The Cultural Di erences Between Taiwan and the Netherlands

It has been almost two months since I moved to the Netherlands, the country which is
nearly 10 thousand kilometers far away from my home country -Taiwan-. I moved here in
order to pursue my bachelor’s degree. Expectedly, there are two main cultural di erences
between Dutch and Taiwanese cultures, which I noticed in these two months.

First, the thing I noticed as a student is the ‘‘party culture’’. In Taiwan, we do have
nightclubs, however, people going there are usually considered playboys and playgirls. Instead
of seeing partying as a normal social event, Taiwanese society tends to judge people going
to clubs. Going to night markets, singing karaoke, and drinking at bars are more accepted
activities for nightlife in Taiwan. In the contrast, party culture prevails in the western world,
the Netherlands is no exception. Everyone here goes to parties. The student organizations in
the university throw a party monthly or even weekly. For the people here, partying is a
common entertainment, just like going shopping or going to a movie. The attitudes toward
nightlife between Dutch society and Taiwanese society have a signi cant di erence.

Second, the food. In Taiwan, eating outside is extremely convenient and relatively
cheap. Before I moved to the Netherlands, I didn’t know how to cook at all. I used to eat at
restaurants, order food delivery, or buy food outside and eat at home. There are various
options for food in Taiwan such as hot pots, street snacks, and so on. Furthermore, 24/7
convenience stores are everywhere in Taiwan. Whenever I am in a rush, I just eat
microwavable foods which are also delicious there. If I lived in Taiwan for good, I would not
have to learn how to cook. On the contrary, my cooking skill has improved signi cantly after I
moved to the Netherlands because eating outside is pricy in the Netherlands. Besides, as an
Asian, I prefer to eat Asian food. Yet, the Asian foods here are especially expensive and
relatively not authentic. This enables me to learn how to cook on my own.

To sum up, the party culture and the food are two aspects I found most di erent
between Dutch and Taiwanese cultures. After acknowledging these di erences, I gradually
adapt to the Dutch culture and feel more comfortable living in the Netherlands.
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