The 10 things people are terrified of

Actually, I'm not really that scared very quickly. In an airplane I sleep right through the landing, I remove insects from the wall with a piece of kitchen roll, and you won't easily drive me crazy in a malfunctioning elevator. But I have my own repertoire of phobias. My number one is small, hairy, fast, has a tail, and gnaws a tunnel through the biscuit roll if you're not careful. The goosebumps rise on my neck after this enumeration. Indeed: rats and mice, so scary it's crying. And dirty.

In Eindhoven, I don't have much trouble with my phobia because I've never had a one-on-one mouse confrontation there. But in Amsterdam I do. They jumped out of the trash bag at my home when I wanted to change it. Or they lay dead with their legs stretched out at the bottom of the trash can. In the kitchen, I get startled by my own shadow, and when I hear creaking at night, I dream of hundreds of mice living inside my walls.

You know that vlog from Monica Geuze, right, where she has a panic attack because of a mouse in the house? I'm not any less than that. By the way, my fear is not in the top 10 most common fears in the Netherlands, is yours?

1. Spiders

Afraid of a tarantula or harvestman? You're not alone. Fear of spiders is the most common among your fellow countrymen.

2. Fear of flying

Three shots of vodka and a quick prayer might help?

3. Social phobia

You actually become short of breath just thinking about a birthday including a circle, introductions, or small talk.

4. Claustrophobia

That story with the malfunctioning elevator and all sorts of cramped spaces.

5. Fear of heights

Stairs with holes in them. Who thinks of such things?

6. Fear of the street

Not being able to walk comfortably to the supermarket on the corner anymore.

7. Afraid of thunder and lightning

‘So it’s either pump or drown, that’s the only way,’ says Guus Meeuwis.

8. Fear of vomiting

Then you get a panic attack at the moment you have to throw up.

9. Germophobia

If there’s always a disinfecting soap in your bag… Check.

10. Fear of death

That means you avoid everything that you see as dangerous, driven by the fear of dying.

I just want to say one thing: fear is the worst advisor. Also in the case of mice.