Author Archives: bentleyjw

Before coming here, people told us, “Don’t worry, everyone there speaks English.” We’ve found that to be pretty true. I’d guess more than 90% of people speak enough English that we can communicate with them, and 75% are fluent. However, they normally speak Dutch. So, at church, school, the grocery store, etc., people are naturallyContinue reading “Everyone speaks English, but they mostly speak Dutch”

I’m sure y’all have heard about the energy crisis in Europe. However, it’s often described in vague terms. What does it mean for families. Well, here are some screenshots of our latest energy bill. Note that it’s doing estimated usage based on the prior tenants, so the amount used is a ballpark estimate. However, it’sContinue reading “Energy Prices”

We just finished week 1 of the younger kids’ school. In general, it seems like things are a bit more laid back here. For example: 1. All kids ages 4-6 strip down to their underwear for PE. Older kids change into gym clothes, but they so so in common changing areas (separated by gender, butContinue reading “Elementary school differences”

In the US, kids are assigned to a public school based on where they live. Some choose to go to a different school, but that’s the minority. With very few exceptions, the school where you live needs to take you. That’s not the case in the Netherlands. Elementary school is sort of done geographically, althoughContinue reading “School”

I took Henry and Adelaide to their first day of school. Their reactions to school are worlds apart. Adelaide is super excited. She has a couple of friends, and during the class lineup to walk in, several kids were gathered around her. She’s cool, confident, and the life of the party. She’s also very goodContinue reading “First Day of School”

Is it breaking the Sabbath day if we watch BYU beat Baylor on Sunday if it is still Saturday where they are playing? Asking for a friend …

Wednesday Linda dropped me off at the bike shop where Timmy’s bike was being repaired. It is right by Tilburg. I road his bike to work (he’s only a little bit shorter than me at this point, so his bike fit me okay). After work, I road his bike home. Friday I road my bikeContinue reading “Bikes”

Last week I felt like I was Dutch, since I had just bought a bike. Well, it turns out you also need to know a thing or two about bikes to really be Dutch. My ignorance became apparent when Timmy and I tried biking to church. Timmy got a flat tire about half-way there. IContinue reading “Ik Ben American (I am an American)”

Every Dutch person owns a bike, or two or three. Yesterday a colleague at work told me they have a nice one that they keep at home for pleasure rides, a cheap one that that they use to commute to the train station (a 3 minute ride), and another cheap one that they use toContinue reading “Ik Ben Nederlander (I am a Dutchman)”

I’m pretty sure there are more bikes than cars in the Netherlands, probably in the neighborhood of 5:1. There are also a lot more kinds of bikes than cars. And shopping for bikes is about as hard as shopping for a car. Prices range from $200 to $2000, and I don’t know enough about bikesContinue reading “Bike Shopping”