Staying Dutch abroad: what changes and what doesn’t?

From bikes to birthdays, living abroad does not always mean leaving everything behind. In the latest episode of MAG Going Dutch, Luba and Salomé explore what it really means to stay Dutch abroad with architect Jiri, who has been living in Basel for a year.

Jiri moved to Switzerland with a clear goal: building a life outside the Netherlands. What started as a long-standing wish to live abroad eventually led him to Basel, a city he describes as a practical middle ground. Close enough to home, structured, and full of opportunities in architecture, it offered exactly the balance he was looking for.

A lot changed after the move, but not everything. Jiri explains that the biggest shift in his life came not from relocating, but from transitioning into full-time work. Still, certain habits carried over. Routine, structure and a focus on productivity remained intact, partly because Swiss culture aligns closely with those values. At the same time, he noticed new influences, especially the strong sports culture. Seeing people run and exercise outdoors constantly has pushed him to become more active himself.

Some Dutch habits, however, are harder to shake. Cycling is one of them. Jiri still owns multiple bikes, including a classic Dutch city bike and a road bike for longer trips. While Basel is more bike-friendly than many cities, the experience is different. In the Netherlands, cyclists and cars operate in clearly separated flows. In Switzerland, they share the same space more often, which requires a different mindset and more patience.

Interestingly, staying Dutch abroad does not necessarily mean holding on to all traditions. Jiri admits he never cared much for King’s Day, even back home. Instead, he prefers Liberation Day, which he describes as a more meaningful and relaxed celebration, centred around public gatherings rather than large-scale partying. While some Dutch communities recreate King’s Day abroad, complete with orange outfits and early drinking, Jiri consciously chose a different approach.

He deliberately avoided seeking out Dutch communities in Basel, wanting to build new connections instead

That decision reflects a broader mindset. For him, moving abroad was also about stepping outside familiar circles. He deliberately avoided seeking out Dutch communities in Basel, wanting to build new connections instead. So far, he has only met one other Dutch person, something he considers a success rather than a coincidence. According to Jiri, sticking too closely to people from home can limit the experience of living abroad.

Still, there are moments when the Netherlands comes back into focus. Surprisingly, food plays a key role. Not necessarily typical Dutch dishes, but specific meals tied to family and memory. The absence of those shared moments, rather than the food itself, is what he misses most. Regional differences also come up: while northern snacks like the eierbal are unfamiliar to him, southern traditions such as ‘vlaai’ are something he genuinely misses.

Thinking too much about returning would make it harder to fully invest in his current environment.

Daily life in Basel also highlights subtle contrasts. The city feels quieter and more reserved than Dutch student cities, which Jiri describes as almost surreal in comparison. Places like Delft are dominated by students and have a temporary, high-energy atmosphere, whereas Basel feels more permanent and structured. That difference, he says, makes it feel more like a ‘real’ city.

Looking ahead, Jiri does not see himself returning to the Netherlands anytime soon. For now, committing to life abroad feels important. Thinking too much about returning, he explains, would make it harder to fully invest in his current environment. Only in the longer term, perhaps when family considerations change, might that decision shift.