Dutch love to complain

From Joel M. Hoffman:

How do they do it? #Amsterdam's #Schiphol airport is AMAZING! Here is a happy photo of weary travelers going through security. (Yes, frequent flyers: happy and security.) 

The staff here, as in many other places, evidences a variety of backgrounds and ethnicities. And, again as in many airports, it's a busy choke point where important business takes place. And it was 6:00 in the morning. But here the workers all use words like "good morning" and "please" and "thank you" and "sir" and "madam." Everyone smiles. No one yells. The pace is efficient but jovial.

One staff member offered me a cheery "hello" before politely asking permission to open my bag.

Next to me a man was selected for secondary screening. "May I pat you down?" a security officer asked. The man nodded in a vague gesture of fatigue and resignation. The officer smiled and said, "Only with your permission, sir."

And this airport is world's THIRD BUSIEST when measured by international passenger traffic, and it sits in the top twenty world-wide when measured by overall traffic. It's on a par with New York's dreadful JFK.

Two obvious questions arise: If Amsterdam can do this, why can't cities like New York or Toronto or Paris or Istanbul?

And maybe more importantly: How did we ever come to accept anything less?

#travel #FrequentFlyer #FrequentFlyers #airport #cultures #SchipholAirport #Holland #Netherlands #TravelPostcard #BeHappy

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The Dutch have one of the best airports in the world, one of the best seaports in the world, are one of the wealthiest countries and have been in the top five of the World Happiness Index since the dawn of mankind, the best bike infrastructure in the world and the best work/life balance worldwide while only working an average of 32 hours a week. They are also in the world top where healthcare is concerned and have one of the best pension systems in the world ever. 

The Dutch also top the list of people who complain the most about their country. 

Do the Dutch take their happiness for granted? Do they complain because they really have nothing to complain about?