Every country has its customs, including the Netherlands. Some customs are very normal for us, but are strange for foreigners. These are a few that you probably never thought about.
The “weirdest” Dutch customs
Birthdays
The way we Dutch celebrate birthdays is strange, according to outsiders. We sit in a circle and just talk to each other. In other countries they party and sit alone to relax. It is also strange that we not only congratulate the birthday boy or girl, but everyone who is there. We don’t miss friends and family. We visit everyone. “Congratulations to your mother”, “congratulations to your best friend” or “congratulations to your friend’s mother”. If it’s too busy, we generally congratulate the birthday boy or girl and the rest. “Congratulations to (name) everyone.”
In addition, it is not customary to let the birthday person arrange everything. Buy your own cake, celebrate the birthday yourself and therefore also provide the guests with snacks and drinks. At school and work we take treats with us to give to others. At primary school, the parents make beautiful treats and the children go around all the classes to give something to all the teachers. Actually quite strange, right? It’s your birthday, but then you give everyone a treat because it’s your birthday. In other countries, colleagues arrange cakes for the birthday boy/girl.
Then we also have a special party for those celebrating their 50th birthday. We call them Sarah for the woman, Abraham for the man. According to the Bible, you won’t see Abraham and Sarah until you’re 50. It means you are old and wise enough. Non-religious people also call themselves Sarah or Abraham when they are 50; it is now much less connected to faith. At night, friends and family come together to decorate the house. In addition to flags, signs and other decorations, there will also be a doll in the garden. Homemade or rented. The rented dolls are often large, sometimes as big as the house! Just assume that foreigners will stop and take pictures.
Royal day
Nowhere do they celebrate the king’s birthday like we do here. Everyone dresses in orange colors, puts red, white and blue face paint on their cheeks and parties until the last hours. There are stages everywhere in the Netherlands where major artists perform. The theme may be the birthday, but the best part is of course the fun and partying.
There are also activities to do everywhere. Flea markets in particular are a popular activity on King’s Day. Sell old junk, or stroll through the market to pick out gems. Other countries with royal families, such as the United Kingdom and Sweden, do not make it a whole holiday.
Fireworks
Of course they are familiar with fireworks in other countries, but they are not nearly as available to ordinary people as here. On New Year’s Eve, the special fireworks stores open their doors again to generate a significant turnover. All for private use. In other countries, a professional company handles the lighting of fireworks. Much safer and more organized.
The government increasingly tolerates private fireworks less and less every year. In major cities there is already a ban on fireworks, except for major shows by professionals. In smaller towns and villages you can still see fireworks shooting into the sky everywhere. In addition, fireworks stores are selling less and less spectacular fireworks, because they are simply too dangerous. People then get fireworks from other countries, such as Poland. That is not safe, with its consequences.
The curl
Do you remember this one? In primary school you got a curl for every answer you got right. In other countries this is a check mark. The curl is therefore truly unique to our country. It turns out that it dates back to the 19th century, where it had to represent a ‘g’, the g for good. Nowadays it is a symbol in itself and no one uses a curl outside the Kingdom of the Netherlands and a few former colonies. Many expats get completely confused when a colleague gives a curl instead of a check mark.
Febo wall
Tourists visiting the Netherlands for the first time are amazed at the well-known Febo wall. There is a delicious snack waiting for you behind every door. Pay in cash or by card and enjoy your snack straight away. Many people find this special and tell others that this is really worth a try when they are in Amsterdam.
However, this system does not come from the Netherlands at all. It is designed in Germany. In the 1950s, workers mainly used the wall because it was cheap food. At that time you found such walls everywhere in Europe. The walls gradually disappeared, except in the Netherlands. Here this wall is still as popular, perhaps even more popular.
Freeze bread
In countries like the United States, freezing bread is something very strange. They already have different bread there than we know, so freezing it is especially special. Many tourists, expats and other relocated people complain that the bread here expires so quickly. In the United States they make the bread in such a way that it lasts as long as possible. The bread is fresher here.
Air raid siren
Many foreigners are surprised when Dutch people do not respond to the air raid siren. They get confused and don’t know what is happening. After others explain it to them, they understand. Every first Monday of the month, at noon, the air raid siren goes off. We do that to test whether it still works, but, understandably, it sounds to foreigners as if the world is ending. The Dutch know that if the alarm goes off at a time other than the first Monday, something is really wrong.
Bag on flag
In June the flag hangs outside many houses. Not because it’s everyone’s birthday, but because the children have passed. They then hang their school bag next to the flag to show that success is really what matters. This way you can see exactly who has and has not passed. All over social media you see photos of students proudly posing with their bag and flag.
