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Netherlands (Holland) -
Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette
(taken from http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/new-zealand.html)
Facts and Statistics
Location: Western Europe, bordering Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
Capital: Amsterdam
Population: 16,318,199 (July 2004 est.)
Ethnic Make-up: Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are
non-Western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and
Indonesians) (1999 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%,
other 3.6%, unaffiliated 40%
The Dutch Language
Dutch,
the official language, is spoken by around 90% of the population. Around
350,000 people, or 2.2% of the population, speak Frisian as their first
language, mainly in the northern province of Friesland, where it is recognised
as an official language. Turkish
and Arabic
are also spoken in the Netherlands, each by over 0.6% of the population.
Dutch Society & Culture
The Role of the Family
.The Dutch see the family as the foundation of the social structure.
.Families tend to be small, often with only one or two children.
.Relatively few women work outside the house full-time as compared to many
other cultures.
.This allows mothers to be more available to their children throughout the
entire day.
Dutch Demeanour
.Appearances are important to the Dutch.
.They are disciplined, conservative, and pay attention to the smallest details.
.They see themselves as thrifty, hardworking, practical and well organized.
.They place high value on cleanliness and neatness.
.At the same time, the Dutch are very private people.
.They do not draw attention to themselves and do not value the accoutrements of
success highly prized by other western societies.
.They dislike displays of wealth, as they run counter to their egalitarian
beliefs.
.They do not boast about their accomplishments or their material possessions.
Egalitarianism
.The Dutch are egalitarian and highly tolerant of individual differences.
.Their children are raised without gender biases.
.There is practically no abject poverty in the country because of the social
programs, which, however, also increase the tax burden on workers.
.This egalitarian outlook is carried over into the workplace.
.Even in hierarchical organizations, every person has a right to their opinion
and to have it heard.
.The boss may be the final decision maker, but he/she will typically want input
from the workers and will strive for consensus.
.Everyone is valued and shown respect.
Dutch Privacy
.The Dutch are reserved and formal when dealing with outsiders.
.They are private people and do not put their possessions or emotions on
display.
.Self-control is seen to be a virtue.
.The Dutch do not ask personal questions and will refuse to answer should you
be foolish enough to intrude on their privacy.
.Personal life is kept separate from business.
.If a friendship develops at work and is carried into the personal arena, this
camaraderie will not be brought into the office.
.Personal matters are not discussed with friends, no matter how close.
Etiquette and Customs in The Netherlands
Meeting and Greeting
.The handshake is the common form of greeting.
.It is firm and swift, accompanied by a smile, and repetition of your name.
.Shake hands with everyone individually including children.
.Very close friends may greet each other by air kissing near the cheek three
times, starting with the left cheek.
.Most Dutch only use first names with family and close friends.
.Wait until invited before moving to a first-name basis.
Gift Giving Etiquette
.If invited to a Dutch home bring a box of good quality chocolates, a potted
plant, a book, or flowers to the hostess.
.Flowers should be given in odd numbers, but not 13, which is unlucky.
.Avoid giving white lilies or chrysanthemums, as these are associated with
funerals.
.Gifts should be wrapped nicely.
.Wine is not a good gift if invited for dinner, as the host may already have
selected the wines for dinner.
.Do not give pointed items such as knives or scissors as they are considered
unlucky.
.Gifts are usually opened when received.
Dining Etiquette
.Dining is fairly formal in the Netherlands.
.Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the
knife in the right while eating.
.Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown to a particular
seat.
.Men generally remain standing until all the women have taken their seats.
.If you have not finished eating, cross your knife and fork in the middle of
the plate with the fork over the knife.
.Do not begin eating until the hostess starts.
.Most food is eaten with utensils, including sandwiches.
.The host gives the first toast. An honoured guest should return the toast
later in the meal.
.Salad is not cut; fold the lettuce on your fork.
.Always start with small amounts so you may accept second helpings.
.Finish everything on your plate. It is offensive to waste food in the
Netherlands.
.Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel
across the right side of your plate.
Business Etiquette and Protocol
Building Relationships & Communication
.Many Dutch are familiar with doing business with foreigners since the
Netherlands has a long history of international trade.
.They will want to know your academic credentials and the amount of time your
company has been in business.
.The business community is rather close and most senior level people know one
another.
.Older, more bureaucratic companies may still judge you by how you are
introduced so it is wise to have a third-party introduction if possible,
although it is not mandatory.
.The important thing is to demonstrate how your relationship would be
beneficial for both sides.
.The Dutch take a long-term perspective when looking at business, so be clear
what your company's intentions are.
.Since the Dutch value their personal time, do not ask them to work late or
come in over the weekend if you want to foster a good working relationship.
.The Dutch are hospitable, yet this is often reserved for family and
friends. In business they tend to be reserved and formal.
.They do not touch one another and appreciate it when those they do business
with maintain the proper distance, do not demonstrate emotion or use
exaggerated hand gestures.
.The Dutch are extremely direct in their communication.
.They may sound blunt if you come from a culture where communication is more
indirect and context driven.
.They do not use hyperbole, and likewise they expect to be told yes or no in
clear words.
.In general, ideas will be discussed quite openly at meetings, with everyone
entitled to their opinion.
.Information is shared across departments and corporate strategies and goals
are usually communicated to all employees, especially in more entrepreneurial
companies.
.Decisions are often consensus-driven in these cases.
.Always appear modest and do not make exaggerated claims about what you or your
company can deliver.
.Your word is your bond and making claims that later prove to be untrue will
brand you as unreliable.
Business Meeting Etiquette
.Do not try to schedule meetings during the summer (June through August), as
this is a common vacation period.
.Punctuality for meetings is taken extremely seriously.
.Being late may mark you as untrustworthy and someone who may not meet other
deadlines.
.If you expect to be delayed, telephone immediately and offer an explanation.
.Cancelling a meeting at the last minute could jeopardize your business
relationship.
.Meetings are rather formal in nature. Little time is spent on pleasantries.
.Meetings adhere to strict agendas, including starting and ending times. Do not
attempt to deviate from the agenda.
.Maintain direct eye contact while speaking.
Negotiations
.The Dutch prefer to get down to business quickly and engage
in relatively little small talk.
.Communication is direct and to the point, and may seem blunt.
.Make sure your arguments are rational as opposed to emotional.
.Use facts and figures to confirm your statements.
.Business is conducted slowly. The Dutch are detail-oriented and want to
understand every innuendo before coming to an agreement.
.Decision-making is consensus driven. Anyone who might be affected by the
decision is consulted, which greatly increases the time involved in reaching a
final decision.
.Avoid confrontational behaviour or high- pressure tactics.
.Once a decision is made, it will not be changed.
.Contracts are enforced strictly.
Links and Information about The Netherlands
* Currency - the currency is the Euro. Use the free currency
converter to compare to dollars, GBP, etc.
* Weather - visit Yahoo!'s up to date Weather for Netherlands.
* Translation Services - do you need a Dutch
translation service?
* News - check out all the latest Google
news on Netherlands.
* Intercultural Know-how - use the Intercultural
Business Communication tool for tips.
* Dialling Code - the international dialling code is +31.
* Time - Netherlands are +1 hours GMT.
* Management - for information about being a manager in the
Netherlands visit the free Management
in the Netherlands guide.
* History - read about the long and rich history of Netherlands.
* Hotels - for accomodation see Hotels in Netherlands.
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