The Amsterdam Confessions of a Shallow Man

It's another Amsterdam Shallow Man podcast. Wat leuk! This time I focus on the following: 1. Update on the latest Coronavirus rules in the Netherlands 2. Springtime in the Netherlands 3. The Many, many, mysteries of Dutch culture. I answer critical questions asked by internationals such as "Why do Dutch women go out with bare ankles in minus 5-degree weather? Why don't Dutch people provide napkins when you go round to their place for dinner? What gives with the calendar on the toilet wall?" 4. The Book of Dutch Cuisine. I review the essential guide to the Dutch kitchen. Keep it gezellig people. Tot straks!

The main subject of today's podcast will be stuff Dutch people hate. I'll discuss the most common hates of the Dutch such as individualism, (doe maar gecloned) spontaneity, queuing, being questioned about Zwarte Piet, tourists on bikes and several other things hated by the Dutch. There'll also be a short news roundup and I will take a look at a FABULOUS article called 'Why Dutch Babies Sleep Better'.    

The 'temporary' lockdown that first began over a year ago, ended last summer and restarted again following a second wave, has wreaked havoc with peoples love (lust) lives. In this first Shallow Man podcast, I talk amongst other things about the lockdown in general and how it's reduced flirting opportunities to a minimum. I also look at the proposal of the Mayor of Amsterdam to ban the consumption of alcohol in parks in the city. Because that will really help and make a huge difference. There's good news on the horizon, however, as the Dutch government is planning to announce new measure to relax some of the lockdown rules including allowing terraces of cafes and bars to reopen and nurseries and after school care. I'll also be discussing people who feel that their 'freedom' is being impacted due to having to wear a bit of cloth to cover their mouth and nose in public places. Warning, this podcast contains sarcasm.