6 GEZELLIGE little things the Dutch do [Americans don't know what they're missing!]
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- čas přidán 16. 06. 2024
- One of the first words I learned in Dutch was "gezellig". When I visited the Netherlands, I indeed noticed how cozy everything was, and that says a lot about Dutch culture! In this video, I talk about the little things I've gotten to know about the Dutch way of life that makes the Netherlands a gezellige place to be. It's not the bigger, more obvious things that I discuss, but rather the little things that make living in this country so special. These are definitely things I miss in American culture.
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I like to share my experiences of an American expat in the Netherlands. I describe both the unique and everyday aspects of Dutch culture, and life in Holland while enjoying every bit of it!
Blog website: www.dutchamericano.com
Instagram: DutchAmericano
Get in touch: dutchamericanonl@gmail.com
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Sometimes when I buy books at the store for myself I just say 'yes' when they ask me if its a present😂
Me too 😂😂
I'll do this next time =D
Me too 😁
I do that too!
It is! a present for yourself. Buy it on time and try to keep it wrapped a.l.a.p.
It's so common for Americans to complain about "lack of service" or "slow service" in European restaurants and for Europeans to complain about "being rushed" in American restaurants. I find it funny because so many expats and tourists on CZcams complain about this, and only very few of them realize it's about more than just "poor service", but a real cultural difference between Americans and Europeans. We just expect very different things from a restaurant.
a lot of people go somewhere in the afternoon, spend talking over a few drinks before they order the food, then they sit enjoying the meal, few drinks afterwards too.
if course we dont like to be rushed. its so ONGEZELLIG haha!
Every time I'm in the US at a restaurant, 5 minutes after I got my plate there's already someone who asks me "Is everything allright, do you need more form this or that? This goes on about every 5 minutes. Please leave me alone, if I need your service, I will call for you. This is not gezellig! :)
American service is almost always just fake and they do it for the tips..
This isn't just Dutch, by the way. Most of Europe has a more leisure approach to dining than the US. I personally know France, Germany, Spain and Italy are very much the same. Here, the indication that you should order something or move on is the waiter appearing and asking if you want to order anything else. Imagine how we feel in the USA where you have someone come by every few minutes. It feels like a reminder that we should hurry up and leave.
One explanation for this I've heard is the difference is WHY people dine out. In most of Europe, you eat out when there's something special. Meeting with friends you haven't seen in a while, something to celebrate, treating your (prospective) (business) partner, or just getting out of your boring normal. Time for something special! So we go and eat out where we'll get somewhat more special food than at home, with people that are likely special to us. We take our time to enjoy both. Having to wait a minute or two before the waiter comes for another round of coffee doesn't matter much. We're here all evening. Many restaurants know this and don't plan on re-using a table that has been reserved.
From what I've heard from people from the US, eating out there is much more common often as a simple alternative to eating at home (and ordering stuff). It's a rote action, a standard meal, not something special. For that, you're not going to take extra time. You want your food and drinks in a timely fashion, because you'll leave again as soon as you're done eating.
It's not just dinner. When European people eat out for lunch or breakfast, it's likely something special. You don't rush something special.
Different approach to dining and thus a different idea of good service.
so true
One more thing in the US I find ongezellig. When going to a restaurant with a group of friends, the waiter starts taking plates away while half of the party is still eating. That is absolutely not done in the Netherlands. A table is cleaned after all are done eating.
Argh YES! I find it the rudest thing ever. As a European child I’ve learned not to leave the table until everyone is finished. It’s cortious and polite. And the same goes for cleaning the table. While on the subject, waiters will bring the main dish 5 min after bringing the apatizers. Like, is it an eating contest?!
And almost asking for tips, it was kinda weird but I yea that’s their salary, but almost asking for it was to far..
I think it is criminal not to pay waiters the minimum salary because they get tips. The minimum salary should count for everyone, making a tip an extra for extraordinary service and not an obligation because the boss is underpaying.
The reasoning that the food and drinks will get more expensive does not count, as the tips paid will be less. The customers pay a higher price already because they tip.
Also, sales taxes is part of your purchases, so the pricing in stores should show the prices including taxes I think.
True, but this is done in the US because it’s extremely common to not finish your food and save it for later due to the large portions. So the waiter can’t tell if you’re done eating or not.
This is one of multiple reasons why serving oversized portions makes less sense than serving an average size.
I used to work at a grocery store in a 'lesser' neighbourhood and people drank sooooo much coffee. There was a little bench next to the coffee machine and it was basically a loitering place for elders and homeless people who would just sit there, drink coffee and chat with each other for an hour or longer. Some people would come in several times a day. At some point the bench got replaced with an actual table with chairs and magazines. Sometimes we would even serve cookies when we had a pack of broken ones.
with kids corner
The words “gezellig or gezelligheid” is best described as a moment in time that gives you a warm, enjoyable, cosy feeling. It can be everywhere at any time and is a personal state of mind.
Goed gezegd!
She interprets gezellig perfectly.
Dit is perfect (this is perfect)
The root of this word actually comes from "met je gezellen" (with your companions).
In biology it is used to indicate a non-solitary animal.
Of course it took on a meaning of it's own...
Hi . I'm Dutch..Was several times in the US & Canada. What was wondering me overthere in bars, restaurants ..The waiters always say : Hi : How are you today ? But then if i said : How are you today ? They dont know what to say..😮
As a former bartender in the Netherlands I can confirm that the check thing is seen as rude here. If I, as a bartender, presented you with a check without you asking for it, it means: pay up and gtfo, because I don't want you here (whatever the reason might be, being drunk, being a nuisance, or whatever). So yeah, getting a check in the Netherlands without you asking for it means that you're being ongezellig. :) At least is does to me.
Except when sitting outside on the terrace, especially with large terraces, then it's not uncommone to be expected to pay directly when the waiter brings the stuff you ordered.
@@kilianhekhuis You are completely right. I never worked the outside terrace so I forgot that situation. thanks!
Besides from being rude.. if for instance i am in a restaurant i cant predict what i want next .. so in my case they have to put every time a new check on thew table adding things , getting a new drink.. people are more likely to add extra's to their dinner an extra drink or whatever if the check is not on the table yet
It’s considered somewhat rude in America too but we just kind of accept it.
@Dank Farrik as an American who lived in NL: ask them at the beginning not to bring the check until you signal them.
Lol once I was in a situation with my mum where we couldnt really celebrate christmas normally.
She gave me some money for a book I had asked. I went to the store and bought it (patanjalis yogasuttras, interesting read actually). So the shopkeeper asked me if it was a present. So I answered "ehm well technically yes, but its for me, I cant really see my mum atm, but technically shes giving me this for christmas"
So the guy looked at me for a second, and wrapped it beautifully anyway. I kept it wrapped for a few days even, lying there in anticipation.
Thats us dutch for you. very direct, but also our kindness is very much heartfelt ^^
Stores wrapping your presents is conveniant for you. But also just smart advertising by them. Recognizable wrapping paper, sticker with a logo to attach those curly decorative strings. And everyone at the birthday party seeing that. It's one of those "everybody wins" situations.
exactly! And it is also a way local stores can differentiate themselves.
Not everyone wins. The people behind in the line have to wait for the wrapping to finish and are forced to waste their time.
@@marijnfly Well sure. When that happens to me, I just think of the smile of whoever will get the present. 😁 And come on, they wrap 7 times as quickly as any normal person.
@@marijnfly of je bent gewoon een zeikerd hahahha grapje
Its even extra fun around Christmas when you’re just standing around your tree and guess who’s getting what by the packages 🍾
Talking about gift wrapping: I once went to the service desk of the supermarket to get a package of papers to roll cigs with. As you may know, they are tiny and cost maybe 20 cents. The girl without thinking asked me if I needed a receipt for my purchase, so I chuckled and as a joke said: "no, but can you gift wrap it". I guess it was a bit of a slow time, as she answered YES. Getting out fancy paper, she and her colleague made a elaborate wrapping for the tiny object, even adding a fancy bow when they finally noticed the queue slowly forming behind me.
Oh, I forgot to say I don't smoke, the papers were for my wife, and she was quite surprised when I handed it over.
For several weeks after the girls at the service desk kept grinning at me when I passed by, as you can imagine.
Lol, that's an awesome story, and a great example of the dutch sense of humor :)
Good one, funny!
Great story, very funny!
I hope it paid off with your wife 🤣
@@AlphaGeekgirl She would have been quite happy even without the wrapping ;)
But now she had a story to go with it.
I hope that one day u will experience the gezelligheid of a cold winter with outdoor skating on ponds and canals and Koek and Zopie. It’s getting rare, but that is the a key element to Dutch gezelligheid.
So true...! I've had only few of these 'winter specials' in my 62 years so far... They were really special. Skating, 'zopie', the ice, the cold, the beautiful Dutch landscape all frozen and white.
Stamp pot met rookworst en kuiltje jus, hmmmm.
What is Zopie?
Rebecca Albrecht zopie is an old drink that is no longer common, mostly replaced by gluhwein. It persists in the name of the stands only rly.
nl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koek-en-zopie
@@pjotrh Thanks for your reply & link. I moved here three years ago from the USA and live on a gezellig street. in Utrecht, with very nice neighbors. I feel a bit closer to them now that I know this bit of arcane knowledge. I'll ask a few of the old-timers about this custom and will take delight in their stories.
All things we (Dutch) take for granted. Very well observed and clearly explained.
I did the gezellig drinking game, and now I'm drunk.
🤣🤣
I love it when she says the word "gezellig". So sweet.
When I’ve had doctors’ appointment at the hospital, a lady with a trolley comes around asking people if they want coffee or tea.
You are so great at complimenting Dutch on things we take for granted! 😄😄😄 Makes my day quite regularly! 👍👍👍
I'm the Italian friend! 🙋♀️😄 And yes, sipping a warm tea out of an actual mug while watching a movie is one of the most gezellig things ever, especially as movie theaters in Utrecht are so nice and cozy! Whereas most of the other things that you mention also happen in Italy, I've never seen this in any other country. It's just awesome.
As a Dutchie in SF, this is very helpful to understand my Dutchness and how it reflects on Americans here.. thanks for your videos!!
As an American who lived in NL: you can resolve your Dutchiness in america by smiling a bit more, slow down how fast you speak, and softening how you say things. "I wonder if..." "Is it possible..." "I kind of feel that...".
@@GUITARTIME2024 thank you for the suggestions, very helpful! I definitely noticed how I’d say (for instance) “it is sunny” - saying stuff as a statement- whereas my US friends would say “I think it’s sunny!” or “it looks like it’s sunny”. Been in the US for almost 5 years, but still learning something new everyday!
One of the things that makes this video about `Gezelligheid' fitting is the "Broodtrommel" in the background in the closet. (with the knitted fox on top of it)
I find you very gezellig and you make me appreciate all these Dutch things more by pointing them out
Ja, helemaal mee eens.
Ik ook eens
In the Netherlands, when you pay the check and don't leave a 15% tip for the waitress, she doesn't come after you screaming in anger.
Because here in the Netherlands the service jobs get paid a descent hourly wage, whereas in America they do not. The tips is how they earn a descent wage. This is even the case with hairdressers at places like SportClips.
In America the waiters/waitresses live of the tips, i don't think they get paid a salary.
@@Lilygirl283 They do get paid, but it's not enough without the tips.
@@Lilygirl283 My (now Dutch) girlfriend is from America, and she used to work at SportsClips. She got paid an hourly wage, but the bare minimum. At the end of the day they put all the tips together and gave everyone an equal share. That's why tipping is "a must" in America, and I simply do not tip at all in the Netherlands.
@@nightfly4664 Not at all?? Not even if the waiter offers especially good service or the food is especially good and brought timely?
I think all of these cultural habits not only special to Netherlands but showing differences btw US and Europe :) %90 of your Dutch experience applicable across Europe. Still Netherlands is a lovely country to be an expat as I enjoy like you do. I can relate to your feelings though from my first visit to US, it was like another planet to me :D
Getting a cookie with the coffee is also the custom in Belgium.
Hygge
Lekker boeie gast
Right.
@@ulver1187 Jij bent ook gezellig!
As a teenager, whenever there was a blank period in our school schedule, me and my friends would bike to the grocery store to get a free coffee and then buy like 1 croissant on the way out. We didn't like coffee, but it was free! That was when we learned to drink coffee. I guess that also really confirms the Dutch stereotype about free stuff :p. But I was like 15 and had no money :p.
Wow, good video. Never thought about those things. Only foreigners can notice small things like that.
Nope,.. it also depends on how you look at things and on experiences outside the Netherlands.
I've worked retail for a while and liked wrapping gifts. You are right that there was no training, but colleagues would exchange tips and usually we'd try to find 2 or 3 ways to quickly make it look a little better that was not time intensive. During quiet hours I'd often fold a bunch of paper pouches that we could use during peak hours for smaller gifts. After we started doing this, suddenly a lot more people started claiming their purchases were gifts. I loved the idea that they just wanted it giftwrapped for themselves.
The coffee at the grocery stores is something from the last 10-15 ish years. We never had this 20 years ago when i was still a kid. Its something more modern.
I had it very early on in my life, which is definately 20 years ago. But back then it depended on the store quite a bit.
Love your videos. Keep them coming!
Found your channel today. It's great, keep it up!
When you want your item wrapped but the store is busy or you're in a rush you can also ask/offer them to just give you the paper for you to wrap the item at home.
Your videos always make my day, love your funny observations!
Even at McDonald's you get a cookie (speculoos) with your coffee.
Thank you for your gezellige video, with this gezellige background! (love the cute fox)
Excellent eye for this social details 👍😊
Again...very nice! I love your updates on CZcams & insights in 'my own' Dutch culture. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for your lovely words of our country!!!
Omg the cabinet in the background is exactly the same model as the one in my parent's house - the memories ☺
About the coffee in the supermarkt. Albert Heijn originates where I was born and still live, Zaandam, just North of Amsterdam. If I'm correct it was Albert Heijn introducing that custom to the supermarkts. Before Albert Heijn was split up in several diffent companies under the Ahold name, it had a large coffee department. They buy coffee beans all over the world and blend and roast it themselves. To present their coffee and new blends to the shopping people they offered it to drink in the supermarkts. Later other supermarkets took over this idea. Today this Ahold company is the Coffee Company. AH still has a coffee tasting corner.
As an American, i liked DouwEberts the best. French Roast! (Colruyt, AlbertHein)
Third item I watch.
Really nice mirror you paint of our little country we're very proud of.
Kudos 🤙
This gezellige video, made me smile and appreciate de little common things more. ☕
I love to hear your perspective on the Netherlands, it's very interesting :)
You make me smile and enjoy our Dutch lifestyle. Thanks
Yeay!!! Foxy is back!!! 😍😍😍
Dan geef ik maar commentaar in het nederlands ,je leeft hier nu hahaha ga zo door ,echt een leuke youtube kanaal die je hebt toppie .
Brilliant video. Loved it.
You should give a tedtalk :-)
Greets from Rotterdam, holland.
The blankets have gotten a lot more common for sitting outside bars when the smoking prohibition inside bars became national. Before that, they were not common at all.
Except on the seaside, of course.
In other words, smoking is gezellig ;)
Love the way you say "gezellik" :D
The fox moved 😂love it. Gezellig ☺️
De koffie is ook fijn voor de eenzame oudere mensen
You're pointing out exactly why I enjoy this country so much. It's gezellig to just be together.
Great video, thanks ! Except for the cups/glasses in the cinema, everything you said applies to Belgium too.
Wrapping is so convenient! Two of my friends and I have this thing around christmas time where we go to several stores in the city and buy presents for each other (the thing is: you can say what you want) then we act all secretly even though we know what's been bought. At a few stores there are little tables where you can wrap your things in free wrapping paper, sometimes even with ribbons. Then we will sit somewhere to give our presents to each other.
With bookstores I will sometimes say yes because I bought it from checks that I got for my birthday or something so it kinda is like a present (for myself but semantics :P)
if you go to a service cinema in the netherlands, you can press a button while you are watching the film and someone will take your order and bring it 😁
We had a movie theater like that in the last place I lived. Loved it.
The fox is back! extremely gezellig! :D
Why thank you! Mr. Fox says hi.
@@DutchAmericano What did the fox say?
(Sorry couldn't resist)
Our grocery store overhere normally has a table at the coffee corner. When you visit it early in the morning you will find about 8 elderly people sitting there drinking coffee and chit chat. Due to covid-19 it had to be removed temporary.
12:30 that's a very interesting observation!
Ava! Wat superleuk dat je deze video’s maakt. Ik kwam de video tegen en dacht: hee die ken ik! Het café van Friends is zeker gezellig :)
Heyyy, wat leuk van jou te horen hier =D
So delightful to listen to you! And I'm neither American nor Dutch. I'm a Dane and notice that some Dutch things apply to Denmark too. Interesting. Also to hear about American culture. Thx!
If you like the little cookie with your coffee, you should visit Belgium too, their cookies are even better, and... if you order something alcoholic you will often get a free salty snack, like nuts or crisps or olives!
in spain you get often tapa's with your drinks, those could be hot or cold and served on an seperate plate, and for you and the person(s) that are with you. so it is not only dutch-belgium, even spain is gezellig :)
And their chocolate is better than their cookies.
pretty crazy, I never thought about the tiny cookies you get with coffee, it just seems so normal to me, never occurred to me they wouldn't have that in America
Pretty sure it stems from the tradition that when you visit someone at home to drink coffee or thee, they would always offer a cookie, biscuit or piece of chocolate. It's a showing of hospitality and imho it's pretty similar idea to the English tea tradition. So it's kind of surprising it's not a thing in american coffee/tea shops (but I recon it is when paying someone a visit, especially in the southern states) .
It's also common that coffee comes in a mug. (No coaster)
I have lived for more than 30 years here, so most of what you tell are known to me, but I do like to watch your channel.
the bar in Friends was the introduction for a starbucks coffee bar in the netherlands.
What I sometimes do is let them wrap it up and unwrap it at home and amaze myself with a present!
Oh and with coffee, a Belgian bonbon (choclate) is the best.
Indeed! We all deserve to treat ourselves every once in a while.
@@DutchAmericano Led Zeppelin has a song called When the Leeve Breakes. My version is When the Choclate Melts...
@@mikehydropneumatic2583 the levy?
Love you stuff. Here you over did it a bit, gezelligheid vs gastvrijheid. But stil an episode with good observations.
Hi Eva, or is it Ava, I don't know. Anyway, you nailed it. You explained very well what we call `gezellig'.
When they wrap the gift for you there will also almost always be something that will show you which store it's from (the paper or the sticker that holds the 'ribbons').
I love how you say, 'no, that is ongezellig' xP
Wat een leuke “gezellige” website
Ik woon al 50 jaar in de US en kan er echt van genieten
Dank
Erik Groenevelt
3:05
Hey Ava! Wat een gezellig filmpje!! Ik bleef een lach op mijn gezicht houden! Ja, we houden van gezellig... jammer dat de horeca (dat is een afkorting) nu verplicht dicht is. Wanneer ga je filmpjes in het Nederlands maken? Groetjes van een gezellige Groningse.
After the diner you could also decide for another drink if you if it is really gezellig!
A lot of the examples you mention reflect the mantality and the way we stand in life. Getting the cheque before you actually have finished your meal is absolutely the rudest thing to happen in a restaurant! The biscuit with the coffee or tea is so commonly done that we even do that at home. Serve you coffee and ask: koekje erbij? 😄
Gezellig is more or less, = being together with people in a pleasant atmosphere
Yes, but people also like to make it gezellig when they are home alone, afteral you need a bit of gezelligheid in your life sooo ;)
It means coziness.
Yep, the word "gezel" translates as company in english. I do think that people use it also when you are having a nice day all by yourself.
In other shops, of course not all, there is a table where you can wrap your present by yourself.
There's even cinemas in the Netherlands where when you're watching a movie you can pick up a phone in front of you and call the bar in the back of the theatre. After a short while they'll bring your drinks or snacks etc. Mega handy! :)
Hi Ava, movie theatres can differ a lot from american style movie theatres where you can buy buckets of popcorn and (almost) American size to-go cups of soda and signs "not allowed to bring your own food and drinks" to on the other hand "very gezellige" movie theatres with a café, where you can take your drink in a real glas into the hall and in some rare cases even even service at your seat!
Next week I'm travelling to the Netherlands from Prague and today I ended up watching your videos - an awesome series of deep insight from American perspective. By the way, many things you mention in this video we also do here in the Czech Republic, so either we've imported it from the West (little cookies) or it's more or less a European thing (i.g. restaurant bills)...
Hi Eva, I love your vid's. I laugh a lot about myself because of your observations. Could you tell us about dutch food for dinner?
Regarding the Coffee corner. In my AH right around the corner they even placed a table so people could (as of Corona I don't think there is room enough) sit and relax while socializing with one another. A great way to really create a gezellige environment :)
Nice observations and the way you present them! ❤️ The intention for providing blankets is great but.... i’m not keen at using them really assuming how many people have used them . Ut maybe it’s just me.
Gezellig👌
Ja, Friends café ziet er wel gezellig uit!
Thank you.
Lieve Eva, ik complimenteer je met je fraaie uiterlijk, en in de tweede plaats met jouw
uitstekende uitspraak van de Nederlandse G en CH.
Ik weet zeker dat achtentachtig prachtige grachten geen probleem zijn.
Leuke video's maak je, erg amusant, dank je wel.
Keep up the good work my dear.
Chris.
Jeezzz, is it possible to not objectify women? Thanks.
The cafe in Friends looks a lot how the “coffeeshops” used to be.
It reminds me of some cafes I've been to in Amsterdam, so I guess it makes the standard for 'gezellig'
To respond to the 'friends' café. Looks like a basic level of gezellig. But what really is the most gezellig are the terraces of the restaurants. That is what I really miss in the USA.
In the US, they used to allow glass in the theater. But one day a lady injured her ankle, so now they don't allow it anymore.
Oh btw btw btw, one one more thing (haha) about the coffee, its a big thing actually.
When you have a meeting with somebody for business reasons, you offer or get offered a drink. when handymen visit your house ton fix something, offer them a coffee or tea, and yes cut some onbijtkoek or speculaas to go with it. grocery shopping, like you said, have some coffee! if you in to socialise a bit, that is.
a lot of people drink coffee all day everyday. my grandma will even have a coffeehour at 5 o clock in the afternoon. she makes some coffee, and some cookies or everything to go with it, and we watch tv a bit and discuss how ridiculous it is.
A long time ago, I believe twenty years, I went to a small cinema in Pensacola Florida (about thirty lounge chairs, very comfy) and they had refreshments like cola and sprite in real big glasses with lots of ice. During the movie you could walk to the bar at the back of the movie theatre and order your drink, pay and give your seat number. Moments later they came to bring your drink. I found that very nice. And they didn’t have the break in the middle of the movie, I was used to in The Netherlands. Now almost vanished in NL, luckily.
Ahhh Eva you have a Levi’s shirt on, you’re now officially integrated! I had my wife’s family over 2 months ago from Seattle and they wouldn’t shut up about how big Levi’s is over here 😂
There are movie theatres in NYC where you can order drinks and food and it is brought to you with real silverware. The movies cost more to see, but it’s great. I live close to one.
Don't forget, the wrapping paper gives away where the present was from :-) so, its also good marketing.
hi eva, have been binge watching your vids for the last hour.
i'm a dutch guy, and i have a thing that you might have noticed...
the proudness of the dutch people!
like when we see a vid about the netherlands the dutch will click on it, and they will let you know what you said wrong... (have been guilty if this)
As a dutch guy, I really enjoy your reactions/comments on the Dutch. And they are accurate. Really like how you are pleasantly surpised and or enjoy your expieriences. For me it is just natural. For instance the tipping in bars/restaurants is very confusing to me in the USA. Here it is simple. You like the food and service you award what you like. There are so many things like this making a difference between th US and The Netherlands. And for me.... the choise is easy. Not that I dislike Amerika but here it is soooooooo much more "gezellig".......:)
Another reason why so many people are sitting outside is that smoking is only allowed outside. Being a stopped smoker for 3,5 years I understand, but I'm glad I did
Right now coffee at supermarkets is a no, because of the virus, but normally Jumbo and Albert Heijn have coffee stands and as far as I know it's always free. At the AH near me they often gave a cookie with it, lol
That from the cookie is not only here. If you go to Germany to a park with a lot of attractions you got it too.
Even in some German Restaurants in the city/town
The beauty of the things you mentioned is that they are those little things that make life enjoyable. And that is actually at the heart of true 'gezelligheid', making life enjoyable with a bunch of people.
Did you know that the word 'gezellig' stems from the middle-age word 'gezel'? Gezel is an apprentice to a master of a trade. In these days a master would have a number of 'gezellen' he would teach. Most 'gezellen' were living in a house of the master. Given that these 'gezellen' were young guys, I think you can imagine they would hang out together in their spare time. This atmosphere of enjoyment with a bunch of guys gave rise to the word 'gezellig'.
You live in Utrecht, so if you go to cafe Onz at the Biltstraat, you would get Friends vibes. Reminds me of Central Perk. Sadly it will take at least 4 weeks or more due to the semi lockdown 😭
The wrapping service, I'm always glad they offer. I can do it at home but I'll never get it wrapped as nice as they do. I always end up with strange folds and wrinkles in the paper. Also, just cutting the paper in a straight way, I just can't do it...
The heaters and blankets outside a bar aren't there because we love staying outside when it gets colder. They are there because the only place at a cafe you are allowed to smoke is outside. And a lot of people who visit bars/cafe's do smoke (more than the average Dutch do). So it is a very lucrative thing for an owner of a bar/cafe to put those heaters and blankets outside. If he doesn't people will get to a place they could enjoy a heater or blanket...
In Japan, you don't at the table but at the cashier. There's a note with the table number or the receipt (which is provided with the last item of the order), you just need to. take the note and go to pay, no rush. It works the best with indoors restaurant/café, the cashier is at the door and double up as reception when customers arrives.
Gift wrap is year round at department stores (and loads of smaller shops) in the US - you just have to ask