#cultureshock
In this video, I share my honest experience as a parent living in the Netherlands and some of the biggest culture shocks I’ve faced — especially around Dutch parenting and the famous biking culture.
From seeing parents confidently biking alongside their toddlers on busy roads 🚴♀️ to learning that Dutch kids often go on playdates without their parents even checking the location — I was shocked! 😅
Join me as I talk about:
🇳🇱 Dutch parenting independence
🚲 The freedom of kids in Dutch biking culture
👶 How Dutch parents approach playdates
🏡 What surprised me most as an expat parent in the Netherlands
If you’re an expat, parent, or just curious about life in the Netherlands, this video gives real insight into how different and fascinating Dutch family life can be!
💬 Tell me in the comments: What’s the biggest culture shock you’ve experienced abroad?
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Playd date in the Netherlands. Let me tell you my experience when somebody asks that my child come over to theirs for a playd date. First of all, I was not expecting it. In as much I was happy that my child is beginning to be social enough to have playdates and enough to be invited over. The conversation was leaning towards the fact that I was expected to just come and drop my child over and go. And it was see thankfully the parents whose child invited my child over to theirs was very understanding with me because honestly I started asking her question like do I have to come around and hang around and see because I was already proposing to come around to the house and stay back and watch them play and she was like ah she doesn’t think it’s a good idea because just maybe the children might not be comfortable which made a lot of sense and honestly ly I had to run to my friend who is already in the Netherlands to ask how it’s done and then she gave me some tips and at the end of the day what I did was this I went with my child to the house I got into the house just to gauge the environment to feel the energy and then I told my child goodbye and communicated with the parents to you know keep me posted send me messages and all but I just find it surprising that a child will make a playd date appointment And the parent will just have the child go to the person’s house without even coming with the child or trying to see where the child stay. If you understand what I mean. What is it like with play date? Talk to me.
4 Comments
As a Dutch person, what you described sounds very familiar 🙂 But I suppose it different from wat you are used to! Not to worry, if you communicate clearly with these other parents, I'm sure you will all understand each other better
Depending on the age of the child ppl are normally understanding that it’s the first time and it’s unfamiliar territory. I normally have a glass of water and a quick chat first time, then I go. My child is 6 so she just started recently to go on her own. Before we invited to us or I was clear that I stay with her and ppl really don’t mind if they have time of course. Greetings from Germany 💕
Yes. Im American in NL. Id maybe say yes and "can we have a cup of coffee before you leave the child? ". It is hard to get used to how Dutch people dont seem to want to make friends with other parents. They do love their coffee. But make sure to bring something like cookies as Dutch people never show up without a gift.
Its nice to not have to ask if there is a gun in the home and if it is securely stored in a safe if the answer is yes. I do not miss that about the USA