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Study the Culture

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The people and culture of the Netherlands are rich and beautiful, as well as unique. So if you're vacationing there for a week or so, one of the best things that you can do is study the culture. Learn a little about it, observe people, and check out the local resources that will help you better understand the Dutch people.

The Languages and Religions of the People of the Netherlands

The official language in the Netherlands is Dutch, and nearly everyone living there speaks it. Many people also speak Frisian, which sounds a lot like Dutch, German, and English. In addition to their national languages, the people of the Netherlands almost always speak addition foreign languages. About 75% of the inhabitants of the Netherlands speak English, 60%, German, and 17%, French.

About 30% of the population of the Netherlands claims to be Roman Catholic, 20% Protestant, 8% "other", and 42% unaffiliated with a church. The "other" category that made up about 8% of the population is comprised of Muslims originally from places like Morocco and Turkey (approximately 920,000 individuals), Hindus originally brought from India as servants (about 200,000), and Jews (between 30,000 and 40,000). The numbers of Jews living in the Netherlands used to be so much higher (about 140,000) that Amsterdam, the capital, was called "Jerusalem of the West." However, most of these Dutch Jews were murdered during the Holocaust, and the remaining Dutch Jews are much more liberal than their Orthodox ancestors.

Attitude of the Netherlands's People
The people of the Netherlands are driven by several strong attitudes that guide their culture and way of life.
• Live and Let Live. This is one of the attitudes that has helped the Dutch people to survive for so long. Though they are not disinterested in other people, their perception of the world tells them that they will live in peace if they maintain their own privacy and honor the privacy of others. Because of this, a visitor might notice with surprise that people don't regularly speak to strangers, personal space is of the highest value, and that homes are very private places into which others are not usually invited. This "live and let live" philosophy has seemed to lead to fewer conflicts in the Netherlands.
• Pragmatism. While they have been viewed with some disdain for this position, the Dutch are absolutely pragmatic. Before acting, whether it be in their homes, jobs, or government, they ask themselves what the consequences of their actions will be and then choose the simpler means to a better end. For example, general Dutch nature assumes that if drugs like marijuana and acts like prostitution and abortion are illegal, those wanting to participate will simply be forced underground. Prices will go up, crime will rise, etc. Their pragmatic approach to life insists that by making these things into non-issues, life in general will be simpler and problems will take care of themselves. Interestingly, the number of abortions in the Netherlands is the lowest in the world.
• Fair. An interesting aspect of the Netherlands's society is the fairness of it all. The difference between the lowest income in the country and the highest income in the country is relatively small, especially in comparison with other countries. And those that make more have to pay much higher taxes. In addition to this, the normal person bikes to work - whether in a "high" position or "low." The Dutch culture values what is fair rather than a display of wealth or status. Ever heard of "going Dutch" - which means that each person on an outing pays for his own bill? This is the norm in the Netherlands - even on a date.

Marriage and Family in the Netherlands

The Dutch people generally have very strong and moderately sized families (though some Catholic families are a bit larger). The family unit is valued highly in Dutch culture, and people of the Netherlands generally live close to other members of their extended families.

Holidays are extremely important to the family, and gatherings of the family are promoted. Each family has its own traditions for Christmas and New Year's Eve. Celebrations take place together. Even the birthday is an important event in the life of a family. It is completely common for friends to offer congratulations not only to the person whose birthday it is but also to all of their relatives!

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