Experiences – Life – Inspiration 🇨🇭🇯🇵

Being in the Netherlands for half a month now, after having lived the past two years in rural Japan, I’m only just noticing how much I miss venturing out into mountainous and forested landscapes. I miss my hikes. I miss my droning spots. I miss the feeling of space and elevation.

What is also becoming painfully obvious is the lack of sunlight. December in the Netherlands feels dark, gloomy, and heavy, and I can clearly see how it affects my daily mood. Something I had never really thought about before. I honestly never imagined that climate and surroundings could have such a strong impact on my life.

Looking back, it suddenly makes sense why, in my old life in the Netherlands, I felt the need to go on holiday two or three times a year. I used to think it was about curiosity or a love for travel. Now I’m not so sure.

When I see how the Dutch load up their campervans every year and drive south to Italy or France, it all starts to click. When I think about how many Dutch people I’ve met in places like Thailand, Japan, and pretty much anywhere with more sunlight and less wind and rain than the Netherlands, it really begins to make sense.

Heck, the Dutch even managed to secure a tiny, tightly controlled trading island in Japan for over two centuries. Basically the only Westerners Japan tolerated during that time.

And then, at some point, a very unacademic thought crossed my mind.

Maybe the Dutch didn’t colonize Indonesia, Suriname, Curaçao, and Aruba because of some deep urge to conquer or explore the world.

Maybe it was never about exploration at all, just about finding better weather.