The Making and Breaking of a House Sale in the Netherlands: Our Two Weeks of Hell

We have just been through two weeks of hell with potential buyers for our house. The only thing that has kept our sanity in tact is the fact that we have a great estate agent selling our house who is also acting as our "buying" estate agent or aankoopmakelaar as it is called in Dutch.

The concept of having an estate agent that concentrates on selling your house and one that focuses on helping you buy a house is something that was alien to me when I moved to the Netherlands. For the first two houses we bought we only used an agent to sell our house, and we did all the buying 'stuff' ourselves. We learned our lesson..... (for pros and cons of hiring an aankoopmakelaar visit EigenHuis.nl - in Dutch)

With our next planned move we decided to use an aankoopmakelaar and it turned out to be a great move - he had secured us our next house within a few hours (yes, hours!) and we couldn't have been happier. That's what a GOOD aankoopmakelaar brings to the process.

Frustrating? You Could Say That!
Photo: Pop Catalin

Unfortunately, not all aankoopmakelaars are of the same calibre and the one representing our potential buyers managed single-handedly to destroy the chain for all buyers and sellers involved. After two weeks of messing around we threw in the towel and declared negotiations over - with such an agent and a process a house sale was just not worth the stress and aggravation.

The aankoopmakelaar had obviously promised the potential buyers he would get them a certain price at the beginning of the process and tried everything he could to keep that promise - deadlines were not communicated to his clients, he failed to relay price negotiation movements to his clients and lies and dirty games were in abundance. He told our estate agent one thing and his clients something completely different. In fact, he personified the reason why estate agents have earned themselves a bad reputation - at least in the UK anyway!!

Our estate agent was not amused to say the least and it was reassuring to us that our 'buyers' estate agent had horrified our own estate agent with his unusual and deplorable behaviour. To hear an estate agent say "I'm glad that's all over," and "I'm glad that didn't go through," when it doesn't end in a sale is truly a marvel...... He'll be taking the issue further but we're just glad we're out of the process.

We have certainly learnt a lot about the world of estate agents from the last few weeks. Our estate agent explained there is a code of conduct between estate agents, especially in a geographical area, and lying and deception is just not done. Yes, estate agents play games but they don't tell lies and manipulate the process and parties involved. For such behaviour, they lose their NVM status.... if they were good enough to have it in the first place of course...... In a housing market that has already been sickened by the economic crisis such estate agents do nothing to help.

The housing market is a tough one out there for sellers at the moment - BUT this does show that a bad choice of aankoopmakelaar can mean the process ends in disaster for the buyers too (ours wanted to move end of August this year so they have a fun few months ahead trying to make that happen).

Here's a couple of tips if you are looking to buy a house in the Netherlands:

• An aankoopmakelaar can be worth their fees and more if they are good - ask around for a recommendation. 
• Make sure that the estate agent you choose belongs to the NVM (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Makelaars) or the VBO. This means they must adhere to certain standards. Yes, you guessed it, our 'interested party' chose one who is a member of neither organisation and standards were low to say the least......
• Make sure the aankoopmakelaar knows the local market you are trying to buy a house in. The one representing our 'buyers' did not and made demands that were instantly thrown out. It didn't make him look very competent or the buyers very credible.
• Make sure you don't insult the sellers and get them off side with a ridiculously low opening offer. It doesn't bode well for the negotiation process. Nothing like pissing off the owners of the house you want to call home......
• If a deadline is set for discussion, keep to it. Unless the sellers are desperate to move patience and trust in you as a potential buyer will quickly be lost.
• It's important that you trust your estate agent and that it clicks between you. Are you getting the full story from your aankoopmakelaar?

And of course if you are looking to buy or sell a house in the Zoetermeer and wider area I can recommend a good estate agent - just send me an email and ask!

Who has more tips? Anyone had a good/bad experience buying or selling a house here?

The Ins and Outs of Expat Careers: From Human Resources to Writing

This is the first post in the series about expat careers. To kick off the series I thought I would share my expat career experience with you.......

I moved from the UK to the Netherlands in 2000 and at the time I was a Human Resources (HR) professional. I had studied for a Post Graduate Diploma in HR Management and intended to continue practicing HR when I moved abroad.

Within two months I had a new job with a large international company in a HR role. But to start earning again I’d made many compromises. The position was lower than my UK role was, the salary less. It was a temporary role and working through an employment agency.

Despite the number of international companies based in the Randstad in the Netherlands I found that the job market for my niche was relatively small because my Dutch was nowhere near good enough to work in a Dutch company – and that reduced my options considerably.

Feeling insignificant in a big
office block
Photo: Ryan Smart

After years of working on a specific contract in the same company, having been given a permanent, direct contract with the company the project came to an end and I was moved within the organisation to another team. It went downhill from there.  I felt like a number not a valued team member, a face in the crowd. I started reviewing my career options. I needed creativity in my daily work life. I wanted to write for a living but didn’t really see how.

I considered how I could combine HR and writing and then I discovered Jo Parfitt and attended one of her courses. It was the springboard that took my career on a new direction. During the course, Jo made a general statement to the group which stuck with me,

“You can make a career of writing and you can earn well with it. But you need to be passionate about what you are doing.”

I knew I wasn’t passionate about HR anymore. It hadn’t fulfilled any of the hopes I’d had, especially for much of my time in the Netherlands. But I was passionate about writing.

When I went on maternity leave it was the opportunity to take stock and make the change. I never went back to my HR role nor the international company. I set up The Writing Well instead.

The main barrier was financial but my departure from my former HR position left me financially secure for a number of months so I had a safety net – plus the income provided by my husband’s role gave us enough security to support the inevitable drought times.

Setting up a business in the Netherlands turned out to be straight forward, particularly given the nature of my company. I visited my local Kamer van Koophandel (Chamber of Commerce) to register The Writing Well and then registered the company with the Dutch tax office. That was the administration taken care of.

I undertook a web design course with NTI so I was able to design and build my own website for the launch of The Writing Well. And then I began networking and producing articles for various expat websites and publications – for free.


It built up my name and portfolio and then paid work started to steadily flow in.

A while after I started writing, I started a distance learning course at the London School of Journalism to boost my professional skills and keep my personal development going.

For expats wanting to make a move into the world of writing, my advice is this:  choose a niche, know your market and grow your networks.

Working virtually is vital if writing is your chosen
expat career.  Photo: Maripepa

Grow a platform for yourself (or as Anastasia Ashman and Tara Agacayak call it – a global niche). Writing is a great expat career because it is portable. Your clients can live across the other side of the world and it makes no difference so long as you can work virtually in an effective manner. I would also add that you should make the most of distance learning courses.

You do need the support of those around you. My husband enables me to take the time to disappear into my home office and work because he takes on the household and looking after the children. He has motivated and supported me from day one and even before – and takes an active role in decisions I make, and activities I undertake relating to my business. Jo Parfitt has also been a great support over the years – somebody who remembers her network at every possible chance and points clients in the right direction.

To succeed in a career overseas I think you need to be able to effectively network, both virtually and face to face. You need to be passionate about what you are doing and it certainly helps to be creative – to think outside the box. Finally - believe in yourself.

• Useful links for an overseas career in writing:

www.joparfitt.com
London School of Journalism

• Here are just some of the websites that welcome articles which enable you to build a portfolio - 

www.expatica.com

www.expatarrivals.com

www.iamexpat.com

www.expatwomen.com

www.expatexchange.com

And for inspiration to build a creative career doing what you love, no matter where you are visit Tara Agacayak's site - Turquoise Poppy.


Next week Louise Wiles shares her expat career story.

Guest Post: Robin Pascoe looks back on her visits to Holland

Author, inspirational speaker, writer, mother of third culture kids, traveller and once an accompanying spouse. Many words to describe my guest blogger today. Two words sum it up better: Expert expat. I am delighted that Robin Pascoe has written a guest blog for A Letter from the Netherlands - here she takes a look back at her visits to Holland. Over to Robin.......


I decided this past year to stop traveling around the world on speaking tours primarily because I had visions of people saying, is she still doing that? But I overlooked one huge downside to my decision:

I wouldn’t be visiting Holland on a regular basis anymore!

When my husband left diplomatic service for the private sector and we repatriated to Vancouver, Canada, I never figured I would lecture ever again. Until one day, in our first year back and out of the clear blue, I had a fax (yes, that’s how long ago it was) from my original publisher in Singapore: a group in The Hague called “Outpost” was interested in inviting me to Holland to keynote their first Global Conference.

Immediately, I called my best friend who was living in Holland at the time and asked her to investigate just who this Outpost group might be. At the same time, I played a heavy guilt card on my husband (who was travelling more, if that was possible, in his new job) that it was time for me to have a go at getting out of town.

Shell Outpost as everyone knows, became the role model for all the corporate spousal organisations that have followed since. It turned out that a survey had revealed my very first book about being an expat wife was very popular with Shell spouses. Who knew? Not me. I always have claimed I have a life I don’t personally participate in!

Shell kicked off for me over ten years of coming over to Holland from my side of the world to speak to so many groups, I had to really think hard to remember them all.

There was the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in the early days; the American School of the Hague (twice); and the International School of Amsterdam  (also twice). Expatica.com, a great site I contributed articles to on a regular basis, organised a conference or two (I think one was in Rotterdam).

Then there were the women’s clubs: the American Women’s Club of Amsterdam (twice); Global Connection (also twice); Connecting Women in The Hague; the European Professional Women’s Network and of course, Shell Outpost in The Hague (too many times to remember after that initial conference).

The list (and I know I’m forgetting others) doesn’t do justice, though, to how much fun I always had visiting Holland and how much I miss it.

From my very first trip, where I insisted (even knowing I have no sense of direction), “oh, please don’t go to the bother of picking me up at the airport” because I would rather catch a train and go in the opposite direction of The Hague... to my last one, when my non-stop KLM flight back to Vancouver was the only flight on the board at Schipol Airport to be cancelled that day.

Robin travelling in traditional style in Amsterdam 

There was also the time I met over lunch with my Google doppelganger, the British journalist living in Holland also named Robin Pascoe and then wrote a funny piece about ‘meeting myself’ for a Canadian newspaper.

Finally, they say a picture is worth a thousand stories. This one of me sitting in a Dutch bakfiets which was my means of transport to my AWC meeting by my hostess made it to the cover of my re-issued wife book. I was certainly glad my hostess was very fit as I watched the streetcars whiz by me in the opposite direction.

Too many stories (Queen’s Day celebrations one year in Hilversum would be an entire blog posting on its own) and too many memories (most of them involving getting lost!)

One day, I simply must get back, as my good friend and partner-in-expat-writing crime Jo Parfitt is living in The Hague inspiring new authors.

And where does her husband work? Shell, of course.  What goes around definitely comes around!

Author and ExpatExpert Robin Pascoe doesn’t travel anymore so she created an on line global lecture tour at www.youtube.com/robinpascoe

Eight Tips Series: Kitting Your Home Out with Dutch Essentials

In order to get along in Dutch society there are a number of essentials you need in your home. Without them you cannot integrate fully and may even fail the inburgeringscursus. You can read about these essential tools (and others) in more depth in an article I wrote for Expatica.

1. Potato Masher
Without this vital piece of kitchen equipment you can never hope to master Dutch cuisine. It is hard work to use it effectively but practice makes perfect. You need to keep mashing until the object in question looks squashed and dead.

Although it is a potato masher (at least where I come from it is) the name is deceiving. In the Netherlands, it has various uses on top of smashing the life out of a potato: mashing cabbage, mushing carrot, pulverising spinach, squashing onion, squishing endives...... you get the picture.

This kitchen tool allows you to make a perfect stamppot or hutspot - perfect for warming the tummy in winter. Also very handy after dentistry work and a broken jaw.

2. Birthday Calendar
This is an essential for the smallest room in the house, namely the downstairs loo. If you don't have a downstairs loo, then choose the next smallest room. Make sure you include the birthday of anyone likely to visit your house - everyone checks for their name whilst they are making use of your facilities. They really do. If they come out of your downstairs loo looking mad, it's because you forgot to put their birthday in your calendar.

3. Bicycle
It almost goes without saying, but without a bike in the Netherlands you are no one. You simply must have a bike - it really doesn't matter how much you use it but you should have one. Where it is stored differs from household to household. The shed is a popular place. Public hallways in shared accommodations are also popular, preferably so you block safe exit and entrance. Creating an obstacle course for fellow residents is seen as good sport here. You can also leave your bike(s) chained to a lamppost outside your house - it externalises the obstacle course and gives dogs new and varied targets to pee on.

4. Window Foil
Many Dutch homes do not have curtains. They may have blinds or no window fittings at all. This is traditionally so you can see in to the showcase living room. However, over the years many Dutch homeowners have become torn between tradition and dignity. Do they really want you seeing them in their dressing gowns with bed hair every morning? The solution is window foil. Placed strategically over the windows you can't see out so obviously nobody can see in (except very small and very tall people).

5. Sauces
Your fridge door must be full of different sauces to be served with every meal. Every meal, regardless of what it is. Of course, the food you serve will determine exactly which of the sauces you are to serve but there are some staples: knoflooksaus (garlic flavoured sauce), currysaus (spicy ketchup in essence) and chillisaus (chilli sauce). There are other sauces which are variable and optional but for kids you must always serve appelmoes (apple sauce). It is to do with the lack of flavour in Dutch cuisine....... see tip 1.

6. Vases
Flowers are everywhere in the Netherlands. They are also commonly brought by visitors. So if you are a bit of a socialite, then you will need a lot of vases and many free surfaces to put your flowers in and on.

7. Cheese Slicer

I had never owned a cheese slicer (kaasschaaf) in my pre-Netherlands life. Cheese in the UK is soft and comes in square chunks so can easily be cut with a knife or crumbled or grated for sandwiches. I now own two cheese slicers. (I actually had three but whilst some might find that luxurious, I found it to be a little excessive and as it came free with some cheese I chucked it). Anyways.... Dutch cheese is hard and triangular shaped. Trying to cut it with a knife is just asking to lose at least one finger dangerous so cheese slicers are essential.

8. Chairs
Foreigners in the Netherlands all have to step into the circle of death at some point. If you have a Dutchie in your house, you will even have to create that birthday circle for yourself. For this you need as many chairs as you can muster from friends, family and neighbours. But you must also have a good supply in house. The good news is (so I am told) that the birthday circle is dying out and a thing for the older generations.

What's your experience? Do you still end up in birthday circles? Do you host birthday circles?

Featured in Expat Entrepreneur Interview by Expatica

Last week Expatica published an interview with me about being an expat entrepreneur and running a business in the Netherlands. If you are interested to read more visit Expatica.

American Life Through Dutch Eyes

As an expat in the Netherlands, you tend to focus on what others think about life here but when I came into contact with expat entrepreneur Linda Hemerik, I was curious about what the Dutch miss about their own country when they move overseas.

Linda lives in the US and gave an interview on this blog a few months back. She was also the subject of an Expat Women article I wrote. She recently shared with me what it is like to be living in the US, how she experiences life there, what she misses about the Netherlands, and the differences she sees between the Dutch and American lifestyle. It highlights Dutch culture, and the difference to life in America and makes for interesting reading.

"Imagine schools in the Netherlands telling Dutch school children to leave their trusted two-wheelers at home and find an alternative means of travelling to school. It is inconceivable here in the land of cycling, but some schools in New York State forbid cycling to school because of safety and liability issues." ............. You can read the full article on Expatica.

Positive Thoughts About the Netherlands: Home Births

To wrap up the "Positive Thoughts about the Netherlands" series, I have chosen a topic that seems to be a little controversial amongst expats (judging by the comments raised on related articles on sites such as Expatica) but one that nonetheless I see as positive: the right to choose for a home birth.

Nearly a third of women in the Netherlands give birth at home, and even more initially plan to deliver at home (up to 60% according to some studies) but end up in hospital for medical reasons. Whilst this figure is decreasing, and more women in the Netherlands are opting to give birth in hospital, the Dutch home birth rate still stands out in the world; around 2% of women in the UK have a home birth, this is even lower in the US with a home birth rate of around 0.65%.

There has been controversy around the alarming figures following the Euro Peristat data released in 2008, but a comprehensive study into the safety of home births revealed in April this year that there is no more risk with a home birth than a hospital birth, and that the home birth culture in the Netherlands is not responsible for the dismal Dutch figures. What is responsible seems to be a combination of factors, and something that needs further research.

If there are any medical indications, or risk of medical complications as the pregnancy progresses, a midwife will immediately make a hospital referral and rule out a home birth.

There are many reasons for the popularity and availability of home births amongst the Dutch. One is the emphasis here on midwives in the maternity process, who play the key role in a pregnancy and birth with no medical implications. The second reason is that the Dutch advocate natural births; using breathing techniques and relaxation methods instead of drugs. This is certainly one of the most alarming issues for expatriates giving birth in the Netherlands, but attitudes and rights to pain relief have changed in the Dutch maternity system even in the last year or so. You have the right to choose: hospital or home, natural or pain relief.

When I was pregnant in 2006, the home birth issue was one I mulled over for some time. I see-sawed between the idea of being in my own home, in a familiar environment, for the birth, and being in the safety of a hospital should something go wrong. In the end, I stuck with my initial decision to aim for a home birth and everything was ready for this scenario. However, for medical reasons I ended up having no choice but to go to the hospital for the birth of my son. The main thing at the end of the day was that he was delivered safely, but I have no doubt that the experience would have been much more pleasant had it happened at home.

However you see the maternity system in the Netherlands, the fact that there is a solid infrastructure to support home births and the choices of mothers-to-be can only be a positive thing.

If you want to read more about the Dutch maternity system here are some articles I have written on the topic:

• Maternity Matters - What to Expect in the Netherlands
• Don't Blame it on Home Births
• Kraamzorg - Postnatal Care in the Netherlands
  

Useful Links:

• Parenting in Holland


• Childbirth courses in English: Great Expectations


• Babycentre.co.uk Parents in Holland Community


• Dutch Doula site with a section in English


• Delft Mama


• Childbirth and baby courses in English given by ACCESS

Why Did the Cat Cross the Road?

We will probably never know... but the fact that the cat may or may not have crossed the road got a Dutch motorist his 75 euro fine back....

http://www.expatica.com/nl/news/local_news/Dutchman-off-the-hook-for-not-running-over-cat.html

Milena Vargas in the Hot Seat - Interview With an Expat

Although she has been living for less than eighteen months in the Netherlands, Milena Vargas has already set up her own business in the Dutch capital. She talks to me about ChaChaBabies, her reason for moving abroad and the notable differences between the Netherlands and Canada.

How long have you been living in the Netherlands?
Since November 2007.

What brought you initially to the Netherlands?

I am married to a Dutch man. We lived in Toronto for 4 years then I decided to move to the Netherlands.

What is your profession?
I have a business administration college diploma from Canada. I currently have my own business called ChaChaBabies operating in Amsterdam. I teach women how to dance to different music and they have their babies as their dance partners. Moms can hold their babies in a carrier and dance to the beat of; Latin music, Waltz, Soca, Arabic and so much more. Rhythm and music options are endless. http://www.chachababies.com/

What is the main difference between your country of origin and the Netherlands?
Canadians are very polite and tactful. Dutch people are very upfront and too honest which borders on rudeness and impoliteness. That was a shocker for me.

Dog poo on the streets. People do not pick up after their dogs. I do not see this in smaller towns though.

What was the most surprising adjustment you needed to make when moving to the Netherlands?
The way of living and moving around. In Canada, everything is so convenient; shopping centers, supermarkets (packing groceries for you) and drug stores. All can be found with one-stop-shopping. Here you need to go to so many different places to fetch things. I found myself crying many times, feeling like a pinball – from here to there and there to here and back again.

What would you miss most about the Netherlands if you were to leave tomorrow?
The active social life Dutch people have.

What do you like least about the Netherlands?
Small spaces, it is overcrowded with people. And the weather: sometimes I go weeks without seeing a single ray of sun, which can be a little disappointing.

What is your favourite Dutch word?
Paddestoel (ed. Means mushroom / toadstool / fungus)

How would you describe the Dutch people?
They are very friendly, but they keep to their circle of friends. It is sometimes hard to break through. They have a very active social life and I think it is because they feel the need to connect with other people as a “therapy” in a way as they have to cope with a lot of external factors (work, weather etc). They are always socially busy and networking plays a big part in their lives - more than Canadians, I would say.

I have never seen a culture that worships the sun so much as the Dutch culture. Well, Holland does not get much sun and when the clouds are gone and the sun is out... my goodness, I can describe the city being under a ‘sun spell’. In addition to that, all commercial activity is shut down by at least 85% on Sundays, except the Sundays Tanning Salon. This is bizarre.

Do you have any blogs or websites that you find enjoyable about the Netherlands for people living here?
Expatica, Parenting in Holland and Elynx

Expatica – “I am Not a Tourist” Fair

If you have unpacked your bags and are planning on staying in the Netherlands a while, or even if your suitcases were abandoned long ago and you are a seasoned expatriate, here's an event for your calendar this weekend.

Sunday (12th October) sees the annual Expatica lifestyle fair "I am not a Tourist" taking place for the fifth year in the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam.

The purpose of the "I am not a tourist fair" is to provide expatriates in the Netherlands with information, an opportunity to network and a chance to be entertained. From expatriate banking, insurance, taxation, buying a house, looking for a job or learning the language experts will be on hand to give advice and share their knowledge on a variety of stands.

In addition, there are workshops and presentations planned throughout the day on a wide range of subjects. Here are some of the highlights:

• Curious Orange, a live radio recording by Radio Netherlands Worldwide
  
• Living in Holland – Rent or Buy presented by makelaar.com
  
• Having a Baby in the Netherlands hosted by Truus Gale for ACCESS
  
• Author of 25 books, expatriate and career expert Jo Parfitt is presenting "Forced to Fly" and "How to Have a Career in Your Suitcase"
  
• Down to Earth Meditation for Busy People by Barbara Rogoski


• Women in the Dutch Workplace by Suzy Ogé, Founder and Director of the Women's Business Initiative International
  

Entertainment includes dancing by Extremos on the main stage, stand up comedy from Lambros Fisfis and improv from The Dog Ate my Scenework. The kids have not been forgotten - a bouncy castle and arts and crafts will undoubtedly keep them out of mischief.

For the full programme and timings, visit Expatica. Free tickets are available in advance, or pay 10 euros on the day.

See you there!

Survival Tools for the Netherlands

Expatica has published an article I have written about the Dutch and their peculiar habits and activities. It is a light hearted guide on how to integrate into Dutch society and you can read it here.

Don't Get Caught Short....

When you move to a new country it is always the little things in life that are hardest to get used to. After nearly eight years in the Netherlands, I am still not adjusted to the fact that I am charged for answering the call of nature....

An article I wrote on this subject has just been published on Expatica.com

The Dutch Manner

It is official. The Dutch are rude. According to the results of a survey of Dutch expats, living across the world, and expatriates living in The Netherlands many find the Dutch to be less polite than other nationalities. Waiters, teenagers and shop assistants are the worst offenders according to the study. Positively seen by respondents are doctors, receptionists, immigrants and police officers.
Expatriates living in The Netherlands tend to be even more negative about the manners of the Dutch than “Nederlanders” living abroad are.

I read the results with interest but certainly not surprise. Furthermore, I actually took part in the review taken amongst expatriates living in the Netherlands, undertaken for Expatica.com by RuigrokNetPanel. My responses did nothing to help the Dutch with their negative results. Here are some reasons why.

In the normally long and slow supermarket queue, despite the pledge to open more tills if there are more than three people in line, I bear witness to a mad dash from the back of the queue if an extra till opens. The Dutch do not politely wait their turn and allow those before them to transfer to the adjacent line. They push, shove and elbow to get there first. Impolite or just the way of the Dutch?

My most recent encounter with the queue phenomena was just over a week ago, but the story had a surprise finale. A couple of women in front of me were paying for around one hundred toiletry items with separate bills. Each purchase consisted of two or three items and the going was slow to say the least. The queue behind me grew and became a mass of huffing puffing dissatisfied customers. Some even abandoned their potential purchases and exited the shop.

An employee appeared and began to open the adjacent till. Amidst the forward thrust from the tail end of the queue, I heard a voice, authoritative and forceful whilst simultaneously remaining gracious. The woman behind me announced to the encroaching handful that it would be fair if I were served next, as I had been waiting the longest. Sheepishly, smiling thankfully I moved across with my basket. There are always those that break the mould.

Rubbish on the streets of my hometown is quite normal, usually collected where the teenagers hang out. Apparently, the ten-meter walk to the nearest public rubbish bin is beyond the scope of the local youth. Lazy and unmannered or just Dutch youth?

I stand quite often dripping in the pouring rain, my toddler in his pram with his rain cover on, waiting at the side of a zebra crossing. It is usual to hang about whilst at least half a dozen warm and dry drivers tear by without thinking of braking to allow pedestrians across, despite the legal requirement to do so. Ill-mannered or just the Dutch way?

I am not even going to get started on those people sitting behind tills, sales people in the shops or customer service reps on the telephone…