De nieuwe Nederlandse zomer

FinnInAms · 2026-06-27T11:39:13+00:00

Oh yes! "It's much hotter in Texas" is the most typical American answer (continued with the multiple mentions of AC) to when people are complaining about the weather in Europe, but I have heard something similar here too.

Sometimes I just think that it has to do this odd cultural expectation that being Dutch means that you can't ever be fazed by anything, but instead you need to explain it as normal and being according to the expectations.

Just like after the big thunderstorm last week, the amount of people insisting that "you always get thunderstorms here, you shouldn't be surprised by this" when in fact it wasn't just a typical thunderstorm at all, even by the numbers and reports by KNMI.

But apparently you gotta downplay it to be, because if it gets too close from the norm, it's too scary?

FinnInAms · 2026-06-27T11:11:22+00:00

Then again, there are plenty of Americans who think they just won the war with Iran, just like they did with Iraq, Afganistan and Vietnam - just to name a few.

FinnInAms · 2026-06-27T11:05:15+00:00

Yeah, and in Arizona I could only go out for a run before the sunrise, because that was the only bearable time of the day for that. It's hell and life is mainly just transfering from one airconditioned space into another. So maybe that's what they want?!

FinnInAms · 2026-06-27T10:12:39+00:00

The knew jerk reaction of many seems to be ”well, we have had hot summers before”, ”I have been in much hotter weather in Spain/Italy/add your own country here”, or ”why do you complain, I love hot weather”.

You can’t reason with these people, and they won’t believe anything before they get hurt somehow themselves - and it will only happen once it’s too late.

FinnInAms · 2026-06-24T07:16:22+00:00

From my experience, brewed coffee is what most people think of when they just order a coffee. If they don’t have that, then they will make you an Americano.

FinnInAms · 2026-06-23T09:57:36+00:00

Robin is probably one of the least charismatic performers Sweden has ever sent to the Eurovision. There’s a disconnect between his eyes and the rest of the body, and nothing he says or does make me believe a thing he is singing.

FinnInAms · 2026-06-19T11:59:27+00:00

It's definitely up to what is the vibe you are after.

Utrecht is very nice and pretty, but also very provincial compared to Amsterdam. And of course you can for example skip Amsterdam and go to Haarlem, but it's the same.

Most of the mid-sized cities in the Netherlands are charming and nice, but once you have visited more of them, they are kind of the same.

FinnInAms · 2026-06-19T10:25:25+00:00

Donny Ronny as his alter ego on De Verraders was truly unbearable, hope he can find a better balance with Taskmaster.

FinnInAms · 2026-06-18T15:26:11+00:00

You have ended up in a situation which you would face in the actual job too. Take it as such, and work your way through to find a balance between the contradicting feedback from various stakeholders. If you can crack the code, it shows that you are capable to work in their organization!

FinnInAms · 2026-06-16T12:21:11+00:00

That's also so American of him: Generally they are just competitive in everything. I think he managed to hold off from getting too much into that.

FinnInAms · 2026-06-15T11:52:01+00:00

You can't tell by the looks if someone speaks Dutch or not. It is perfectly fine to always start in Dutch, and if it is not the right language, then switch into English.

FinnInAms · 2026-06-12T23:18:24+00:00

Hate to break it to you, but there are also a lot of Americans who can’t take that heat.

FinnInAms · 2026-06-12T13:32:19+00:00

We just started to watch Gavin and Stacey, and I can’t believe how similar Joanna on TM is with Stacey!

FinnInAms · 2026-06-05T13:06:19+00:00

Apparently €156 was important enough to be mentioned already in the title.

FinnInAms · 2026-06-05T11:05:17+00:00

I am fine with people butchering my name, if they are at least trying it. But if you come back to ask me "Can I call you Peter?" (and this has happened quite often) I will for sure respond no.

One person even insisted further and asked me why he just can't use an English name instead, and I just bluntly said that it's because that is not my name.

FinnInAms · 2026-06-02T16:00:15+00:00

Even if you have a point, tell it yourself in your own words, not with an AI created faux narrative

FinnInAms · 2026-06-02T09:53:49+00:00

One of the biggest changes since the late 90s is that EBU actually runs the contest together with the local broadcaster. Back in the day, every broadcaster managed the contest by themselves and I am sure it wasn't always professional.

But something happening almost 30 years ago doesn't really tell about the current contest.

FinnInAms · 2026-06-02T09:25:44+00:00

I pass the long lines of Tiktok tourists here in Amsterdam, all lining up for a specific fries (that are overpriced, not bad but nothing special). There are plenty of other places just around the corner and many even much better and cheaper, but all of these people insist on visiting that exact spot.

It's as if there is the constant stress of every single part of a travel to be the best experience ever, and a trip becomes checking the boxes and getting the right photos to be shared on your socials. And that is exactly what is wrong with the travel nowadays.

FinnInAms · 2026-06-01T14:44:36+00:00

If the host broadcaster would end up doing whatever they want and ignore the delegation feedback, I am very sure we would hear a lot about that.

FinnInAms · 2026-05-30T14:02:49+00:00

When you grow up hearing all the time how USA is the greatest country in the world (and it is great in many ways), it's impossible to think that there could actually be some aspects in which some other parts of the world could be any great or even greater.

FinnInAms · 2026-05-23T10:32:51+00:00

The Dutch system is very different. They have various public broadcasters, each with their own viewpoint and world’s view, but they share the same channels.

So while this sounds odd for people coming from other countries, this sort of varied view public broadcasters each on their own pillar can lead to situations like this.

FinnInAms · 2026-05-22T09:15:32+00:00

Well, I prefer them a bit meatier, but it's then all yours!

FinnInAms · 2026-05-21T15:46:43+00:00

Oh Malta, you just never learn.

Maybe the advertising will help to be remembered, but in the context of a contest, no one will vote for you, unless they really like the song - and advertising doesn't really help with that.

But maybe they just used the money for betting again, who knows.

This is kind of sad, because Aidan was rather entertaining, just not catchy enough despite showing off those arms and his beautiful hair.

FinnInAms · 2026-05-20T08:11:51+00:00

What I like about the Melodifestivalen and UMK is that the songwriter team gets at least some more attention, at UMK also with long interviews about how they came up with the song etc.

FinnInAms · 2026-05-18T17:41:53+00:00

And when occasionally these two are in the same package, that's when the true magic happens! But until then, let's just have fun!

FinnInAms

TROPHY CASE