It's good to see these snakes have a clear body language that tells you to take a step back.
We only have three species of snakes in The Netherlands, the grass snake (Natrix natrix), the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) and the only venemous snake here, the common European viper (Vipera berus), and that last one usually flees at the first rustle or vibration indicating "incoming human".
If you manage to approach, however, it will lift its head up, and if you keep approaching, it will coil up, ready for a strike. Just taking a step back is enough to avoid a bite.
You still haven't quite convinced me to like them 8-).
Thanks for standing by me and explaining more. I have no reason so far as to be relaxed around a snake.
Are you kidding me? Please @ocrdu, hope you won't mind checking out my blog when you're less occupied on how to tap Palm wine from a fallen palm tree.
Thanks for your time.