Why do the Dutch COMPLAIN so much?
2024 ж. 13 Мам.
28 472 Рет қаралды
Who complains more? The French or the Dutch? Complaining is a national sport in the Netherlands. There's a reason for it...
What do the Dutch complain about? Why?
⏰ CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
02:08 What and why do the Dutch complain?
03:27 Cultural difference
05:06 Culture of Pessimism
05:35 Why you shouldn't complain?
05:51 Why you SHOULD complain
07:53 How to complain like the Dutch?
08:50 Ending
📽 OTHER VIDEOS:
• 5 Years in The Netherl...
• The Dutch Work the Few...
• Dutch 'Sixes' Culture ...
🙏 IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT ME:
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😁 WHO AM I?
I'm David, a Californian living in Amsterdam. I make videos about life in the Netherlands, hiking/traveling, and the Camino de Santiago.
What would you like to complain about? I’m still not happy about my grocery bill increasing and everything else increasing...except my salary...😆😠
Do you speak already Dutch?
What is the backstory about the art on your wall? I always admire it in your videos. Thanks as always for the great content, as one always learns something new while enjoying your sense of humor.
@@chrispnw2547 That's a Brood. Herman Brood was a late 70's Dutch rock 'n roll star who later explored his undeniable painting talent, for the fun of it but also to finance his drug habits. He cancelled his attempt to become an international rockstar by touring the USA early on in the tour because the drugs there weren't good enough to keep him going.
@@DenUitvreter Yep, that’s a Brood. He used to own a cafe in De Spui , I forget the name. It was a cafe/bar/art gallery. I saw him there a few times when I dropped in for drinks.
@@MrOoofah I was only a regular to "Schuim" for a short while but if I remember correctly that was in the Spuistraat. Seems like a Brood neighbourhood though.
Lived in Canada for 50+years. And I still complain like a dutch Native. Hahaha
Hahahah I like how you're still so proud of it even after 50+ years...I guess it sticks with you forever!
He sure sounds happy 😂 it works. Hou vol, leer heel Canada klagen 👍
The better Dutch saying is "gedeelde smart is halve smart": grief/grievances shared is grief/grievances halved.
Inderdaad!
Utrecht Central yesterday would have been a nice place for interviews. With all NS trains cancelled, people on the platforms went mad.
The day when my train rides and on time, I consider myself super lucky 😂
HAHA I think I would've been too annoyed myself to do interviews
@@sharonchan1631 yea but unfortunately that's a purely hypothetical situation :(
Yup i was there to be honest those major failures don't happen that often anymore. It sucks but the trains aren't that bad actually having ecperienced public transport in other country's. Ours is pretty good.
@@arturobianco848sure our system is pretty good, however it can be improved That’s why it’s good to continue to point out the bad whilst off-course appreciating how good we have it We are actually in the 1% richest people on earth for a reason
It's our bounden duty to complain; w/o it, nothing changes. And it's the inborn pessimism that keeps us happy as our lives are full of pleasant surprises when 'the worst' doesn't happen.
Yep, can be a great model so you won't get disappointed if used wisely =)
😂
For some complaining is expressing (maybe even celebrating) of having the freedom to point out where there is improvement possible or indeed just a form of stressrelief. (Hence the happiness)
Haha never thought about it like that, thanks!
thats for sure how i use it. to just get rid of my unwanted thoughts and feelings.
We are born on a bike, dumped into the water to learn to swim and our first words are why we aren’t fed more by our mother…
Hahaha...Dutch resilience
But for real though, the weather was so bad today. All that wind and soft rain, disgusting. Can't wait for it to be too hot again so I can complain about that. :)
LOL I found myself complaining about the heat too...and because I can't sleep at night
UK here - almost as soon as summer is within sight, you'll start to hear "I don't mind the heat, it's the humidity!"
I still love your Brood on the wall.
Me too!
Hahaha I'm liking it more and more too thanks!
The painting is expensive @@hidavidwen
If it's the real deal for sure, but there's a lot of Brood screenprints that are much more affordable.
Your videos are food for thoughts. During the video I started to wonder how our complaining culture helped to get our bicycle friendly infrastructure. The story always started that people died in traffic. But that happened everywhere, for other countries no reason to take action. So I think the story should be that it started with people complaining about it. Overall our complaining is mostly not that serious though.
Thanks =) Yeah it's not serious...but fun =)
I have a complain David which is upload more videos please LOL🤣🤣🤣 i'm kidding i do like your videos though so please take all the time you need😊 It's always intresting to hear what foreign people say and think about my/your country now as well it's really intresting and also very entertaining as well in my honest opinion. As always keep up the great work David👍 En nog een prettige dag toegewenst?😊
Hahaha thanks for the complaint =) I appreciate this one. And also appreciate you for always adding your honest opinions too (I've learned the most from people like you). But yes, plan to make more videos...but a lot of things happening in life/work which I will talk about hopefully soon =) Fijne dag en jaar!
U nailed it. Completely integrated: min. 9.56😂❤
❤️❤️YAY
Once when I went on an organized holiday to Wales, our driver said when we left: o, you people will suffer on this journey. When we asked him why, he said: you are going on a trip that is so great, that there is nothing to complain about, and Dutch people always need something to complain about! This made us all laugh out loud!
Hahaha sounds like the driver had many experiences with the Dutch, great example!
@@hidavidwen The driver WAS Dutch!
@@moniquevandoorn8347 he should've known that's the first thing to complain about - the bus itself.
@@Makro3d He also made a very good remark later on the trip. When there was a music evening in the hotel, our group entered the room, and sat down in another part, then the part where the Welsh people sat. Our driver entered the room, looked at the Welsh group, then at our group, and the Welsh group again. When we asked him to join us, he said: I am wondering which of these two groups had a contagious disease, cause I don’t want to sit down there. And then he walked away again. We thought: he is absolutely right. The next evening we just joined the other group, and we had a wonderful time together. That was a really great coach driver in every way! One of my best holidays!
And you found nothing to complain about???? Impossible
Nothing is ever perfect, and to work on improvement, a critical attitude is essential; it leads to innovation
Thanks, good mindset to have! #innovation
Duchy here as well… keep into account that complaining is mostly done when things are “bad” in general (like weather, public transport or cold food), but when complaining gets personal it is a totally different story. The clip at the end about us speaking broken English is just straight up a lie and people will get angry (and express that as well).
that was SUCH a bizarre video! i still dont know if she was serious
@@steffenberr6760 Saw it as well... I cannot imagine someone so ignorant saying what she said. Not only that small excerpt but the all video. I want to believe it was on purpose!
Haha yeah I get ya...I thought it was a funny skit at first...but then she does a lot of vlogs so I don't know...
Yea her video was so weird. Especially the part where her English is so bad that she hired a voice over to do the video for her, the original video she uploaded was in Spanish with broken English parts.
Great video! Can I just say I really like the jokes and the editing! It makes it so fun to watch.
Thanks Bernadette! Appreciate it 😄🙏
Very entertaining, a joy to watch, you get better and better at this. Keep on going!
Aw thanks!! 🙏🙏
I do like your videos , you tell about daily stuff with a good perspective. What a genius person
Thank you again for a very nice insight in our / mine culture. To be honest .. you nailed this topic on all points. Again, a very good insight and with a conclusion which even surprised me .. because we complain so much we are more happy 😊
Hahaha thanks for the kind words =)
Great video, David! I really liked your take on complaining as a way to point out and fix issued and as a bonding experience, as well as the conclusion that complaining is not always bad actually! As a foreigner, I really appreciate how in the Netherlands there is almost always room to complain and object AND actually to be heard. From government institutions and fines to your soup being cold, there is almost always an efficient complaint procedure and a fair solution!
Thanks! Yeah I come from a culture where you don't 'complain' and you just follow. I'm still more like that but learning how to give 'constructive complaints/feedback' since coming here
right now complaining that i have to go to work for a 12 hour night shift!!! Keep up the good work David. I enjoy virtually traveling to the Netherlands
Thanks! Well I hope you can take a good break after those 12 hours!
Wow, this is great. As a dutch expat, I lived in the US for a year. We were very happy there and people were really nice. But there was always something bugging me...and I could not put my finger on it. UNTIL WE GOT BACK. I went to a bar with some friends and the waitress came to our table, saw that we were enjoying ourselves and started enquiring sincerely about what we had been doing. Then, she started to engage in the conversation and then complained about her day and the fact she had to work. And I loved it! She was a real person, not somebody who was putting on an act 'hi I'm your tour guide for tonight' just to get a bigger tip. And I'm guessing only Dutchies would be able to appreciate this behavior. It makes you realize not everything has to be perfect and other people have crappy days too. Cheers!
Haha yes I get you! Funny how ‘complaining’ gave you all the warm fuzzies (the culture in which you grew up in)…hilarious hahaha thanks for sharing
David, well said! (complain and compliments should go hand in hand)
Thanks! Haha complain and compliments, I like that
I really enjoyed watching this video!
Aw thanks, I really appreciate it! 🙏
Complaining is continuously trying to improve things. It’s never good enough. This means that society is improving. Of course we won’t say that, because then we wouldn’t be improving.
Dutch public transport is not improving, it is the opposite.
Haha I like that definition (complaining = continuously improving things)
Thanks David, I appreciate the work and research you put into these videos. I am going to start embracing my inner Dutch and start complaining about the weather (although that's a little hard right now here in Costa Rica Haha)
You can always complain it's too hot :P
@@Danger12233 🤔👍
Hahaha you're welcome Jason and thanks....ahhh I'm just imagining that sun in my face....but hey, I have a sun-lamp now for the first time ever...
just complaine its to perfect that you can't really enjoy it becasue of that. You ain't dutch if you can't find something to complaine about the weather. To be honest Dutch weather really isn't that great but it makes you very adaptable i rarely ever have a problem with thr weather somewhere else except for heat.
@@arturobianco848 very nice, well we are looking forward to finding out about the dutch weather soon. We will be moving there in August. 😁
great video - thanks!
Thanks!
😅 spot on. Great vid.
Thanks!
Loved the four seasons playing in the background
Ahh you noticed, nice!!
Loved the ending!
Hahaha thanks
Yes you are fully integrated! The last part about it not raining when you want it to had my in laughing oud loud xD so true
Hahaha I was looking through the footage and thought it was funny and interesting to include
I'm Dutch and 1.5 years ago I moved to Sweden. Since then I've really noticed how much Dutch people complain. In the Netherlands you're constantly surrounded by negativity, which is really exhausting. Nothing is ever good enough according to the Dutch. Living in the Netherlands I didn't really notice this, but now it's really obvious to me. My sister, who's been living in Japan for 8 years says the same and always feels stressed when she visits the Netherlands due to this constant stream of negativity. Now, I just complain about Dutch people complaining :))
Haha someone commented that she lived in the US for 1 year and when she returned to NL, she immediately noticed all the 'complaining' and it felt like home. Thanks for sharing!
I was about to say that as a all natural Dutch person -4c is not that cold but then i remembered when i go outside i have 2 winter coats/jackets 1 being my coat/jacket and 2 being my body fat 😂and the way i think is that if you're cold and have to cycle through the cold then you just gotta cycle harder and faster to warm up! Its better to save as much money as possible 24/7 so its better to cycle not just because it saves you money from using public transportation but it also help you with a cardio workout! And some strength training if you decide to use a higher gear in the bicycle which makes it harder to pedal but you get faster to your destination! Efficiency! (This is just my opinion what is better if you do not agree then feel free to disagree with me i do not mind)
Haha thanks Ramon for sharing and for the tips
No problemo! I've only lived 30 years in this country so i have picked up a couple things here and there 😛@@hidavidwen
I mean, there are always two kinds of people the ones who complain about thee weather and the ones complaining that the people complaining about the weather are complaining wrong. as a fellow well-isolated person I'm pretty sure you're going to see the inverse pattern if the temperature dares to go above 21 degrees, or as I call it: boiling hot.
Oh yea i've been in temps where it was 40c or 45c and it was easily 50c to 55c and i was dying inside.. air conditioning is not really a big thing in The Netherlands so all i have is a fan and even that started to blow warm air so that did not help.. what was worse was that it was that hot for a month or two straight hardly to without rain for weeks.. i remember looking at my clothes in disgust those days lol@@SenorZorros
Is that a real Brood painting on the wall or a copy? I like it.
I hope it is? I like it too
Funny and nice video!
Thanks!
As a Dutch native I really enjoyed this video. One thing was new to me, that complaining can be used to bond and as free therapy. I never really thought about it that way. I do see negative sides too though. For example, the railways do quite a good job but few people recognize the railways (and the people working hard, doing nightshifts to get repair done etc) do quite a good job and hardly ever have I heard people say: Wow thanks NS (railways) for a good job. In other words, in the US they are very good in giving compliments to people ie praising people for doing a good job. That is lacking sometimes in the Netherlands. Similarly, being grateful for what you have is a good trait but you lose that we complaining too much. But thanks for the video, keep up the good work!
Thanks for sharing! Yeah agree that it's a fine balance...complaining...I come from a culture where you 'bottle up' things inside...so it's been nice to be able to release thoughts/emotions...I also never thought about it like that too
@@hidavidwen Thanks. Yes bottling up is not good. One more example I have about Dutch poiitics. Some people only talk negatively about politicians and people who work for the government (ambtenaren). But I think we also have to recognize that a good healthcare and education system in a system which allows for entrepreneurship also happened in part thanks to generations of good statesmen and politicians. Talking negatively only about them does not do it justice. In short, I think a balance in which you can complain a little bit but also give compliments is best ;)
I live in NYC and people here complain more than most American's do -- it took a while to get use to it when I first got here but now I'm like a local. Maybe it comes from the NYC's Dutch heritage as New Amsterdam...
Haha thanks John, perhaps that's true!
Because there is room for improvement and our competences are kept to a minimum since we have a sixes culture so we have the urge to be good at something.
Ahh yes, makes sense!
Oh I definitely do the bonding through complaining lol, that’s basically my main way of making friends and acquaintances in school haha
Hahaha it's definitely a good way to bond...and make friends
I quite agree with this video, yeah not much complaints about it, so that makes it a bit iffy.. just thinking out loud 😅
Hahaha thanks…well I welcome any future complaints and feedback :)
"Alles is veel voor wie niet veel verwacht". From JC Bloem, "De Dapperstraat".
Helemaal waar!
👏👏
Hi David! Hahaha, I just saw your video, and I noticed that the lady you mentioned I already commented on her video a while ago....we are both Chileans 😅. I really don't understand this kind of behavior..I mean you have to be willing to adapt
Thanks! Haha, yeah adapting is key in life. Best wishes to you!
I’d like to complain about expats in Amsterdam who’re feeling a bit too entitled for their own good. 😆
I’d like to complain about -expats in- Amsterdam who -’re- feel -ing a bit- too entitled for their own good. *fixed.
Thanks for sharing. I'd like to complain about anyone who feels entitled in general =)
0:46 I learned this the hard way during strike season 2 years ago. I already hate the fact that busses and trains come simultaneously and the busses went from every 30 minutes every time to every 30 minutes during rush hour in my area. Yeah, with such infrequent transport I prefer cycling because I know I don’t have to wake up extra early just to catch a train that in my area is owned by a DB company. (Yes, I live in the Netherlands, just far away from the Randstad).
Wow every 30 minutes...that must be difficult if you miss a bus (or if it's full) or something happens...=/
@@hidavidwen Luckily the busses and trains are never full. Even during rush hour you can find a seat if you’re willing to ask people to make some room for you (but it’s too full for bikes during rush hours). But if I do miss a train then yeah, I risk being screwed big time.
In France complaining is also the national sport. We complain about everything including about the fact that we complain so much. But that doesn’t make us particularly happy.
Thanks for sharing, yeah I know about the French complaining culture too! And the culture of ‘debating’
It's weird that weather is such a topic for complaint, as the weather and climate generally is very moderate (especially compared to many other countries).
Hmmmm, I guess it's all relative. I really struggle with the weather here...thanks for sharing!
Dutch weather and English weather are similar - and both of us are known for complaining about it
Complaining works. I recently complained at a hospital that their mattresses could be used as a torture device (Being very vivid with your complains is critical) Did my complaining on all levels even to the management of the hospital, just because I could. And now nearly a year later they are looking into replacing the mattresses with something better, I saw a press release on their webpage that they are having talks with a mattress manufacturers to replace all of them in the coming years.
Wow thanks for sharing this example of how ‘complaining’ works…I guess it goes deeper…there’s a proper way to complain too (involving psychology and reasons and not just complaining and nagging)
Very nice 😊
Thanks =)
n other dutch saying: een dag niet geklaagd is een dag niet geleefd. (to not complain for a day means to not live for a day)
Thanks!
That graph about defensive pessimism is exactly how I take the bus to school, especially during/near rush hour. There is way too much traffic and the busses are always full during rush hour so I just avoid it and calculate all my timings in a way that avoids it, so that's why I am rarely late and when I am it's not by much
Smart! Yeah I guess you have to learn that...knowing how unpredictable things are...I also learned my lesson at the beginning (almost missed some important meetings and didn't know other routes to get to work)
@@hidavidwen That's why when I started going to school in south Limburg (although the other south limburg from where you went to school), the first thing I did was looking for all the routes that I can take to get to school. I have learned from my parents that being late is a bad thing so I extremize and be an hour early, and even when there is a bus strike I can still take the train (although that route is way slower)
what was that video online again on youtube about the hundreds of words about the weather nvm 08:14 you have it
i have a complaint about the question at 1:16 why is there no E. all of the above (this is satire incase people didnt realize)
Haha thanks for the complaint =)
It is so true ;)
This is the main reason i left my country as a Dutch. Some old people has nothing better to do than complaining. Writing a letter to the newspaper or call police on youngsters.
Hope you are well wherever you are
Im doing pretty good thanks ❤ currently based in Thailand
It's a National Sport! We complain when we have nothing to complain about... We die if we are satisfied with everything. Pure boredom...
It is also a stress relief, there! I said it! Now go on with it! Bye!
Hahaha....yeah especially during winter....I'm bored...let's complain..happy again
Complaints about unsightly satellite dishes on apartment buildings is a vailed complaint about something beyond the dishes themselves. This is a vailed observation.
Oftentimes not really, unless you're projecting your own feelings onto others. Flats tend to rather mediocre looking architecture, adding a wall of satellite dishes makes it visual puke especially when they exist in otherwise good looking neighborhoods. Thanks to digital TV those ugly satellite towers are slowly going the way of the dinosaur.
Interesting...first I've heard of this but I can see that
what am i complaining about today (im dutch). that i ate way too much at dinner yesterday. im still struggling haha.
Haha I hope now you are better!
Used to live in Amsterdam, this is too good 😂
Haha 😂😂
Honestly sometimes it just feels good to go on a rant with other people about shitty government policies, the bad housing market, higher prices in superkets etc etc. Ofcourse there is still a lot to be thankful for and yes there are some people that have it much worse, but what do we do. We are still just people. I do agree with you about the fact that we use pessimism to avoid big disapointments in. We also tend to be a lot more realistic then americans for example. Although sometimes I wish I could be more optimistic like americans, just because I do sometimes lack courage to take risks because of this mindset.
Thanks for sharing Kelly. I can see the more realistic attitude of the Dutch. Also I can see that Americans are more optimistic now that I can compare and contrast. I think there's a good balance to have =)
Het zit in onze genen.,en wie het niet aanstaat kan opzouten.
its also opposit. we will also tell you what we do like, or what does make us happy. you know exacly how we feel about things. so you wont have to guess it, or try to read our minds. because when does that work effectively?
Thanks 🙏🙏
😂😂😂😂 Great video again David!!! Yes, the Dutch whine about everything, and I do it too. Looking at one of your scales, I see the Netherlands on the left, and Indonesia (where I was born) on the right. You can imagine that whenever I visit my relatives I am so direct, that my relatives sometimes don't know how to respond. The whining sometimes irritates me. The Netherlands is one of the richest countries. We survived the financial crisis in 2009 pretty well (lots of southern and eastern Europeans came to the Netherlands then), our government supported entrepreneurs during corona, the Dutch received financial support for their extremely high energy bill due to the energy crisis.... and yet.... We Complain! You mentioned the public transportation. After having travelled in Germany.... The Dutch have a perfect public transportation! The Germans don't trust their trains and rather drive themselves because trains more often ate delayed or don't run than work properly. The Dutch should count their blessings. After travelling in Germany I feel so blessed with the Dutch trains! Yes, sometimes things go wrong (Dutch saying „waar gewerkt wordt vallen spaanders" wherever people work, something might happen - contrary to doing nothing, then things can't go wrong.... Yes, complaining is a form of bonding: you have something in common! On the other hand, I noticed that my Indonesian relatives don't complain simply because everyone has a shitty life! And believe me, they have shitty lives..... Complaining releases the tension. Another Dutch saying „Maak van je hart geen moordkuil" Don't make a murder pit of your heart (?). Don't bottle up, but spit it out. I am a senior, so every morning I do a day start with my team. So my team shares our schedule of the day. What are we going to do? What needs to be done? Questions about processes and.... irritations about co-workers... Having said that, we go to work with a big 😁 because we expressed our annoyance or irritation... Let it all out! ✌🏼
Haha thanks for sharing...so you do a team 'standup' and share irritations? Sounds like team building/bonding
@@hidavidwen yes we do. Actually, the financial institution I work for, has a platform where customers can unload their irritation! We often wondered why they allowed these comments, which were visible for all to see. But we received explanation that it is done deliberately. First because when people have the possibility to express themselves, the tension in their system diminises. (To give an example, I had a conflict with a fellow coworker. Instantly I send an email; in plain straight forward Dutch what I thought of her and her behaviour. She called me immediately, but I told my fellow coworker to answer the call, since I was in such a furious state that I would have repeated the mail vocally in strong words Later in the afternoon she called again, by that time tmy irritation level dropped considerably and we could level in a normal way. We then had a laugh about it. Another reason: special trained co-workers follow these platforms and see what irritations are frequently coming back. That is used to improve processes or procedures. If necessary they contact people to assist them. I never thought of that!
@@Haroekoe Haha very happy to hear of that example of workplace conflict being resolved through communication (which can be so hard-I work in HR Talent Development). Thanks for sharing!
Because we are free and allowed to share our opinions and eventual disgust with the world around us
Thanks for sharing, yes!
I wanna talk to your superior: Get me the manager! 🤣🤣
Hahaha, I’ve heard that before……
The reason we have the weather that we have (in NL) is to always have something to complain about. Optimists vs pessimists: an optimist can get what he expects or it is worse than expected a pessimist can get what he expects or it is better thn expected So the optimists wins 50 percent, and the pessimist always wins
Haha I get it...makes sense,thanks!
You are so right. It can be helpful to not always (pretend to) be satisfied since it helps to push forward or make changes. I also think that lack of hierarchy helps. Where I work I can easily banter and complain to my boss and my boss will complain right back to me :') Dutch peope also have a limit to complaining btw. There is no set rule but there is definitely 'a line' which is more instinctual. And if you cross that line, even Dutch people will consider you a pessimist. I think Dutch people are also pretty much hardened and resistent to negativity. You can be pretty insulting in our faces and we will think "okay, so.. what are we gonna do about it? Let's fix this."
Thanks for sharing!
As a Dutchie I'm complaining about the fact that you are probably totally correct. 😂 And I also complain a lot about people who are complaining a lot. But hey, I am on anti- depressives so I feel very happy but that makes me complain because I have nothing to be happy about. 😊
You FEEL you have nothing to be happy about. Happiness is a feeling, not a result of achievements. I don't say this to make it less significant, but it is a realisation you need to even attempt to tackle your depressia. A good example for influences over our happiness is that when you lost a leg the thing to make us feel better is to lie in a hospital next to someone who lost both legs.. it's a matter of comparing yourself to the world around you, both in good and bad times. I hope you can find the things to focus on to make you feel better about yourself instead of the bad ones, since that last option is far easier. A humbling thing Richard Hawkings describes is that us being born out of all the possible fertilasations is a chance so small that we already won the lottery with having been born. So my suggestion would be to look up from the bottom to what you have to be gratefull for, instead of looking from the top to what you weren't able to achieve and who could possibly be disappointed for that. My life is far from perfect, but I make sure to look at what I have, not to what I don't have.
@@longbow857 Thanks you for your reaction. I know you are right. I've been trough a big depression and am better now. Not suïcidal anymore. Remarks like yours keep me going on. But I have lowered my dreams. I have to accept my wife can't have children but I love her to death. I know I won't be a rich man but I have to accept that also. Problem is/was my parents. They thought I could be anything if I just made enough effort. Well, I have a master in history, a good well payed job, but I still fell into a depression. At this moment I feel better again, partly because of the anti depressants. But the stress I hade on my job? I never want to go there again. It's stupid I know, but I feel I left my parents and my wife down. I felt I was a failure, but thanks through therapy and those pills, I feel a lot better now. Perhaps that's the reason Dutch people are high ranked in happiness stats. Over 40% of Dutch people use anti depressants.
Thanks for sharing, wishing you well in 2024 and beyond!
I depend on NS trains to/from my room and where I study, always passing through Schiphol and its neverending werkzaamheden, of course I'm complaining about them!
Oh yeah I get it...I would complain too...wish you luck in your studies!
@@hidavidwen thank you David! one step at a time :)
100% true. However, it depends on where in the Netherlands. In Zeeland, people are less direct than, for example, in Amsterdam. My father is Dutch, and my mother is Flemish (North of Belgium) and Flemish people also complain, but less direct, not openly. In Amsterdam, people are very direct, so they will complain openly. So the better question is to ask, is it because of Dutch people being more direct, you notice more the complaining than for example Flemish people, cause in my experience they complain just as much, but not directly to strangers.
Thanks for sharing…yes I’ve heard and also experienced the North being more direct than the South!
You know what I don't even like to complain but it's a shortcut to make small conversion.
Hahaha, you can dislike complaining but still do it =)
We will complain significantly less next month, I promise. Kind regards from the Netherlands
Hahaha in February? Well let’s see what happens. You never know…
If you don't complain people might assume you're satisfied. Someone might offer advice about your complaint or just maybe you can improve your situation together, because even if everything is fine it could still be better...
Good perspective...true, thanks!
haha thats quite a polite translation of kutweer
Haha I know =)
Complaining is nice. Bitching about the weather feels good.
🙌🙌
I think everybody complains but that we take it to the next level where complaining has turned into a form of comedy. I play Trading Card Games and there was an event where you get 5 packs of cards to make a deck with and compete with others. My packs were absolute garbage and I felt it... That feely feeling. The irresistible urge to COMPLAIN! But instead of just being negative I made a bit of an act out of it, full with motion and everything, slamming the cards on the table all the while complaining. And somehow that made it funny to other people and they now remember that moment fondly as something entertaining. Comedic Complaining.
Haha thanks….my friend told me her Dutch husband and friend had a boys night in…they also played games…and it was some game about complaining about whatever topic…I think they just wanted to a complaining night haha
@@hidavidwen Sounds like a fun night to me!
You'll never get the whole picture if you only ask people with enough money.
Thanks for sharing
I complain about my work every day. At work. With all my colleagues who also work hard and complain even harder😂
A new strategy for teambuilding #complainingtogether =)
I love this country! My only complain is the fucking rain, I don't care about the weather, it is the RAIN... November rained everyday non-stop... that was fucking awful... then, I love it!
Haha I get ya...the rain does suck...2023 was the wettest year on record
That tourist with her complaining video is absolutely hilarious. 'People speak English as a second language, but it's broken English.' All the while she herself doesn't speak a word of English and had someone overdub her video for the English version.🤣
Haha yeah I think it's a troll video but who knows
You nailed it, David 🙂
🙌🙌
I definitely have my hearth on my tongue as we Dutch say. I always say: I complain because I care.
Haha thanks!
I swear, I agree with so many dutch cultural norms it's like I was born for it.
Hahaha, you sound like you may be a Dutchie =)
@@hidavidwen Honesty. Ranting and complaining. I'm sure there could be a bit of racism or rudeness for being a foreigner, but here I come.
If only the complaints had any substantive level of quality
Good point
There's definitely a weird but nice spontaneous sense of community when a train gets cancelled and everyone on the platform sighs in unison. I think people mostly enjoy complaining about things that the people they're talking to are also experiencing, which has a very different feeling than complaining about something going on in your personal life (which people should still do but sadly bottle up quite often).
Hahaha I've been part of that 'community' before too...thanks
For the second time in 3 days a power outage, ik word er gek van. 😂
Hahaha that sucks, I'm here with you
We also like to complain about people who complain all the time. Well.. Looks like you integrated 😉(no I'm not complaining) But yeah this is very true, and I do it too (born and raised Dutch) but I also try to say something positive.
Haha thanks! Didn’t know there was this much to learn about complaining :)
If you don’t complain, things will never change.
True, thanks!
Imagine if NS gets its act together and we get a really lovely summer. What would we talk about?!? :D
Hahaha...imagine that...would be horrible...horrrribleeee
Brilliant. There's nothing to complain about. So I would like to complain about that.
Haha thanks for the rant
I clicked this video, thinking it would be rubbish again, but no, actually it was quite good. 🙂
Hahaha you're always honest so I appreciate it Ronald
Nah complaint is pretty much everywhere these days where there is free speech. Either here in KZhead or other media outlets, its called comments and suggestions. As long you do it artfully , " constructive not insulting " towards others.
Ahh I like that...constructive complaining...thanks!
We all complain because we are spoiled little brats who don't know how well of we are. Untill we are abroad, then all of a sudden The Netherlands are brilliant and the best in the world, and start complaining about the country we are in at that moment. We are insufferable really.
I always say to foreigners that we Dutch are the only ones in the world who have NO wheater! is always to cold, to hot, to wett, to dry, to windy, lack of wind etc.etc. We are also known for HATING forced onto upon us childish rules and became Jedi masters in dodging them. Our neighbours see us often as the "Black sheep" ( Stubern, Anarchistic, Rebelious) sibling of the Germanic tribes family. That and Being the only nation that is married instead of just lives/deals with the ocean also gives us the advantage of easilier thinking out of the box.
Hah thanks for sharing!
Well like they say " You can take a Dutchman out of The Netherlands,But never can take the Netherlands out of a Dutchman " Atleast not with me 😂
Haha you're not the first to say this!
It’s that time of the year again for taxes (and complaining about them) and every time I see “belastingen” my brain thinks of the German word “belästigen” which basically translates as harassment. So in my mind “Regionale Belastingen Groep” = “regional harrasment group”
Crap…when you said taxes…it brought up all those ‘blue’ envelopes…I get anxious every time I see them…and like why do I have to keep paying and getting refunds and paying again…ok I’ll stop
I can't say what I think, because I prefer to be polite.
I get what you mean...that is me too
"Ugh this takkenweather again" "Dude stop complaining" "Are you denying me my therapy?"
HAHA exactly!
Loved the video! But David…. You’re overly optimistic about the Dutch culture. That’s my complaint. 😂
Hahaha thanks, I think it comes from the American culture...and also being able to compare and contrast things... Yeah, the weather still does affect me negatively though...never have I ever had to find strategies to survive the winters here.. and the lack of mountains haha...but I'm enjoying many other things =)
AT LEAST THEY HAVE TRAINS😢
Hahah yeahhhhhh
As a Dutch citizen, I want to complain about the negative attitude towards people from my country. Clearly, the Germans complain even more than we do.
Thanks Sander for the complaint