A childhood experience shared by an Indian-origin man raised in the Netherlands has gone viral for shedding light on cultural contrasts between Indian and Dutch households.
Speaking during a street interview for the Instagram account Dating Beyond Borders, the man recalled a moment from his early years that sparked surprise among social media users, especially those from India.
The man, whose parents moved to the Netherlands from India, said he was brought up in Dutch society but still held strong Indian cultural values — especially when it came to food and hospitality.
He explained that one key difference was how guests are treated. “Even if someone is coming to fix the tap, you will give them a meal, you will give them tea. Dutch culture does not have that. You wouldn’t necessarily invite someone for dinner,” he said.
The moment that stayed with him came during a barbecue at a neighbour’s home when he was a child. Invited over to play, he remembered having fun, but the food situation left him confused. “When my parents came to pick me up they asked me how it was. I said that it was fun but I did not get any of the meat as they said that it was only for adults,” he recalled.
He said he asked for some barbecue, but was told it was finished, even though he saw leftovers being stored in the fridge. Later, when his mother asked the neighbours about it, they explained the food was kept for the next day. His mother’s reaction summed up her surprise. “My mom was like, wow that’s some broke a** s**t,” he said with a laugh.
He added that not all Dutch families were like this, noting that his Dutch friends were equally stunned when they heard the story.
The video quickly gained traction online, drawing reactions from viewers who said they could relate to the deep-rooted Indian tradition of feeding guests no matter the circumstance.
