Sun, 22 November 2009
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Swedish expat Asa Sarlen compares Dutch to Swedish style along with other aspects of Dutch life. She finds that the Dutch put emphasis on ‘gezelligheid’, are behind in fashion, drive rudely, but are open-minded and interested in what you are doing. She would love to settle in Amsterdam.Name: Asa Sarlen
Nationality: Swedish
Residence: Amsterdam
Date of birth: 28-04-1976
Civilian status: samenwonen
Work: Self-employed
Profession: Interior design
Living in the Netherlands since 2003.
Opening horizons
I was working in Sweden for Ikea as an interior designer and saw on the internet there was an interesting job opening at the concept centre of Ikea in Delft. There I could start training people in my field of work next to my job. So in the first place it was about the possibilities that this job was opening for me and not really about the Netherlands.
Candle light
I arrived in Delft in November and my first impression was that of a nice town with a lot of small, bruine cafés (lit. brown cafes) with burning candles everywhere. This is very different from Sweden where the café’s are more modern, spacious and lighter.
Between Sweden and Italy
The Dutch visit a cafe more often, to socialise, have a cup of coffee, a bowl of soup, while the Swedish mostly go in the week-end. I lived a couple of years in Italy and in my view the Netherlands is somewhere between Sweden and Italy. There the people go even more often outside but in Sweden everybody sits in their houses.
Less is more
Dutch design can be very good but the Dutch interior in general is a bit classic ‘country style’. In Sweden it is much simpler and lighter, much more 'Scandinavian' just like the cafés. ”Less is more”. In Holland they dare to use much more colours then in Sweden and that makes the Swedish style calmer and crisper.
I think that for the Dutch ‘gezellig’ is the main thing, whereas for the Swedish ‘proper’ and ‘simple’ are more important.
Behind in fashion
I think that in fashion the Netherlands is running behind. Italy, of course, is very trendy but also Stockholm is over-the-top-trendy! The people are so fancy and aware of everything. In the Netherlands you’ll see very expensive brands but then the combination is not right. It is the same with interior: you have to know how to combine things at that is where it lacks.
Hello, I just read your article about the Dutch lifestyle. You are fortunate you live in Amsterdam. I live is an extremely small village called Plasmolen in the Limburg/Brabant region. No one speaks English here, the feeling is that of an alien. My husband is Dutch. I am a seamstress, I love to sew...but my spirits are usually down living in the Netherlands, the thinking is so different than Americans. I travel every 3 months to America because it gets way too lonely here and I never leave my home (it actually becomes a prison for me). Too frightened of the people. Americans are so "friendly" and funny, even though the American fashion is "not that great", the people are! I miss my America so much. No friends for me here in Holland, none. Do you know of anyone who can sew/design clothing?
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