Dutch Culture From Foreign Perspectives

An Italian interpretation of  Dutch Culture.

 By Stefano Sannino

For almost a year now, I often find myself traveling in the direction of Holland. The reason for my pilgrimage to the north is tall, blonde girl,  with sweet blue eyes!

 

When it comes to the Netherlands there are two different associations, almost two different philosophies. It all depends about the interlocutor. It will therefore be: Amsterdam, drugs and red light districts, for some; Van Gogh, bicycles and tulips, for the most romantic.

The first time I landed in Holland was in 2009 with a

The first time I landed in Holland was in  2009 with a group of friends. Consequently, the program was: Amsterdam, drugs and red light districts. It was, however, a stereotype of the other triptych to hit us. Winter, cold, half a meter of snow on the streets and they were calmly traveling by bicycle. We were struggling almost to stand up walking and they hurtled us with apparent easily. Water, snow or wind, it will not prevent a Dutch saddle up his bike and move toward its goal. Chapeau!

In September last year I went for the first time in Rotterdam. The largest port in Europe is a vast, young and modern city. Lacks a true historic center of town, has a pedestrian area full of shops, pubs and restaurants that can be considered the heart of the city. Rotterdam has become over the years, a favorite destination of many architects, who ingeniously to build buildings with unusual shapes and bold. Famous in the world are the "cube houses" (Kubuswoningen). It almost seems they are having fun playing with Lego.

Thanks to my girlfriend, in addition to the big city, I was able to visit other smaller reality, including her hometown Middelburg. More or less as big as Empoli, is the capital of the province of Zeeland. The "little Amsterdam," as defined by the people because of the many canals that cross it, is a tidy and very well maintained city. In the Markt, the central market square, stand the town hall. Remarkable example of Gothic architecture is considered the most beautiful municipal palace in Holland.  

Every time I walk among the terraced houses of Middelburg, the little voyeuristic part of me is satisfied. In the living room of every house, there is this huge window, almost as large as the wall facing the street. Always or almost devoid of curtains. You see all: children playing, the grandfather sleeping, the boys who are studying, the mother who does the cleaning; it seems they don’t care, as if they say have a look in our comfort zone, we have nothing to hide. And you're there, on the sidewalk, walking. You cannot look, you don’t do it, it’s not correct, but it's useless, you don’t resist, and finally you throw a glance (or more) on it. And to think that I've always hated Big Brother.

The differences between us and the Dutch are many and there will be other opportunities to list them all. For what is my experience I have found people friendly and welcoming. Great workers loyal to duty, as indeed are all in northern Europe, but they also know to take their space and enjoy the little things.  They, in fact, have taught me a word untranslatable in Italian, but it represent the good feeling to be together in a warm and loving place. An evening outdoors with friends, chatting amiably with a glass of wine in hand is Gezellig.

P.S. also here nothing bidet, what the F...

Written by my boyfriend Stefano Sannino for the Italian blog: theideasmachine.it  (definitely worth a visit!)

For the Italian version: click here!