Peering in Windows

I lived in Utrecht, The Netherlands from September to December, 2009 and one of the first things I noticed about the flat country was the huge front windows (without curtains!) on every 'house'.

I say 'house' because there's no separation between living quarters...there are 16 million people living in a country half the size of New Brunswick.  That's 400 people per square kilometre...a space reserved for three Canadians back home.  So, the Dutch conserve space, and the result is streets with rows of attached houses, back alleys that run the length of the street and no space to walk from your front door to your back door, unless you traipse through the livingroom.

They're used to having to deal with people around them....all. the. time.  So, I guess it's not so surprising that their idea of 'privacy' is a little slanted from my own.

On my first evening in Utrecht, I went for a long walk around my neighbourhood to get acquainted with the place and stretch my legs after the 30 hour journey from Ottawa.  In the darkening light, I walked a few steps and my eyes were drawn into my neighbour's house where the family was sitting down to dinner.  Half a block on, there was a couple watching TV, the blue light dancing on their mesmerized faces.  And a little further along, a Dad was playing with his little boy on the livingroom floor.

This may seem creepy - the Canadian girl moves across the Atlantic to spy on people in their homes...but, during my short four month stay in the country, I learned that in a place where you don't have any personal space anyway, you embrace the fact that people are watching.

Some don't like it as much, so often you'll see a bit of frosted glass strategically placed at eye level - you'd have to bend down or get up on your tippy toes to see into this abode.  But, generally, thanks be to the Dutch, who allow me to indulge my not-so-inner nosey neighbour.

xx
T