Habits of Holland
The Dutch have a code of etiquette which governs social behaviour and is considered important. Because of the international position of the Netherlands, many books have been written on the subject. Some customs may not be true in all regions and they are never absolute.
In addition to those specific to the Dutch, many general points of European etiquette apply to the Dutch as well.
Art and Design
Famous Dutch icons
Wooden shoes
Dutch tulips
The old Mill
Dutch Cows
Windmill
'Sjoelen' at King's Day
Holiday in Dutch style
'Flessenlikker'
Cycling
habit 1. Dutch assertiveness
Dutch assertiveness can come across as rude (onbeschoft / lomp) and sometimes even a bit aggressive. If you are not good at sticking up for yourself, you can easily become the victim in a conflict. Having at least one Dutch friend, male or female, can be handy!
Dutch history of Delta Works
Shorten Dutch coastline
The Delta Works is a series of construction projects in the southwest of the Netherlands to protect a large area of land around the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta from the sea. The works consist of dams, sluices, locks, dykes, levees, and storm surge barriers. The aim of the dams, sluices, and storm surge barriers was to shorten the Dutch coastline, thus reducing the number of dikes that had to be raised.
Building and Damming
The estuaries of the rivers Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt have been subject to flooding over the centuries. After building the Afsluitdijk, the Dutch started studying the damming of the Rhine-Meuse Delta. Plans were developed to shorten the coastline and turn the delta into a group of freshwater lakes. By shortening the coastline, fewer dikes would have to be reinforced.
Seven Wonders
Along with the Zuiderzee Works, Delta Works have been declared one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. An important part of this project was fundamental research to help solve the flooding problem.
Eastern Scheldt
Storm Surge Barrier
The needed level of flood protection and the resulting costs are a recurring subject of debate.
Battle against the sea
Due to climate change and relative sea-level rise, the dikes will eventually have to be made higher and wider. This is a long term uphill battle against the sea.
Currently, reinforcement of the dike revetments along the Oosterschelde and Westerschelde is underway. The revetments have proven to be insufficient and need to be replaced. This work started in 1996 and should be finished in 2015. In that period the Ministry of Public Works and Water Management in cooperation with the waterboards will have reinforced over 400 km of dikes.
In September 2008, the Delta commission presided by Dutch politician Cees Veerman advised in a report that the Netherlands would need a massive new building program to strengthen the country's water defenses against the anticipated effects of global warming for the next 190 years. The commission said the country must plan for a rise in the North Sea of 1.3 meters by 2100 and 4 meters by 2200.
Typical Dutch traditional food
'Stroopwafels'
Dutch herring
Pea soup
Cheese
'Beschuit met muisjes'
Stew 'Boerenkool' with gravy
Bread with 'hagelslag'
Fries with mayonaise
Meatball
'Drop'
habit 2. Dutch Hospitality
The Dutch will invite only very close friends and relatives they feel close to for a home dinner. It might take a long time of friendship before this will happen or it might never happen at all.
If you are invited to have dinner at someone's home, it is polite to bring a bottle of wine along as a way of saying thanks for the dinner and to show appreciation for the invitation. Similarly it is also usual to present flowers.
Example of a timeline
De stijl
Piet Mondriaan
Dutch painter who was a contributor to the 'De Stijl' art movement and group, which was founded by Theo van Doesburg.
Innovative design
Bike design
Dutch painter who was a contributor to the 'De Stijl' art movement and group, which was founded by Theo van Doesburg.
Children's books
Miffy by Dick Bruna
Dutch painter who was a contributor to the 'De Stijl' art movement and group, which was founded by Theo van Doesburg.
Baby Buggy
Van Gogh
Rem Koolhaas house
Eleven Cities Tour - Elfstedentocht
Excitement all over the country
Since the Elfstedentocht is such a rare event, its declaration creates excitement all over the country - in the build-up to a possible race in 2012, Mark Rutte, the Dutch Prime Minister remarked "once every 15 years our country is not governed from The Hague but by 22 district heads in Friesland. And our country is in good hands".
Elfstedenkoorts
As soon as a few days pass with sub-zero temperatures, the media start speculating about the chances for an Elfstedentocht. The longer the freezing temperatures stay, the more intense this "Elfstedenkoorts" (eleven cities fever) gets - culminating in a national near-frenzy when it is announced that the tour will actually be held.
The hell of '63
The Elfstedentocht of 1963 became known as "The hell of '63" when only 69 of the 10,000 participants were able to finish the race, due to the extremely low temperatures, -18 °C, and a harsh eastern wind. Conditions were so horrendous that the 1963 winner, Reinier Paping, became a national hero, and the tour itself legendary
Eleven cities tour bridge in Gytsjerk
A unique monument along the route
GYTSJERK - The Eleven cities ice skating tour over 200 kilometres (120 miles) is conducted on frozen canals, rivers and lakes between the eleven historic Frisian cities in the north of The Netherlands. It's a rare event as the natural ice has to be at least 17 centimetres (6,7 inch) thick. Both the distance and the harsh sub-zero weather conditions make the tour a challenge for the 16,000 skaters.
As a tribute to the thousands of skaters that finished the Eleven cities tour, the bridge near Gytsjerk has been tiled with their pictures.
In 1986 the former Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander participated in the Eleven cities tour under the nickname W.A. van Buren, a name often used by his grandmother Queen Juliana. Also a tile with his picture has been added to the bridge.
Other Dutch customs and behavior
Orange Color Sentiment
During international soccer tournaments involving the Dutch team everything in the Netherlands turns orange, including the Dutch themselves. Another reason to go orange is the Queen Day.
Talk about the weather
Complaining about the weather is the favorite. But complaining about the government, traffic jams, dog shit and public transport is popular too.
Tolerance
The Netherlands is a tolerant nation in which all the major religions are represented. Every individual has the right to change his or her religion and is free to practice his religion or conviction.
Unique Dutch Heritage
Hurdy-gurdy
Sailing home
habit 3. Being down-to-earth
The Lowlands' lack of glitter and glamour can be linked to the national motto "Doe maar normaal, dan doe je al gek genoeg". Literally this means "Just behave normally, it’s crazy enough". This Calvinist attitude is all about modesty (bescheidenheid) and being down-to-earth (nuchterheid).
Arrogance (kapsones) is considered a high crime in Holland. In talent shows in the Netherlands, the much-too-arrogant candidate will never make it to the next round. Talent or no talent.