@@hideouspatje I’ve been to Limburg.. but I didn’t see a mountain… people are saying that.. and then other people are replying.. that it’s not really a mountain. lol 😂
European squirrels are red/brown and somewhat shy, in huge contrast to the US ones who bite in your fingers. In parks, silently sitting on a bench, you can see them in the evening or morning. American squirrels were once imported as pets but became a pest, and were hunted down to protect ours...
In 2011 there was seriously a cyclist/ reporter who wanted a mountain to build in Flevoland that would be 10Km by 10Km by 2Km and would contain housing parking mountain trails for mountaineers cyclists and other mountain sports but they would be paying at a entrance and that’s a big risk to bet on. But it’s probably a project as Schiphol at sea and the great sea wall to protect the North Sea coastline. Not really realistic but always a option but never really on the table. It would be fantastic to be not only a specialist on water management and reclaiming land to be also the creators of mountain. ⛰
We have rabbits, dear, small lizards (10cm), wild hogs, bevers, squirrels, and all kinds of birds including lots of birds of prey, mice, rats, bats and martens but also wolves. But, they are not in our flood buffer zone (also known as the province of Holland). Here, is the south east of the Netherlands its teaming with life.
Go see Maastricht city..with his old buildings and history… take a few days there.. and see the South of the Netherlands there around Valkenburg, Epe, Gulpen and area! It is if you are in an other country.. like the south of Belgium.. the Ardennen.. lots of hills and small mountains comparing yours in LA. As other people saying.. it is a very small peace in de middle west of the Netherlands… that you see and walk trough.. that is not only the Netherlands.. check out the south of Limburg.. The area around Breda and Den Bosch.. de midd.east and north like Groningen and Friesland.. with lots of flat land and the see at the north west to. From Haarlem you can travel by train in 1,5 hour á 2 h by train, tough the whole country. Do not forget Zeeland.. the south west.. sort of islands of our country. I love your vlogs… and your fast talks.. it helps me with me understanding end follow English language! Well done 😍
Visit Valkenburg there you have many hills, maybe not as high as the Vaalserberg 30km away from Valkenburg, but it has castle ruines and is famous for it's caves, very cool and refreshing during the summer time, if you've never been there it's a big must. Maybe combine it with visiting "het drielandenpunt" on the Vaalserberg.
As a Dutch (ex) parole officer in Haarlem I can tell you there is a parole office near where you walk often. Its just that you dont see convicts doing community service (privacy & all) but they are certainly there😂
Not prisoners serving a sentence tho, right? Only the ones that get community service as a sentence. As in 'everyday I am schoffeling, schoffeling schoffeling 🎶🎶" xD
Okay, I think you are a bit too Haarlem-A'dam centered here. In the North, East and South of the Netherlands you can see squirrels, deer, rabbits and other small mammals every day. If I put some bird feed in my garden, a squirrel will come check it out for nuts immediately, and that is nothing special And if you go into the Veluwe you can spot some wild boars. And we seem to have a few wolves now too, but those are still really really rare
@@ItzSKYVlogs I did some quick research and sadly the squirrels are indeed in decline. I am an outdoor person like, you and in my area (Twente) there are still a lot but I now understand you might hardly ever see one in the Holland part of the Netherlands
@@ItzSKYVlogs I only saw wild boars once, but it was in broad daylight in the woods around the royal palace estate in Apeldoorn. That place has so many visitors that the wild piggies aren't really scared of humans... (Although the royal family likes to hunt, so they say)
We don’t have mountains, but we do have hillsides. Go to South Limburg or the village of Groesbeek. Most of your videos are made in a very small part of our country. The most beautiful places are not in the west, but in the south and east. Visit South Limburg or Brabant or Nijmegen. Than you get a full picture
Hey buddy, love watching youre video’s as a fellow Haarlemmer. Crazy too see these “american” kind of videos while you’re walking true the city’s i know. There is a work out station thing in the park next to the road on Prins Bernhardlaan in Haarlem. Hope to run in to you sometime! Have a good day:)
We do have 'Taakstraffen.' that means that a convict is sentenced to do xx hours of community services instead of prison time. Usually for small crimes or youth delinquents . That would include the same kind of work, but probably with more care for the safety of the convict, as we have better human rights here.
And they wear a normal uniform like all other workers, nobody can tell who is a convict only a special social worker. Also reintegration into work and normal life by 'reclassering', for those who completed their time. Together with refugees who are still learning the language and other skills. Even people with 'distance to "normal" jobs', do the same work. Within the team nobody knows the true reason, if there is any, because some just like the job and everybody is 'special' in their own way.
HALT sentenced youth will often wear a reflective jacket while cleaning parks after for example fireworks outside the tolerated hours. Adults can do lots of community service but they will be doing appropriate work in line of learning of your behavior or suitable with your qualities, you wouldn’t see them digging ditches.
“You can’t sit by yourself nowhere”.. my biggest pet peeve with Amsterdam! Anything even remotely “hot” will be absolutely packed with people! You can’t just casually walk into town for lunch and expect a free table somewhere in the sun.
We have a lot of workout stations here in the Southeast of Amsterdam. Also, we have tons of rabbits here that will come out during the early hours. If you go to other parts of the country, you can find a lot more wildlife, but (fortunately) no deadly snakes and spiders ;) Community service happens, but it’s just less obvious.
The highest 'mountains' 😇of the Dutch provinces 1: The Vaalserberg (+322 m), Province of Limburg. ... 2: Rozendaalse field (+110 m), Province of Gelderland. ... 3: Tankenberg (+ 85 m), Province of Overijssel. ... 4: Amerongse Berg (+ 69 m), Province of Utrecht. ... 5: Catrijper Nok (+ 55 m), Province of North Holland.
Sloterdijk is full of wild rabbits, Haarlem not so much. But if you go to Overveen and Bloemendaal/Zandvoort/dunes you'll see deer just roaming around. Especially at dawn and at night. There is a workout spot in Haarlem, in Burgermeester Reinaldapark. Also, 48 Hoge Duin en Daalseweg in Bloemendaal is one of the highest points you can visit. It's our "mountain" :) in the randstad haha.
Very interesting how different cultures an be. In the Netherland you will find that prisoners are in prison and most animals in the rural area’s or forrests. Oh and and all politicians in The Hague. We like to keep things organised..:). Sure you have noticed in recent media how confused people get here if a lone wulf does not stick to that logic and gets to close to people.
Schoterpark in Haarlem Noord has exercise equipment in the park. Take bus 2 towards Haarlem noord en get out at schoterhof then walk towards the park. Where I life at Marsmanplein also nice terrace at Peper en Zout for a coffee or lunch.
As far as I know, we don’t have prisoners doing community service. What we do have though is people who are ordered by a judge to do community service, for like 80 hours. But they’re not prisoners.
That is a cultural difference. It is a no go exposing criminals that way. You have noticed probalbly that they rarely are mentioned by their full name in the media. First name and first letter of last name is common. Their are exceptions, like when a dangerous one has escaped or something like that.
If you travel by train more often (maybe in the weekends only), you can buy a train subscription that is deducted on invoice from your bank account automatically every periode. (You can have 35-45 euro train subscription for unlimited train travel in the weekends (Fri 18.30-Mon-04.00 hours). You can cancel after a month (ns)
@@TiesBesselJonker Doe ff normaal! Natuurlijk weten de meesten hoe het zit met Radio Kootwijk. Niet iedereen, mee eens. Maar het station is vaak op tv dus…
and strike 3! we also have those Workout Stations in public spaces, but maybe not as common in the Randstad (which would surprise me) Or maybe you are looking in the wrong places. They usually are located at leisure / recreational spots that are not a park, but with some more stuff going on, like a public swimming lake or a forest with hiking and mountain biking trails, things like that.
I agree with you about the smoking problem, more than half the smokers are ‘asociaal’ (although they think themselves they are very social) and don’t care about non smokers, only about their own need to smoke. It is the reason I don’t sit on a terrace anymore since a few decades ago. Restaurant owners are afraid to loose customers if they prohibit smoking on terraces and they don’t want to play cop to uphold those rules. And I think they are right, most non smokers already left the terraces. Winning non smokers back will take some time and money they don’t have, besides there are enough smokers (with non smoking partners) in The Netherlands so there is no need for them to change the rules.
Agree to that, as a non-smoker I always wonder why people smoke. Just today I saw a young man coming out of the sport school (fitness) and light up a cigarette. Just quickly taking a few puffs and throwing it away on the street and get in a car. Sporting and smoking... I don't understand that combination.
Love your videos! Okay, have to add, I grew up in Colorado, now live in Michigan (which is similar to the Netherlands in the green and water everywhere) and you are right ... mountains. Still miss them after almost 40 years in the Detroit area.
We do have wildlife here, you just need to know when to look. Just a few months ago Hulst was stampeded by no less than five (5) cows that had broken loose in Belgium! Belgian cows! In our proper and organized little country!! If that isn't wildlife I don't know what is.
I'm still waiting for you to pull up vlogging in the boat fam 😂..... Thanks for all the inspiration and encouraging us all to just start our vlogs. I'm starting soon! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Rabbits used to be bountiful, but they’re prone to contagious diseases. And diminished by too many people, buildings, traffic and concrete. Yes, we do have squirrels, the red ones, which are comparatively small, and elusive.
Since you’re in Haarlem, you should get on your bike and visit the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen. It’s really around the corner from Haarlem. They are the water supply dunes where the Amsterdam drinking water comes from. It’s also a huge nature reserve that you can visit. Great with your kids too, beautiful walks. Trust me, wildlife galore!
If we want to see mountains, we will be there in no time. A 3-hour drive from the border you will find mountains and hills in Sauerland, Germany. Close to the Dutch border in the south are the Belgian Ardennes, where you can also experience the mountain feeling. And if you really want that mountain feeling, you drive to the Alps, about 700 kilometers. In Europe you will find all types of landscapes
There are work-out stations at some parks. For sure Oosterpark has one and there is also one Nelson Mandela Park in Amsterdam Zuidoost. Westerpark probably has them too. Like your content!
Workout station: The Hague Zuiderpark The Hague Leidschenveen (de dijken, vrouw avenweg) Hazerswoude-Rijndijk (Da Costa Singel, behind the old gemeentehuis) I also know there is some in Leiden and Amsterdam. So there must be in other cities.
BTW there are hills in South Limburg, you are just living in the wrong region. If you get to Maastricht, go to the driver of bus 350 and ask for a ticket to the biggest hill in NL (they go quite close to it), or get on line 20a to see the hills on the Belgian half of south Limburg Also you do see squirrels, but they are super shy, and if you see one, you probably doubt if you have even seen it
You do have squirrels, but not around the city. You can spot them in the forest, parks or in a residential area. My parents have a huge garden and I spot them everytime there.
The Netherlands has not banned guns. It is just really, really hard to get a license. Also go visit Valkenburg, bring the kids. It’s a really cute town with some awesome history. Lots of things for little kids as well. I highly recommend the local castle ruins (great view of the town), “de valkenier” (a small theme park ) and one of the cave or mine-tours. Don’t forget to eat vlaai (a type of pie) while you are there.
@@Superfluffyfish oh yea I know… I don’t think I said it was banned here… did I… ?? Hahaha 😂 sometimes I get so scrambled hahaha… I just don’t think banning guns in the states is the answer :) Oooh and thanks for the suggestion!
I fully agree on the mountains, i have some here, one very close and accessible, just like 1h or 1h 30m to get to 1800m and then you can hike a few kilometers to get to summit. I love that ascent and will miss it if i ever go to the Netherlands. Probably a normal walk around would suffice as i expect the air to be much cleaner than the dirty pollution we have here.
You should change your walking routine a bit more😊 Duin en Kruidberg for deer. Koningshof for squirrels. The red ones. There is an open air work out place in the Reinaldapark Haarlem, around Toolenburgerplas Hoofddorp or near the watertower in Aalsmeer.
I grew up in Drenthe and saw my fair share of wild animals. Foxes, deer, rabbits, and hares. Also seen a snake a handful of times. It's just that most of Dutch wildlife is very cautious and doesn't really show themselves much.
But than again, if you take a 2.5 hours car ride you will b e in the smaller mountains or hill sides in de Ardennes in Belgium or germany, and if you drive around 8 hours or a bit more you're in the Alps. and regarding little animals, squirls and rabits used to be much more common, just like mice , bats and hedgehoggs.
Funny thing is that two of the things that you have mentionned are combined into one. In Amsterdam Osdorp there is another I Amsterdam sign that is also a workout station. It is near the Sloterplas and just around the corner are even more workout stations. 😎
One thing I thought I’d ever see in the Netherlands were open air urinals for the men! We were in Amsterdam for Kings Day last spring. Quite a celebration with lots of adult beverages! Lots of police on duty too. Sadly - the weather was extremely wet.
Its SKY, at 0:58 min.: No mountains but hills! You have been working/living in Haarlem for so long, but apparently, you have never been to the high, hilly sand dunes of 'old money' Bloemendaal, reminiscent of Beverly Hills! North and South Holland can boast having the widest and most stunning sand dunes in the world. On the next sunny autumn day, catch a train to Driehuis and visit the most beautiful cemetery you will ever see, Westerveld, where deer freely roam. Walk back through the dunes to Bloemendaal and you'll be a happy man!
@@Leonardo-ql1qu ayyye thanks for the tips! I think I’ve been to Bloemendaal… but I’ve also been to the sand dunes which are super dope.. and I even saw a bison there! lol
@@ItzSKYVlogs Thanks! If you haven't been there already, you must also catch a train to Overveen and take a fifteen minute walk, via the stunning Elswoutslaan to the 400-year old, fairytale hilly forest of Buitenplaats Elswout. Especially when the leafs turn orange and red with a low autumn sun, you will feel like you are dreaming. Next, walk to Kraantje Lek (Leaking, little Tap, the oldest restaurant in The Netherlands) and walk the dunes to Zandvoort there!
The geese you saw in the park/ canal bank are wild. Most geese you see in NL are migratory birds: they nest way op north. But they make a 'transit stop' here because the geese eat grass and we have a lot of grass lands...
There are squirrels in the Netherlands, but the ones here are the red squirrels and they live in old oak trees. When you see a bunch of those close to each other, chances are you'll find squirrels too. But they're very shy, so you may have to sit and wait for a while... Rabbits are reasonably common here in coastal areas (in the dunes), but they too are very shy. Hares are more visible ... mostly in pastures. There is a lot of (small) wildlife here, but you need to know where and how to look for them. There are even wolves, nowadays... but not in Haarlem. They live more in areas from the Veluwe and east of that. About smoking ... there are a lot of no-smoking-zones here and the number is going up. There are even zones where you CAN smoke. In the city where I live, smoking IN a restaurant or cafe isn't allowed, but outside there often is a (small) section of the terrace where you can smoke, if you want. The problem there is that when the wind is wrong, you'll be bothered by the smoke on the whole terrace. Smoking is really discouraged nowadays. Cigarettes are very expensive. I used to smoke when I was young and back then 1 case with 25 cigarettes cost ƒ 1,25 (in Euro's that would be about € 0,55. Nowadays 1 case with 20 cigarettes cost about € 11,00)
Most space in The Netherlands is taken by urbanization interspersed with agricultural industry, the majority of arable land is used to grow cattle feed (grass and maize). So there is hardly any nature left. I feel that every time I've been to France, Norway or Scotland and return, how crowded and industrialized The Netherlands are. There are a lot of green spots and parks, but real wildlife is few and far between. For mountains, take a train to France or Switzerland and you'll be there within a day 😊
Ik woon tussen de boeren, voornamelijk akkerbouwers, en het zal je verbazen hoeveel natuur hier nog is; vele soorten vogels inclusief de ijsvogel, reeën, hazen, marters, vleermuizen. Mijn tuin zit vol insecten, vlinders, bijen, hommels, libelles, noem maar op. Dus er is nog genoeg natuur. En het treurige is, ze zetten tegenwoordig hectares vol met zonnepanelen. Onder het mom van het redden van de aarde. Maar daaronder leeft echt niks meer😢 En dan krijgen de boeren de schuld. Terwijl zij er voor zorgen dat wij allemaal eten. Ik vind het diep triest.
Did not want to repeat too many things from the other comments (but yes, go walk in the dunes, in October late in the afternoon you can hear the deer bark because it is mating season, they are too tired to go far away...). There are a few nice musea in Haarlem too; my kids really liked the Teylers which is the oldest museum of the Netherlands.
You can find diners in NL, we just call them "lunchroom" and can be found at (bus-) stations and city centers. Usely they have same opening hours as shops (18:00). And no, no prisoners working. But small offenders do community service work (parks etc.) to avoid jail time (minors and drunk drivers for example)), they just don't wear orange suits..
Squirrels do exist in the Netherlands, I have worked in Assen and the carpark was surrounded with trees and on the quiet moments you can find squirrels here. So in wooded areas (outside city centers) you will find squirrels. I sometimes have a small toad visiting my house.
Well @itzSKYVlogs, I challenge you to visit the dunes west of Bloemendaal or Aerdenhout. The dunes will give you the chance to see animals like bunnies or deer.
Utrecht has a lot of work out stations in the parks. They are like everywhere here. Just go to utrecht and find a big park and walk around. Its basic but still pretty cool
I'm getting spoiled with the amount of videos you've been sending me lately, but I want to give a little direction to your family members on how they're growing up in the Netherlands.
The name Netherlands translate to "lower lands" in dutch its Nederland, which is derived from "neder" meaning "low or down", and "land" meaning land. This name reflects the geography of the country, much of which is at or below sea level. You should venture outside the city to see more wildlife. Here in Hoorn, i often see blue herons near where i live, and sometimes rabbits when passing through the fields. I even saw a stork once near Utrecht.
Come to my place and I show you some wildlife: beavers, deers, wolves, bats. In Reeshofpark Tilburg, there is a big workout place. And in bigger cities there should be a lot more. Nijmegen and Arnhem have lots of hills. There is a reason why diners or motels are popular in the US, but not in other countries. It's like fastfood: quick and easy.
Man if you want to see red squirrels, just go to the Amsterdamse Bos. I remember going there as a kid with my parents and feeding the red (and gray) squirrels. Hope they are still there! If you haven’t been, go check it out, I’m pretty sure they have workout stations there as well.
As you're living in Haarlem, it should be a short trip to 't Kopje van Bloemendaal, to get to the dazzling height of 43 meters. And keep your oxygen mask ready climbing the panoramic tower to over 50 meters!
In Leiden we got workout stations in the park (Huigpark) which get used quite a lot. We've got people who need to work as punishment for their crimes which can be outside, it's called a "taakstraf".
Prisons aren't a businessmodel here. We do have some sort of community service but that is for small crimes and usually for kids under 18. For kids it's called HALT. And those were geese, not swans. Geese are also often kept as "guard dogs" because they make a lot of noise and can be aggressive.
Go to the Waterleiding duinen. It's about a 20 minute ride by bike from Haarlem. I've seen fox and there are quite a few deer. But I agree with you on the lack of mountains. You should listen to a song called "In the Dutch Mountains" by the Nits. One of the great Dutch bands.
About wild animals. I live at the edge of the Veluwe. Every day I can see rabbits, hare, wild boars. Deer not so much. And I still have to meet our local wolf.
Walk around Sloterdijk and you will be amazed if paying attention. Foxes, rabbits, hares( look like rabbits), European squirrels, snakes yes snakes, Common European viper, Barred grass snake and the Smooth snake
Molenplas park in Haarlem has some work out stuff. Bus 73 Goes pretty close. Nice area to go for a walk as well. And there's a little city beach where kids play in the water.
You will never find mountains or hills in the Netherlands. It is known as the flattest country. ... Like a pancake 🤣🤣🤣 Oh, there is Dutch wildlife !!! You are at the wrong place(s). Plenty spots. I saw with my own eyes ; There is one workout station with several equipments near CS Schiedam near the movietheater and road hotel. I dont know if there are more.
In the Netherlands we also have taakstraf ( community service / punishment) its only done for people who commited small crimes and it could be for instance cleaning off graffiti from the walls
I thought there are workout stations here in Haarlem South in the molenpark 😃 you should check that park its nice for a walk. You can walk to it over noord/zuidschalkwijkerweg
Great video! But... "There are no mountains in The Netherlands": not true. You obviously haven't been to Limburg yet. The Vaalserberg, the highest mountain in The Netherlands, is a whopping 322 meters high! ;-)
Have you ever been to South Limburg? Geul dal? That's the place with the most hills in the Netherlands. We have one "mountain" on the mainland "Vaalserberg"with it's whopping 322 meters above sea level. (Berg means mountain)
Hahaha, dan heb je nog nooit de hoogste berg van de Haarlemmermeer gezien :-) En op de Veluwe stikt het van de Eekhoorns, marters, groot wild, zwijnen, vossen en wolven. En "bats" vleermuizen zie ik heel veel langs de Geniedijk in Hoofddorp.
Oh and really!!!! I haven’t seen any squirrels or wolfs. How do they keep them out of the cities? In LA, bears and wolfs and even panthers would be seen a lot like just in the streets! Lol
@@ItzSKYVlogs I suggest you follow the Dutch news or Google about wolves in the Netherlands. Huge discussion going on about those animals. The "mountain" in the Haarlemmermeer is located between Hoofddorp and Vijfhuizen. Not far from you. Gives a nice view over the whole area when you are on top. Schiphol, Amsterdam, Haarlem, Zandvoort the bulb region.
At the Waterleidingduinen you do see a bit of 'wildlife'. And here in A'dam in the park near my house you do see rabbits and hare. And you've certain parts in The Netherlands with nature areas that has wildlife like otters. You're walking in a city, so you should compare it with having 'wildlife' in NY City. I don't think NYC has either.
You can get community service but you're not a prisoner. If you see someone with a reflective shirt that says reclassering or werkt voor samenleving they're doing community service. In Delfzijl we have workout stations in a park near an elderly home.
now, we DO have some shootings in the Netherlands. But they tend to be very small, crime related, and at night (like maybe a dealer shooting at someone screwing them over or smth).
Ayyyye Happy Thursday! Ok You guys have to let me know if I Missed something or could be wrong! Help me out! 😎
Come to Limburg... we got lots of squirrels.... and even a mountain! 😂
There are guns for sport and hunting. And There was a mass shooting in Alphen aan den rijn about 10 years ago. But yea, seeing guns is very rare.
@@mikevanderbruggen4397 je vergeet de tram in Utrecht in 2019....
@@hideouspatje Just to ad, for him 😅 we have beautiful hills.
@@hideouspatje I’ve been to Limburg.. but I didn’t see a mountain… people are saying that.. and then other people are replying.. that it’s not really a mountain. lol 😂
European squirrels are red/brown and somewhat shy, in huge contrast to the US ones who bite in your fingers.
In parks, silently sitting on a bench, you can see them in the evening or morning.
American squirrels were once imported as pets but became a pest, and were hunted down to protect ours...
The dutrch dont want mountains as we have done the math and found them to be not cost effective, and too expensive in maintenance
😂😂😂😂😂
I just realized that we have no India..., sorry native Americans or cowboys around here. Isn't that amazing?
And I t’s much harder to farm on a hill/mountain
In 2011 there was seriously a cyclist/ reporter who wanted a mountain to build in Flevoland that would be 10Km by 10Km by 2Km and would contain housing parking mountain trails for mountaineers cyclists and other mountain sports but they would be paying at a entrance and that’s a big risk to bet on.
But it’s probably a project as Schiphol at sea and the great sea wall to protect the North Sea coastline. Not really realistic but always a option but never really on the table.
It would be fantastic to be not only a specialist on water management and reclaiming land to be also the creators of mountain. ⛰
😂
We have rabbits, dear, small lizards (10cm), wild hogs, bevers, squirrels, and all kinds of birds including lots of birds of prey, mice, rats, bats and martens but also wolves. But, they are not in our flood buffer zone (also known as the province of Holland). Here, is the south east of the Netherlands its teaming with life.
Go see Maastricht city..with his old buildings and history… take a few days there.. and see the South of the Netherlands there around Valkenburg, Epe, Gulpen and area! It is if you are in an other country.. like the south of Belgium.. the Ardennen.. lots of hills and small mountains comparing yours in LA.
As other people saying.. it is a very small peace in de middle west of the Netherlands… that you see and walk trough.. that is not only the Netherlands.. check out the south of Limburg.. The area around Breda and Den Bosch.. de midd.east and north like Groningen and Friesland.. with lots of flat land and the see at the north west to. From Haarlem you can travel by train in 1,5 hour á 2 h by train, tough the whole country.
Do not forget Zeeland.. the south west.. sort of islands of our country.
I love your vlogs… and your fast talks.. it helps me with me understanding end follow English language! Well done 😍
Those are geese, not swans. Part of Dutch wildlife.
@@EJannings I know my bad. Hahahah
@@EJannings but yea those geese are savages!
@@ItzSKYVlogsA buddy of mine got his leg broken by a swan smashing him with it's wing.
@@VluggeJapie22He need dat protein chief
the geese are swarming throughout the Netherlands
Visit Valkenburg there you have many hills, maybe not as high as the Vaalserberg 30km away from Valkenburg, but it has castle ruines and is famous for it's caves, very cool and refreshing during the summer time, if you've never been there it's a big must. Maybe combine it with visiting "het drielandenpunt" on the Vaalserberg.
As a Dutch (ex) parole officer in Haarlem I can tell you there is a parole office near where you walk often. Its just that you dont see convicts doing community service (privacy & all) but they are certainly there😂
Not prisoners serving a sentence tho, right? Only the ones that get community service as a sentence. As in 'everyday I am schoffeling, schoffeling schoffeling 🎶🎶" xD
😂😂@@Snibble
in the US, using prisoners for manual labor "community service" is a form of slavery. Kind of crazy...
🤷🏼♀️
@@Siriusly_Siriusread Project 2025 and you’d be Amazed!
Okay, I think you are a bit too Haarlem-A'dam centered here. In the North, East and South of the Netherlands you can see squirrels, deer, rabbits and other small mammals every day. If I put some bird feed in my garden, a squirrel will come check it out for nuts immediately, and that is nothing special
And if you go into the Veluwe you can spot some wild boars. And we seem to have a few wolves now too, but those are still really really rare
Wow really!!!! Why don’t I ever see any squirrels! I travelled all over. And still no squirrels. Hahaah
I’ve seen boars and even buffalo! Hahaha
@@ItzSKYVlogs I did some quick research and sadly the squirrels are indeed in decline. I am an outdoor person like, you and in my area (Twente) there are still a lot but I now understand you might hardly ever see one in the Holland part of the Netherlands
@@ItzSKYVlogs I only saw wild boars once, but it was in broad daylight in the woods around the royal palace estate in Apeldoorn. That place has so many visitors that the wild piggies aren't really scared of humans... (Although the royal family likes to hunt, so they say)
@@Blackadder75oh I c… 😢
We don’t have mountains, but we do have hillsides. Go to South Limburg or the village of Groesbeek.
Most of your videos are made in a very small part of our country. The most beautiful places are not in the west, but in the south and east. Visit South Limburg or Brabant or Nijmegen. Than you get a full picture
Hey buddy, love watching youre video’s as a fellow Haarlemmer. Crazy too see these “american” kind of videos while you’re walking true the city’s i know. There is a work out station thing in the park next to the road on Prins Bernhardlaan in Haarlem. Hope to run in to you sometime! Have a good day:)
We do have 'Taakstraffen.' that means that a convict is sentenced to do xx hours of community services instead of prison time. Usually for small crimes or youth delinquents . That would include the same kind of work, but probably with more care for the safety of the convict, as we have better human rights here.
And they wear a normal uniform like all other workers, nobody can tell who is a convict only a special social worker. Also reintegration into work and normal life by 'reclassering', for those who completed their time. Together with refugees who are still learning the language and other skills. Even people with 'distance to "normal" jobs', do the same work.
Within the team nobody knows the true reason, if there is any, because some just like the job and everybody is 'special' in their own way.
HALT sentenced youth will often wear a reflective jacket while cleaning parks after for example fireworks outside the tolerated hours.
Adults can do lots of community service but they will be doing appropriate work in line of learning of your behavior or suitable with your qualities, you wouldn’t see them digging ditches.
“You can’t sit by yourself nowhere”.. my biggest pet peeve with Amsterdam! Anything even remotely “hot” will be absolutely packed with people! You can’t just casually walk into town for lunch and expect a free table somewhere in the sun.
Come to the Veluwe in Gelderland, thousands of squirrels here.
Edit: oh and there are foxes, badgers and wolves too.
And wild boars and deers 🙂
@@EdwinMartin Certainly! I saw some today.
We have a lot of workout stations here in the Southeast of Amsterdam. Also, we have tons of rabbits here that will come out during the early hours. If you go to other parts of the country, you can find a lot more wildlife, but (fortunately) no deadly snakes and spiders ;)
Community service happens, but it’s just less obvious.
Water tends to run downwards. So you can't have both, it's the water from the mountains that shaped the river delta swamp called the Netherlands.
The highest 'mountains' 😇of the Dutch provinces
1: The Vaalserberg (+322 m), Province of Limburg. ...
2: Rozendaalse field (+110 m), Province of Gelderland. ...
3: Tankenberg (+ 85 m), Province of Overijssel. ...
4: Amerongse Berg (+ 69 m), Province of Utrecht. ...
5: Catrijper Nok (+ 55 m), Province of North Holland.
Sloterdijk is full of wild rabbits, Haarlem not so much. But if you go to Overveen and Bloemendaal/Zandvoort/dunes you'll see deer just roaming around. Especially at dawn and at night.
There is a workout spot in Haarlem, in Burgermeester Reinaldapark. Also, 48 Hoge Duin en Daalseweg in Bloemendaal is one of the highest points you can visit. It's our "mountain" :) in the randstad haha.
Well dang!!! Hahahahaah
I just screen shotted your comment so I can go check it everything out. Hahaha
And at night big rats, i worked there on a trainstation at night and the damn rats are bigger than rabbits hahah
oh wait that station was Duivendrecht.
Very interesting how different cultures an be. In the Netherland you will find that prisoners are in prison and most animals in the rural area’s or forrests. Oh and and all politicians in The Hague. We like to keep things organised..:). Sure you have noticed in recent media how confused people get here if a lone wulf does not stick to that logic and gets to close to people.
Schoterpark in Haarlem Noord has exercise equipment in the park. Take bus 2 towards Haarlem noord en get out at schoterhof then walk towards the park. Where I life at Marsmanplein also nice terrace at Peper en Zout for a coffee or lunch.
A tick is the most dangerous animal in the Netherlands, followed by a politician.
As far as I know, we don’t have prisoners doing community service. What we do have though is people who are ordered by a judge to do community service, for like 80 hours. But they’re not prisoners.
Ahhhhh I got ya
I think we have that in the states too where you just do community service but not be a prisoner
Thanks for letting me know :)
And they are not put out on display (in the stocks) like they are in the states.
That is a cultural difference. It is a no go exposing criminals that way. You have noticed probalbly that they rarely are mentioned by their full name in the media. First name and first letter of last name is common. Their are exceptions, like when a dangerous one has escaped or something like that.
Atleast we have a volcano! (in the kingdom that is, only a 10 hour flight :P )
If you travel by train more often (maybe in the weekends only), you can buy a train subscription that is deducted on invoice from your bank account automatically every periode. (You can have 35-45 euro train subscription for unlimited train travel in the weekends (Fri 18.30-Mon-04.00 hours). You can cancel after a month (ns)
Maybe grab a train to Hoge Veluwe? Should be nice with the heather blooming.
Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen are just next door to him.
So much wildlife they have to shoot it...
Ayyyeee thanks Paul! Man you always putting me on!
No a VERY BAD IDEA! Wolves everywhere. Roaming. No fences.
@@TiesBesselJonker Doe ff normaal! Natuurlijk weten de meesten hoe het zit met Radio Kootwijk. Niet iedereen, mee eens. Maar het station is vaak op tv dus…
@@TiesBesselJonker wow… je bent een leukerd!!!
and strike 3! we also have those Workout Stations in public spaces, but maybe not as common in the Randstad (which would surprise me) Or maybe you are looking in the wrong places. They usually are located at leisure / recreational spots that are not a park, but with some more stuff going on, like a public swimming lake or a forest with hiking and mountain biking trails, things like that.
I agree with you about the smoking problem, more than half the smokers are ‘asociaal’ (although they think themselves they are very social) and don’t care about non smokers, only about their own need to smoke. It is the reason I don’t sit on a terrace anymore since a few decades ago. Restaurant owners are afraid to loose customers if they prohibit smoking on terraces and they don’t want to play cop to uphold those rules. And I think they are right, most non smokers already left the terraces. Winning non smokers back will take some time and money they don’t have, besides there are enough smokers (with non smoking partners) in The Netherlands so there is no need for them to change the rules.
Agree to that, as a non-smoker I always wonder why people smoke. Just today I saw a young man coming out of the sport school (fitness) and light up a cigarette. Just quickly taking a few puffs and throwing it away on the street and get in a car. Sporting and smoking... I don't understand that combination.
Completely agree.
@@JaapGinder endorphins & nicotine
To catch rabbits hares and squirrels in cities you need to get up really early. Like 5 or 6 in the morning.
Love your videos! Okay, have to add, I grew up in Colorado, now live in Michigan (which is similar to the Netherlands in the green and water everywhere) and you are right ... mountains. Still miss them after almost 40 years in the Detroit area.
Ayyye thanks so much!! So happy you’re enjoying the videos!
Oooh and nice! I really like Detroit! I try to go back everyday year
I’ll be there in December 😊
We do have wildlife here, you just need to know when to look. Just a few months ago Hulst was stampeded by no less than five (5) cows that had broken loose in Belgium!
Belgian cows! In our proper and organized little country!! If that isn't wildlife I don't know what is.
It is a Special Operation!! 🙃😉
Thanks for the upload. BTW you seem a lot healthier in these 4 years, good job brother! (This ain't a diss track)
I cringed
I'm still waiting for you to pull up vlogging in the boat fam 😂..... Thanks for all the inspiration and encouraging us all to just start our vlogs. I'm starting soon! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Rabbits used to be bountiful, but they’re prone to contagious diseases. And diminished by too many people, buildings, traffic and concrete.
Yes, we do have squirrels, the red ones, which are comparatively small, and elusive.
Since you’re in Haarlem, you should get on your bike and visit the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen. It’s really around the corner from Haarlem. They are the water supply dunes where the Amsterdam drinking water comes from. It’s also a huge nature reserve that you can visit. Great with your kids too, beautiful walks. Trust me, wildlife galore!
If we want to see mountains, we will be there in no time. A 3-hour drive from the border you will find mountains and hills in Sauerland, Germany. Close to the Dutch border in the south are the Belgian Ardennes, where you can also experience the mountain feeling. And if you really want that mountain feeling, you drive to the Alps, about 700 kilometers. In Europe you will find all types of landscapes
There are work-out stations at some parks. For sure Oosterpark has one and there is also one Nelson Mandela Park in Amsterdam Zuidoost. Westerpark probably has them too. Like your content!
Workout station:
The Hague Zuiderpark
The Hague Leidschenveen (de dijken, vrouw avenweg)
Hazerswoude-Rijndijk (Da Costa Singel, behind the old gemeentehuis)
I also know there is some in Leiden and Amsterdam. So there must be in other cities.
Note on the exercise equipment: We have them on the playground/park in the small town of Krommenie (North Holland) ✌🏼
I saw a fox last night in Scheveningen! NO i was not drunk,when i'm drunk i sometimes see a pink elephant.
BTW there are hills in South Limburg, you are just living in the wrong region. If you get to Maastricht, go to the driver of bus 350 and ask for a ticket to the biggest hill in NL (they go quite close to it), or get on line 20a to see the hills on the Belgian half of south Limburg
Also you do see squirrels, but they are super shy, and if you see one, you probably doubt if you have even seen it
To someone from LA those are tiny tiny hills…
(Or to a Scot. I spoke with a Scotswoman and she thought my idea of a hill was hilarious…)
Love your video…. Again!!!😊👍
You do have squirrels, but not around the city. You can spot them in the forest, parks or in a residential area. My parents have a huge garden and I spot them everytime there.
The Netherlands has not banned guns. It is just really, really hard to get a license.
Also go visit Valkenburg, bring the kids. It’s a really cute town with some awesome history. Lots of things for little kids as well. I highly recommend the local castle ruins (great view of the town), “de valkenier” (a small theme park ) and one of the cave or mine-tours. Don’t forget to eat vlaai (a type of pie) while you are there.
@@Superfluffyfish oh yea I know… I don’t think I said it was banned here… did I… ?? Hahaha 😂 sometimes I get so scrambled hahaha… I just don’t think banning guns in the states is the answer :)
Oooh and thanks for the suggestion!
@@Superfluffyfish I think I’ve been to valkenburg… I can’t remember tho.. but now I definitely want to go back!
I fully agree on the mountains, i have some here, one very close and accessible, just like 1h or 1h 30m to get to 1800m and then you can hike a few kilometers to get to summit. I love that ascent and will miss it if i ever go to the Netherlands. Probably a normal walk around would suffice as i expect the air to be much cleaner than the dirty pollution we have here.
You should change your walking routine a bit more😊
Duin en Kruidberg for deer. Koningshof for squirrels. The red ones.
There is an open air work out place in the Reinaldapark Haarlem, around Toolenburgerplas Hoofddorp or near the watertower in Aalsmeer.
I grew up in Drenthe and saw my fair share of wild animals. Foxes, deer, rabbits, and hares. Also seen a snake a handful of times. It's just that most of Dutch wildlife is very cautious and doesn't really show themselves much.
But than again, if you take a 2.5 hours car ride you will b e in the smaller mountains or hill sides in de Ardennes in Belgium or germany, and if you drive around 8 hours or a bit more you're in the Alps.
and regarding little animals, squirls and rabits used to be much more common, just like mice , bats and hedgehoggs.
Funny thing is that two of the things that you have mentionned are combined into one. In Amsterdam Osdorp there is another I Amsterdam sign that is also a workout station. It is near the Sloterplas and just around the corner are even more workout stations. 😎
I think your right about the smoking. People shouldn't smoke in front of kiddos. Love ur vids :)
One thing I thought I’d ever see in the Netherlands were open air urinals for the men! We were in Amsterdam for Kings Day last spring. Quite a celebration with lots of adult beverages! Lots of police on duty too. Sadly - the weather was extremely wet.
Hahahaha this h kings day is always fun hehehe
Hahahaha this h kings is day is always fun hehehe
Its SKY, at 0:58 min.: No mountains but hills! You have been working/living in Haarlem for so long, but apparently, you have never been to the high, hilly sand dunes of 'old money' Bloemendaal, reminiscent of Beverly Hills! North and South Holland can boast having the widest and most stunning sand dunes in the world. On the next sunny autumn day, catch a train to Driehuis and visit the most beautiful cemetery you will ever see, Westerveld, where deer freely roam. Walk back through the dunes to Bloemendaal and you'll be a happy man!
@@Leonardo-ql1qu ayyye thanks for the tips! I think I’ve been to Bloemendaal… but I’ve also been to the sand dunes which are super dope.. and I even saw a bison there! lol
@@ItzSKYVlogs Thanks! If you haven't been there already, you must also catch a train to Overveen and take a fifteen minute walk, via the stunning Elswoutslaan to the 400-year old, fairytale hilly forest of Buitenplaats Elswout. Especially when the leafs turn orange and red with a low autumn sun, you will feel like you are dreaming. Next, walk to Kraantje Lek (Leaking, little Tap, the oldest restaurant in The Netherlands) and walk the dunes to Zandvoort there!
Parks with workout stations are not common in the Netherlands, but some parks have them like het 'Zuiderpark' in Den Haag.
Great one Sky! But come over here to the east the Netherlands and you'll be tripping over rabbits, deer and squirls! And even some snakes too!!
As a Dutch I lived in Marmaris Turkey, surrounded by mountains, something I really miss now, real nature, not made.
"Lived" 😂 op vakantie met dada en mama
The geese you saw in the park/ canal bank are wild. Most geese you see in NL are migratory birds: they nest way op north. But they make a 'transit stop' here because the geese eat grass and we have a lot of grass lands...
There are squirrels in the Netherlands, but the ones here are the red squirrels and they live in old oak trees. When you see a bunch of those close to each other, chances are you'll find squirrels too. But they're very shy, so you may have to sit and wait for a while... Rabbits are reasonably common here in coastal areas (in the dunes), but they too are very shy. Hares are more visible ... mostly in pastures. There is a lot of (small) wildlife here, but you need to know where and how to look for them. There are even wolves, nowadays... but not in Haarlem. They live more in areas from the Veluwe and east of that.
About smoking ... there are a lot of no-smoking-zones here and the number is going up. There are even zones where you CAN smoke. In the city where I live, smoking IN a restaurant or cafe isn't allowed, but outside there often is a (small) section of the terrace where you can smoke, if you want. The problem there is that when the wind is wrong, you'll be bothered by the smoke on the whole terrace. Smoking is really discouraged nowadays. Cigarettes are very expensive. I used to smoke when I was young and back then 1 case with 25 cigarettes cost ƒ 1,25 (in Euro's that would be about € 0,55. Nowadays 1 case with 20 cigarettes cost about € 11,00)
Most space in The Netherlands is taken by urbanization interspersed with agricultural industry, the majority of arable land is used to grow cattle feed (grass and maize). So there is hardly any nature left. I feel that every time I've been to France, Norway or Scotland and return, how crowded and industrialized The Netherlands are. There are a lot of green spots and parks, but real wildlife is few and far between.
For mountains, take a train to France or Switzerland and you'll be there within a day 😊
Ik woon tussen de boeren, voornamelijk akkerbouwers, en het zal je verbazen hoeveel natuur hier nog is; vele soorten vogels inclusief de ijsvogel, reeën, hazen, marters, vleermuizen. Mijn tuin zit vol insecten, vlinders, bijen, hommels, libelles, noem maar op. Dus er is nog genoeg natuur. En het treurige is, ze zetten tegenwoordig hectares vol met zonnepanelen. Onder het mom van het redden van de aarde. Maar daaronder leeft echt niks meer😢 En dan krijgen de boeren de schuld. Terwijl zij er voor zorgen dat wij allemaal eten. Ik vind het diep triest.
I live in Breda in the suburbs and I regularly see hedgehogs and rabbits. In the nearby forest we have deer!
Here in Zeeland Flanders, pheasants, deer, rabbits, lost/escaped, parrots/parakeets, foxes.
Yea here I’ve seen a lot of deer and even buffalo.. do you know if there are snakes here.?
Oooh you know what.. I’ve seen a bunch of parakeets here too! Funny.. you don’t see them in the wild in the states.. their usually just pets :)
@ItzSKYVlogs No not here, just little , en buffalo 🦬 no 😂
Did not want to repeat too many things from the other comments (but yes, go walk in the dunes, in October late in the afternoon you can hear the deer bark because it is mating season, they are too tired to go far away...). There are a few nice musea in Haarlem too; my kids really liked the Teylers which is the oldest museum of the Netherlands.
You can find diners in NL, we just call them "lunchroom" and can be found at (bus-) stations and city centers. Usely they have same opening hours as shops (18:00).
And no, no prisoners working. But small offenders do community service work (parks etc.) to avoid jail time (minors and drunk drivers for example)), they just don't wear orange suits..
Again a great video👍 Could you do one about the things you miss from the US? Think of food, garbage disposale.....
Squirrels do exist in the Netherlands, I have worked in Assen and the carpark was surrounded with trees and on the quiet moments you can find squirrels here. So in wooded areas (outside city centers) you will find squirrels.
I sometimes have a small toad visiting my house.
Well @itzSKYVlogs, I challenge you to visit the dunes west of Bloemendaal or Aerdenhout. The dunes will give you the chance to see animals like bunnies or deer.
Utrecht has a lot of work out stations in the parks. They are like everywhere here. Just go to utrecht and find a big park and walk around. Its basic but still pretty cool
I'm getting spoiled with the amount of videos you've been sending me lately, but I want to give a little direction to your family members on how they're growing up in the Netherlands.
The name Netherlands translate to "lower lands" in dutch its Nederland, which is derived from "neder" meaning "low or down", and "land" meaning land. This name reflects the geography of the country, much of which is at or below sea level. You should venture outside the city to see more wildlife. Here in Hoorn, i often see blue herons near where i live, and sometimes rabbits when passing through the fields. I even saw a stork once near Utrecht.
I'll admit that's why I love traveling to Tennessee because their mountains are very nice
Ayyyeeee D! Man I know right!
For a Dutch civilian with no felonies on their name, can and is allowed to although heavy regulated own a firearm for sports and/or hunting.
His point is that the dutch don't open carry or conceal carry fire arms.
13:24 there are some training things check Sarphatipark (near museumplein) or Rembrandtpark in Amsterdam.
There are mountains when you go to Germany and Austria. In the southern parts of Limburg it gets quite hilly.
Come to my place and I show you some wildlife: beavers, deers, wolves, bats.
In Reeshofpark Tilburg, there is a big workout place. And in bigger cities there should be a lot more.
Nijmegen and Arnhem have lots of hills.
There is a reason why diners or motels are popular in the US, but not in other countries. It's like fastfood: quick and easy.
Man if you want to see red squirrels, just go to the Amsterdamse Bos. I remember going there as a kid with my parents and feeding the red (and gray) squirrels. Hope they are still there!
If you haven’t been, go check it out, I’m pretty sure they have workout stations there as well.
As you're living in Haarlem, it should be a short trip to 't Kopje van Bloemendaal, to get to the dazzling height of 43 meters. And keep your oxygen mask ready climbing the panoramic tower to over 50 meters!
In Leiden we got workout stations in the park (Huigpark) which get used quite a lot. We've got people who need to work as punishment for their crimes which can be outside, it's called a "taakstraf".
Prisons aren't a businessmodel here. We do have some sort of community service but that is for small crimes and usually for kids under 18. For kids it's called HALT.
And those were geese, not swans. Geese are also often kept as "guard dogs" because they make a lot of noise and can be aggressive.
Go to the Waterleiding duinen. It's about a 20 minute ride by bike from Haarlem. I've seen fox and there are quite a few deer. But I agree with you on the lack of mountains. You should listen to a song called "In the Dutch Mountains" by the Nits. One of the great Dutch bands.
About wild animals. I live at the edge of the Veluwe. Every day I can see rabbits, hare, wild boars. Deer not so much. And I still have to meet our local wolf.
Walk around Sloterdijk and you will be amazed if paying attention. Foxes, rabbits, hares( look like rabbits), European squirrels, snakes yes snakes, Common European viper, Barred grass snake and the Smooth snake
Molenplas park in Haarlem has some work out stuff. Bus 73 Goes pretty close. Nice area to go for a walk as well. And there's a little city beach where kids play in the water.
You will never find mountains or hills in the Netherlands. It is known as the flattest country.
... Like a pancake 🤣🤣🤣
Oh, there is Dutch wildlife !!! You are at the wrong place(s). Plenty spots.
I saw with my own eyes ; There is one workout station with several equipments near CS Schiedam near the movietheater and road hotel. I dont know if there are more.
@@fatdandelions wow thanks!!!! Yea a friend of mine said there were a lot of workout stations around 😂 so maybe there are just hiding from me . :
Those were not swans, but geese. And we do have Mount Scenery at 887 meters... It's just a bit of a swim if you want to visit it....
In the Netherlands we also have taakstraf ( community service / punishment) its only done for people who commited small crimes and it could be for instance cleaning off graffiti from the walls
I thought there are workout stations here in Haarlem South in the molenpark 😃 you should check that park its nice for a walk. You can walk to it over noord/zuidschalkwijkerweg
In the Netherlands we have “taakstraf “
That is the same in US . Working for community
We do have community serves, taakstraf in Dutch. But they will cleaning the city while look as a normal worker, wearing a yellow or orange vests.
Great video! But... "There are no mountains in The Netherlands": not true. You obviously haven't been to Limburg yet. The Vaalserberg, the highest mountain in The Netherlands, is a whopping 322 meters high! ;-)
Which my grandma of 85 in her weel chair can "climb"
*hills
I’ve been to Limburg.. I didn’t see a mountain tho. Hahaha
Now I need to go back!
I’ve been to Limburg.. I didn’t see a mountain tho. Hahaha
Now I need to go back!
@@NLJeffEUhahahaha
Have you ever been to South Limburg? Geul dal? That's the place with the most hills in the Netherlands. We have one "mountain" on the mainland "Vaalserberg"with it's whopping 322 meters above sea level. (Berg means mountain)
Hahaha, dan heb je nog nooit de hoogste berg van de Haarlemmermeer gezien :-) En op de Veluwe stikt het van de Eekhoorns, marters, groot wild, zwijnen, vossen en wolven. En "bats" vleermuizen zie ik heel veel langs de Geniedijk in Hoofddorp.
Hahahahah I think I have! It was just really tall tho! Hahaah
Oh and really!!!! I haven’t seen any squirrels or wolfs. How do they keep them out of the cities? In LA, bears and wolfs and even panthers would be seen a lot like just in the streets! Lol
I’m very curious now!
@@ItzSKYVlogs I suggest you follow the Dutch news or Google about wolves in the Netherlands. Huge discussion going on about those animals.
The "mountain" in the Haarlemmermeer is located between Hoofddorp and Vijfhuizen. Not far from you. Gives a nice view over the whole area when you are on top. Schiphol, Amsterdam, Haarlem, Zandvoort the bulb region.
I grew up in the Haarlemmermeer and never knew we had a hill!
Was that a former island or something (when the haarlemmermeer was an actual meer/lake)
There's some equipment in Vondelpark, also behind my house in Nieuwegein
In Heerhugowaard there is "park van Luna" which has some workout stuff
Does anyone ride dirt bikes or do motocross in the Netherlands?
Jeffrey herlings is a dutch multiple times worldchampion motircross
The weather is like the weather in Vancouver.
There are lots of workout stations for adults in Utrecht. The city provides them.
If you go to Heemstede next to Haarlem, you can squirrels in het Groenedaalse bos.
Hey! We do have mountains! (Smallish hills which people named "mountain")
Those geese ( swans you called them) make great guard dogs.
At the Waterleidingduinen you do see a bit of 'wildlife'. And here in A'dam in the park near my house you do see rabbits and hare. And you've certain parts in The Netherlands with nature areas that has wildlife like otters. You're walking in a city, so you should compare it with having 'wildlife' in NY City. I don't think NYC has either.
there are workout parks around here...mostly in kids playgrounds
You can get community service but you're not a prisoner. If you see someone with a reflective shirt that says reclassering or werkt voor samenleving they're doing community service. In Delfzijl we have workout stations in a park near an elderly home.
now, we DO have some shootings in the Netherlands. But they tend to be very small, crime related, and at night (like maybe a dealer shooting at someone screwing them over or smth).