There are some things which are common to the Netherlands. Bicycles, windmills. . . But there are some things which you only notice if you've lived here for a while. You may notice these things differently or have a different list, but here is my personal Top 20 of things typically Dutch, good or bad:

1. The book, The UnDutchables, covers a lot of what one should know about a typical Dutch lifestyle. Though some Dutch disagree. My husband, who is Dutch, just spoke with his Dutch colleagues about this book, coincedentally. One of the colleagues is married to a girl from Canada. She has the book, so her husband read it. He laughed until he couldn't see anymore. I have yet to read the book, but will soon. One fact I do know from the book: All Dutch speak English. I know from my own experience this is not so true. Some I've interacted with could understand me, but they could only say ¼ in return of what they wished to say. If my husband happens to be with me, they will tell him the other ¾ of what they meant to tell me. But they do so in Dutch. Only 1.5 of my neighbors speak English [the .5'er is someone who has family living in North America & can only speak some English]. My mother-in-law speaks no English, and my husband's best friend never used any of the English he learned in school; therefore, his English is awful. I also seem to bump into the people who can't speak English well. But you will be surprised by how many who can speak English! Click here to learn more about The UnDutchables.
2. Bicycling in all types of weather. Even in heavy rain, snow, ice. . . And they've got the gear to help fend off the rain.
3. Women wearing short skirts while bicycling. This is really not classy, ladies.
4. The one cookie with coffee. I no longer find this unusual.
5. Opinions! [Dutch: Meningen] It's never a bad thing to have your own opinion about something. But these opinions I am referring to are often offered without asking first. You don't ask for it. They don't ask if you want to hear it. They just give it. It's not all Dutch who do this, but many. Out of the blue. . . I like when my husband is nearby and he switches into Mister Tact-mode. He can hush their opinion without offending. He knows how to, in Dutch, say what is appropriate when these opinions are given. I enjoy honesty from a person. But I really don't care what one thinks about politics and this sort, unless I've asked what they think. Or if I'm reading their blog.
6. Bread with cheese regularly for breakfast and lunch. . . Perhaps this is how so many Dutch stay thin? And due to the cheese, maybe this is why they are almost all very tall [strong bones]? I'm not a doctor or a scientist.
7. And they are tall people. My mother-in-law is almost 6 feet tall! Not all Dutch are tall, but they are supposedly the tallest people in the world.
8. Tulips are not Dutch. The tulip is a native plant from Turkey [source].
9. Drinking coffee at around 8 in the evening, daily. I've already discussed this before.
10. How numbers and letters are often differently handwritten. Once at the gemeentehuis [town hall], a worker became frustrated by my handwriting. He told my husband, in Dutch, that he could barely read what I'd written. My handwriting isn't chicken scratch. He just rarely reads American English handwritten. Here's a sample I found online of a typical Dutch woman's handwriting:[This reads: voor je klaarstond. It means "was always ready for you."]Here is a sample of an 8, how it is written typically by someone who is Dutch:[This reads: 8000 AP Zwolle]Sometimes the 8 is written more legibly, but they are taught to write it differently than we are taught in America. Also, the number 9 is usually written like a lower-case g.
11. Window washing. [Dutch: ramen lappen] They wash their windows. Often. My Dutch husband says it is so the others can better see inside at what you have. I notice my neighbors wash their windows, inside and out, at least once a month. My mother-in-law has a team come do it for her because the reach to get to some requires a tall ladder to complete the job. She doesn't pay much for the service either. I was surprised by this! Must be because they do so much business, they can keep the prices low?
12. How they wash the windows also is different. A bucket full of water with the cleaning soap/agent in the water. Usually more water than cleaning agent. They lather the windows up well and then squeegee them clean. In America, I am used to using Windex and some paper towels and/or the squeegee. Just squirt the Windex on the windows and then wipe.
13. They could go their whole life never using baking soda. Yet Arm & Hammer comes up with a gazillion uses for the typical American household. How is this possible? Note: They do sell soda [click here], but it's absolutely not edible! To be used only for cleaning purposes. Pharmacies sell also a baking soda-like product [I've heard], but ask the pharmacist before buying to assure it is edible. Otherwise, check out toko's for the baking soda used in cooking or in other expat shops. I've found Arm & Hammer baking soda at a toko.
14. Two things in the windows [Dutch: Twee dingen in de ramen]. It's so interesting to me, I made a separate blog category about the topic. This doesn't apply to college apartments. Drive through any neighborhood where the Dutch are and look at what is displayed in their windows. Usually an array plants signify what my mother-in-law says to be an older person's home. But don't quote me on that. I only notice the pairs of items in windows. Vases, sculptures, lamps, candles. . .
15. Here's a really fun one. Rent a really fancy car. Park it on your driveway where everyone can see it well. Go outside several times a day to shine it or to just brush the dust off the windshield. Make sure you do it at a time when they are outdoors as well or when they are near a window where they can clearly see you. Hear what the neighbors have to say about your 'new car.' You'll be the talk of the town. They'll wonder where/how you got the money to pay for it. Then break the news to them, if you want. We had a rental car for one day from the dealership while our car was in repair, and they hired for us a very sporty, shiny new car. Our neighbors were all like cats watching from the trees. We had a good laugh when they finally all came to ask about it.

And last but not least, the final 5:

1. Be prepared before going grocery shopping to dodge shopping carts and people who walk like they are heat-seeking missiles, aimed directly at you. If they want to get to the milk, they may walk right through you, if possible.
2. Aside from traffic signage, which the Dutch follow as well as anyone else should, other signage like these are ignored by almost everyone:[This sign says on the bottom 'play area,' where you certainly don't want what doggy does to also be in the play area.]If you have a dog and you are spied allowing it to do its duty where it's not allowed, you can be fined. I begin to think the Dutch are rebels when I do a simple task in my neighborhood such as going to the local grocery store on my bike. . .Another sign ignored: I saw at a shopping center a large sign of an adult holding a child's hand clearly posted on the entrance door, signifying one should be mindful to keep their child with them, in their control, at all times. Or was this a wrong guess? Maybe it means only people with children are allowed to shop there? What to my surprise should be going on inside of the shopping center, less than 25 feet after seeing the sign? Several children were alone, climbing up one of those strange art structures which are dotted all over the Dutch landscape. This one is indoors and looks like a 5 legged alien. Know what else I noticed? Not an adult in sight!
3. Every other Dutch show on Dutch TV includes either Gordon, Gerard Joling, Nance or Linda de Mol. No offense to any, but it does get old.
4. The police are almost like a joke here. Does this bother anyone else as much as it bothers me? It actually saddens me. I was raised to respect a police officer. Period. I won't even try to get them to look at me in America. If they are talking to me, I am certainly not going to put my hands in my pockets either.
5. No need to tip? Honestly, I still have a struggle with this one. And it should be something of a blessing, really. Example: I stopped at a café with my mother-in-law recently during a shopping trip. I told her, "Ik trakteer." This means "My treat." I asked my mother-in-law what she wanted, and then I ordered for both her and I. We ordered two sandwiches and two warm Chocomels. When the waitress brought out our food and drink, I told the waitress I would like to pay now. I handed her enough money to cover for the total and for a tip [Dutch: fooi]. Albeit it wasn't the same percentage you give to a server in an American restaurant, I still felt it was a kind gesture. The waitress was very friendly and fast, so why not? My mother-in-law, who is not a cheapskate, said to me when the girl was out of the area, "Why did you give her a tip?!" I explained to her it's in my bones. I know they are paid a special wage here and not how it's done in America where a server often depends on their tips. It was just a polite gesture. Even if the girl must split it with the others she works with, how often do you get service with a smile? Note: You can give a tip, but it is not expected.

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