Dutch habits

Although the Dutch reputation as a Calvinist nation may still refer to a collection of typical Dutch conservative virtues such as restraint, hard work and modesty, the Dutch are also known for their tolerance, dislike for regulations, joviality and easygoing nature. After all, “komt goed” (it’ll all be alright) is a favourite Dutch expressions. Here we have a look at some examples of what typifies the Dutch.

Tolerance: With its open mind on drugs, same-sex marriage and euthanasia, the Dutch continue their global reputation as being tolerant. This is shown, for example, in the Dutch concept of “gedoogbeleid”, when a governing body chooses to not prosecute certain legal violations: smoking pot is legally forbidden, but not prosecuted if someone just buys a small amount for personal use.

Directness: The Dutch are known abroad in particular for their directness and readiness to express their, often unsolicited, opinions. This may cause confusion especially in international business meetings, but like it or not, many say such directness helps them know where they stand with each other.

Equal say: Everyone tends to have an equal say in the Netherlands, and the so-called poldermodel ─ a Dutch term for a method of consensus decisionmaking on important issues ─ is ingrained in Dutch business, politics and group meetings. Many say it creates synergy, although it can also lead to inertia as no one is willing to take an actual decision.

Punctuality: The Dutch like to make arrangements and stick to them. Therefore, showing up unannounced at someone’s house is frowned upon, and being late is not accepted, at least in business. This start and end at the announced time. This Dutch inclination for punctuality can be experienced, for example, at 6PM, when the whole country seems to stop as everyone is eating their dinner!

Cycles: From cargo bikes (bakfiets) crammed with children, dogs, shopping or furniture during a house sale; colourful and sturdy grandma bikes, to superfast electric bikes and folding bikes to take on the train: everyone is at it in the Netherlands. Take care specially on Sunday, when the Dutch take to the roads and woods on their mountain or racing bikes, dressed for the occasion in all the appropriate colourful lycra and spandex.

Going Dutch: The term Going Dutch shows the typical Dutch love affair with being frugal, and is used internationally when a group of people in a bar or restaurant decide to split the bill. This is indeed very common in the Netherlands: when eating or drinking with a group, everyone pays for themselves; or expect a Tikkie (electronic payment demand) by the person who has paid the bill.

Typical Dutch words: There are two words that typify the Dutch the most: “gezellig” – an atmosphere or feeling of all things cosy, friendly, homely – and “lekker”, which is for everything that tastes nice, looks nice or feels nice. Incidentally, you might notice someday a Dutch person waving their hand next to their face in royal fashion as they are eating. This denotes that the food is very very lekker.

Apologising: The word “sorry” is not used much in the Netherlands for those little awkward everyday situations. Perhaps because Dutch people have a tendency to take things very literally, and the Dutch might think: why say it when you don’t really mean it?

Making things small: The Dutch have a habit to add the diminutive suffix -je ,-tje or -pje after nouns and names, a bit like doggy. So, the Dutch will order a “biertje” with a “borrelnootje”. But they don’t necessarily mean a small beer or a few small nuts: it is their way of expressing themselves and it just makes it more gezellig.

Long words: They might make words smaller in meaning, like the neighbouring Germans, but the Dutch also have the tendency to make words very long by stringing a whole bunch of them together. Hottentottententententoonstelling is the famous,

artificial ten-syllabic word that is often cited as an example.

English words: Lately, anyone that goes shopping, or shoppen in Dutch, will notice the word “sale” everywhere, which seems to have replaced the word “uitverkoop”. This integration of the English language has gone far beyond the word “computer” and seems here to stay.

Just be normal! One of the most well-known Dutch sayings is “just act normal, it’s crazy enough”. According to the famous Dutch dictionary Van Dale, it’s an expression that characterises Dutch nature and means something like: just get over yourself, don’t make a fuss, don’t stand out too much.

Borrel: The Dutch like to enjoy a borrel, with a glass of wine or a little frothy beer, around a bittergarnituur: a collection of deep-fried warm savoury snacks such as bitterballen and kaassoufflés.

Peanut sauce: The Dutch love affair peanuts is not just expressed by eating peanut butter on bread, but also by patatje oorlog (literally “war chips”), a tray of messy fries with mayonnaise and peanut sauce. This reveals a glimpse of its colonial past, as it came to the country from modern-day Indonesia, a former Dutch colony. Another favourite dish is saté – skewers of meat with peanut sauce. Both can be found on the menu in nearly every Dutch a kind of informal restaurant-bistro.

Trakteren: The Dutch love the art of handing out snacks (trakteren) on their birthday, and will bring with them a traktatie, a tray of special treats for everyone at their work, school, or whatever social gathering they might be attending during their birthday.

Pancakes: The Dutch don’t need Pancake Day, as this sweet or savoury food is a main staple in the Dutch kitchen. At any of the numerous pancake houses you will find the traditional powdered sugar and syrup waiting for you on the tables. Favourites are sweet and savoury at the same time, such as the cheese and syrup or syrup and bacon varieties.

Beschuit met muisjes: The birth of a new baby is celebrated with this festive treat, simply put a dry biscuit (rake) with little mice, made of sugar-coated aniseed. The story goes that it originates from an 18th-century habit, when aniseed was hailed as a healthy tonic for new mothers, whilst the little pink and white sprinkles look like little mice.

Koffietijd: Coffee is big and gezellig in the Netherlands, and it is usually taken around 11 in the morning. Whether a more traditional black filter coffee, with a bit of cream, or as a milkier version known as koffie verkeerd (literally “wrong coffee”); whether at home with friends, or on a terrace accompanied by its standard little biscuit or small glass of advocaat with whipped cream; coffee is a special time for the Dutch.

Verplichtingen: The Dutch are very diligent when it comes to their social engagements and they even have a word for it: Verplichtingen. Such commitments or obligations mean, for example, that people are expected to turn up at every birthday and invite everyone to theirs (although not everyone celebrates theirs, of course).

Happy birthday to you too: The Dutch tend to extend congratulations to the friends and family of the person whose birthday it is. Then, to celebrate the occasion, everyone sits around a big circle in the middle of the room, the stereotypical kringverjaardag. However, it’s not all that bad: at most parties you can definitely get up and mingle!

Three kisses: Although less so after Covid, in a social setting, the Dutch greet each other with three kisses on the cheek.

De polonaise: At bigger parties with music, Dutch people might out of the blue start dancing the polonaise, a string of people with hands on the shoulders of the next person snaking around the room. It’s a rave!

Avondvierdaagse: What started as a 19th-century attempt to get the nation healthy, and served as a revolt march against oppression in World War Two, this national event has secured its place in Dutch life as a time to get together. Every summer, young and old join a 5-km walk for four nights in a row, singing songs like “We are nearly there, but not quite”. The Nijmegen version, also known as ‘The Walk of the World’, is much longer: 50 km per day. It attracts more than 40,000 walkers.

Oranjegekte: The Dutch get so revved up about major events that there is a word to describe it: Oranjegekte (orange craze) or oranjekoorts (orange fever). It’s all about turning up in orange at international football championships, the F1 Grand Prix and at King’s Day celebrations. Oranjebitter is an orange bitter liquor, traditionally enjoyed on King’s Day.

Elfstedentocht: Climate change means it’s getting increasingly unlikely, but every year, Dutch people are glued to the weather forecast with a spot of schaatskoorts, or skating fever, waiting for the possibility of an Elfstedentocht: a skating tour of approximately 200 kilometres through eleven cities in Friesland. The first one was held in 1909, the most recent in 1997. Will there be another one ever?

Fireworks: The Dutch are big on them and particularly the noisy variety. So, don’t be surprised to hear them more and more frequently as the year progresses towards New Year’s Eve, when the Dutch just cannot contain themselves any longer and it all breaks loose. However, voices have been raised against these noisy and dangerous celebrations, and some towns have now banned them. Sinterklaas: This festive children’s tradition a few weeks before Christmas has strong roots in the Netherlands. The goodly saint with the long beard and his helpers known as Pieten (Petes) travels all the way from Spain in his steam ship to leave children presents in their boots below the chimney and give them a magical time. The Petes used to have blackpainted faces, but this tradition, considered racist by many, has recently been changed in most towns. Still, expect some controversy, as ‘traditionalists’ oppose this change.