6 Simple Dutch Habits for Happiness, Health and Self Care
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- Опубликовано: 17 май 2024
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Have you ever heard of niksen? How about gezellig? Let's talk about some simple Dutch habits for happiness, health and self care. I love sharing a bit more of my culture with you today, and talk about some things that are quite normal for us Dutchies, but might not be so normal everywhere.
Lots of love,
🌼 Vera
VIDEO CHAPTERS
Intro 0:00
Niksen 1:44
Language learning 4:55
Gezellig 9:07
The outdoors 12:29
Efficiency 15:15
Hobbies & passions 17:28
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What’s your favorite of these habits? 🌱 Also, a big thanks to LiveXP for sponsoring today's video! Book your first $0,99 trial lesson here: livexp.biz/HAPPYZEN and get 30% off your subscription by using this link: livexp.biz/HAPPYZEN30
loved this video!
P😊ĺ😊😊lpooo9😅in error in 9?robertm@ilrc.mb.ca case I have 9😅😅missed being held 99999999999999898oʻ 5:48 oooooooooooooʻooooooooooooo99999999999999999
Always have a little something with coffee or tea 🥰
Taking time for yourself and not feeling guilty about it because we all deserve that! Priceless ❤
Uh the dutch are rioting.
ruclips.net/video/2xgB1ep7Iog/видео.htmlsi=xkW8NUv6MGAVQ1ww
I aim to become President Niksen.
This deserves more likes
Brilliant!!!!!
Ich auch Präsidentin von gar Nixon!!! 😁
Guess somebody had to say it, lol
Great!! I’ll be your VP!!! I was born for this!!🥰
🤟
This video makes me painfully aware of how much we Americans have sacrificed over the years. We've surrendered everything precious without even realizing it. Kudos to the Dutch for refusing to give it up.
So true! We’ve missed that boat in the US.
Exactly
Because we take care of the world so they can relax.
@@brendachilders4879 This is true…we’re the World Police! 20-years….USAF MSgt (Ret)
Very curious statement....exactly what has been sacrificed? The Dutch appreciate diversity, speak many languages, travel, and they are great hosts. I lived there for a year so I know of what I speak. They are not xenophobic as you may be.
I lived and worked in Germany for a while and developed nervous exhaustion. To relieve the symptoms - anxiety, fatigue, depression, sleeplessness - I used to visit Dutch friends just over the border and realised that life was much more than just work.
Live and work in the Netherlands instead. I wonder whether the Dutch are less anal-retentive than the Germans due to their being located right on the coast and having the major seaports of continental Europe to make money for them.
I have 2 American uncles who were killed in WW2. Their graves are in Holland and to this day Dutch citizens are assigned to tend to each soldier's grave. In recent years an American father and his sons visited those graves and noticed so many brothers from the war were buried together. He wrote a book about it (Brothers in Arms by Kevin Callahan) and reached out to our family for information. He was so impressed with the respect the Dutch gave to these soldiers.
❤❤❤❤
So many Canadians never made it home from Holland, also. But there is a side to that. Not surprisingly, Dutch are not all that quick to forget those who were traitors during the occupation, and they like to get performative with it, by demonstrative remembrances of the sacrifices of liberators. And this seems to carry over into generations, at the time, not yet born.
I'm😅😮 TV@@tacticalskiffs8134
On Sunday mornings I volunteer at an animal rescue. Honestly I'd rather be home but once there it's all about them. I get out of myself and feel like I'm living out and being true to my values. Then I go home and hang out with my 5 cats and 2 dogs. That is my bliss.
❤
I am German and I also think that life is better in the Netherlands.
Sounds perfect!!
THANK YOU .... for animal lovers, the only folks who would ever volunteer to do that, it can be very psychologically and emotionally demanding so I really really appreciate you doing that for the animals. ♥️
😊😁 yay...sounds fun... animals are the best 🐕🐶😻😺🐇🐷🐰🐭🐺🐨🐐🐑🐦🐿️🕊️🦀🐞🐝🕷️🐧
My grandmother lived like a Dutch woman, even though she smoked like a chimney and she was obese. She lived to 103. She never had cancer, diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, nothing. But she was totally calm and laid back. It was her personality. You either have it or you don't.
An advert for her language classes 😂
Doctors always say that obesity causes different health problems, especially smoking.
We can train our mind to do better, and people change when they choose to change.
she must have been awesome!
great to hear😊🎉
I can spend Saturdays just going to the park, having a coffee in my local then going home and ( slowly ) cleaning my apartment. Nothing glamourous, but as I go to bed in the evening between fresh clean sheets, I feel great ; my mind is uncluttered.
That is a basic of any nationality.
Dutch DIRECT: "We don't say 'yes' or 'maybe', when we mean 'no'. There is much we cannot and will not do. But honesty is not a weakness, it's a strength. " - FEADSHIP Hoofddorp HQ
Honesty is always a strength. It promotes trust between people.
@@denisemarino3021 Honesty uncluttered relationships between people.
Yes to Direct Answer, in good way..
@denisemarino3021, yep, trust is the most valuable thing in the world.
"There's is much we cannot and will not do." Like what? Can you give some examples? Just trying to learn more.
Sunday is my Nikse day. I’ve carefully trained everyone I know to leave me alone on that day, and not contact me unless the world is ending (or maybe even if it is). It’s amazing. 😁❤👍☕
"How do you do Nothing," asked Pooh after he had wondered for a long time.
"Well, it's when people call out at you just as you're going off to do it, 'What are you going to do, Christopher Robin?' and you say, 'Oh, Nothing,' and then you go and do it."
Always the best quotes from Winnie the Pooh
Wonderful. Thanks
Hanging out with my cats brings me joy
Give them a pet from me! 💕
@@SimpleHappyZen I hope you will adopt one or two cats for yourself and your boyfriend
Absolutely...my cat or dogs keep me grounded and calmer.
Same….😊
Animals are the best for snuggling with. Give your kitties a kiss from Gwen in western Washington (state).
❤❤❤
My mother immigrated to North America from the Netherlands with her family. Growing up, my Oma and Opa lived right next door. I went with my mom every Saturday at 11 for coffee, and 4pm for tea. Every Sunday evening we ate at their house for dinner. I learned SO MUCH about my family and myself after watching this. 😮😅😂😊 Thank you. ❤
Ben ook in Nederland geboren maar woon hier in Canada al 70 jaar als een 71 jong vent. Heb wat Nederlands leren lezen en ook schrijven.
Im recently 'retired'. Im enjoying life so much -- perfecting the Art of Leisure! ❤️
I had my relaxation day today. I put on some soft jazz music, opened the window wide to let the breeze blow over me, I sat sipping my herbal tea and just listened to the birds singing outside my window. It was so relaxing I fell asleep! 😄
That sounds so lovely...
What really relaxes people who relax like yourself, is that your doing it the way one would do it. Not to much distance between how one does such things and how you are doing them. Your not relaxed you are tranquillised by being disburdened of the need to really choose how to relax.
Wow! Just your description alone was so beautifully relaxing.
@@MtmonaghanComplicated! Could you please simplify?
Anyone can do this at home, in the country they live in. That relaxation is wonderful until it is ruined by the group of tourists who have rented the nearest AIRBNB.
I have to say I actually like how the Dutch are direct. Not in a rude way but I like their honest communication style.
Yes, it’s not arrogance, but we prefer honesty above hypocrisy. Love niksen.
Seeing someone talking about happiness and doing nothing these days in this world feels weird.
@@IM02424 I would rather directness than fakeness, at least you know where you stand with them. Or better yet honesty with tact would be ideal imo.
@@annia2960 Honesty is great. But you idealize Dutch "honesty", love.
@@alexeykulikov2739 The slaves did enough for the Dutch!
On the West Coast, we call niksen "spacing out", let your thoughts and feelings and memories flow unconstructively, like little white clouds floating across across a big blue sky, you'll be surprised how many great ideas appear when the closed categories are cleared out of the way.
Gezellig: NO screens allowed! Yes! Thank you! I wish the American culture would adopt gezellig! ❤
Die Geselligkeit kennt keine Zeit aber wohin ging unsre Zeit ?
I’m in the US and practice Niksen almost every weekend. Sadly though the US mindset is to always be busy, most people will think you’re either boring or lazy if you say you did nothing or just relaxed all weekend.
The more I mature, the less I care about what others think. I have come to realize the opinion that matters the most in life is mine ♥️! I am happy for you that you relax on weekends!
I agree, I need my slow time. Most of my life is slow and lovely. I try not to be worried about what others think of me. I am becoming quite good at it.
Agreed. The economic system cultivates this sensibility and surveillance.
It’s because the US was founded by quakers for whom sitting idle was basically like allowing the devil into yourself. That mindset stuck I guess. The Dutch are not very religious I noticed when I went there
I think my DNA is Dutch. As a hsp I do all these but the guilt and shame is strong in a society where productivity is an achievement. Glad to know im not alone 💜
What is an hsp?
@@typower9 highly sensitive person
Couldn't have said it better, my thoughts exactly.....A Canadian HSP who uses knitting and walking as a tranquilizer🧶🌲
I feel the same way
The first time I went to Holland I actually cried when I was taking off
I feel more at home in holland than in my own country ( Poland)
I feel you ❤
Crocheting on the balcony with tea is my favourite
I love learning about Niksen. I call it “pajama day” when I get to do it!
That's how a lot of dutchies call it too. Pyama day is a niksen day without even get dressed 😊.
As a cancer survivor I even more realize the importance of Gezellig❤
I'm in active treatment for IDC breast cancer, and I totally agree!
This was one of my realizations during and after treatment for breast cancer. It feels very much against the norm that we have in America - Now I celebrate small moments of life, slow down, and make the ordinary special.
My Father stayed with a Dutch Family during WW2 and loved them .I was never able to find them but. Always have a soft spot in my heart for the Dutch . He said they moved to New Zealand after the war .🇨🇦
My father's family from Arnhem hid a Jewish family for the duration of WW2. He his sister moved to New Zealand in about 1950.
Niken = down time = relaxing
My grandfather was Dutch and came to San Francisco around 1904 as a child with his family. He became a carpenter, along with all his brothers, and worked on the WWII Liberty ships in Oakland. Eventually he became a building contractor and built many churches and schools here in the Bay Area. My Mom, his daughter, loved Dutch culture and I share that love. Thanks for your video.❤
i lived in NL for several years. Some of the best experiences in my life, in the 80s.
The English too. My uncle (Indian) was with the RAF and passed in England due to reconstructive surgery that wasn't successful. His grave is marked and tender to by the parish and every year flowers are placed. I didn't even know where he was buried (living as I was in India) but through rellies who were in the Indian Armed Forces we were able to trace the grace about a year ago. We put a headstone saying "Gone but not forgotten" ...he was a swashbuckler. A bit of a wild child ...but very protective of his sisters...my mum was one of his his 3 little sisters
Me too
OMG! I just realized I need to move to The Netherlands!
Same
That was the first thought that struck me too! 🍻
If you can do it - great.
My heritage is Scottish and if you want to lay around in bed past when it’s time you’re supposed to get up it’s called to hurkle -durkle! 😉.
I am trying to focus on times to do nothing because I just seem like life is past me by and I’m just existing. I want to Live my life with passion and contentment.
Thank you for what you do!
Hello mary
It’s ok to be alone with your thoughts.
I love this… my son’s girlfriend is Dutch and I adore her, it’s so nice to learn about her culture, I love it too!
I think I may have been Dutch in another life LOL. I have been doing most of these for almost 30 years; I had a health scare 28 years ago and learned very quickly that work-life balance is very important and working efficiantly, so I can have a calm work day, is key. Clocking off work and returning to my "real life" is my goal everyday. My hobbies are reading, cooking, and i recently took up gardening (allthough I'm not very good at it) When we moved to our house, we now have a yard for the first time and we inmediantly got hammocks for lounging under the trees. 🥰
I'm 72 year old female and have lived in Los Angeles California since I was in second grade. I have been Niksening my whole life!!! Thank you for your video explaining me to me!!! ❤😊
Hello joy
Gezellig reminds me a little bit of the old fashioned, pre internet, businesses closing down for the day, sunday dinner vibe
Oh man, before internet sunday dinner vibe was every day. Nowadays business actually never close
@@Spungebobonicerocks That's exactly right. The phone makes people accessible to business 24-7.
I was so grateful when you briefly mentioned "niksen" in a previous video. I'm someone who rests a lot at home during the weekends (l'm an HSP) and I always felt bad when people asked me on Monday morning what I did during my weekend. After you introduced "niksen" I started to say that, at least in my head, and "I just rested" at loud, but it helped me so much to know that "doing nothing" was also a real activity somewhere else in the world, that the word existed and I could say it too!
I'm so glad you developed the concept more here today! Thank you! 💛
Ah I love that! Sometimes it helps to have a word for something :) Definitely okay to take time to rest during the weekends, it's so important! :)
Here in the UK younger people would probably say "chilling out".
I would probably say "me time"
I got tired of people asking me what I did on the weekend so resorted to saying “nothing exciting.”
People in the USA would typically say they "just chilled" on the weekend😄
HSP tip. Listening to podcasts is great way of ‘niksen’
First generation Canadian here, a son of Dutch immigrants who left the Netherlands for Canada after the devastation of WW2. Thank you for an enjoyable video that reminds me of my ethnic heritage.
Not Dutch but do this frequently. We used to have few to no stores or businesses open on Sunday's, everyone had a day of rest to use as they wished, church, beach, hang out at home, and so forth. Then this changed and now everything runs 24/7. I miss that quiet break in the week, the world where I lived was at Peace.
I'm a first generation Australian and both my parents are Dutch. This video explained so much to me about my parents and even myself. Thank you.
What an absolutely beautiful video. This is one of the many reasons why I love RUclips. Thank you for sharing. I feel like I've naturally got a bit of the Dutchie in me.
Such a beautiful way of living, All the habits are around the fact that the most important thing is to enjoy your life. Thank you so much for this video! ❤
So glad you enjoyed it, thanks for being here and have a wonderful day!
I am Dutch, Irish, and English American, I want to go to Netherlands, All of what you said resonated with me.
I thought it was super cute when you demonstrated how Dutch people will sit out in the sun when it’s nice. After watching this video, I really want to visit the Netherlands!
tbh people in all countries in Europe do that, it's nothing specific to the Netherlands
I have no words hahahaha what do you mean with your first sentence? This is the most natural thing a human can do
Being born and raised in New York City, I can appreciate the Dutch Directness part of this video. :)
As a Dutchman having lived in Seattle for half a year, visiting NYC felt like a relief
Oh my goodness, You basically just described me in so many ways! From Pennsylvania, US and have dutchy root. It feels so comforting to hear you say all of these things. My heart's desire is more of this for our culture and society here. I'll be sharing some of your videos soon, thank you, thank you. You've inspired me to want to learn Dutch!
I love your definition of Niksen. I now have a name for my favorite part of life (thanks from the USA 🇺🇸 ❤) Gotta go and daydream now ☺️ I love all your “Dutchie” moments for peace. We have a saying that wind “blows away the cobwebs” and clears your mind. Much love to you Vera, it’s always lovely to spend time with you ❤
I love it! 🤗🥰
What part of the USA are you from? Also USA here- Midwest 😅
@@cassieAre Northeast
When my husband was in his teens in the late 30's he skated the Zeeder Zee (sorry if not spelled correctly) with Dutch exchange students. I remember he said they would freeze reeds in the ice to mark the route. He was always so proud of that memory.
I'm 25% Dutch and the more I learn about Dutch culture, the more I wish I lived in Holland.
as someone who lived in NL fo a bit, it was awful. Lot of the things we hear is just a propaganda.
The Netherlands is an amazing place to live! I do miss my homeland
Having lived in several different countries, I say GO FOR IT! The people are amazing and the culture is wonderful.
Come on over and joint he good life
Ik ben een geboren Amsterdammer, en I live in Americas since I was 9, I still speak Dutch at 80 years of age. I learned English in 6 weeks, I stidied Latin for a year and its role in all languages. Next came German, and travelling led to Spanish. Gezellig roots are a joining of souls and for me, even now, I try hard to keep gezellighijd a priority in my household.
As a dutchie myself it was really nice to think about our culture. I never realised how typical dutch these things are and the fact that gezellig is so hard to describe was mindblowing. Hihi thanks for showing me our own culture ❤
Ah you're so welcome, happy you enjoyed it!! :)
seeing you smile makes me happy 🤗🤗🤗
This is the type of videos I need to be watching instead of creating so much anxiety with other type of videos.
The habit I like the most is savoring a cup of coffee or tea in a bakery with a friend!
Me too 😃
Same here. If ever I am asked if I want to grab lunch with someone on a workday my internal knee-jerk reaction is, "Why would I do that when I only have one hour??" lol
Books 📚📖 Cats 😻😽😹 Coffee ☕ and Crosswords ♥️♥️ I didn't know I have been practicing Niksen for years ‼️ That's my sacred time of the day ✨✨ Thank you for your beautiful video my loveliest ♥️♥️🥰🥰 Have a lovely week ahead 🩷🌸🌷
I am Brazilian and lived 14 months in Leeuwarden (2019-2020)
. I loved the Dutch way of living and I learned a lot with you Dutch. Thanks for your insightful video.
I am a 58 yo female living on the coast of GA (USA). I was born and raised here. I am of Northern European/Scandanavian decent. I just watched this and realized that I already practice these Dutch habits. It was like you were describing my tribe of peeps.. thank you!
Growing up in Belgium, we would always notice a lot of the Dutch people who would come to Belgium on Sundays.
They would enjoy going to the Sunday market, the zoo, café, restaurant, museums, and other public places.
In Italian they say "La dolce far niente" meaning, how sweet it is to do nothing.
Hi, this is so true ! It's "la dolce vita" sweet life and "il dolce far' niente " sweet doing nothing . cari saluti 😊
Fellow Dutchie here!😊 ahhh I love this video! Living in the USA now, seeing this makes me miss our culture and country 🥹 thankyou for making this video, love it!❤
I lived 11 years in The Netherlands and loved the Dutch art of “gezellig” - although I no longer live in Holland and try to create my own “gezellighed” I really miss the feeling of “gezellig” that is present in everyday Dutch life. Thank you for sharing all things Dutch and reminding me of all the gezellig times I had living in Holland
I love going to the beach with the wind blowing. It makes me feel alive with the wind touching my face. I live in the USA worried about this country... and my brother always wanted to move to the Netherlands...Amsterdam. He absolutely loved it there. I believe I'd love it too. ❤
I listen to RUclips videos every day. Thank you for this extra special video. IT IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE VIDEO EVER. E.V.E.R. !!!!! So inspiring. Making me think of all the simple things to do and special ways to enhance life ..... while making friends and myself feel better and better and better!
I’m half Dutch living in Canada and practice Niksen daily. I didn’t know it was a Dutch thing😊. I’m also practicing Dutch on Duolingo and a tiny bit of Japanese:)
My love for the Netherlands started with armin van buuren ❤️🤗
This 100% makes me want to visit the Netherlands, which was never on my wish list! The culture sounds more in alignment with my mindset than the culture I'm in. 😢 Thanks for posting this video. Gave me a weird "hope," for lack of a better word.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video! I hope you get to visit the Netherlands some day :) Wishing you a lovely day
In America doing nothing is sleeping.
and i am sooo addicted to it and sooo tired of escaping that way
😂 so true
Being a couch potato while reading, watching TV, etc.
In India, as well 😂
Sad 😢
Love the concept of niksen. I am perfectly fine not having plans and enjoying quiet time at home. My favorite is having the house to myself and taking the time to do some organizing or deep cleaning with an audio book in the background, and spending time with my dog. Then napping.
In Germany we call it 'Nichtstun' (doing nothing) -
an important selfcare pleasure for connecting with your true authentic inner soul being for improving all-over happiness.
The closest equivalent for me to Niksen is what I call “puttering around the house”. I really just enjoy being in my beautiful home, tweaking this and that, maybe rearranging, decluttering or organizing a few things, as the mood strikes me. I might do some light cleaning, ironing or water my houseplants or other mindless tasks like filing. I intersperse these light activities with reading or watching YT fashion, history or cats videos. I usually spend my Sundays relaxing like this, not showering or getting dressed first thing, but just lounging until the bathroom warms up!
Sounds like me😂
Isn’t just wonderful?! I feel very lucky share a similar life.
I call it “ me time “ when I can lay low and do nothing !
Love it ! ! !
Thank you , Vera
😊👋
I "niksen" every Saturday with my Sabbath!
Me too.Shabbat shalom.❤
I'm not even Jewish and I always say that Saturday is generally my resting day (Sabbath). Some people do their nothing day on Sunday, but I found I just prefer to do my chores on Sunday after I have rested on Saturday. I'm not very strict about it. Sometimes I have a busy Saturday, but then I make sure that my Sunday is free for doing nothing instead.
Nothing day is very important to me.
@@Scarletcroft .. one doesn't have to be Jewish to observe the true Saturday sabbath!
True! Old religious habits have a way of knowing what we humans need. I would say it’s almost kind of “fasting for the mind”
All the photos, videos, etc. that accompanied your video brought back pleasant reminders of my first (and so far only) stop in Amsterdam with my wife about three years ago. We were there for four days and enjoyed every minute. Like all visitors, especially those of us who live in America, we had to quickly learn how to stay out of the way of bicycles. It only took a few near misses to figure out what we had to do and what to not do. We sometimes had trouble finding our way around because Amsterdam street names often appear on the sides of buildings instead of being on a separate sign. The maps on our phones was usually sufficient but we sometimes had to ask for directions. I was initially reluctant to do so, but everyone was very understanding and the directions were usually simple and direct. Instead of saying to turn left or right at a certain street, we were usually told something like, “… stay on this street, go over the next two bridges, and turn left.” We had a great time and look forward to coming again. I look forward to watching your other videos. Thank you.
This was such a great breath of air. I’m Dutch (geboren en getogen) but now live in Canada 🇨🇦. I forget my roots sometimes.
I’m a Portuguese leaving in The Netherlands for a while now. You list the biggest reasons why I chose to live here. Even the Dutch directness. No where is perfect but at least in the foreseeable time all of these are the best for me. 💙
The hobby I' ve just raken up is watching your videos. I' m learning English and I love the way you're speaking.
I practice Niksen every weekend unless I am out of town. Nice to have a name for it.
Can see how many of these run through our family’s Dutch roots ! Thank you
Thank you Vera! And yet again an inspiring and cheering up video. - I understood most of the Dutch words you used there, as I am from Germany and in fact grew up in a town 30km away from the Dutch border. - My father took up learning Dutch since a few years before his retirement to make a gesture of appreciation to all the the Dutchies we met on our day trips and holidays in the Netherlands who spoke perfect German to us.
Your description of "Niksen" made me chuckle as it reminded me of a conversation I had had with my daughter. She is eleven years old and was totally confused how much I enjoyed sipping a cup of coffee on our terrace and just watching the laundry dry in the wind. She asked me, if I was done yet, and I told her, "This is nothing I need to get done. Watching the laundry dry in the sunshiny wind is one of my favourtite hobbies." She opened her mouth to verbalise her perplexion, but let it be, as I had contentedly closed my eyes on her and the outside world.
So, yes, sunshine, wind and watching someone else "work", while you just do nothing in particular, is definitely an awesome weekend hobby.
Aw I love that!! 🥰💕🍵
As a fellow Dutchie I totally agree with this video! Uitwaaien on the beach is one of my favorite things to do and yes everything needs to be gezellig!
Nice to hear you agreed with these points! :) Have a nice weekend!
Lovely ideas Vera. Wouldn't it be great if we could take the best from each country's culture 😊
I lived in Amsterdam for seven years, and some of the things you mentioned on your video are the things I appreciated about the Dutch culture, such as niksen and gezellig. :)
Laying around all day in pajamas watching Netflix and ordering fast food delivery is NOT a problem in the US - sadly, I think we have Niksen pretty well covered :-/ and we’d do well to replace that with 1) showering 2) getting dressed, including real shoes 3) pack a homemade organic lunch 3) go to a park, beach, activity etc etc.
Thank you, in the UK we use the word nix, means nothing, for example, “what are you doing” they answer “nix” thank you for a great video, sometimes I feel guilty after a long week then spending a Day doing nothing, now I have a word for it “Niksen” and I’m now going to embrace it.🙏💚☘️
I need more of Dutch friends as regards to straightforwardness! This is much better communication wise!
I am not Dutch but many of these things matter a lot to me. In particular, loving windy weather and being out in the wind. I have always loved it, it makes me feel very calm, free, peaceful and at ease, as if everything is being put back into its proper perspective.
Thank you for this video, I'm used to doing so much productive things every time I'm home, I work a lot and get home and work more, I had an emergency surgery 3 days ago, I can't do anything, I'm having such a hard time on myself, need to learn the art of doing nothing without feeling guilty
It can happen! Be gentle with yourself .
The Netherlands sounds like heaven compared to England 😭😭😭
I actually bought a Dutch phrasebook because your channel really makes me want to visit/live in The Netherlands one day.
England is a beautiful country.
The UK is a nice place to live and visit. Everyone is always so nice to me whenever I am in England, and the relaxing afternoon teas are delicious and quite an experience.
All these things Vera talks about depend on the lifestyle you make for yourself, not the country you live in. I live in the UK and i have never subscribed to the rat race. Life is for enjoying daily.
Hi, I do all the things you discussed in the video. You are describing Mediterranean lifestyle but with dutch names. I am from Malta and I have been to the Netherlands many times.
@@siany123the mentality of your surroundings do strongly affect how you live your life though :)
I live in the Netherlands as an expat, never heard of Niksen yet but could relate to so much in this video. Really love the culture and especially the directness, no going around in polite circles :D And yes, the Netherlands definitely teaches you to appreciate the nice sunny days!
That's lovely :) Good to hear you're not shocked by our directness haha :) Hopefully we'll have some actual sunny days soon...
As an American with Dutch heritage, this video was so interesting to me. My great grandparents all moved to the US from the Netherlands and apparently passed many of these concepts down to their children and grandchildren.
Hello. I am from America but genetically I am 1/4 Belgian Dutch. I think this aspect of my dna must be strong because I naturally lean towards everything you just taught me. I have always felt out of place in such a rushed culture. Now I just know my genes are pushing me to embrace my dutchie-ness! Thank you for making me feel more at home with myself. ❤
Lovely, thank you!!! I love the concept of query about others' interests as opposed to their making money career!!! I decided when I was younger, to earn, save, and retire from the business world so that I could engage in niksen as a full-time lifestyle. Therefore, I really appreciate this concept, where one makes one's true life, one's true practice!!! So, my husband and I bought our home early (lived here for 49 years. We live in the Northern hemisphere of USA, Colorado, so, 9 months of winter, basically. When Spring arrives, gardening in our Japanese-inspired garden takes priority for three months, enjoying the early morning cool beauty. Come late August, I drape the garden beds with black tarps to catch all of the trash from the trees that surround our property, lifting them in spring, saving much labor. Of course, that is our favorite "hobby". Wintertime is the respite from the Spring-Fall toil in the large landscape, it feels so, good!!! Winter of course is the time for all to go within, and my winter niksen is walking indoors every a.m., spiritual studies and meditations 3 a.m. to 5 a.m., catching up on the world through RUclips, and of course preparing nutritious meals throughout the year at home. We do not go to restaurants for any reason. Since we both have worked with many, many people in our early careers, we enjoy and life of Zen!!!!
From the Philippines. I love niksen. A new word for me that takes the guilt of doing nothing.
Going out in a windy day sounds good
It's lovely :)
I love that you aim for a healthy work-life balance. I have put Niksen time in my diary !
Another nice Dutch habit: eating early family meals! Most people with kids eat family style dinner at 6pm. This is very different in many countries where the kids and parents dont eat their meal together. Its good for kids to learn to eat, its gezellig and I believe its good for digestion to have a longer period over the evening/night where you dont eat.
Having met people from all over the world, some of the best times I've had is with my Dutch friends.
I have lived away from Holland for 50 years now….but niksen, the top 10 hobbies (first 4 nailed it!) birthdays, sitting in circles, gezelligheid….all these things are part of my life. No wonder my Canadian friends find me so Dutch. (Yup. Direct, too. No time for nonsense 😜) en patat met mayonnaise…zo lekker!
Hello karin
Niksen?👍 I have perfected this on Fridays. Just hiding behind my computer screen at work and simulating to do some work. By the end of the day, I am well rested and happy to start my weekend. 🍹 ☀️ 😎
According to your description I live a “Dutch” life and attitude. I’d really fit in there. I understand I have Dutch blood but never explored this part of my heritage. GREAT VIDEO!
As a Dutchie I love all of our typical behaviors but I really love the niksen on Sunday. I roll out of bed onto the couch and enjoy my day in pajamas with a book and some snacks. And I really appreciate the directness of us as well. Just glad to be Dutch and living in the Netherlands, I would not want to live anywhere else.
You can live this lifestyle anywhere in the world...Just do it...
@@wittesneeuw No you can’t live anywhere as we live in the Netherlands. Our freedom, social security, cultural behaviors are specifically something for the Netherlands, I never found that somewhere else. I love my life here and I just live the way I want to live.
Apart from Sydney, Australia - Amsterdam is my No 1 City.
I love this video! Even though I am 100% Dutch my ancestors came to USA so this country and culture is really all I’ve known... that said, whenever I’ve had the chance to visit the Netherlands, I’ve felt more at home than ever. I’ve been trying to connect to my inner Dutch-ness so it’s curious? that this video popped up! Thank you dear!!💖✌️🌷
I practice Gezellig Quite often with my friends. I think this comes from my Scandinavian ancestry. My Norweigan grandma always would say, “Time for afternoon coffee.”
I feel like the more I hear about your culture, the less American I want to be sometimes. The last time I found myself in a very Niksen mindset is when I had the house to myself the other day, though, I also had moments of being productive as well. 😅
Oh yes, if you have moments of unforced productivity, that's nice too :) The best thing about it is that anything goes :)
Gezellig was entering into my dutch parents' home. Feeling cosy and welcomed, how I miss that now they are gone 😢. I do my best to make our home the same here in Australia where I've lived 66 years having come from Amsterdam. Thank you for the lovley vlog Vera.❤