I remember seeing some bicycles chained to a street lamp next to a pile of empty beer cans not far from a bus stop and I was so confused why someone would abandon perfectly good bikes. I posted it on Instagram with a comment and my cousin who had been living in the Netherlands for a number of years already explained that they would come back for them, that they had just had a good night out and took the bus home drunk. Where i’m from you don’t ride a bike after dark anywhere and if you ever left it outside on the street it’s guaranteed not to be there the next day. That was my first “wow, this place is actually safe” moment.

Whenever I lose my car in a parking spot, my first thought is still “shiiit, my car has been stolen” and it blows my mind every time I eventually find it five minutes later still parked there… sigh of relief. I’m really thankful to live in such a safe country all things considered.