Who are the Dutch?

[Steven de Jong, columnist for the Dutch daily newspaper NRC Handelsblad, reports on global events for a Dutch audience, and those of us who are of Dutch descent. Here he looks at who his compatriots are today. This article appeared in the October 2012 Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) in-flight magazine – Ed.]

From above, The Netherlands looks immaculate.

From above, The Netherlands looks immaculate: a tidy patchwork of fields, straight ditches and uniform housing estates; every square metre has a purpose. The same order is reflected in Dutch society. A deal is a deal, four o’clock is four o’clock. A visit to family or friends is planned, and joining them for dinner only acceptable if it has been agreed in advance.

“Just be normal, that’s crazy enough,” goes the Dutch saying. It typifies the national character, which is termed calvinistic. Dutch people who flaunt their belongings and success are kept in line with the sneer “don’t get too big for your boots”. Excessive behaviour is not appreciated in principle, but is embraced by groups looking to celebrate their own identity: artists and fans of certain music styles, for example. Crazy glasses or weird trousers can become main stream in no time.

The Dutch consider throwing one’s money around, vulgar. Politicians score points by cycling to work. While foreign heads of state reside in castles, Dutch leaders live in modest homes. Former prime minister Wim Kok lived in a terraced house, the current prime minister Mark Rutte in an apartment in The Hague. Executive salaries and bonuses are ongoing topics of public debate. “Money-grabbing” at the top is a mortal sin.

The cycling monarch

Although The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy, it has little regard for superiority. Queen Juliana (1909 – 2004) was applauded for her everyday appearance. She knitted, peeled potatoes, dressed simply and earned her family the title of The Cycling Monarchy.

Her official birthday, on 30 April, is a popular holiday. Members of the Royal Family mingle with the commoners and take part in traditional Dutch games.

The Dutch dislike paternalism. No uniform is sacred. A son calls his father Piet. You don’t tell them what to do. You accept them as they are. You shouldn’t restrain them. The country is full of protest groups. It is a country of tolerance, except for a neighbour.

The Dutch are known for their social directness

The Dutch care for everyone. Even dogs don’t go hungry. They are known for their social directness, which can be perceived as rudeness; where speaking your mind is considered the most honest of dialogues, and agreeing to disagree is the best way to continue the longest of friendships. However, while they may sometimes be seen as impolite, that really does not do justice to their history of tolerance towards other cultures.

So as we see, on the ground The Netherlands is not quite as tranquil as it looks from the air. But ask the Dutch what they are proud of, and the lyrics of Frank Pel’s song are highly relevant: “Country of a thousand opinions, the country of soberness.”