August 31, 2009 - Dutch Culture Overview

Today is my last day before classes officially start, so I will use this last day of summer, last day of freedom, to reflect on my reactions to these new people that I will be living around for the next 4 months. Using my keen observations, detailed analysis and frequent first-hand experiences, I will try to paint a picture of the common Dutch man or woman appearances, tendencies, habits, opinions, and lifestyles. Just imagine….

I would say, overall, the Dutch are kind of quorky, in a respectful way. They aren’t goofy or odd or unusual, just quorky. Allow me to provide some examples:
A. It is perfectly normal for men to where unusually colored, or often un-matching socks, with sneakers, like high black socks with brown sneakers.
B. I still haven’t figured out why Europeans, especially the Dutch, love to wear a form of capri bottoms, especially the men.
C. “Liberal” – you couldn’t hear that word enough about the Dutch people. Whether it is legalizing, or ‘decriminalizing’ marijuana, having a laissez-faire mentality towards many governmental policies, or the whole Red Light District in Amsterdam scene, the Dutch are liberal. But liberal can also encompass accepting. The Dutch are open and accepting to many forms of people, and seek to understand and accommodate different opinions and lifestlyes.
D. Dutch dancing is not like American dancing today, yesterday or even like the dancing of the last two generations. I have been to a fair amount of clubs, and a concert or two, and all I can understand is that the Dutch appear to do more bopping and jumping then actual dancing. I think Dutch dancing is really just dancing alone next to someone else who is also dancing alone. So if you get a lot of people dancing alone, it appears as if they are actually dancing in unison…somewhat. This has posed many a problem when trying to dance with female prospects. What I am learning is that I can just flail my arms, shake my hips and do the occasionally raving jump and it appears as though I am as awkward a dancer as the Dutch. It is a work in progress.

Most Dutch people, especially in cities, ride bikes regardless of their age. And the Dutch don’t just ride their bikes! The women have perfect posture, sitting up perfectly straight, allowing their beautiful blonde or brunette hair to fly in the wind. What a site….. But the Netherlands takes biking many steps further (and I expect this is much of Europe). Roads are designed with bike lanes, laws and lights – many of those I still haven’t figured out. Streets are outlined by first sidewalks, then a curb, then bike lines, then a divider, and then the street. Rotaries (circles) have a bike line around the perimeter and special bike lanes next to the car lanes to enter or exit the rotaries. A lot of this can be figured out as you go because all the bike lines are marked with a purplish tinge along the pavement. But I will say this, these bike lanes are not meant for speed racing or trick jumps. I know from firsthand experience. Let’s just say that I saw a speed hump in my bike lane, tried to jump it with my brand new, second hand, thin-tired, road bike, and it didn’t end well, as indicated by the long scrape on my forearm. Lastly, just imagine navigating the bikes in the rain (like this morning), throughout traffic, with wet cobblestones. I feel like I am ready for the Tour de France, just assuming my bottom side heals from the imposing bike seat.

Societal bike law discourages passing the biker in front of you, unless they are some obnoxious American who has no idea what the hell he is doing (of course not me). What I have realized is that this fosters a slower pace and a more relaxing biking experience. And similar to the biking experience, I am finding that the Dutch live at a slower pace overall. Enjoy this picture: Imagine a full street along a waterfront full of restaurants, cafes and bars all with outdoor seating. In the USA this is a common site as well, but instead of having outdoor tables with chairs facing each other, in the Netherlands it appears as though all outdoor seating chairs face out, so people sit side-by-side and not across from each other. I didn’t understand what such anti-socialness was created until Kelly and I experienced it recently. As we sipped our coke and apple juice (yes I did get apple juice) and looked out into the crowds of people passing by, we made some small talk, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, as the clock ticked away. After an hour of people-watching, small conversation, many deep breathes and constant fresh air, I realized that never had I had a more relaxing taste of apple juice in my life.

The Dutch also always look put together. Jeans, a shirt, often with a collar, and nice shoes. The typical accessories of a nice coat, bag, or hat. Couples stroll along, hand in hand, as if they were just picked out of a clothing magazine. And the women ….. so natural! It seems like most of the women just put on jeans and a shirt, put their hair into a ponytail, and walk out of the door. There isn’t an emphasis on makeup, hair-styling, and the most fashionable, celebrity promoted clothing. The Dutch women are natural beauties, and they know it. There are however, a few people who don’t wear the typical jeans and a nice shirt but that’s because they usually are a biker by hobby or manager of a gym. You rarely see sweat pants, baggy jeans, yoga/palates spandex, athletic jumpsuits etc. The bottom line is that people dress their part and always look good doing it.

Like fashion and female styling is not a primary component in the Dutch cultural fabric, either is pretentious belongings. You will never see a massive SUV or pimped out sedan. Cars are for transportation and not a display of social status – and that’s for the people who even have cars. Similarly, clothing is for wearing and rarely, from what I have witnessed, for showing off. Granted people have personal preferences and some people where more glamorous outfits then others, but what I see is that people have clothing not to show off, show their worth, or fit in. The same goes for other belongings as well. The Dutch, although always presentable, are always seemingly much more down to earth about the things they have.

Conversely, a major criticism of the Dutch that I have is how many students perceive education and therefore charter their careers, and I think this is not just the Dutch but much of Europe. Because the government so heavily subsidizes university education Dutch students don’t take advantage of their education as much as Americans do. (To Note: University of Maastricht only costs 1300 euros a year whereas Americans pay upwards of 45,000 dollars) I would say that most Americans that go to college know that their parents labored and saved for decades just to provide their children with a college education. Many American students are funding their own education through loans, scholarships and jobs. The value of the college education in America, overall, is much more coveted, and therefore the pressure to succeed, and maximize the college education is much greater. In the Netherlands, students yearn to ‘just pass’, which is a 5.5 out of 10, whereas in America many students are not satisfied with anything lower then some degree of a B or an A. The drive to be the best in the Netherlands is rare; rather, the goal is to make it, get by, and reach a certain plateau. It is just a difference in culture. I am not saying that I agree with the cost of American college tuition. Frankly, America needs to address the price of both private and public institutions. Today, thousands of foreign students strive to study in America but most of them only can afford it with some form of a scholarship or grant. As the world’s academic institutions improve, I believe that fewer international students will come to America to study if the price of tuition continues to rise.

The effect of Dutch university education for students is that many people don’t seem to go to university saying the equivalent of, ‘I want to work on Wall St.’, ‘I want to find the cure for cancer’, ‘I want to be a State Senator’, or ‘I want to go to Yale Law.’ In America, if you are the best, you can have those opportunities. In the Netherlands those careers are certainly respected but not sought after as much. People can make ends meet, and even be comfortable being a full time waiter at a pub, or local servicemen, taxi driver, or public works laborer. And there is nothing wrong with those careers. Additionally, many people, across Europe, will claim unemployment for a year to three years because they can earn almost as much from the government as if they were working. I am finding that the desire to be in the top payment bracket is also minimized because of how high their income is taxed. Until a few years ago the top salary bracket for the Dutch, which is 40,000 Euroes or more annually, was taxed at 72%, now it is 56% - so why work! And that is a fundamental difference. Living in this environment has shown me both sides of the coin. On one hand, not stressing 24/7 about making a ton of money and being the absolute best at whatever you do can provide you with a more stress-free, worry free, or demanding lifestyle. True, you will not have as much financial flexibility and therefore be unable to do everything that you want, but intern you will have a calmer lifestyle. But conversely, if you work to be the best, make the most money, and succeed at that, you will have the opportunities to do whatever you want. Sure at times life may get extremely hectic, and you will fulfill the American ‘work-o-holic’ stereotype, but isn’t it worth it? So that is the balance that I seek…….

Overall, the Dutch are very pleasant, very helpful, very awkwardly fun, and live in general at a much slower pace in life. They appear more modest and less arrogant then the American stereotype. They are accepting and honest, straight-forward and sharp. The women are much better looking than the men, no joke. And all Dutch people know the value of a good outdoor seat, with a drink, and a timeless lunch break. I hope to learn a lot more from the Dutch, while still maintaining my American (protestant) work ethic. More to come….