Posts tagged Culture from the Learn Dutch For Expats team.
A Dutch friend had a baby and you're invited for kraamvisite. Here is the etiquette, the beschuit met muisjes tradition, and the phrases to congratulate them right.
Your first Dutch Sinterklaas means drawing a name, writing a rhyming poem, and crafting a surprise. Here is how Pakjesavond works and the Dutch to pull it off.
From schat to ik hou van je, Dutch romance has its own (often un-flowery) vocabulary. Here are the terms of endearment, the kisses, and how to text a Dutch crush.
The Netherlands surprises newcomers in predictable ways: blunt directness, agendas for everything, split bills. Here is what to expect, so the culture shock lands soft.
A Dutch wedding or birthday invite with an envelope symbol or 'enveloppe' note usually means one thing: they'd prefer cash. Here is how to read the gift hints.
Move south and February brings Carnaval, three days of costumes, renamed cities and strange words. Here is what Oeteldonk, Alaaf and the optocht mean.
Invited to a Dutch wedding? Expect day-and-evening guests, a ceremoniemeester, and an envelope for money, not a gift. Here is how to be the perfect guest.
Tinder and Hinge are everywhere in the Netherlands, but should your profile be in Dutch or English? Here is how Dutch dating culture and apps work for expats.
Move to Friesland and the road signs are in two languages. Frisian (Frysk) isn't a dialect, it's the country's second official language. Here is what that means.
The Netherlands is broadly LGBTQ+ friendly, but the language is still evolving, especially pronouns. Here is the inclusive Dutch you need for a modern workplace.
When a Dutch friend or colleague loses someone, a handwritten condolence card matters. Here is how to condole properly, what to write, and the phrases that comfort.
Order a beer the wrong way across the border and you'll out yourself instantly. Here is how ordering beer differs in Belgium and the Netherlands, word and glass.
Dutch humour is deadpan, and De Speld, the Dutch satirical site, is the masterclass. Here is how Dutch dry sarcasm works, so you get the joke instead of believing it.
In the Netherlands, evenings and weekends are sacred, and staying late looks bad, not good. Here is the work-life-balance culture, and the Dutch to protect your time.
Afraid to speak Dutch because you will get it wrong? Here is how the Dutch actually react to learner mistakes, and why imperfect Dutch beats perfect silence every time.
Dutch GPs are famous for prescribing paracetamol for almost everything. Here is why, what it means for expats, and the Dutch to get taken seriously at the huisarts.
In a Dutch office you call the CEO by first name and openly disagree with your boss. Here is how flat the hierarchy really is, and the Dutch that fits it.
Getting a problem fixed in the Netherlands rewards calm, direct complaining, not raised voices. Here is how to lodge a klacht that actually works, and the Dutch for it.
Dutch offices run on two things: endless overleg (consensus meetings) and the Friday borrel. Here is how the poldermodel works and the Dutch that makes you fit in.
At a Dutch birthday you sit in a circle and congratulate everyone, including the family. Here is how the kringverjaardag works and the Dutch to get it right.
Gezellig is the most Dutch word there is, and impossible to translate. Here is what it really means, how to use it, and why it is your key to connecting with locals.
Apps teach you 'standard' Dutch, but the Netherlands is full of dialects and even other languages. Here is what ABN means, why it exists, and what to learn first.
The Dutch speak great English, so when is leading with it fine, and when does it land as rude? Here is the etiquette of starting in English, and the better opener.
Free entry with a Museumkaart still needs a reserved tijdslot at big museums. Here is the Dutch to book, change, and cancel a slot, and avoid a wasted no-show.
Do Dutch people appreciate it when expats try to speak Dutch, or do they just switch to English? The honest answer, and how to make the effort land.
Dating in the Netherlands? Here are 7 compliments that land in Dutch, why Dutch directness changes the game, and how 'going Dutch' really works.