The Dutch

TeddyTedson · 20-02-2012 9:25pm #1

What do people here think of the Dutch?
I personally like them but prefer Germans, that's just my preference.
I'd like to find out about the Dutch though. We all know about Amsterdam and dykes but I'd like to get a little more than that.
What do people think of the people themselves. They are very tall, I know that much.
Are they big in to sports? I know they really enjoy ice skating.
What about religion though, are they big in to it, I imagine not.
Is there a somewhat seedy element and deviancy to them?
Would they be considered a friendly nation? I know there's a bit of a racism issue there, somewhat due to Moroccan immigrants.
I'd love to hear from real Dutch people or people who know some or even regularly visit the country.
I'd like to get as much information as possible without really focusing on Amsterdam.

cabbage kid · 20-02-2012 9:29pm

I'm a fan of their accent.

Sorry, that's all I got.

20-02-2012 9:30pm

Great bunch of lads.

Ghandee · 20-02-2012 9:30pm

The Dutch are gold Teddy.

You know that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb3H6MWGCOo

Seachmall · 20-02-2012 9:31pm

I was with my mates in Holland and we were stoned off our tits walking down the street, not really sure where we were going. A Dutch man stopped what he was doing, crossed the street and asked if we needed directions. We did and he promptly directed us where the main street was.

Another time we were out one of the nights heading to get food when a car pulled up, the guys in the car shouted something in Dutch which we didn't understand. I walked over to see what they wanted and they were selling cocaine. I told them I wasn't interested and if they knew of any good spots to get some grub. They recommended a place, told us how to get there and drove off.

I can, with confidence, say you would not find an elderly gentleman going for a Sunday stroll nor a cocaine dealer cruising around selling to tourists in Ireland as nice as you would in Holland.

I've been to over a dozen European countries, as well as 2 US cities and have never come across such helpful people.

Generalisations are fine when they're positive

Agricola · 20-02-2012 9:32pm

Former Dutch footballer Dennis Bergkamp was named after former Man Utd striker Denis Law. The reason that his name is spelled with two n's is because in the Netherlands, Denis is a female name.

Spoonman75 · 20-02-2012 9:32pm

I've never met a Dutch person I didn't like. Germans on the other hand.....
I've had experiences I'd rather forget. It was with one German person. I wouldn't tar all German people with the same brush, but when I hear a German accent, I can't help but be reminded by that one person. I cringe inside.

charlemont · 20-02-2012 9:33pm

Nice people, I lived in Utrecht for a few months and found the Dutch to be a very laid back and highly intelligent people.

LordSutch · 20-02-2012 9:34pm

Nice people, very tall, lots of windmills too . . . .

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSd4cGkB2P4GjO0pUwb61CO_IONZuKLs0CBhnikyMG6U8Uy9PFC

http://www.profimedia.si/photo/dutch-woman-smoking-a-joint/profimedia-0006121845.jpg

Frank Black · 20-02-2012 9:34pm

If you go for dinner with a Dutch person, they will offer to split the bill in half with you.

They're sound like that.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 20-02-2012 9:35pm

One thing I do notice about Holland is that everyone seems to have a great grasp on English, I've made a couple of visits and rarely encountered anyone who wasn't fluent.

weisses · 20-02-2012 9:36pm

Yeah we are a Nice bunch ..... Yesshhh

Jello · 20-02-2012 9:38pm

I was in Amsterdam last month and I honestly found them to be the friendliest nation of people I have ever come across.

TeddyTedson · 20-02-2012 9:48pm

It's great to know the Irish and the Dutch get on so well.

biko · 20-02-2012 9:48pm

Dutch > German any day of the week.

Seomra Mushie · 20-02-2012 9:49pm

My new boss is Dutch.

When I was leaving the interview, he was waving out the door at me, moving with the door as it closed.

Is it bad to say that at that point I was quietly confident?

galwayrush · 20-02-2012 9:50pm

Great country, great people.They are like Germans but with a sense of humour...

MadameGascar · 20-02-2012 9:51pm

Well they're good at making pastries and cheese and stuff. And great at growing weed! So I like them. They are very different from us though and their sense of of humor is a bit weird.

Jimoslimos · 20-02-2012 9:52pm

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

One thing I do notice about Holland is that everyone seems to have a great grasp on English, I've made a couple of visits and rarely encountered anyone who wasn't fluent.

In a way I'd regard them as more English than the English themselves. As for the fluency I've heard it's because they receive British TV (with subtitles) as opposed to dubbed over imports.

wannabe7a · 20-02-2012 9:52pm

TeddyTedson wrote: »

What do people here think of the Dutch?
I personally like them but prefer Germans, that's just my preference.
I'd like to find out about the Dutch though. We all know about Amsterdam and dykes but I'd like to get a little more than that.
What do people think of the people themselves. They are very tall, I know that much.
Are they big in to sports? I know they really enjoy ice skating.
What about religion though, are they big in to it, I imagine not.
Is there a somewhat seedy element and deviancy to them?
Would they be considered a friendly nation? I know there's a bit of a racism issue there, somewhat due to Moroccan immigrants.
I'd love to hear from real Dutch people or people who know some or even regularly visit the country.
I'd like to get as much information as possible without really focusing on Amsterdam.

I think I can answer some of your questions, but don't say that the Dutch are the same as the Germans. It would be the same as saying the Irish are the same as the English :rolleyes: But then again we know what you mean of course when you say that.

Tall? Yes, especially if you go to "Friesland". This is like as north as Donegal but then in Holland!
Sports: Ice skating, yes. Hockey, yes. Korfbal? Every year the world cup finals are between Holland and Belgium, so guess who wins?

Religion: 2 main streams: catholics and protestants. But between the protestants there are a lot of different flavours. Even dressed up ones who are saying: Sunday restday. So no radio, no tele, no car, nothing electronic.

Racism? Bit controversial. We are very open minded, but also very blunt. There is also a very popular political party who is anti muslim and recently they dont like Eastern Europeans as well. They basically only like the local working class hero and the bunch around them.

Pubs? They can never beat the Irish pub scene. Actually no country can do that!

HavingCrack · 20-02-2012 9:53pm

I find Dutch people to be very polite and helpful.

However while they are extremely polite I wouldn't call them friendly if that makes sense. As reserved as they are making friends with Germans isn't overly difficult, making friends with Dutch is.

TeddyTedson · 20-02-2012 9:54pm

biko wrote: »

Dutch > German any day of the week.

Spoonman75 wrote: »

I've never met a Dutch person I didn't like. Germans on the other hand.....
I've had experiences I'd rather forget. It was with one German person. I wouldn't tar all German people with the same brush, but when I hear a German accent, I can't help but be reminded by that one person. I cringe inside.

galwayrush wrote: »

Great country, great people.They are like Germans but with a sense of humour...

Germans are great people and have a great sense of humor. I won't entertain this German bashing. What do people have against them. An amazing country by all accounts!!!

RichieC · 20-02-2012 9:55pm

The Dutch...

ThOnda · 20-02-2012 9:55pm

Extremely nice people, most of the time educated, polite, professional but very friendly. When you think about Holland outside Amsterdam, you'll get the best. Their history and cultural influence is magnificent, openness and level of tolerance out of the scale, they have working system of public transport and speak at least 4 languages.
At least one I know in person lives here in Ireland, and loves it.
Few of our business partners are Dutch and it is pleasure to work with them. Very efficient (the influence of German culture), but more relaxed, not so uptight as their big neighbors.

TeddyTedson · 20-02-2012 9:56pm

I'm not comparing them to Germans though. I like Germans and Dutch people, but Germans are my number one

wannabe7a wrote: »

I think I can answer some of your questions, but don't say that the Dutch are the same as the Germans. It would be the same as saying the Irish are the same as the English :rolleyes: But then again we know what you mean of course when you say that.

Tall? Yes, especially if you go to "Friesland". This is like the Donegal of Holland!
Sports: Ice skating, yes. Hockey, yes. Korfbal? Every year the world finals are between Holland and Belgium, so guess who wins?

Religion: 2 main streams: catholics and protestants. But between the protestants there are a lot of different flavours. Even dressed up ones who are saying: Sunday restday. So no radio, no tele, no car, nothing electronic.

Racism? Bit controversial. We are very open minded, but also very blunt. There is also a very popular political party who is anti muslim and recently they dont like Eastern Europeans as well. They basically only like the local working class hero.

Pubs? They can never beat the Irish pub scene. Actually no country can do that!

Mickey Dazzler · 20-02-2012 9:59pm

They are very very tall.....and liberal......and racist....

im invisible · 20-02-2012 10:01pm

I like their ovens.

thomasj · 20-02-2012 10:01pm

ThOnda wrote: »

Extremely nice people,When you think about Holland outside Amsterdam, you'll get the best.

Youll get their nasty side if you say they're from holland!

Fr D Maugire · 20-02-2012 10:02pm

Overall the Dutch are a good bunch and nice enough people in general. Yes they nearly all speak perfect English, I think it would be rare to meet a young person who didnt speak English. I have some good friends who are Dutch.

I will also add that the Dutch can be very forthright and a bit too on the mark some times. To the Dutch themselves they are being straighforward but to others who are more subtle when discussing issues, it can seem quite rude and offensive. But in general there is no offence intended, its just a mannerism or maybe its the way they speak English.

Also I have met quite a few younger Dutch guys(early 20s) who were quite arrogant as well but maybe thats young guys of all nationalities but its an impression I got.

Where To · 20-02-2012 10:03pm

Is this a thread about the western Netherlands or the Netherlands in general?;)

thomasj · 20-02-2012 10:05pm

Where To wrote: »

Is this a thread about the western Netherlands or the Netherlands in general?;)

Exactly, holland is nice but you should go explore the rest of the netherlands. Just as nice if not nicer!

Urquell · 20-02-2012 10:05pm

The Dutch are all arseholes, Adolf probably forgot you

/Lothar Matthaus

jam_mac_jam · 20-02-2012 10:06pm

I havent met them all, and havent met all Germans so I dont know.

OAOB · 20-02-2012 10:07pm

Don't like them.
Was on holidays in Crete a few years ago and the place was full of Dutch and Irish. Dutch lads constantly trying to start fights and saw a group of them kicking a lad on the ground. Also was talking to a girl who said her friend was spit on by a big group of them the night before for no reason but that she was Irish.
I've been to Holland and thought they were sound but that holiday was a bit of an eye opener about them

hadepsx · 20-02-2012 10:07pm

ah, dutch gold

Son Of A Vidic · 20-02-2012 10:08pm

stankratz wrote: »

Great bunch A stoned bunch of lads.

FYP.

Latchy · 20-02-2012 10:09pm

MadameGascar wrote: »

Well they're good at making pastries and cheese and stuff. And great at growing weed! So I like them. They are very different from us though and their sense of of humor is a bit weird.

Agree on the sense of humor bit . I have Dutch relatives and under that surface of Liberal European sophistication is a somewhat at times clannish , insular mentality with a blunt approach to everything and very different to the Irish/British .

HavingCrack · 20-02-2012 10:10pm

OAOB wrote: »

Don't like them.
Was on holidays in Crete a few years ago and the place was full of Dutch and Irish. Dutch lads constantly trying to start fights and saw a group of them kicking a lad on the ground. Also was talking to a girl who said her friend was spit on by a big group of them the night before for no reason but that she was Irish.
I've been to Holland and thought they were sound but that holiday was a bit of an eye opener about them

To be honest your description is a lot more typical of the behaviour you'd see in Ireland much more than in the Netherlands.

Where To · 20-02-2012 10:10pm

TeddyTedson wrote: »

I'm not comparing them to Germans though. I like Germans and Dutch people, but Germans are my number one

And they love each other too;)

I love the Netherlands, hate Maastricht, love Aachen, hate the Germans, love generalising, hate stereotypes . . . . . . .

Duckworth_Luas · 20-02-2012 10:12pm

As a fan of literature I've always preferred the Germans over the Dutch. German efficiency always means that writers are discovered and published whereas the Dutch ignore their own. Look at Anne Frank!

mikemac1 · 20-02-2012 10:12pm

There was a German guy in work and some lad playing the troll in Kris Kindle got him a Dutch football scarf

I wasn't aware until then there was such ill feeling between the Germans and Dutch
Yeah lots of things in history but it's still nasty in the present day

And the guy was not impressed

Where To · 20-02-2012 10:14pm

Duckworth_Luas wrote: »

As a fan of literature I've always preferred the Germans over the Dutch. German efficiency always means that writers are discovered and published whereas the Dutch ignore their own. Look at Anne Frank!

Anne Frank was German, not Dutch.

Latchy · 20-02-2012 10:18pm

The Dutch weren't all pro allies duing ww2 ,they had their own version of the Hitler youth / Nazi party and even if they don't openly admit , some would see themselfs as more aligned to German culture as much as others lean more to the west . They have had some great national soccer teams to

Seomra Mushie · 20-02-2012 10:20pm

Had to be done:

http://omg.wthax.org/The_Dutch_Crowd.jpg

thomasj · 20-02-2012 10:27pm

mikemac1 wrote: »

There was a German guy in work and some lad playing the troll in Kris Kindle got him a Dutch football scarf

And the guy was not impressed

Inferiority complex

Also applies to the americans and canadians, the ozzies and new zealanders and of course us/the scots and the english

I think the french as well not sure who though.

Greentopia · 20-02-2012 10:30pm

I like them, as smart and efficient as Germans but more friendly I found. Was talking to an elderly Dutch lady who's lived here for years-might be able to buy a loom from her

, and she was lovely. Best friend's BF is a Dutchie living too and while he's reserved he's sound.

Have some Dutch friends living here for years and I found them to be far more open-minded and progressive than many of us. A few working with animal rescue and welfare charities and others who are organic farmers down in Cork.

Very informed about what's going on in the world too. Erudite and well read too-you can have an intelligent conversation with them about any subject, which can't always be said for with some Irish people in my experience. Good people, though no doubt many knuckledraggers here would write them off as dirty hippies :rolleyes:

Love their sturdy upright Omafiets and Opafiets and their cycle network is amazing. Wish we had it here

Seanchai · 20-02-2012 10:38pm

Four pages and nobody mentioned:

William of Orange - not only the ultimate Orange Bastard, but one supported by the Roman Pope (as much as the average loyalist would be ignorant of that "contradiction") in his British-Roman Catholic conquest of Ireland from 1690.

Seeing as this thread is predicated upon generalisations, apart from being a humourless bunch of personality-deficient anglophiles, the Flemish side of Dutch culture has produced some fairly amazing landscape painting. Kudos on that.

EGAR · 20-02-2012 10:41pm

I met nice ones, not so nice ones and horrible ones. Just like any other nationality.

RiseToTheTop · 20-02-2012 10:43pm

I was over in Amsterdam and was stoned off my head. I asked a Dutch man for directions and he helped me

pickarooney · 20-02-2012 10:46pm

(just for a bit of balance)

Cold, condescending, intrusive, anally retentive, hugely exaggerated sense of their own importance, tight as a gnat's chuff, lives planned out for years from cradle to grave, cunning enough to have a few loose cannons running about giving the place an unfounded reputation for wackiness. Like Germans but a bit taller and with worse food and beer.

Otis Driftwood · 20-02-2012 10:50pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDJch1iaiGw

The Dutch

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