do you say hello?

In Haarlem the most pure Dutch has been spoken, the so-called ABN (Algemeen Beschaafd Nederlaqnds = Generally Civilized Dutch...I can't help it, sorry). So that's an extra reason for Haarlemmers to speak their language as much as possible. They are proud of is. And consequently their English is very poor, the lingual-faculty of the Amsterdam university discovered. Their advice: there's always a common language, i.e. the smile.

Having been to Haarlem a few times, I wonder if the university was being a little harsh. Maybe it's just that linguistic standards are very high across the country - I've met Dutch people who claimed to only speak a little English, but I would have described them more as intermediate.

I think this as much a comment on Australian culture as Dutch.

It's not considered rude to greet someone as you enter a shop in the Netherlands, in fact I'm pretty sure it's normal Dutch behaviour.

But the Australian "How are you?", which in Aus has the pattern response "fine, thanks", is seen as odd. It can come off as insincere, for example one Australian former colleague didn't seem to wait for the answer making my Dutch colleagues think he didn't really care. Whereas in fact it's a question that gets a two word answer in Australia so there's no need to wait around.

One cultural weirdness that did take me time to get used to - people talk to each in lifts/elevators here. If you're in the lift and someone steps in they'll greet you... even if they don't know you and you're not the same company at all. They may also wish you a good day as they step out. At first I was suspicious thinking "I don't know them, why are they talking to me" but now I just find it friendly and join in myself. Might have to unlearn that behaviour if I move!

LOL, yep... didn't know that this elevator behaviour was Dutch ;-) I do it too. 'Werkze vandaag!' is pretty common when someone gets out of the elevator.

Good point Qualia. I got lots of blank stares when I greeted my colleagues in the elevator in our head office in Japan, until then I never gave that Dutch behaviour a thought.

Being Dutch, this is the way I feel about it:
I lived in Utrecht for many years and I think the people in Utrecht are less warm and open than in many other areas.
3,5 years ago i moved to Amsterdam and find the people here very friendly and open. In my neighborhood, people greet each other in the streets, in the park next to my house they greeted me from the very first day. I live in an apartment building where everyone says hello and chats to each other in the elevator and the hallway. However, we recognise expats easily because (especially at first) they don't say anything, not even hello!
This said, even within Amsterdam there are differences. For some reason, expats all want to stay in the southern, more posh area which in my view is a horrible place where nobody speaks to each other. I prefer more popular neighborhoods where the population is more mixed.
Try for instance Oost, or the area around the Maritime Museum.

I get them talking to me in English, in their own country. That's more than enough for me.