When I think of the Netherlands, or maybe more specifically, Amsterdam, I think of the extensive system of canals there.

When I think of the Netherlands I think of endless flat beaches and windmills and tulips and wooden clog shoes etc etc.

I think of insanely tall people. I think its sweden though. They're all tall up that direction anyway. Maybe I should look there when I want to marry :laughing:

Bicycles: We do have those a lot here, but I don't see why! It's often rainy or hot here. It's never really the weather to ride a bicycle. In the summer, it's hot, in the autumn it's wet, in the winter you'll slip and fall and in spring you'll get insects all over you. I don't see the point.

Hookers: They're getting rid of them now. I don't think we have so many hookers. You really have to look for them to find them, it's all very organized. I wish they left them alone as I think that as soon as all official 'red light area's' are gone, there will be an increase in illegal prostitution, child prostitution and rape. FFS our government should be so glad with all those women who are prepared to do this for a living. I respect them an awful lot.

Very flat: I live in Limburg, which has quite some hills.
http://i.pbase.com/u47/peterfree/upl...eelBeusdal.jpg
But our country is, indeed, compared to most other countries, very flat.
I don't mind by the way. I like looking in the distance over meadows and creeks.

Gay policemen: What? I didn't know that. I hate our policemen though. They're stupid arrogant pricks most of the time.

Street punks: I guess this goes for tourists only? I never encountered such a thing and as far as I know things like that are far worse in Paris or Madrid. Same goes for the hookers by the way. A friend of mine went to spain and said even pubs provided 'service' by offering you girls. You really don't get that here.

Sleazy Bars: Do we? I never go there, sounds like I shouldn't.

Free trams: You did something right there sir, they are not free at all :D

Dope: I still think there's more drugs activity in the USA than there is here, haha. It's just easier to get here I guess.

I'm going to ignore the soccerplayers as I friggin' hate soccer. It really ****s up the country when there's a world cup of some sort.


The Frisian language: Interesting, this. We actually have three languages in the Netherlands.
We have Dutch, Frisian and Limburgian. Only the Frisians wanted to have their own language and got it, the Limburgians didn't bother. But both languages differ just as much from the actual dutch language. But don't say that to a frisian person, because he'll kick your ass.
To me, if Frisian is a Language, then Limburgian should be one too. I think they're both Dialects, though.

Canals: Ah, interesting one too. I sometimes drive over a B-road somewhere next to a Canal. And then I see the boats are actually higher than I am :D. It's the strangest thing to think you're driving under the water.

Tall People: I'm not that tall, but it is indeed Sweden where people are the tallest. I think we're still above average, though. The average person is about 68 inches (you do the maths) high :)

They are when you're with about a dozen drunken Englishmen. ;)

Haha, Englishmen are considered VERY bad guests here ;D.
Another thing I hear about the Dutch: Apparently this is a great country to come and play when you have a band. I'm always really proud of that :)

Thank you :)

Thanks for the grats Janszoon! Should be fun! And yeah I have no idea where I'm going to be living yet... I don't think I get much of a choice which sucks, but then on the other hand I don't know much about the districts of London in order to choose a good place anyway! I'm not sure what school I'll be at either. As soon as I find out I'll post so that you guys can mock me for it being rubbish :P

Oh yeah, apparently the Dutch love Canadian tourists? I should go there someday.

The Dutch are now my enemies by association!!

CANADA!!!

*shakes fist violently to the sky*

I actually disagree entirely with the removal of brothels, as they serve to provide a safe environment for working women to do what they're going to do dangerously on the street anyways.

when I think of the Netherlands, only Margo (the girl I met on Friday on the bus) springs to mind

You mean like the stinky cheese?! Oh yeah, can't mention cheese. Sorry. I guess people are so obsessed with the Netherlands cause of the weed and hookers that everything of note in the country has already become a stereotype...Oh yeah! Severe Torture is a Dutch death metal band right? That's all I got.

Seriously? I like all Canadians here I believe.

Haha, I thought you wanted to visit me some time soon? :D

You are 300% right.

Do you have a surname and any idea in which city she lives? :)

Haha, the stinky Cheese comes from here, too. It tastes a damn lot better than it smells.
It's pretty surreal to see how hookers and drugs seem so interesting to most of you while I don't know much people who do drugs (I have just one friend who regularly does drugs...) and I don't think I know anyone who ever went to see a hooker. Neither of those things is all that common here. I think the tourists see a different The Netherlands than the Dutch do :D.
I never heard of Severe Torture, so I looked it up. And yes, it is. :D.

I went to the RLD when I was there (Amsterdam). We were told not to take pictures. :(
Little did they know, I had a penis-cam.


Seriously though, I support brothels. They promote clean, relatively good-looking whores that don't get killed, or otherwise bludgeoned to near death, by Johns. Amsterdam had the highest-class whores I've ever seen. Even Frankfurt, Germany couldn't match them.

She's from Amsterdam and is a medical student. didn't get her surname.

Painters and footballers, mainly.

• Rembrandt, Rubens, H. Bosch, Vermeer, Van Gogh, Mondrian... the list could be endless.
• I can say the same about footballers. Usually very good players, with splendid technical abilities ("the Brazilians of Europe"), even if they sometimes play in the wrong clubs. And despite the last World Cup's final. :D
• An "architectural terrorist" named Rem Koolhas. On the other hand, good architects such as MVRDV firm.
• Unfortunately, I don't know many writers and musicians. :(

A foreigner had to tell you about your own country's music? For shame!

I've just remembered two great Dutch authors that I love:

• Baruch Spinoza, amazing Philosopher of Sephardic descent (Spinoza = Espinosa). The man who intellectually destroyed the three main monotheistic religions with an impeccable rationalism. My hero!!
• Johan Huizinga, one of the best Historians from the 20th century.

Hahaha, I had to think for a while and then had a good laugh :D
You mean "Remco Koolhaas", haha. Allright :).

I wish I had put football in that 'don't' list. I didn't even know we had good soccer players. I friggin' hate soccer. Probably because this country is so into it :D.

According to Wikipedia, his real name is Remment Lucas Koolhaas. Author of "things" like....

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/135...tlelibrary.jpg

Anyway, I must admit that, nowadays, architectural crimes against good taste are a worldwide disease.

It's certainly eye-catching.

I don't think it's legal to kill people anywhere...

^^unless it's a war

or you're Osama's headhunter

Kate, Camden in London is awesome. I've been twice. That's where the famous oxford street is :love:. If you get situated away from it I'd say it'd be worth going over to do loads of shopping on Oxford street :). It has nice little markets too and lovely little pubs :).

Oxford Street to Camden is like a 4 mile walk.

As I found out a few years ago :(

I would much rather look at that than some boring square concrete piece of **** building.

Isn't it still in camden though? I could walk from my hotel to Oxford street when I was down :O I'm sure I stayed in Camden otherwise I was a stonesthrow away from there :) Oxford street in itself is like a mile and a half long or something.

All I have to say in Camden in London is a hell of a lot cooler than the Camden near me, which looks like this:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ij38atdyiN.../Camden_NJ.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ht7XBblJA8.../camden001.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kZP0242g-q...n_2009_02r.JPG

They look like perfectly aesthetic crack houses to me.

I think crack house would be a step up for most of those buildings.

They remind me of "The Wire" for some reason.
So... that's gotta be a selling point I guess.

I would say that the weekend markets are a hell of a lot more interesting than Oxford Street.

Not legal to kill people here is Australia, the judge will slap your wrist and tell you not to do it again.

Questions for New Zealanders:

1) How long would it take to drive from Queenstown to Dunedin?
2) How long would it take to drive from Dunedin to Christchurch? Where would be a good place to stop in-between overnight?
3) How likely is it that roads between these places would be closed in winter due to snow?

Thanks!!! :)

EDIT: Thanks kayleigh on the camden tip! Will have to check it out when I'm over there!

Lateralus: If you're still looking for info about moving to the UK (London) to teach, I have a friend from Melbourne who did exactly that about 6 months ago, I can ask her how she's been finding it if you like?

Oooh, that would be great! How coincidental, I don't know if you know but I'm from Melbourne too...

haha, that I didn't know! She's staying with my gf over the weekend, so I shall report back here when I've had a chat with her.

Awesome! I think quite a few Melbournian teachers go over to London to teach. Anyway thanks, look forward to hearing about her experiences :)

If someone internationally cheating to use Spotify were to purchase a membership, would it be valid, or would they recognize the credit card address and bar you from using the program?

I was cheating and my 14-day travel-abroad usage ran out.

can you pay with paypal?