COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

In partial fulfillment of

LANGUAGE ELECTIVE 1 (DUTCH)

SECOND SEMESTER S.Y.2021-2022

COMPILATION OF REPORT PRESENTATIONS

Submitted to
Mw. Josephine L. Aperloo
Lecturer

Submitted by
CLASS SECTION B1

TEAM 10:

LEADER: TALAUGON, KAYLA JANE L.

MEMBERS: TINDUGAN, SYLESTER

TIMBANG, JONAREN THEA
 TIZON, JEWEL MAE E.STUDENTS PROFILE

TALAUGON, KAYLA JANE L. TIZON, JEWEL MAE E.

TINDUGAN, SYLESTER TIMBANG, JONAREN THEA

 TABLE OF CONTENTS:

DUTCH TRADITION
 Visit the Veluwe
 Sinterklaas
 The Havdalah
 Oliebollen: Welcoming the New Year with a Dutch Tradition
 Carnaval in the Netherlands: Its origins and traditions
 Eating Herring
 Beer tasting
 Cheese tasting
 Kings day in the Netherlands
 Ice skating

TYPICAL DUTCH
 Typical Dutch Family
 Typical Dutch Demeanor
 Typical Dutch Cuisine
 Typical Dutch Delicacies
 Dutch Skating
 Dutch Windmill
 Dutch Wooden Clogs
 Dutch Tulips
 Dutch Bicycles
 Dutch Raw Herring Onion
 Dutch Cheese
 Dutch Drop
 Dutch Stroopwafels
 Happy People
 Greetings
 Direct Approach
 Punctuality
 INTRODUCTION

Dutch Tradition and Typical Dutch

The English word "Dutch" derives from the German deutsch ("German"). "Dutch"

referred originally to both Germany and the Netherlands but came to be restricted to
the people and language of the Netherlands when that country became independent
in the seventeenth century. "Holland" and "the Netherlands" often are used as
synonyms even though "Holland" refers only to the provinces North and South
Holland.

The Dutch distinguish between two major cultural subdivisions in their nation. The
most important distinction is between the Randstad (Rim City) and non-Randstad
cultures. Randstad culture is distinctly urban, located in the provinces of North
Holland, South Holland, and Utrecht. The non-Randstad culture corresponds to the
historical divide between the predominantly Protestant north and the Catholic south,
separated by the Rhine River.

Significant local variations of Dutch culture include the Friesian culture in the
extreme north and the Brabant and Limburg cultures in the south. The southern
culture was subject to discriminatory policies until the nineteenth century. The
Friesians prize their language and descent from the ancient Friesian people, while
the Limburgers and Brabantines emphasize their southern culture and Catholic
heritage.

The Netherlands has for centuries provided a safe haven for ethnic minorities fleeing
from discrimination and persecution, with each minority influencing Dutch culture in
its own way. Many Jews from Spain and Portugal and Protestant merchants from the
Spanish-ruled southern Netherlands sought refuge in the Dutch Republic in the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The twentieth century was characterized by the
influx of guest workers from the Mediterranean, migrants from the former Dutch
colonies, and refugees from war-torn countries.

The Netherlands does not have a strong uniform national culture. Most Dutch people
reject the notion and consider it to be tainted with an unacceptable form of
nationalism. Instead, they emphasize the country's cultural diversity, tolerance of
difference, and receptiveness to foreign influences. Nevertheless, the Randstad
culture has been hegemonic in the Netherlands because of the concentration of
political, economic, and cultural power in that densely populated region.

Tradition is a belief or action that has a symbolic or special meaning and is inherited
within a group or society that has its origins in the past. Common examples are
holidays and impractical but socially meaningful clothing, but the idea also applies to
social norms such as greetings. Tradition can continue and evolve for thousands of
years-"tradition" itself is attributed to the handler to send to the transfer to pass
through the Latin dealer or literally. While this is assumed to have an old story, many
traditions were intentionally invented regardless of whether it is political or cultural.

The Netherlands is a small country that lies in Western Europe with Amsterdam as
its capital. Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are part of The Kingdom. Amsterdam is
entirely built on millions of piles and it has 1281 bridges. The Dutch population is
around 17 million and uses the Euro as its currency. The word "Netherlands" literally
means "low land" because 50% of the country is built at only 1 meter above sea
level. Whenever people think of The Netherlands, they picture tulips, mills, cheese,
wooden shoes, and a country where cycling is the primary mode of transportation.
This small country, however, has much more to offer than these cultural icons. The
Netherlands is an open-minded, tolerant, and progressive country with fertile
farmlands, picturesque canals, charming seaside fishing villages, and bustling
modern cities. Since much of the Netherlands is below sea level, it’s common to see
lots of dikes holding back the icy waters of the North Sea.

The Dutch have a highly rich culture and tradition, and they are well-known for their
numerous outstanding painters. They also have a reputation for being quite private.
When it comes to dealing with one another, people are very formal. They have a
strong level of self-control and are notorious for refusing to answer personal queries.
A handshake and a smile are the most popular greetings. Close acquaintances will
kiss each other on the cheek three times. Since the Netherlands has a long history of
international trade, the majority of Dutch people feel highly comfortable doing
business with foreigners. The Netherlands has a close business community, and
many senior executives are acquainted. Even though the Dutch value their privacy,
they are quite hospitable and will make you feel welcome and respected at all times.
 DUTCH TRADITION

VISIT THE VELUWE:

The Veluwe is a vast natural park in the middle-eastern part of the Netherlands,
mostly in the province of Gelderland. It’s known for its forests, heather and sand-
drifts. A lot of locals say this is the most beautiful part of the country. It’s a Dutch
tradition to escape to Veluwe for a weekend getaway. The area is perfect for hiking
and biking. The Veluwe has its origins in the Ice Age. The lateral moraines (ridges)
were formed during the Saale glacial period more than 150,000 years ago. Before
that, rivers dumped a thick layer of sand and gravel and thinner layers of clay in the
area. In the Saale period, these river sediments where pushed up to form high
moraines. Hoge Veluwe National Park (Nationaal Park De Hoge Veluwe), one of the
most popular attractions in the Netherlands, lies just eight kilometers north of the city
of Arnhem. Occupying an area of 13,750 acres, this huge park is the largest
continuous nature reserve in the country and is notable for its diversity of scenery,
which includes everything from dense forests to high sand dunes. It's also unique in
being a privately owned national park, one of only two such parks in the Netherlands
(and the only one that is fully enclosed). Built as a hunting park between 1909 to
1923, it’s now the country’s largest nature reserve and is home to an abundance of
wildlife, including deer, wild boar, and mouflon (a rare breed of wild sheep).

Hoge Veluwe National Park is famous for its tremendous diversity of landscape,
which consists of a mix of thick forest, heath, and even sand dunes. Perhaps the
best preserved – and certainly the most interesting geologically of the country’s
national parks – Hoge Veluwe consists of a large area of sandy soil formed during
the Ice Age. This fascinating scenery is interrupted in the south and east by
moraines (large areas of rocky glacial deposits) standing between 80 and 100
meters high. Once completely covered in trees, the park gets its present look from
the Middle Ages, when patches of forest were cleared for cultivation. The exposed
areas and the region’s expanses of heathland were used for sheep grazing. Over
time, the sand was blown off these bare patches, sometimes burying whole villages,
with dunes building up and leaving some areas reduced to wasteland.

In the 19th-century, reforestation schemes were launched to prevent further drifting.

Meanwhile, some of the depressions filled with rainwater, forming lakes.
Hoge Veluwe National Park is a wonderful place to visit for those who enjoy bird-
watching and wildlife spotting. From well-placed observation points in the center and
northwest sections of Hoge Veluwe, visitors can watch a diverse variety of animals,
including red deer, roe deer, and wild pigs. Also frequently seen are moufflon, a
species of wild sheep originating from Sardinia and Corsica. In winter, a variety of
birds congregate in the park, including marigold finches, titmice, chaffinches,
woodpeckers, jays, magpies, and thrushes. If you’re here for the wildlife, the best
times to do some animal spotting are early morning and late evening, so plan your
visit accordingly. Be sure to pick up a park map upon arrival. It provides details
regarding locations of wildlife observation posts and refuge areas, some of which are
easily accessible by car. These are available from the entrances, visitor center, tea
house, or park shop.

For those with an interest in flora, the park is home to some 500 different plant
species. Many of these are rare and unique to the region, including numerous fungi,
mosses, and lichens. Plant highlights include the protected common juniper; a small
insect-eating plant called a sundew; dwarf viper’s grass (one of the country’s rarest
plants); and the lovely marsh gentian, well known for its beautiful blue flowers. The
park also boasts large, dense woodland areas consisting of conifers (particularly
pine) along with rhododendrons and numerous species of deciduous trees. It’s
particularly noted for its abundance of red oaks.

SINTERKLAAS:

The tradition of Sinterklaas comes all the way from the Netherlands, brought by
Dutch settlers who arrived in Rhinebeck over 300 years ago. Sinterklaas, the patron
of children and sailors, finds a welcoming community in the Mid-Hudson Valley as
we re-create the story through the lens of modern-day America. The Sinterklass
festival honors our Dutch heritage by re-creating a celebration that the Dutch settlers
brought to Rhinebeck over 300 years ago.

Mounted on a white steed, a town resident dressed up as Sinterklaas (elegantly

garbed in a bishop’s tall hat, red cape, shiny ring, and jeweled staff) rode through
town knocking on doors late at night. He was accompanied the Grumpus. Also
known as Black Peter, the Grumpus — a wild looking half-man, half-beast. To good
children — Sinterklaas and the Grumpus delivered a bag of goodies. To the
naughtiest children, the Grumpus rattled chains and threatened to steal them away
in his big black bag. And for those “less bad” he had switches for exacting lesser
punishments. Over the years, Sinterklaas’ ride turned into a Parade that still takes
place every December 6 in Holland. It is the most popular of all Dutch holidays.
WHO WAS THIS SINTERKLAAS?

Nicholas Sinterklaas was born in the 4 th century in Myra, Asia Minor, and there
became a bishop. Little else is known about him—except that he loved children.
A story is told about three little boys who dined at a restaurant and, after eating their
fill, informed the innkeeper that they could not pay their bill. To exact payment, the
innkeeper chopped them up into little bits and cooked them in a stew.
Nicholas heard about the awful deed and came to the inn to find the boys boiling
away in the pot. He told the innkeeper that if he, Nicholas, could find one little piece
of each boy that was good, he would perform a miracle and bring him back to life.
What child does not have at least one little piece of good in him? And, so Nicholas
Sinterklaas returned the boys to life and took them into his care.
There is also the story of the three beautiful sisters, daughters of a poor peasant.
The first had very blonde hair, the second raven black hair, the third auburn. Each
fell in love with a pleasant young man but couldn’t get married because they had no
dowry. That made them very sad. One night, as Sinterklaas was out riding, he
looked through a window and saw three lovely, sad sisters. When he heard why they
could not marry the young men of their choice, he returned to his palace and gave
the Grumpus three little bags. In each bag was a hundred golden ducats. He asked
the Grumpus to drop the little bags into the girls’ shoes, and an hour later they were
rich. They married the three nice young men and lived happily ever after! To this day
children leave a carrot in their shoes hoping to attract Sinterklaas’ attention and
reward. Since then Sinterklaas (or St. Nicholas as he is also known) has become the
patron saint of unwed maidens.
How this kindly 4th century bishop made his way from Asia Minor through Italy, Spain
and all of Northern Europe century is unknown, but by in the 11 th century he had
become the patron saint not only of children and unwed maidens, but of sailors and
the City of Amsterdam as well.

SINTERKLAAS TODAY IN HOLLAND

In Amsterdam, on December 5 th a ship carrying Sinterklaas arrives by boat from

Spain where he spends the rest of the year. He is greeted by a whole group of
Grumpuses. A million people come out to see his arrival and watch his triumphant
parade through the streets of the city. The rest of the country watches on TV. Special
songs and pastries are made in honor of his arrival.
ST. NICHOLAS, SINTERKLAAS, AND SANTA CLAUS IN THE
HUDSON VALLEY

When the early Dutch settlers came to America, they brought with them their
venerated old bishop. St. Nicholas and their favorite holiday, Sinterklaas. Indeed, the
Dutch explorers dedicated their first church on the island of Manhattan, in 1642, to
Sinterklaas. When the British took control of New Amsterdam in 1664, they merged
Sinterklaas with their Father Christmas—the merry, roly-poly, Falstaffian figure in
high boots.

Over the next few generations, Sinterklaas found his way into American literature. In
1809, writer Washington Irving (a man who lived not far from Rhinebeck) created a
jolly Sinterklaas for his popular Knickerbocker Tales. Then in 1822, an Episcopal
priest named Clement Moore (who also lived near to Rhinebeck) wrote “A Visit from
St. Nicholas” which featured a jolly old elf, his descent down a chimney on Christmas
Eve, and a sleigh drawn by eight tiny reindeer. The Father Christmas image stuck,
but he acquired a new name—Santa Claus—a direct derivation from Sinterklaas.

MAKING THE CELEBRATION OUR OWN

Today, in the Hudson Valley, we celebrate Sinterklaas in both traditional and new
ways. We move away from the commercial Santa and back to the wonders that
began the legend—The Good King, the Noble Soul, the one who brings light out of
darkness, befriends children and animals, and inspires our souls.

GOOD CHILDREN, BAD CHILDREN

What is the meaning of the Crowns and Branches that are made by and carried by
the Children in the Parade? Since St. Nicholas loved children so much, it makes
sense on his name day that children— who at all other times of the year are the least
powerful people in the society— are turned into the most powerful for just one day.
Children are crowned kings and queens. The birch rod—the threating instrument of
the Grumpus—in our Sinterklaas story is transformed by the power imagination and
art into a symbol of empowerment and love to become the Branch—the Royal
Scepter—a symbol of creative power in the hands of today’s children. The rods are
turned to Royal Scepters and the Children are crowned royalty for the day!

CROWNS AND BRANCHES

There will be workshops in Rhinebeck in November for children to create their

Crowns and Branches. Check the schedule for time and location. Hundreds of
beautiful branches will be laid out alongside lots of beautiful, glittery, and fanciful
materials—jewels, ribbons, glitter, lace, streamers—with which the children can
create their royal garb! At the end of the day each child has a scepter to carry in the
Parades and to take home. Each child will be asked to tie 3 WISHES onto their
branch—one for family, for community and for the world, and in the same location, is
the wish ladies, who help children make their wishes.

CARRYING STARS FOR THE CHILDREN’S STARLIGHT PARADE

AND PAGEANT

The STARS are a unique addition we’ve made to the Sinterklaas celebrations. These
STARS make families, friends, and relations the active myth makers of our
community and its future. From the moment you take possession of your star, you
assume a key role in a community ritual.
On the first Saturday of December, carry your stars in the Children’s Starlight Parade
in Rhinebeck. Hundreds of your neighbors, friends, and family join in an illuminated
pageant through the heart of town. A gathering constellation lights the path for the
many children who, bedecked with their crowns and branches, are the honored
Kings and Queens of the Day. At the end of the procession, everyone gathers for the
final ritual of the pageant.

The Master of Ceremonies calls upon all those present to honor our children, our
hope for the future, and our joy of today. He asks you to bow down on one knee to
the children and hold your STAR at the children’s waist level, elevating the children
on a sea of stars above everyone in the community. Then you are asked to stand
again and raise your star above your heads—thus placing you, the children and the
entire community in its proper place in the firmament—all of us as one and at peace
under the stars. And you can bring your star back next year, adding to an ever-
expanding universe of stars, helping to nurture a Rhinebeck tradition. This year the
STARS are available online and at select stores in Rhinebeck including on the
festival day.
THE HAVDALAH

Just before the Children’s Starlight Parade begins in Rhinebeck, a special ceremony,
havdalah, takes place at the foot of the hill on West Market Street. Led by the
children and folks from the Rhinebeck Hebrew School and Temple Emmanuel, this
beautiful Jewish Ceremony marks the end of the Jewish Sabbath and opens up the
secular time of The Sinterklaas Parade. The Havdalah Ceremony weaves together
of all our community in a web of interdependence, symbolized by intertwined
candles. After the Parade the beginning of the Christian Sabbath starts with the
Living Nativity at the Reformed Church.

Oliebollen: Welcoming the New Year with a Dutch Tradition

In the Netherlands, where New Year’s Eve temperatures usually dip below freezing,
it’s traditional to indulge in a warm, deep-fried, powdered-sugar-dusted confection
known as the oliebol. The translation for this time-honored treat is literally “oil ball,”
but don’t let that dissuade you. Oliebollen are just the right palate-pleasing
combination of oil, dough and sugar. This crispy, satisfying cousin of zeppolis and
fritters can be a delicious way to warm up on a snowy night. Although the Dutch
don’t only eat oliebollen on New Year’s Eve, when celebrating the arrival of another
year it’s often savored with a glass of champagne. Both are savored while watching
holiday fireworks or the sparking city bonfires that annually consume discarded
Christmas trees.

Variations on the oliebol exist in several countries. In Belgium they are called
smoutebollen or lard balls, another unfortunate name for the tasty treat, and in
France they are more elegantly called croustillons.
In Italy, Croatia or Slovenia, these flavorful fried balls are named fritole or blinci. In
Serbia they’re named ustipci and in Denmark a similar treat is the ebleskiver, which
looks a little more like popovers.

The ritual of eating these luscious lumps of sugary dough started with a less-than-
appetizing story, perhaps meant as a warning to eat well before the advent of mid-
winter want. Eating oliebollen was considered a surefire way to ward off the whims of
a cruel pagan goddess named Perchta. Her Teutonic name meant bright or glorious,
but she was not always friendly. During the 12 Days of Christmas the goddess was
said to fly around with evil spirits looking for something to eat. In her quest she might
even use her sword to slice open the stomachs of those who’d already eaten to get
at their food. Tradition said that eating oliebollen protected you because the fat
absorbed from the cooking oil made Perchta’s sword slide off of her victims. No one
worries about the vengeful Perchta anymore but the fat in the oliebollen may help
insulate some Dutch citizens from the hypothermia associated with another
traditional New Year’s celebration, the habit of swimming in icy waters on New
Year’s Day. Although mentions of Perchta date back to at least the 10 th century, no
one is sure exactly when the recipe for oliebollen was first written down. The earliest
mention in Dutch cookbooks was recorded in the 17 th century. Around that time, one
Dutch Old Master painter, Albert Cuyp, also included a basket of oliebollen in a
painting. In that same century Dutch settlers brought oliebollen, then called
oliekoeken, to New Amsterdam and other Dutch colonies. According to Peter G.
Rose, a Dutch food historian based in the U.S., like many American transplants,
oliebollen began to adapt, eventually morphing into a similar but less deliciously oily
treat known as the doughnut. The Dutch recipe for oliebollen has not changed much
since the 17th century, with a batter that usually contains flour, eggs, a leavening
agent and milk. The dough is then deep fried in hot oil and later dusted with sugar.
There are variations, as sometimes the recipe is made with currants, candied peel or
raisins. Some recipes contain cinnamon.

Carnaval in the Netherlands: Its origins and traditions

SCHINNEN, The Netherlands -- One of the most important local events in the Dutch
Southern Provinces is Carnaval. During the three-day event, people wear costumes
and masks as they eat, drink and enjoy the festivities. This year, Carnaval is
celebrated Feb. 11 to 13. Carnaval is a big celebration, which ends on Ash
Wednesday when Lenten, or Lent, starts. Although it was originally believed that
Carnaval is a religious festival, it is not. Before Christ was born, February was
considered the last month of the year. People began the new year by celebrating the
fact that the sun had cast away the dark winter.
The chronicles of Babylon speak of the sacrificial death of the king every year during
their new year’s celebrations. The king had to die for his people so they could start
the New Year without sins. To prevent kinghood from becoming a one-year affair, it
was decided to have a temporary king during these days. The temporary king would
be either a terminally-ill person or a criminal condemned to death. During the
festivities, these men lived like kings. A lot of traditions are still the same. Prince
Carnaval, for instance, still wears a Renaissance costume and is accompanied by
Soldiers in 17th century uniforms. At the time of the first parade, these uniforms were
really meant as a spoof on the Prussians. Little by little, all kinds of elements were
added. Carnaval associations were established and medals were presented to
special citizens and event participants. This also started as persiflage on the
Prussians’ behavior but grew out to be a tradition. Carnaval has spread all over the
Rhineland and the South of the Netherlands. Nowadays, almost every village has its
own Carnaval association while the larger cities have even more than one. The
Carnaval association consists of a “Raad van Elf” (Council of Eleven) presided by
the president or lord, who is responsible for the activities during the Carnaval
season. They choose a prince, organize and escort the parade. They also visit
senior living homes, schools and other associations to give out medals.

The Carnaval festivities typically begin with the mayor handing over the town keys to
the prince, making him the ruler of the city or village for the duration of Carnaval.
Many clubs, associations and schools have their own prince and Carnaval fest. The
Schinnen Community is no exception. By tradition, these fests are ruled over by a
prince and princess and visited by local authorities and Carnaval associations. The
fest at Schinnen will be held Feb. 9 starting at 2:11 p.m. in the Pin Point Café and
Bowling Center at U.S. Army Garrison Benelux in Schinnen. The fest will begin with
the proclamation of Prince and Princess Carnaval for 2018. For newcomers to the
area, this is a perfect opportunity to experience Carnaval. The highlight of Carnaval
is the parade. Participants often work year round to build floats and create costumes.
Every group tries their best to have the most original designs. After the parade, the
festivities start with dancing and singing in the streets and pubs. Many shops will be
closed Feb. 12 and 13. Special events, such as Carnaval Band contests, will take
place during those days. On Tuesday at midnight, Carnaval officially ends.

Eating Herring

Eating herring in the Netherlands is a Dutch tradition and lots of tourists find it
exciting to buy a herring for the first time and let it slide down their throats in typical
Dutch fashion. The Netherlands and herring are inextricably linked and there is no
fish more Dutch than the popular Hollandse Nieuwe. June is literally the festive
month for herring lovers because that’s when the Hollandse Nieuwe is brought in
and ready to be served. That’s when you can buy the fattest, juiciest and tastiest
herring from almost every local fishmonger in the Netherlands. The Hollandse
Nieuwe has been linked to Dutch culture for centuries and not every freshly caught
herring can bear that famous name. A herring is a small, slender and silvery fish.
About a quarter of its body weight can consist of fat. Herring is eight to ten years old.
After two to three years the herring is mature and about twenty centimeters long. For
a long time, the fish was heavily caught and almost became extinct, but the species
is doing well again due to fishermen the world over having to adhere to strict quotas.
Traditionally, the day the herring auction takes place is called Vlaggetjesdag (Flags
Day). A long and interesting history precedes this day. This special day in Dutch
history has had the name since 1947, but the herring tradition naturally goes a few
hundred years back. According to history books, there was a ban on catching too
many herring from the sea in the 18 th century. Due to the ban, fishermen had to
focus on other species such as the flatfish. Only a limited number of fishermen were
allowed to sail out to catch the herring — usually, around 10 boats were allowed to
leave every day. The tradition started because Stadholder Willem V was present on
a regular basis to check the departure of the boats. The fishermen enjoyed the
official presence of the statesman and made sure to decorate their villages with flags
to welcome him. And that’s how the day came to be known as Vlaggetjesdag (Flags
Day). The first herring caught by any of the 10 boats were traditionally awarded to a
high-ranking person. It could be a Mayor or even the Stadholder. Furthermore, the
official Vlaggetjesdag Committee was established in 1950 and has been in charge of
all the festivities surrounding Flags Day ever since.

Beer tasting
A beer festival is an event at which a variety of beers are available for purchase.
There may be a theme, for instance beers from a particular area, or a particular
brewing style such as winter ales.

What is the most popular beer in the Netherlands?

Heineken, the traditional Dutch beer brand, has achieved great international
recognition since 1873. Our data shows that even in its home country, Heineken still
has the largest distribution share in the Dutch on-trade and foodservice market.
Tasting beer at a medieval beer brewery, visiting the famous Heineken, and
rediscovering the traditional shot glass of jenever! Both beer and jenever (or Dutch
gin) are traditional Dutch alcoholic drinks with a rich and long history. These days,
while jenever might be a bit less popular, Dutch beer has conquered the world.
People have been brewing beer in the Netherlands since the middle Ages. Both
adults and children used to drink beer because regular water was often
contaminated, and milk did not keep well. Every city had its own brewery - there
were as many as 700 breweries in the Netherlands in the 17th century! Famous
Dutch beer brands today include Heineken, Amstel, Grolsch, Bavaria, Brand, and
Hertog Jan. In addition, local breweries brew countless specialty beers. You can
taste them at the brewery or go to one of the many beer pubs dotted throughout the
country.

Cheese tasting
How do Dutch eat cheese?
Coming from a country rich in fertile farmland that's perfect for dairy cows, it seems
quite natural that the Dutch have a visible passion for good cheese. Be it at
breakfast, on sandwiches, cut in cubes and served with mustard, or even fried in a
croquette, you can find an excuse to eat cheese any time of day.

Why is Dutch cheese so famous?

Although Dutch cheese was already being exported in the middle Ages, it was in the
1600s, The Dutch Golden Age, that this particular item of Dutch food really became
popular and the Netherlands became known for it. The Netherlands is the world's
biggest exporter of cheese.

What is Dutch style cheese?

The most popular cheeses from Holland are Gouda and Edam. There are many
other types of Dutch cheese, however, such as: Frisian, Limburger, Kernhem,
Bluefort, Subenhara, Maasdam, Old Amsterdam, Old Alkmaar, Mimolette
Commission, Maasland, Texelaar-Kollumer, Leyden and Leerdammer.

Kings day in the Netherlands

King's Day is the Dutch monarch's birthday. King's Day marks the birth of King
Willem-Alexander on 27 April, and everyone in the Netherlands gets the day off work
to celebrate. Schools, city councils, post offices and banks are closed the whole day
on official public holidays. King's Day (formerly Queen's Day) is a massive
celebration. Sinterklaas on 5 December is a traditional Dutch holiday which is
typically celebrated at home. The festivities began as the Queen's Day before the
World War II with the celebration of Queen Wilhelmina birthday on August 31. Since
1949, birthday of her daughter and successor on the Dutch throne Queen Juliana,
has been celebrated on April 30 each year. The festivities began as the Queen's Day
before the World War II with the celebration of Queen Wilhelmina birthday on August
31. Since 1949, birthday of her daughter and successor on the Dutch throne Queen
Juliana, has been celebrated on April 30 each year.

The King's Birthday began as the Queen's Day

The festivities began as the Queen's Day before the World War II with the
celebration of Queen Wilhelmina birthday on August 31. Since 1949, birthday of her
daughter and successor on the Dutch throne Queen Juliana, has been celebrated on
April 30 each year. There are many parties, flea markets and, of course, the king
himself visits one or several cities with his family.

Orange
The Dutch royal family bears the name: House of Oranje. This literally means the
colour orange. As a result it has become Holland’s national color. On King’s Day
people wear orange clothes, often even donning orange wigs or make-up.

Flea markets
On King’s Day, people are allowed to sell things on the street without requiring a
permit. Flea (‘free’) markets are held in parks and streets, with many people offering
their unwanted possessions, music or other entertainment for sale. In Utrecht, the
flea markets even start the night before King’s Day.

Orange Bitter
A feast requires a toast. On King’s Day, the people make a toast to the king with
Orange Bitter, a bright orange liqueur. The drink was created in 1620 to celebrate
Prince Fredrick Henry’s victory. Initially it was not well-known but after William of
Orange became the first king, it was produced once more. Since then, Orange Bitter
has been closely associated with the Dutch royal family.

Ice skating

The greatest ice skating rinks throughout the Netherlands. Every year from mid-
December to mid-January, the leading candidate for probably the most beautiful ice-
skating rink in Holland can be ended up finding on Gouda’s Markt square. Visitors
could indeed skate around in the monumental town hall in a complete circle. After
that, warm it up from underneath the heaters on the one of the Markt’s covered
terraces.

Rembrandtplein Amsterdam
The Rembrandtplein features a real winter wonderland including a lovely ice-skating
rink from mid-November to mid-January. Fairy lights in the trees, snow, and plenty of
Christmas stalls with delicious winter bites. It’s got everything you might want.

Groningen on Ice

From the end of November to early January, you can go ice-skating on the covered
ice-skating rink on Markt square in Groningen, rain or shine. For those who prefer to
slide around the ice instead, curling is an option. Please note that this requires a
reservation ahead of time.

Vrijthof Maastricht

Surrounded by a beautiful winter landscape on the lovely and famous het

Vrijthof square, you can show off your ice-skating skills every year. You can rent ice
skates and warm up afterwards with a beverage and a bite at one of the inviting
stalls or cafés.

De Markt in Eindhoven

Markt square in Eindhoven also opens a wonderful ice-skating rink every winter. The
square is transformed into a winter wonderland with a cozy seasonal ambience. The
city of light has to keep up its reputation so there are amazing lights everywhere.

Het Loo Winter Palace in Apeldoorn

Go ice skating in royal style at Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn. From early December
to early January, the palace is transformed for winter and that includes the
opportunity to go ice skating.

Renting skates
It is not a problem if you do not have ice skates. You can rent them at every ice-
skating rink. Some ice-skating rinks ask an entry fee, usually no more than a small
sum

TYPICAL DUTCH

Typical Dutch Family

Families are typically very small, with only one or two children. The Dutch are
renowned for being open, friendly, and accommodating. Only children and parents
live with each other in the Netherlands. They do not usually live with grandparents,
aunts, and uncles. Family members’ personal relationships and the support they
receive from one another are held in high regard. The Dutch may maintain a
fundamental difference between blood relatives and married relatives. Support and
solidarity, both financially and emotionally, have always been directed specifically
towards to closest kin, which can include parents, children, and siblings.

The Dutch see the family as the foundation of the social structure.

In Dutch culture, father and mother are the family’s leaders. The requirements are
established by them. Dutch young kids, on the other contrary, quite often disagree,
make an argument, and talk about issues with their parents. This is not considered
disrespectful or arrogant; on the opposite side of the spectrum, numerous parents in
the Netherlands genuinely think it is healthy for young kids to have their very own
personal views and encouraged to share them. Dutch households may have seemed
to be very interested to know. They’re interested to know about almost everything.
This is because they are sincerely interested around each other. Further to that, by
speaking freely and communicating those information, children demonstrate their
confidence and trust in their parents. It is inextricably linked to being self-sufficient.
When children share what is happening in their lives, parents have more confidence
in allowing their children to be fully independent.

Dutch parents make their children self-reliant

Dutch children are brought up to be free and independent starting at a young age.
Many parents in the Netherlands believe that bringing up happy and self-reliant
children is the highest parenting goal. Parents encourage their kids to become
independent by giving fewer rules, giving children voices, putting up no pressure,
and taking the time to teach them to be independent.
The Dutch are often encouraged to be independent and self-reliant as they grow up.
Young people tend to leave home at the age of 18 in order to pursue higher
education or employment. However, due to housing shortages and increasing
university costs, many people may continue to live with their parents until they are
married. The Dutch are highly tolerant of individual differences, and raise their
children without gender biases. All this contributes to Dutch children being among
the happiest in the world.

Typical Dutch Demeanor

Dutch people are often considered attractive and/or handsome worldwide. One of
the most important reasons why the Dutch look healthy and well-groomed has to do
with money. The Netherlands is a prosperous country, and people generally earn a
good salary. This allows people to spend money on services or products which can
affect appearance. Because of this, money plays an important role in many factors
that affect a person's appearance. The importance of money also plays a role in this
factor. In the Netherlands, people generally have money for good personal care. And
of course, good personal care and hygiene affect the appearance of someone. Many
Dutch people go to the dentist once or twice a year. As a result, they have good oral
hygiene and their teeth look neat and taken care of. Many children also receive
braces at a young age when necessary. Clothes also naturally play an important role
in the appearance of someone.
In the Netherlands, just like in many other Western countries, people spend a lot of
money on clothing. This way people try to make sure that the overall picture of
themselves looks good and that they feel comfortable with themselves. A good diet
is very important for the overall health of a person. There is a wide range of different
types of food in the Netherlands, such as fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, and dairy. This
allows people in the Netherlands to eat varied and healthy food. Ultimately, this also
plays a role in the way someone looks. Healthy food contributes to the improvement
of different physical factors. Think of healthy skin, healthy teeth, and beautiful hair.

Dutch place a high value on cleanliness and neatness.

One of the first things visitors to Dutch towns noted was the regular cleaning of the
windows and doorsteps of private houses. Those who were invited in observed that
halls and stairwells, front rooms and furniture, and especially the kitchen, its hearth,
and dishes, were very neat and clean. The origins of Dutch cleanliness have puzzled
many. Contemporary observers linked the feverish cleaning of houses, streets, and
ships to the humidity of the Dutch climate. Regular scrubbing would prevent furniture
and wooden floors from molding and rotting. However, weather conditions were quite
similar in other parts of the North Sea area where no such culture of cleanliness
existed. Another possible explanation, that the densely populated towns of the Dutch
Republic required inhabitants or their town magistrate to take appropriate
hygienically measures, does not hold water either for living conditions in other highly
populated or urbanized parts of Europe were no different. Simon Schama has
argued that the frantic cleaning of Dutch housewives reflected a moral, Calvinist
condition. Women armed with buckets and brooms were symbols of the inner
struggle with vanity, unbelief, and desires of the flesh. Besides, cleanliness was a
proof of patriotism, a means to polish past enemies. This state of mind could develop
into a pervasive behavioral code due to the discipline embedded in the Calvinist
faith, the moral lessons of popular writers like Jacob Cats, and social control from
one’s neighbors. Thus, according to Schama, Dutch cleanliness was inextricably
linked to the cultural, religious, and political peculiarities of the United Provinces.

Dutch dislike displays of wealth, as they run counter to their

egalitarian beliefs.

The Dutch are disciplined, conservative, and private. They do not draw attention to
themselves and do not value the accouterments of success highly prized by other
western societies. They dislike displays of wealth, as they run counter to their
egalitarian beliefs. Even in hierarchical organizations, every person has a right to
their opinion and to have it heard.

Typical Dutch Cuisine

Dutch Breakfast

 Wide variety of cold cuts, cheeses and sweet toppings; such as

hagelslag, vlokken and muisjes. Chocolate spread, treacle (a
thick, dark brown sugar syrup called Stroo), peanut butter (which
is savoury, not sweet) and comfiture are popular too.

 The Dutch are famous for their dairy products and especially for
their cheeses. The vast majority of Dutch cheeses are semi-hard
or hard cheeses. Famous Dutch cheeses include Gouda, Edam,
and Leyden. A typically Dutch way of making cheese is to blend
in herbs or spices during the first stages of the production
process. Famous examples of this are cheeses with cloves
(usually the Frisian nagelkaas), cumin (most famously Leyden
cheese), or nettles
.
 Dutch bread tends to be very airy, as it is made from yeast
dough. From the 1970s onward Dutch bread became
predominantly whole grain, with additional seeds such as
sunflower or pumpkin seeds often mixed with the dough for
taste. Rye bread is one of the few dense types of bread of the
Netherlands.

 Those who do not want to have breakfast but need something

on their stomach in the morning often eat the famous Dutch
ontbijtkoek. It is usually served as a small slice, possibly with
delicious rich Dutch butter.

Tea Time

 Dutch people invite friends over for koffietijd (coffee time), which
consists of coffee and cake or a biscuit, served between 10 and
11 a.m. (before lunch) and/or between 7 and 8 p.m. (after
dinner)

 The Dutch drink coffee and tea throughout the day, often served
with a single biscuit. Dutch thrift led to the famous standard rule
of only one cookie with each cup of coffee. It has been
suggested that the reasons for this can be found in the
Protestant mentality and upbringing in the northern Netherlands.
Café au lait is also very common. It is called koffie verkeerd
(literally "wrong-wayround-coffee") and consists of equal parts
black coffee and hot milk.

 The Dutch drink tea without milk and the tea is quite a lot
weaker than the typical
English types of tea which are taken with milk. Other hot drinks
used to include warm lemonade, called kwast (hot water with
lemon juice), and anijsmelk (hot milk with aniseed).

Dinner

 Dinner, traditionally served early by international standards,

starts at about 6 o'clock in the evening.

 The old-fashioned Dutch dinner consists of one simple course:

beans or potatoes, meat and vegetables. Traditionally potatoes
with a large portion of vegetables and a small portion of meat
with gravy, or a potato and vegetable stew.

 A typical traditional Dutch dinner would include stamppot (Dutch

mashed potato mixed with other mashed vegetables) and pea
soup. Vegetable stews served as side dishes are for example
rodekool met appeltjes (red cabbage with apples), or rode bieten
(red beets).

 Regular spices used in stews of this kind may be bayleaves,

juniper berries, cloves, and vinegar. Stews are often served with
mixed pickles, including zure zult (head cheese) or stewed
pears (stoofperen). Due to the influx of other countries traditional
meals have lost some popularity. Stamppot is traditionally eaten
in winter. If there is a starter, it is usually soup.

 The final course is a sweet dessert, traditionally yoghurt with

some sugar or vla, thin milk pudding (cooked milk with custard)
Typical Dutch Delicacies

• Poffertjes: mini pancakes, but thicker and sweeter. Often served with sugar and
butter popular with children.

• Stamppot: a winter dish with vegetables, potatoes, and meat mashed together in
one stew. There are varieties with kale, sauerkraut, onions, carrots, sausages, and
bacon. The final touch is an indentation in the middle of the stew that is filled with
gravy.

• Snert: pea soup with sausages; another winter dish to help you reenergize.

• Patatje met: It’s not the fries that are special, but what comes along with it. The
Dutch prefer mayonnaise with their French fries instead of ketchup.

• Bitterballen: the best snack when sitting on a terrace with a drink. Small fried balls
of beef ragout. The bigger brother of „bitterballen‟ is a kroket, which is sold at any
snack corner.

• Haring: the most popular fish in Holland is herring. Eat it on a bun with onions or
pickles, or choose to do it the original way and have a bite while holding the fish in
the air by its tail.

• Liquorice: Dutch licorice is available both sweet and salty and in a wide range of
shapes and flavors.

• Hagelslag: chocolate sprinkles on a sandwich are enjoyed by young and old.

• Muisjes: aniseed comfits eaten as bread topping and available with a pink, blue, or
white outer layer of sugar. It is a Dutch custom to eat rusk with aniseed comfits to
celebrate the birth of a baby

• Stroopwafel: a treacle waffle is a typical Dutch treat. This flat waffle is best
enjoyed
with a cup of coffee or tea.

Dutch Skating
People began skating for amusement in the Netherlands centuries later, when the
Dutch began exploring the waterways connecting the 11 cities of Friesland, which
eventually developed to the ‘Eleven Towns Race,’ also known as Elfstedentocht. Ice
skating stretches back millennia, when Indians used to traverse on frozen rivers and
canals by putting bones to their shoes to allow them to skate. Everyone in the
Netherlands skates.

WHY IS ICE SKATING SO POPULAR IN HOLLAND?

There are two essential factors which have played a role in ice skating’s popularity
with the Dutch: topography and climate. This has always offered kids an immediate
opportunity to go ice skating as the nearest canal was never far from the front door.
The Netherlands has a maritime climate, with temperatures fairly moderated by the
North Sea. The Dutch have been managing the problem for over 1,000 years, first
with dams and dikes and later with canals. The Netherlands (which means
‘lowlands’) is one of the flattest countries in the world. When those low temps persist
for consecutive days, water in the canals quickly freezes over. And while there is
never an abundance of snow in winter, freezing temperatures are not uncommon.
The most famous canals are those in Amsterdam built in the 17 th century. But canals
are found in most other cities as well. The latter are everywhere in the Netherlands.
Flat land is always susceptible flooding.

DUTCH HOLIDAY ICE SKATING

Every December, temporary ice skating rinks are constructed in all major cities
throughout Holland. These pop-up rinks introduce children to ice skating at a young
age and has become a popular tradition with the Dutch. The rinks come down after
the Christmas-New Year holidays when children return to school.

COMPETITIVE ICE SKATING IN NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands is the most dominant country is the sport of speed skating at the
Olympics. 569 skating medals have been awarded since the first modern games in
1924; the Netherlands has won 121 of them (21.3%).

Dutch Windmill

For at the World Heritage Committee’s 21 st session in 1997, the mills were named a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. The majority of the windmills are well-maintained and
fully operating, and they are located in Zuid Holland. Since 1993, the mills have been
recognized as a protected village view, and the entire region has been designated as
a protected village view. For years, windmills were the primary source of energy in
Holland. This connection with Zaanse Schans Mill stretches back to the 17 th century,
at a period of economic and cultural prosperity in the Netherlands. Across a century
ago, there were around 10,000 functioning windmills around the world; now, there
are still more than 1,000 mills, the majority of which are located in Zuid Holland.
Windmills were essential for converting lakes and polder ditches into productive land
during this time period.

Dutch Wooden Clogs

Many people regard wooden clogs to be a type of Dutch traditional attire. This
feverish obsession has exploded in the tourist sector during the last two decades.
These clogs are considered a type of safety shoe, and they are. After being
evaluated and receiving the CE certification, Dutch clogs have been officially labeled
as safety shoes.
Since the late middle ages, wooden shoes have been worn throughout Europe. The
Dutch used to wear them, owing to the marshy area and plenty of fine wood, such as
willow and poplar, from which their 'klompen' are constructed. Many people believe
that all Dutch people wear clogs, which is why the Dutch are frequently referred to as
"cloggies." Clogs are called as klompen in Dutch.

Dutch Tulips

This breathtaking change cheers the Dutch after the frosts of autumn and snowfalls
of winter. The tulip's desire for tulips got greater as high-class individuals from the
Low Countries competed for the rarest collection of tulips.The The Ottoman Empire
brought the tulip to Europe in the 16th century.  During the spring, vast swaths of
Holland are converted into magnificent tulip carpets.

Dutch Bicycles
The Netherlands is famous for its 20 million bicycles that zigzag across the country.
Holland has the highest bicycle density in the world, with an amazing 4 million
bicycles per person. Within the city, the bicycle is the primary form of transportation
for the Dutch. In fact, many individuals own numerous bikes for different reasons,
including one for everyday use, which is usually a wreck, and another for excursions
and tours. Cycling is a common mode of transport in the Netherlands, with 36% of
Dutch people listing the bicycle as their most frequent way of getting around on a
typical day, as opposed to the car (45%) and public transport (11%). Cycling has a
modal share of 27% of all trips (urban and rural) nationwide. In cities this is even
higher, such as Amsterdam which has 38%, and Zwolle 46%. This high frequency of
bicycle travel is enabled by excellent cycling infrastructure such as cycle paths, cycle
tracks, protected intersections, ample bicycle parking and by making cycling routes
shorter and more direct (and therefore usually quicker) than car routes.

Cycling became popular in the Netherlands a little later than it did in the United
States and Britain, which experienced their bike booms in the 1880s, but by the
1890s the Dutch were already building dedicated paths for cyclists. By 1911, the
Dutch owned more bicycles per capita than any other country in Europe. The
ownership and use of bicycles continued to increase and in 1940 there were around
four million bicycles in a population of eight million. Half of these bicycles
disappeared during the German occupation, but after the war the use of bicycles
quickly returned to normal and continued at a high level until 1960 (annual distance
covered by bicycle for each inhabitant: 1500 km). Then, much like it had in other
developed nations, the privately owned motor car became more affordable and
therefore more commonly in use and bicycles as a result less popular. That is:
ownership still remained high, but use fell to around 800 km annually. Even so, the
number of Dutch people cycling was very high compared to other European nations.

The trend away from the bicycle and towards motorised transport only began to
decrease in the 1970s when Dutch people took to the streets to protest against the
high number of child deaths on the roads: in some years over 500 children were
killed in collisions with motor vehicles. This protest movement, initiated by Maartje
van Putten (later an MEP), was known as the Stop de Kindermoord ("Stop the Child
Murder"). The success of this movement — along with other factors, such as the oil
shortages of 1973–74 and the publication of the CROW Design Manual for Bicycle
Traffic — turned government policy around. The country began to restrict urban
motor vehicle use and direct its focus on growth towards other forms of transport,
with the bicycle perceived as critical in making streets safer and towns and cities
more people-friendly and livable.

Dutch Raw Herring Onion

Herring with raw onions is a traditional Dutch dish. The herring is washed and the
head is removed before being preserved in the usual manner with salt. The Dutch
consume herring by taking it up by the tail and gently sliding it into the mouth.
Another common method to consume it is on a sandwich, which is known as
"broodje haring."

Dutch Cheese
The Netherlands is the world's greatest cheese exporter. Cheese has been exported
from the Netherlands since the middle ages and continues to be exported today. The
cheese culture in Holland is not new; archaeological evidence demonstrates that the
Low Countries' inhabitants have been creating cheese since prehistoric times. To
this day, the old merchant cheese markets in Alkmaar, Gouda, and Edam are
completely operational. During the summer, these three communities adhere to
ancient cheese exchanging practices. In the middle ages, the first cheese markets
and weigh rooms were established in order to oversee both the quality and quantity
of cheese sold. The cheese markets are one of the most popular tourist attractions in
the country.

Dutch Drop
Drops are a traditional Dutch licorice and a national sweet, with an annual
consumption rate of 4 kilograms per person. The ingredients of this contentious
classic black sweet are sugar, sal ammoniac, gum Arabic, and liquor ice root extract.
Dropping was once used to treat colds as a medication in the form of syrup or
tablets. There are many different flavors and sorts of drops; sweet, salty or double
salty, honey-flavored, and so on, but there is never enough. Unfortunately, the drop's
originator is still unknown.

Dutch Stroopwafels
A stroopwafel, also known as a treacle waffle, is a waffle constructed of two thin
layers of cooked batter with a caramel syrup filling in the middle. The syrup waffle
originated in the Dutch town of Gouda. Gerard Kamphuisen invented the handcrafted
Gouda Stroopwafel, and until 1870, Amsterdam was the only place where syrup
waffles were created. Leftovers and crumbs were used to create cookies sweetened
with syrup, according to one of the oldest documented recipes from 1840. Because
they were so inexpensive to make, syrup waffles were also known as "poor men's
cookies."
Happy people
The Netherlands is ranked fifth in the World Happiness Report. So Dutch people are
happy, but they love to complain. However this is not in a serious way. The weather
is a great topic to complain about, but so is work and of course politics and football. If
you listen to Dutch people you might think they are pretty unhappy lot. But the
contrary is true: they are very happy. Perhaps one of the reasons is that they do not
take some of their troubles and worries home.

Greetings
When Dutch people meet for the first time they shake hands. The handshake should
be made with the right hand and should be firm (without squashing the other’s hand)
and short. If you are well acquainted (usually after meeting for the third time) women
kiss each other on the cheek three times. Women also greet men they know well in
this manner. You can’t greet everyone by saying “hi” or “hello”, in Dutch culture it is
rude to greet people using those words, but rather you must state your surname
when greeting them.

Direct approach
Dutch people do not beat around the bush and will often speak their minds. This can
seem rather rude and almost feel insulting to foreign people (e.g.: ‘I have read you
report and it is awful’). However, Dutch people prefer to be open about their opinion
and if it is presented in a kind and friendly manner, this is usually regarded as good.
It is considered as being honest, where being too subtle and polite can create
misunderstanding. However it can be a bit shocking when confronted for the first
time with Dutch straight forwardness.

Punctuality
You should always keep an eye on the time and make sure you are present at the
agreed time. That means not too early and not too late. If you are delayed, it is
appreciated and seen as good manners to call. You should not be surprised to be
told off firmly if you are late without a good reason. Unannounced visit Dutch people
will always count on you making an appointment before any visit, no matter how
short or insignificant or impulsive the visit is. This means that if you are in the
neighborhood of someone’s house and you wish to visit unexpectedly, you usually
call or app first to announce your imminent arrival (thereby giving the other person
the chance to politely inform you that it will not be convenient). It might actually
happen that the person who opens the door will have a conversation with you on the
doorstep without inviting you in (even when it is raining). So, call a few minutes
before arriving and you will be most likely welcomed in.
 SUMMARY

The Netherlands is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. Even though it is a
small country that is in between Belgium and Germany in Western Europe, it has rich
and diversified culture that we should acknowledge and admire. The Netherlands
offers world-renowned museums, historical monuments, countless of gorgeous
canals and a vibrant nightlife. This country is most known for its cheese, wooden
shoes, windmills, tulips, and coffee shops, canals of Amsterdam, Delftware, soccer,
bicycles, painters, and countryside. The Dutch tend to be patriotic and proud of their
country.
Dutch people are usually very open, friendly and welcoming. In the Netherlands, only
parents and children live together. In general, they do not live with grandparents,
aunts, and uncles. During meals, Dutch families usually share their adventures of the
day. In Dutch homes, all family members share chores.
In the culture of Netherlands, parents are the heads of the family. They determine
the rules. On the contrary: in Netherlands many parents think it is good for young
people to have their own opinion and encourage them speaking out.
Dutch families like to do things together, especially on weekends. This includes
sports, social clubs, visiting relatives, or attending social or cultural activities
together. People in Netherland divided their time consciously between all sorts of
activities. Simply sitting down doing nothing is considered a waste of time.
Dutch food is simple and nourishing and represents a mixture of European cooking
styles. In the culture of Netherlands, family members take breakfast individually
during weekdays based on their schedules, but on Sundays, families will eat a
special breakfast together. Dutch families customarily eat open-faced sandwiches for
breakfast and lunch, and dinner is usually the only hot meal of the day.
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.
The Dutch are reserved and formal when dealing with outsiders. The Dutch do not
ask personal questions. Personal matters are not discussed with friends, no matter
how close.
The handshake is the common form of greeting. It is firm and swift, accompanied by
a smile, and repetition of your name. Very close friends may greet each other by air
kissing near the cheek three times, starting with the left cheek.
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