I lived in three Netherlands for a few years 10 or so years ago. Service in amsterdam was so bad that sometimes not even American colleagues would tip, and it definitely wasnt a bigger thing. Dutch colleagues were let’s say a bit protective of their hard earbed euros. what has changed?

Remember at the end of a restaurant dinner, we were 20 or so minutes from closing time, big table, one of the waiters dragged a huge rubbish bag from the kitchen along our table which is already pretty bad for my standards, and while doing so he feathered every jacket that was behind the chairs of the people on that side of the table. there was a moment of silence, lots of colleagues visiting from abroad and not used to the lively customer service. Add to that impossible to make a reservation in most places, just show up and queue.