Why the Netherlands may not be for you
Things you need to know about the Dutch society.
Aside from being a non-English speaking country and with weathers that can go to extremes nowadays that even the Dutch people themselves are not really used to, there are practices and traits of the Dutch people and its society that may not always be at par with our beliefs and common practices as Filipinos. Here’s 5 of those reasons why I think the Netherlands may not be for you when it comes to living permanently in this country.
(Kind warning: this is my own personal opinion based on what I’ve observed and what I’ve experienced as a newcomer in this country 12 years ago).
If you refuse to learn Dutch
Although 90% of Dutch people are fluent in English, as an expat or immigrant, you’re expected to speak their language even if it’s just on a basic or elementary school level. Not too long ago, the government even provided “inburgeringscursus” (Dutch integration courses) for free so that foreigners can speak the language and learn the basics about Dutch society and culture. It’s quite important to learn Dutch for your kids’ schooling, in doing your groceries and making transactions. If you are not open to learning the Dutch language, then the Netherlands may not be for you.
If you’re not open minded
When you’re here in the Netherlands you will see many different kinds of people. It is so diverse that if you’re not used to it, it can get you off guard at times seeing them around or meeting someone that may be very different from you in belief and practices. There’s freedom to express yourself however you want it. You can be a devoted Christian or an Atheist, both are welcome here. Same sex marriage is allowed, soft drugs such as marijuana and hash are condoned, prostitution is legal. If you don’t have an open mind and accept this kind of society then the Netherlands may not be for you.
If you expect special treatment
There’s no hierarchy in the Netherlands so if you expect any special treatment because of your status, wealth or by association then the Netherlands may not be for you. Lahat po ay pantay-pantay (everybody is equal) when it comes to treatment. And every one’s voice can be heard (including the children). Not everyone may agree with you but everyone will respect your opinion and beliefs whether you’re a cleaning staff or a public official, a member of a minority group or a big celebrity. Nobody gets any special treatment and everyone is treated no different than their next door neighbor.
If you’re “sobrang mahiyain”.
Normal lang po sa ating mga Filipinos ang maging mahiyain. (It's normal for us Filipinos to become shy). And it’s not a bad trait. But if you live in a society where the people can be direct and sometimes come across as confrontational, then you may feel uneasy or uncomfortable. We Filipinos value other people’s perception of ourselves and we like to please others. But this is the least of their concern. The Dutch people usually do not care about what other people think so much so that in return they also expect that they can freely express their opinions without worrying about how that comes across to others. Their opinions and views are most especially expressed during gatherings, be it lunch breaks or birthdays. And if you are too shy to voice out your own opinion this might make you feel uncomfortable in a crowd that talks a lot.
If you don’t mind spending extra for Filipino food
If you only want to eat Filipino food and are not too adventurous to try other cuisines, then the Netherlands may not be for you UNLESS, you are willing to spend extra on ingredients to cook Filipino food. Unlike in the United States or parts of the Middle East where Filipino stores are plenty or at least pinoy products are more accessible, this is not the case (yet!) in the Netherlands. There are a lot of what we call Toko Stores (Indonesian grocery stores) that may sell other Asian food including Filipino products like Mama sites, Skyflakes and Datu puti condiments, but we primarily get our Filipino products via online stores at the moment. Which means it can get quite expensive to cook Filipino food here in the Netherlands. It can even get more challenging if you live outside the 'Randstadt' area (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht) where Asian stores are even scarce and Dutch food is the staple (meat, potatoes and vegetables).
So there's the five reasons why I think it might make it difficult for you to live here in the Netherlands. But to be honest I know that in general us Filipinos are very good at adjusting to a society. We are versatile and we blend easily into different cultures. We are quick to learn and we work hard. That’s something I’m very proud of to say as a Filipino.