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The Attitude of the Dutch People

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The Dutch people are a unique group of people who have often been stereotyped - on one hand as the peasants with wooden shoes and windmills, and on the other as marijuana-obsessed pornographers. Neither is an accurate portrait of these people who, in light of adversity, draw upon their courage and personal strengths to make their way. The people of the Netherlands are driven by several strong attitudes.

• 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.

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