Amsterdam Cultural Tips

Dos and Don’ts

After four hundred years of defining their own rules for living, Amsterdammers have developed some strict codes of etiquette. Colin White and Laurie Boucke, co-authors, The UnDutchables: An Observation of the Netherlands, Its Culture and Its Inhabitants (www.undutchables.com), provide the following tips to help visitors pass as a local:

Kissing Cheeks: “When greeting good or fairly good friends, a kiss on the left-right-left cheek (three kisses in total) is appropriate—or less for the lesser-known. But do not kiss when meeting someone for the first time; a brief limp and wobbly handshake will do.”

Proper Pronunciation: “Don’t say ‘Amsterdam.’ Instead say ‘Omsterdom.’ This will have more effect if you repeat the word while giving the thumbs-up sign with both hands.”

Transportation: “If you have a bike, test always carry one to two passengers after dusk and test ring the bell every few minutes.”

Flowers: “Do take flowers when visiting Dutch friends and be sure to carry the bunches upside down; it stops the water from running down your sleeve.”

Dining Alfresco: “If you’re eating from an open-air fish stall, hold the raw, brine-slimed herring (haring) from its tail and lower the creature head first into your gaping mouth.”

Phrase Book

Mokummer: A resident of Amsterdam. Pronounced MO-keh-moor

A’dam: The common written abbreviation for the city

de Wallen: Nickname for Amsterdam’s Red Light District. Pronounced duh vah-len

Gracht: Means “canal,” so when an address ends with gracht you know you’ll be on a canal. Pronounced with two guttural g’s—one at the start, one at the end

Doie: An affectionate, informal way of saying goodbye; never to be used in formal or professional situations. Pronounced doo-ee

Een klap van de molen hebben: Literally translates as “being hit by a windmill” but used to mean simply “be crazy.” Pronounced uhn klahp fahn duh moh-len heb-en

Broodje: The most popular Amsterdam snack, a bread roll filled with just about anything, most often Dutch cheese. Pronounced BROAT-cha

Stroopwafel: The second most popular Amsterdam snack, syrup sandwiched between two thin wafers. Pronounced STROPE-vaffel

Jenever: Dutch gin. Pronounced je-NAY-fer

Alstublieft: The only word you really need to know. It means “please,” and more precisely “if you please,” and it is used liberally in any transaction. Pronounced ALLS-do-bleet