Culture Shock in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is one of the most liberal countries on earth, which can certainly create a fair amount of initial culture shock, especially for those of a more conservative orientation. Prostitution is legal and flaunted in the red light districts of Amsterdam. Marijuana, while technically illegal, is tolerated and sold at the ubiquitous coffee shops.

Possessing hard drugs such as heroin or cocaine is illegal, but consumption is never illegal, which means that anybody suffering from a bad effect can be treated without fear of a prison term or criminal record. Euthanasia is legal in specific cases, and the banning of abortion is a non-issue. Homosexuality and same-sex marriages are legal, and as a result, the Netherlands has become a tourist spot for the world’s homosexual communities. 

In general, the population supports these measures, so bringing personal prejudices from a home country and espousing them in the Netherlands is a foolish thing to do. It is only those who interfere with others that will be interfered with. 
 

For an expat moving to the Netherlands, making new friends can be difficult. There are few organised social gatherings, and the dinner party culture is not a Dutch standard. A short meeting over coffee is more likely. The Dutch have been described as being cliquey, favouring old relationships over new friendships. It is usually best to be introduced to a group of people as the friend of someone in the group, but of course the first new friend is the challenge. Establishing a social group will require a significant personal investment in that social group.  
 

For any expat, learning Dutch is important. The Netherlands may be the easiest country in the world for English speakers, and almost everyone in the county is close to fluent. However, it ought to be remembered that anyone speaking English is speaking a second language. Making an impact in both business and social circles will ultimately require a fluency in the country's home tongue. 
 

The Dutch are a direct people. For the expat moving to the Netherlands it is essential to bring a thick skin. In Amsterdam in particular, residents grate badly on more subtle cultures, often without knowing it. The Dutch are direct and accept directness in return. The only way to earn the respect of the Dutch is to speak up: being silent is to be ignored.
 

Reinout Korbee, a Dutch citizen living in Zurich has this to say about the culture of his native country:

"As someone who has lived in Amsterdam I would just like to point out that the drugs and prostitution are highly regulated compared to other countries and confined to certain area's. In most social circles this is not accepted behaviour. Yes, you can do drugs and visit prostitutes, but it will be frowned upon if you openly tell your co-workers or friends that you do (depending on your friends and where you work of course). Nobody needs a drug using lawyer or a prostitute visiting doctor.

You can do a lot of things in the Netherlands as long as you don't bother anyone. The mere fact that you can doesn't mean that everyone does or thinks it's okay. There's a good deal of hypocrisy at work here. Politicians for example will be forced to resign if they're caught visiting prostitutes or taking drugs. If you live in one of the middle sized villages surrounding Amsterdam, you will not encounter any drugs or prostitution and it is probably not even legal to offer any of it, because these things get decided on the city level.

I often hear that people focus on this part of the Netherlands, which is really just confined to certain restricted area's to gain control over it. The attitude of many Dutch is that it's okay, as long as it happens somewhere else."