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

Positive Thoughts About the Netherlands: Small but Diverse

The Netherlands may be small, but it is perfectly formed (albeit a little on the wet side, seeing that it is predominantly set on reclaimed land). The little country is remarkably diverse for its size. For a start, despite a small population relatively speaking there are two official languages: Dutch and Frisian.

There are also packed, crowded cities and peaceful, sparsely populated villages, miles of coast line, nature areas, islands and just about every possible attraction you can think of; all packed into a land area of 33,883 sq km.

If you want amusement parks the Netherlands has an abundance; Efteling, Duinrell and Walibi World to name a few. If you want to visit a zoo or animal park, the choice is endless; Artis, Blijdorp, Ouwehands Dierenpark, Dolfinarium, Vogelpark Avifauna or Apenheul. And if we start looking at Museums, the list is literally endless! Some of the top ones to check out in the Randstad are the Van Gogh museum and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, as well as the Ann Frank house of course, and the Gemeentemuseum, Panorama Mesdag or Museon in The Hague. Further afield the Zuiderzeemuseum and Zaanse Schans are most definitely worth a visit.

There is so much contrast, diversity, tradition, history, fun, adventure and architecture in the Netherlands - and it is all reachable in the blink of any eye. It may be small, but it is a well-formed package!

Positive Thoughts About the Netherlands: Gezellig Dining

My first Christmas in the Netherlands was quite a dining experience. It consisted of a family gourmet session, and I was a gourmet virgin.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, a gourmet is, put simply, a hotplate and a mini-grill compact enough to take centre stage on the dining table. Diners cook their own meat and vegetables at the table. What could be more perfect: hosting a dinner party you don't have to cook for? Worse case scenario, you are expected to chop raw vegetables such as onions and peppers and prepare a few salads and sauces.

As a host you can spend the entire evening with your guests, instead of slaving and stressing in the kitchen. You have plenty of time to chat and catch up whilst the food is cooking. Gezellig. More importantly, if your guests go down with food poisoning the next day, they only have themselves to blame (unless you served meat passed its best of course....).

The variation on this is the fondue evening. Though of course this is by no means a Dutch invention, it has been embraced fondly, most likely because of its gezelligheid.

A fondue is also hassle-free dining, simple to host: simply head to the cooler at you local supermarket for the cheese fondue, chop up bread and some vegetables and voila - een gezellig avond. A feast of fruit with a chocolate fondue is also a real treat!

Positive Thoughts About the Netherlands: Water

The Dutch relationship with water is well-documented and world famous. From dykes, reclaimed land, polders and windmills, to boats, city canals and mud-walking, Dutch lives revolve around water in one way or another.

The love-hate relationship with water began in the 1200s when the natives began reclaiming land from the sea; land that now forms most of the Netherlands. The fact that the country is below sea level is for some astounding, and for others more than a little disconcerting.

However you perceive the precarious situation with the sea and this water-logged country, the fact is without the abundance of water the Netherlands wouldn't quite be the same.

Leiden's attraction is for me 100% linked to the canals that wind around the city streets and the boats that line the waterways. Amsterdam's remarkable character is also attributable to the waterways that run through the city. If you have experienced a Queen's Day in the Dutch capital, watching the parade of colourful party boats stream along the canals in procession, you will know what I mean.

It is not only cities, towns and villages which benefit from the water situation in the Netherlands. There are fascinating museums and attractions too which only exist because of the Dutch struggle with the sea. A perfect example of this is the Deltapark Neeltje Jans, a water theme park in Zeeland built around the storm surge barrier which protects the Netherlands against the forces of the sea. A visit to the north of the country to Ecomare or the Waddeneilanden (Dutch Friesan islands) also makes for a great trip out: try mudwalking or island hopping!

My favourite result of all this water in the Netherlands is the abundance of windmills which line the Dutch horizon. I love watching the turning sails of traditional windmills on the landscape, walking around Kinderdijk and taking boat trips on de Kagerplassen to get a close up of tradition in motion. Then there is ice-skating. The tradition of ice-skating in the Netherlands is an ancient one, and this last winter was particulalry cold. I was delighted to see what I had heard so much about - the Dutch taking to ponds, lakes and canals with their freshly sharpened skates. It was a fascinating sight for a Brit who had never so much as stood upon a frozen body of water before!

Positive Thoughts About the Netherlands: Flowers

Orange, peach, yellow and red roses, soft and velvety, finished off with splashes of white and a green posy. This is what sits in a vase in my living room. No, not because my husband is feeling guilty about something, and not as an apology for some dastardly act, but just because. He buys flowers on an almost weekly basis because he is Dutch: no other reason. The Dutch and flowers go together like Italians and pasta, or teenage Brits and binge drinking. It's a culture thing.

There is almost permanently a bunch of flowers in our house, either bought by us, or by visitors. Guests bringing flowers with them is about as normal as you can get in the Netherlands, and the fact that there are always flowers in our house is one of the things I love about living here.

I was talking to a British friend once about my weekly gift of flowers. "Oh, he never buys me flowers," she said about her own husband.

In the UK, flowers are more reserved for special occasion purchases than they are in the Netherlands: birthdays, congratulations, weddings. Most houses are not constantly decorated with vases of colourful bouquets. I suspect it is related to the price.

I can go to the florist here and pick up an enormous bunch of flowers for the change in my purse. In the UK I would certainly be diving in to the note section of my purse to buy an equivalent sized bunch.

Sometimes I see the prices of flowers in the florists here and wonder how the flower industry ever makes any money. But of course they do, and furthermore, the Netherlands is at the centre of the European flower trade.

It would be difficult to talk about flowers in the Netherlands and not mention the Keukenhof, the world's largest flower gardens. Situated in Lisse, the Keukenhof becomes the region's star tourist attraction between March and May, flooded with visitors from across the globe. It is a magnificent sight, and manages to amaze visitors year after year. It has now been the home to an annual flower exhibition for sixty years and each year millions of bulbs are planted.

If you are yet to visit the Keukenhof, or are looking to entertain relatives or friends, then it opens again in 2010 on 18 March and stays open until 16 May with the theme "From Russia with Love".

Positive Thoughts About the Netherlands: The Royals Keep It Real

No one in the Netherlands will forget the television images of Queen Beatrix, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima enjoying and joining in the festivities on Queen's Day in Apeldoorn. The fact that they were clearly having so much fun in the course of the morning made the tragic events of the afternoon such a stark contrast.

What followed may change the shape of future Queen's Day celebrations, though the Royal family is determined not to let that happen. The debate following the tragic events this year centred on the fact that the Queen and her children put themselves in a potentially vulnerable situation when they wander amongst the crowd and join in the activities when they are out and about.

It is a unique outlook for royals to have - to raise themselves above their titles and dive in and enjoy themselves on the streets with the Dutch people, in a manner I can't picture the British couple, Prince Charles and Camilla, doing.

Compared to the stuffiness of the British Royals that I grew up watching in media, the Dutch Royal family is a breath of fresh air. Compare the British Queen's reaction and public response to Diana's death and the heartfelt, emotional and immediate outpouring from Queen Beatrix on 30 April this year. Beatrix felt the need to address her people, and share her sorrow and feelings. They are sovereigns a world apart; the stiff upper lip of the British versus the openness of the Dutch.

Even though the Dutch Royals come across about as 'normal' as royalty can, they still have their fair share of scandal and soap opera entertainment to keep us all on our toes.

Take Mabel Wisse Smit as an example. The scandal (Mabelgate as it was dubbed by the British press) around her former relationship with mafia boss and drug dealer, Klaas Bruinsma, led to Prince Friso giving up his right to the throne in order to marry Mabel in 2003 after the government refused to give their permission for the marriage.

Then of course we have to look no further than the Crown Princess for more scandal when her parents were conspicuously absent from her wedding to Willem-Alexander in 2002. Her father was the Minister of Agriculture during the reign of the military dictator, Jorge Rafael Videla, responsible for atrocities against the Argentine people. Although the Dutch government found no direct wrong doing on the part of Maxima's father, he offered to stay away from the wedding to keep the peace. It was a hotly debated issue during the lead up to the couple's special day.

My recent attendance at Veteran's Day in The Hague brought me within sight of the Crown Prince, and eyeball to eyeball with the Dutch Prime Minister, Jan-Peter Balkenende as they walked around the Malieveld. I found it astounding to find such figures nonchalantly wandering around (albeit with security) to talk to everyday people, and take in a horse parade.

It makes the Netherlands a little different, and although the country's innocence has been dealt serious blows in the last few years, I hope the Royal Family retains its ability to feel at home amongst the general public.

Positive Thoughts About the Netherlands: Life Through the Eyes of a Foreigner

One thing I love about living in the Netherlands is that I am a foreigner. That means I see the Dutch and their country through different eyes than the Dutch people. Despite nine years living here, there is still so much left to experience, see and do.

It feels like I learn a new Dutch word every week, visit a place I haven't been to before or suddenly notice some cultural habit that had previously escaped my attention. Life as a foreigner in any country is a continual learning process, and for someone that gets bored with the same thing every day this works out well for me!

I was just asked to write an article for Keith Jenkins' blog, with the topic of 'world of inspiration'. The purpose was to write about something or someone that I had seen or met on my travels which inspired me.

It made me realise that life in the Netherlands has been one journey of inspiration, and I most definitely have not reached my destination. There are so many things that have happened to me, people I have met and experiences I have had, which would never have been a part of my life had I remained in England.

For one, I doubt that circumstances would have allowed me to pack in my job, stay at home to look after my son and start up a writing business. Through my work, I have met and interviewed some amazing people, whether it be virtual or 'in real life' . These are people I would never otherwise have met had I not chosen to live an expat life in Holland.

I would not be speaking Dutch for sure - there was little call for that in the dizzy heights of my Watford flat....

I would not be the mother of a bi-lingual son, which in itself is amazing and hilarious.

In short, I guess I would not be the person I am now - formed and moulded by my experiences in life, the life I lead in the Netherlands. Life overseas is culturally enriching, colourful and an experience!

And if you want to read the piece I wrote for Velvet Escape about what has inspired me during my time as an expat then visit http://velvetescape.com/blog/

Positive Thoughts About the Netherlands: Dutch Language

Living in the Netherlands means that my life is conducted in two languages - Dutch and English. Whilst some people may think this makes life complicated, I think it spices things up. Life is interesting in two languages - it is enriching.

Admittedly, Dutch is not the easiest language in the world to learn. There are sounds that are very unnatural to a native English speaker; it took me some years to master the correct pronunciation of Scheveningen and Voorschoten. The "g" is even harder - it is a sound made half in the throat and half in the mouth and is an abominable sound for unpracticed linguists. It sounds a bit like the tail end of a bad cold. But after years of strange looks and sympathy, I think I have cracked it.

On top of this, there is the problem for students of Dutch that many grammatical constructions exist "because they do" and not because they comply to any particular language rules or logic. The number of times I have asked my husband why something is said or spelt a certain way and I have been met with a blank stare or a smirk as he explains,
"That's Dutch. I don't know why. It just is."

At school I did French, German and dabbled a little with Italian. At university my degree comprised to a large extent French and meant I had to "study" (*smirk*) in Toulouse for a year. So when I knew I was moving to the Netherlands, I embraced the challenge of learning another language. Easy I thought, it's like German.

It's not like German. It's even harder to learn than German, and in actual fact knowing German put me at a disadvantage when it came to beginner's level Dutch - all I could think of was eins, zwei, drei ...... However, I was at least enthusiastic about learning and I started before I had even packed my bags with the help of Hugo "Learn Dutch in Three Months".


However, my enthusiasm was dampened a little after a telephone call with my then to-be future mother-in-law. She asked,

"Hoe is het?"

and unfortunately for me this is pronounced "Who is it?" Strange I thought, how many English sounding girls call her house.....?

"Er, it's me, Amanda," I explained.

Fits of laughter on the other end of the telephone, and a conversation I never really lived down. Self-confidence. Smashed. To smithereens. Of course, the standard question hoe is het? in Dutch means how are you. My first Dutch test and I failed miserably.

Thankfully, things got easier. Now I have a bilingual two year old, which of course would not be the case without the expat factor. Having a two year old that speaks Dutch and English has also provided us with some amusing moments. The latest was at the hospital last week where a doctor was entertaining my son with an Ernie knuffel (yes - he of Sesame Street fame).

Doctor: "Waar is Bert?"
My son: "Bert's at home."

Little did she know my son does indeed own a Bert knuffel, who was at that moment tucked up in my son's bedroom. She was undoubtedly expecting to hear a Dutch response, and looked questioningly at us. She burst into laughter when we explained that Bert is thuis. The doctor thought my son was casting aspersions on Bert's sexuality by telling her that "Bert is een homo."

Yes, a bilingual life is colourful and fun for sure!

Positive Thoughts About the Netherlands: On Yer Bike

My next positive thought about life in The Netherlands is that it must be one of the easiest countries in the world to cycle around. Unlike the British who have made a half-hearted attempt in some places to build cycle paths, the Dutch have really given cycling some thought to make getting out and about on a two-wheeler as easy as.. riding a bike!

The cycle path network in the Netherlands is extensive, stretching from one side of the country to the other in all directions. Cycle paths are well maintained, serviced by bike traffic lights and street lighting for a spot of night time riding (which is how many Dutch get home after a good night out - or in some cases how they end up spending the night in a hedge) and the signposting is excellent. Parking is also widely available for bikes, some paid and manned, other facilities are free to use, but it is better if you are of an optimistic disposition and emotionally unattached to your bike to use the latter.

Quite how the Dutch came to be such prolific cyclists is probably because the country is flat and cycling is free; we know how much the Dutch love "gratis".

And when I say prolific, I mean they ride their bikes on any and every occasion. My dad bought a pair of bikes back last year back in England because there was a special offer on - buy one, get one free - but they never actually made it out of his garage. This would never happen in the Netherlands. Firstly, I can't see an offer of "buy one, get one free" on bikes becoming reality here, and secondly the Dutch don't buy bikes to leave them in their sheds, garages or basements. They ride them.

They ride them to school, to do the groceries, to get to a play date, to visit family, to pick the kids up from nursery school, to walk the dog (beware - this is not for the faint-hearted and injury can occur) or just to get to a friend's place. They also use them for recreation - for sightseeing, exercise, or just because they can.

Bikes in the Netherlands are also used as a kind of shopping trolley-removal truck-car boot-beer carrier, which means everything can be transported on the front, back and side of a two-wheeler.
Two children fit easily on a bike; one in a special baby seat at the front and an older child in their own seat behind the saddle, and for good measure one may also be propped on the bag carrier at the very rear of the bike. None of them wear safety helmets. If you see a child (or adult for that matter) wearing a helmet whilst on a bike, you know they are not Dutch. They are an expat.

Sometimes the bag carrier is used for actually holding bags, usually filled with shopping. Beer crates are also common items to find on a Dutch bike, along with bunches of flowers and DIY items. Hoards of cyclists leave Praxis or Gamma (both popular DIY stores) with a mountain of wood, paint or tools, throw it all on their bike and cycle off to spruce up their home.

Not only do Dutch bikes carry anything and everything, they carry everyone: women who are 9 months pregnant , pensioners, small kids, fathers, mothers, suit wearing business men with briefcase, lovers (on two bikes but hand in hand) and teenagers.

Cycling for us expats however, is not so easy. Most of us were not born attached to a bike. Buying my first ‘Dutch” bike was in itself a lesson in local culture. I had not ridden a bike for more than a decade so trying the bikes out in front of the bike shop provided plenty of "gratis" entertainment for the shop owner. In a very typical Dutch display of bluntness, he made no attempt to hold his laughter at my shaky (and potentially life threatening) pedalling and steering. When my partner explained it had been a long time since my behind had met with a bike saddle, there was an audible gasp. Most Dutch children learn to cycle before they can walk and the aged Dutch pedal their way into the next life.

A couple of useful cycling links:
Cycle routes in the Netherlands
Get confident on a bike at Bike College and check out the expat program
Traffic rules for bikes (in Dutch)

Positive Thoughts About The Netherlands - Location, Location, Location

One of the things that I love about living in the Netherlands, instead of living on a large island, is the fact that it is such a short drive to other countries, a hop, skip and a jump from other cultures and new experiences. Within an hour's drive I can be in Germany or Belgium, and motoring a little further brings me into France or Luxembourg.

We have made some great trips over the years I have been living here; weekends enjoying the peace of the Ardennes, the bustle of Brussels and the beauty of Bruges; a few days in Paris; a Christmas at Euro Disney, a day trip to Movie World and the magical atmosphere and Glühwein of the Christmas markets in Aachen and Dusseldorf. We also celebrated an unexpectedly snowy birthday in Monschau in the German Eifel. Wonderful experiences almost on our doorstep and all wildly different to the landscape and culture of the Netherlands.

Before I am yet again accused of sliding into a post of negative comments about the Netherlands, escaping the Dutch and their homeland is not my primary reason for experiencing this closeness and accessibility of other countries as a positive thing.... although for those near the borders it does mean you have somewhere decent to go grocery shopping. Oops.

Growing up in a country where it took us five hours to get to my grandparents (okay, three if my dad was driving the whole way), the Netherlands is a nice change; it seems to me that everything is close at hand- even different countries. Of course, the UK has Wales and Scotland that can be reached by car, but both are still a long drive from the south of England (and I confess I have never actually been to Scotland). For the Americans living here, I can imagine the feeling that everything is very close must be stronger still.

I also love the fact that whilst other cultures are within easy reach to the south and east, there are also miles (or kilometers I should say) of coastline to visit, with some truly unique regions to experience. Hopping to the Dutch islands (see my post about Texel) made me feel like I really was taking a break from the hustle and bustle of life in the Randstad, even within the confines of a day trip. Whilst I was in Texel I had to keep reminding myself that I was still on Dutch soil; it seemed like we had gone 'abroad'.

And then of course there are the big cities, which provide a cultural feast for hungry visitors - Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague and the little places dotted around them such as Delft and Gouda. This side of the Netherlands is also a contrast to the East and North where culture and language differences show their face.

The Netherlands may be small, but we all know it's not size that matters - for me this little Dutch nation really is a gateway to amazing travel and cultural experiences.