There are things that for culture, customs and local customs seem so far from us when we travel around the world. They are also the same things that give surprise, wonder, amazement and that we carry within us on every return, that we keep close to us and, again, they are exactly the same things that often, as travelers, we internalize and make us feel closer to people of the seat to a possible subsequent trip.
And then, if we were to Amsterdam, what should we let ourselves be captured and bewildered at the same time until we feel we have assimilated a part of it?
1. Should it rain and wind ... you would immediately notice that no one, I say no Dutch, uses an umbrella. If at first you found yourself thinking that they are crazy, later you would change your mind: the rain is really very fine as in all the northern countries, almost not to make you feel immediately soaked as it would happen to us and, if your travels to the opened were short, you would realize that you could easily give up the umbrella. You would replace it with a hood, at least until the strong wind against you would prevent you from wearing it, or with a cap, much closer to local customs, and you would find yourself sufficiently sheltered.
Obviously, if your walking route was medium-long you would try again to use the umbrella and then better avoid the folding ones: they would overturn in the wind in an instant and you would not benefit from them if not a fat, thunderous laugh! And the awareness that the Dutch do not use the umbrella, but with good reason.
2. If you were to enter a club in the evening (which in Amsterdam is not such a remote hypothesis!)… You would notice that the only fashionable people would be you, or at least another group of Italians in shooting for the evening. Nobody caresIn fact, clothing, of the combinations, of the refinement of the look or of the brands: "Easy" is the password and, to me, I was reminded that “we are not in Milan, who cares?”. Which, in the end, is even better this way.
3. You were a guest at a friend's house or, more simply, an Airbnb host or similar ... sooner or later you would run intoshockwave to super-concentrated cannabis, when opening the front door. It seems that the Dutch prefer the comforts of the living room to meetings in the more official coffee shops, in which, on the other hand, you would have thought - in all probability - to find yourself spending the night. At this point… how much to internalize local customs is up to you.
4. You would like to have breakfast out Sunday morning… You would find all closed and deserted streets. The opening hours of clubs and shops, in fact, are delayed compared to other days of the week. Many open at 11,00 for brunch, others in the afternoon, others still do not open at all, especially if located outside the city center. Sunday is slow, which doesn't hurt.
