
In this ongoing series of my favorite Expat in NL blogs, this time it's the blog which inspired me to start my own!
Before I began to blog officially to the public, I had been reading Invader Stu, a blog featuring the adventures of a young British man who came to the Netherlands for his job. Details of his stories were not only nearly exact to many of my own experiences, but his view about the quirky sides of the culture also was almost always a precise match. Stu's blog also helps shed light on a few topics about the Dutch culture, and I feel this will be helpful to many others as well!
Stu took a break from blogging for a while, but now he's back! Each blog entry, beginning with an animation of himself in each of his current humorous Dutch predicaments, is bound to not only make you laugh, but it will certainly be of a help as well to any who are about to embark on building their life anew in the Netherlands.
Though it was difficult to narrow it down to just a few of his blog entries, here are my top 5 favorite Invader Stu blog entries!
Cultural Exchange - Part 1
I always like to find the positives within the negatives, and Stu's list of suggestions to the British Government on how to improve Briton by following some examples set by the Dutch is a hysterical example of this! Whether it be the thought of the UK reclaiming more land from the sea, like the Dutch have done, or teaching language and culture through popular television programming.

Bicycle Dangers
If you have ever ridden a bicycle in the Netherlands on a crowded city street, you will understand this blog entry. If you haven't, you should read it. However if you have ever ridden a bicycle in the Netherlands on a crowded city street without any clue as to what the markings and signage around you meant, you will understand this blog entry even more. And you'll laugh!
Koninginnedag
Every year in the Netherlands, Queen's Day is always interesting. People come from far and wide to partake in the festivities. Orange clothing and décor for as far as the eye can see, and nights filled with celebrations. More than once on his blog, Stu gives a few great takes from his personal experiences from this must-see event!

Post-Koninginnedag
Ever wonder what it must feel like on the day after Queen's Day? Stu shares his take on it! His coat & the pink wig stories are probably something very similar to the hilarious experiences anyone else has had on a Queen's Day celebration with their gang of friends. Have you ever been to Amsterdam for Queen's Day? If so, what is your most hilarious story?

Hiding from Sinterklaas
In case you have never heard of and/or experienced the whole Sinterklaas and Zwarte Pieten tradition, get prepared because it's about to begin again. Already I have seen the candies, chocolate letters and kruidnoten in the stores, but soon you will begin to see more. The songs sung by the children are unfamiliar to anyone who did not grow up in these parts.
Stu's version of this Sinterklaas celebration is a laugh, and another great version is the comical interpretation by David Sedaris [
click here for audio] called "
Six to Eight Black Men."
In other news: I've found on an old back up hard drive of mine some blog entries I once created for friends and family, in the days before I blogged publicly. Once I get some time, I will spiffy them up and share them here. Should be fun to reminisce! But first, I'll be sharing gradually of my trip to family and friends this year for the holidays and other favorite Expat in NL blogs of mine.
Have a great week!
[All images are copyright to
Invader_Stu, used with written permission.]
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