the Aletsch Glacier, taken in the middle of the summer when we went there on a daytrip
I think becoming Swiss is one of the highlights of my life, but what made me make such an extreme decision to take up another nationality? In this post I want to tell you guys about why I did this, the pro’s and con’s I considered and also launch a new fun weekly topic the Swiss (German) word of the Day.
Those of you who have been to Switzerland have probably landed at Zürich, it’s main international airport. I don't want to say that Geneva and Basel don’t have an international airport, but Zürich is the biggest and busiest airport in Switzerland. If you’ve landed at Zürich you’ve also probably had this beautiful flight from which you could see the Alps. Well, that was my first introduction to Switzerland.
One day I will tell you all about this eventful day, which is a story on itself. Now I want to focus on the country, it’s sights and sounds, it’s people and nature and everything else that convinced me to first move here, marry here and become part of it by taking up its nationality.
Nature
Me during one of our walks in the nature near the Walensee
I’ll start off with the most obvious reason. It’s the first thing you notice when you fly in. The country is green, colourful and cared for. The mountains are pristine and picturesque and it’s where people (want to) spend their time whenever they have a free moment. We spent a lot of time discovering the country from the first day I arrived in Switzerland and I fell in love immediately.
I have so many favourite places in Switzerland and so many fantastic walks and excursions, but 2 of the most memorable are definitely the Pilatus Mountain (Golden Tour) and ‘climbing’ the up to the Jungfraujoch and seeing the ‘Aletsch Glacier’, both in at the height of the summer.
I/we regularly go for walks or excursions and for those of you who follow my posts on a regular basis also know that I run a lot in the forests and mountains near where I live. I’ve seen wild eagles, deer, marmots, foxes and many other animals just as I’m out and about. Yes, growing up in Holland there are many animals, mainly on the farms, but the panorma, the mountain streams and the animals give it a massive benefit over the country that I was born in and that’s for 40% below sea-level.
You could argue that the Netherlands at least has the sea, but I’ve always hated the wind that it brings with it and makes it so much colder. As the country is flat, the wind can also blow easily through everywhere and that makes it even worse. Growing up in and around Amsterdam the summers weren’t much better as it became hot and humid. In Switzerland if it gets too hot, you go up in the mountains to look to cool down.
Traditions
Events
Kids on the forefront lead the goats down, whilst the farmers on the background lead the cows back to the valley during the 'Alpabzug' in Urnäsch
Switzerland is a country with many traditions. If you would like to know more about them I can refer you to this site, where you can read which tradition occurs when and where.
These traditions are another thing that made me fall in love with this country. One of the first events we visited was the ‘Alpabzug’ in Urnäsch. In the summers, the farmers take their animals up on the alps as it becomes too hot for them in the valleys. Between the end of August until the beginning of October (depending on the village), the farmers take their animals down again. Depending on the local traditions this can be a plain/quick event, but in other places they decorate the animals with flowers and make large parades to mark the occasion. In the villages they also hold farmers’ markets where you can buy fresh products such as cheeses, apple juice, honey, bread and other local delicacies.
In all honesty, I could not mention any traditional events in the Netherlands apart from Queensday (as it was still called when I left the country) and Prinsjesdag. Compared to the multitude of traditions in Switzerland, that’s another big win for the Swiss in my eyes.
Traditional Clothing - Tracht
Several people from Appenzell in their traditional costumes
Whenever there are events, the people dress up in their local traditional clothing. The aforementioned alpabzug is one such event, but there are plenty more examples where this occurs such as Sechseläuten, swingen, unspunnenfest and some even dress up in their ‘tracht’ whenever they feel like it, for example when they go out into nature. This tradition is also part of their identitiy, many places have different ‘trachts’, depending on where you go their traditional clothing might be different from other parts of the country.
There are some parts in the Netherlands where people still dress up in ‘tracht’, but it’s not as widespread or ‘common’ as in Switzerland. The clogs are very distinctive and actually very comfortable, but my wife won’t let me get a pair out of fear that I disturb our neighboor below us … and she’s right 😉
I would call this topic a draw, as I those comfortable clogs do count, but for variety this one would go to the Swiss as well.
Products
Swiss chocolates from Lindt & Ragusa (image from Pixabay)
The range of Swiss traditions starts with events and clothing, but they don’t stop there. That’s another thing that makes this country very special. The Swiss have traditions in almost every aspect of life, most of them come from their long, extensive and sometimes conservative history that managed to keep these traditions alive.
The traditions are also one of the aspects that other people love about the Swiss, they like to remain on the background and let their work do the talking. Swiss products are known for its quality and are usually not mass-produced. Examples are off course their fresh products (cheeses, chocolates, confiseries, etc), but also the army-knifes, watches, medicines and off course its banks 😉
In comparison the Dutch are more proud and loud about their achievements. Especially in the part where I grew up, people are more arrogant and outspoken/opinionated. People are very social, which I guess people have to be when they live in big cities with a multitude of cultures and religions, but they forget their own traditions and habits. In Switzerland, people in big cities are exactly the same, but I have the feeling they also care more about keeping their traditions alive.
I also believe that being part of the EU forced this ‘socialism’ on people, which is not a bad thing, but the ‘one Europe’ mentality pushes over people’s identities and traditions. In my opinion, this is one factor that caused a large part of the Brits to vote for Brexit, but that’s another topic.
Off course the Swiss also have food traditions that many are familiar with such as the cheeses and chocolate; but they also have many that people are either familiar with, but don’t know that they’re Swiss such as Maggi, Rivella, fondue & Ricola or traditional foods that people are less familiar with such as Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, Ghackets mit Hörnli and Luxemburgerli. All these are still widely spread and kept ‘alive’ in the country.
Besides these 'traditional' foods, the Swiss (like me) also love sweets, they have fantastic cakes like cremeschnitten, they go outside to grill at any possible weather, they have maroni in the winter, something for everyone, all year round.
The Dutch have Boerenkool and Hutspot … enough said! Just kidding, but even though the Dutch cheeses, tompouce and pancakes count in their favour in my opinion, compared to all the other points this is another point in favour of the Swiss and the Swiss also make great wines and aperitifs.
Shall I continue? Yes, I am a big fan of Switzerland, so why not (SMILEY)
the Swiss
a Swiss at the unofficial national symbol, the Mattehorn (image from Pixabay)
There is something that this country does with its people. Maybe it’s the nature, maybe it’s the food, maybe it’s their traditions, maybe it’s all of the above, maybe it’s not being part of the EU … who knows?
What I do know is that these are very special people. They care about moral structure, they're precise and correct, they care about education and values, show respect to one another in the streets (even greeting strangers) and they are engaged to help perfect strangers. I have a huge respect for this mentality and I associate myself completely with this. The one thing the Swiss can borrow from me is a sense of humur 😉 the Swiss can be a bit too serious sometimes.
Yes, I am a closed person, but I love saying ‘Grüezi’ to strangers on the street without having to fear the other person and actually the Swiss are also very closed. The younger generations is less like this, but the Swiss tend to stick to themselves, be with friends or do things with their families without too much fuss around it. Weddings and other celebrations are relatively small events with only their closest friends (they call friends colleagues) and family.
the Language(s)
Switzerland is divided in 4 language regions (Image from Bundesamt für Statistik)
Besides the fact that Switzerland is a country with 4 official languages, every village also has its own dialect. This adds to its diversity and makes it very appealing to learn the language. The Swiss are also very open to anyone trying to trying to adjust and speak their language(s), especially if their mother-tongue isn’t one of the 4 national languages.
A nice little example, a friend of mine was asked why she couldn’t speak Swiss German (assuming that she is German, after living here for 10 years), not that long ago, by a Swiss person (in German off course). When she replied that she’s French, the tone completely switched around and the Swiss praised her for speaking so well German 😃
I’m probably going to insult a lot of Dutch people in this section, but the Dutch think they can speak a language, but it’s actually cringe worthy. When I lived in London, I lived close to City Airport and I spent many occasions on the train into London with Dutch bankers, talking to their colleagues in English …
Someone with a good sense of humor created a Facebook-site with stuff that Dutch people say in English, whilst literally translating words to English. Can you make sense of what is meant here? (image from Make That the Cat Wise Facebook group)
Whilst the Swiss can speak at least 3 languages fluently, not counting English, many Dutch people struggle with the one that is most similar to Dutch, German.
History
the Skyline of Zürich
Both countries boast with history and historic figures, but unfortunately the Netherlands suffered a lot from bombings in the Second World War, where Switzerland managed to maintain its neutrality. So where the centres of cities like Rotterdam were completely demolished, the Swiss towns still look and feel like medieval villages.You can really feel the history in every town or village you go to and I guess that's also one of the reasons why they hold on to their traditions.
In comparison the Dutch cities are now full of high modern buildings. They do boast their own sense of character and a signal that says we will endure and come back bigger and stronger, but I prefer the picturesque Swiss villages and the atmosphere you still sense everywhere, especially when combined with the language and the way they dress up for special events.
It would be unfair to compare the likes of Heidi and Wilhelm Tell as the Dutch also have their popular historical figures like Piet Hein & Michiel de Ruyter who gained some notable international historical victories. So I'm going to call this one a draw as both countries are Western-European countries with a long and notable history.
the Climate
a Field of Rapeseed, in the village where I live
This one is very easy, like I mentioned before I hate the winds in the Netherlands. Even when the temperatures are similar, the winds make the weather less bearable. However the climates are not that similar, despite the fact that the two countries are not that far apart from one another. I found the summers more like proper summer in Switzerland and in the winters the differences are extreme (off course).
In the Netherlands I've barely had a proper winter as far as my memory serves me whilst growing up. I know it's been different recently, but ever since I've been in Switzerland I've experienced proper summers and winters with proper snow, not the stuff that disappears after 5 minutes. A winter has to be winter and that makes it more enjoyable and bearable.
Sports
the First time I watched an Icehockey match was also live
The Dutch are really good at several sports, they are off course known to be good footballers, field hockey, volleyball, ice-skaters, horses and much more, however none ever really captured me. Growing up I had to be an Ajax fan, living 500 meters away from their old stadium, but when I got older my attention shifted quickly to Arsenal in London. Nowadays I barely follow football at all, the money aspect has made me loose interest in the game.
I enjoy watching Roger Federer, ice hockey or generally skiing and the winter-olympics was great fun to follow and the Swiss have even overtaken the Dutch in football in recent years. However, ever since I have moved to Switzerland I've become more active myself and that's what really makes fun. You can follow my running progresses in my weekly posts here, but before I came here I never stood on skiis in my life. My father in law got me into cross-country skiing and I've never looked back.
This country has made me more active and for that I feel better as a person and I feel I enjoy life again.
Politics
Me voting for the first time in the last elections
Let me state that I don't agree with everything that happens in either country, that's normal. However discovering the amount of influence you have at a local level in Switzerland is fantastic. Especially when you live in a small village like I do with 2000 people. Every vote really counts. There is no country in the world where the 'direct democracy' is so obvious or present as it is in Switzerland. So if I didn't have enough reasons already, the fact that you can decide about things that are happening in your own neighboorhood is a really important factor.
Having said all that, off course there is one more very important factor, under the motto save the best for last ... my wife. Without her I wouldn't be here and enjoy my life in Switzerland. Without her, I would not have been put in this position in the first place, so off course a huge reason and deciding factor is my wife who's made it all possible. Thank you darling! You're truly the love of my life.
Swiss (German) word of the Day
On a final note, I'm going to launch this new section where I am going to post a word in Swiss German and explain it on the hand of a little dictionary I have called Lilliput SCHWEIZERDEUTSCH and I would like to teach you a bit of Swiss German in a fun way. I'll aim at doing 1 word per week and in the future I'll accompany them with a picture (hopefully from my own stock).
Todays' Word:
- aabrüele
- Shout at someone
Thank you for reading all the way through in probably my longest post. I hope you enjoyed this and I look forward to reading your responses in the morning when I wake up.
Doron
Ps sorry I can't resist, this is a picture of the view from our home, yes those are the Alps and on the right hand side you can see the Jungfrau which is 120 km away from our home.
