Dutch people are known for being direct, tolerant and pragmatic. They have a reputation for being open-minded, friendly and easy-going. But they also have some habits that might seem strange or even rude to foreigners. Here are 5 weird habits of Dutch people.
1. Eating hagelslag on bread
Hagelslag are chocolate sprinkles that Dutch people love to eat on bread with butter. They come in different flavors and colors, such as dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, fruit and even licorice. Hagelslag is not only a breakfast staple, but also a snack or a treat for any time of the day. Some Dutch people even eat hagelslag on cheese or ham.
2. Celebrating birthdays in a circle
When you go to a Dutch birthday party, don’t be surprised if you find everyone sitting in a circle in the living room. This is the typical way of celebrating birthdays in the Netherlands. The guests bring their own cake or snacks, and the host serves coffee and tea. Everyone chats with each other, and sometimes sings happy birthday to the birthday person. The circle is also a way of making sure that everyone gets equal attention and no one feels left out.
3. Saying “lekker” for everything
Lekker is a word that literally means “delicious” or “tasty”, but Dutch people use it for almost everything. They say lekker when they enjoy something, such as food, drink, weather, music, sleep or even a person. They also say lekker when they are satisfied or relieved, such as after finishing a task, taking a shower or going to the toilet. Lekker can also be used as an adjective to describe something that is nice, good or pleasant.
4. Wearing orange on King’s Day
King’s Day is the national holiday of the Netherlands, celebrated on April 27th. It is the birthday of King Willem-Alexander, the current monarch of the country. On this day, Dutch people wear orange clothes and accessories, which is the national color and the color of the royal family. They also decorate their houses, bikes and cars with orange flags and balloons. King’s Day is a day of festivities, parades, concerts and flea markets all over the country.
5. Cycling everywhere
The Netherlands is a country of cyclists. There are more bikes than people in the country, and cycling is the most popular mode of transportation. Dutch people cycle everywhere: to work, to school, to the supermarket, to the park, to the pub and even to weddings and funerals.
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