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Dutch customs and etiquette

The Dutch have a code of etiquette which governs social behaviour and is considered important.[citation needed] Because of the international position of the Netherlands, many books have been written on the subject. Some customs may not be true in all regions and they are never absolute. In addition to those specific to the Dutch, many general points of European etiquette apply to the Dutch as well, as the Dutch generally view themselves as "taking the lead" in Europe but also part of it and the wider world as a whole.[1]

The people edit

The author Colleen Geske stated in her book Stuff Dutch People Like that "Dutch people consider the English or American forms of politeness a sign of weakness, and reeking of insincerity and hypocrisy. These are two traits Dutch people despise".[2]

Research for Dutch world service radio concluded that just over half of the Dutch people living abroad consider their compatriots at home less well-mannered than other nationalities. In particular, waiters, teenagers and shop staff score badly. Some 55% of Dutch expats think the Dutch have become ruder since they left the country.[3]

The Dutch and foreign languages edit

Addressing the Dutch in their native language may result in a reply in English. This phenomenon is humorously discussed in White and Boucke’s The UnDutchables:

If you take a course in the Dutch language and finally progress enough to dare to utter some sentences in public, the persons you speak to will inevitably answer you in what they detect to be your native tongue. They love to show off the fact that they have learned one or more languages.[4]

Humor edit

In the 16th century, the Dutch were renowned for their humor throughout Europe, and many travel journals have notes on the happy and celebratory nature of the Dutch. Farces and joke books were in demand and many Dutch painters chose to paint humorous paintings, Jan Steen being a good example.

 
"Fighting peasants" by Adriaen Brouwer.

The main subjects of Dutch jokes at the time were deranged households, drunken clerics (mostly of the Roman Catholic Church) and people with mental and/or physical handicaps. A main theme was the reproof of immoral ethics: the 'Vicar's wagging finger'. However, at the end of the 17th century, the Dutch Republic was in decline, and the Dutch Reformed Church denounced laughter and advocated sober lifestyles. Etiquette manuals appeared which considered it impolite to laugh out loud. This continued into the 1960s: during World War II, American soldiers were instructed not to tell jokes to the Dutch as "they would not appreciate it".[5]

Miscellaneous edit

  • Many Dutch surnames start with a tussenvoegsel, i.e. a prefix such as 'de' (the) or 'van' (from or of).[6] These are neglected in alphabetical order. So a Dutchman named 'de Vries' will say his last name starts with a 'V', and you'll find him in a telephone directory under that letter. In addition, if the first name or initial is mentioned, 'de' or 'van' starts with a lower case letter. If the first name or initial is absent, the prefix starts with a capital letter. E.g. "Jan de Vries" or "J. de Vries", versus "meneer De Vries" (Mister De Vries).[7]
  • The majority of the Dutch are irreligious and religion in the Netherlands is generally considered as a very personal matter which is not supposed to be propagated in public.[8]
  • In most matters, Dutch people tend to be straightforward and open, a tendency known as bespreekbaarheid.[9]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Rietbergen, P. J. A. N. (2000). A Short History of the Netherlands: From Prehistory to the Present Day (4th ed.). Amersfoort: Bekking. p. 156. ISBN 90-6109-440-2. OCLC 52849131.
  2. ^ Geske, Colleen. "Directness". Stuff Dutch People like. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  3. ^ "Dutch expats think the Dutch are ruder". Dutchnews.nl. 15 July 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  4. ^ White, Colin & Boucke, Laurie (2010). The "UnDutchables". White-Boucke Publishing. p. 204. ISBN 978-1-888580-44-0
  5. ^ (in Dutch) Anno - Veel poep en pies
  6. ^ Hoitink, Yvette (2005-04-10). "Prefixes in surnames". Dutch Genealogy. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  7. ^ (in Dutch) Hoofdletters in namen, Genootschap Onze Taal
  8. ^ Becker, Jos and Joep de Hart (2006). Godsdienstige veranderingen in Nederland (in Dutch). Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau. ISBN 90-377-0259-7. OCLC 84601762.
  9. ^ "Where Dutch directness comes from". BBC News. from the original on 2023-05-25.

External links edit

  • Dutch Ditz - Manners in the Netherlands (2nd print 2011), by Reinildis van Ditzhuyzen ISBN 978-90-230-1259-7 .
  • Dealing with the Dutch: A Guide for Visitors, New Residents and Better Business Relationships, by Jacob Vossestein.

dutch, customs, etiquette, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, written, like, personal, reflection, personal, essay, argumentative, essay, th. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article is written like a personal reflection personal essay or argumentative essay that states a Wikipedia editor s personal feelings or presents an original argument about a topic Please help improve it by rewriting it in an encyclopedic style February 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article is written like a manual or guide Please help rewrite this article and remove advice or instruction November 2015 This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Dutch customs and etiquette news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message The Dutch have a code of etiquette which governs social behaviour and is considered important citation needed Because of the international position of the Netherlands many books have been written on the subject Some customs may not be true in all regions and they are never absolute In addition to those specific to the Dutch many general points of European etiquette apply to the Dutch as well as the Dutch generally view themselves as taking the lead in Europe but also part of it and the wider world as a whole 1 Contents 1 The people 1 1 The Dutch and foreign languages 1 2 Humor 2 Miscellaneous 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksThe people editThe author Colleen Geske stated in her book Stuff Dutch People Like that Dutch people consider the English or American forms of politeness a sign of weakness and reeking of insincerity and hypocrisy These are two traits Dutch people despise 2 Research for Dutch world service radio concluded that just over half of the Dutch people living abroad consider their compatriots at home less well mannered than other nationalities In particular waiters teenagers and shop staff score badly Some 55 of Dutch expats think the Dutch have become ruder since they left the country 3 The Dutch and foreign languages edit Addressing the Dutch in their native language may result in a reply in English This phenomenon is humorously discussed in White and Boucke s The UnDutchables If you take a course in the Dutch language and finally progress enough to dare to utter some sentences in public the persons you speak to will inevitably answer you in what they detect to be your native tongue They love to show off the fact that they have learned one or more languages 4 Humor editIn the 16th century the Dutch were renowned for their humor throughout Europe and many travel journals have notes on the happy and celebratory nature of the Dutch Farces and joke books were in demand and many Dutch painters chose to paint humorous paintings Jan Steen being a good example nbsp Fighting peasants by Adriaen Brouwer The main subjects of Dutch jokes at the time were deranged households drunken clerics mostly of the Roman Catholic Church and people with mental and or physical handicaps A main theme was the reproof of immoral ethics the Vicar s wagging finger However at the end of the 17th century the Dutch Republic was in decline and the Dutch Reformed Church denounced laughter and advocated sober lifestyles Etiquette manuals appeared which considered it impolite to laugh out loud This continued into the 1960s during World War II American soldiers were instructed not to tell jokes to the Dutch as they would not appreciate it 5 Miscellaneous editMany Dutch surnames start with a tussenvoegsel i e a prefix such as de the or van from or of 6 These are neglected in alphabetical order So a Dutchman named de Vries will say his last name starts with a V and you ll find him in a telephone directory under that letter In addition if the first name or initial is mentioned de or van starts with a lower case letter If the first name or initial is absent the prefix starts with a capital letter E g Jan de Vries or J de Vries versus meneer De Vries Mister De Vries 7 The majority of the Dutch are irreligious and religion in the Netherlands is generally considered as a very personal matter which is not supposed to be propagated in public 8 In most matters Dutch people tend to be straightforward and open a tendency known as bespreekbaarheid 9 See also edit nbsp Netherlands portal nbsp Society portalEtiquette in Europe Intercultural competence Dutch honours systemReferences edit Rietbergen P J A N 2000 A Short History of the Netherlands From Prehistory to the Present Day 4th ed Amersfoort Bekking p 156 ISBN 90 6109 440 2 OCLC 52849131 Geske Colleen Directness Stuff Dutch People like Retrieved 22 May 2014 Dutch expats think the Dutch are ruder Dutchnews nl 15 July 2008 Retrieved 22 May 2014 White Colin amp Boucke Laurie 2010 The UnDutchables White Boucke Publishing p 204 ISBN 978 1 888580 44 0 in Dutch Anno Veel poep en pies Hoitink Yvette 2005 04 10 Prefixes in surnames Dutch Genealogy Retrieved 2021 12 14 in Dutch Hoofdletters in namen Genootschap Onze Taal Becker Jos and Joep de Hart 2006 Godsdienstige veranderingen in Nederland in Dutch Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau ISBN 90 377 0259 7 OCLC 84601762 Where Dutch directness comes from BBC News Archived from the original on 2023 05 25 External links editDutch Ditz Manners in the Netherlands 2nd print 2011 by Reinildis van Ditzhuyzen ISBN 978 90 230 1259 7 Website Reinildis van Ditzhuyzen English Dealing with the Dutch A Guide for Visitors New Residents and Better Business Relationships by Jacob Vossestein Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dutch customs and etiquette amp oldid 1175243008, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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