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Proud to Be an American By Hannah Docter-Loeb
Whenever I tell people I’m from the U.S. these days, I feel obligated to tack on an “unfortunately.” My country has a terrible reputation right now, and for good reason. Suffice it to say, it’s hard to be proud to be an American, especially as our president ramps up the celebration for the country’s 250th birthday (and co-opts it for himself).
I’ve been lucky to be able to escape some of it by living in Amsterdam for the past two years. I’ve gotten accustomed to the habits and lifestyle, I’ve started learning the language, and I actually appreciate the somewhat brutal honesty for which Dutch people are known.
But there are noticeable cultural differences. An American friend who has lived here for years puts it well: The Dutch directness can be cold, but once you crack them, the interactions are more genuine. They don’t like small talk and are all about efficiency. Recently, when trying to practice Dutch with a local, I was told, “It’s nice that you want to practice, but it takes lots of energy to speak with you.” Ouch.
Meanwhile, Americans are perceived as nice, yes, but fake. We’re also overbearingly loud: These days, I can easily identify an American in a room just by how noisy they are. Whenever I see a crowd of obnoxious American visitors, I try not to affiliate with them.
There are times I break my rule, though. If I notice someone who needs help or just has a good vibe, I will approach. I still like to ask where they’re from, as I’ve offended too many Canadians by assuming, but usually it’s not a shock when they say the U.S.
Recently, I met someone who had also moved here from D.C., my hometown. We immediately started discussing the elephant in the room and how both of us had been able to leave before Trump got elected. She had spent 10 years in the district and had been working for the U.S. Agency for International Development before she moved to the Netherlands, a year or so prior to its dismantling. “I felt lucky, like I was one of the people on the Titanic with a lifeboat, watching it sink from afar,” she joked.
I’ve been lucky to be able to escape some of it by living in Amsterdam for the past two years. I’ve gotten accustomed to the habits and lifestyle, I’ve started learning the language, and I actually appreciate the somewhat brutal honesty for which Dutch people are known.
But there are noticeable cultural differences. An American friend who has lived here for years puts it well: The Dutch directness can be cold, but once you crack them, the interactions are more genuine. They don’t like small talk and are all about efficiency. Recently, when trying to practice Dutch with a local, I was told, “It’s nice that you want to practice, but it takes lots of energy to speak with you.” Ouch.
Meanwhile, Americans are perceived as nice, yes, but fake. We’re also overbearingly loud: These days, I can easily identify an American in a room just by how noisy they are. Whenever I see a crowd of obnoxious American visitors, I try not to affiliate with them.
There are times I break my rule, though. If I notice someone who needs help or just has a good vibe, I will approach. I still like to ask where they’re from, as I’ve offended too many Canadians by assuming, but usually it’s not a shock when they say the U.S.
Recently, I met someone who had also moved here from D.C., my hometown. We immediately started discussing the elephant in the room and how both of us had been able to leave before Trump got elected. She had spent 10 years in the district and had been working for the U.S. Agency for International Development before she moved to the Netherlands, a year or so prior to its dismantling. “I felt lucky, like I was one of the people on the Titanic with a lifeboat, watching it sink from afar,” she joked.
https://slate.com/life/2026/07/moving-abroad-trump-america-expat.html]