Welcome to O' Caseys, Den Haag

Dutch people always seem to get a good chuckle when I mention I work in an Irish bar. They roll their eyes and laugh, and I laugh alongside them saying ‘Yep! The Stereotype is alive and well!’. Because that’s exactly what they’re thinking.

But realistically, it’s a stereotype for a reason.

 From my experience, the Dutch are so well versed in English, that it’s almost embarrassing. Restaurants, Bars, and Cafes have no need for the Expat community of native English speakers, when their own community can switch as easily from Dutch to English as I switch lipsticks. So what exactly can I bring to the Dutch HORECA? Except my translucent white skin, ironic bad luck and Irish lilt? The answer is not much actually.

 Yet the Irish Pub. 

  It brings together our two greatest exports: Guinness  and the Irish people themselves. Like many countries, Ireland is as well versed in exporting people as it is actual produce. But for some reason, the Irish people have soared like no other. Most cities in the world have a typical Irish pub, with a familiar MC or O’ in the title, and the Bartender still as Irish as the day he left.  The bar I work is no different, though only the other day, I had a customer tell me that‘O’Casey’s was not actually a real Irish Pub, because the owner was Dutch and not Irish. I would argue slightly with their logic here, considering that any Irish Pub not in Ireland, is technically not a real Irish Pub.

Yet the Irish Pub is a marvel. A worldwide phenomenon, where you’re sure to grab a few minutes of the Sunday Game while all agreeing that the Guinness back home is far better. So though I can’t bring much to the Dutch community, except some dodgy pronunciations of ‘Bierje’, I can at least bring a little authenticity to my Irish Pub. And let’s be honest, with my Dutch, in terms of other job aspects, beggars can’t be choosers.

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