Dutch Americano: A Blog about Living in the Netherlands
Struggling with Dutch culture one day at a time.
One of the reasons I started this blog was to share my experiences of living abroad so that others who couldn't could live vicariously through me. It was also to inspire people to take the leap and move to a different place, if that's something they've always wanted to do. A year and a half... Continue Reading →
In the US, especially in big cities, every neighborhood is bound to have at least one nice café that you can go to. You know what's great about Europe, and especially here in the Netherlands? Every neighborhood is bound to have at least A FEW good cafés. Café in Utrecht. A bit empty due to... Continue Reading →
Today is September 7th, one full year since I moved to the Netherlands. One full year since I arrived at Schiphol airport with no intention of going back. The Netherlands, a country with lots of water and mills. A lot as happened since then, and while I can't recount every single thing in this post,... 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 can pretty safely say that the concept of "time off" is blurred in corporate America. On some level, it's convenience. Before going on a study abroad program in Germany, I was warned to stock up on groceries during the week. "STORES ARE NOT OPEN ON THE WEEKEND," I was told. As an American, that... Continue Reading →
You know how there are some things that feel so right that you get used to them immediately? Like, if you had roommates and then you live alone, maybe it's harder to go back to sharing your space with someone else after a while. I absolutely feel that way about some things the Dutch do,... Continue Reading →
Okay, so I moved to the Netherlands to experience the Dutch way of life. The typical Dutch lifestyle with "gezelligheid" (coziness). And the Netherlands is still a very cozy country, but will Dutch culture withstand the changes brought on by the infamous coronavirus? I know you're thinking the same thing about where you live right... Continue Reading →
Lately, I've been talking to people back in the US, who—for one reason or another—tell me they want to move to Europe. I get it. A few years ago before the 2016 election, there were a bunch of jokes about emigrating to Europe if there was a certain outcome. Turns out that certain outcome happened,... Continue Reading →
Lately, I've been thinking about my move to Utrecht from Amsterdam. For those of you who aren't as familiar with the Netherlands, Utrecht is a smaller city about 20-30 mins from Amsterdam. Utrecht also just LOOKS like a mini-Amsterdam. Bikes along a canal in Utrecht. Canals of Utrecht with pretty buildings and big windows. When... Continue Reading →
Before my first trip to the Dutchlands four years ago, I thought that the whole country was nothing but the city of Amsterdam, which comprised solely of the red light district, weed, and the "I amsterdam" sign. You can imagine how shocked I was when I found out that wasn't the case. What was I... 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 →
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 →
A large number of expats want to live in Amsterdam. And a large number of expats end up actually living in Amsterdam. It makes sense, there are a ton of jobs there, everyone speaks English, and you can make friends with other expats. But since the prices have been rising in the Dutch capital, it... Continue Reading →
You may have heard the saying, "when in Rome, do as Romans do." I'm a big believer in that. My family is multicultural, and I am an American from New York. But I also lived in India for many years and my family is Persian. My extended family is spread out all over the world,... Continue Reading →
Dutch Americano: A Blog about Living in the Netherlands 