Dutch Society & Culture
The Role of the Family
.The Dutch see the family as the foundation of the social structure.
.Families tend to be small, often with only one or two children.
.Relatively few women work outside the house full-time as compared to many other cultures.
.This allows mothers to be more available to their children throughout the entire day.
Dutch Demeanour
.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.
.They do not draw attention to themselves and do not value the accoutrements of success highly prized by other western societies.
.They dislike displays of wealth, as they run counter to their egalitarian beliefs.
.They do not boast about their accomplishments or their material possessions.
EgalitarianismMap of Netherlands
.The Dutch are egalitarian and highly tolerant of individual differences.
.Their children are raised without gender biases.
.There is practically no abject poverty in the country because of the social programs, which, however, also increase the tax burden on workers.
.This egalitarian outlook is carried over into the workplace.
.Even in hierarchical organizations, every person has a right to their opinion and to have it heard.
.The boss may be the final decision maker, but he/she will typically want input from the workers and will strive for consensus.
.Everyone is valued and shown respect.
Dutch Privacy
.The Dutch are reserved and formal when dealing with outsiders.
.They are private people and do not put their possessions or emotions on display.
.Self-control is seen to be a virtue.
.The Dutch do not ask personal questions and will refuse to answer should you be foolish enough to intrude on their privacy.
.Personal life is kept separate from business.
.If a friendship develops at work and is carried into the personal arena, this camaraderie will not be brought into the office.
.Personal matters are not discussed with friends, no matter how close.