Work culture in netherlands

[darmstadt]

I've worked at 4 places in Holland: a software company in Bergschenhoek and Utrecht, a very large consultancy in Utrecht, somewhere to do with space and de grootste informatiseerder in de sector Mobiliteit in Amsterdam. Casual wear was pretty much de rigeur although the first couple of days I always turned reasonably smart, didn't really do lunches but did go out with the people I was working with sometimes for lunch and drinkies, the people were very friendly to me but the only problem I had was trying to explain why the hell an Englishman would want to live in Germany (which came in handy as I could pretty much understand their conversations when they went into Dutch mode!!!)

[Sysman]

... with sometimes for lunch and drinkies, the people were very friendly to me but the only problem I had was trying to explain why the hell an Englishman would want to live in Germany (which came in handy as I could pretty much understand their conversations when they went into Dutch mode!!!)

They really didn't like it when I had a German gf. It's probably not as bad now, but when I was there, there was still a lot of bad feeling left over from WW II.

I can still understand a lot of Dutch even all these years later

[Mich the Tester]

the only problem I had was trying to explain why the hell an Englishman would want to live in Germany (which came in handy as I could pretty much understand their conversations when they went into Dutch mode!!!)

Tell them the houses, food and cars are cheaper in Germany. The cause of saving money can justify anything to the Dutch.

[darmstadt]

They really didn't like it when I had a German gf. It's probably not as bad now, but when I was there, there was still a lot of bad feeling left over from WW II.

I can still understand a lot of Dutch even all these years later

Yeah, they still don't like the Germans too much and I've known people who have driven there who have had their cars vandalised but I've never had that and I've driven there quite often. I find it strange as in the summer the motorways of both countries are full of cars of the opposite nations (in winter also the Autobahn is full of Dutch going skiing.) Mind you the Dutch and their bloody caravans during the summer are a pain in the bottom.

When I was working up on the coast I was staying in a hotel and was the only guest until the day I checked out when the place as heaving with Germans. I found that they both tolerate each other when it comes to holidays and making money off of each other. The Dutch people that I spoke and worked ith in Amsterdam much preferred younger Germans to the Brits as they were a lot more respectful and didn't act like ******* when bevvied and spliffed up.

[RichardCranium]

I worked at a refinery in Dutch-land and they had these incredible toilets.

They had these totally sealed cubicles.

Err, I think you went in the Ladies.

[moorfield]

The developers I work with here seem to think they work in a university not an IB. I don't think they get the idea of "agile".

The ladies are fit though wished I had worked here 10 yrs ago.

[hyperD]

Err, I think you went in the Ladies.

No no, seriously, they were the blokes toilets. No urinals at all.

Didn't get to see the ladies loos.

They were probably urinals. Never know with the Dutch...

[Sysman]

Tell them the houses, food and cars are cheaper in Germany. The cause of saving money can justify anything to the Dutch.

Q: Who invented copper wire?
A: Two Dutch arguing over a stuiver.

[swamp]

I worked at a refinery in Dutch-land and they had these incredible toilets. None of these shoe-splasher troughs where you get to compare sizes and hum while trying to avoid the bladder shyness.

They had these totally sealed cubicles (not the saloon door types where you can peer in or burst through them like some demented John Wayne character).

Fantastically soundproofed as well so no inhibitions about squelches, plopping sounds, straining or rustling of toilet paper. And fantastic air-replacement systems so you could leave a 10 pinter + curry in there and you could come out of there without the humilation of having to do the "walk of shame".

However, I suspect it was often advantageous for certain other recreational activities.

I would consider a rate cut for toilets like that.