Why are Dutch people healthier? 10 years of observations from a Dutch American
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
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Healthy home video: • How I'm creating my he...
Hey friends,
I’m finally back on here after spending some time getting married in Amsterdam this summer!
It’s always so interesting to go back and forth between the Netherlands and the USA so it’s a pleasure to share some of the things that have been on my mind: dutch culture, healthy habits, food norms, movement, and more.
I’m so excited to hear about your own cultural observations!
Please share with us,
xo
Robin
Instagram: @science.of.selfcare
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Diabetes-Related Inpatient Stays, 2018
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Geurten, R. J., Elissen, A. M. J., Bilo, H. J. G., Struijs, J. N., van Tilburg, C., & Ruwaard, D. (2021). Identifying and delineating the type 2 diabetes population in the Netherlands using an all-payer claims database: characteristics, healthcare utilisation and expenditures. BMJ open, 11(12), e049487. doi.org/10.113...
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Sleep Medicine and Research; Colten HR, Altevogt BM, editors. Sleep Disorders and Sleep Deprivation: An Unmet Public Health Problem. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2006. 3, Extent and Health Consequences of Chronic Sleep Loss and Sleep Disorders. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.n...
Lee, S. H., Baldina, E., Lee, E., & Youm, Y. (2021). Social connectedness and hair cortisol in community-dwelling older adults. Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology, 6, 100053. doi.org/10.101...
Yang, Y. C., Boen, C., Gerken, K., Li, T., Schorpp, K., & Harris, K. M. (2016). Social relationships and physiological determinants of longevity across the human life span. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 113(3), 578-583. doi.org/10.107...
Zhao, J., Law, C. K., Kelly, M., Yiengprugsawan, V., Seubsman, S. A., & Sleigh, A. (2022). How do cohabitation and marital status affect mortality risk? Results from a cohort study in Thailand. BMJ open, 12(9), e062811. doi.org/10.113...
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What health habits / norms have you embraced from another culture (or your own)?? Share with us!
👇
What I wish I had more of is the carefreeness of Tobago culture. People hear Caribbean music and assume everyone is chill because of the weather. Actually summer weather is scorching and on the beach, even all the local Trini people were slathering on sunscreen and hiding under umbrellas. It was the people themselves… and my hypothesis is that they live in the tempo of the surrounding waves, and it feels like Caribbean music is even resonant with the waves. People in the inland are often hearing cars, trains, and all different and competing music (literally competing to drown out other people’s music) unless you’re living in a resort in the woods.
I love your ideas and voice. I’m 53 years young but back and knee bothering me w perimenopause so trying to take care of my body in this stage of life. Live in a smallish agriculture town w a 2 year old lab and part time work makes outside activity easy but I need to be mindful of my days. Kids are grown but hubby and pets keep me busy and happy😊
Please stop talking your bullshit, dutch people are not healthy, more than 1 million diabetes, almost 2 million hartproblemen and more than 10 million people with chronic disease. You really think I am going to take on of your advise if you talk so much about things that are not true!
I did a charity bike ride from Brighton, England to Amsterdam a few years ago. As to be expected, it was a joyless nightmare cycling in England - so many aggressive motorists. Sadly, France wasn't that much better, but Belgium was a wonderful place to cycle through. As soon as we got into the Netherlands - wow, it was like a utopia. Pretty much everyone I saw was radiating health. People from 3 to 93 were on bikes. Motorists stopped for us, and didn't hurl abuse. It honestly was the most wonderful experience, and made my return to the UK an unwanted one. The Dutch should hold their way of life close to their hearts (healthy hearts!) and never relent to the junk and car culture of the US and UK.
I lived in the UK all around and in the US. Man I dread driving in the US.Now here, as you pointed out, I feel so safe with my biking. Life is cleaner. Best place to be honest. And yes Niksen!
So in other words: things picked up for you as a cyclist as soon as you hit what are probably the 2 most bike-friendly countries on earth? That shouldn’t be too surprising. Sorry but you can make any country look good or bad if you choose to focus on one of its strengths and compare it to another country that doesn’t value the thing you happen to value. Just saying! Greetings from Antwerp, Belgium 🙂
I live in the US and unless you live in an urban area it is very difficult not to have a car. I would love to walk everywhere but everything is to far away. My nearest food store is ten miles away. I think it is unfair to compare the US to small villages throughout Europe where everything is accessible by walking. Our country is so vast we need a car to get places. It’s really comparing apples to oranges, imo. However, I wish so much it would be possible to walk to the stores,school and work bc we would be much healthier. I agree about portions being large here in the US and it was not always this way. I wonder why that changed. Our biggest issue is the chemicals and processed foods here. It literally is poison. I know many people who wish they could afford organic healthy food and pastured meat but just cannot afford it.
@@ChristineSmith-x6w the total size of the country doesn't really matter when it comes to how far apart homes and supermarkets are built from each other.
@ChristineSmith-x6w The fact that things are too far to walk or cycle doesn't really have anything to do with the size of your country. It's because of your zoning laws. Get rid of those, and for example supermarkets could be build where people also live.
One more thing. People in the Netherlands like to be outside. We don't sit in our homes. Even if it's cold and wet and the wind blows, people go out. Somebody else wrote about the saying 'you're not made of sugar'. That's what my mom said to get us out of the warm kitchen. I believe that being outside in all circumstances makes you strong and hard.
Quite right. Research on aging has shown that exposure to slight physiological stresses like chillyness, heat, exercise, hunger increases autophagy, the cellular repair mechanism. Freezing a bit is also common in winter in the Mediterranean, since people go out everyday, and the houses are not well heated. May contribute to the observed longevity on Sicilia etc. And hills making walking an exercise of middle strength. Thus when I go out in winter in the Alps for sports, I don't cloth myself to perfect attenuation of influences. Cold does not make you sick.
@@HansGrob Very true. Other exposures like molds and germs, bacterias, viruses that you pick up on the way from animals, mud or plants do their best too. In the long run.
But there is only one - you mentioned it - that really expands life and stops aging right from the get go. And that is hunger. If you give rats half portions, they live a third longer. That's a 25 year gain.
@@hardyvonwinterstein5445 Lack of early (one year old) exposure leads often to chronic autoimmunity diseases. Fortunately, I was
exposed to cows, cats, rabbits, ... But we were happy about the appearance of vaccines against terrible infectious diseases like poliomyelitis, rabies, tuberculosis, tetanus. So I don't understand the fuss about covid vaccinations. The result on rats is not completely transferable to humans. One day of their fasting seems to correspond three days with us. I only manage 24 hours, but it's good enough beneath the usual 18/6 hours. I am known not to fight constantly against thirst on some sporty endeavours, and if cycling in tropical countries. We are by evolution adapted to some thirst, imagine our forestfathers as hunter-gatherers in East Africa, or in freezy winter in the north. It is just another physiological stressor, and it seems that dry fasting increases autophagy. David Sinclair, Harvard, recommends more than only fasting.
What a bunch of nonsense. People everywhere in the world like being outside. Ihave been and lived around the world so I should know
@@exeuropean i know I am Dutch, but I think in many countries people go outside alot
I was raised by an American biological mom and a Dutch stepmom so I experienced the differences firsthand. You’re spot on.
We have a saying here (NL😊) Je bent wat je eet, you are what you eat. Which one can take quite literally cause making sure you eat healthy makes sure your metabolism functions best.
Yes, and we are made out of water and meat. But somehow we are being told again and again we should eat less meat?
Haha perhaps another Dutch/German saying (for rain) can also apply here: we are not made of sugar!
@erics320 that we are made of meat doesn't mean we need to eat it to maintain it.
Our metabolism has evolved to eat meat & fish about 2 or 3x a week. The idea of the recent past to eat meat every day, is a form of overcomsumption and one of the causes of health problems. E.g. our problems with blood pressure, cholesterol and heart problems.
@@canwejustnot I will not say you are wrong, but take a look at the carnivore community and be amazed by the health improvemend on eating meat only.
That saying exists in english too
As a Brit expat living in Rotterdam I would agree with everything Robin so expertly describes - with one caveat - the Dutch are getting less healthy.- and that is because of the infestation of American fast food places and the availabilty of food all day. Hard to believe that when I first moved to Rotterdam in 1991 the shops were all closed on Sundays ! And obesity was correspondingly rare.
American??? WE invented fast food!
FEBO is 100% Dutch, we invented the Frikandel and the Capsalon.
And we are not "getting unhealthy", half of our population is obese. Mayne not much for US standards, but not exactly an example of good health.
These venues exist since at least the 1950s
The number of people that doesn't have enough money to buy healthy food and cook has also increased!
@@VFella Comparing FEBO with McDonalds is a little over the top don't you think ?
@@VFella According to the World Health Organization the obesity rate in the Netherlands is about 17%. 17% is not "half of our population". For reference, the United States is at almost 43% in the same WHO study.
The Dutch are known for their health due to cycling, but the trend of electric bikes is undermining this tradition, leading to increased laziness. Nowadays, teenagers yearn for electric scooters and subsequently electric bikes. During my school days, my friends and I had to bike for 30 to 40 minutes each morning to get to school and then back home. After school, we would ride our bikes to the park to play soccer, swim, or, in the winter, go ice skating or walk on thin ice for the thrill. We were always active! However, today's kids zip past you on the sidewalks with those scooters, barely walking or cycling anywhere. ! When this new generation grows up, they may not be as active as any generation before them.A positive trend is that smoking is becoming increasingly difficult and costly each year as the number of locations permitted to sell tobacco diminishes.
As a 42 year old Dutchie I agree with most of what you said, but I do still see a lot of kids doing sports, so they're active in that way.
That conforms exactly to my lifestyle in Switzerland 50 years ago. Cycling to school, football, swimming, skating on the pool. Additionally hiking in forest, on hills, and tobogganing. Now I see that pupils take the train to the school, 1 km away. Ridiculous.
Spot on: verwende nesten en watjes zijn het.
@@ppmroberts-t5r echt hè
About the kale mashed with potato's, these are part of a cooking branch called "stamppotten" (literaly mashed pot). It is very practical food, which mostly people could also grow in their own gardens (when having your own vegetable patch was quite normal, this was until the late 80s). Next to practical, the tastes are very basic, yes, but that also means that often it's not that offensive for children. Also because you have a plate of hot/warm mess, it really warms up the body in the winter.
Now we can't grow our own vegetables anymore because of the polluted soil and bad water quality.
From Ireland via my mom: Get some fresh air. Tea. Don’t work too hard. Tea. Friends. Tea. Family. Tea. Laugh!
And Guinness, lots of Guinness!😉
😉😂😂😉
@@FrankDijkstra I heard that in Ireland, to get the nationality, they make a urine test to see if you have drunk any Guinness during the past 5 years. If any trace is detected, you are denied nationality. If it's more than 300 ml you are unceremoniously put on a plane to Rwanda.
As a dutchie living in Canada I couldn't agree more! I love how tastefully you delivered your observations. Congrats on your wedding!
I absolutely love the directness of Dutch people and how laid-back the people I met there were. However, if one is not used to it, I can see how many might find this directness unsettling.
Congrats on your wedding!
It also has to do with being taught to not have a big ego. From a very early age Dutch kids are told to "get over yourself" when upset about something someone else told them or did to them. It's bad in many ways too because that also leads to us taking abuse for far too long without taking action, and not going to the doctor until we're already very sick. But it does make society very efficient.
@@experimentalcyborg i just wonder why it's alway's buzy at the doctors office when i go there ..... or do i always pick the wrong day for 53 years ??
@@richardhltrp1791 You must live in a big city then. There has been a constant migration from small towns into big cities but not many more medical facilities have opened. In the countryside you have the opposite.
@@richardhltrp1791 I bet you only go on Mondays.
I can listen to you speak all day. Your voice has a very calming effect.
Thank you so much! This makes me super happy to hear. ❤️
I’m working on further refining my audio / microphone setup so hopefully my videos sound even better in the future!
xo Robin
As a Swede it was very interesting to watch this video, we share many similiarities with the dutch way of living. But perhaps not so much the directness in communication, quite the opposite. And biking everywhere is not the norm even though it's something to strive for. There are a lot of things that makes sense when taking in to account what you described about the ways in the US. USA is still a young country. Perhaps wisdom comes with age.
Sadly don't expect the US learning soon. The corporate lobbies are way too strong. Their foods have ingredients forbidden in the EU. Their culture is toxic. Poverty is so huge that to feel you've eaten many eat fat fast food, and can't afford better. Stress from feeling unsafe is way higher. People avoid the doctor for they can't afford bills. Etc.
sweden is different. the land is different. the climate is a little bit different so the culture is a little bit different. that's the joy of life. adapt and overcome. do you Sweden.. love you.😘
‘Wisdom comes with age’… how old do they have to be to become wiser? Haha
Another 1000 years?
Love the idea of sharing meals at restaurants. My husband and I do that. But I do hate food waste so I will continue to bring home leftovers but pair it with a nice salad rather than another big rich meal.
I'm Spanish, I lived in the UK and I could draw many of the comparisons you mention between those too, and it sounds like the Dutch perspective/lifestyle is common with most of its neighbour countries, including mine!
Yeah, The Netherlands isn't that special. But when your compare it to the US it seems pretty special I guess.
Americans seem (and are often) friendlier (forget big cities) during a first connection. However, to allow a deeper investment in friends in the US seems hard. Why so? Dutch though are rather direct (NYC style) up to a level that many feel rude (except New Yorkers - they understand, started out as New Amsterdam!). Ok, that is a first interaction. Dutch also have to work hard - but also on home cooking, cleaning, kids-time, sports - a Dutch agenda fits work into life but still busy. An American agenda fits life into work .... how is that? Good night! ;)
Food quality in the Netherlands is also a huge factor. The EU in general is so strict with chemicals, colourings and all other processing ingredients in foods.
They're usually very normal in the US and other Americanised-societies. That and a lot of the produce here actually come from closer areas so that means foods are fresher and retain their nutritional value etc etc. It's so normal to see Dutchies eating their lunch while walking around the city during lunchtime 🤭 Was happy to have found your channel BUT felt heartbroken that you're now back in the US ;-;
Only when you eat organic food, the rest is full of chemicals, including the veggies and fruit. I lived next to an apple orchard in de Betuwe, the fruit region in the middle of Holland and I have seen them spraying this one orchard more than 10 times in a season.
I feel the UK from what you're describing had a culture more like Dutch culture but is shifting toward American culture. I don't know why but I don't think the UK has a strong identity. I'm 42 and I think we are shifting all the time, often away from the values I was raised with.
Interesting! The "sleeping in too much = lazy" social pressure in the USA reminded me of a video I saw where a US lady had a theory of why the French are so slim. She said the French WILL put plenty of social pressure if start to get a bit chubby. She said she never got it at all in "fat friendly" USA. But in France, people constantly pointed out she was a little over weight and "do you really need to eat that, best watch your weight" - was said to her a lot from different people in her circles while she lived there. I found that very interesting! So in the US - they do not like people lying in and can shame them. And they are fine with people being fat, no shame there. No wonder unhealthy. Also look at all the addictive food additives etc in US food that is banned in Europe. EDIT - just saw your point 7- where you make exactly the same point. I feel here in the UK we are more like the US these days.
These are such important observations, and likely more important than anything uploaded by a self-care/wellness/nutrition/fitness content creator this week. I know we throw around words like work-life balance and the dreadfulness of the rat race, but, by the numbers, Americans live in dysfunction. It is the dysfunction that we choose, however. The depleted state our bodies are in, the strife we accept as normal in our encounters with others, the constant medicating of our discontent. How much healthier we would be to live in harmony, in home, at work, and in the broader community.
Gezond.. Het zullen de uitjes zijn op mijn frikandel speciaal ;-)
Proost y'all 🥃✌️
Because we are a bike country, there are no large supermarkets with loads of ultra processed foods, we are active (bike, walk), eat lots of fruits, no fastfood on every corner of the street, no extreme consumerism, and drink good beer😊
"no fastfood on every corner of the street" ? Ha, we must live in a different countries then. Because where I live there is a cafetaria on every block. 😅
@@VaQm11 In Drenthe niet hoor 😄
In brabant, heb je de jumbo met veel ultra processed food en veel. Fritures en mac donalds veel bavaria en natuurlijk ook veel auto’s
Supermarkt 8 km verderop dus geen fiets als je voor 5 mensen inkoopt. Beperkt wereldbeeld
@@olavmovig1484 Beperkt wereld beeld klopt, hoor. Ik bedoelde eigenlijk van die super grote winkels (walmart) met gangpaden met alleen kaas of chips.
So glad you are back and Congratulations on your marriage! Great video!!
There's a problem with a treadmill desk. You may get exercise, but if you're combining it with other tasks it's just a chore.
Walking or biking somewhere is nice!
It's probably my age, but I don't need that much sleep. If Ingo to sleep fasted (blood sugar down to fasted -- not eating carbs after 5pm or if I do it is because I eat it after training workout) I have wonderful sleeps. I only feel guilty waking up early because people tell you need right hours sleep.
Im gonna be honest as a dutch american who spent 21 years in holland 10 of which in amsterdam, and now living in PA for 2 years. While dutch culture is definitely much better in the sense of healthy living with movement the dutch culture is slowly shifting to american with diet and consumerism. People are spending more time chronically online, the weather is so god damn depressing, and drug and alcohol culture is insane, i was a literal alcoholic and drug addict and people didnt seem to think it was bad. Living in the US there are bigger portions, more fastfood and car lifestyle but if you just stay healthy with exercise and diet for me personally i enjoy the US more
Great video, but one tiny remark: in the part on the importance of social relationships you, very understandably/inevitably, use stock images. However, they, equally inevitably, are typically made from an American viewpoint. We see people euphoric, emotional peak moments, exalted, excited, where general it's just the more subdued being together that forms these social bonds and ties. The images shape our expectations about what being together should be, intense celebrations of explicit and condensed euphoria. A friend of mine told me once he went to a party, where everyone showed up at about the same time, then shot picture of euphoric Togetherness, to return home within less than an hour, and he then saw all these pictures showing them having a good time. To him it felt rather fabricated. Here we see the effect of social media, creating an event, togetherness as an achievement. The essence of social relationships is not raising the glasses, not the hugging, not the exalted laughter. all this excitement wears the brain out and results in depression. It's the more enduring, but less photogenic feeling of belonging. But these stock images suggest otherwise. Again, detailed remark.
to be honest, the average resident of the usa does little to move more, they think it is fine but complain that they have to drive far to do their shopping. And that is the problem of the architects who design the infrastructure there, ''if it can be reached by car it is fine'' but do not think about pedestrians, cyclists, other types of neighborhoods with a shopping center in the middle as you know yourself after 10 years in the netherlands, and even playgrounds have to go or are completely removed from what I see in all those videos. Notjustbikes has very nice reports about how bad it is in america (and canada)
Congratulations for your wedding.!🎉
I agree with you 100%! I am a Portuguese living in the USA and see the same differences, the biggest one in the social interactions,
unfortunately I feel somewhat isolated and feel it's very hard to find deep friendships like I still have back home!
I work for a large grocery store chain and we are encouraged to keep employee interaction at a minimum, we watch sexual harassment training videos and are more than encouraged to basically just interact if the subject is work related which to me is very strange being that I m not used to this!
Robin, you are just beautiful. Come back to the Netherlands ❤
I would dare to say that it is because of the Dutch focus on social relationships they have often ranked high on the list of happiest countries in the world.
Lol, as a dutchie living now in Portugal I can tell you that dutches are really complaining and moaning about everything. And the stress is also very high, exspecially in the cities. I know lots of dutches who cannot wait to leave the Netherlands.
I found your insight about the nature and importance of social relations (US vs NL) very interesting. I've never realised that in the Netherlands one's social live is an important part of your identity (and your professional live to a much lesser degree). But I think you are right.
I agree on quite some things but the air quality in the U.S. I really have doubts about that
You look younger than 30.
Thanks for sharing! Perhaps it’s the round cheeks I inherited from my Dutch mama 🥰
True.
@TheScienceofSelfCare yeah that is also true. Some People try to make em bigger to look young. Good Gene 👍
i live in the NL and i think you are pretty much on point!
I was born and raised in Canada lived in the UK for 5 years, lived in few other countries for less time and lived in Holland for 15 years. Most of what you've stated I agree with, with one exception, I found the Dutch very closed. I have zero long term friends after 15 years living in Holland whereas even after being back in Canada for 10 years now I'm still in contact with my friends in other countries. I learned the language BTW.
Thanks for your thoughtful and insightful comment. ❤️ Yes, I also recognize this element of Dutch culture.
I think Dutch people make many of their friends in their youth or through school or clubs, so it can be really hard to be social as an expat. I’ve observed that many expats inevitably end up becoming friends with other expats.
I personally have a lot of family living across the Netherlands and also went to university there so I think this helped me integrate more easily than someone who is not Dutch.
Anywhoo, I hope you are loving life back in Canada! My impression is the Canada is a nice mix of many North American and European qualities. Seems like a great country to live in!
Dutchy here. I developed back problems that aren't fixable. So I'm in bed a lot. I grew fat. Blood pressure ridiculously high. Yet I changed my diet up to the point I mainly consumed water, meat, beans, 1 average potato and a bit of gravy. Some different veggies and fruit too. Weight stabilized. Blood pressure did F all. Yeah, going up instead of down. 227 over 119 is the highest I ever measured. Anyway, I've always lived around farms and polders, rivers, long stretches of water and land so I used to move a lot, on top of being a busy bee and doing fitness or martial arts too. But of course that all is a no go now. So I got an elliptical trainer. Every hour I get in it for a few minutes, quite intensively, if even only 4 minutes per time I go. Mostly around ten though. Since I started doing that, in combination with my diet, my weight has started to plummet and my blood pressure is going down accordingly. So having had this experience while being healthy except for my back issues, I'm going to have to stress the importance of even tiny bits of exercise in combo with diet. Good sleep is next on my list. Which likely will have to do with sleep apnea since I grew fat, so that should start to improve also over the next few months.
But yes, those all are included normally in the Dutch way of life, if you're not bed-ridden. Is that a word? So it makes sense those factors are the main reasons we're quite healthy on average.
I stream series, RUclips and movies on some device while exercising. When in bed I return to programming etc. so... No reason nit yo. Especially if you're in the US and never get on a bike due to car culture.
*nit yo = not to
Can't edit my response for some reason.
Dutch society is also much more...well Dutch. American society is a mixture of many different ethnicities, languages, cultures, and backgrounds or at least it has predominantly been this way since the immigration and nationality act of 1965, prior to that it was much more European. Now, you have so many different people living in one area it's hard for many to find authentic identity. Social isolationism is at an all time high here in the states.
You're 100% correct about the lack of activity among most Americans. Sedentary lifestyles are wide spread among lots of people.
I am an European and I dont think that the Dutch are particularly healthy. Problem is the standard American diet, which is so unhealthy, that even an average diet is a major improvement on it.
If you look at healthy life years The Netherlands is just the European average, it says a lot about the whole continent.
As a Dutchie I agree, we deep fry anything 😂, but the cycling and walking helps burn a lot of calories.
Absolutely true, we have really high amount of chronic diseases in the Netherlands, and also lots of people on prescription drugs, and every year the people are younger and younger when they start with prescription drugs....and health insurance is getting more and more expensive. I never need a doctor, but I have to pay 150 euros a month to sustain all the so called healthy dutches!
Born, raised and still living in the Netherlands, this one had me chuckle… You speak about ‘the Netherlands’ Robin, but all I saw were images of Amsterdam, did you ever make it beyond the city proper? This friendly jibe aside, I enjoyed this one Robin… And you are right on all accounts… True, the Dutch are somewhat less complicated and more straight forward…. And yes, our food is somewhat simple and eaten at regular times, family dinner at 18u is a classic! However, our ‘diet’ has changed in this century, all our traditional cooking fats like tallow, lard and dairy butter are slowly replaced by plant based oils… As a result cancer rates are through the roof here too, its so sad… ATB, Gerlach Sven.
Thanks for sharing!! I completely agree about the dietary changes.. lots of fake meats are now popular, with very processed ingredients.
Re Amsterdam: I have also lived in Utrecht, Assendelft and Delft, and I often visit Meppel, Almere, Leiden, Den Haag, Rotterdam, Maastricht, Groningen.. all where I have family! So I do believe I have seen a lot of the country. My mom’s family is actually Fries but I haven’t spent much time in Friesland. :)
The reason why it’s a lot of Amsterdam B roll is that’s what I could find in the royalty-free video stock library. 😅🧡
Where in the Netherlands are you based??
Braad in olijfolie in plaats van die goedkope troep!
Yes, its totally nonsens what's she is telling, back in 2022 we already had more than 10 million people with chronic diseases, that's more than half of the population.
@@truusvdkraats3260 thanks for sharing this! Current stats still show that the US population has a greater percentage of people suffering from chronic diseases than the Netherlands. I agree that chronic diseases are a rising global issue. Still, relative to the United States, I believe it’s fair to say that the Dutch are generally healthier. *see stats in description*
One must not forget that all food in the USA is known to be genetically modified and contains chemicals and other harmful ingredients that are completely banned in Europe. The negative thing is that Americans are forced to buy this food. The high proportion of fast food also contributes to this. Many diseases and obesity in the USA are the result. Cycling here is not only about doing something for the environment, but also about exercising your body.
Great vid! thanks.
Beste is gewoon gewoon terug naar Nederland verhuizen. Zou me kind niet in Amerika willen opvoeden qua alles eigenlijk.
You are more describing general differences between the US and Europe, not the Netherlands per se. Except for the small portions of food, one of the reasons they are considered being cheap
I agree with all Dutch customs.
amazing view from the two countries. Cheers to YT algoritm 👌
Another Jeem banger ! Do things that are real guys. That have an actual impact. Acquire the spirit of peace and thousands around you will be saved
Movement,logistically everything within bike or walking distance.
I'm curious where and how Dutch folks develop their social networks? I am 28 years sober in AA, and we talk a lot about isolating and becoming a part of the fellowship. Very similar to what people experience when they are active members of a church. How do they do it in the Netherlands?
Many people are in sportclubs (which you participate in the evenings or weekends), which enrolls you in a social club because many of these include teamsports or competition (so you have opponents to socialize with). Also many people outside work meet like friends on an occasional basis to have a drink or something. Also when you have kids in school, they play outside school times with friends so you end up befriending those parents etc.
My grandfather was Dutch and I remember him eating tomatoes as you described, just like an apple. He also used to put meat gravy on his pie. For example, at Thanksgiving he would put turkey gravy on a slice of pumpkin pie. My mom always said it was the Dutch in him. I'm curious. Have you ever seen this?
We do put gravy on everything
We build a dike on the piece of food, and then we poor gravy in the basin we just created. Even in our foods we want to control the water (joking, but not joking)
@@housefox92i never eat gravy. It might be a boomer thing
@@wendyamsterdam8482 I'm not a boomer. Raised by boomers though
@wendyamsterdam8482 I think it's a boomer thing, too. 😂 My husband's parents do it too, they both grew up on a farm. People used to do hard labour and lived in poorly heated homes. They needed the energy and fat. When living conditions got better, they still kept eating the same way.
I never eat gravy, and I dont even think my 7 year old daughter knows what it is. 😂
I seen that country’s , where it is acceptable to call people out for their poor health behaviour , have the best average health
We have healthcare when we need it, not when we can afford it.
congratulations!!
Well, you managed to exude beauty and sparkling health. 👍
Congrats 🎉🎊
Congratulations! I think I might have felt it hard to leave and move back to the US. It might be easier to make that decision if one can leave again. I have just began WW and it really does try to instill moderation and movement without dictating exactly what to eat. Now if I could just stop the need for eating till Im comatose so I can get the sleep I need 😵💫
Thank you! There is a lot I miss, but there are also many things I love about living in the US. No place is perfect :)
I’m most diligent about making sure I move my body plenty throughout the day, since it’s so easy to sit still here. *I’m actually typing this from my treadmill desk right now.*
How are you finding WW so far?
@@TheScienceofSelfCare Its actually the most sensible plan. I like it. Its slow but steady and its sustainable.
@@ldirk58601 That sounds great! Thanks for sharing. When I was researching the philosophy and structure of the program, I also thought it seemed sensible and simple enough to actually live life with. Wishing you lots of enjoyment on your health journey! xx Robin
My guess is your experience with nl is mainly Amsterdam, the West. Not so much east and south...
I was born in adam , it feels like a country on its own.
People outside of Randstad are way more laid back and friendly. I am from Limburg and always get to know Drenthenaren whenever I travel.
No I'm pretty sure it's the hagelslag
Haha I’d personally rather eat a piece of Dutch hearty bread with hagelslag (vlokken please) than a slice of squishy sweet American bread
Hi the actual situation in Amsterdam now
great vid. America is this beautiful country the land is breathtaking.
but the the average ppl living there have no time for that, the ppl seem to live to work.
that is much more different here in the EU, here we work of course but it is not our life, it just work,
we work way less and spend much more time on important things, friends, family, or just time for ourselves.
that is mental health and that ads to allround good health.
the US nice country to visit, but living there, i would never want to live there. i have lived in Canada for 10 years, but there too, is work way to impotent for ppl.
Just recently they found a shark that was 512 years old. Without ever seeing a doctor. Upon asked how come, he or she or it said: never thought of it really, just kept swimming.
There's also a lot less regulation in the US, so food companies can get away with a lot more.
Very true about less regulation. EU is relatively strict and precautionary. Thanks for sharing!
wow and zamzam water
less stress due to wealth & security sounds like the sum up to me
I don't really recognize that commenting on someone's appearance or the way they take care of their body is typical for the Netherlands. Maybe it's different in Amsterdam, I don't know.
" Meid, wat zie je er goed uit! En je bent ook afgevallen zie ik!" Ever heard that?
@@ppmroberts-t5r in de positieve zin kan ik me er wel iets bij voorstellen inderdaad. Dat doen ze in de VS niet?
I hope this video goes viral because this is an excellent amd useful message everybody can understand and try and do something with. Well done 😊
As to expressing concern for a loved ones health, I think practice makes perfect here. Getting a less then comfortable message across is hard, also for the Dutch, and to do so without it being toxic takes effort. Which is something we are all aware of precisely because it's something we go out and do and become familiar with as we grow older. I don't think it's truly comfortable for anyone though, but something that needs to be done every now and then anyway, so we suck it up and do it.
Are you crazy? Look at the official numbers, in 2022 we gehad already more than 10 million people with a chronic diseases, do you really want to go that viral, this women does not know anything......and you do believe her, just look at the official numbers from the government for like diabetes, hartproblemen and chronic diseases and you will find out that this woman doesn't know anything at all.
I’m a little annoyed. There’s no such thing as the Dutch lifestyle. So don’t pretend you know it all by statistics.
Thanks for sharing! I don’t mean to put any culture in a box-this is an op/ed video that people should feel free to disagree with.
I do think it’s fair to observe and reflect on general cultural trends. I enjoy watching this type of content myself.
Of course this video is just my general observations. I’d love to hear your thoughts on where I missed the mark or where you disagree. My wish from a video like this is to have interesting and nuanced conversations in the comments. :)
Spot on. But in my case you preach to a non-believer. I don't care about my body, really. If it dies, it dies. It will die anyway. I don't want to let my mind be influenced by my body. Sure, I could live 10 years longer, maybe. But 10 years of more and more crappiness coming from your body is not worth it for me. Both my parents had a horrible last decade. My father lived healthy and got dementia. I don't want that prolonged suffering between 80 and 90 years.
Americans seem overly surprised and fixated on cultural differences, but in reality, it’s not such a big deal. Its just the world lol
I hope you are still riding your bicycle in the USA.
Dutch society nowadays also consists of people from Turkey and Morocco. The obesity rate within these groups is much higher than average.
It's all relative.
Absolutely. I hope a lot of people weigh in with different perspectives and experiences in the comments. I love reading other people’s thoughts on cultural norms across the world 💖
Wow, that fear of pissing people off, making excuses that this is your _personal_ opinion (whose opinion would it be?), that everything has pros and cons …
Haha without some disclaimers, I get a lot of negative commentary or people misinterpreting the point of a video.
I agree-I could be a little less qualifying in my delivery. In general I’m a pretty “gray area” person though.
I’ll consider your point for future videos! :)
Thanks for sharing.
@@TheScienceofSelfCare Nah, don't do that. If your demo is the US, so be it. What is that saying? "Just say it, you don't have to mean it." The ultimate hypocrisy.
Comparing the nature of the Netherlands with that of the USA is not fair, you need to compare the nature of Europe with the USA or even more then Europe thinking that Texas is a large as Europe ....
Totally fair! You are right that the USA is in many ways more comparable to the EU than the Netherlands. I just wanted to note that the Netherlands is far more densely populated and all the nature is very man-made. So you don’t get that same wilderness feeling. Many Dutch forests are so funny because often the trees are planted in a perfect grid.
Even if you take New York (densely populated urban area) and expand outwards to reach the same distance as the size of the Netherlands, you’ll still encounter lots of rugged forest.
All this said, the Dutch are great at landscaping and urban planning: so their man-made nature is often made in great taste.
I just felt like adding this point because the nature in the United States continue to amaze me and it’s a plus of living in a country with many negatives haha
Well compared to the US everyone is healthy but i can see a lot of sick people in the netherlands so in 10 years time or even less a health
disaster will be present. We just have beter rules but its far from perfect and getting worse every year !!
And tall.....😁
Its not as bad as in the US but we are going the same way. More and more people are obese, more are chronicle ill and problems start when people are younger. The food is not becoming more healthy, its more and more loaded with sugar and chemicals.
restaurant tip: you can order only vegetable side dishes.
Such a great tip; I’ll often do this!
Though I tried this on Saturday at a restaurant in New York because they had a “side of brussel sprouts with lemon” and these brussel sprouts I ordered turned out to be deep fried, blackened to a crisp, drenched in salt…giant portion! haha
😅 it was my attempt to order some veggies with my actual french fries but it was more like I was eating fries with fries.
Anywhooo, thanks for sharing! 🧡
@@TheScienceofSelfCare oh no! that is so sad. brussel sprouts are delicious. Very sad to hear about them abused like that.
@@evarlast Brussel sprout abuse is an important part of bringing one's children up to be properly British. When your child is 4 or 5 put some brussel sprouts, boiled to a mush, with their dinner. Twist your face into an expession of disgust and tell the child to eat them, they're healthy. The child will refuse and you'll feel that that proves it, everyone hates sprouts.
@@carelgoodheir692 I think I had a similar experience in 1980s USA, but ever since I had properly prepared sprouts, brussel's have been one of my favorite vegetables. They are the most delicious thing. Can I have yours? Got any other brassicas? I would like to eat all of the brassicas plz.
You have a respectful attitude when you discuss these things. I hope America doesn't spoil that. We've lost our civility, and we need help finding it again.
Bring back the bug cooking and delicious worm meals 🐛
Well i can surely say that you are really looking like a beautiful DUTCH girl!!😄
Weirdo
No not really
Don't understand this vlog. If you praise living in Nederland why go back?
In a socialist society other people health is my business, because my tax is paying for their healthcare. I will call you out if you are overly unhealthy, because you are wasting my money.
Not having poison in your food and gov paid healthcare kinda helps a lot...
Gov payed healthcare.....I pay 160 euros a month, dont know where you got you info from, but it is not true!
It's funny you call us healthy when 50 percent of dutch adults are overweight. Your bar is too low ;)
BECAUSE PEOPLE IN THE STATES ,HAVE AN TERRIBLE LIVE ,
lol... good things about netherlands - all stuff to do with people and culture. good things about the u.s. - nothing involving people. lmfao. i approve.
To live healthy: avoid self-help books and nonsensical stuff such as Pique.
Thanks for sharing!
I think there’s plenty of sense in drinking matcha: a little caffeine, L-theanine, and plenty of antioxidants. ;) great for overall health!
Though I’ll agree that healthy living doesn’t require specific products or purchases.
Do you speak Dutch? If not then you didn't live a full life here. And if you did .... how could you ever go back to that under educated US?
I do speak Dutch :)
I am back in the US for career reasons (my husband’s career included). I do agree that it would be nicer to raise kids in the Netherlands.
-The Netherlands have a tighter than average [by all country standards] immigration policy.
-95% [WOWZERS !!!] Dutch people are of Eastern European, European, American light skinned humans . Talk about a monoculture[Similar historical backgrounds and culture dating back 1000s of years] !!!
Might want to look into that more....😂
Actually, about 20% of the population of the Netherlands is of foreign stock. The main ethnic minority groups being those who migrated from the former colonies of Indonesia, Suriname, and the Dutch Caribbean. Approximately 5 % of the population consists of migrant workers from primarily Turkey and Morocco, and their descendants.
16:31 I like the video, but honestly got sad that I guess it felt needed to sum up nice things about the US in a video called 'Why are Dutch people healthy?'. I know online culture is what it is, especially US online culture, or so I found. But I still wish people wouldn't succumb to making disclaimers like this. As a dutch person I guess I appreciate directness over appeasing. Best to your channel though!
Can I say too much make up ?
Congratulations. I'm an Aussie who has visited NY. Our portion sizes are a little too big but America's are totally insane.
Congrats on your wedding!! ❤
Thank you so much! 🥰 It was very special to be back in the Netherlands with so many loved ones ❤️
I am Dutch, and I also lived and worked for a few years in Norway. It was in Norway that I discovered hiking and walking in nature. Going out there, walking longer and shorter distances, the quiet and the discovery, getting to that mountain top. Now I am back in the Netherlands and I continue hiking. There is no real raw nature here, nor mountains, but there are lots of beautiful urban areas, parks, dunes, hills and small nature preserves that provide near infinite opportunities. I find it nourishes both my body and my soul.
It can´t be more perfect than it is already. You can´t have it all. Imagine you have less rain and raw nature in The Netherlands it would be heaven on earth
@@piecia66 This country has plenty of limitations, both among its people and among its natural and cultured landscapes. But, it is a good country and people in many ways, for sure.
@@terraincognita3749 I hope the housing crisis is just a temporary thing, immigration I will not call a crisis because I don't know if it is a thing or just not accurate tv news. About good things one can keep talking till tomorrow.
@@piecia66 Illegal immigration is a real thing and a massive problem. TV news is not accurate because it doesn't show just how bad it is and how bad it has gotten. It is literally destroying cultures and countries all over the world.
Well, Limburg is not so bad. It's also mostly farms, but it's outstanding. Not to mention some lambiek breweries that you may find if you stroll into Belgium. Which is an advantage if you want to go light of luggage. I pal on doing the Pietenpad as an ultra, The only ultra run on the planet where you can plan your routes from AH to AH 😅
They aren’t nearly as stressed or terrified 24/7 as Americans are culturally. And, their society isn’t toxic to the point of being radioactive.
We are working on it. It's item #3 in our new far-right government's planning, just behind "annoying the EU" and "making promises we won't uphold"
Nice video! As 100% Dutch, but with a daughter who just returned from 4 years university in Philadelphia (I shared this video with her), I would like add that the habit eating together as a family will not only have social benefits, it will also let you eat freshly cooked and less processed food.
Car dependency has the most impact on health. It doesn’t just have to do with movement either. It affects air and noise pollution. It worsens social isolation through urban sprawl. Car ownership is a poverty trap. Every year, many Americans lose their lives through car accidents. Ect. I could go on, but these are just few problems. In case, you are interested, I recommend watching Not Just Bikes on RUclips. He goes over this topic more in depth and he lives in the Netherlands.
Not just bikes is great
WE have just as many cars and are just a little less dependant. Worse, the average Dutch fawns and salivates at all things American. We even try putting a fake "Amureekoaaan" accent when speaking English, instead of using the British standard, which would be more natural as the pronunciation of both are pretty similar.
The only thing that stops us from being more car-centric is that there is no space here.
Robin, you forgot the final an most important reason for why our fellow Dutch people are so healthy. They must remain fit for the everlasting war against the ocean! love the video, I found it very... practical
I really think it's a bit funny when you people call it an "ocean", it isn't, it's just a small sea. Counties like France, Portugal, Ireland, and the UK, they border the ocean. They get the rough weather and big storms. The North Sea is just a shallow sheltered sea and pretty calm compared to the ocean. We are very much sheltered from the elements by the other European counties.
Yes, we have to build dikes to keep the water out, and of course, sometimes we get a storm, but still... we are very well off here. ❤
@@Alicia-rd5oj 😅 it's all the same to someone like me from a landlocked state. That was just something I found humorous while reading some Dutch literature
I wish cycling was an integral part of American life like it is in the Ned