for marriage or newborn. Often through primary school the kids get a bigger celebration with classmates and friends.

At our house, we have two kinds of parties. The circle one for the older family members with birthday cake, coffee and later on snacks and drinks. Then we celebrate for friends and younger relatives. All furniture will be shoved into a corner, people can stand or sit, doors will be open and a tent is set up in the garden (in winter with a heater). Lots of food and drinks, music and it will go on till early in the morning. Not boring at all. Even the circle birthdays aren't really boring. And our house isn't big enough for all our guests at once.oh, amd the kissing thing I really hate, I only hug or kiss if I haven't seen that person for a long time.

What birthday parties did they go to? I have never been to a birthday described here😂

As many have said, what's described in the video is a "family" type birthday, where all kinds of family members are present. Yes, you do end up in a circle, and generally people move seats during the party itself to talk to other people. This is so everyone has a chance to talk to everyone else, nobody feels excluded, and you can easily get up to go to the toilet/get a drink/get some snacks etc. People say "gefeliciteerd" generally to the people that are close to the birthday person (as well as to the birthday person obviously). It implies for instance "congratulations with your daughter" or "congratulations with your brother" etc. I don't know why it came to be this way but it's normal to congratulate people in the life of the birthday person as well. Possibly to make everyone a part of the celebration. The snacks are not there to fill you up (though at my grandpa's birthday party, who's partly Indonesian, we generally have a ton of food at dinner), they're there for well... snacking in between. Most birthday parties for family are during the day so there's no real need to get an entire restaurant worth of food in :P Though as said it can differ, if the party is later you can actually have some pretty good food at such parties as well

i dont sit in a circle?? i litetally just get a cake, some presents and then it just ends lmao we don’t say “oh no i already have this can i return it” why would you do that??

idk what you all talking about but at all of my birthdays theres always one person who’s deadass wasted, we just stand everywhere around the room

The example is more a family kind of party. With friends it is not sitting in a circle but eating and drinking a lot thru the whole house

This is such a steroetype😂 on my birthday we do stuff like skydiving or racing in karts and stuff😂😂

This depends on what kind of family you have.

Niet alle nederlanders zitten in een circel... meestal doen we gewoon wat we willen en maken we t gezellig bij die persoon thuis..

Where is the link to the free app that you talked about in the email? Anyways, Happy Birthday Bart de Pau!!

Waar is het zuipen en jonko

I'll admit that we are horrible at (adult) birthday parties. They are not bad but it's just more like a get together. It's nothing like super special (for the person whose birthday it is) Just practical that there is like a get together every once in awhile where you see all the people again (family etc)

Love sitting or standing in a circle you can talk to everyone then. But not the lack of food in birthday or any kind of Dutch party.

This is so funny to hear as a Dutch girl who was raised by Russian parents. Bcs my friends were also raised by foreign parents and we literally all celebrate our birthday differently.

We don’t say “ i already have this and would like to have the receipt “ that’s rude

For the old generation, in dutch birthday parties they would put a sigarette dispenser on the table, even if the one celebrating their birthday didn't smoke.