Privacy, open curtains and personal space

Newcomers commonly report a mix of openness and reserve that can be hard to read at first:

• Living rooms on view. Many people are surprised by large street-facing windows with curtains left open in the evening. An international resident interviewed by DutchNews.nl described finding it "quite bizarre" that so few people seemed to close their curtains, "considering that the Dutch culture appears to be quite reserved and private".
• But visits are planned. The same openness does not extend to dropping by. The I amsterdam newcomer guide advises newcomers not to be offended when acquaintances do not take up an offer to "just drop by", because most people prefer to arrange visits in advance.
• Open about many topics, private about others. People often discuss subjects openly that may be sensitive elsewhere, while matters such as religion are generally considered very personal.
• Careful with personal data. Newcomers are often asked for documents when renting, starting a job or opening accounts, and official guidance urges people to protect their citizen service number (BSN) and not hand over ID copies lightly.

Open curtains

There is no single agreed explanation for open curtains, and you will hear different stories, from historical religious ideas about having "nothing to hide" to simply enjoying daylight. Treat such explanations as popular interpretations rather than facts. What matters in practice is the etiquette: an open window is not an invitation to look in for long or to knock.

Planned visits

Personal space in the Netherlands is often about time rather than walls. Social life runs on agreed appointments (see the topic on planning and agendas), so a home visit is usually arranged beforehand, even among friends.

Personal data and the BSN

Your citizen service number (burgerservicenummer, BSN) is linked to taxes, health insurance and benefits. The government warns that fraudsters can use a copy of an ID document showing your name, date of birth and BSN to take out loans or phone contracts in your name. Its guidance:

• do not hand over your ID document without a good reason;
• an organisation that asks for a copy must explain why it is needed or which legal obligation requires a full copy; often noting the type and number of the document is enough;
• if you do give a copy, cover your BSN and write on it that it is a copy, which organisation or product it is for, and the date you hand it over. The government's KopieID app can make such a "safe copy".

Empty homes

Rental homes in the Netherlands are often let without furnishings. A 2026 DutchNews.nl guide for internationals notes that tenants are frequently handed an empty room "no furniture, no curtains, often not even a floor", so buying curtains or blinds is usually your own job.

• Every street is different. Some residents keep curtains or blinds closed, use net curtains (vitrage) or frosted glass, especially on busy streets and in ground-floor homes.
• Close friends and family may visit more spontaneously than acquaintances.
• Workplaces and institutions differ in how much personal data they ask for; the rule that a request for a full ID copy must be justified applies to all of them.
• Openness is personal. Some people talk freely about their salary, health or politics, others not at all. Take your cue from the other person.