My wife talked me into a trip to the Netherlands where I have been for the past four days. As you may know, I am a bright red conservative, and as such, I keep an open mind, ready to process empirical facts.
The Good:
1). First class drinking water. Best in the world. No need for bottled water here. Straight out of the tap is perfect.
2). The food; no added chemicals, limited or no preservatives, very little sugar added. Nutella is a prime example. In the states, it’s inedible because of the sugar. In Europe it has more hazelnuts, less sugar. Food is the one area in which Europe is superior to the US. RFK Jr is using Europe as the model for getting junk out of the foods.
3). No panhandling in Amsterdam. I’ve heard it is illegal.
4). Cool climate. Highs every day have been at 70.
5). Bicycles everywhere. Very few obese people. Everyone has ridden a bike since toddlerhood. Streets are lined with parked bikes. Intersections are jammed with bikes. This has to be a boost for the healthcare system.
6). Major crackdown on immigration
7). For a leftist country, there aren’t that many ridiculous restrictions. Bikers didn’t wear helmets, you can drink outside, no guardrails beside the canals, no handicapped crossings or parking spots, no tipping expected. It’s sort of like America in the 1970s.
8). Powerful capitalist history, yet it is hamstrung by atheism and socialist policies.
9). The people are pretty nice.
The Bad:
1) Backbreaking taxes: 49.1% top marginal rate, 37% tax on unrealized capital gains. Total deal breaker.
2). Moral permissiveness. Every deviant behavior is allowed and encouraged here. Trans, gay, fornication, prostitution, cohabitation. Mostly irreligious. Fewer churches than you would expect for an old city. Very little traditional marriage. Mostly cohabitation.
3). Massive flooding of Muslim immigrants. 150 Christian churches have been burned down by immigrants, said our guide. Huge overcrowding problems from past open border policy, which they are being forced to correct.
4). The sidewalks are uneven. You’re constantly tripping. The zillions of bikes whizzing past are a menace coming out of nowhere You have to be on high alert in all directions just walking down the street.
5) Pot is everywhere. Legal in the Netherlands of course. Technically illegal to smoke in public, but it isn’t enforced.
Conclusion. Unfortunately the bad outweighs the good. It’s OK to visit, but I couldn’t live here.
The Good:
1). First class drinking water. Best in the world. No need for bottled water here. Straight out of the tap is perfect.
2). The food; no added chemicals, limited or no preservatives, very little sugar added. Nutella is a prime example. In the states, it’s inedible because of the sugar. In Europe it has more hazelnuts, less sugar. Food is the one area in which Europe is superior to the US. RFK Jr is using Europe as the model for getting junk out of the foods.
3). No panhandling in Amsterdam. I’ve heard it is illegal.
4). Cool climate. Highs every day have been at 70.
5). Bicycles everywhere. Very few obese people. Everyone has ridden a bike since toddlerhood. Streets are lined with parked bikes. Intersections are jammed with bikes. This has to be a boost for the healthcare system.
6). Major crackdown on immigration
7). For a leftist country, there aren’t that many ridiculous restrictions. Bikers didn’t wear helmets, you can drink outside, no guardrails beside the canals, no handicapped crossings or parking spots, no tipping expected. It’s sort of like America in the 1970s.
8). Powerful capitalist history, yet it is hamstrung by atheism and socialist policies.
9). The people are pretty nice.
The Bad:
1) Backbreaking taxes: 49.1% top marginal rate, 37% tax on unrealized capital gains. Total deal breaker.
2). Moral permissiveness. Every deviant behavior is allowed and encouraged here. Trans, gay, fornication, prostitution, cohabitation. Mostly irreligious. Fewer churches than you would expect for an old city. Very little traditional marriage. Mostly cohabitation.
3). Massive flooding of Muslim immigrants. 150 Christian churches have been burned down by immigrants, said our guide. Huge overcrowding problems from past open border policy, which they are being forced to correct.
4). The sidewalks are uneven. You’re constantly tripping. The zillions of bikes whizzing past are a menace coming out of nowhere You have to be on high alert in all directions just walking down the street.
5) Pot is everywhere. Legal in the Netherlands of course. Technically illegal to smoke in public, but it isn’t enforced.
Conclusion. Unfortunately the bad outweighs the good. It’s OK to visit, but I couldn’t live here.
Last edited:
