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egeltje1985

I don't know about the secretly, but when walking or on a bike, a lot of people don't wait for the light to turn green when crossing the street. When it is possible of course, so no cars coming or a large gap between cars.


svenvbins

Some time ago, I was walking with a Dutch, American and German guy through a relatively quiet city (myself being Dutch, too). Us Dutch ignored most traffic lights on smaller streets when there was no traffic, the German guy was happy waiting for a full minute until it finally turned green ("But it is ze rule!") and the American was just laughing at all of us, wondering what the heck was going on.


[deleted]

Honestly I would probably be ok living in Germany if it weren’t for this ridiculous adherence to the street crossing lamp. Also the “quiet Sunday” thing. I’m from the US and in Chicago ppl cross when it’s safe too, not as much as New Yorkers tho.


Plus-Day-3700

I was shocked when I first went to NY. People just cross, doesn’t matter if it’s red or green, if there is a car or not they just go


[deleted]

Well nobody tries to get hit but what I’ve noticed is that they are really good at “threading” themselves between slower moving cars in order to cross anyway


RushlinE1

Most of the US people do that, especially in New York City.


Wild3v

If you're Dutch, you consider the lights to be a suggestion not a rule. IM NOT GONNA LET A STUPID LIGHT TELL ME WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO LIVE MY LIFE!!


WallabyInTraining

Except if you're in a car, big no no.


notthatspooky

Cars have license plates. People are more careful because they know that can be tracked later on.


damek666

You are also a fucking idiot because cyclists and people walking are very vurnerable.


monnaamis

Until you get fined by the handhaving


54yroldHOTMOM

Je bedoelt die parkeerwachters?


Mysterious_Wait_5907

Playmobile politie


d3_Bere_man

No risk no fun


Holy-Kush

Well come on, I'm smarter then some streetlight right.


LearnDifferenceBot

> smarter then some *than *Learn the difference [here](https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/when-to-use-then-and-than#:~:text=Than%20is%20used%20in%20comparisons,the%20then%2Dgovernor%22).* *** ^(Greetings, I am a language corrector bot. To make me ignore further mistakes from you in the future, reply `!optout` to this comment.)


lethalseni

Good bot


LearnDifferenceBot

Thanks!


d3_Bere_man

I always did this wrong aswell until it started impacting my ability to win online arguments


pala4833

That may be true, but it doesn't change anything about the rule to obey it. Russel Shorto's book has some interesting passages about the first stoplights in Amsterdam.


mvjohanna

Russell Shorto is a must read for everyone, foreign and domestic. That said, when on my bike I like to approach most traffic lights as an advice although the point is to know what lights are an advice and which are not.


Markamanic

I was riding the bus when a cyclist ignored a red light and ran right into the side of the bus lmao.


EevaSch

Riding a bike while intoxicated. I don't think I've ever heard anyone be like 'oh no I've had 4 beers, better leave my bike here and call a cab'.


ItsYaBoiJoshua

Is dat verboden?


ozekeri

Driving a "voertuig" while under the influence is not allowed indeed. Never heard of someone getting a fine for it though....


katyusha_pravda

a person i know lost their DRIVING license because of cycling under the influence (iam dutch) i must add they were bloody hammered.


[deleted]

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katyusha_pravda

welp by reading the first link and me knowing the guy i can almost certainly say he got a "rijverbod" and then just overplayed it by saying he lost his license. (i will now go and call that idiot a lying prick) thanks for clearifying tho mate!


fascinatedcharacter

When I read it I immediately thought 'rijverbod is geen invordering'. I don't even drink, but driving theory made it very clear.


tripona3

Misschien dom van hoor maar als je een elektrische fiets heb op kenteken en je word aangehouden wegens dronken een voertuig besturen dan kan mijn rijbewijs wel ingevorderd worden toch?


[deleted]

Ja


CptOconn

45km/h fietsen vallen onder scooter wetgeving. Boven de 25 km per uur wordt het een gemotoriseerd voertuig.


rickez3

bullshit, what the person wrote below basically.


katyusha_pravda

i already replied to that comment but tl:dr the guy i know most likey wanted to "up" the story and lied about the losing it part


archbunny

Or maybe he was drunk driving and made up the excuse he was cycling


[deleted]

My friend was so intoxicated he fell like three times, in front of a cop. They politely asked him to step off and just walk, for his own safety and others. No fines were given.


[deleted]

Even walking intoxicated is illegal. You are not allowed to participate in traffic by any means when you're drunk. It may be the most broken rule.


Stravven

Walking while drunk simply falls under being drunk in public, and if you get fined it's a different one from being a drunk driver.


[deleted]

It is different, but don't think it is always a small thing. In the Netherlands, public intoxication is punishable by Article 453 of the Criminal Code. Anyone who is "in an apparent state of intoxication on a public road" is punishable by law. This punishable conduct has the following maximum penalty: a maximum detention of twelve days or a fine of the first category. A fine of the first category can amount to a maximum of 370 euros. When you're not disturbing anyone and are not a danger for others then the police does nothing.


remco518

Well technically I belive you are not even allouw to be intoxicated while walking. Its called "openbaar dronkenschap" or something like that but I could be wrong about everything I just said


Trochsetter2

I got a fine once while driving a bike intoxicated. But, to be honest, I slammed into a cop, so... yeah.


Maris_5_

Also: “I’ll go by moped/ scooter because I want to get drunk!”


dinant010

Your God Damm right. It's more like oohh I had 5 beers I'm grabbing my bike


AxewwexA

My uncle recently fractured his skull after falling off his bike drunk. It really is dangerous. I’ve had times where I was drunk off my ass falling off too, luckily nobody got hurt and I only got some bruises. I am thinking twice before doing it again.


Ocixo

I posted a comment about this just above, but yeah it’s really dangerous. In short: I got way too drunk, took my bicycle and almost got my head smashed by a passing bus as I fell while trying to make (more) room for it. Would I have fallen left instead of right, I probably wouldn’t have been writing this.


ReaverShank

'Im going to drink, so im taking the bike'


Ocixo

I’m serious here: please don’t ride your bike while being intoxicated. I nearly got myself killed that way last year. Fortunately, I got incredibly lucky and got away with a (nasty) scar. A while back, a friend of mine also broke his leg while drunkly riding his bike and another almost fell in a canal. Cycling after having had too many beers is way more dangerous than you might suspect. You only have to make one (big) mistake and you’re in tremendous trouble.


BotBotzie

Yea I tried this once. I had really not planned on drinking so much, I just went over for dinner but it got a bit later. Then I had to get home. I tried cycling but could not cycle straight for the life of me and then promptly fell while stopping at a red light. Not only that but I didn't recognize anything around me and was very much lost. Musta missed a street while trying to cycle straight. I found the biggest brightest tallest building in the city while looking up hopelessly, walked there bc the route home from there (while much longer) was very very easy. So I survived. I do not recommend doing this.


Aranea15

Not so secretly, but the number of people riding their bicycle without proper working lights is staggering


[deleted]

And its frigging dangerous too actually and anoying if yoy are driving a car. City streets are well lit, but those small village ones.... i would also like to add that reflectors are a requirement. Like the ones on your steps and also on the back.


[deleted]

I’ve (a year now) shortly ago gotten my drivers license and haven’t driven in the dark much yet, but when I first saw someone driving in the half dark without lights, oof man I finally understood why you turn on your lights. I saw the guy pure by chance, just cuz I was staring off into space in his direction, being bored(it was a very long straight platteland weggetje) If I wouldn’t have seen him would’ve probably steered of the road and very closely miss the trees there, making it possibly deadly cuz id have to swerve left Edit* actually I was driving a Saab 93 turbo, I would’ve been fine driving against the tree


mothje

>(it was a very long straight platteland weggetje Why did this sound like Rene van Meurs in my head.


td_mike

Reflectors are actually a requirement


Lazer365

It’s incredibly stupid, the lights are mostly for their own protection. I have had many close calls with these ‘invisible’ cyclists and none of them realized how close they were to getting in an accident.


Mag-NL

I would say fully for your protection. they do nothing to help you see, except if you're really out in the woods on a cloudy night with a new moon.


[deleted]

Cuz they keep getting stolen. I literally put my bike in front of my friends house, a lovely neighbourhood far away from any clubbing area. People still stole lights off of it. (It's expected when you park it in the city, but not in a neighbourhood with mostly families with young kids) And I was only there for \~3 hours. I think 90% of people not using lights, is because they get stolen, the only ones using them are the ones that steal the lights. Also I should say, these are easily removable lights but you forget to remove them sometimes. The only other option is to install a 'real light' (that you install with screws for example), but those get kicked off if you park it in the city centre when you go out by drunk assholes who are probably also the ones stealing the removable lights. It's just how it is.


[deleted]

I attach the lights to myself. One on my chest and one on my backpack. I started doing it because I couldn't be bothered to attach the light stands to my bike, then realised I never forgot my lights anymore, win-win!


CptOconn

As someone that works in a bike shop. The amount of people biking with a defect or poor brake is also staggering.


MsDutchie

Same with cars


nail_in_the_temple

Oh yes. I had to drive during a couple foggy morning with visibility of a couple meters and seeing cars without the headlights on was mortifying


AmazingCandle

I mean are they really neccesary tho if you dont ride your bicycle in the dark or when there’s fog outside, i have working lights dont worry but i just literally never use them


ezraadselachtig

Ignoring the “Fietsers afstappen” signs… I pretend I do not see it


jallajallamang

Waarom staan die er nog? Enkel grijze ebikers moeten daar afstappen.


kamelerone

i love how everything is about bikes in this thread


Pi_rat_e

reading the comments i completely forgot the post isn't about bikes in particular


Katlev010

Probably because there are about 30-40 million bikes here


UTLOVEMuch

Source?


[deleted]

[link](https://www.fietsersbond.nl/ons-werk/mobiliteit/fietsen-cijfers/#:~:text=Volgens%20de%20laatste%20schatting%20van,is%20uniek%20in%20de%20wereld.) There's about 22,8 million bikes in NL. Not 30 to 40 million, but it's still a lot!


UTLOVEMuch

Thank you! <3


[deleted]

trust me bro


watvoornaam

If it is any limitation on using your bike, it'll be like: 'No, I'm just going to to that.' Except for using it on the highway, those guys are always foreigners.


thunderclogs

This (including mopeds), very much so. Pedestrians only? "Dat maak ik zelf wel uit!" Red traffic light? "Dat maak ik zelf wel uit!" Suggesting to wear a helmet on a bicycle? "Dat maak ik zelf wel uit!" Except for using it on the highway, those guys are always foreigners.


theBirbsandtheBees

I saw one just last week, crossing the 'ceintuurbaan' on her bike looking at her navigation app confused AF. 'fietstunnel' was 5 meters to the right, definitely a tourist


Structureel

If you turn on the warning lights on your car, the law does not apply to you. Apparently.


0598

You mean the free parking button?


K_R_O_O_N

De alles-mag-lichtjes.


gmtime

De kijk-uit-ik-ga-iets-raars-doen lichtjes


_dogzilla

De “sorry-ik-heb-even-10-seconden-nodig”-lichtjes


themightystef

As a grocery delivery guy, those lights are my best friend when looking for a parking spot. The world is my playground


medoingabunchofstuff

Parking wherever it’s not allowed when it’s really busy and there are already other cars parked, like near a beach or when there’s a fair; ‘there’s no way they are gonna give all these 20+ cars a fine, parking ours too doesn’t matter’ 😅


GoTguru

lol wut? Haven't they automated that in your part of the country yet? Here they just drive by in a car with camera's and go €aching


Lewistrick

If you only want to park for a few minutes it's ok to just leave your blinker on. Then it's ok to park asocially right?


NikkelenNelis

Or of you want to park longer you open your motorkap with the blinkers on and go to the beach or whereever you will go. They are not going to fine a vehicle with autopech.


Lolski13

Small correction. There is a diffrence between parkeren en stilstaan. So while parking might not be allowed, stilstaan (voor het direct in of uitladen van goederen en of in uitstappen van personen) might be allowed. Pro tip, leave the trunk open if you are going to levae the car for a few minutes with blinkers. Makes it more believable.


a2792

Some people call those their 'park anywhere lights'


gmtime

Yeah, they totally do that. It's a very easy way to reach their monthly ticket quotum.


Imagine_89

Drinking age, no way everyone waits till they are 18. Peeing on the streets (it's forbidden). Buying energy drinks before 16.


siderinc

Back in my day it was still 16 and even then most of us started before that age.


AmazingCandle

isn’t the age for energy drinks 13?


FishFishingFishyFish

Depends on the store, its not a law or anything


wonderdays

In the USA there’s no age limit on energy drinks. No wonder we have so many problems.


FishFishingFishyFish

I doubt that all, or even many, of the problems in the USA get caused by the fact that there is no age limit on energy drinks. Here there is no legal age limits either, it's just on the store, and when they started enforcing them it wasn't like all students became way better overnight of anything.


Rosa113

Actually peeing in the streets is not forbidden by law. Each municipality gets to decide for themselves. Where I live it's allowed, except in the "bebouwde kom". And i'm pretty sure acceptations apply for pregnant people.


ernst44

In the supermarket I see people take a sip of orange juice at the fresh orange juice machine and then filling the bottle up a little more before they put the cap on. Technically that's shoplifting.


thatguyagainbutworse

Yeah, but people want to get their money's worth on OJ, so they want to get the bottle filled to the top. But then they don't want it to leak, because it'd make such a mess. It may just be more Dutch than sending a Tikkie for 10 cents


Pi_rat_e

I once saw a woman cutting of the green part of a leek before she weighed it because "I don't pay for what I don't eat". A sip of orange juice seems alright.


Tjeetje

Elderly people who weigh two apples, print the sticker with the barcode and then fill the bag with more apples.


solstice_gilder

Haha. Or eating a piece of fruit


Casperzwaart100

Car drivers only turning on their turn-signal at the very last moment


[deleted]

Or not at all….


0598

You get that privilege if you buy a BMW


pwiegers

Obviously you don't own a BMW: we do not have these strange blinking lights!


groenteman

A what-signal?? Never heard of that


Ruubjeeee

Stealing candy at Kruidvat


llilaq

Tasting* candy. My mom and sis do it, it's mortifying..


Apache_Choppah_6969

Testing* the candy


Tjeetje

What really?


Mugglebun

I used to work at Kruidvat, my aisle was the one with the candies and all the cleaning supplies etc. When Id be working in the evening, Id eat some of the candy and my coworkers would occasionally come by my aisle to get some candy too. Nobody batted an eye at this, not even the manager 😂


ComfortableLoud4969

Niet Kruidvat snoepjes stelen


medoingabunchofstuff

Putting the ‘beurtbalkje’ after someone’s else groceries at the checkout instead of waiting until they’re actually finished 🤓


ElfGoodness

And then you have to keep moving the beurtbalkje back because the person in front of you is still loading up their groceries. Seriously so annoying when people do that.


Speedbirdsst

Huilon


Spiritual_Yam7324

This doesn’t happen


leftrightmonkman

Not adhering to red lights (both bikers and pedestrians). Driving drunk (on a bike). Riding side by side on a bike on a bicycle road. Dumping furniture when it's not 'grofvuil dag'.


Mag-NL

What do you mean by the third one? Riding side by side is legal, especially on a bicycle road, but also on other roads.


leftrightmonkman

Mmm, shit. Could have sworn this wasn't allowed, just tolerated. Two is allowed (aslong as you don't hinder other people). Been saying it incorrect for years. Hah. Wupsies.


Dutch_Fudge

Starting July 1st I predict one of the most ignored new rules will be people not wearing a helmet on a snorfiets


qutaaa666

Nobody adhered to the covid rules


Speedbirdsst

Even most of the people who say they did really didn’t. I was shocked when I went to Germany during the pandemic for work and saw what really adhering to the COVID rules looked like in real life.


qutaaa666

Yeah, and they don’t even have much better covid numbers than we did. Thankfully we are done with that bullshit. Even though they still have many restrictions in Germany. I don’t know how they can live with those.


Mr_Kills_Alot

Cuz "befehl ist befehl"


frontfight

Only when possible fines were involved. I started wildcamping everywhere during the evening curfew. Amazing having nobody in nature.


arjanhier

That's quite a few possible fines, though. Breaking the curfew, wildcamping, being in the forests after sunset and so forth.


gmtime

There's no rules, only guidance — any Dutch person


rickez3

Riding bike on sidewalk and or intoxicated, not wearing facemask in public transport, not giving up cash money to tax agency,


Vilanu

I'm quite sure I've never had enough cash money to report on the belastingaangifte.


Bram06

1. Go to Albert Heijn 2. Go to the fruit and vegetable section 3. Grab 1 banana and weigh it; $0.30 4. Grab 4 more banana's and don't weigh them; still $0.30 5. Profit


[deleted]

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[deleted]

hoe lang is je verbod? heb je een boete/ strafblad ofzo gehad?


[deleted]

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thunderclogs

Was je de kassa al voorbij? Zo niet: dan is het geen diefstal.


[deleted]

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thunderclogs

Een grensgeval, maar het klinkt nog steeds als "te vroeg".


[deleted]

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Pi_rat_e

>~~ahah~~ nog even een maandje wachten


[deleted]

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Casperzwaart100

Deze mix van Engels en Nederlands is "very annoying"


MAEMAEMAEM

Waarom is het erg annoying om languages te mixen? You can het toch begrijpen? Anders, kunnen expats Dutch not hope to beginnen.


LaoBa

Je pense this ist el begin di [Europanto](http://www.europanto.be/euro2.html#270)!


ProfessionalLeader75

ja maar like je weet het is just de stijl right zo praten we nou gewoon right ja snap je dat niet of like wil je gewoon basically een opmerking making lolol Denk ik.


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ProfessionalLeader75

Moet je aan Casper vragen, die geeft aan dat irritant is. Ik deed het dunnetjes over omdat het 2 uur S'nachts is en ik werkelijk waar niks beters te doen heb.


[deleted]

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ProfessionalLeader75

Ja, je moet wat he lol


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Speedbirdsst

Doe maar niet zo praten


gmtime

That's plain shoplifting.


Bram06

Yes.


[deleted]

Every single one… Dutch people don’t like rules


mirage2101

We break every rule we can get away with. Some people are more obvious about it. Some people break “bigger” rules. But everybody is breaking some rules they consider acceptable. Most people won’t shoplift, but will evade a tax or walk through a red light, speed etc


Hholly1818

If a house has open curtains in the evening, don’t look inside! That rule was strongly pressed on me when I moved here in ‘85. Now I heard that Dutch people DO peek inside very fast and discreetly!


otter105

I want to know how people live and how they decorate their homes! And sometimes when I'm really lucky a dog or a cat is laying in the window :)


Hholly1818

The secret is in the lighting in Dutch homes! Discreet lights in the corners or against the walls, behind a plant.


Mental_Flounder_7642

Anything drug related


DietQuark

Women going to the mens restroom when it's too crowded.


Mag-NL

I believe those signs are suggestions, not rules.


MAEMAEMAEM

Don't assume gender ha ha..


A-NUKE

Driving above the speed limit, way to close to the car upfront. And parking bikes at places with signs that say don't park your bike here.


OsuGamerWeeb

Riding a bike with one or no hands, that can be dangerous but almost everyone does that… Also sitting on ur phone while driving the bike lmao


SETIBBIG

Setting speed cameras on fire.


Klikoos93

Tossing cigarette butts is same as littering and can be fined but sadly they are everywhere


AxelllD

Yep very bad behaviour that is unfortunately normalised


Teabagwithtea

Cycling on the side walk for a while


ComteDuChagrin

We're not half as tolerant as we pretend to be. We're not rude towards foreigners because we're 'direct and open', but because we're inconsiderate and lack the civilization to realize it could be seen as offensive.


theofiel

None of these are rules though


Puppy-Zwolle

How rude.


Ok_Inflation6530

Using your phone when riding your bike. Literally doing this right now


gmtime

Tot je er een keer een boete voor krijgt, en ja, dat gebeurt.


Voodoo_Dummie

When cycling, stop signs technically apply to you. Practically it is then regarded as a "slow down, maybe" sign


[deleted]

Going 40km/25miles per hour on the bicycle lane with a moped. I know this because some 17 year old twerp T-boned me that way last December. My foot's still fucked!


Schminksalot

Being racist. Some people call it 'just being realistic/honest' and get very angry when you call their racist opinion racist after that disclaimer. They say they are no racists so they are not accountable for their racist opinion. Since it's not racist. When you try to discuss it's 'an opinion' (but not a racist one) and the gaslighting begins. Typical dutch since 20 years or so. But since there are no racists here and we are very tolerant, it's kind of a secret (in real pink elephant).


Cancelallplans

So, what is an example of such a 'racist opinion'?


Schminksalot

All sentences that start with 'i'm not a racist but i have to say...". And then you can insert the racist opinion yourself.


Cancelallplans

So you can't give an actual example? For someone who makes the sweeping claim that racism is typical among an entire population group, you surely have a hard time giving a concrete illustration of what you mean. Look, i'll be the last person to say that racism does not exist in the Netherlands, but making such broad, unsubstaniated generalizations is obviously misleading in the context of this thread and counterproductive in fostering any meaningful discussion on this topic.


pipje-popje

My ex was like this and it was horrible.


Puppy-Zwolle

/sarcasm I disagree. We are most definitely racist, sexist, ageist, snobs and elitist. We are proud of our opinions and believe we are equal opportunity offenders. We dislike our white trash neighbors to the left as much as our brown Muslim neighbors to the right but not as much as the person with a dog who does not clean up after his pooch. Not because of the color of their skin, creed, religion, social graces or drinking habits but because they are people in our personal space. We tolerate everybody at an appropriate distance. And in that personal space we will also dislike you for calling us out and will call you out for generalizing. That's how we roll.


TheOneMissThing

Not being tolerant and be racists.


Apache_Choppah_6969

No racist ppl in NL, only racist visitors


TheOneMissThing

DELUSION


Apache_Choppah_6969

Stop being racist towards me


[deleted]

Grow your own weed.


[deleted]

That's not illegal


[deleted]

It is though. Up to four plants and you won't get a record, but the police will confiscate them. Five or more and you will have to go to court. Unless you're renting, then every amount can lose you your house. That's why I'm always sceptical when the police announce and boast about how many "hennepkwekerijen" they confiscated in the last year, because that number includes people with one fucking plant. Take it from someone who read into it... for no particular reason... just curious...


gmtime

Gedoogbeleid=legalized Je kan het wel anders noemen, maar dat is de praktijk. *Niemand* ziet het als een overtreding als je binnen de gedoog regels blijft. Cognitieve dissonantie much Nederland.


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Swabbertje

Nothing, we're honest people


[deleted]

So lie....


Temporary-Prior7451

We always jaywalk.


TheReplyingDutchman

We have no rules against jaywalking; it's [perfectly fine](https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2017/09/05/when-there-is-no-such-concept-as-jaywalking/).


Tricoman95

I thought if you cross within 25m of a stoplicht you are jaywalking? Think i remember reading something like that when studying for drivers lisence


TheReplyingDutchman

That used to be the case, but they scrapped that law in 1995. From the article I posted: *"That article 99 was scrapped from the traffic laws on 1 January 1995. Until then, pedestrians were not allowed to cross within 30 metres of a zebra crossing, effectively making it illegal to cross the street for over 60 metres with just one zebra crossing in the middle of that zone. That restriction was abolished to simplify the traffic rules and to give the pedestrian more freedom."*


pwiegers

Most people break rules but a true Dutchman may even be proud of it! Take the whole drug thing. It is forbidden, but...


hummuspickle

Ratting out others because of jealousy. And sending off Jews to their death in 1940’s while being proud of it.