What is it like in Holland? 10 points?

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U_S_S_Enterprise

I don`t want to go back - i`m already here :)

seriously though - as you are Canadian, you`ll not have any problems here.
Most, if not all people in the larger cities speak English enough to enable you to get around without language problems.
Some also speak French (although i`m told that Canadian French is quite different from French French).

As the country is fairly small, especially compared to your own, you can reach almost everywhere within 2/3 hours travel by public transport. Amsterdam and Utrecht are pretty much central hubs from Train travel - and if you want to see more from Europe, from Utrecht you are within 1.5 hours of Germany, and from Amsterdam you can be in Belgium in roughly the same time (when going by train).

I have a Canadian friend who visited me here a while ago, and she loved it.

In summer, you should nevertheless be prepared for (some) rainy days - so bring some waterproof clothing :)

If you know what area you will be going to, a more to the point answer can be given - but browse through previous questions, and you`ll find lots of useful links to the larger cities.

If you need some help getting around in Amsterdam - feel free to contact me through my profile.

Christie F

Dude, I LOVE holland... I am considering moving over there to work as an au pair... I just can't decide if I am willing to risk not having a job when I come back...

Amsterdam is such a cool city. No, not because of the coffee shops or anything... It has so much history. It is absolutely beautiful with all of it's canals, architecture, and stories. The country is amazing, even in crappy March with mist, no leaves on the trees, and it being cold. The windmills are beautiful.

The people are some of the most friendly I ever encountered. Most speak fluent english. The streets were hard to navigate. They all end in -straat which is hard because they seem to all start with K and there are J's in the middle of words where they don't belong. There are also about 26 letters in every dutch word it seems. I counted out one word that was seriously 48 letters. That isn't exaggerating or a joke...

But it really is a very cool, diverse country with a ton of history and a lot more than "socialism" and "liberalism." The people are so diverse and have so much to share! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did...

Vince has left the building...

Canadian is probably Holland's favorite nationality, especially with the elderly, as it was mostly Canadian forces that liberated the Netherlands at the end of the second world war...

That's all I wanted to say ;-)

owww, something else that wasn't mentioned, in case you're wondering... Holland is one of the most "online" countries in the world so you don't have to worry about being "connected"...

____________________________
@christie;

ij is the dutch Y so whenever you see ij just read it as a Y

kittysue2000

It all depends where you are in the Netherlands. A big city like Amsterdam is going to be a lot different from a small town - like in any country. People are friendly and most speak excellent English so you won't have any problems with communication.

Alice F

I live in holland. Its great. Weather is good and its safe. But i dot really like the shops there because there arent many good clothes shops

maria

well i live there sooo its grea there

pondfish

If you are Liberal and tend towards Socialism you will feel comfortable there. There may be some culture shock depending on where you come from.

rick d

Hopefully youre 18+

its a great time for a short while... it will get dull after a while

the soft drug scene/ coffee shop scene is pretty cool -- especially for Americans used to a repressed attitude towards pot and shrooms.

The people are beautiful -- girls perticularly -- tall, blonde, athletic and toned -- lots of bikes EVERYWHERE !

very touristy and crowded streets near the ring streets/ red light area
the anne frank house is dull, the diamond thing is dull, the streets, people and attitudes are amazing ---- I walked upon an impromptu musical recital by a 20 member street orchestra dressed like darth vader, black demon, sci-fi types in the downtown center and only 100 yards away from a youth soccer game in the city center -- both were very crowded and very cool.

I loved it and plan to go back ASAP and move to another destination within 3-4 days of having some fun -- you will like it and it is in the center of Northern Europe -- get a railpass and go to Paris, Berlin, Zurich, Brussels, Etc.

YOU WILL HAVE A GREAT TIME !

TOMGAR

I was there back in 92' and i had a blast however you do have to be open to a new way of doing things :-}

Flying Dutchman

GERMANY

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