Europe is the second smallest continent but it has a long history of human development and is considered the birthplace of Western Civilization.
Today, its cultural wealth is used to solidify the colorful European community and is exported to the rest of the world as one of the continent's greatest assets.
But Reddit user Doeyy0 wanted to dig deeper. So they made a post on the platform, asking its users, "What is the most European thing ever?" From cobblestone roads to kebab shops, here are the most popular answers they've received.
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Driving through 4 countries to go on vacation, not using your passport, no visa and use the same currency everywhere.
Plus using your cellphone all the way with no extra cost.
Casually having buildings from millennia ago around you all the time
Labor laws that actually mean something
Same in Africa, you can't just fire someone and everyone has a right to join a union. You get fixed number of paid leave days and can claim maternity, paternity, family responsibility, home moving, etc.
The most European thing ever is the quaint and charming cobblestone streets that wind through medieval cities, flanked by towering cathedrals and quaint cafes serving espresso and croissants. It's the picturesque vineyards of Tuscany, the romantic waterways of Venice, and the timeless elegance of Parisian boulevards. It's the sizzling aroma of fresh bratwurst wafting through the air at a bustling German Christmas market, the infectious energy of a Spanish fiesta, and the hauntingly beautiful strains of a traditional Irish ballad. The most European thing ever is the rich tapestry of cultures, cuisines, and landscapes that make up this diverse and endlessly fascinating continent.
Trains. Trains that are clean. Trains that go where you want to go. Trains that are affordable.
Having a castle in your town.
This is the Nornan keep of Cardiff castle. First built by the Romans, added to over the centuries with magnificent interiors by Bruges. Well worth a visit!
knowing more than one language and being fluent in at least two of them
nah, again, Africa. Thousands of languages. I'm fluent in two and can speak about 5.
I can literally see one castle out of my living room and another one out of my kitchen window
Hating the people from the next town over for reasons of medieval politics
Maybe not hating but at least laughing about. I think the English and French still dislike each other over King Richard and King William.
Being able to drink tap water without poisoning
Not what I would think of as most European, given we have this in Australia
Went on a work trip to Texas, got asked what it's like to not have a gun. I don't know, normal I guess?
Felt very European that day... (or most of the world, for that matter)
One big difference is the way from villages to big cities are laid out. They all have numerous squares or public gathering places. You can enjoy a drink....music,people watching. You don’t have to drive everywhere. Local pubs abound. I always wondered how so many Europeans could make do with those tiny fridges. But then I realized they shop fresh all the time. There are so many,butchers or bakers,produce stands,cheese,deli,flower shops within walking distance. They shop local and fresh all the time. Without a car.
My Uncle lived in a big condo or over there row housing area. Every Saturday mobile butchers,bakers,fruit and produce etc.would set up outside for a few hours then move on. Everything fresh and local,and absolutely delicious. And no car needed.
Yes, but some of us do have enormous fridges and have Tesco popping by weekly with the main shop. Village shops bridge most gaps and I bake my own bread (bread machine!).
From an American's perspective; Kebab shops. I've been all over Europe and I've got to say, those thing were *everywhere* and I stopped at way too many of them. I could really go for a durum kebab right about now...
Walking or riding a bike everywhere because who needs a car
So true, especially in larger cities – especially during rush hours. A couple of years ago there was a traffic survey published by the city council. Turned out that at least in the center of town the bicycle was the second quickest way of transport (second only to the subway) to get from one place to another. — I’m an all-year cyclist, and I have never even owned a car.
Eurovision
Living in the same town in the same country your ancestors are from.
This actually helped me and my dad find a relative when we went to Germany! My great-grandfather's family (dad's opa) was from Cologne (idk how to spell) and we found someone in a town called Passau with my oma's maiden name, and his family was from there.
Multilingualism
A (clothes) washing machine in your kitchen
Most people have theirs in the bathroom. Having one in the kitchen is British
In Germany, many people have them in their kitchens too (mostly when the bathrooms are too small). I do, for example, and some of my friends.
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I honestly can't see what's odd about this. Yes, I'm British, have lived elsewhere the last 20-odd years with dedicated laundry room, but I still can't see why anyone thinks it strange to fit a washing machine into the one room in your house with running water, drains, and enough space to put it.
Also means you are near to your garden so you can dry your laundry outside - love the fresh air smell! I don't want mine in the bathroom. If someone wants a bath and someone else wants to do laundry - not exactly a quiet bath time experience. Utility rooms/laundry rooms are good, like you I've had one for a long time now and utility rooms are being built in pretty small houses these days in the UK - again usually have an external door so you can take the washing outside easily. Damp washing is heavy and both my bathrooms are about the furthest you can get to the garden. Basements, had one of those with my laundry in it once, lugging it all up the stairs was too much for my back.
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South Africa too. It's the standard place for it because that's where the water pipes are.
I was recently investigating residences in Portugal, and those places commonly have the laundry in the kitchen. If you are bustling about, trying to complete household chores, I would think it's very annoying to not be able to address the next step of laundry because someone is in the bathroom. Two things I noticed about the bathrooms: they almost all have a bidet (a plus over the USA) ; and almost none of them have a full size bathtub (a negative). At my age, being able to take a long hot soak at a moment's notice is essential.
The washing machine is closest to the water pipes in any house in UK that existed pre 1950. My gawd in the 70's my mother did her washing in a twin tub, that got pulled out from a cupboard space, that had to have the hose attached to a pipe next to the kitchen door, that needed the mop next to it because so much water spurted out across the floor. And at the same time she boiled linen on the stove in a metal bucket. It sounds ancient but really it was just normal in the 70's UK. Don't get me started on the loo at the bottom of the garden.
Lived in a 1930s house in the 70s and that's not quite how it was for us. My mother handwashed everything and then used a 'spinner-rinse'. All washing out to the garden to dry bar rainy days when it was on a clothes horse near a fire! Fortunately no outside loo!
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In Sweden I'd say it's more common to have it in the bathroom. Or, if you live in an older apartment complex: a shared washing room with big washing machine and dryer. All with a booking system for the tenants (all free and included in the rent).
Well, to be fair if it's included in the rent they'll have priced the rent to cover the costs of the washing machines.
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Oh, I accidentally deleted this. This is not true in Finland.
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Definitely a British thing, they are either in a laundry room or in the bathrooms in mainland Europe.
You didn't read all the comments from the various other countries in Europe saying their washing machines are in the kitchen too then?
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South Africa too. It's the standard place for it.
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Washing comes straight from a laundry bin in the bathroom/bedroom and goes straight IN to the washing machine - no one is putting it on kitchen surfaces! How filthy are your clothes anyway FFS? Then when it is clean it mostly goes straight outside to hang it in the fresh air. In bad weather i use a drying pod (which are growing in popularity) but can also hang my washing in a covered external area or the utility room. Exactly, how is it ever going to affect your food? Don't you clean your surfaces before prepping food anyway? Ugh if not. Besides a lot are now in utility/laundry rooms these days. What nonsense.
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Why 'ew'? The washing only goes from a laundry basket straight into the washing machine and then back out and off to different location to dry - a clothes horse or often the garden - and most people aren't down in coal mines and coming home filthy. What on earth do you think people are doing that warrants 'ew'? You do realise that the kitchen is also one of the easiest places to clean? That there is no one getting sick from having a washing machine in a kitchen. It makes a lot of sense to have a washing machine a) near a water source and b) near a door to the garden so you can dry your washing naturally.
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Having pubs, schools, random post office buildings… older than any construction in America
Fanta, but not the American kind.
Don't look for the history of Fanta tho. In fact don't look any European company more than 80 y.o.
Note: this post originally had 35 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Na, most of North America has this too...just not the states.
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It totally is… haven’t even thought about it until now, but your right.
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Good public transportation infrastructure or the ability to walk or bike to work.
Frankly, this article served to show that quite a lot of Europeans are just as provincial as some Americans. This entire article read like someone expecting all Germans to be wearing lederhosen, all French people to be carrying baguettes, etc. It's also interesting how the only comparison ever made was to the US specifically, but none to other continents.
I will probably continue paying my student loans until I'm 50 or so, but the interest on Swedish student loans are very low so that's good.
Load More Replies... Hmm these are not unique to Europe except the cobble streets thing, I think. Most of these features are found in recent EU colonies such as my country.
I'm not sure that's really what the article intended to achieve - just what feels 'most European' to some people. That might mean lack of travel/knowledge in some cases of course! I don't think it should mean that other countries don't have these things or don't have other, better things. Though re-reading the BP opening paragraph... "Today, its cultural wealth is used to solidify the colourful European community and is exported to the rest of the world as one of the continent's greatest assets" what a lot of feckwittery nonsense.
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The healthcare is the biggest thing. Even as an American, on two occasions we received medical care in European hospitals, staying overnight on one occasion. No charge AT ALL. Also, amazing chocolate, and inexpensive, delicious wines. Lack of preservatives in groceries makes a huge difference in taste.
I'm from the us, I'd love to be able to move to anywhere in Europe. I can't claim refugee or asylum status because the us is considered "safe" (it definitely isn't) So I would have to have at the minimum tens of thousands of dollars just laying around to move to Europe, up to hundreds of thousands in some places. You can't come up with that kind of money where I'm from without being born into it.
What would you need that amount of money for? If you have a job (look for an international company with offices in Sweden and look into if it's possible to transfer there later on, for instance). And, you can rent an apartment quite easily if you have a job even if we're short on housing in bigger cities. Might have to hassle a bit with the paperwork getting a work permit, and so on, but that don't cost any huge amounts per se. It will be a struggle, but you don't need hundreds and thousands of dollars.
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How many ways can we bash Americans by Bored Panda and it's readers
Many Europeans don't understand how enormous the US is. You could spend years just seeing the sights and meeting diverse groups of people. I love visiting other states here. The people are very friendly everywhere you go and the scenery is breathtaking.
Surprised it isn't at the top of the list: Colonizing. That is the most European thing ever. Steamrolling over other cultures and taking their wealth and land.
Want to know what else is quintessentially European? Being a snob about how great Europe is. Go ahead, downvote the evil American for calling out Europeans for thinking things they do are quaint but if anyone else does it...
As much as it is American to think the USA are the best country in the world. What's your point, exactly?
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Na, most of North America has this too...just not the states.
Load More Replies... It totally is… haven’t even thought about it until now, but your right.
Load More Replies... Good public transportation infrastructure or the ability to walk or bike to work.
Frankly, this article served to show that quite a lot of Europeans are just as provincial as some Americans. This entire article read like someone expecting all Germans to be wearing lederhosen, all French people to be carrying baguettes, etc. It's also interesting how the only comparison ever made was to the US specifically, but none to other continents.
I will probably continue paying my student loans until I'm 50 or so, but the interest on Swedish student loans are very low so that's good.
Load More Replies... Hmm these are not unique to Europe except the cobble streets thing, I think. Most of these features are found in recent EU colonies such as my country.
I'm not sure that's really what the article intended to achieve - just what feels 'most European' to some people. That might mean lack of travel/knowledge in some cases of course! I don't think it should mean that other countries don't have these things or don't have other, better things. Though re-reading the BP opening paragraph... "Today, its cultural wealth is used to solidify the colourful European community and is exported to the rest of the world as one of the continent's greatest assets" what a lot of feckwittery nonsense.
Load More Replies... The healthcare is the biggest thing. Even as an American, on two occasions we received medical care in European hospitals, staying overnight on one occasion. No charge AT ALL. Also, amazing chocolate, and inexpensive, delicious wines. Lack of preservatives in groceries makes a huge difference in taste.
I'm from the us, I'd love to be able to move to anywhere in Europe. I can't claim refugee or asylum status because the us is considered "safe" (it definitely isn't) So I would have to have at the minimum tens of thousands of dollars just laying around to move to Europe, up to hundreds of thousands in some places. You can't come up with that kind of money where I'm from without being born into it.
What would you need that amount of money for? If you have a job (look for an international company with offices in Sweden and look into if it's possible to transfer there later on, for instance). And, you can rent an apartment quite easily if you have a job even if we're short on housing in bigger cities. Might have to hassle a bit with the paperwork getting a work permit, and so on, but that don't cost any huge amounts per se. It will be a struggle, but you don't need hundreds and thousands of dollars.
Load More Replies... How many ways can we bash Americans by Bored Panda and it's readers
Many Europeans don't understand how enormous the US is. You could spend years just seeing the sights and meeting diverse groups of people. I love visiting other states here. The people are very friendly everywhere you go and the scenery is breathtaking.
Surprised it isn't at the top of the list: Colonizing. That is the most European thing ever. Steamrolling over other cultures and taking their wealth and land.
Want to know what else is quintessentially European? Being a snob about how great Europe is. Go ahead, downvote the evil American for calling out Europeans for thinking things they do are quaint but if anyone else does it...
As much as it is American to think the USA are the best country in the world. What's your point, exactly?
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