It depends. As was said, both are typical Western countries, but there are some serious differences. We use the euro, drive on the right side of the road, are often somewhat bilingual. Dutch food is fairly unimpressive, same as the English food, it's just not as fat. Also, the Dutch are somewhat fat, but certainly not THE fattest Europeans.
The Dutch can be fairly loud and cheeky. Since they do speak some English they can be a little overconfident, but really they mean well usually and often try to help you out. Traditionally, the English are a bit more reserved.
When you're at a counter for a shop or at an elevator, it's ''every man for himself.'' In comparison, the English are very polite and correct. The plus side is with a Dutchman you know where you stand, though you might get offended if you have low tolerance.
The Dutch are very organized, so you have to make an appointment for everything, even social gatherings. You don't show up unannounced. If you do, you don't get any food. The Dutch are actually not opposed to inviting you over for dinner, you just have to follow the ritual. It may sound a bit worse than it is. When all is said and done it's actually not hard to make friends. Just don't talk about money. That will ruin everything.
The government is extremely bureaucratic as well.
The Dutch are daredevil artists on their bikes and drive them everywhere without helmets. Remember! If Dutch bike riders have no brakes they drive through the red light EXTRA fast to show you clearly they are not going to stop, so be careful in big cities!
These are some typically Dutch things. I hope it helps you out!
I live in the Netherlands and often visit the UK, staying with friends in their homes, talking about their and my job and so on.
I am often surprised how different things are.
From not having a TV license, we just all pay the same kind of money whether we have a TV or not, to different rules for working overtime and days of, there are differences in almost everything.
Even the food in the shops is different.
As some of the other answerers already said, the differences are not that big compared to other countries like in Africa and Asia, but that does not mean that the differences are to be ignored.
Some people do take to living abroad with great gusto and fit in wherever they go, others do struggle. I have an aunt who has lived in the Netherlands for 50+ years, from Yorkshire, and never really felt at home. But I also have a friend who has lived in the Netherlands and regretted having to move back to England when the need arose.
The most important is that you want to live where you are living. If you do not really want, you will not be able to adjust as you need to.
Speaking Dutch, while not really needed, will be very helpful.
There are very great differences between UK and the Netherlands - one major difference is that a lot of Dutch folk can speak English whereas hardly any one in England can speak Dutch - or any other language come to that. It's an island mentality thing.
The main thing which connects the English with the Dutch is Gin - pure and simple. The Dutch invented it and named it after their Dutch word for Juniper - Londoners could not be bothered with that and as usual brought the Dutch word down to a simple slang word called GIN.
This link will help explain some of the other diffs between UK and Holland (Nederland)
http://www.hollanduktrade.nl/wp-content/...
As a boy I lived on the beach near Hastings, place called Bulverhythe where the flagship of the Dutch East Indies company The Amsterdam, ran ashore and was wrecked on her maiden voyage. Needless to say all the gold and silver was stolen from the ship by the locals - that band of wreckers.
Wreck of the Amsterdam (pronounced Omsterdom - or something like that).
https://www.google.co.uk/#q=wreck+of+the...
An Angels sings in Holland - an astounding voice for such a young girl.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rqBXgtO...
Gonna be a big star.
Of all countries on the continent The Netherlands is still the least different from the UK. However a lot of things are still different.
Depends on what you mean exactly. In a global context, ie. comparing either country to Borneo or Mozambique or whatever, I'd say they're pretty similar - both are northwest Europe, protestant Christian, fairly liberal, fairly wealthy, etc. etc. In a more regional context, of course they are different - if Cornwall and Yorkshire are different, and they're part of the same country after all, then naturally enough different countries are different in many ways. But I'd say if you've lived in the UK until now and you move to the Netherlands, you'll find it fairly familiar in what comes to everyday life.
Whichever country you move to there will still be a huge culture shock. The language is totally different for a start and, unless you speak Dutch you will find it very difficult to get work.
Not at all like. Different language, different money, different justice system, different cultural assumptions.
It is different.
yes i feel so.
