The Dutch are known for being direct, stingy, and innovative — but they can also be surprisingly cute!
We put our readers to the test and asked them what downright adorable things they’ve spotted Dutchies do — and the answers didn’t disappoint!
15. Chow down chocolate sprinkles for breakfast at any age
Hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles) is a favourite food of the Dutch and is eaten by many Dutchies young and old for breakfast almost every single day.
The Dutch are a no-nonsense sort of people, but don’t you just love the idea of a grown Dutchie getting ready to start their day as a straight-talking businessman/woman by eating SPRINKLES for breakfast? Something’s gotta fuel that badassery.
The question of sugar for breakfast seems to mark a dividing line between the Dutch and internationals. Sure, the odd encounter with hagelslag can evoke happy memories of celebrations and being a kid again.
But if you ask me, I’d rather have a poached egg and some bacon!
14. Wish total strangers “eet smakelijk” if they walk past while someone is eating
Have you ever tried to eat something on a train in the Netherlands? Be it your lunch, or just a frikandelbroodje you got from the Albert Heijn?
We almost guarantee that the conductor or another well-meaning person that walks past you will say “eet smakelijk” which basically means “enjoy your meal”. Why thank you, kind Dutch stranger, we will!
13. Congratulate everyone at someone else’s birthday party
Have you ever been to a Dutch birthday celebration, aka a “circle party”? If not, you’re in for a surprise. Upon arrival, it’s basically mandatory to greet every guest in attendance and congratulate them for their connection to the person whose birthday you’re celebrating.
In English, it would go like this:
Hey Joost’s girlfriend, congratulations on Joost’s birthday!
Nice to see you, Joost’s father, congratulations on your son’s birthday!
Hey Joost’s neighbour, congratulations to Joost!
Photo-of-people-embracing-each-other-greeting-each-other-at-Dutch-birthday-party
You have to congratulate everyone. Image: Pexels
While we think it’s great to spread the love, it can be super awkward to congratulate a distant uncle you may be meeting for the first time. Nevertheless, this is a Dutch tradition that many people love.
Tip: don’t forget the three cheek kisses!
12. Wave at everyone from their boat ride on the canal
Whether it’s a typical Dutch family with two kids and a dog, or a boatload of rowdy frat boys, there’s one thing they all have in common: waving at people on the side of the canal.
And we appreciate that. After all, if you’re not in the boat, you at least deserve a little wave to ease your FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).
11. Be a little cat crazy
The Dutch sure do like their feline friends. With between two and three million domestic cats in the Netherlands, you’re likely to see a plethora of different kitties wherever you go. Many restaurants and shops even have an in-house cat (who acts as a built-in rat-catcher).
In fact, there are establishments that offer cats as their selling points — cat cafes! Want to enjoy a hot chocolate with slagroom (whipped cream) as a bundle of fur purrs in your lap? The Dutch have just the thing for you.
black-and-white-cat-on-white-windowsill-looking-alert-and-away-from-the-camera
Are you also dying of a cuteness overload? Image: Depositphotos
There is even an Instagram page called raampoes (which directly translates to “window cat”) in which people share pictures of photogenic cats looking out through windows. Purrrrima!
10. Hang their backpacks on flagpoles when they graduate
Have you ever been strolling through your neighbourhood and suddenly seen a bunch of backpacks mysteriously dangling from flagpoles beside the Dutch flag? It’s nothing sinister — just a much-loved Dutch tradition!
Every year in June or July when Dutch students graduate from high school, their families proudly hang the student’s school bag on the house flag pole. Happy graduation!
9. Add “je” to everything to make it sound small and cute
While Dutch can sound like a bit of a hard language sometimes, here is a teenie weenie cute thing the Dutch do — add “je” to the end of words!
In English, we refer to this as baby-talk but Dutchies use this all the time: a bier is a “biertje” and an aardappel (potato) can be an aardappeltje. Imagine walking up to an English bar and asking for “one beerie please!” 😂
8. Be completely obsessed with flowers
Every weekend, you’re bound to see Dutchies of all ages filling the streets with flowers in hand — no special occasion required.
Bloemetjes appear to be a great solution to everyday problems in the Netherlands. Had a bad day at work? Flowers. Bad period pain? Flowers.
Did someone steal your bike? Flowers. If you ever have the pleasure of dating a Dutchie, make sure you have more than one vase or you will be judged as your room fills with — you guessed it — flowers.
7. Use funny little sounds to convey intricate meaning
If you’re new to the Netherlands and haven’t picked up any Dutch yet, the language can sound a bit like gibberish. Even more so when the Dutchies use those little words to express themselves.
Truth be told, even if you’ve been here for years, it’s still possible to be surprised by some of the little sounds that Dutch people make which are widely accepted and understood forms of speech, like:
Saying “zo” after they’ve finished doing something,
Saying “hé hé” to express satisfaction at a job well done,
Saying “nee nee nee” (always three times) before actually replying.
So simple, yet so packed with meaning.
6. Be ultra-enthusiastic when saying “hi” and “bye”
In the Netherlands, saying “hi” and “bye” are very important, and there are very specific ways of doing this.
Dutchies often say “hoi hoi” when they greet people, which is adorable. (Reminds us a bit of Santa actually). But better yet is the enthusiasm with which groups of friends yell “doeeiiiii” (byeeee) in perfect harmony at each other as they split off and cycle in different directions.
It’s even better when this high-pitched “doeeiiiii” is being yelled out by middle-aged men. (This never fails to brighten up a bike ride).
5. Wave their hand next to their head when eating something yummy
If you’ve ever eaten stamppot with a bunch of Dutchies, you might’ve noticed some people pulling happy faces and waving the palm of their hand around next to their cheek.
Do they have something on their face? Are they choking? Nee! This is the lekker hand gesture. Whilst it can look kinda ridiculous initially, we’ve gotta admit it’s also pretty endearing.
4. Get excited about fancy sandwiches
We know the Dutch love bread and cheese, but fancy sandwiches at lunchtime bring on a new level of excitement. These could be anything from goat’s cheese with rocket and parma ham, to smoked salmon, cream cheese and capers.
You can be sure that will have all the Dutchies’ mouths watering. Pair this with a massive cup of milk, and it could almost be Christmas!
3. Hold hands while cycling
Did you know that most Dutch people actually cycle straight out of the womb? We’re kidding! But it’s safe to say that Dutch children can pretty much cycle better than most of us internationals by the time they start walking.
Cycling is an important part of the Dutch lifestyle, so naturally, many of the cutest things you’ll see Dutchies doing involve bikes.
The initial sighting of a couple holding hands while cycling towards you can cause a bit of a panic — will they make space? Or do you need to swivel off the cycle path?? — but eventually, you’ll realise their love poses no threat.
2. Decorate everything from their houses to the streets
Ever walked down a Dutch street and saw:
An entire house decorated in orange buntings?
A stork’s bum stuck on a window?
A front door decorated with “50!” speed signs?
Confused? Yep, we are too. But decorating houses is just the Dutchie way! What are they celebrating? It could be anything, and we support that.
Only one thing that we know for sure is, at the rate that Dutchies decorate, HEMA will never go out of business!
1. Follow the sunshine (wherever it goes!)
Let’s face it, the Dutch winter is bleak. But as soon as the sun comes out (even if it’s winter), people will drag chairs outside and follow the sun around their garden.
If they don’t have a garden or balcony, no problem! They’ll just move out to the street and take up the sidewalk or a parking spot — and will they apologise for that? No!
Meanwhile, as soon as summer comes, it won’t be long before the Dutchies have their cheeseboards and white wine out, transforming their doorsteps into alfresco cafes.
