Dutch Americano: A Blog about Living in the Netherlands
Struggling with Dutch culture one day at a time.
A part of me didn't want to write this blog post. Why share something that isn't great when waiting until the tears have dried out, the wine's been drunk, and then you have no choice but to smile is always an option? Because, hey, the world's a bit rosier after rosé. Just kidding, of course.... Continue Reading →
Until last Sunday, I had never been to The Hague. Even though I had visited the Netherlands seven times before I moved here permanently last year, I did not have the chance to see many other places besides Amsterdam and Utrecht. Because there was so much to see and do already! Now that it's the... Continue Reading →
I usually blog from my apartment in Utrecht, but now that the corona measures have been considerably lifted, I am finding that I can indeed blog from wherever I like. Right now, I am on a train to Den Helder from Utrecht, and I am extremely grateful for how easy it is to get around... Continue Reading →
Two and a half months later on June 1st 2020, cafés and restaurants could now open again in the Netherlands. The country was united in waiting to reclaim this bit of freedom. At the same time, violence in the US has sparked outrage around the world. The Dutch are not ones to stay quiet. I... Continue Reading →
You've heard me talk about how some things in the Netherlands are truly very different from what an American like me is used to. There's a lot of culture shock to deal with when you move from the United States to the Netherlands. And even though I don't think about this much, there's A LOT... Continue Reading →
Cafes and "terrasjes" will be open starting June 1st. After more than two months of being closed down due to the COVID-19 crisis, I, along with the rest of the Netherlands, will finally be able to enjoy a good coffee outside of my own home. For those of you who don't know, the Dutch word... Continue Reading →
I know what you're thinking— everybody loves sunny days! Well, but not like the Dutch. When the sun is out, so are the Dutch. I don't think they understand that they still have the option of staying at home even when it's not raining. Most days in the Netherlands are rainy and cold, so I... Continue Reading →
Ah, Amsterdam, the city of lovely canals, museums, and old buildings that will knock your socks off. The city is hot on the maps, and even right now when travelling isn't possible due to COVID-19, Instagram is still filled with old pictures of people who have travelled there in the past. Amsterdam canals, houseboats, and... Continue Reading →
Here's the crazy thing. When my girlfriend Sara first told me that biking in the US was a living nightmare for her, I just didn't get it. Biking isn't BIG in the US overall, but it is gaining popularity in many American cities. How different could the Netherlands really be? To be fair, this was... Continue Reading →
When my Dutch girlfriend told me that her friends in the Netherlands owned boats, I was shocked. I checked with her to make sure she wasn't trying to say "row boat" or "canoe" instead. Nope, she means actual freaking boats with motors and everything. It's not that boats are particularly expensive— I mean, they can... Continue Reading →
Like many people who like to travel and experience different cultures, I absolutely LOVE knowing more about how people live. It was no different when I would visit the Netherlands. Especially in big cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht, it was amazing to get to see the lives of hundreds of people all at once. Because... Continue Reading →
What can I say, in the past four years that I've gotten to know the Dutch culture and the Dutch people, they've won a place in my heart. But because the country is so small, many people I know aren't very familiar with the Dutch way of life. I bet there are some Americans out... Continue Reading →
If you talk to an American about Europe, at some point, you will talk about one of two things: how old and beautiful the buildings are in European cities, and how the cafés in Europe are just fucking adorable. Why do you think I moved to the Netherlands? The Nieuwegracht in Utrecht, lined with old... Continue Reading →
You might be familiar with the Danish word "hygge", which roughly means something like "cozy". Well, the Dutch have a word for it too— gezelligheid. Yeah, I know, it's a bit of a mouthful. Maybe that's why the Danish one caught on more. But the Dutch really love for things to be "gezellig" (cozy). If... Continue Reading →
Walks around the city— one of the things that keeps me from going insane in these times of COVID-19. I've been a good girl, and I spend most of my days indoors. I practice social distancing. But a couple of times a week, I go out for a stroll to stretch out my legs (that... Continue Reading →
Recently, I've had several conversations about the renting process in Amsterdam and Utrecht with people who're looking to move to these cities. My partner Sara and I have looked for several short term places in Amsterdam, and last year, I had to look for my first permanent rental as an expat. At the time, Sara... Continue Reading →
This is a topic that's very personal to me. As those of you who've read my blog before already know, I'm gay. I mention it like literally in each post so it's not a secret, even though I wish I could have this post be some kind of grand coming out to the internet. But... Continue Reading →
My girlfriend and I have currently gone through the process of moving to the Netherlands from the United States. For those of you who are new to this blog, she is Dutch and this move will be her coming back home after having spent five years in the US. As we've found out, you can... Continue Reading →
Dutch Americano: A Blog about Living in the Netherlands 