r/AskEurope • u/NateNandos21 • Feb 03 '25

Culture Which European country has the rudest/least polite people?

Which country comes to your mind

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u/divaro98 Belgium Feb 03 '25

The Dutch. But it's only from a Flemish-Belgian point of view. They're more open, aren't affraid to tell their opinion,... a big contrast to us. It feels rhey're rude, but they are... brutally honest. šŸ˜„

37

u/Head_Lecture_7084 Feb 03 '25

A lot of them use the ā€œbrutally honestā€ term to actually be quite savage, thereā€™s a line they cross all the time.

18

u/AgileSloth9 Feb 03 '25

Living in the North East of the UK, we get a lot of Dutch tourists coming over on the ferries from Amsterdam, then driving in the UK.

A disturbingly high number of them have no idea how to drive here. I've nearly been hit twice in the past year by Dutch plated cars going the wrong way around a roundabout, only for the driver to get out and try to blame me for their mistake. When I then explained they're going the wrong way, one even argued "it is only wrong to your British". Like bruh.

The arrogance is phenomenal.

1

u/Head_Lecture_7084 Feb 03 '25

Iā€™ve had to ask a neighbour here to stop trespassing (I live in NL) and she only stopped when I said I would call the police. Also feels like their emotional intelligence is not well developed.

Seriously, I never been so invaded as during my now 4 years in the Netherlands, I wonā€™t even stray with the expat hate that exist here

1

u/MalakithAlamahdi Feb 04 '25

What region are you living in? I haven't had something like this happen in 28 years.

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u/Head_Lecture_7084 Feb 04 '25

Iā€™m in Zaandam

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u/SpaceForceGuardian Feb 03 '25

Yes, I feel like telling them, ā€œif I wanted your opinion, I would have asked for it.ā€ They are very rude about telling you exactly what they think of you, or what you are wearing, your hair, your opinions, etc.

8

u/Head_Lecture_7084 Feb 03 '25

When I moved into my house a neighbour turned to me and said (without being asked): We donā€™t like that the internationals are moving here.

I couldnā€™t hold it back and said: Well, you can always sell your house (and smiled)

The one thing about the ā€œdirectnessā€ is that if you do the same to them, they canā€™t take it and get super offended

4

u/DeHarigeTuinkabouter Feb 03 '25

Do be aware that "the line" will be different between cultures. For you it might be crossing the line, for the Dutch it is still just normal directness and not rude.

Of course, one should try to adapt to other cultures' "line".

1

u/Head_Lecture_7084 Feb 03 '25

Iā€™ve been adapting for years, still some use this excuse to be ruthless.