NL. – People refuse to get old. You can see it by the way they look (active, fit, dressed up) and behave (going out, self-confident). People can take good care about themselves. I like this kind of positive egoism. People get kids quite late. When the kids grow up it happens that they go out together. People party with their friends and parents at the same time.
PL. – Bigger generation gap. You won’t meet anyone older then 40 in a fancy pub or on a street dance course.

NL. – People almost never give their seat to older person in the tram. You never know if the person will get offended.

NL. – Dutch have lots of self-confidence, they are very direct and open. It happens that they are sometimes pushy and arrogant.
PL. – In Poland people are not always saying what they think. They are more closed, don’t talk to the strangers on the street. Foreigners can have the impression that they are not kind.

NL. – People are very hard working, practical, well organised, trying to be perfect. They like to plan things. That’s probably why they are good designers and good businessmen.

NL. – They have a special approach to money. They save a lot. I don’t understand why they never say how much they earn.
PL. – Polish talk easily about the money. They're talking loudly if they are proud of how much they earn and complain (most often) when they earn too little. When they have money they spend it.

NL. – People can’t party here. I noticed a lack of imagination, they are not very spontaneous. They have some distance, cannot get crazy.
PL. – Partying with Polish people always ends up at 6 in the morning, and huge hang-over the next day.

NL. – There is lots of light, good visibility, long horizon. I like the big windows which give a feeling of space. The house interiors are integrated with the outside world.

NL. – Dutch parents give their children a lot of freedom, but still they're very responsible and caring. They are for them more friends then parents. In Poland people are more conservative, parents expect respect and obedience.

NL. – People are very sensitive about their own freedom. You can wear bizarre clothes and take a dog with you to the bar.

NL. – People are used to foreigners,
PL.– It happens often that if a black man walks on a street people look at him strangely.

NL. – Bicycles are more a part of body then a separated vehicle. In Poland I have never ridden a bike in high heels.

NL. – People have different idea about hospitality. If you are lucky to be invited by Dutch for a dinner it won’t be an amazing meal. In best case it is pasta with salmon. With the coffee you won’t get more then one peace of cake! Polish are known for their hospitality. They like to eat and party. A traditional polish wedding last 3 days!

NL. – Traditional food is as heavy as in Poland. Cuisine is composed of lots of meet, potato and cabbage. But in Holland there is a far better choice of different national restaurants.

NL. – Language sounds weird. For example you want to say: - Yes, please and you end up with something like – Graag.

NL. – Empty churches, you can see people washing the car on Sundays. It could never happen in Poland.

NL. – Art must be funny, on the openings of exhibitions comics are often invited.

– In the Netherlands one cannot buy sour cherries, while they’re so central to Polish cuisine (including delicious pierogi, dumplings and a liqueur)
— In the Netherlands the smallest beer is really small, in Poland the smallest beer on tap is half a liter
– No one brings children to a pub in Poland (unimaginable)
– In Polish cinemas you’ll never have any refreshment breaks during the film
– In Poland more men wear moustaches.
– In Poland women wearing mini shirts do not ride bicycles
– In Poland less people opt for group entertainment , such as going on bike trips together in groups. In Maastricht I see groups on red (rented) scooters.
– A carnival in Poland is not a group event either; it’s more a time for parties, not to such an extent as in Maastricht (where shops and offices are closed and everyone is on the streets or in pubs)
– Bureaucracy is bigger and more painful (slower) in Holland (this is my biggest surprise)
– In Poland one usually doesn’t say hello to strangers in a public area
– In Poland one cannot buy cigarettes from a vending machine
– In Poland there are more wild animals; one can see them in the forests and grass fields (deer, fox, bats, hedge hogs, etc.) In urban areas there are wild cats, (which is sad because they usually do not get proper care)