We popped back to the Netherlands this week to help someone move house.

It’s striking how quickly you realise just how different life in the Netherlands is from life in Galicia.

More noise and more hustle and bustle

The first thing we noticed was just how much noise there is everywhere in the Netherlands. Traffic, appliances, people on the move — there’s always something going on.

In Ribeira Sacra, it’s quieter. There, you mainly hear birds, the wind or the occasional tractor in the distance. The difference is particularly noticeable in the evenings.

The pace is different too. In the Netherlands, everyone always seems to be busy and tightly scheduled. That works efficiently, but after a while in Galicia, it feels quite hectic.

A different way of living

Whilst moving house, it struck me once again just how compact the Netherlands is. Houses are built close together and everything is designed with practicality in mind.

In Galicia, we live amongst the hills and vineyards, with much more space around us. The houses there are sometimes less immaculately finished, but life takes place much more outdoors.

Rain feels different

Even the weather feels different.

Rain in the Netherlands often means cycling on quickly or staying indoors. In Galicia, rain is more a part of the landscape. Mist over the river, wet woods and green valleys make it very different there.

Nice to be back — but also nice to go back

It was good to be back in the Netherlands for a while. Many things here are simply well organised and familiar.

But these few days also made it clear why we love living in Ribeira Sacra so much. The peace, the space and the slower pace now suit us better than we had ever imagined.