The Netherlands is more than just sex and weed

When I tell people I studied abroad in the Netherlands, the first question that is inevitably asked is “Did you smoke a lot of weed?”

Now I’m not going to dignify that question with an answer, because every time it is asked it reduces a pretty great country to a few stereotypes. Unfortunately, however, it is these stereotypes that drive most the British tourists to the country – not that they ever tend to venture outside of Amsterdam.

In a country that made it so easy for me to exist speaking English and as a British person, I have never felt more ashamed to be British than I was when walking through the red light district in Amsterdam, seeing the groups of lads on tour from England and how they act. In fact, I started learning Dutch so I didn’t have to be associated with British tourists.

To be fair, it is not just Amsterdam where we act awfully abroad – but there is something about the combination of decriminalised weed and legal sex work that make it the perfect combination for a weekend of hedonism, debauchery, and cultural ignorance.

I won’t deny it’s a fun country and its generally liberal social policies do help with that. As a country it broadly has its shit together – it gives its citizens the freedom to make their own decisions, and help to make sure they make them safely, whether that is drug consumption, paying for or selling sex, adequate sex education, euthanasia, marriage, or defying the laws of nature on the back of a bike.

Personally my favourite thing about the Netherlands is not sex or weed, nor is it Amsterdam because there are much nicer cities such as The Hague or Utrecht (which are so easy to get to by train).

My favourite thing is a Dutch word “gezelligheid” – it’s hard to sum up, normally translated to cosiness, but it is this atmosphere and feeling that keeps me going back. It’s the feeling of being comfortable, being surrounded by friends, sat in front of a fire.

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Becca, a Leeds student who studied abroad in Utrecht, says that “the Netherlands, to me, means warm hugs, forest walks, and cheap beer.”

They even have beaches

Gezellig, as a concept, embodies most of Dutch culture – whether that is the incredible food (you haven’t lived until you’ve eaten bitterballen or stroopwafels), or the lethal but delicious beer, or just the fact that Dutch people are generally so upfront that you always know where you stand.

While this directness often gives the Dutch the reputation of being rude, really it is quite the opposite. It did take me a while to get used to – and sometimes I’m still taken aback by it. However, I’ve realised that it normally comes from a place of respect and care even if that comes in the form of your housemate asking if you’re really going out wearing that. It’s a shock for someone who grew up with British politeness, but as a very anxious person not having to second guess if someone really meant that or if they were just being polite is a relief.

The way of life is just so much more relaxed, and directness is only part of this. The Dutch work the shortest working week in Europe averaging 30.5 hours a week and they have the happiest children in the world – part of that is probably due to eating Hagelslag/Hundreds and Thousands for breakfast.

Carnaval in Limburgs

There is nowhere this relaxed vibe is more visible than in the omnipresent bike lanes. I confess, I am a horrifically lazy person with a strong aversion to exercise and sweating – but cycling to class, the club, or the supermarket was one of my favourite things. There is very little traffic and everyone goes at their own pace. It feels so calm especially when compared to rush hour traffic in the UK. Just getting outside with the wind in your hair, cycling without hills and past canal after canal is the thing I miss most from the country – and it’s what is tempting me back now we have voted to leave the EU.

The Netherlands is only an hour flight away and there’s so much more to see than Amsterdam. It’s a small country and the train system is impeccable; I cannot encourage you enough to venture outside of Amsterdam and go see the tulips at Leiden or the windmills at Kinderdijk or sit by the canals and drink coffee in Utrecht.