Netherlands

The Netherlands has a strong tradition of involvement in international affairs. Dutch openness to the world has made them no less proud of their own culture and heritage, whether it is in the arts, politics, technology, or a strong tradition of liberalism.

Until age 25, a good life consists of plenty of money to buy clothes, a mobile phone with camera, viewing DVDs at home, and physical activities/sports.

When getting older they work for a house, preferably in a quiet neighborhood, with a garden. Parents have become increasing worried about the financial future of their children. The younger generation may never have the same possibilities as the older generation; in most cases, it is not possible for parents to provide their children with a mortgage on their house.

Although higher education is not guaranteed a good job, parents should encourage their children to pursue higher education. At present many of the former securities provided the Dutch government, such as health insurance, relatively cheap universities, student loans and possibilities for early retirement, are already limited or subject to change. This provides people with a sense of an untrustworthy government. It has become more liberal than it used to be. Due to this atmosphere people start to only rely on themselves for creating their own financial security.

When acquaintances meet, they salute and say hello; good friends used to shake hands, but this gradually changes to two kisses on alternating cheeks three times (females, male-female) and embracing/hugging one another (males). These exchanges mainly occur in the young and adult population (until about the age of 55). Older people are more formal still: handshake, hello, how are you A warm and hearty handshake is an appropriate greeting for both men and women.

The use of given names is generally reserved for close friends and relatives, except among the youth. Otherwise, titles and family names are used when addressing each other. When greeting adults usually say Goede morgen", "goeie dag", "goeie avond". Kids now use the more informal "Hi" when meeting and "Doei" when saying goodbye. If you needed to get someone's attention to call them over you would raise your voice and say ‘Meneer/mevrouw’( Sir/madam). The word "Mejuffrouw" [miss] is no longer used.

The mouth is frequently covered when a person yawns. It is considered rude to chew gum while talking. Pointing with a finger to one's forehead implies that someone is crazy and considered impolite to do. Keeping eye contact and using facial expressions are important.

When visiting, it is customary to shake hands with everyone present, including children. Dinner guests usually bring flowers or another small gift to their hosts. The Netherlands has villages, but almost all are close to a city, where people go for shopping, going out to theaters and the cinema

When meeting at home, people almost always drink coffee (sometimes with a cookie) during the day until 9 p.m. The first question people ask when you come in is: Do you want coffee or maybe something else to drink? No games are played; people talk. Outside, people gather in a bar to drink coffee or beer. Young people (16 until 25) gather in evening bars (starting at 11 pm). Before they go, they “drink in” at the home of one of the group members; starting from 9 pm, they chat and drink wine, beer, or stronger drinks to get in the mood. A popular activity for young people is the pool bar. The Netherlands has villages, but almost all are close to a city where people go shopping and go to theaters and cinemas.

In the Netherlands, you seldom go to a house without an appointment. Before going somewhere, you always phone or text (the adolescents). Seeing people in public places without a mobile phone is uncommon. You see people ‘talking’ on their mobile phones in the street, in trains, and even when people are biking (which nearly all Dutch people do).

When guests leave, the host will accompany them to the door or to their car/bike. Formal guests will shake hands while saying, "Thank you for this evening," "Thank you for being with us," or "I hope you enjoyed the evening." Close friends will say, ‘Ontzettend fijn dat je er was' (Very, very nice you were here). When will we see another again?

On a typical day, people's clothing depends very much on their jobs. Some organizations, like banks, require formal suits and ties for men and women. In the business world, wearing expensive brands has become increasingly important.

In other organizations, clothing is more informal; although jeans are not accepted, not wearing a tie is becoming more popular.

Clothing is becoming increasingly important, especially for young people (brands and labels are critical). The number of clothes and shoe shops appears to be increasing.

The very traditional clothes exist only in small enclaves (Volendam, Marken, Staphorst, Spakenburg and the province Zeeland.

The Dutch are famous for the wooden shoes or clogs (klompen) they produce. These shoes are found in small enclaves and souvenir shops.

Bread or toast with jelly or jam, Dutch cheese or meats, are the most common foods for a Dutch breakfast. Coffee and tea accompany the meal. Open-faced sandwiches are common for lunch, as is kroket (a deep-fried sausage). The main meal usually consists of potatoes and gravy with seasonal vegetables and meat or fish. Some typical dishes include poffertjes (small puffed pancakes served on special occasions), pea soup, and hutspot (mashed potatoes with carrots and onions). Dutch pastries are world famous. Pepernoten is a typical candy that SinterKlaas gives to all children.

Breakfast is eaten between 7:30 and 8:15 AM with lunch at about 12:30 PM. Dinner between 5:30 and 7:30 PM. A parent or host often indicates when to eat. Most families have standard places at the table, just as a consequence of custom and history. It is no longer a rule that the father should sit at the head of the table. Both hands are supposed to be on the table, not in the lap, but it is no serious violation if they are not. One is not to rest their elbows on the table. Typical table rules include: eat with fork and knife (continental style); no loud screaming or talking and do not start eating until everyone is at the table.

Breakfast and dinner are almost always at home. Lunch is most of the time just a few sandwiches at home, at work or at school. School children often eat a snack they buy at school or in a nearby cafeteria (snacks are: hot dog, French fries, hamburger)

Open-faced sandwiches are common for lunch, as is kroket (a deep-fried sausage). The main meal usually consists of potatoes and gravy with seasonal vegetables and meat or fish. Some typical dishes include poffertjes (small puffed pancakes served on special occasions), pea soup, and hutspot (mashed potatoes with carrots and onions). Dutch pastries are world famous. Pepernoten is a typical candy that SinterKlaas gives to all children.

Dutch families are moderate in size. Both parents typically work outside the home. Couples usually live close to relatives. At the age of eighteen, young people often leave home to seek an education or career.

It is common for couples to live together before getting married. It is not uncommon for couples to live together without getting married at all. Young men and women begin dating in groups.

Cycling is a popular activity for commuting, recreation, and sport involving at least half the population. Other favorite sports include tennis, field hockey, and ice skating.

The Elfstedentocht is a popular ice-skating race that passes through eleven cities in the province of Friesland. It is held only during winters with heavy ice. The Dutch are also avid football (soccer) players and fans.

Most primary schools start at 8:30 a.m., so most children get up around 7 o'clock. High schools usually start at 8:30 a.m. as well. However, students have different schedules depending on which classes they choose. In the mornings, most students eat breakfast, brush their teeth, and prepare lunch before class. Typical breakfast foods are either bread with all sorts of sweets or cereal. A typical morning greeting is "goedemorgen," which means good morning. Children in both primary and secondary school get to school by bike, so riding a bike is taught at a young age, and almost all children in the Netherlands have bikes. There are roads specifically designed for cycling, which make traveling to and from school more manageable and safer.

Primary schools are generally relatively small (about 250 students enrolled) and are primarily within walking distance from home. Secondary schools are more prominent (1000-2000 students enrolled) and take 5 - 30 minutes to reach by bike. The quality of the buildings differs from town to town, but they are generally good, and the buildings are renovated frequently. Both primary and secondary school Books are government-funded. Other learning equipment, such as laptops and software, can be bought at a discounted price. Schools have most of the resources and supplies in classrooms and often have (small) libraries with computer equipment. In the Netherlands, no natural food services exist in schools (except for snacks), so children frequently bring their lunch to school.

A typical school day in primary school consists of about five hours of learning (mostly math and Dutch), one break from 9:30 to 10:00 and a lunch break from 12:00 to 13:00. A typical school meal is bread with cheese or peanut butter. In primary school, each class has one teacher. Teachers have the authority in class and can use disciplinary measures (i.e., detention, extra work) if a child disrupts class. However, corporal punishment is strictly forbidden. The teacher is often informal with the kids and the children do not have to wear uniforms to school. Generally, when school starts, the teacher first tells the children what they have to do and, if necessary, explains the theory. The children can then work on the assignments they were given and ask the teacher for help if they need it. They are often allowed to read books when they have finished their assignments. Important subjects in primary school are (in order of importance): Math, Dutch, Geography and History, English, Traffic, and Hand Labor (wood, papier-mâché). English is taught on a very basic level through songs and small assignments. Almost all children go to secondary education after doing a test in the last grade called the cito test. The result of this test, together with a consultation with the teacher and parents, will decide what type (VMBO, HAVO, or VWO) of secondary school is appropriate for the child. About half of the students will go to the VMBO, 20 percent to HAVO, 20 percent to VWO, and 10 percent to special education (for students with special needs). A school day in secondary education is quite different and depends on what type of education the child is in and his or her chosen subjects.

Most children return directly home from school. About 50 percent go to a sport after school, provided by private entities. Popular sports in the Netherlands are soccer and speed skating. Some children go to music or arts classes, these are often government funded.

When children return home, they often eat, play, and do their homework and chores. In the evening, children and parents eat together, watch television, or go to the computer. There is no typical Dutch meal because of the influences of other cultures (such as Moroccan, Indonesian, and Turkish). Still, the evening meal generally consists of a hot meal with vegetables, potatoes, meat, and a dessert. A traditional Dutch meal is Stamppot, made by mashing potatoes with other vegetables and sometimes bacon. After dinner, the children took a shower and went to bed. A typical bedtime for younger children is nine o'clock. A greeting before bed is welterusten!, which means good night. Free time is often spent doing sports or music and playing with friends. Sometimes, children go with their parents or friends to museums or cinemas.

Education plays a central role in the lives of children and their families and is often a topic during evening meals. Education plays a big part in Dutch culture, and the families and the government greatly stimulate learning and doing well at school. Arts like music, art, and drama do not play a big part in school; they are considered "fun" activities and are not graded. However, in the last grade of primary school, children do a musical.