Seven Secrets for Surviving a Dutch Night Out

Posted by Andy Steves in General on April 15, 2013.

Whether you’re going to Amsterdam for a wild weekend; spending a semester abroad in Utrecht; or making a cycling trip through the Hague, it will take less than two Heinekens for you to realize one thing: the Dutch love to party.  You’ll need to know how to keep up to them to avoid ending your night out feeling drained or nursing a bruised leg and a wrecked bicycle.  Here are seven tips to help you conquer the Dutch nightlife scene.

1.     “Doe maar gewoon”: If there is one phrase to sum up the typical Dutch attitude, it’s “Doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg.” (Just act normal, that’s already crazy enough).  This idea is reflected in Dutch partying habits.  As drunk as they may get, most people keep themselves in line.  Raunchy bar-top-dancing or angry, noisy antics?  That’s “niet normaal” (not normal), and generally frowned upon.

2.     Suppress your yawns:  Dutch nights tend to begin around the time that many North American bars close.  They often start off with a round of beers with friends at a Dutch student house.  Around midnight, people will head over to the clubs, and from there, the partying may go on until sunrise. 

3.     Bring small change: Although the Dutch have a reputation for being thrifty, they seem to have no problem forking out €0.50 every time they want to use a public washroom.  When you’re drinking at a club all night, this can add up quickly, so prepare yourself with a pocketful of coins.  (Note: larger clubs, especially in Amsterdam, may not charge for the facilities.)

4.     Collect “muntjes”:  “Muntjes” are drink tokens, and the Dutch love to hoard them.  Many bars give out a token with every drink you purchase before a certain time.  If you keep these, you can use them later for a free beer or wine.  Sometimes, Dutchies will save up a collection and then plan a bar night that’s entirely on the house. 

5.     Practice your silly dance moves: Perhaps it’s because they’re raised on Tiësto and Armin van Buuren instead of Celia Cruz or Beethoven, but whatever the case, there’s no hiding it: the Dutch are not natural dancers.  This doesn’t mean that you should reject that 1.95 m. blond boy who has been beckoning you onto the dance floor.  Instead, embrace the opportunity to unleash your inner dance-dork.  The moves are wacky but easy to learn.  Try what I like to call the “open-handed fist pump,” the “wiggling fingers,” or the “happy-go-lucky elbow thrust.”

6.     Know how to order: The basis of a Dutch night out is beer (for the men) or white wine with ice (for the ladies).  Of course, women often opt for beers themselves, but you’re not likely to see a guy in a club with a wine in hand.  When you order a wine, specify if you would like it dry (droog -- DROAGH) or sweet (zoet – ZOOT).  Typical hard drinks include Vieux; Schrobbeler (typical in Brabant); and Berenburg (in the Northern provinces).  A lot of younger people drink Passoã, Safari, “Bacos” (Bacardi Cokes), or a mixed version of the strong liquor jenever.

7.     Work on your biking skills: Inevitably, you will top off your Dutch nightlife experience with the greatest adventure of all – biking home.  The Dutch are placed in bike seats from the moment they’re born, so they’re naturals at it.  For the foreigner, balancing on two wheels with a stomach full of drinks and a woozy head is anything but easy.  As you race down the darkened street, struggling to doge cars, drunken Dutchies, and the occasional canal, you may feel like you’re in a video game with a faulty controller. Don’t try anything fancy; just try your best to keep upright!

Guest Blogger: Ellen Keith (http://www.la-viajera.com)

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