r/sweden • u/lynxlynxlynx- rawr • Jan 18 '15
Intressant/udda/läsvärt Welcome /r/thenetherlands! Today we are hosting /r/thenetherlands for a little cultural and question exchange session!
Welcome dutch guests! Please select the "Dutch Friend" flair and ask away!
Today we our hosting our friends from /r/thenetherlands! Please come and join us and answer their questions about Sweden and the Swedish way of life! Please leave top comments for /r/thenetherlands users coming over with a question or comment and please refrain from trolling, rudeness and personal attacks etc. Moderation out side of the rules may take place as to not spoil this friendly exchange. The reddiquette applies and will be moderated after in this thread.
At the same time /r/thenetherlands is having us over as guests! Stop by in this thread and ask a question, drop a comment or just say hello!
Enjoy!
/The moderators of /r/sweden & /r/thenetherlands
For previous exchanges please see the wiki.
Välkommna till våran sjunde utbytessession! Nu ska vi grotta ner oss i lågländerna och besöka Nederländerna! Kanske inte världens största kulturkrock men inte mindre intressant för det! Hoppas ni får en givande diskussion och raportera opassande kommentarer och snälla lämna top kommentarerna i denna tråd till användare från /r/thenetherlands. Av någon anledning krockar vi med indonesiens utbyte samtidigt (inte mitt fel) så om ni följer med där hoppas jag ni är lika representativa som ni är i våra trådar.
22
u/Shizly Jan 18 '15
How does Sweden differ from the other Scandinavian countries? As an outsider, those countries seem really alike. What makes Sweden Sweden?
→ More replies (20)38
Jan 18 '15
This is a very good question, but pretty difficult to answer. While we do feel a strong connection to our Scandinavian neighbors we still view Sweden, Denmark and Norway (leaving out Finland here due to the language barrier) as very distinct countries.
Sweden has kind of been the industrial and cultural powerhouse of Scandinavia. IKEA, Volvo, ABBA, H&M, Spotify, the Nobel Prize, Ingmar Bergman, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Avicii, Björn Borg, Astrid Lindgren - all very well known pretty much all over the world, and I could easily make this list much longer.
Not to sound like a dick, but Norway and Denmark (and Finland if we're talking about the Nordics) really have nothing on us in this regard. I think this is also ingrained in our collective understanding of ourselves. This may also be why our neighbors view us as slightly smug. I think we have a very distinct feeling of being the oldest sibling, and I do think we are viewed as such by our "little brothers" as well.
I think we tend to view Norway as our closest "sibling". They are very much like us culturally, and we used to be one country (through some heavy coercion from our side). We also understand each others' languages quite well. They're quite a bit richer than us thanks to their oil, but we still view them as slightly goofy, slightly less urbane. They are a bit more religious than us and have more dramatic (but also less hospitable) nature.
The Danes are more "continental" than us, both literally and culturally. I actually think of Denmark as being reasonably similar to the Netherlands: the bicycles, the flatness, the more relaxed attitude towards drugs and drinking. Danes like pork and beer, and in a "you are what you eat" way they kind of feel more porky and beery than us. Swedes are more fashionable in general, I have zero doubts about this. But we are also more stuck up and a bit less fun, unfortunately.
Ultimately, however, I realize that someone from, say, Japan would find our cultures pretty much identical - especially Norway and Sweden.
So, yeah, a very subjective and very selective answer that turned out a bit longer than I planned, but I hope you've gained some insight.
→ More replies (6)
15
Jan 18 '15
I recently learned that Sweden has quite a strict drug policy, while I always thought that you guys were a bunch of socialist hippies (even worse than us). What's the opinion of r/sweden on this drug policy?
→ More replies (5)
12
u/GijsVanEverdingen Jan 18 '15
Those from Sweden who have been in the Netherlands, what was your impression? Where have you been?
→ More replies (34)
12
u/visvis Jan 18 '15
Sweden is often regarded (both in the Netherlands and elsewhere) as the ultimate socialist's paradise. What is the view on this inside the country?
→ More replies (4)30
u/Gentlemoth Jan 18 '15
We are generally proud of our welfare systems and circle jerk a lot about VÄLFÄRD.
But honestly I say most people are very positive. We love comparing ourselves with USA and being amazed at how little social security they have.
Most Swedes are willing to pay high taxes to maintain the system,which is seen as beneficial for all society.
→ More replies (2)
8
u/McDutchy Jan 18 '15
Goddammit you nature is beautiful. I feel like missing out in our concrete kingdom. Went to Boras/Goteborg region some years ago and I loved it. Hope I can visit Stockholm some time aswell
8
7
Jan 18 '15
Hello r/sweden,
What do you think is the most interesting thing about our country compared to yours?
→ More replies (20)25
6
u/BigFatNo Jan 18 '15
Hey Swedes! I was wondering, how many of you actually live in the middle of nowhere? And how is that like? It is a dream of mine to move away from the crowded Netherlands and settle somewhere quiet and naturey.
→ More replies (10)
5
u/jippiejee Jan 18 '15
Has there ever been a political party that addressed the high duties on alcohol? Or are Swedes ok with beer and booze being so over-the-top expensive compared to other european countries?
→ More replies (5)
5
Jan 18 '15
Hello r/sweden I'm a Dutch person with a Danish mother, and when I visit Copenhagen I see the bridge to Sweden.
So my question is to people in Malmö and the surrounding cities, do you ever cross the border to Denmark?
Another Question: How popular is Floorball in your country? It started in Sweden but I have the idea it's not really popular there.
→ More replies (7)
9
Jan 18 '15 edited Jan 18 '15
I am more or less familiar with how Norwegians and Finnish people joke about Swedes being gay. How do you joke about them though? How is your relationship with your neighbouring countries, outside of politics and more on a cultural level?
You are also a country that is (as far as I understand) together with Norway, on the top when it comes to women equality. How do you actually think your country handles it?
What do you think of prostitution in the Netherlands? Sweden seems quite anti-prostitution from what I learned from media.
What do you think of Victor Muller and him taking over Saab with Spyker Cars?
What do you think of Zlatan? Is he a god or only a demi-god? Did you ask Zlatan? The other questions are serious though.
→ More replies (3)19
u/AlphaApache Jan 18 '15 edited Jan 18 '15
We have the same stereotypical jokes about Finns as most of you do; their love for saunas. We just giggle when they call us gay and let them pretend that they're a part of the Denmark-Sweden-Norway circlejerk. When it comes to Norwegians though we have more of a sibling relationship, we have countless jokes about eachother being stupid. They are mostly the same in the respective countries just with the names swapped. As for the Danes we are still unable to communicate verbally with them and are actively trying to convince them to stop talking with food in their mouths. I also want to add that Sweden's version of r/MURICA, r/SWARJE, has the Danish flag as a downvote button while the Finnish, Norwegian and Danish ones all have the Swedish flag.
Edit: I noticed your edit and realize that my reply doesn't answer those.
→ More replies (2)
9
Jan 18 '15
Hello Swedish women!
Vilka fina tuttar!
May I say thay I love how you are always appreciative when I say it :)
→ More replies (1)
8
u/jippiejee Jan 18 '15
Hi Sweden! Recently someone posted this funny exchange in our sub:
https://twitter.com/olssonresonerar/status/553666526247911424
Can anyone of you clarify who this Swedish person communicating with KLM is?
→ More replies (5)16
u/Asuros Jan 18 '15
This has got to be a troll account. He claims to be the communication advisor of the Swedendemocrats.
→ More replies (2)
4
u/furryscrotum Jan 18 '15
What would be the best way to go and hike through Sweden? I have no idea how or when to start, let alone where to go. But I've always heard how your nature is fantastic and unspoiled.
→ More replies (2)
1
u/tsyklon Jan 18 '15
Hey Sweden! Could you recommend me some more swedish detectives series like Wallander and Bron? I really like those!
2
u/lynxlynxlynx- Jan 18 '15
Maybe the Millenium series. It's an extended variant of the films in 6 episodes.
→ More replies (2)
3
u/potverdorie Jan 18 '15
What do you like the most about your homecountry, and what do you like the least about it?
3
u/jippiejee Jan 18 '15
If a Swede (you) would be travelling abroad for a year, what would typically be the food item from your home country you'd miss the most?
→ More replies (11)
10
u/visvis Jan 18 '15
Hi guys! Just want to thank you for IKEA and Swedish meat balls. Both are awesome.