Dutch culture and social life

Dutch culture and social life

While still offering a good quality of life, the cost of living in the Netherlands is lower than many other western European countries, although Amsterdam is more expensive than other areas. However, among all the things to do in the Dutch capital, there is plenty of free stuff to try. Dutch culture is renowned for being relaxed, liberal and multicultural. The cafe culture and nightlife of Amsterdam are a couple of things the Netherlands is most famous for, but there are numerous other things to do and places to visit in the Netherlands including a fine selection of Dutch museums.

To help foreigners settle in once they have moved to the Netherlands, there are plenty of groups and clubs based around nationality, lifestyle or profession. Alternatively, you can join (or start your own) Meet-up group to find like-minded people. If you want to settle in, learn more and acclimatise yourself to the local customs, you can learn a little more about Dutch culture or read up on interesting facts about the Netherlands. Try sampling Dutch food to get a real flavour of the country.

The Netherlands is a predominantly Christian country and, as with many other European countries, the Dutch Christmas season revolves around family, feasting and some uniquely local traditions. The Dutch Christmas markets are a popular annual feature. Christmas Day, Boxing day and New Year’s Day are national holidays. 

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