At DutchReview, we like to celebrate all of the wonderful things that make the Netherlands great, but let’s be fair: there are some things the Netherlands just doesn’t have (but should).
If you’ve lived in Holland your whole life, you may not realise, for example, that there are real places in the world where the not-so-mythical sun actually shines. ☀️
However, we complain about the weather enough. Instead, let’s focus on some other vitally important things that the Netherlands doesn’t have.
1. Space and housing
Ok, so this one is quite simple. The Netherlands is small and has a lot of people. It would be nice to have a bit more space to put all these people.
It’s not as if we don’t have the technology. We’ve been making land out of water for hundreds of years. Why stop now?
READ MORE | Maps of the Netherlands: 9 maps to understand the Dutch landscape
A logical follow-up to the lack of space is the lack of houses (at least, that’s certainly what it feels like).
Ever tried finding a reasonable place to live in Amsterdam? It’s really super easy, as long as you don’t mind homelessness or crippling debt.
2. Good curtains
Although we love sneakily looking into people’s homes, we’ll never truly understand why the Dutch don’t have curtains. And it’s not just in the bedrooms that curtains (or the lack of them) can cause problems — it’s in every window! 🪟
READ MORE | Dutch Quirk #46: Never close their curtains
Have you ever tried one of those lovely summer evening strolls in the Netherlands? There you are, just strolling calmly along the sidewalk, and suddenly your gaze drifts to the right.
Next thing you know, you’re blank staring at the neighbouring family inside eating dinner. You quickly turn back before you’re caught creeping, hoping it was fast enough. What would they think if they saw you?
You know the Dutch, they’re not afraid to speak their minds. 📢
Good curtains are just something that the Netherlands doesn’t have, but definitely needs if we’re ever to avoid more such awkward encounters.
3. Delicious Dutch cuisine
Yes, Dutch food does exist, but is the cornucopia of fried snacks and glorified mashed potatoes really a claim to fame?
Wouldn’t it be nice if the Dutch had…good food to call their own?
It’s not as though there is a lack of ingredients. The Dutch are some of the world’s most renowned experts when it comes to growing with greenhouse technology. Not to mention they have no issue producing high-quality meat and fish.
Why then, have the Dutch settled for sticking a potato, a plain piece of meat, and some broccoli on a plate? Simply put, it seems the Dutch, on the whole, lack an appreciation for truly flavourful food. 🧆
To be fair, it’s not as though they have no tastebuds, and there are plenty of exceptions — but a love for food just isn’t as ingrained in the Dutch.
It’s not too strange to see a Dutchie bring their own sandwich to work (consisting of nothing but bread and cheese). 🥪
Have you ever seen a Frenchman do that? Or an Italian?
4. A good men’s football team
I’m super happy with the state of Dutch football. Well… the women’s team, that is. Nothing to complain about there. Let’s keep that up.
But when it comes to the men…well, let’s just say it seems that a good men’s football team is just another thing that the Netherlands doesn’t have. ⚽️
Though the men’s team made it to the 2026 FIFA world cup, and fought an ok fight, the Dutch football women have historically done much better overall. Let’s not forget when a Dutch female player was named FIFA’s Best Women’s Goalkeeper in 2019.
5. Toilets with leg space
Why can’t the Dutch just put the toilet in a room where you aren’t resting your knees halfway up the wall in order to fit your legs?
Why even bother putting a toilet if you end up squatting on top of it anyway? And it’s not as though the Dutch are small people, either!
READ MORE | Why are there no public toilets in the Netherlands?
While there might not be leg room, this wonderful country definitely has room for improvement!
Is there anything else you think the Netherlands doesn’t have but should? Tell us in the comments below!