Netherlands Local Customs

  Tugboats at the Handelskade.
by Jerelis
 
  • Tugboats at the Handelskade.
      Tugboats at the Handelskade.
    by Jerelis
  • More tugboats to be admired.
      More tugboats to be admired.
    by Jerelis
  • Overview at the Handelskade, Zwartsluis.
      Overview at the Handelskade, Zwartsluis.
    by Jerelis
  • A tugboat in the sluice.
      A tugboat in the sluice.
    by Jerelis
  • Boats entering the sluice.
      Boats entering the sluice.
    by Jerelis
 

Most Viewed Local Customs in Netherlands

1.

Coffee Shops / Drugs   Amsterdam

Coffee Shops / Drugs, Amsterdam

 54 Reviews  The weed and hash menu is displayed openly for people to see. Look and decide what you want to purchase, or not. It is a CHOICE. Even though they are not really known for their weed, I have heard... 

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2.

Carnaval   Maastricht

Carnaval, Maastricht

 6 Reviews  it afternoon in town and the town hall is full of crowds. With an invitation you can get in and see the ‘ sleutel-overdracht’ ( handover the key of the city). It is always celbrated they saterday... 

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3.

Art, music other culture   Eindhoven

Art, music other culture, Eindhoven

 11 Reviews  address: Leenderweg 65, Eindhoven All kind of culturalactivities like special non-commercial movies and theateracts as well as movies in the open air in the square in front of the building... 

 See All 35 Local Customs in Eindhoven

4.

Museums   Utrecht

Museums, Utrecht

 2 Reviews  The 'MUSEUM KWARTIER' will be a pleasant diiscovery for you! You will find the largest Museums here, morover it is the historic heart of the City of Utrecht, a collection of Monumental buildings,... 

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5.

Royal tomb   Delft

Royal tomb, Delft

 6 Reviews  On the Market square of Delft stands tall the high tower of the Niewe Kerk. It is one of the highest in The Netherlands and inside the church are the graves of the Orange-family (royal) of The... 

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6.

Urinating   Amsterdam

Urinating, Amsterdam

 26 Reviews  There are 2 different kinds of pissoirs in Amsterdam----this is the one where basically you are pissing on your shoes in public behind a round metal guard-----placed regularly around Amsterdam for the... 

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7.

Dialect   Maastricht

Dialect, Maastricht

 11 Reviews  Because of its location and diverse modern history Maastrichters have developed a dialect unique to the city which is heavily influence by Belgian and German and even has some French and Spanish minor... 

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8.

Design Academy Eindhoven.   Eindhoven

Design Academy Eindhoven., Eindhoven

 2 Reviews  Eindhoven plays a very important role in the world of desing. Young desingers from home and abroad come here to study at the famous Design Academy. Their final projects can be seen every year in the... 

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9.

Canals   Utrecht

Canals, Utrecht

 4 Reviews  Whilst the banks of the Oudegracht (Old Canal) are lined with atmospheric cafes and restaurants on the former waterside wharves and warehouses the Nieuwgracht is a more traditionally-built canal whose... 

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10.

Inside Nieuwe Kerk   Delft

Inside Nieuwe Kerk, Delft

 8 Reviews  According to my brochure this organ was built by the Utrecht organ builder Bätz betwen 1837-1839. It has 3 keyboards, 48 registers and a free foot keyboard (pedals). And more than 3000 pipes. I've not... 

 See All 31 Local Customs in Delft

11.

ATM / Money Exchange / Tipping   Amsterdam

ATM / Money Exchange / Tipping, Amsterdam

 19 Reviews  Netherlands was the first country (of 33) I have visited, that we had lots of problems with ATM:s. Outside Amsterdam most of them didn´t exept foreign cards! In AMsterdam there was also some witch... 

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12.

3 kisses on da cheek   Eindhoven

3 kisses on da cheek, Eindhoven

 2 Reviews  Thats how we greet our loved ones, as well as friends:-) I dont really like it, one good kiss should be enough i think, but hey its custom so... Hospitality is were the "brabander" is famous for.... 

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13.

Museum Van Speelklok tot Pierement   Utrecht

Museum Van Speelklok tot Pierement, Utrecht

 2 Reviews  On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the National Museum From Musical Clock to Street Organ in Utrecht, the Netherlands, presents the international exhibition ‘Royal Music Machines’. Having... 

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14.

Nieuwe Kerk   Delft

Nieuwe Kerk, Delft

 2 Reviews  As usual I cannot resist to make a close up of the tower. An added bonus is always if there are bells to be seen from the outside, although the true campanological treasures usually remain hidden... 

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15.

Eating and Drinking   Amsterdam

Eating and Drinking, Amsterdam

 44 Reviews  Dinner in Holland starts at about 6 o'clock in the evening. The old-fashioned Dutch dinner consists of one simple course: beans or potatoes, meat and vegetables. Traditionally potatoes with a large... 

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16.

Philipsstadion   Eindhoven

Philipsstadion, Eindhoven

 3 Reviews  The Philipsstadion at Eindhoven. U can get a tour if you like, its the stadion of my very favourite footballteam PSV. http://www.psv.nl The VVV (the Dutch Tourist Information Office) has set out a... 

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17.

Dom church and tower   Utrecht

Dom church and tower, Utrecht

 2 Reviews  After you have visited the Dom church and on leaving it, don t walk straight to the statue in front of you, but make a turn to the left. Then you will see a gate, just enter there and oh! the piece... 

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18.

Language   Amsterdam

Language, Amsterdam

 33 Reviews  As a woman who lives in Amsterdam, I will give you the most used words: ** thanks = bedankt / dank u ** if you give something (even if you pay) you say: alstublieft ** if you ask to do something for... 

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19.

Cycling   Eindhoven

Cycling, Eindhoven

 1 Review  Dutch LOVE their bike! They use it all the time, traveling within the city. One of the nicest memories I have is seeing a little girl, smiling,sitting on the luggage rack on the back wheel as her... 

 See All 35 Local Customs in Eindhoven

20.

Red Light District   Amsterdam

Red Light District, Amsterdam

 16 Reviews  The RLD is a lot to take in at first. Women stand or sit behind glass doors, signaling for men to come in. They are typically wearing just underwear and a bra though some get a little more “elaborate”... 

 See All 505 Local Customs in Amsterdam

21.

Dierenambulance (Pets-rescue-ambulance)   Eindhoven

Dierenambulance (Pets-rescue-ambulance), Eindhoven

 1 Review  At Eindhoven we have a special equiped ambulance to pick-up sick- or lost- or dead animals at Eindhoven and region. This service is mostly runned by volunteers who will either handle the calls or... 

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22.

Eating - Fast Food   Amsterdam

Eating - Fast Food, Amsterdam

 9 Reviews  Favourite by Dutch students: "patatje oorlog" (chips "war" with mayonaise and peanut-sause). Also favourite: "patatje speciaal" (chips with mayonaise, onions and ketchup- or tomatosaus). Eat it on the... 

 See All 505 Local Customs in Amsterdam

23.

TO call the US (AT&T...   Eindhoven

TO call the US (AT&T..., Eindhoven

 1 Review  TO call the US (AT&T Direct): Dial 0800-022-9111 Then at the voice prompt dial area code + number At the tone, dial your AT&T Calling Card number or credit card # To Call Canada (Canada Direct): Dial... 

 See All 35 Local Customs in Eindhoven

24.

Architecture   Amsterdam

Architecture, Amsterdam

 16 Reviews  The Amsterdam gables hide many things of beauty. Take time to explore the walls of the houses. The gablestones are being protected by the "Vereniging Vrienden van Amsterdamse Gevelstenen". 

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25.

Tattooshop Dragon   Eindhoven

Tattooshop Dragon, Eindhoven

 1 Review  My son has a Klingon sign, my daughter a lions head and i have 2 small tibetan signs(female & fire). Tattoo Dragon is safe shop, with nice staff, not too expensive. If u wanna have a tattoo u can... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Dweilorkest

by pieter_jan_v

A "Dweilorkest" is a small walking orchestra with at least 2 drum players and some trompet players. Bigger "orchestra's" often have more horn players.Often it is a group of friends that on a semi-professionelk basis makes music in their free time and performs at local events.Dweil comes from the Dutch verb dweilen, a kind of aimingless moving through the streets in some drunken state. The repertoire originally consists of carnaval songs, but you will hear international material as well.

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Queensday – lot of traditions

by vtveen

Queensday is one of our National Holidays and the whole country is colouring ORANGE. Street decorations and people wearing orange clothes. We are celebrating our Queen’s Birthday on April 30th (except when this is on a Sunday, then the celebrations we will be the Saturday before).Our present Queen Beatrix and members of the royal family always visit two cities in one of the provinces in the Netherlands and a lot of ‘royalists’ are glued to the TV watching the coverage of this event.But the main activities on this National Holiday take place in the streets of almost every town or village. These activities vary from singing school kids, playing brass bands, street musicians and people walking and sitting on one of the side walk café’s, perhaps drinking a special ‘orange bitter’. Shops do have special ‘orange’ offers.In the meantime it is tradition that most of the towns in the country do...

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FOOD: Zeeuwse oesters (Oysters from Zeeland)

by ATLC

The oysters from the province of Zeeland (south west Netherlands) are a veritable delicacy.There are two kinds: The Zeeuwse oester and the Platte oester (flat oyster).Both differ quite a bit. The Zeeuwse oester grows to maturity in 2 years, the flat oyster does the same in 6, which makes the latter rather more delicate and extremely pricy.Often people think that oysters are 'snotty'. Not these oysters from Zeeland. You can really bite into them and chew. The taste lasts an extraordinarily heavenly long time. I've never had that with any other oyster, from any country.On Christmas Day we eat 2 dozen oysters every year. And not much else. It has become a tradition in our home. We eat a dozen 'as is', and prepare half a dozen au gratin and half a dozen Chinese style. That's our Christmas dinner!The quality and size is categorised thus:Flat Oyster 1/0 (40-50 g) 2/0 (50-60 g)3/0 (60-70 g) 4/0...

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Dutch hotel breakfast

by ATLC

In The Netherlands. most hotels offer a buffet breakfast. You will find:- cereals and yoghurt(s)- fruit and fruit salad- a selection of bread and crackers- jam and other sweet spreads- a selection of cold cuts- a selection of cheese- fruit juice(s) and milkSometimes there are chafing dishes with scrambled eggs and fried bacon. Often there is a dish with boiled eggs.In other hotels you'll find most of the above set out on your breakfast table.The so-called Continental breakfast (French bread and jam, a croissant and coffee) is never served in Dutch hotels.Breakfast is ONTBIJT in DutchPhoto: breakfast table in hotel Watermolle in Haaksbergen. Only the bread is still missing.

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FOOD: Dutch cheese (kaas)

by ATLC

We Dutch have lots of cheese. To make a very overall distinction you look for 2 things first:1 - age2 - pasteurised milk (which is mostly the case, thus never mentioned) or raw milk (boerenkaas).All those huge yellow wheels of cheese are all different:Old, crumbly, dry salty cheese, or soft, creamy young cheese.Pasteurised or raw milk, they all have the same age distinctions:- jong (young)- jong belegen (young matured)- belegen (matured)- extra belegen (extra matured)- oud (old)- brokkel (extra old and crumbly)Friese Nagelkaas (with cloves), Komijnekaas (cumin), Graskaas (made from milk when the first grass grows in spring), Boerenkaas (raw milk) and many more varieties.Don't be fooled by those small Gouda cheeses. They are for tourists. In fact, there is no cheese made in Gouda anymore.Another Dutch cheese from Limburg (= province), comparable to the French pavé is a cube, about 7 cm....

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FOOD: Hollandse nieuwe (young herring)

by ATLC

This morning (June 23rd 2003) I sauntered off to the local fish stall because I feel like eating one of my favourite things for lunch: Hollandse Nieuwe (herring). I buy fresh white soft bread at the bakery to put them on or I may slide one down my throat and enjoy it pure. It's a typical Dutch thing!Every year the herring lives the same cycle. In the months May and June the herring will have fattened enough but not formed any hard or soft roe yet. Herring can acquire plenty of fat in May if the weather is good. Fishermen will watch the weather and temperature closely during this period. Lots of sun will mean lots of food for the herring, so that they will grow nicely.The Hollandse Nieuwe (Dutch New) is the first herring that is caught in season, usually in May. As soon as the herring has a minimum of 16% fat, it may hit the market as “Hollandse Nieuwe”. But there are other demands. The...

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FOOD: Roombroodje (cream bun)

by ATLC

--Bread and cakes are available in a wide variety in Dutch bakeries. Baker's shops are usually quite large shops with lots to choose from.This is a roombroodje, a slightly sweet soft white bun with cream in it and icing sugar on top.Messy to eat but sooo good! Often have one for breakfast on Saturdays.

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Learn Dutch by the internet

by sammie

For some people the Netherlands is difficult to find on the globe. The country is so small that the name has to be written in the sea. Do you want to learn the language of Rembrandt and Vermeer? Check out this site, where you can learn Dutch in 2 different courses. A crashcourse and time to learn Dutch. Further more, there is some additional info about the Dutch language.

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The Hague - Sand sculptures

by ant1606

The city of The Hague hosts the International Sand Sculpture Festival which takes place on the beach of Scheveningen. This seems to happen from mid April to end of June and we were late for it. As of August 2009, while cycling though the Netherlands we were lucky to see stunning sand sculptures in Buitenhof square, right in the center of The Hague. These were inspired by the unmistakable works of Norwegian artist Gustav Vigeland which we could tell from a distance. What we couldn't imagine was to face sand stuff and good thing the dry weather was preserving the intricate, delicate patterns of human bodies broadcasting infinite serenity.

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Colour orange

by a5floor

When special events are happening (soccer, Queensday, marriage of the Royal Family, etc) people are wearing orange stuff. Stuff like hats, t-shirts, boa, etc. Everybody is having a good time and is happy.The colour orange is formed by the Royal Family. Their 'last name' is Van Oranje (translation would be 'from orange'). Because of this orange is the colour of the Netherlands.

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Local traditions and culture in Netherlands

Top 3 Hotels in Netherlands

Seven Bridges Hotel  Amsterdam

 4 Reviews and 488 Opinions  We almost stayed here. Looked like a charming hotel, although we didn’t see the rooms. It’s in a... 

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The Manhattan Hotel Rotterdam  Rotterdam

 6 Reviews and 138 Opinions  Right opposite Rotterdam Centraal train station on Weena, is the imposing 5 star Westin hotel. It... 

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Novotel Maastricht  Maastricht

 4 Reviews and 177 Opinions  It's great to see and witness that the hotel has a heated outdoor swimming pool, which you can use... 

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Local Customs: Cities in Netherlands
  1. Amsterdam Local Customs
  2. Rotterdam Local Customs
  3. Maastricht Local Customs
  4. The Hague Local Customs
  5. Eindhoven Local Customs
  6. Haarlem Local Customs
  7. Utrecht Local Customs
  8. Leiden Local Customs
  9. Delft Local Customs
  10. Schiphol Local Customs
  11. Breda Local Customs
  12. Nijmegen Local Customs
  13. Groningen Local Customs
  14. Arnhem Local Customs
  15. Tilburg Local Customs
  16. Valkenburg Local Customs
  17. Apeldoorn Local Customs
  18. Den Bosch Local Customs
  19. Scheveningen Local Customs
  20. Hengelo Local Customs
  21. Enschede Local Customs
  22. Keukenhof Local Customs
  23. De Efteling Local Customs
  24. Bergen op Zoom Local Customs
  25. Noordwijk aan Zee Local Customs
  26. Roermond Local Customs
  27. Leeuwarden Local Customs
  28. Alkmaar Local Customs
  29. Gouda Local Customs
  30. Texel Local Customs
  31. Zwolle Local Customs
  32. Amersfoort Local Customs
  33. Assen Local Customs
  34. Dordrecht Local Customs
  35. Amstelveen Local Customs
  36. Middelburg Local Customs
  37. Den Helder Local Customs
  38. Zaanse Schans Local Customs
  39. Hoorn Local Customs
  40. Vlissingen Local Customs
  41. Hilversum Local Customs
  42. Almere-Stad Local Customs
  43. Enkhuizen Local Customs
  44. Giethoorn Local Customs
  45. Hoek van Holland Local Customs
  46. Brielle Local Customs

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Provincie Noord-Holland Local Customs  Provincie Zuid-Holland Local Customs  Provincie Noord-Brabant Local Customs  Provincie Limburg Local Customs  Provincie Gelderland Local Customs  Provincie Overijssel Local Customs  Provincie Utrecht Local Customs  Provincie Zeeland Local Customs  Provincie Friesland Local Customs  Provincie Groningen Local Customs  Provincie Drenthe Local Customs  Provincie Flevoland Local Customs 

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Questions and Answers

dnwitte profile photo

Q:  A couple of years since I've been back. Nothing stays the same. So, is the old strippenkaart system finally over? I can read... 

mccalpin profile photo

A: chippenkaartenmarken ;-) 

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