American Things We Miss Most (And Substitutes We Found)

Three months into Amsterdam life, I had a breakdown over ranch dressing.

I wanted a salad with ranch. Simple, right? Wrong. Ranch dressing doesn't exist in the Netherlands. I tried making it from scratch. It wasn't the same. I cried.

Living abroad means missing things from home. Some big, some small, some embarrassingly trivial.

Here's what we actually miss, what we've found substitutes for, and what we've learned to live without.

In this guide:

• Things we miss most
• Where to find American products
• Substitutes that work
• What we've learned to live without
• Surprising things we don't miss

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Food We Miss

Ranch Dressing

The problem: Doesn't exist here.

Substitutes we tried:

• Making it from scratch (meh)
• Ordering from Kelly's Expat Shopping (expensive)
• Giving up (what we did)

The reality: We eat salads with vinaigrette now. We've adjusted.

Good Mexican Food

The problem: Dutch "Mexican" food is sad.

Substitutes:

• Los Pilones (decent but expensive)
• Make it ourselves
• Stock up on spices when visiting US

What we miss:

• Cheap tacos
• Good salsa
• Proper burritos
• Chipotle (yes, really)

Peanut Butter (The Right Kind)

The good news: Peanut butter exists here!

The bad news: It's different.

Dutch peanut butter:

• Sweeter
• Different texture
• Not quite right

Solution:

• Skippy is available at Albert Heijn
• Costs more but worth it
• Or adjust to Dutch version

Real Bagels

The problem: Dutch bagels aren't bagels.

What we tried:

• Bagels & Beans (not the same)
• Making our own (hard)
• Accepting defeat

The reality: We miss New York bagels. No substitute works.

Free Water at Restaurants

The shock:

• Water costs €3-5 per bottle
• No free tap water
• Every. Single. Time.

What we do:

• Bring our own water bottle
• Order tap water (kraanwater) - some places give it
• Accept the cost
• Drink less at restaurants

Ice in Drinks

The reality:

• Ice is rare
• Drinks come warm-ish
• No refills

Adjustment:

• We've stopped expecting ice
• Drinks at home if we want cold
• It's fine

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Products We Miss

Target

What we miss:

• One-stop shopping
• Everything in one place
• Affordable home goods
• Just browsing

Dutch alternative:

• HEMA (kind of like Target)
• Action (dollar store vibes)
• Blokker (home goods)
• Not the same but functional

Amazon Prime (Real Amazon Prime)

The reality:

• Amazon.nl exists
• Selection is limited
• Delivery is slower
• Not the same

What we do:

• Order from Amazon.de (ships here)
• Use bol.com (Dutch Amazon alternative)
• Buy less stuff
• Plan ahead

Big Refrigerators

The shock:

• Dutch fridges are TINY
• Like dorm room size
• No freezer space
• Constant grocery trips

Adjustment:

• Shop more frequently
• Buy less at once
• Eat fresher food
• Actually better for us

Dryers

The reality:

• No dryers in most apartments
• Line-dry everything
• Takes forever
• Clothes are crunchy

What we do:

• Hang dry everything
• Plan laundry days
• Accept crunchy towels
• Use fabric softener

Air Conditioning

Summer without AC:

• Most places have no AC
• Fans everywhere
• Open windows
• Suffer for 2 weeks

The reality:

• It's only hot a few days per year
• Not worth installing AC
• We survive

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Conveniences We Miss

24/7 Everything

The shock:

• Stores close at 6pm
• Nothing open on Sundays
• No 24-hour anything
• Plan ahead or starve

Adjustment:

• Shop before 6pm
• Saturday shopping for Sunday
• Less spontaneous
• More planning

Drive-Throughs

What we miss:

• Coffee drive-through
• Fast food convenience
• Car culture

The reality:

• No car = no drive-through
• Walk or bike everywhere
• Actually healthier
• Don't miss it as much as expected

Customer Service

The difference:

• No "customer is always right"
• Less friendly service
• More efficient, less warm
• Direct communication

Adjustment:

• Lower expectations
• Appreciate efficiency
• Don't expect American friendliness
• It's cultural

For more on Dutch communication styles, see Dutch Directness: What Americans Need to Know.

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Where to Find American Products

Kelly's Expat Shopping

What they have:

• Peanut butter cups
• Pop-Tarts
• American candy
• Mac and cheese
• Thanksgiving supplies

The cost:

• Expensive
• But worth it for special occasions
• Amsterdam location

Albert Heijn "American" Section

What they stock:

• Skippy peanut butter
• Some American cereals
• Pancake mix
• BBQ sauce
• Limited but helpful

Amazon.de

Ships to Netherlands:

• American products
• Takes longer
• More expensive shipping
• But possible

Bring Back from US Visits

What we stock up on:

• Spices (taco seasoning, ranch packets)
• Favorite snacks
• Clothes (cheaper in US)
• Toiletries

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Surprising Things We Don't Miss

Cars

We thought we'd miss:

• Driving
• Car ownership
• Road trips
• Freedom

The reality:

• Biking is better
• No parking stress
• No car payments
• Don't miss it at all

Tipping Culture

We don't miss:

• Calculating 20%
• Awkward tip moments
• Feeling obligated
• Service industry guilt

Dutch system:

• Round up or 5-10%
• No pressure
• Servers paid fairly
• So much better

US Healthcare System

Definitely don't miss:

• Medical bankruptcy fear
• Insurance battles
• Surprise bills
• Stress

Dutch system:

• Affordable
• Predictable
• Less stress
• Much better

For a detailed comparison, see Healthcare in Netherlands vs United States: Honest Comparison.

Working All the Time

We don't miss:

• Hustle culture
• No vacation time
• Always-on mentality
• Burnout

Dutch culture:

• Work-life balance
• Actual vacation
• Reasonable hours
• Healthier

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What We've Learned

You Adjust

Things that seemed impossible:

• Living without Target
• No dryer
• Tiny fridge
• No ranch dressing

Reality:

• You adapt
• Find alternatives
• Stop missing them
• Life goes on

Some Things Matter More

We really miss:

• Family and friends
• Familiar culture
• Shared experiences
• Being understood

We don't miss:

• Stuff
• Conveniences
• Products
• Material things

New Favorites Replace Old

We now love:

• Dutch cheese
• Stroopwafels
• Hagelslag
• Drop (okay, not drop)
• Fresh bread daily

We've discovered:

• European travel
• Bike culture
• Work-life balance
• Different way of life

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The Homesickness Cycle

Month 1-3: Miss Everything

Everything feels wrong:

• Food is different
• Products are different
• Everything is hard
• Want to go home

Month 4-6: Finding Substitutes

Start adapting:

• Find alternatives
• Learn where to shop
• Make it work
• Less homesick

Month 6-12: New Normal

Adjustment complete:

• Don't think about it
• New favorites
• Adapted
• Home now

Year 2+: Reverse Culture Shock

Visiting US feels weird:

• Everything is huge
• Too many choices
• Different normal
• Miss Amsterdam

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FAQ

Q: Can I find American food in Amsterdam?

A: Some things, yes. Kelly's Expat Shopping and Albert Heijn have limited American products. But many things don't exist or are very expensive. You'll need to adjust or make your own.

Q: What should I bring from the US?

A: Favorite spices, hard-to-find ingredients (taco seasoning, ranch packets), American-sized clothes if you're tall/large, and any specialty items you can't live without. Don't bring too much—you'll adjust.

Q: Will I stop missing American things?

A: Mostly, yes. The first few months are hardest. By 6-12 months, you'll have adjusted and found alternatives. You'll still miss some things (family, certain foods) but it gets easier.

Q: What do Dutch people think of Americans wanting American products?

A: They understand. There are expat shops for a reason. Don't apologize for missing home. But also try to embrace Dutch products and culture.

Q: Is it expensive to buy American products in Amsterdam?

A: Yes, very. A box of Pop-Tarts costs €8-10. Peanut butter cups are €5. It's a treat, not a regular purchase. Budget accordingly or learn to live without.

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Ready to learn how to celebrate American holidays in Amsterdam? Get tips for Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, and more. Read the Holiday Guide →

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We're not immigration lawyers—just Americans who did this. Requirements change, so verify with official sources.