Here in Limburg folks speak in their own dialect. They immediately hear that I am "not one of them" (although I understand their language well). Sometimes that'

Here in Limburg folks speak in their own dialect. They immediately hear that I am "not one of them" (although I understand their language well). Sometimes that's an advantage (as it invokes curiosity), but moreover they'll treat you with a little more "distance"; I often feel an outsider here. In Amsterdam it greatly differs per area. My office is located in Amsterdam-Zuidoost where a lot of different cultures mix and mingle. In that neighbourhood I feel particularly 'free' to talk to strangers. My experience may be biased however as I know these folks a little better because of my work as volunteer in Amsterdam Venserpolder (another post on that can be found here: http://willem.com/blog/volunteer http://willem.com/blog/volunteer). I try to balance it, like yourself. It also depends on my 'mood and energy', with two young kids I sometimes don't have the "power" to engage in talking to strangers - but when I do, it is often very rewarding.