Having made many missions to Holland in the past I am always mystified to return to the good ol' US and have people tell me how much Americans are hated in Holland and Western Europe in general.Recently I was telling a co-worker about my cycling trip to Limburg and another fellow starts explaining how much Americans are hated and that it is really rather unsafe to let anyone know that you are from the US.In all my visits to Europe I have never run across anything but kindness towards myself and my wife and to hear fellow Americans tell me that I am not safe or welcome in Holland is a bit bizzare.I do not run around Holland waving Old Glory singing the praises of being an American but if someone asks I never hesitate to tell them I am from Texas and this in turn usually starts some great conversations.Too many Americans buy into everything the talking heads on TeeVee tell them or they believe what some low life scumbag politico drills into their tiny little brain.Spending a few weeks in Europe and then returning to "the land of the free" can sure cause some confusion....Just my rambling thoughts on a Thursday morning....

Unlike many people in the USA other Westerners, meaning Western Europe, know how to discriminate between the people and the views of their governments.

I've been travelling to Europe since 1974 and have been hearing "oh. the (French, Germans, Dutch, Italians) hate Americans" from my compatriots for 32 years. It's as untrue now as it was then. Like most of the world's people we Americans are a weird bunch.

My experience as well. And my travels have included the Middle East and former soviet bloc countries where it might be expected that there could be more anti-American sentiment. What I find is friendly people, people who are keenly interested in what you have to say, not what your government says. I was in Abu Dhabi when the whole Mohammed cartoon thing was going on. We had a very enlightening conversation. I, for one, had not seen until then how deeply offended some people actually were.

I can't tell you how many times I have heard how rude and arrogant the French are, yet when I went to France, I found people virtually tripping over themselves to help me speak the language, obtain what I needed, etc. Assertive? Yes. Rude? No way.

Act like a decent human being and you'll be treated like a decent human being.

the dogs

It depends on the individuals you meet.
Americans abroad do appear overly self confident and can piss you off.
When I was in the states, they were the most friendly, welcoming people you could hope to meet.
Some Brits abroad make me ashamed to be British, but we are not all like that.
In the words of an old Jim Reeves song, a strangers just a friend you do not know.
Keep up the conversations in the bars, agree to disagree, and the world will be a better place.

No country has a monopoly on assholes. But I've always found that good people tend to gravitate together wherever they may come from. So, I've never had a problem abroad, and I don't think they've had a problem with me either.

"Unlike many people in the USA other Westerners, meaning Western Europe, know how to discriminate between the people and the views of their governments."

And modest too!

I was in Ams the day that the airstrikes started against Iraq just before the US forces invaded to start this lovely little war over in Iraq. On that day, I heard there was an anti- war protest scheduled to take place in Dam Square. I wanted to check out the scene but I was out on the town and did not stop by. Mid afternoon, I exited the Van Gough museum to notice a few anti- war protestors headed down the street so I paused to take in the scene. Next thing I know I am smack dab in the middle of a crowd I would estimate at over 50, 000 protestors. It was a wild experience. Here I am, an obvious yank as I was the only bloke in the crowd wearing white sneakers, and not once was a harsh word of anti- American sentiment directed towards me.

I think this experience clearly demonstrates the statement put forth by AXXXTW previously in this thread.

i have to echo the words expresssed by the dogs earlier in this thread about the french. for me one of the biggest misconception about the english is that they all hate the french and vice versa. as somebody who has spent more than 20 happy holiday in that country i can assure you that relations are super friendly provided you are not an ignorant, unfriendly dickhead. by speaking my basic french i always have a marvellous time and return again and again because i find the people very friendly, genuine and welcoming. in the uk you have a (news?)paper called the sun which constantly propogates right wing sensationalism. they have the french down as garlic smelling fascist degenerates and sadly their pathetic publication is read by more english folk than any other daily paper. therefore the thick morons who choose to buy this trash from their news stand each morning inevitably carry these opinions forth into the pubs and building sites of england. the dumbing down of the nation, i like to call it.

so far as the sentiment in this city towards american people? well i for one have made many good friends from the US here, through work, socially, ignatz, wherever. in fact i spent last evening drinking with a good friend from seattle. as axxxtw says, most decent people in western europe are able to differenciate between the individual and his government. i like to meet decent people regardless of the place of birth on their passport. so in short if you are a decent civil human being who enjoys socialising with other internationally minded people then you should have a wonderful time here in amsterdam. the individual the other day who posted something along the lines of 'netherlands is a little country which doesnt deserve an opinion because the good ol' US of A is off defending freedom and fighting for them.. etc' will doubtless not have such a good time. im afraid rampant imperialism and illegal war mongering arent really flavour of the month in the world these days, despite what bush's fifth reich may tell you.

phew, enough already....

withnail

I've been to the 'Dam twice and I was there when the US war with Iraq started in March 2003. I was at the protest in Dam Square someone else on this thread referred to, although I was more an observer than a participant. I was walking around looking quite American (leather jacket, black jeans, white sneakers) and taking pictures, and I was fine with everyone, including the Muslim people who were present.

I went back earlier this year and there was no change. I know people who've been to countries like Iran and had the same experience. The world's peoples generally understand that it's not the fault of the average American that our government has fallen into the hands of a bunch of assholes.

I believe one can agree to disagree without being disagreeable.
I don't need to waive the flag, and being condescending is flat out priggish.
But IMHO there is a problem, and W is doing what he thinks best.

My mission as I leave home is to have a great time. I leave home fully
aware I am a guest and should behave accordingly. It does not mean
I have to change my opinion, but at the same time it is not necessary
to preach it.

White sneakers....hmmmm didn't know that. Just happen to have a brand new black pair.
Anyway....can't wait to have a beer in the De Burgh.

My experiences from 20 years of world travel as an American follow what axxxtw, dogs, nail and others have already said - there is no problem traveling as an American if you fit in with wherever you might be.

The people in the US who are convinced that there's some generalized group of people (ie, "the French" or "Western Europeans" or even Canadians when they don't support W) who show their displeasure with US foreign policy by taking it out on ordinary US citizens who travel abroad is perpetuated by US citizens who do not travel abroad. They have no personal experiences to draw on. Unfortunately many in the US media seem to be in this camp so they have a bullhorn to espouse this nonsense. And of course it stokes the fires that boost ratings and circulation. It doesn't help that, the last I heard, less than 15% of US citizens had passports which means that 85% of Americans never leave the country.

To try and take what axxxtw said a little further, my view is that people in every European country in recent and past history know what it means to live under governments that were imposed upon them. They understand that the government of a country and its people are not necessarily the same thing. Americans are just now learning this firsthand.

Well said, Laszlo. Cheers ;-)

I have to agree with the above posts. I have been to many a country, including countless trips to Amsterdam, and have NEVER had anyone hassle me about my being from the USA.