‘Living in the Netherlands is boring

According to Oktaviane, the Netherlands and her native Indonesia are at odds in many ways. The traffic, noise, and culinary traditions starkly contrast with the Dutch quietness and thorough planning. To the point that, after her first experience studying in Eindhoven, she decided to move back home—missing some of the chaos and the liveliness.

A few years later, she came to miss the Netherlands, moving back to the Netherlands to pursue a new study path and a career. Okataviane-I only use her first name as this is the case in Indonesia-works as a user experience, user interface, and front-end developer at an Eindhoven-based software company.

Dutch Diaries

Getting a job opportunity, moving to a new country, and settling in are three moments every expat has experienced. But how does the Netherlands look in the eyes of the foreigners who move here for work? In our new series, Dutch Diaries, we bring the stories of expats who moved to the Netherlands to work in the tech and innovation sectors. Why did they decide to come here? What do they like the most about the Netherlands? What would they change?

View Dutch Diaries Series

What do you recall of your first moments living in the Netherlands?

“As everyone, the first few months, I had my honeymoon phase–everything seemed beautiful. After a while, reality hits. It was hard to make Dutch friends and then realize that life is different.”

How was your studying experience?

“The first time, I stayed for three years to study languages. Then, I came back to study ICT and media design at Fontys University. The learning experience was poles apart. During my bachelor's, we had to study thick books before exams, but this was not the case here. Also, passing and grading took me a while to get used to.”

Why did you decide to come back?

“When I first came here, everything was so quiet and boring to some extent that I decided to go back to Indonesia. Once I was there again, I realized it was too hectic for me–too much traffic and noise. Also, the work-life balance is very well figured out in the Netherlands compared to my home country.

How did you adapt to living on a new continent?

“The hardest part was getting used to food. As in other Asian countries, in Indonesia, we eat three warm meals per day. In the beginning, it seemed like everyone was always eating bread. For us, bread is more like a snack. Things got better after learning how to cook Indonesian food and buying myself a rice cooker.”

What is your take on the Dutch working environment?

“People are generally more open thanks to a flat hierarchy structure. No one looks at your job title, but they value you as a person, and this is something I came to adore. In Indonesia, if you work a low-level job, people will look down on you. Here, I feel like everyone respects people more as they see the value of their contribution.

At the same time, the Dutch directness is hard to take. If you do something wrong, they will tell it straight into your face. But then, if you are direct with Dutch people, they don’t always welcome it positively.”

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Is there a Dutch habit that you don’t get?

“I have a few, actually. Having a birthday calendar in the toilet is weird, as it congratulates the relatives of the person celebrating their birthday. ‘Congrats on your cousin’s birthday’ feels too much for me.”

How do you describe the Netherlands to your relatives and friends back home?

“I tell them how cold the weather can get compared to Indonesia and how life is boring–but in a good way. Here in the Netherlands, I know every day what I can expect; everything seems to be perfectly scheduled. In Indonesia, you don’t know what time you would get to the office because of traffic jams. Also, if you have an appointment with someone in the Netherlands, you know that person will arrive on time. There are fewer surprises in this sense. The only thing that never ceases to astound me is the weather.”

What habit or practice would you bring from Indonesia?

“A greater helping attitude is something that I would bring from Indonesia. I feel here, you really have to ask for help, while back home, people see more if you are struggling. They wouldn’t ask but simply help you. Also, Dutch people can use some expressiveness, but I find them quite cold sometimes.

However, I would bring a few things from the Netherlands to Indonesia. The strict non-smoking policies in public spaces and people’s respect for others’ time.”

Do you see yourself living in the Netherlands in the future?

“Yes, I see myself living here for long.”

‘Living in the Netherlands is boring—but in a good way’

By: Mauro Mereu