9 things we don’t miss at all about the Netherlands since moving to Spain

Moving to Spain didn’t mean we had to say goodbye to everything we love about the Netherlands. On the contrary. The Netherlands remains our homeland and there are plenty of things we still appreciate.

But since we moved, we’ve noticed that there are certain habits and circumstances that we don’t actually miss at all. Not because the Netherlands is bad — but simply because life feels different here.

Calmer. More outdoors. Less rushed.

These are the things we only realised, after our move, just how much influence they actually had on our daily lives.

1. The hectic pace of everyday life

The Netherlands is efficient and well-organised, but as a result, life sometimes feels quite tightly scheduled.

Work, appointments, sport, social obligations — everything often runs into one another. In Spain, we experience more space between moments. Less of a feeling that everything has to be done straight away.

That calmer rhythm simply suits us better at the moment.

2. The long periods of grey weather

The Netherlands has beautiful seasons, but to be honest, we don’t miss the long, dark periods in autumn and winter.

Here in Spain, we notice just how much light and outdoor life influence our mood and daily energy levels. More sun automatically means:

spending more time outdoors,

eating outside for longer,

meeting up more spontaneously,

and simply spending more time in the fresh air.

3. Always being busy

Many Dutch people will recognise this: a diary that’s full weeks in advance.

That has its good sides too — people consciously set aside time for each other — but we find that the spontaneous social life in Spain suits us better. Popping each other up for a coffee or having a spontaneous meal together happens much more often here.

That feels relaxed.

4. The high cost of daily life

The Netherlands is a lovely country to live in, but life there can be quite expensive. Housing, energy and eating out, in particular, add up quickly.

In Spain, we feel a bit more financial breathing space in our daily lives. Not everything is cheaper, but many things feel less of a burden.

5. The constant hustle and bustle and noise

It was only after we moved that we realised just how much background noise was actually always present in the Netherlands.

Ambulances, police cars, traffic, industry, neighbours living close together, music from gardens or sounds from all around you — it was just part of the picture.

Here, we experience much more silence and space. Especially in daily life, we notice how pleasant it is to hear birds more often than sirens.

We never really realised how much peace and quiet we were missing in the Netherlands… untilat het wegviel.

6. Winters feel shorter here

Even in Spain, winters aren’t always warm or sunny. In the north in particular, the months can feel wet, chilly and grey. To be honest, that did surprise us a bit.

Yet we experience winter here differently than in the Netherlands. Mainly because the colder period seems shorter and there are more frequent mild, sunny days in between when you can pop outside again.

As a result, winter feels less long and dreary to us, and we’ve noticed just how much of a difference a bit of light and fresh air actually make in daily life.

7. Constant planning

In the Netherlands, a lot is planned in advance. That works efficiently, but can sometimes feel a bit rigid.

In Spain, we’ve noticed that social moments tend to arise more spontaneously. Less comparing diaries, more just seeing where the day takes us.

Personally, that gives us more peace of mind.

8. The feeling that everything has to be efficient

The Netherlands is great at organising and arranging things. We still appreciate that enormously.

But here we also notice the charm of a slightly less hurried life. Not everything has to be perfect or run with maximum efficiency straight away. Sometimes there’s simply more time for a chat, a long lunch or a spontaneous moment.

9. Always staying indoors during certain seasons

What we perhaps appreciate most about Spain is how much outdoor life is part of the day.

Evening walks, terraces, children playing outside late into the evening, windows open — that creates a completely different atmosphere in daily life.

But the Netherlands remains the Netherlands ❤️

Of course, there are also plenty of things we do miss:

family and friends,

Dutch directness,

good infrastructure,

how well organised many things are,

and a certain typically Dutch sense of conviviality.

This blog is therefore not about what is better or worse. It is mainly about discovering which pace of life suits you best.

And for us, life in Spain feels just a little bit calmer, lighter and more outdoorsy at the moment.