Thai opinions about the Netherlands

We hear the opinions of white people about Thailand all too often, but how do Thai people actually view the Netherlands? On a Thai platform, I asked them what they found most striking about life in the Netherlands. The well over one hundred responses were very diverse and mostly positive: the Netherlands may be wet and cold, and the population sometimes peculiar, but it is actually quite a nice place to live.

Below I quote a short selection of the reactions that received a lot of acclaim or that simply stood out to me.

About Dutch people and their mentality:

– 'I like the mentality that the Dutch have, how they look at other people and how they treat them'

– 'The directness, about both pleasant and unpleasant matters. They are simply honest and sincere. They don't beat around the bush. They are fine with us doing the same. But because we come from a culture where we don't want to damage the lotus leaves while rowing, nor do we want to muddy the water*, it is not surprising that we act a bit sneaky' (*Concerns a Thai proverb: speak diplomatically or tactically to satisfy both parties)

– 'They are rather rigid and stubborn'

– 'The Dutch are honest'

– 'They are tolerant, decisive and smart'

– 'They have a lot of self-confidence'

– 'People are nice, smiling and greeting. Even if they are strangers to each other'

– 'They're right on time, great!'

– 'They are stingy'

– 'The Dutch do not throw money around; they know how to spend it and when it is reasonable and necessary'

– 'I experience greed and lack of generosity (เกรงใจ, kreeng-tjai). They just fill up a whole plate and sometimes that's not even enough. They just grab stuff in my house without asking anything'

– 'Everyone pays their share of the bill, even with a date J'

– 'One spends one's time and money well'

– 'One gives little to others, but also uses little from others'

– 'Dutch men take their responsibility, if they say something they do it. I was surprised by their straightforwardness about what's likes, dislikes, possible, and impossible. They even joke about it sometimes. That's fine'

– 'They want to see demonstrable proof first; they won't be talked into anything easily'

– 'They say “It will be fine”, regardless of whether there is a small or big problem'

– 'Weather or shine, even mothers and children cycle everywhere'

– 'The people here are really there for me and helped me with everything when I was on my own. As a thank you I like to cook food for the people in the area, even if they say it's not necessary, but at least that way I can give something back'

– 'They don't compete with others; if someone else can do something better, they don't care'

– 'People help each other through voluntary work. How great!'

– 'In other countries, people in the same sector are called competitors, but here they speak of colleagues'

– 'Folding is a natural thing here'

Family and home:

– 'My husband really tells everything to his parents, including things that should remain within the family'

– 'During an argument, I sarcastically asked my partner why he wasn't going to tell his mother that we haven't slept together for a long time. He then said that he would definitely do that too! He really tells her everything'

– 'Here too: problems, quarrels.. they really discuss everything! Hahaha'

– 'If something goes wrong at home, my husband doesn't discuss it with anyone in his family. Sometimes I actually have to tell him not to forget to tell his family about certain things, such as the children's illnesses or exams.

– 'They do the dishes with very little soap, then don't rinse it off, but put the dishes on a rack. I want to rinse everything properly.' (a response to this was: 'I solved it by forbidding my husband from doing anything at all in the kitchen; he doesn't have to help')

– 'They wash the dishes without foam and then use a cloth to wipe the dishes dry. We wash it the first round and the second round we rinse away the suds. I think they do it to save water'

– 'People with the same surname are not necessarily related'

– 'Here you shouldn't shout at children, but explain to them why they are supposed to do something'

– 'Men with the second name Maria'

– 'The children went for long distance walks at school four days in a row and were greeted with flowers and a certificate. That's called the "four days"'

– 'The other mothers at school never talk to me, but they know where to find me if they need our big car to take the kids somewhere'

– 'I experience contempt and discrimination from the other parents'

– 'The teacher enters first, then the students. The teachers are not cruel or malicious towards the students'

– 'Unlike Thailand, the grandparents do not interfere with the education of the children'

Visiting:

– 'It is quite inconvenient that if you want to visit friends or family, you have to make an appointment first'

– 'They don't take off their shoes in the house'

– 'They wrap gifts directly in wrapping paper, instead of putting them in a fancy box with a nice bow on top. At first I thought my boyfriend was lazy, but apparently it's normal here; they do it in the shops too.

– 'The visitors have to go home before dinnertime, they rarely eat with them'

– 'They go to the cafe wearing sports shoes and normal clothes. This is useful when walking or when it is cold. I put on beautiful dresses in the beginning'

– 'If there is a party for the children, the adults go drink alcohol together'

– 'The ex-partners also just come to visit'

– 'People pay attention to birthdays'

– 'When people come to us, there is unlimited food with real meals. But if the family throws a party, they only have coffee with a slice of cake, haha'

Food:

– 'That the food is different per season, for example asparagus in the spring and chicory in the winter'

– 'The food here is good'

– 'They don't rinse the meat before use and neither do the vegetables. According to my friend, the bacteria die of their own accord during baking'

– 'They always take bread to work. Won't that get boring? I take Mama Noodles on my break'

– 'You have to make your own lunch. There is no 7/11, although you can get a frikandel or croquette'

Traffic and public space:

– 'I go cycling every day and then feel really safe in traffic'

– 'Cars give priority to cyclists and pedestrians'

– 'It is tidy and clean here. There is discipline and there is management of public facilities'

– 'The infrastructure is well organized'

– 'Public transport is good, comfortable, and runs on schedule. Train and bus connections throughout the country'

"The windows you can look right in through!"

(“I once saw someone riding a bicycle with a bicycle in hand!”)

– 'You can walk without all kinds of obstacles'

Climate and nature:

– 'It's wet and cold here'

– 'For the sun, you have to be in another country, haha'

– 'The climate takes some getting used to, it takes some time, but after that you'll start to love it.'

– 'Those four different seasons, alternating with always something beautiful'

– 'If the Dutch can endure the heat in Thailand, then we can also endure the cold in the Netherlands'

– 'It is a beautiful and flat country, you can enjoy it everywhere and watch the sun rise and set'

– 'It's all very flat, no mountains or anything like that'

– 'Here they protect nature'

– 'Here they separate waste, paper, plastic, white and colored glass, GFT, etc.'

– 'Special waste bins for dog excrement. But there is still poop on the street and in the grass, strange though'

Society:

– 'There is little corruption'

– 'It is a free country where equality reigns'

– 'The freedom of thought. Very democratic'

– 'Do what you want, as long as you don't bother someone else, because then you will be fined'

– 'Human rights, everyone is equal regardless of race, creed or whatever'

– 'The difference between rich and poor is not that big here. The welfare state helps the people'

– 'Those high taxes!'

– 'A dog tax!!'

– 'Many things are taxed, but you also get a good social safety net in return'

– 'Good labor laws and protection'

– 'There are so many different museums, even a sex museum!'

Healthcare:

("They drink cola when they have a stomach ache, they drink cold water instead of warm when they have a sore throat!"

– 'When they have a fever, they eat an ice cream!'

– 'The health insurance, I was in the hospital for a long time, but I didn't have to worry about the bill. Great!'

– 'Almost immediately after giving birth she sent me home again, while I had expected to stay in the hospital for a few nights. I could barely walk!'

– 'The GP isn't quick to prescribe medication. They often say: “Just go home, take an aspirin, and rest.” You just have to get better on your own.'

– 'I thought I was dying, but the doctor told me to take a paracetamol and go to sleep. Paracetamol is the answer to all ailments… hahaha'

– 'According to the doctor, a cold is not the same as being sick'

– 'It is a long wait for operations in the hospital'

– 'The care for the elderly and disabled is good, with sufficient empathy and attention. That enables them to comfortably lead their own lives'

– 'They plan their funeral in advance, so that the next of kin don't have to worry about it anymore. Everything well arranged, great'

– 'In Thailand there is fear around death, here they are sober about it and they don't make a fuss'

Living in the Netherlands as a Thai migrant:

– 'The Netherlands is a boring country'

– 'The Netherlands is fantastic, a 10+!'

– 'Adapt and be happy. I did too.'

– 'Nothing surprises me anymore. In the Netherlands you can just be yourself'

– 'The Netherlands is now my first home, Thailand my second. I have informed family that I will live here and die'

Conclusion:

I read the responses mostly with a smile; I could quite relate to most of the answers. The vast majority of the reactions ranged from cautious to downright positive, although the Thais who really couldn't stand the Netherlands will have fled back to Thailand. However, the Dutch climate isn't everything, and in some matters, the Dutch are a bit peculiar. The strange way of doing the dishes, in particular, elicited many approving responses. Most reactions paint a picture of the Dutch as primarily friendly, down-to-earth, and quite direct. That takes some getting used to, but generally speaking, the Thais appreciate the behavior of the Dutch. All in all, living in the Netherlands like this is quite manageable.

Some Thais have even become completely Dutchified, although unfortunately, a few individuals feel excluded or disadvantaged. That the degree of friendliness and openness of the Dutch is perceived differently will naturally depend on factors such as personality and the type of community the Thai migrant has ended up in: does one live in a small, close-knit village or a large, anonymous city? Does one truly live among the Dutch, or does life mainly take place within one's own migrant clique? You can probably find these kinds of differing experiences just as well among other migrant groups, including the white people who have settled in Thailand.

About this blogger

Rob V

Regular visitor to Thailand since 2008. Works in the accounting department of a Dutch wholesaler.

In his spare time he likes to go cycling, walking or reading a book. Mainly non-fiction, especially the history, politics, economy and society of the Netherlands, Thailand and countries in the region. Likes to listen to heavy metal and other noise

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