Amsterdam

[Scotto]

Hey folks, a few people have pinged me and asked me how my trip was, so I thought I would post a few notes. First of all, I should indicate I was in the area on business. I had an extra day and a half in Amsterdam at the end of my trip to see what was what.

Well, my net is that I wouldn't place Amsterdam high up on my list of places to visit if you haven't been to other places in Europe first. Sure, there are nice aspects - some decent (but ridiculously crowded) museums, interesting architecture, etc. But the real draw appears to be the endless succession of activities revolving around drugs and sex. That is interesting for a few hours, but gets boring real easily.

I spent the day hopping from neighborhood to neighborhood on the tram (the city has an excellent network of public transportation). There is lots of high-end shopping, but with the dollar so weak, it isn't really cost effective. I did duck into a few toiletry places to see if I could find any interesting shave gear, but only saw Gillette products for the most part. I did find a great tobacco store in the center of town, and drooled over the various pipes, etc. Of course, I couldn't resist sampling some Cuban cigars which I can't get here. :drool:

The museums are just packed with people, so it wasn't that enjoyable. Same story with the Anne Frank house. Interestingly there is a cafe as part of the museum, which I found a bit strange. How about a nice meal while you ponder mans inhumanity to man? :rolleyes:

The cafe's were very nice. This is one thing I love about Europe - areas densely packed with bars where you can walk from place to place, drink beer outside, and just relax. There aren't may places like that in the US. The food was a mixed bag, some good, some not so good.

Now of course, to the Red Light district. It is indeed everything it is cracked up to be and more. You can't walk two feet without plumes of marijuana and hashish smoke blowing into your face from the various "coffee shops". The prostitutes, despite my expectations, were for the most part drop-dead gorgeous. Not quite what I expected there. The whole area is packed arm to arm with college kids on benders and groups on bachelor parties. If I was about 15 years younger, I probably would feel differently, but I found the whole area rather sad.

In all, I am glad I went, but it wasn't a blockbuster experience for me.

[Austin]

Thanks for the update.

[DoubleE]

I've yet to take a trip to Europe but Amsterdam just moved down the list of places I'd like to visit. Thanks for the perspective!

[guenron]

I've yet to take a trip to Europe but Amsterdam just moved down the list of places I'd like to visit. Thanks for the perspective!
GO to the diamond district and see if SWMBO lets you out of there alive...

[letterk]

I've been to Amsterdam three times and every time I go there I like it less. Not that I liked it much to start out, but it pales in comparison to other cities (and towns) in Europe.

[roughrider]

Did you take any pics?

[Scotto]

With a 4-month old in the house, I was forbidden to take the digicam. My collegue took a bunch of pix, so if I can find some good ones I will post them

[DoubleE]

GO to the diamond district and see if SWMBO lets you out of there alive...

Just moved down another notch!! :eek:

[LX_Emergency]

hahaha, I NEVER liked Amsterdam.....and I live in the Netherlands. You want to see a nice city? Go to Haarlem or Gouda for the cheesemarket or something like that. Amsterdam is for the sad sex&drugs people. Besides...if you want a coffee shop you don't have to go to Amsterdam, go to ANY major city in the NL and you'll find some there.

[Jonnybc]

I've spent quite a lot of time in the Netherlands doing a 4 day 125 mile walk when I was in my twenties. A few friends always rounded off the trip with a few days in Amsterdam. I went once but never again.

[SSLStudio]

Thanks Scott ! for the update wanted to know badly that im not the only one that DOES NOT even KNOW my own capital City..I mean I know it but I know what it stands for and I do not support it .

I was born in the Netherlands.. in a little Village back then were everyone knew everyone not so anymore its grown to be more of a Town now.

And thus I Hate anything that smells of CITY.. do not misunderstand me im not a HillBilly Country and Western dude... im as modernized as they come.

Ive studied 9 months in Amsterdam and even then I never went out and checked the city ! tells you enough aswell, but regret it now though I had a train ticket usable for a year to transport myself freely from my place to Amsterdam. I know what you mean about the Hookers.. they are not all BIG MAMA's :biggrin: the ones you liked are probably imported from Poland or Czech

Drugs, I dont use it , I dont need it , im an addict enough as it seems I have got RAD,SCAD thanks to B&B any Cocaine would ruine my bank account even more.

The best way to check out any new place soon as I found out thru my trip trhu Europe this year was going with a Bus tour or so that would have been the fastest way cost ya an hour or so and then you have the highlights.

Amsterdam is not the best city to checkout if you want to learn the Netherlands you'd better go check some small fisher's towns where people still dress in traditional clothing ! yes we have those..were you do not want to strand at night with your car not doing anything they might not open the door for strangers ! and everyone does KNOW everyone ! :eek:

Next time your in town Scott gimme a call and I'll show you the REAL Netherlands ,Amsterdam is just fucked up like NY City is .. "Your somebody ,or Nobody" no inbetweens....

The best place to go when your in Europe ? Prague by far , the most beautiful enchanting place ive ever been and I want to go back like yesterday! and the woman.. I dont even wanna think about them !!!!!!!! :lol: :lol:

BEAUTIES !!!! :redface:

[guenron]

hahaha, I NEVER liked Amsterdam.....and I live in the Netherlands. You want to see a nice city? Go to Haarlem or Gouda for the cheesemarket or something like that. Amsterdam is for the sad sex&drugs people. Besides...if you want a coffee shop you don't have to go to Amsterdam, go to ANY major city in the NL and you'll find some there.
What's wrong with Alkmaar?

[LX_Emergency]

nothing. Haven't been there that much but what I've seen it's nice.
But I agree on Prague. I've found that to be the most beautifull city I've visited...and I've seen a few.

[guenron]

nothing. Haven't been there that much but what I've seen it's nice.
But I agree on Prague. I've found that to be the most beautifull city I've visited...and I've seen a few.
It is sooooo beautiful when they have the flower market.. One of the most lovely. And Scheveningen? And so many others? Goodness, the Netherlands is such a lovely country, the only things better than the cheese, and flowers, and gin are the people.

[LX_Emergency]

thanks. Amsterdam is just not a very good representative of our little country. And that's a shame because people think the whole country is like the Netherlands.

[Scotto]

Good thread. I agree that Amsterdam isn't representative of the fine country of the Netherlands.

I have to say, though, being a gardener, I loved the flower markets in Amsterdam. Just wonderful. Unfortunately, one can't bring bulbs and such back to the US....:frown:

[gage0921]

Ive been dying to go there for years and your dissapointment scotto will surely be why I love it so much:biggrin:

[SSLStudio]

Good thread. I agree that Amsterdam isn't representative of the fine country of the Netherlands.

I have to say, though, being a gardener, I loved the flower markets in Amsterdam. Just wonderful. Unfortunately, one can't bring bulbs and such back to the US....:frown:


Why NOT ? Just tell me what you need , Im building a japanese garden so I cant help you there with the bulbs, but if you like Tulips or any specific dutch flowers ? My father is a certified farming engineer , our little town has one of the best school for becomming a farmer people from other countries specially attend this school aswell. its the Harvard of farming of all farming schools in the Netherlands I think , if im wrong then say so other dutch folks on this board. except Wageningen has a school similar as good.

If I can help Scotto we can always diverse Customs I could make a shave package with a double door in the bottom with some rare bulbs ? :lol: :lol:

not the one you eat ! even though you must have learned by now in the time of Anne Frank they were eating this stuff instead of potatoes! :frown:

[letterk]

thanks. Amsterdam is just not a very good representative of our little country. And that's a shame because people think the whole country is like the Netherlands.

Where do you live LX? I've been to most parts of the country and loved everything but Amsterdam. My last trip was up North to visit relatives. Hung out in places like Leeuwarden, Gronigen, Dokkum, Leens, etc... Some of the most beautiful country in the world.

My grandparents immigrated from Holland and my mother-in-law was born there. I tend to visit there every couple of years.

I agree. It's a pitty most people think of Amsterdam first when thinking of The Netherlands.

[SSLStudio]

Where do you live LX? I've been to most parts of the country and loved everything but Amsterdam. My last trip was up North to visit relatives. Hung out in places like Leeuwarden, Gronigen, Dokkum, Leens, etc... Some of the most beautiful country in the world.

My grandparents immigrated from Holland and my mother-in-law was born there. I tend to visit there every couple of years.

I agree. It's a pitty most people think of Amsterdam first when thinking of The Netherlands.

Wow the outback of the Netherlands, atleast I call those area's that way.
My old neighbours who I lived next to for 12 years came from Leeuwarden .
They speak their own language which isnt DUTCH its some mix of old Germanic dialect or so ? I cant understand it, most dialect in the Netherlands you can understand but Leeuwarden stand on its own the language is called "Fries"
most other districts of the Netherlands each has their own dialect but most of them you can quite follow. its like someone from NY or someone from Texas you can hear where a person comes from but I can still follow someone from Texas..not so from Leeuwarden !
There is lots of space up north at these cities. Leeuwarden specially lots of farmers and chees making people over there..if you want really nice space go to Sweden.

[letterk]

Yes, Friesland is part of northern Holland. Some claim the frisian language is not really a dialect, but a language all of its own. I'm not a languist, so I can't comment more than yes, it's different. I've been arround a bit of both as one grandparent was Dutch and the other was Freis. My mother-in-law speaks both.

Click here (http://www.drf.nl/business/history.htm)for a brief history of the Frisian people.

You're right about farmers. My mother and mother-in-law both come from dairy families.

[letterk]

Just noticed that Famke Janssen is Frisian.

[SSLStudio]

Yes, Friesland is part of northern Holland. Some claim the frisian language is not really a dialect, but a language all of its own. I'm not a languist, so I can't comment more than yes, it's different. I've been arround a bit of both as one grandparent was Dutch and the other was Freis. My mother-in-law speaks both.

Click here (http://www.drf.nl/business/history.htm)for a brief history of the Frisian people.

You're right about farmers. My mother and mother-in-law both come from dairy families.

My mistake Fries ! is indeed a language on its own its so weird its too weird to be a dialect and too complex. for fun most of us in the Netherlands make fun of the Frisians saying Frisian aint no language its Lack of a language. very BAD! translation ! you can only understand the irony of it when you understand dutch. like somethings you just cant translate. but dont tell it to Germans they DUB everything they can get their hands on... !

[mrob]

My grandparents immigrated from Holland and my mother-in-law was born there.

Same here--we just found the records of my grandparents arriving at Ellis Island in the 1910s from Haarlem--pretty cool stuff: http://www.ellisisland.org/

[guenron]

Wow the outback of the Netherlands, atleast I call those area's that way.
My old neighbours who I lived next to for 12 years came from Leeuwarden .
They speak their own language which isnt DUTCH its some mix of old Germanic dialect or so ? I cant understand it, most dialect in the Netherlands you can understand but Leeuwarden stand on its own the language is called "Fries"
most other districts of the Netherlands each has their own dialect but most of them you can quite follow. its like someone from NY or someone from Texas you can hear where a person comes from but I can still follow someone from Texas..not so from Leeuwarden !
There is lots of space up north at these cities. Leeuwarden specially lots of farmers and chees making people over there..if you want really nice space go to Sweden.
Friesland is beautiful this time of year. I love the old houses there and the way the eaves are made to lure storks (allegedly brings good luck) into nesting.

[drP]

Holland??? Don't talk me about it...........phew.

Everywhere you're looking the place is flat, there are just too many people on this square mile, everybody allways thinks he knows better, most people have tons of butter on their heads and finally the sea climate is just a f.....disaster.

The only nice thing over here is a place in the southwest where you can make a pilgrimage to the HolyTemple of Badger Brushes (somewhere in a city 50 km from Rotterdam....)

Holland.............mwahhhh

dr:bored: P

[guenron]

Holland??? Don't talk me about it...........phew.

Everywhere you're looking the place is flat, there are just too many people on this square mile, everybody allways thinks he knows better, most people have tons of butter on their heads and finally the see climate is just a f.....disaster.

The only nice thing over here is a place in the southwest where you can make a pilgrimage to the HolyTemple of Badger Brushes (somewhere in a city 50 km from Rotterdam....)

Holland.............mwahhhh

dr:bored: P
And what's wrong with Gellderland?

[Ben]

Amsterdam is a little pricey, but it's an amazing place. My wife and I honeymooned there. I'll certainly do more traveling in the Netherlands and see more cities, but Amsterdam was great.

[SSLStudio]

Holland??? Don't talk me about it...........phew.

Everywhere you're looking the place is flat, there are just too many people on this square mile, everybody allways thinks he knows better, most people have tons of butter on their heads and finally the see climate is just a f.....disaster.

The only nice thing over here is a place in the southwest where you can make a pilgrimage to the HolyTemple of Badger Brushes (somewhere in a city 50 km from Rotterdam....)

Holland.............mwahhhh

dr:bored: P


You sound like a Belgium guy ? by any chance you are ? :eek: :eek:
:lol:

but you are right on with the sea climate I wish we had the climtate of Hawai.

[LX_Emergency]

We've got much good stuff over here that I don't really mind the climate. It's mild enough for me to like. Not too hot not too cold...sometimes just a bit too...uhm..wet.

As for where I live, I live in the south of the Netherlands. In a small town called Oss not too far from either Eindhoven or s'Hertogenbosch. It's really nice out here urban enough to have everything but not as much that it feels like a big city. I bet Dr P IS from belgium....we seem to have some kind of Love/hate thing with the belgians. (as opposed to the germans whom some people have a hate/hate relationship with. I don't mind anyone. Some cultures just aren't for me. Just like the Dutch culture isn't for everyone. (right dr P?) but then again neither is the american culture...except for a visit every now and then, for me at least.)

[crackstar]

I've been to the Netherlands on a couple of occasions, and I really love Amsterdam. It's such a friendly, warm hearted city that really knows how to swing. One thing, you tell anyone over there that you're Canadian, they love it. I remember being in a restaurant once, and the owner was serving me, and when he asked me where I live, I said that I live in Canada, and he refused to let me pay! I think the people of Amsterdam are super cool. Wow, just about everyone there speaks English.

Jeff

[Stauff]

To illustrate the Dutch/Belgian relationships a little -Whenever I adress a dutchman in Dutch (which is my native language, since I'm Flemish) I always seem to get an answer in English. Happened to me three times in Amsterdam and another time last week on the train from Brussels to Antwerp and Amsterdam. Last time I had literally had to say: 'I do speak Dutch, you know', before this lady finally agreed to speak our common native language!
Very sad to see that some Dutch don't seem to consider the Flemish as speaking the same language anymore (there are some minor regional differences, something like Swedish and Norwegian, or even less).

Historically speaking,The Netherlands and Belgium (or at least Flanders) have for most of the time been one cultural region (The Low Countries). In the fifteenth century we were united under the dukes of Burgundy. At the end of the sixteenth century the original core of the revolt against the Spanish empire actually was Flanders and Brabant (only later it became Holland). Only Belgium was reconquered by the Spanish army in 1580-1585, and that's why the Netherlands became independent (in 1581) and kept calvinist religion.
Between 1815 and 1830 we were briefly reunited under the rule of Willem van Nassau I. In 1830 the Belgian Revolution took place and Belgium became independent. In the nineteenth century Belgium was completely dominated by a french speaking elite, dutch language was supressed and contacts between Flanders and Holland diminished. This is the reason why Brussels is a French-speaking city, while geographically it's actually located in Flanders.

I really think we Flemish have a lot more in common with the Dutch than with our French-speaking fellow Belgians. That doesn't mean we need a Flemish revolution, but I would very much like to see a further improvement of the Dutch-Flemish relationships. In a united Europe all Dutch speaking people should really stick together and make sure that the Dutch language is preserved. After all, there are 22 million Dutch speakers in the world (16 million in the Netherlands and 6 million in Flanders) I fear that many people in the Netherlands are all too willing to forsake their own language in favor of English. This surely accounts for my very unpleasant experiences in adressing dutchmen. As a result of the supression of Dutch in the nineteenth century we Flemish are in general much more concious of our own language.

Not that I mind writing in English on this forum, of course - on the contrary!

BTW: forget about Amsterdam -you really have to come visit Antwerp, Bruges and Gent! :wink:

[crackstar]

Frederik, your English is super, I mean it. :thumbup1: :thumbup1: I would imagine you speak French and German also? It also seems that the Dutch spoken in Flanders (vlaams) is slightly different than its counterpart spoken in the Netherlands?

Jeff

[Stauff]

Thanks a lot Jeff. Well yes, pronounciation is somewhat different and vocabulary differs also slightly. But people living in the South of the Netherlands (Limburg, Northern Brabant or Zeeland) have a lot of their language in common with the Flemish. It's mainly the inhabitants of the provinces of Holland that seem to have a hard time understanding our 'primitive' Vlaams/Dutch. In my hometown of Antwerp there are about 30,000 Dutchmen. They sure seem to be doing allright... (in part due to tax benefits under Belgian law :wink:)

So, since you live in Montreal: do you speak English or French at home? ('Jeff' sounds very Anglo-saxon to my ears).

[crackstar]

Frederik, my name Jeff is anglocized, because my real name is Yehudah. I was born in Ukraine, in a city that used to belong to Poland. I was raised in Israel, and in 1983, I came to live in Montreal, where I met my lovely wife. At home, we speak French mostly or Hebrew. My wife is Israeli, of Moroccan descent. Occasionally, we'll speak English also.

Jeff

[Stauff]

That's very interesting. Here in Antwerp we have a large Jewish community (about 35,000 people out of a total of half a million inhabitants). I've heard them speak mostly Jiddish, but also French, English and Hebrew. I even overheard conversations in several languages at the same time. Beautiful really. I also speak french and some german, but I wish I could speak several other languages.

[crackstar]

Frederik, I speak Yiddish, as well as German, Russian, Polish, Ukrainian, Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, English, and Lingala, which is a language spoken in Congo-Kinshasa. My father-in-law has 2 cousins living in Bruxelles, and many years ago, my family had some members living in Antwerp.

Jeff

[guenron]

I've been to the Netherlands on a couple of occasions, and I really love Amsterdam. It's such a friendly, warm hearted city that really knows how to swing. One thing, you tell anyone over there that you're Canadian, they love it. I remember being in a restaurant once, and the owner was serving me, and when he asked me where I live, I said that I live in Canada, and he refused to let me pay! I think the people of Amsterdam are super cool. Wow, just about everyone there speaks English.
Jeff
Can't hold that against them!:laugh:

[crackstar]

:lol: Ron!

Jeff

[ada8356]

Scotto,

I guess you missed my favorite part of Amsterdam: The Heineken Brewery Tour. I would recommend for most folks.

But otherwise, you are pretty dead on.

I have spent more time in and around The Hague and really enjoyed it there. In addition to being a nice city, they have the following two museums that I really enjoyed:

Mauritshuis (http://www.world66.com/europe/netherlands/thehague/museums/mauritshuis) - An excellent self-guided audio tour really made this place enjoyable. Works by Vermeer (including the wonder Girl with a Pearl Earring), Rembrandt, and Fabritius (sp?)

The also have an M. C. Escher (http://www.escherinhetpaleis.nl/) museum there! Talk about a fun place!

There are also areas around The Hague that are fun to visit. (The beach area, and the town of Delft come to mind).

[moses]

Personally, I have very little experience with the Netherlands. But I did spend a weekend in Maastricht, and found it a fantastic little town. If you enjoy slightly smaller cities, rather than the craziness of places like Amsterdam, I highly recommend it. Absolutely beautiful place.

[SSLStudio]

To illustrate the Dutch/Belgian relationships a little -Whenever I adress a dutchman in Dutch (which is my native language, since I'm Flemish) I always seem to get an answer in English. Happened to me three times in Amsterdam and another time last week on the train from Brussels to Antwerp and Amsterdam. Last time I had literally had to say: 'I do speak Dutch, you know', before this lady finally agreed to speak our common native language!
Very sad to see that some Dutch don't seem to consider the Flemish as speaking the same language anymore (there are some minor regional differences, something like Swedish and Norwegian, or even less).

Historically speaking,The Netherlands and Belgium (or at least Flanders) have for most of the time been one cultural region (The Low Countries). In the fifteenth century we were united under the dukes of Burgundy. At the end of the sixteenth century the original core of the revolt against the Spanish empire actually was Flanders and Brabant (only later it became Holland). Only Belgium was reconquered by the Spanish army in 1580-1585, and that's why the Netherlands became independent (in 1581) and kept calvinist religion.
Between 1815 and 1830 we were briefly reunited under the rule of Willem van Nassau I. In 1830 the Belgian Revolution took place and Belgium became independent. In the nineteenth century Belgium was completely dominated by a french speaking elite, dutch language was supressed and contacts between Flanders and Holland diminished. This is the reason why Brussels is a French-speaking city, while geographically it's actually located in Flanders.

I really think we Flemish have a lot more in common with the Dutch than with our French-speaking fellow Belgians. That doesn't mean we need a Flemish revolution, but I would very much like to see a further improvement of the Dutch-Flemish relationships. In a united Europe all Dutch speaking people should really stick together and make sure that the Dutch language is preserved. After all, there are 22 million Dutch speakers in the world (16 million in the Netherlands and 6 million in Flanders) I fear that many people in the Netherlands are all too willing to forsake their own language in favor of English. This surely accounts for my very unpleasant experiences in adressing dutchmen. As a result of the supression of Dutch in the nineteenth century we Flemish are in general much more concious of our own language.

Not that I mind writing in English on this forum, of course - on the contrary!

BTW: forget about Amsterdam -you really have to come visit Antwerp, Bruges and Gent! :wink:


Wow I wasnt paying attention during history classes I guess. well was I paying attention at all during school ? ! uh.... darn..

So we should be making fun of the belgiums so much I guess.
great history lesson here. who says its just about shaving! B&B is about Life itself ! basta !

For fun we call people from Brabant "reserve Belgen " and it aint funny anymore since I guess they is indeed a Belgium bloodline.
People from Limburg when they speak with full dialect on. I cant follow them anymore..im Lost ... Belgium people I can follow them 80% they have some weird grammar and different ways of saying things.

Like a Car is auto or wagen in Dutch in Belgian its Kameon.

But Hey Frederik , ! Big hug to you and anytime you want to talk Dutch im here I wont answer back in Japanese unless you want me too :biggrin1:

[Stauff]

Thanks a lot Rene. BTW: I'm actually a big fan of the Netherlands and of the Dutch in general. :thumbup1: I even wouldn't mind becoming one (if Belgium ever ceases to exist -which isn't that unlikely...:blink: )
Actually, what you mean is 'camion' (truck/lorry) or 'vrachtwagen' in standard Dutch; It's another example of a french word having slipped into Flemish dialect. Damn, those treacherous french guys again! :laugh:

[LX_Emergency]

I had a flemish girlfriend for a while. It was weird driving down there every once in a while.

About smaller cities, I have to agree. I think most cities are nicer than amsterdam. And the english responses.....that's what you get in amsterdam when you don't speak "ABN" (Algemeen or commonly, Beschaafd or civilized, Nederlands or Dutch). When people hear a foreign accent there they respond in englsh because they're used to putting tourists at easy there.

I have to say I find it a bit dumb though.

And we in Brabant call the Limburgers Spare belgians.... there's also the saying that the word BELG (or belgian) means Ben Eerst Limburger Geweest (was a limburger before this).

[Stauff]

I had a flemish girlfriend for a while. It was weird driving down there every once in a while.

About smaller cities, I have to agree. I think most cities are nicer than amsterdam. And the english responses.....that's what you get in amsterdam when you don't speak "ABN" (Algemeen or commonly, Beschaafd or civilized, Nederlands or Dutch). When people hear a foreign accent there they respond in englsh because they're used to putting tourists at easy there.

I have to say I find it a bit dumb though.

And we in Brabant call the Limburgers Spare belgians.... there's also the saying that the word BELG (or belgian) means Ben Eerst Limburger Geweest (was a limburger before this).

Mind you, my dutch pronounciation and vocabulary are in fact more 'civilized' than those of most Dutch people. There must be something else wrong with me :wink:

( At the same time I feel that expressions like 'down there' and 'not civilized' seem to illustrate exactly my point about Dutch people feeling slightly superior... I wouldn't say that the Dutch variety of our common language is the only valid standard. Neither do the official dictionaries...)

[ouch]

I had a flemish girlfriend for a while.


I used to have a girlfriend in Maine. I would go to Bangor every now and then. Had another one in Florida. I'd go to Tampa.
Uh-oh. The wife's coming. Gotta stop.

[Stauff]

:lol:

[LX_Emergency]

To me driving "down there" simply means driving to the south.....if Belgium would have been in the North I'd have said "up there". Actually the idea that the dutch feel superior is mostly a belgian Idea...... Because most people in the Netherlands do not speak "ABN" either. I live in a town in Noord Brabant and when I have a conversation with a native (which I'm not entirely) Ossenaar I can understand what they say but belive me it's not standard Dutch.

The Dutch are NOT superior in fact those people from Belgium that I know are in general nicer and politer than the dutch people that I know.

I think it all comes down to the age old question: "Is it still paranoia when they really ARE out to get you?"

[crackstar]

well, first of all, I remember when I was a 5 year old toddler, we left our hometown in Poland. (Ukraine today) We were living for a year and a half in Amsterdam, before moving to Israel. Our next door neighbors, were a lovely, lovely couple who had 2 kids around my age, give or take. The man and his older brother literally put their lives on the line, because they were protecting and hiding Jews from the Nazis during the 2nd World War, and helping to smuggle them out of the country. To this day, my parents keep in contact with them, and they still ask about me. I was in Amsterdam a couple of years ago, and my wife and I visited with them, and they were so delighted to see me after all these years.

Jeff

[Stauff]

To me driving "down there" simply means driving to the south.....if Belgium would have been in the North I'd have said "up there". Actually the idea that the dutch feel superior is mostly a belgian Idea...... Because most people in the Netherlands do not speak "ABN" either. I live in a town in Noord Brabant and when I have a conversation with a native (which I'm not entirely) Ossenaar I can understand what they say but belive me it's not standard Dutch.

The Dutch are NOT superior in fact those people from Belgium that I know are in general nicer and politer than the dutch people that I know.

I think it all comes down to the age old question: "Is it still paranoia when they really ARE out to get you?"

Point taken. :thumbup1: I think I was over-analysing a little, not being paranoid (but hey, maybe all of you guys are REALLY out to get me? :w00t: :wink: )

[SSLStudio]

To me driving "down there" simply means driving to the south.....if Belgium would have been in the North I'd have said "up there". Actually the idea that the dutch feel superior is mostly a belgian Idea...... Because most people in the Netherlands do not speak "ABN" either. I live in a town in Noord Brabant and when I have a conversation with a native (which I'm not entirely) Ossenaar I can understand what they say but belive me it's not standard Dutch.

The Dutch are NOT superior in fact those people from Belgium that I know are in general nicer and politer than the dutch people that I know.

I think it all comes down to the age old question: "Is it still paranoia when they really ARE out to get you?"

Nice post !

I can join these thoughts from a Chef point of view id rather join the allies of Belgium cullinary wise what have the Dutch to offer Cullinary wise as an original Dutch cooking culture. not much. dont even get me started on Belgium Chocolates or Truffels B&B will need to get more HD space. :drool: :drool:

[LX_Emergency]

At least we have "drop" (Dutch licorice) to be proud of......at least Dutch food isn't English......that stuff is just plain bland.

[Stauff]

Calvé peanut butter is pretty good. And Dutch coffee is very pleasant: strong yet mild, no urinal bitterness like the stuff over here. I also immensely enjoy all kinds of 'vlaai' (a kind of pudding).

[teamccloud]

I'm a little late coming to this thread, having only signed up here at B&B recently, but it brings back loads of memories. Exactly 20 years ago, I was an exchange student with the American Field Service living in Bloemendaal, Holland, and going to high school in Haarlem. I've spent my share of time in Amsterdam and agree with the assessments, though I would go back and spend a week there in a heartbeat.

I worked my tail off to learn Dutch, which was not an easy task (and very stressful: I was a junior in high school, and I had to do well in my classes to ensure that I graduated with my class). To this day, I can communicate, but I'm a little rusty. If I had a month in Holland speaking nothing but Dutch I'd be back in no time at all.

Boy, thinking about that year really makes me long to get back to Holland -- I skated on the canals (from Haarlem to Leiden); I saw the fields of tulips; I rode my bike everywhere (this is more Dutch than wooden shoes); I got hooked on Heineken, Amstel (not Light), Grolsch and Oranjeboom (I like to say that I learned two things in Holland: how to drink beer and coffee, which has served me much better over the past 20 years than my ability to speak Dutch).

[Stauff]

Gents,

Time to revive the old Amsterdam thread. For those who can still remember my paranoid rant about Dutch folks always responding in English whenever I ask them for directions in our common language Dutch... Well, THEY DID IT AGAIN!!!: :mad: :confused:.
I Was in Amsterdam tuesday evening, and when politely asking for directions in perfectly civilised standard Dutch, I got a response in some seriously mangled English.
Come on, what is so difficult for them to understand me (me: 'excuseer, kan u me zeggen hoe ik bij de Singel kom' /'Excuse me, what direction is the Singel?') Dutch guy: 'It's right over there sir, round the corner'. Me: 'Dank u wel! (thank you VM') ,Dutch guy: :confused1 .

Yes, another rant about Amsterdam. Did have a great time over there and did get to meet a very, very pretty Dutch girl. :001_wub: :biggrin:

[drP]

Was it a Dutch guy Frederik? Maybe has was from abroad also:biggrin:

(en je moet toch weten dat Amsterdammers iedereen die van buiten de stadsgrens komt als allochtoon beschouwen, zeker iemand met een Vlaamse tongval....:wink: )

Peter

[SSLStudio]

Gents,

Time to revive the old Amsterdam thread. For those who can still remember my paranoid rant about Dutch folks always responding in English whenever I ask them for directions in our common language Dutch... Well, THEY DID IT AGAIN!!!: :mad: :confused:.
I Was in Amsterdam tuesday evening, and when politely asking for directions in perfectly civilised standard Dutch, I got a response in some seriously mangled English.
Come on, what is so difficult for them to understand me (me: 'excuseer, kan u me zeggen hoe ik bij de Singel kom' /'Excuse me, what direction is the Singel?') Dutch guy: 'It's right over there sir, round the corner'. Me: 'Dank u wel! (thank you VM') ,Dutch guy: :confused1 .

Yes, another rant about Amsterdam. Did have a great time over there and did get to meet a very, very pretty Dutch girl. :001_wub: :biggrin:

you did it again aswell !

You went to a party and didnt invite ME !!! Whats up with that :eek: :eek:
im only 40m away from Amsterdam.. I hardly visit Amsterdam like almost never so for me its just as exciting as you.... :wink:

I agree with Peter Wie geen plat amsterdams praat, yep your a foreigner.

Glad you had a good time...

[LX_Emergency]

People in amsterdam do think that there's no country outside of A'dam. So they do respond in English to almost anyone. Plus they're so used to tourists asking directions in english that it's almost a switch. Ask for directions and they'll respond in English.