I'm Dutch. Ask me about the Netherlands (crime rate, best, places)

[DutchWriter]

Hi, I'm new to this board. I'm a Dutch male, 35, living in a small university city (160k) in the east of the Netherlands. Visited most European countries, the US and Canada. Altough I don´t have an answer to everything I'll do my best. Please ask me about the Netherlands.

[Visvaldis]

Great to have you on the forum.
I visited Amsterdam many years ago while I was living in Germany. What interests me is the Dutch attitude toward drugs, especially for the use of marijuana and hash. Amsterdam has many Americans who like the casual attitude about soft drugs. As I remember smoking joints and pipes was not considered a bad thing, nor worthy of jail time. From what I've heard Holland has a much lower crime rate than America, so the argument that drug consumption increases crime holds no water.
I was wondering if the Dutch can openly smoke joints at parties, in bars, or even in public parks?

[njkate]

What is a good time of year to visit? When it is not to cold yet not very hot?
Besides Amsterdam where would you suggest some good places to see?

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by DutchWriter

Hi, I'm new to this board. I'm a Dutch male, 35, living in a small university city (160k) in the east of the Netherlands. Visited most European countries, the US and Canada. Altough I don´t have an answer to everything I'll do my best. Please ask me about the Netherlands.

I can tell you what I know about The Netherlands. The world's narrowest house is in Amsterdam. Leiden is the headquarters for IKEA. I know what Erwtensoep is(pea soup). I know that Queen Beatrix was the queen of The Netherlands during the 1980's and she took that position after Queen Juliana gave it up in the 1940's. In the United States of America, there is a major league baseball player who was born in The Netherlands and his name is Bert Blyleven. I know about the soccer team Ajax Amsterdam. A museum I know of is the Rijksmuseum. I know Prisengracht is where AnneFrankhuis is located. I have never been to The Netherlands, but I like the way Amsterdam is set up with all of the canals and the bicycle lanes. I know the The Netherlands is named because it means "lowlands", which has to do with the fact that alot of The Netherlands is below sea level. Walls were put up and the water was drained in many places to make polders, which is what Amsterdam sits on.

[DutchWriter]

@ Visvaldis: I agree with you on the marijuhana is not a crime thing. Officially you can't blow outside and can get a fine. I don't think a lot of fines are being written in practice, altough. Smoking weed in a coffee shop is ofcourse always allowed. In other bars or at parties it just depends. So look around you! When in doubt, just ask the bartender.

[HighlandsGal]

frikendal speciaal!!

[DutchWriter]

Originally Posted by njkate

What is a good time of year to visit? When it is not to cold yet not very hot?
Besides Amsterdam where would you suggest some good places to see?

Spring is great, generally I'd say May-October, altough it can get hot a few days in July and August.

Besides Amsterdam, some good places to see are:
* Rotterdam (580K), the most urban feel you can get in the Netherlands. Huge harbour you can visit, Euromast tower with panorama deck, shopping in the Koopgoot (small shops and big department stores), pop concerts in Ahoy', and Feyenoord soccer stadium. See art at the Architecture museum (NAI) and Booijmans van Beuningen museum. You can drive to the city center and park, or use the subway. You can walk along the river, see the boats, skyscrapers and bridges. Take a drink at Hotel New York. But beware at night, just as in every other big city.
* Go to the beach. We have a long coast. Near the inland cities there's often a small lake with a beach. Fishing, swimming, walking.
* Flevoland. A province made out of the sea. The small and dull capital Lelystad has a great rebuilt 17th century ship called The Batavia. A new replica ship (The Seven Provinces) is being built. Go there in the tulip season.
* Groningen (170K). Lively student city in the north. Canals with boats near the centre. Visit the Tobacco Museum, get a drink at the Groninger Museum.
* Nijmegen (160K). My home town. Lively student city in the east. A lot of specialized shops. Some buildings are from the Middle Ages. Go to the Valkhof Park and get a great view on the river and polders. Go an afternoon with the pancake ship. Or walk the Four Day's March with 40,000 fellow walkers. Ever saw a bycicle museum?

[DutchWriter]

Originally Posted by HighlandsGal

frikendal speciaal!!

Met friet?

[DutchWriter]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

I can tell you what I know about The Netherlands. The world's narrowest house is in Amsterdam. Leiden is the headquarters for IKEA. I know what Erwtensoep is(pea soup). I know that Queen Beatrix was the queen of The Netherlands during the 1980's and she took that position after Queen Juliana gave it up in the 1940's. In the United States of America, there is a major league baseball player who was born in The Netherlands and his name is Bert Blyleven. I know about the soccer team Ajax Amsterdam. A museum I know of is the Rijksmuseum. I know Prisengracht is where AnneFrankhuis is located. I have never been to The Netherlands, but I like the way Amsterdam is set up with all of the canals and the bicycle lanes. I know the The Netherlands is named because it means "lowlands", which has to do with the fact that alot of The Netherlands is below sea level. Walls were put up and the water was drained in many places to make polders, which is what Amsterdam sits on.

Wow that's a lot. To give some update, Queen Beatrix is still in power, the Rijksmuseum is being renovated and Ajax Amsterdam didn't win the soccer league this year (again). Well PSV mostly wins, they have a great youth soccer education.

[60-minutes-II]

What is your position with prostitution?