What happens when blunt meets gezelligheid?
Armed with good intentions and a broken bike, Dimitrios and Eleni - a Greek couple new to the Netherlands - join countless internationals stumbling through kringverjaardags, King's Day chaos, and the soul-crushing reality of bringing your own birthday cake to work.
From the infamous "circle of death" to the trauma of molten bitterballen, Lekker Direct is a brutally funny, painfully accurate guide to Dutch culture - as told by expats just trying to survive it.
Meet an Italian couple who dare to arrive late to a social event. An American haunted by Sinterklaas poems. A Portuguese woman stalked by curtainless windows. With a cast of characters from every corner of the globe, this book explores:
- Birthday gifts gone awkward
- Mustard-based secret societies
- Dutch supermarkets as competitive sporting events
- Why even compliments can feel like criticism
Based on absurd-but-true stories, baffling traditions, and brutal honesty wrapped in gezelligheid, Lekker Direct is the guidebook you never knew you needed - and the therapy session you absolutely do.
If you've ever:
- Tried to politely decline birthday cake and been met with suspicious silence
- Survived a kringverjaardag while forgetting half the names around the circle
- Been two minutes late to a social event and felt like you crashed a funeral
...this book is for you.
Whether you're an expat, a Dutch native with a sense of humor, or a wide-eyed visitor - you'll laugh, cringe, and maybe (finally) understand what the hell "lekker direct" means.
Why librarians and readers love this book:
Clear themes of intercultural communication, social customs, and European expat life make this a relatable and useful nonfiction title for humor sections, Dutch culture shelves, or travel & society displays. Ideal for readers exploring life abroad, cultural identity, or simply looking for a good laugh about awkward social rituals.
About the Author
Steven van Holland is a Dutch language teacher, communication nerd, and former expat who returned to the Netherlands only to realize how bizarre it truly is. Through storytelling, he's helped thousands of internationals navigate Dutch culture - now he's letting you in on the joke.
