Canadian vs. Dutch Culture

My time in The Netherlands has led me to form quite a few comparisons of Dutch and Canadian culture. While both cultures seem to be similar in their tolerant and liberal viewpoints (with the Dutch obviously being more lenient on such issues as prostitution and drug-use), there are stark differences that have become very prevalent to me! While these conclusions are not universal, they are broad observations which have particularly stood out to me.

• In The Netherlands, people walk or ride their bikes everywhere. A trip to the grocery store takes place on a bike, with bags of food slung over your handle-bars.
• In Canada, most people drive everywhere. A five-minute jaunt to run an errand warrants a trip in the car.

• In the Netherlands, people seem to be more accepting of different fashions. People have their own unique styles, and cities are awash with extravagant colours, cuts, and fabrics.
  
• In Canada, style is largely conservative and often uniform. Besides big cities like Toronto and Vancouver, the rest of Canada is virtually wearing similar clothing with little individual expression.

• In the Netherlands, people eat out at sidewalk cafes and small restaurants nightly! They take pride in their local shops and restaurants, and even the smallest towns have thriving downtown cores.
• In Canada, people usually eat at restaurants on special occasions, and often at big chains like Kelsey's and Boston Pizza. Small towns often have suffering downtown areas, and shopping consists of driving to the nearest big city mall.

• In the Netherlands, space is extremely limited. People, animals, businesses, and greenspace must all fit together seamlessly (the Netherlands is the most densely populated country in Europe!)
• In Canada, we have gorgeous fields, lakes, and forests which stretch beyond the horizon. A beautiful big country with tons of untouched areas!

• In the Netherlands, the majority of citizens speak at least 2 languages. With over 5 weeks of vacation time each year, the Dutch travel extensively throughout Europe and Asia.
• In Canada, although French is taught in schools, only a small percentage of Canadians are certified as bilingual. With less vacation time, travel is obviously more limited, and trips to the cottage are more common than jaunts to the South of France and 3 week holidays in Thailand.
  

Amsterdam Canal Boating

One of the best ways to see Amsterdam is by canal boat. On our first trip to the Netherlands last summer, my boyfriend and I took a canal cruise from a tour boat operator. We bought "hop-on-hop-off" tickets, which allowed us to get off at desired stops, tour around, and then catch the next canal bus. I can remember sitting in that boat, looking at all of the local Dutch people touring around on their "sloops" (small boats), drinking wine and eating "voorgerechtjes" (appetizers). I was envious of the European lifestyle, and the relaxed atmosphere of those boats sailing lazily along the famous canals.

A few weeks ago, we were invited to join some Dutch friends on their boat. We had a wonderful time meandering through the canals, drinking champagne with strawberries, eating hors d'oeuvres, and exchanging commentary about Dutch vs. Canadian culture. As the sun was setting, we took the boat down to the Amstel River, which is the place to catch the last rays of sun descending upon Amsterdam. Then it was off to the Red Light District to visit the pizza drive-through (specially made for boats!)


While docked along the canals in the Red Light District, the boys jumped out to make use of the public urinals, and the girls waited in the boat. We were chatting, drinking our champagne, and suddenly attracted the attention of eager tourists. It was like a swarm of paparazzi taking our pictures, enthralled with the laid-back European culture. I was fully amazed how, in one year, my life had come full-circle. I was no longer the Canadian girl of last August, snapping photos of "cool" Europeans on their boats. I was now living in Europe, enjoying an evening out with Dutch friends, and the subject of tourists' photos.

We toured around the whole centrum ring of Amsterdam, and were graciously dropped off near Centraal Station. It is one thing to experience a city as a tourist, but a whole other experience to see the city as locals do. That is one thing that I am truly fortunate for; the opportunity to see a new country through the eyes of it's native inhabitants.

Loosdrecht Picnic...Gezellig!

Loosdrecht is one of the most picturesque spots in Noord Holland. Located near the Loosdrecht Plassen (Lake), the tiny town is filled with beautiful traditional Dutch homes, all of which are well-kept and overflowing with gorgeous gardens. Tiny canals weave in and out of the homes, and many require bridges to enter the driveway.

A few weeks ago, my boyfriend and I were invited to a work picnic in Loosdrecht. Along the lake there are spots available for BBQs, with flat green grass and ladders entering the lake..perfect for a picnic! We grilled up some worstjes (sausages), ate macaroni salad, and tossed around the rugby ball. As the sun was setting, we watched sailboats meander around the vast lake. Although the water was chilly in early August, some members of our party did take a dip!

Very gezellig! Gezellig is a word that is truly unique in the Dutch culture. When learning Dutch terms and phrases, everyone is insistent on teaching us this word! Gezellig (pronounced heh-zell-egh) is used to represent places, people, or things which are cozy, comfortable, welcoming, and intimate. For example, a small picnic with great friends and good food is "gezellig". A large informal party in a modern building is definitely not "gezellig". This word is everywhere in Dutch language, from describing welcoming and warm people, to depicting comfy and relaxing spaces. Picnic in Loosdrecht? Definitely gezellig.

Amsterdam Nanny

During this month in the Netherlands I was fortunate enough to find some work babysitting the daughter of Gabriel's co-worker. The 5-month-old Dutch baby kept me entertained for four days a week, and allowed me to have some extra euros to spend!

In the mornings I made the commute from Hilversum to Amsterdam to babysit. My day started at 7:30 with a walk to the train station, where I'd stamp my ticket and board the 7:41 train to Amsterdam Centraal. The ride lasted 20 minutes, after which I'd follow the swarms of businesspeople in wing-tipped shoes and European suits to the tram platforms. After 10 minutes of people-watching I boarded tram #25, headed to President Kennedylaan. My early-morning tram ride was definitely the high-light of my day. The sun was peeking up behind the beautiful canal buildings, shining on the houseboats lining the water. My favourite canal in the whole city was on my morning route, and I was fortunate enough to see the beautiful sunlight twinkling across the glassy canal waters of the Keizersgracht.

The atmosphere of early-morning mid-week Amsterdam is truly unique. Cafe owners are starting to receive their first customers, ordering cappuccinos and eating some Dutch pastries. Tables are being set up on the streets, and souvenir shops are hanging their clogs outside. A few lonely, empty canal boats are cruising through their morning routes, and the citizens of the city are riding their bikes to work. It's wonderful to see tourists, pondering over the twisting streets of Amsterdam's centrum ring, dodging the bikes of high-heeled wearing businesswomen.

What I thought would be my dreaded morning commute turned out to be one of the nicest aspects of my time in Amsterdam.


My job as a nanny took me to De Pijp (The Pipe), a neighbourhood in the south of Amsterdam, near Oude Zuid (Old South). Perhaps famous for the Heineken Experience and the Albert Cuyp Market (the largest market in Europe), De Pijp is a neighbourhood full of young professionals, immigrants to the Netherlands, families, and trendy singles. The diversity in the neighbourhood is perhaps one of its selling points. Although believed to be a rougher area of town 50 years ago, De Pijp has undergone a significant gentrification in recent years, with the appearance of unique boutiques and gorgeous new restaurants.

My days were often spent walking through Sarphati Park, which boasts beautiful ponds, fountains, and flower gardens. In the early morning the park seems to be a hub for the homeless, and I would not recommend visiting it until around 11:00am. It's just a few streets south of the Albert Cuyp Market however, and would make a great spot for a picnic. On the days when the weather is hot, all of De Pijp's citizens seem to flock to Sarphati Park with blankets and bathing suits.


My favourite Pijp places:

• Frood smoothie shop on 2e van der Heltstraat - their dark green "Detox" smoothie is surprisingly delicious!
• Albert Cuyp Market, selling everything from fresh fish to antique furniture
• The Coffee Company
• Beadazzled bead shop
• Sarphati Park
• Chocolate Bar and De Duvel Bar

Fresh Dutch Cuisine.....Lekker?

A visit to the Netherlands is not complete without a taste of raw herring. After not trying some on our previous visit, I knew that I would definitely have to sample this traditional Dutch treat in July.

On a trip to the Hilversum market, Gabriel and I stumbled across a hoard of elderly Dutch people by the Vis (fish) stand. Red, white, and blue streamers decked out the pungent smelling truck, and tiny tables had been set up around it. Gabriel bought some "kibbeling", which is also a traditional snack. Kibbeling is basically fresh white fish that has been cut into tiny bites and deep-fried. It's served with a delicious mayo-type dressing!


I stood in the biggest line of the shop, waiting to receive my "een haring, alstublieft!" (one herring, please!) Herring is traditionally served with raw onion bits and some pickles. I received my serving, which had been kindly chopped into tiny cubes. Other people around us were eating their herring in one full bite by dangling the fish from it's tail fin! I used the tiny toothpick with the Dutch flag as my eating utensil and dug in! I like sushi, so I wasn't surprised to find that I really loved it! Lekker (tasty)! The fish was so fresh and extremely tasty...I can completely understand why the biggest crowd at the market was waiting for its daily dose of North Sea herring!