Dutch Culture Essay

In this article, I will talk about the Dutch culture and the characteristics of the Netherlands.

Social RitualsSymbols :

The tulip flower is the emblem of the Netherlands. You can find some fields full of tulips in the country, but the best way to see them is to visit the Keukenhof Park in Amsterdam.

The bikes are for sure another symbol of the country : there are 16 million of bikes here for... 16 million of inhabitant: there are twice as many bikes as cars. This is the most common transportation way. Also, the country is extremely flat, so it is easy to ride a bike.

The orange is the national color.

The cheese is also a symbol of the Netherlands, and Alkmaar is the cheese capital ! Between April and September, you will find the Cheese market every Friday in the city center. I will talk about it in another article.

The

Wooden shoes, even if nobody wear it today, nearly everybody have a pair of at home.
National celebrations

Kings Day (Koningsdag) is the most important one ; it is the Dutch National Day and the birthday of their king Willem Alexander on April the 27th.

Nearly everybody is wearing orange and party the night before (Kings Night) and during the day. This is a joyful and festive event.

Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag) is celebrated annually on May 5th. That day marks the end of the occupation by Germany during World War II.

Sinterklaas, also known as Saint Nicholas Day, is on the 5th of December. It is like Christmas Day for France. The gifts are offered this day and not on the 25th.

Social Rituals

Fun facts about the Netherlands

The highest point in Holland is called "mountain", which is 323 meters high.

Dutch people usually have a bunch of flowers in their living rooms.

Holland has the highest museum density in the world, with almost 1000 museums.

Amsterdam is built entirely on piles

You need to pay for everything here: plastic bags, toilets, mayo or ketchup for your fries... Get used to it !

Facts about Dutch people

They are very direct : if they have something to say, they will look you directly in the eyes and say exactly what is on their

mind
When they meet for the first time, they give a handshake and say their name. If they are good friends or relatives, they can exchange three kisses on the cheeks. I noticed that if you know the other person, you don't have to give a handshake, just a "Hello" is adequate.
Dutch people are very fond of their own space, they will only invite you at their home if you are a good friend or a relative.
They don't have the same approach as French people for food : the have a small number of specialities, they prefer to eat dishes that come from another region or country (Italy, Asia, France...). Most of the time, they eat cold dish at lunch. Also, food does not play an important role in hospitality : don't expect a meal when you are invited to someone place, unless the invitation specifically mentions dinner.
Dutch people are very punctual ans strict with timetables, so do no be late with them !
Almost all the population is able to speak english, at least a little bit. I never had problem with that, which is not the case in France for a stranger who don't speak French.
Statistically, Dutch people are the tallest in the world, with an average of 185 cm for men and 170 cm for women.