Frans Amsterdam in Pattaya (part 12): 'We Dutch are not incorrigible, we are the best!'
Frans Amsterdam has settled down again in Pattaya and entertains us, until there are no more 'like' ratings, with his experiences in a follow-up story.
What a self-willed nation we are. When I hear compatriots talk about their experiences in their own country or abroad, I get the impression that we tolerant Dutch people don't care much for foreigners.
Flemings, that's fine – after all, they also speak our language – but that's about it. We don't want people from Brussels and Walloons because they refuse to speak Dutch. We think France is a beautiful country, just a pity that the French live there. In the countries around the Mediterranean, a blond woman cannot even walk around safely, the Swiss are stiff and inaccessible. We only praise Austrians because you can enjoy winter sports there, Germans prefer to let them dig their own pit or send them in the wrong direction, British are all hooligans who only come to Amsterdam to get stoned and drunk or lifeless in to end the moat. Thai are stupid and lazy, only think about money and scam us in front of us.
Americans always think everything is better in their own country, Scandinavians only come to binge because the booze is too expensive in their own country, Poles steal our jobs, our Vinex locations are systematically looted from the Balkans, Greece has only cost us claws of money , Egyptians are taking over our snack bars. Russians are rude, brutal, nasty, noisy and arrogant. The Chinese shit strangely on the street (hence the expression 'weird poopchinese'), produce inferior stuff, cause congestion as tourists, just like the Japanese, and don't stay long enough to be sufficiently squeezed.
Indians in our hotel are a reason to move immediately, we shouldn't think about Arabs at all. Anyway, but rather not Muslims. In Australia, the rugs from the 50s from the emigration wave are still on the table, Indonesia has long since ceased to be what it used to be, the Antilles are teeming with criminals and in Suriname you have that Bouterse.
While we behave in an exemplary manner everywhere. And if we're drunk, it's because we're only young once, or because it's vacation after all. If the neighbors in the hotel bother us, then we are not noisy, no, the rooms are noisy. If we push ahead we are in a hurry, if we are dropped by the thousands from touring cars at a Christmas market, we do so because it was so nicely organized and so cheap, we only destroy foreign cities when our club has won, we are never stingy, at most frugal, We learned to clap when the plane landed from our parents. We do not steal amenities that we take from the hotel, because they have been paid for. We don't have to tip, because the prices are inclusive. Our children are never too stupid to learn, they just don't feel like it. In addition to the company car, we don't buy another large expensive car to put the eyes out to the neighbors, but because we are 'different with the addition'. We are not incorrigible, we are the best.
Of course there are kernels of truth in the claims, but in general they fall into the category of stereotyped prejudices, which certainly do not promote integration and the outbreak of world peace. I was therefore at least surprised yesterday when I received the following message from the Dutch government on Facebook (see photo above).
In my humble opinion you should expect that precisely our Servants of the Kingdom, with a respected monarch, of all things, “We Willem-Alexander, by the grace of God, King of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, etc. etc. etc.” as a member of the government, would exercise due care in such matters.
No, just join in the mood swings and baseless ramblings on social media, feel free to suggest that the whole of Asia is one big scammer gang and sit back satisfied.
Out of curiosity I clicked on 'know more' and then you end up here: www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/reizen/reisadvies
There you have to enter the country or area of your destination. In view of the suggested suggestion, I filled in “Asia”. Then press “Show” and wait. Waiting for what? No idea. No result is found and you return to the same input page. It must be another notorious megalomaniac ICT project that failed in advance, but I just felt screwed up in Dutch.
– Relocated in memory of Frans Amsterdam (Frans Goedhart ) † April 2018 –
The list is completely correct except for the Japanese. By the way, you forgot about the Israelis.
You may add or correct as far as I'm concerned!
okay, here it goes: Israelis are stingy, always dissatisfied and aggressive and Japanese isolate themselves and are only interested in very young girls.
By the way, in my experience, the Philippines is the #1 scam country and India comes in at an honorable second place.
5555 French,
Reading is and remains an art. Nice post, can't wait for more.
Cheers Mart
The only country where I have ever been scammed is the Netherlands. They ask €10,50 for 3 vases! I say: where is my food? Or €27 for a one-way ticket with the NS from the airport, while my ticket was just €50. People often ask me why I have been away for 20 years and then I list a whole host of things, then they suddenly understand me.
Forewarned indeed counts for two, so this kind of information can't hurt. Much of what Frans lists is recognizable. Any world traveler can relate to this. Fortunately, the majority of humanity is not corrupt and always trying to inflict suffering on the other part. But prevention is better than cure.
Frans, how on earth can you forget to mention those Italians. With their smooth mannerisms and well-groomed appearance, they make all our Dutch women's hearts run wild. Other than that, I laughed out loud at your comment. You would not like to give them the living of those who subscribe in part or in full to these prejudices. Incidentally, many foreign men, including Dutch and Belgian, are kidnapped in Pattaya. Are dragged by Thai women and sometimes boys to a region called the Isaan. Strange that it is not mentioned on the Foreign Affairs site. Don't think you personally run much risk, but fate can also strike in the taproom of the Wonderfull Bar. Have a nice evening and I look forward to seeing what you may have to say tomorrow.
Apologies for the omission. I thought Italy was also on the Mediterranean Sea.
No, you didn't leave anything out. Although I normally read your stories very carefully, well most of the time, I had read over it or not realized that Italy is of course also on the Mediterranean Sea. The coffee probably hadn't done its job yet and then I sometimes don't like to see everything properly on my phone screen and interpret it correctly.
I like those stereotypes again
but you don't have to fill in a continent but a country
Frans the site works, but you cannot enter a region/continent. Countries only.
If you press 'down arrow' in the input bar on your keyboard, a selection list with all countries will appear. Or just type in 'Thailand'. Then you come to a page with a lot of text:
https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/reizen/reisadviezen/thailand
A small selection from that page:
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Information in advance
You remain solely responsible for your safety and decision whether or not to travel. Read the entire travel advice.
The latest developments
The King of Thailand passed away on October 13, 2016. There is an extended period of mourning until October 29, 2017. Please treat the feelings of the Thai people with respect during this period.
General
Since the 2014 coup d'état, Thailand has placed restrictions on political and public gatherings and demonstrations. Avoid this one. Do not make political statements in public or on social media. There are many road fatalities in the country.
Unsafe areas
Do not travel to the 4 southern provinces of Thailand: Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani, Songkhla. Only travel to the border with Myanmar and Cambodia if it is necessary.
Crime
On Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui, cheating is common when renting jet skis and scooters. Rented mopeds are also often stolen.
Terrorisme
There are regular attacks in Thailand. Be careful in places where many people come.
(...)
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Of course I knew that only entering countries, such as 'Thailand', would yield a result, but it would be amateurish clutter if you then put 'choose the country or area of your destination' above the input field, while you also just entered your paid advertisement on Facebook suggested 'Asia' as a possible destination.
And the atmosphere created does not promote relations. It's a bit like the Thai government is running campaigns with texts like: 'Are you going to Europe? Look here what you are being robbed of.'
Finally, people in The Hague apparently think that Pattaya is an island, given the text 'On Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui (…).'
And then dare to say yourself 'This travel advice has been carefully compiled.'
I think they mean clumped together by an unaccompanied intern.
Nicely described, but with a few comments.
As a Limburger I am often ashamed of the behavior of the Dutch abroad, who are part of the Netherlands.
A Fleming is fine, after all he speaks our language, unfortunately the oldest language, which is now called Dutch, comes from Flanders.
The behavior of the Dutch is often outrageous, always a bit bleating and arrogance at its best.
With football or other sports it is go Holland go, but not the Netherlands go.
Also with the cooking program on TV, “Heel Holland bakes” and the rest of the Netherlands eats spinach, for sure.
Often abroad, I had to explain enough that in the Netherlands we have North and South Holland and the rest is called the Netherlands.
Do you think I have nothing to explain if BVN broadcasts an impression of the carnival here in Thailand in February and such a girl asks if it is in my country?
well, well French. a splinter and a beam? how about Song Kran that got completely out of hand. the version now is completely separate from its original design. especially in pattaya.
has nothing more to do with it. utter dissolute party. isn't it nice to throw ice water in the crotch of tourists on mopeds? I think you are a bit biased….
no, give me carnival, that's a real party. cozy with each other and not against each other.
It is not surprising that Americans think that everything is better in their own country.
Actually, we just agree with them, because we always think that the Netherlands is no good.
That is why we are moving to Thailand, because we feel at home there.
After all, that is another country that we think is no good after we have moved there.
Ever read the word Holland on a training jacket or football shirt of the Dutch national team.
I'm from Holland… yes indeed, I always asked North or South Holland.. Stepped on their toes right away.
Totally agree with Leon1.
One wants to be called Flemish and the other Wallonian, but not Belgian. In Barcelona they do not feel like Spaniards, but Catalans. A Frisian thinks that he is neither Dutch nor Dutch, but just a Frisian. In some places in the province of North Holland they even call themselves West Frisian. And so I can go on and on. Don't worry so much, a name is just a name and Holland, like England, is much more famous internationally than the Netherlands or Great Britain. Even in Thailand! It won't be long before some people will be bothered by the fact that you call Amsterdam Mokum.
@ Leo Th, wrong! In Thailand people do not know what "Holland" is, but what "Netherland" is. Personally often experienced, also at Post Office.
How do you get there. 90% do not even know where to find the Netherlands. And if you say Holland then it's like: ohhhh. When you ask where that is, they shrug their shoulders….
Indeed, you Dutchmen are the very best on earth.
It's a pity that only the Dutch know that.
Don't you know why many Flemish people have become so prosperous?
We buy Dutchmen for what they are worth and sell them again for what they think they are worth.
That is why we feel so at home in Thailand. After all: We can still learn something from the Thais when it comes to ethnocentrism.
What a wonderful meeting center this Thailand Blog is. Frans enjoys a coffee in his favorite pub in the afternoon to recover from his 'heavy nights' and prepare for new adventures. In the meantime he treats us to various stories, this time he holds up a mirror to us as a reader in a comical way. Result in the form of reactions, including mine, is assured in advance. Some are very serious in terms of content, wouldn't Frans' humor have been recognized? Slagerij van Kampen (originally invented, how did you get it?), states that we can learn something from the Thais. No doubt, as we can all learn from each other. Meanwhile, Van Kampen introduces the word 'ethnocentrism' on this Blog. So can also learn something from him, had never heard of it (who did?) And even after a visit to Wikipedia I still don't get it, but that is of course just me. Just have a vague suspicion that Frans sometimes has to recover from all our reactions, even a form of exercise, shaking with laughter. Would it be possible for him to do that? Exercise while sitting in your chair. And kudos to the editors, having to filter all those reactions day in and day out, will also need a drink in the evening. Incidentally, I miss Tino Kruis's contributions, know that he has since remigrated and I wish him all the best! Of course I also do that to all cheerful Limburgers, cozy Brabo's, boozing Tukkers, thrifty Zeelanders, stiff Frisians, stingy Dutchmen, exuberant southern neighbours, grumbling Thai farangs, etc. etc., not to mention your French, as a bon vivant par excellence!
Fortunately, the response options have recently been expanded, which I think makes filtering a bit less complicated.
Incidentally, I am a bit surprised that you are surprised in an earlier response that people from West Friesland call themselves West Frisians. Isn't your ready topographical knowledge all right? The Mediterranean Sea also caused a major slip-up, which was indeed a good laugh!
'Incidentally, I miss Tino Kruis's contributions, know that he has since remigrated and I wish him all the best!'
Thank you. I'm fine. I enjoy the Netherlands, I enjoy Ljouwerd.
My books are now floating somewhere in the Bay of Biscay. In due course I will pick up the pen again with a story about a philosophy professor who walked penniless from his workshop Chiang Mai to his birthplace on Koh Samui to experience the generosity of the people along the way and a story about the ten last births of the Buddha. Until then I try to get through the jungle of Dutch laws and regulations unscathed.
At night I dream about Thailand but during the day I don't feel homesick. I experience freedom, peace and kindness. But I miss my Thai friends and girlfriends……
I recognize some prejudices towards residents of other countries, but I have been traveling through South-East Asia for almost 20 years now and I always hear that people like the Dutch as tourists. This is in contrast to many places in Southern Europe where groups of young Dutch people in particular make an extremely shameful representation of it.
You have been able to describe the typical characteristics of the different nationalities well, although this impression often arises through personal experiences and the environment where you meet certain nationalities.
When I first came to Munich about 40 years ago, I worked temporarily in a hotel there. And because people everywhere joke about the stinginess and thriftiness of the Scots, I unfortunately had to experience that this stinginess of many Dutch people was exceeded many times over. The Austrian makes jokes about this Dutch frugality, because according to them the Dutch prefer to bring their own food for their holidays. Not because it is of a better or different quality, but mainly because it is many times cheaper than eating out. Many would rather brave the overweight of their caravan or mobile home than take the risk of buying food in a perhaps slightly more expensive foreign supermarket. The article recently published on this blog asking the question "how much tip one normally gives in a restaurant in Thailand" did not give me a different opinion after reading many responses. Of course this cannot all be generalized, but whether we are really the better ones depends greatly on the person and the other nationality that judges us, and many Thais with their usually friendly smile often do not give a realistic answer.
Dutch people want to participate in the polonaise everywhere or else join in and dance from left to right. That's called 'fun', so you should participate in it, if you don't participate then you're a boring guy.
Really I'm not joking, saw it several times in Pattaya.
I find the mandatory poIionaise walk typical for Limbabwe and its regions.
I've never seen a polonaise in Pattaya, but I'm not looking for concentrations of Dutch people either.
Quote from the introduction: “What a headstrong people we are. When I hear compatriots talk about their experiences in their own country or abroad, I get the impression that we tolerant Dutch people don't care much for foreigners.”
Perhaps it could be the other way around: do foreigners care a lot about the Dutch? You can look at it from two sides. Great playful article by Frans, after all, a little self-mockery should be possible.
Small correction: they are “Brussels residents” and not Brussels residents
they are "Walloons" and not Walloonians
So I got 'Walloons' right.
As plural of Brusselaar, the green booklet gives both 'Brusselaars' and 'Brusselaren'. So neither is wrong.
'Brussels residents' is much more common if I have to believe Google.
In my opinion, 'Brussels residents' sounds a lot more Flemish than 'Brussels residents'. I think that in the Netherlands more people will use 'Brusselaren' than in Flanders.
http://woordenlijst.org/#/?q=Brusselaar
Those “Wallonians” were in a different response. And as for those Brussels residents, yes, you have to be Flemish to know that language with all its different nuances. Even though it is called Dutch, there is a difference in the use of the Flemish and Dutch languages. We'll figure it out.
When floods threaten, I always notice that the Dutch media talk about 'sandbags', but the Flemish invariably talk about 'sandbags'.
Just search on Google. 'Sandbags' almost exclusively produces Dutch sites, with. 'sandbags' also float to the surface of the Flemish sites.
How does such a difference arise? Joost should know.
Another one: We are talking about plane tickets, Belgians about plane tickets.
Dear Frans, to quickly mobilize volunteers, the Flemish word sandbags is of course more suitable. The word sandbags could give the impression that it is associated with a lot of dragging and heavy work. Nowadays you can get people to do that.555
In Belgium, including Flanders and Brussels, the word “Brusselaren” is at most associated from afar with one or another cookie, existing or not.
No one in “the torn-off Southern Netherlands” even calls a stack of Brussels Waffles Brussels residents.
The word “Brussels residents” in the Green Book is therefore a misunderstanding or a misplaced joke by a bunch of (Dutch?) professors. Undoubtedly academically highly educated people whose objective is apparently to continue to cultivate prejudices about North and South Holland people and, above all, to make them accepted in the other parts of “The Greater Netherlands”. Linguistic imperialists, so to speak 🙂
As long as it doesn't generate hurricanes (or typhoons), it is further categorized as harmless, but pretty useless, subsidized entertainment.
http://taaladvies.net/taal/advies/vraag/498/leraars_leraren/
It's good that you are surprised every now and then Frans, in general a sign that one does not become dull and laughter is healthy! My brother moved to Medemblik when he was twenty and started a family there. Have quite a few (great)nephews and nieces living there. That she and other Medemblikkers sometimes call themselves West Frisians, which I and other family members sometimes tease them about during a reunion, is of course not strange to me. After all, although Medemblik is located in the province of North Holland, the region there is called West Friesland. (Because in a distant past North Holland and Friesland were connected). For someone who is not aware of this, it seems confusing that a resident of North Holland calls himself West Frisian. I have mentioned that and you should not look for more. Let's not get too serious. It is particularly pleasant to read that Tino Kuis is doing well in Ljouwerd. (Leeuwarden, Friesland, without West in front ). Hope those are pleasant dreams about Thailand. Am curious about your upcoming story.