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.
Outspoken And Straightforward. When it comes to communication, the Dutch are known for being direct, blunt, and no-nonsense kind of people. This is on point, and the Dutch society even has a term for it, ' bespreekbaarheid', meaning “speakability”. They believe that there is no sense in talking around in circles.
Dutch people do not like to make detailed agreements or long-term plans. They prefer to simply start working together and let things develop. This requires much closer coordination and the willingness to adjust course if necessary.
Dutch women have significantly longer and broader faces compared with UK women; their palpebral fissure and nasal widths are significantly greater, their nasal ridge length and upper face proportion are significantly reduced; and their nares are significantly more anteverted.
Dutch culture values industriousness, social responsibility, democratic principles, education, and tolerance. They believe everyone has a voice—and they will share their opinion. (They will expect you to do the same.) The Dutch have a universally powerful sense of community and the environment.
From the windmills of Kinderdijk to the tulips of the Keukenhof, the Dutch are especially proud of their iconic landmarks and attractions. This pride is also found in the modern achievements of the country, such as their entrepreneurial spirit and progressive social policies.
The Dutch people like to give and receive compliments on looks. This can be done in a more flirty setting, but it's also very common between colleagues, friends, and family members. The level of flirtyness depends on the intensity of the compliment, and the setting.
In The Netherlands approximately 80% of the inhabitants have green or blue eyes. Germany (especially the northern part of the country) follows with almost 70% having lighter eye colours. Within the ”light” eyed population, the green eyes are outnumbered by the blue eyes.
God created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands. A land of giants, the Netherlands is the loftiest nation on Earth: the average height of a Dutch man is 182.5cm; a Dutch woman 168.7cm. By comparison their American counterparts measure 177.1cm and 163.5cm respectively.
When it comes to dating, the Dutch like to keep things casual and let things progress naturally. And just like anything else in life, they prefer to approach their romantic pursuits with a sense of practicality.
Basic Etiquette
It is considered rude to keep people waiting. It is polite to cover your mouth when yawning. It is rude to speak whilst chewing gum. Knock before entering a room if the door is shut.
Our country is ranked fifth in the World Happiness Report 2023. In the newspaper AD, happiness researcher Ruut Veenhoven says we are so happy because we can make choices. "There is a sense of choice. You have to be able to choose to know who you are.
Dutch painting and crafts are world renowned, and Dutch painters are among the greatest the world has ever known. The Dutch themselves take great pride in their cultural heritage, and the government is heavily involved in subsidizing the arts, while abjuring direct artistic control of cultural enterprises.
As a consequence, over time, English-speaking people used the word 'Dutch' to refer to both people from Netherlands and Germany. 'High Dutch' referred to people living in the mountainous region (now southern Germany). 'Low Dutch' referred to people from the flatlands (now the Netherlands).
For the most part, scientists believed this was due to wealth, a rich diet and quality health care. But a new study suggests that the overall height of Dutch people may actually be human evolution in action. Scientists have identified 180 genes that influence your height.
Inclusive and welcoming culture
In general, the Dutch are welcoming to foreigners and make an effort to engage newcomers into the community. They are known for their egalitarianism and are a fairly liberal society. Expats moving to the Netherlands will have plenty of opportunity to meet people in the Netherlands.
At just over 6 feet for men and about 5-foot-6 for women, the Dutch are still the world's tallest population. But the growth that has seen the country to the top of global height charts for decades appears to have ground to a halt.
Are the Dutch considered Scandinavian? While Dutch people have several similar character traits to Scandinavians, they are not considered Scandinavian. Instead, they are their own ethnic group. Although the Dutch are not considered Scandinavian, both are included when discussing Germanic ethnicities.
The darker complexions were usually due to intermarriage or out of wedlock births with Spanish soldiers during the Spanish occupation of the Netherlands. Many of these so-called “Black Dutch” are still in New York today while other families migrated south and west to other states.
The Dutch are generally less tactile among strangers and acquaintances. It is common for couples to display affection in public. Body Language: Dutch people rely heavily on words and generally make less use of body language to emphasise a point in communication.
Flirting in the Netherlands
Dutch guys are known for being pretty direct and not shy of going Dutch. Be warned, you may have to open the doors yourself, ask or fish for compliments and pay for your own dinner. The good thing is, you know sooner when a guy is really honestly interested instead of just being romantic.