Expectations you didn’t know you even had, culture shocks and the honeymoon of living and working somewhere new – we collected information to help you navigate your life and work across borders.
- If you are “native” to the Belgian, German or Dutch part of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, find some hints on how to find your way across the (nearby) border.
- If you are not (yet) native to the Euregio Meuse-Rhine – relax! Everybody struggles inter-culturally sometimes, and particularly in this mosaic of borders.
- Language learning is a shared challenge, but, as Goethe put it, “how many languages you speak so many persons you are.”
Characteristics along Meuse & Rhine:
False friends among good neighbours
Quite different neighbours
Unexpected for some foreigners (and locals), Dutch and Flemish life can be quite different – despite the shared language.
The talkshow Café de Buren (in Dutch) focusses on the differences between Flemish and Dutch history, language, and lifestyle. Learn why Flemish except more hierarchy as long as food is good, and why in both, people and officials struggle with a colonial past of its own kind.
Also learn (in Dutch), how Flanders and the Netherlands share the same language – but do not speak in quite the same way. In the Euregio Meuse-Rhine however, many people still share a common dialect – Limburgs (regional language in NL).
Why the heck …
Karambolage series (in French and German) by Arte broadcaster explains common misunderstandings. Videos illustrate differences between Germany and France – but also particularities about Germany in more general. Learn about everyday culture, language phenomena and seasonal rituals.
Although some aspects are different in Belgium, you will find a lot of distinctive characteristics in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. If you want to see them come all together, visit Belgian’s German-speaking community, mixing German traditions with French influences.
Lekker anders and false friends
Hagelslag und Vollkornbrot is the podcast series to illustrate differences between the two neighbours. Both terms refer to food. “Lekker ” is a universal adjective in Dutch, describing everything enyojable from eating to cycling. For Germans, this sounds quite weird, as their “lecker” purely translates to “tasty”.
- The podcast- series “Lekker anders” (in German and Dutch) portrays liffe in Germany and the Netherlands.
- You can also registrer for the free mini-course (in Dutch and German) to receive little chunks of tips every few days and say “Goodbye” (or “Auf Wiedersehen” or ‘Tot ziens”) to German-Dutch misunderstandings.
- The Cultuurverschillen in het buitenland brochure (in Dutch and German) follows two employees in their adventure to work across the German-Dutch border – and how differences and phenomena can be understood.
Find a video-comparison from the Dutch perspective of Irene, on five weird things in Germany (running time 02:00, in German) and the comparison by Dana from the US (running time 06:00 in German), on differences between her Dutch holiday destination and German second home. To her, the Netherlands are pricier, cycle more and are more English-speaking.
(Not) quite the same flag
A mosaic of cultures
Understanding Germany
Click here to take this free minicourse and understand German working culture better. The course eludes differences compared to the Netherlands, we made an effort to make it accessible and comprehensible also for English-speakers.
Understanding the Netherlands
Click here to take this free minicourse and understand Dutch working culture better. The course eludes differences compared to Germany, we made an effort to make it accessible and comprehensible also for English-speakers. Take one piece every day or scan through the modules for what is relevant.
Guide to be a "happy expat"
There is no real guide to be happy across borders, but you can find information on “howtogermany” or on how to be in Belgium and the Netherlands. It is, yet, hard to find an overview on how to live in a euregio that is so diverse in itself. The quick guide below invites for some self-discovery that will reveal tools and attitudes helpful for living and working pretty much everywhere:
