Netherlands Culture Essay

Goedendag-Hello!~ The culture of the Netherlands is an interesting and beautiful country and culture, of which I am proud to be a part of. The Netherlands has an amazing history and facts that have made it the country it is today. The culture is different from the American culture, although some of the normality’s my family still has. Netherlands culture is different, but an important part of other cultures.

Netherlands little quirks that make it special are of of the best parts about it. Netherlands history is an important part, because without it the Netherlands would not be what it is today. On January 3, 1648, the Netherlands was founded. The royal House of Orange was the main royal class in that time, and Prince Williams was the man

who led Netherlands to freedom from the British, but it still has a hereditary monarchy. The flag of Netherlands actually represent Prince Williams of Orange, the blue and white representing the heraldic colors. Orange used to be the top stripe, but it was later changed to red. The geography of Netherlands is absolutely stunning. It is low lying with many rivers and canals. Amsterdam is actually the capitol of the Netherlands. This is one of the most beautiful cities in the world because of the canals and streets. One of the reasons both Amsterdam and the Netherlands are absolutely gorgeous is because of the flowers. Netherlands prides themselves on their country flower, the tulip, and their abundance of flowers. Someone can find fields and fields of flowers, complete with the windmill on every farm. Windmills are not famous in Netherlands because the Dutch created them, but because of their innovative use of them. Dutch use windmills to drain water by using, “Buckets fitted to a wheel turned by wind power…” According to The Netherlands.
The culture and normality’s of Netherlands are very unique and important for both the Netherlands and other countries.

Dutch people are generally tall with light hair and eyes. They are also very house proud, meaning they keep their houses well-kept and tidy. Most people live in the cities, which are very well urbanized. Christianity is the main religion, split between Protestants and Catholic Faiths. Although, many people in Netherlands have no religion. Many Dutch spend their free time alone with family or tending their gardens. Cafes are also an important part of the Dutch lifestyle, with either a brown or white café. Brown cafes are older and cozier, while white cafes are modern. Dutch are also the main producers of cheese! They are very fond of cheese, with their main kinds being either Gouda or Edam. Six major types of cheese are produced by the Dutch and exported around the world. So without Netherlands, there would be no cheese. The arts have a large role in Dutch culture. Painting is a huge part of Dutch history and culture. The paintings produced in the Golden Age of Netherlands are cherished around the world. Music is also a part of culture the Dutch are fond of. Musicians are regularly playing on the streets, and many families have one or more members who play an instrument. “The Netherlands has produced many talented musicians. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam and the Residentie Orchestra in The Hague are two of the finest ensembles in the world.” This just goes to show how arts has been a main part of Dutch life and

culture.
My culture is Dutch, and although my family has been living in America for three generations, there are still some similarities in our lifestyle that relate back to the Dutch life. My great grandmother and father both came to America from the Netherlands together. Very little is known about how they started out in America, but they had children. My mother’s side is all Dutch, both grandparents having parents from the Netherlands. Although my father’s side has some other cultures mixed in, Dutch is the main culture for him as well. Some of the cultural similarities that my family still practices that are still practiced today are the food. My mother eats herring almost every day, which is a delicacy in Netherlands. Cheese is also important to our family, having fancy cheeses now and then. A banket, an almond pastry from Netherlands, is loved by our family. My mother having eaten many of them from when she was a child loves to make them. Our family look also resembles those of a Dutch family. My mother has blonde hair and blue eyes, like most Dutch. Dutch families are normally very small, not containing many relatives or children, and neither does ours. Children’s views and opinions are important for family decisions in the Dutch eyes, meaning the child will be heard instead of ignored and not taken into consideration. “…significant Dutch communities can be found in Iowa, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Montana, Washington, Utah, and California.” My mother was born in Iowa and lived most of her child life there. This goes to show that she has grown up around Dutch people, even while not living in the Netherlands.
The Dutch culture is unique, but important for the world. Without it, we would have lost a main producer of cheese, flowers, and eco-friendly energy. The normality’s may seem weird to Americans, but they are what makes Netherlands so special. I am proud that my culture is the Dutch culture, and glad to know how Netherlands has been an important part of the world. Goodbye!-Doei!