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The Undutchables: An Observation of the Netherlands: Its Culture and Its Inhabitants
A hilarious yet profound and revealing look at the Dutch, their customs and their mentality. This exquisite satire explores the most diverse aspects of daily Dutch life, from coffee to child rearing, from train travel to the toilet.
Learn why the Dutch believe, "It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it," and why it's so hard to learn the Dutch language: "The more you try to learn Dutch, the more the Dutch refuse to speak Dutch to you and the more they complain that you haven't learned it.”
Other topics include Dutch moralizing & criticizing, cozy Dutch homes, flowers & plants, money & thriftiness, work ethics, welfare, commercial cunning, telephone habits, the national passion, rules for shopping, driving, Dutch customs, bikes, language, gay community, food, sex, drugs, phobias, the Dutch abroad and the 1995 flood disaster.This book is a must for anyone with Dutch connections and who enjoys wit and humor. A perennial bestseller in Europe, and an increasingly popular book in North America.
Learn why the Dutch believe, "It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it," and why it's so hard to learn the Dutch language: "The more you try to learn Dutch, the more the Dutch refuse to speak Dutch to you and the more they complain that you haven't learned it.”
Other topics include Dutch moralizing & criticizing, cozy Dutch homes, flowers & plants, money & thriftiness, work ethics, welfare, commercial cunning, telephone habits, the national passion, rules for shopping, driving, Dutch customs, bikes, language, gay community, food, sex, drugs, phobias, the Dutch abroad and the 1995 flood disaster.This book is a must for anyone with Dutch connections and who enjoys wit and humor. A perennial bestseller in Europe, and an increasingly popular book in North America.
318 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1989
120 people are currently reading
915 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
April 15, 2012
Despite my pretty recent edition a lot of the information the authors offer is either outdated or simply not true. Yes, The Undutchables has its amusing tidbits, but overall this bible for expats disappointed me. When pondering about the cause, it dawned on me that The Undutchables comes across as really cool and hilarious, but in reality is outrageously old-fashioned.
This may have to do with the fact that the authors are elderly people. At least that's the impression I was given. They were VERY opinionated in the book and their opinions often struck me as terribly conservative and, again, old-fashioned (Just checked out author Laurie Boucke and noticed that once upon a time she wrote several books on potty training your infant). I wish they would've offered their readers the good stuff and let them form their own opinions.
Worse though, they are quite political too. They even reminded me of Rick Santorum stating that elderly Dutch people wear bracelets with the message "no euthanasia please". And also that half of all euthanasia cases in the Netherlands are forced. Which is 10 percent of all deaths in the Netherlands (False, no such bracelets exist, and every euthanasia case must start with a request from the patient. Neither the family nor the doctor can initiate the procedure, which has very clear and strict rules).
The authors play a similar trick. They ridicule (which can be fun), but also seemingly detest the procedures of the Dutch when it comes to euthanasia. I quote - and I will translate this back since I read the Dutch translation - "Dutch doctors do not only help terminal patients with dying, they 'help' children and babies as well, and even those who do not suffer from anything except from life itself." To say that this is an oversimplified claim doesn't even cover it. Another example of Dutch doctor bashing: according to the authors they are known to diagnose patients over the telephone without having seen them. They write out prescription medicines without asking about a patient's medical history or possible allergies.
Wow, I must have been one lucky gal for having been invited to consults all these years!
And finally, using "doei" (as opposed to "dag", which translates to "bye") apparently shows that you are not an educated person and overall pretty vulgar. Although I use this word on a daily basis and am guilty of throwing in a double doei ("doei doei!") as well, I'm not easily offended (they got that part about the Dutch right :p). However, I must mention - ik laat me de kaas gewoon niet van mn brood eten! - that it's pretty safe to wholeheartedly yell "doei!" when you visit The Netherlands. You will probably be considered cute. And guess what, I've heard CEO's using this vulgar greeting as well...
In the end, I would still recommend people visiting the Netherlands to browse through The Undutchables for a laugh and some - one-sided - inside information on the Dutch. But please take it with a huge grain of salt!
This may have to do with the fact that the authors are elderly people. At least that's the impression I was given. They were VERY opinionated in the book and their opinions often struck me as terribly conservative and, again, old-fashioned (Just checked out author Laurie Boucke and noticed that once upon a time she wrote several books on potty training your infant). I wish they would've offered their readers the good stuff and let them form their own opinions.
Worse though, they are quite political too. They even reminded me of Rick Santorum stating that elderly Dutch people wear bracelets with the message "no euthanasia please". And also that half of all euthanasia cases in the Netherlands are forced. Which is 10 percent of all deaths in the Netherlands (False, no such bracelets exist, and every euthanasia case must start with a request from the patient. Neither the family nor the doctor can initiate the procedure, which has very clear and strict rules).
The authors play a similar trick. They ridicule (which can be fun), but also seemingly detest the procedures of the Dutch when it comes to euthanasia. I quote - and I will translate this back since I read the Dutch translation - "Dutch doctors do not only help terminal patients with dying, they 'help' children and babies as well, and even those who do not suffer from anything except from life itself." To say that this is an oversimplified claim doesn't even cover it. Another example of Dutch doctor bashing: according to the authors they are known to diagnose patients over the telephone without having seen them. They write out prescription medicines without asking about a patient's medical history or possible allergies.
Wow, I must have been one lucky gal for having been invited to consults all these years!
And finally, using "doei" (as opposed to "dag", which translates to "bye") apparently shows that you are not an educated person and overall pretty vulgar. Although I use this word on a daily basis and am guilty of throwing in a double doei ("doei doei!") as well, I'm not easily offended (they got that part about the Dutch right :p). However, I must mention - ik laat me de kaas gewoon niet van mn brood eten! - that it's pretty safe to wholeheartedly yell "doei!" when you visit The Netherlands. You will probably be considered cute. And guess what, I've heard CEO's using this vulgar greeting as well...
In the end, I would still recommend people visiting the Netherlands to browse through The Undutchables for a laugh and some - one-sided - inside information on the Dutch. But please take it with a huge grain of salt!
September 23, 2013
Don't get me wrong, when expats get together, they enjoy pointing out the idiosynchrasies of their host country, but please don't read this book if you are moving to the Netherlands or have only lived here for a year or two and are looking for an introduction to Dutch society. Although it is supposedly funny, it is only so at the level of the most negative expat at the lowest point of the culture shock continuum. It might make a funny rant for a stand-up comedian or a good whinge at a coffee morning, but it doesn't make a good book. 'The Undutchables' exaggerates minor annoyances and differences (from British or American culture), often focuses on the petty, and deliberately misunderstands the Dutch way of life and thinking. The authors, former expats in the Netherlands, even have the cheek to comment on the Dutch abroad: "Dutch immigrants criticize life in their host country, comparing it to their wonderful Nederland." Pot calling kettle black, perhaps?
This book has been in print since 1989, with it's 6th edition appearing in 2010. Admittedly the version I read was the 3rd edition from 1993, but I can't imagine that the background tone has changed much since it was first published. Like most expat media in the Netherlands, it is exceptionally biased towards Amsterdam - Holland in the most accurate sense of the word - and only pays lip-service to the rest of the country, where attitudes are often quite different. Having lived in the south-east of the country most of the past 25 years, I often find that opinions on expat forums and in this book bear little relation to my own experience, but perhaps that is because I prefer to emphasise the positive and embrace the culture of the country which I have made my home.
This is a book which has elicited a strong reaction in me, and I found myself constantly taking notes, partly because so much has changed since this edition was published. Less than a week after the investiture of King Willem-Alexander, it was amusing to read that "Willem-Alexander will be well-prepared to become King by the turn of the century". He had to wait a little longer! One of the predictions was that Sinterklaas celebrations would be incorporated into Christmas, which has certainly not proved the case. In spite of the fact that one of the authors is British used to a National Health Service and social security, I found that their view of the Dutch welfare state is exceptionally American, unable to see it as a safety net for those who need it. They view the Dutch as being motivated only by money and demanding their rights, yet somehow it is considered superior to work hard to further your own individual happiness and prosperity at the expense of others. There is a whole chapter about thrift followed by one on sponging off the state. The view of child-rearing is also exceptionally negative, and twenty years on, I can only say that the so-called spoilt children of yore have turned out remarkably well and society has not collapsed as a result:
Some of the views in this book are downright insulting, such as the implication that the Dutch abroad are different to any other expats in certain countries where locals are employed as cooks or servants, and this gem:
Reading this book has also reminded me of all those little changes which have occurred over the past 25 years, and how many of the things mentioned are now defunct:
- strippenkaart tickets have been replaced by the OV chipcard
- guilders have been replaced by euros
- train taxi is no more
- mestbanken (manure banks) are no longer required - farmers have to restrict production so they can use it on their own land or find another market
- military service is no longer compulsory
- hasjtaxis are not allowed (if they ever were), and cannabis / hash cafes are now known as coffee shops
- the compulsory coffee machine has made way for Senseo, Nespresso and espresso machines
- mention of nervous breakdowns reminded me that the concept "overspannen" has been replaced by the concept "burnout"
- smoking in cinemas and public places has been banned
- PTT was replaced by KPN and TNT / TPG / PostNL
- modern or progressive spelling has been and more-or-less gone
- the NS Reisplanner (train journey planner) on diskette in MS-DOS or ATARI formats!
Nowadays, there are so many excellent expat blogs, forums and sources of online information that it's time this book was taken off the market. If you're looking for humour, try www.invadingholland.com, http://stuffdutchpeoplelike.com, and for basic information, have a look at www.access-nl.org.
This book has been in print since 1989, with it's 6th edition appearing in 2010. Admittedly the version I read was the 3rd edition from 1993, but I can't imagine that the background tone has changed much since it was first published. Like most expat media in the Netherlands, it is exceptionally biased towards Amsterdam - Holland in the most accurate sense of the word - and only pays lip-service to the rest of the country, where attitudes are often quite different. Having lived in the south-east of the country most of the past 25 years, I often find that opinions on expat forums and in this book bear little relation to my own experience, but perhaps that is because I prefer to emphasise the positive and embrace the culture of the country which I have made my home.
This is a book which has elicited a strong reaction in me, and I found myself constantly taking notes, partly because so much has changed since this edition was published. Less than a week after the investiture of King Willem-Alexander, it was amusing to read that "Willem-Alexander will be well-prepared to become King by the turn of the century". He had to wait a little longer! One of the predictions was that Sinterklaas celebrations would be incorporated into Christmas, which has certainly not proved the case. In spite of the fact that one of the authors is British used to a National Health Service and social security, I found that their view of the Dutch welfare state is exceptionally American, unable to see it as a safety net for those who need it. They view the Dutch as being motivated only by money and demanding their rights, yet somehow it is considered superior to work hard to further your own individual happiness and prosperity at the expense of others. There is a whole chapter about thrift followed by one on sponging off the state. The view of child-rearing is also exceptionally negative, and twenty years on, I can only say that the so-called spoilt children of yore have turned out remarkably well and society has not collapsed as a result:
Twenty years on, the current herds of freeborn Dutch, with their divine qualities, will be the backbone of the country. They will be the mainstay of industry, the financiers and the politicians. Dutch kids, spawned by over-liberated mothers and welfare-minded fathers, will rule and govern the country.
Some of the views in this book are downright insulting, such as the implication that the Dutch abroad are different to any other expats in certain countries where locals are employed as cooks or servants, and this gem:
Selection of Christian school enables parents to segregate their children from Turks, Moroccans, etc., (who follow the Muslim faith) without being seen to be racist.
Reading this book has also reminded me of all those little changes which have occurred over the past 25 years, and how many of the things mentioned are now defunct:
- strippenkaart tickets have been replaced by the OV chipcard
- guilders have been replaced by euros
- train taxi is no more
- mestbanken (manure banks) are no longer required - farmers have to restrict production so they can use it on their own land or find another market
- military service is no longer compulsory
- hasjtaxis are not allowed (if they ever were), and cannabis / hash cafes are now known as coffee shops
- the compulsory coffee machine has made way for Senseo, Nespresso and espresso machines
- mention of nervous breakdowns reminded me that the concept "overspannen" has been replaced by the concept "burnout"
- smoking in cinemas and public places has been banned
- PTT was replaced by KPN and TNT / TPG / PostNL
- modern or progressive spelling has been and more-or-less gone
- the NS Reisplanner (train journey planner) on diskette in MS-DOS or ATARI formats!
Nowadays, there are so many excellent expat blogs, forums and sources of online information that it's time this book was taken off the market. If you're looking for humour, try www.invadingholland.com, http://stuffdutchpeoplelike.com, and for basic information, have a look at www.access-nl.org.
June 9, 2020
Take everything this book says with a large grain of salt, as it was written as a fun parody of Dutch culture in the late 1980s early 90s. It can come across as a bit harsh, crude, and at times, even sexist. Perhaps our society really has changed for the better over the last 30 years! Some details of public life and institutions are also dramatically outdated, at least in my edition from 1992.
Indeed, the serious traveler or sociologist, looking for insights into the Dutch way of life in relation to their land and history should look elsewhere. That said, the book gave me a few chuckles into the quirks of the Dutch language, cuisine, and character. I think others with Dutch acquaintances and relations may likewise see some vague semblances of reality here and there.
It's okay for a laugh if you already know something accurate about Nederland and buy it at your secondhand bookshop for goedkoep (cheap), but you'll probably cry if you paid more than $5.00.
Indeed, the serious traveler or sociologist, looking for insights into the Dutch way of life in relation to their land and history should look elsewhere. That said, the book gave me a few chuckles into the quirks of the Dutch language, cuisine, and character. I think others with Dutch acquaintances and relations may likewise see some vague semblances of reality here and there.
It's okay for a laugh if you already know something accurate about Nederland and buy it at your secondhand bookshop for goedkoep (cheap), but you'll probably cry if you paid more than $5.00.
April 6, 2024
Kláraði loksins þessa.
Hún var svona bærileg. Kláraði hana allavega.
Hún var svona bærileg. Kláraði hana allavega.
February 9, 2020
Someone American who’d lived in the Netherlands for two decades recommended this book to me when I moved. It’s a very short read but also dated, however “recent” the edition you have. It was a cringeworthy read.
Other than things that can’t change too fast, like houses and shape of toilet bowls, only a handful of remarks seemed to me to stand the test of time.
One, the suggestion that Dutch people are open to new trends and ideas, and that each generation brings with it something new. It’s for this reason the book editions date so fast: attitudes and behaviours move on fast, and diversity is a catalyst.
Two, the notion that the Netherlands is a self-regulatory society “not governed by speeches from above.” It’s (still) apparent once you make friends or work here that coercion isn’t part of the fabric, and you learn to understand the subtle difference between consent and consensus.
Oh and a bonus one: dogs still ride in bike baskets.
As of the 2020s there are probably better books and expat blogs out there to help you understand cultural differences, wherever you may be from.
Other than things that can’t change too fast, like houses and shape of toilet bowls, only a handful of remarks seemed to me to stand the test of time.
One, the suggestion that Dutch people are open to new trends and ideas, and that each generation brings with it something new. It’s for this reason the book editions date so fast: attitudes and behaviours move on fast, and diversity is a catalyst.
Two, the notion that the Netherlands is a self-regulatory society “not governed by speeches from above.” It’s (still) apparent once you make friends or work here that coercion isn’t part of the fabric, and you learn to understand the subtle difference between consent and consensus.
Oh and a bonus one: dogs still ride in bike baskets.
As of the 2020s there are probably better books and expat blogs out there to help you understand cultural differences, wherever you may be from.
September 1, 2011
The Undutchables: An Observation of the Netherlands, Its Culture And Its Inhabitants is a legendary book among expatiates living in the Netherlands. It is allegedly a "bible" of all things Dutch. Among many, this book is also considered to be unbelievingly funny, but of course humour is highly subjective.
I read it back in 2007, after living in Holland for about 2 years. I must say that it does capture many of the funny quirks that make the Dutch people Dutch, making them different from the rest of us. But honestly, as a Dane, much of what I read about the Dutch can also be said about the Danish people & culture, which is indeed very similar to the Dutch one, only very little sets us apart. The biggest difference is actually the language, and even that is similar.
This book is definitely an interesting, educative and at times also a funny read, especially if you read it after having lived here for a while and can relate its anecdotes and stories to your own field of reference and experience.
I read it back in 2007, after living in Holland for about 2 years. I must say that it does capture many of the funny quirks that make the Dutch people Dutch, making them different from the rest of us. But honestly, as a Dane, much of what I read about the Dutch can also be said about the Danish people & culture, which is indeed very similar to the Dutch one, only very little sets us apart. The biggest difference is actually the language, and even that is similar.
This book is definitely an interesting, educative and at times also a funny read, especially if you read it after having lived here for a while and can relate its anecdotes and stories to your own field of reference and experience.
July 29, 2011
I absolutely freaking love this book. As a Canadian living in the Netherlands I often feel like a complete alien. It was great to read this book and see that I'm not alone and I'm not the only one who views the Dutch this way. The book full of interesting facts and is highly entertaining. Even if you aren't Dutch or living in the Netherlands I think you'd find it a great read. Especially if you're even slightly curious about what life is like here in the low lands. The authors are very fun and friendly people, I have spoken to them on a number of occasions on their website. They have a meeting point on their website (www.undutchables.com) where expats in NL can gather and discuss life in NL or just get to know each other. This one gets two thumbs up!
January 11, 2019
My girlfriend recently moved to the Netherlands from the US for me (I am Dutch), and my parents gifted her this book for Christmas. Because it looked like a fun read, I decided to give it a go. I wish I didn’t...
Starting off, there were some funny tidbits in there, especially the one surrounding public transport and driving. I laughed out loud a couple of times, because I realized that we, Dutchies, can indeed be very obnoxious and stupid waiting for a train on the platform. However, even though our country is as flat as a chess board (they got that right in the book), it went down-hill after that.
Some “accusations” they make are just flat out incorrect, on the border of insulting. I can laugh about my own shortcomings and about my “people’s” shortcomings, but not when they make statements surrounding incorrect facts. Next to that, some of there wording just felt off, a little rude or racist.
I rated the book two stars because it has some funny parts that made me laugh. The chapter I liked the most? 21. Because it was the last one...
Starting off, there were some funny tidbits in there, especially the one surrounding public transport and driving. I laughed out loud a couple of times, because I realized that we, Dutchies, can indeed be very obnoxious and stupid waiting for a train on the platform. However, even though our country is as flat as a chess board (they got that right in the book), it went down-hill after that.
Some “accusations” they make are just flat out incorrect, on the border of insulting. I can laugh about my own shortcomings and about my “people’s” shortcomings, but not when they make statements surrounding incorrect facts. Next to that, some of there wording just felt off, a little rude or racist.
I rated the book two stars because it has some funny parts that made me laugh. The chapter I liked the most? 21. Because it was the last one...
November 29, 2020
I don't really have much to say about this book - a non-fiction pamphlet about the Dutch, their customs and culture. It is indeed a funny way of looking at things, but I found that many of the "perks" of the Dutch which were touched upon can be found in other countries and peoples as well. Nonetheless, it was a fun read and I'd recommend giving it a try if you please!
July 26, 2007
As a Native from Holland I can assure you everything in the book is True (sorry, Dutch humor, echt waar! :)
June 10, 2008
A must read for anyone who is Dutch or would like to visit our tiny, messy, over crowded but oh so friendly country.
May 21, 2020
Nice but sometimes using the same formulas to make you laugh, is boring.
August 9, 2025
A sharp, humorous snapshot of the Dutch; proud, thrifty, blunt, and progressive yet tradition-bound, skewering their welfare reliance, doing permissive parenting, hunting bargains, protesting with zeal, and having liberal stance on sex and drugs. It makes fun of bikes, dikes, tulips and flower obsession, and gezellig homes, healthcare inefficiency, food habits, climate talking, erratic driving, etc. In short, an engaging introduction to Dutch clichés; useful to know, but don't forget that ever-shifting as culture evolves.
October 20, 2021
Hilarious!
November 30, 2018
Ek het hierdie Nederlandse vertaling gekoop op Hermanus, teen R2,00.
Om tog maar die stereotipes op te som:
1. Nederlanders is "penny wise, pound foolish"
2. Nederlanders teer op hul gasheer/-vrou in die buiteland (goed, ek moet toegee my moeder het ervaring hiervan uit die eerste hand...). Ook moeders met pasgebore babas moet hul staal vir die drumpel wat deurgetrap word deur besoekers wat traktering soek - nee, niemand bring ete of verligting nie, die werklas raak eenvoudig meer.
3. Nederlanders put onhebbelike genot uit die mees omslagtige stelsels of werkgenot [soos om 3 ure lank 'n tent op te slaan, 45 minute rus, net om maar weer op te pak]
4. Nederlanders is lief vir die skyn van die saak waarvoor hul staan (al is dit vernaamlik om 'n paar sent uit die staatskas te pers, verwys na nommer 1.), en het 'n erg moralistiese streep. En put verleedvermaak daaruit indien iemand vervolg word vir die wandade waaraan hulself skuldig is.
5. Nederlanders is donders eiewys, en hul kinders ook.
6. Nederlanders is vreeslik ingesteld op die natuurlewe, omrede Nederland niks te bied het nie.
Kortom: Die selfingenome Nederlanders is die selfsugtigste volk op aarde.
Dankie. Jy het die boek nou klaargelees.
"Om de Tafelberg" (bl. 206 tot 209) is uiters oorvereenvoudig en feitelik verkeerd.
Daar word gerieflik vergeet om die datum te noem wanneer die Kaapkolonie wel Brits geword het. Laat ek invul.
Die eerste besetting: 1795 tot 1803 (in die naam van Willem van Oranje, uit vrees dat die Franse die Kaap inpalm en die handelsroete belemmer) en die tweede besetting met ingang 1806 tot 1961.
Die Vlaminge sou seker sê 'n Engelse bewind is veel beter as 'n Franse een... "Daar verschillen we dan van mening over".
Om die onbetrokkenheid van Nederland vs. Suid-Afrika in veel beter perspektief te stel, lees eerder https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kruger_... .
Toe Engeland die Kaapkolonie in 1806 vir goed annekseer, kon die 26 000 oorblywende Europeërs Nederland nie veel skeel nie. Ook die Groot Trek, die stigting van die ZAR en die OVS en die Anneksasie van die ZAR in 1877 kon weinig indruk maak op die Nederlandse maatskappy. Op hierdie stadium was die Nederlandse politiek eenvoudig na binne gekeer, met weinige belange in die buitelandse doen en late. Dit sluit Nederlands-Indië ook in.
Omtrent die belangstelling: "Toen er rond 1870 goud en diamanten werden gevonden, ontstond er een voor de hand liggende piek" [...]
Met ander woorde, die outeurs voer aan die Nederlanders was net gierig? Onwaar. Heeltemal onwaar.
In die winter van die 1880–1881 kom daar 'n skielike belangstelling toe die nuus in Nederland te hore kom van die Boere wat die Britse anneksasie van 1877 met die wapen ongedaan wil maak. Die openbare mening 'herontdek' as't ware die bestaan van die blanke, "stamverwante" Boere, en hulle word vuur en vlam bygestaan. Hierdie Boereliefde was eintlik 'n uiting van die opkomende Nederlandse nasionalisme. Nederland was voor hierdie stadium op 'n knelpunt, vuisvoos en sonder nasionale selfvertroue in 'n tyd waarin baie – en veral die klassieke liberale elite – gemeen het dat Nederland hom as "een oude, sceptische natie toonde die alles al had meegemaakt en nu zonder doel of ideaal uitgeblust ronddobberde." Op 'n ersatz wyse kon die Nederlanders met hul "bloedverwante" identifiseer; as sodanig 'n lewende bewys dat daar nog volop lewenskrag in steek. Die Nederlandse nasionalisme kry, tesame met die destydse modernisering en herlewing van die samelewing, 'n hupstootjie deur die Transvaalse vryheidstrewe. Die Boere as stamverwante veg, in die Nederlandse oë altans, nie slegs vir hulself nie; die Boere wou hul eie onafhanklikheid en erkenning en eerbiediging van die volkereg weer geniet – iets wat Nederland self begeer het. Nederland is beskou as 'n klein, swak staatjie met 'n prakties onverdedigbare territorium sowel binne as buite Europa. En die volkereg sou klein state immers beskerming teen die magspolitiek van die groot moondhede kon bied. Wen die Boere die oorlog teen die Britte, kon 'n presedent geskep word vir ander state. Die Nederlandse entoesiasme vir die Boere moet daarom gesien word as 'n uiting van die bevordering van Nederlandse belangegerigte nasionalisme. - De Graaff, B.J.H. 1993. De mythe van de stamverwantschap: Nederland en de Afrikaners – 1902–1930.
"Nederlands" is de jure eers in 1983 van die Suid-Afrikaanse grondwet geskrap, geensins 1925 soos die boek dit stel nie. En dit was wel as respons op die Apartheidsanksies van Nederland en België. Ook was daar 'n sterk vernederlandsing van die Afrikaanse taal om standaardiseringsdoeleindes in die 1930's tot 1950's.
Die Afrikaner het weliswaar dekades lank geredeneer of hul wel Nederlands met Afrikaans moet vervang, ten volle daarvan bewus dat Afrikaans as boeke- en kultuurtaal uiters weerloos sou staan teen die Engels. Onthou ook: was daar geen Engelse bewindhebbers aan die Kaap nie, sou daar geen Afrikaans gewees het nie. Die Engelse het net soos die Franse op Korsika en in Vlaandere partikularisties te werk gegaan, om die plaaslike dialek van die standaardtaal te vervreem, om die volke (taalgenote, stamgenote) se samehorigheid te verswak en dan vinniger te assimileer (divide et impera). Net soos op Korsika deur die Franse aangevoer word "Korsikaans" is nie "Standaarditaliaans" nie [al is Korsikaans as dialek Sardinies sterk aanverwant], net so is aangevoer "Cape Dutch" (smalend in die Engelse pers bekend as "Kitchen Dutch") is nie "Standaardnederlands" nie. 'n Wig is met opset tussen die taalgenote ingedryf.
Kortom: sonder die Britte sou die "Afrikaanssprekendes" vandag steeds geglo het, soos in die 1800's, dat hulle Nederlands praat.
Ek vind die uiteinde van die 1980's betreurenswaardig vir sowel die stiksiende Nederlanders wat hul taal reeds in Indonesië verloor het [en stééds geen slapelose nagte kry oor die verdere inboet van hul taal op internasionale vlak nie], as die Afrikaner.
Nederlandse boeke kon die Suid-Afrikaanse biblioteke volgestaan het - maar nee, dit word verpulp.
Die Afrikaanssprekendes kon Nederlandse boeke verslind het en 'n veel wyer wêreldbeeld gekry het. Maar nee. In Amsterdamse boekwinkels koop Afrikaanssprekende toeriste Engelse boeke...
Dit was juis ook in dié tydperk (1980's) toe verdomming en veragterliking en onderdanigheid aan die Britse koningin ingetree het onder die Afrikanerdom - want Frans, Duits en Nederlands is links en regs uit die skoolkurrikula geweer. Latyn ook. Mediëvistiek ook. Sy hele Vastelandeuropese geskiedenis [soveel uit te leer!] is van hom afgesny, danksy politici. Soveel so dat die hedendaagse Afrikaanse pers netsowel in Londen gedruk kon gewees het: veral wat nuus en glanspersoonlikhede aanbetref. In die dorpsbiblioteke en boekwinkels is alle boeke in Engels (almal ingevoer, natuurlik), met 'n piepklein rakkie vir Afrikaanse boeke. Nederlandse, Duitse en Franse boeke sou jy WENS om te sien. Gott sei Dank vir Google Play, archive.org, Nederlandse toeriste wat hul leesboeke in hotelle "vergeet" en die handjievol Duitse boekwinkels.
Oor "The Undutchables": moenie die boek te ernstig opneem nie. Eie aan 'n boek wat vir die humor geskryf is, vind die leser growwe oordrywings en veralgemenings.
Om tog maar die stereotipes op te som:
1. Nederlanders is "penny wise, pound foolish"
2. Nederlanders teer op hul gasheer/-vrou in die buiteland (goed, ek moet toegee my moeder het ervaring hiervan uit die eerste hand...). Ook moeders met pasgebore babas moet hul staal vir die drumpel wat deurgetrap word deur besoekers wat traktering soek - nee, niemand bring ete of verligting nie, die werklas raak eenvoudig meer.
3. Nederlanders put onhebbelike genot uit die mees omslagtige stelsels of werkgenot [soos om 3 ure lank 'n tent op te slaan, 45 minute rus, net om maar weer op te pak]
4. Nederlanders is lief vir die skyn van die saak waarvoor hul staan (al is dit vernaamlik om 'n paar sent uit die staatskas te pers, verwys na nommer 1.), en het 'n erg moralistiese streep. En put verleedvermaak daaruit indien iemand vervolg word vir die wandade waaraan hulself skuldig is.
5. Nederlanders is donders eiewys, en hul kinders ook.
6. Nederlanders is vreeslik ingesteld op die natuurlewe, omrede Nederland niks te bied het nie.
Kortom: Die selfingenome Nederlanders is die selfsugtigste volk op aarde.
Dankie. Jy het die boek nou klaargelees.
"Om de Tafelberg" (bl. 206 tot 209) is uiters oorvereenvoudig en feitelik verkeerd.
Daar word gerieflik vergeet om die datum te noem wanneer die Kaapkolonie wel Brits geword het. Laat ek invul.
Die eerste besetting: 1795 tot 1803 (in die naam van Willem van Oranje, uit vrees dat die Franse die Kaap inpalm en die handelsroete belemmer) en die tweede besetting met ingang 1806 tot 1961.
Die Vlaminge sou seker sê 'n Engelse bewind is veel beter as 'n Franse een... "Daar verschillen we dan van mening over".
Om die onbetrokkenheid van Nederland vs. Suid-Afrika in veel beter perspektief te stel, lees eerder https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kruger_... .
Toe Engeland die Kaapkolonie in 1806 vir goed annekseer, kon die 26 000 oorblywende Europeërs Nederland nie veel skeel nie. Ook die Groot Trek, die stigting van die ZAR en die OVS en die Anneksasie van die ZAR in 1877 kon weinig indruk maak op die Nederlandse maatskappy. Op hierdie stadium was die Nederlandse politiek eenvoudig na binne gekeer, met weinige belange in die buitelandse doen en late. Dit sluit Nederlands-Indië ook in.
Omtrent die belangstelling: "Toen er rond 1870 goud en diamanten werden gevonden, ontstond er een voor de hand liggende piek" [...]
Met ander woorde, die outeurs voer aan die Nederlanders was net gierig? Onwaar. Heeltemal onwaar.
In die winter van die 1880–1881 kom daar 'n skielike belangstelling toe die nuus in Nederland te hore kom van die Boere wat die Britse anneksasie van 1877 met die wapen ongedaan wil maak. Die openbare mening 'herontdek' as't ware die bestaan van die blanke, "stamverwante" Boere, en hulle word vuur en vlam bygestaan. Hierdie Boereliefde was eintlik 'n uiting van die opkomende Nederlandse nasionalisme. Nederland was voor hierdie stadium op 'n knelpunt, vuisvoos en sonder nasionale selfvertroue in 'n tyd waarin baie – en veral die klassieke liberale elite – gemeen het dat Nederland hom as "een oude, sceptische natie toonde die alles al had meegemaakt en nu zonder doel of ideaal uitgeblust ronddobberde." Op 'n ersatz wyse kon die Nederlanders met hul "bloedverwante" identifiseer; as sodanig 'n lewende bewys dat daar nog volop lewenskrag in steek. Die Nederlandse nasionalisme kry, tesame met die destydse modernisering en herlewing van die samelewing, 'n hupstootjie deur die Transvaalse vryheidstrewe. Die Boere as stamverwante veg, in die Nederlandse oë altans, nie slegs vir hulself nie; die Boere wou hul eie onafhanklikheid en erkenning en eerbiediging van die volkereg weer geniet – iets wat Nederland self begeer het. Nederland is beskou as 'n klein, swak staatjie met 'n prakties onverdedigbare territorium sowel binne as buite Europa. En die volkereg sou klein state immers beskerming teen die magspolitiek van die groot moondhede kon bied. Wen die Boere die oorlog teen die Britte, kon 'n presedent geskep word vir ander state. Die Nederlandse entoesiasme vir die Boere moet daarom gesien word as 'n uiting van die bevordering van Nederlandse belangegerigte nasionalisme. - De Graaff, B.J.H. 1993. De mythe van de stamverwantschap: Nederland en de Afrikaners – 1902–1930.
"Nederlands" is de jure eers in 1983 van die Suid-Afrikaanse grondwet geskrap, geensins 1925 soos die boek dit stel nie. En dit was wel as respons op die Apartheidsanksies van Nederland en België. Ook was daar 'n sterk vernederlandsing van die Afrikaanse taal om standaardiseringsdoeleindes in die 1930's tot 1950's.
Die Afrikaner het weliswaar dekades lank geredeneer of hul wel Nederlands met Afrikaans moet vervang, ten volle daarvan bewus dat Afrikaans as boeke- en kultuurtaal uiters weerloos sou staan teen die Engels. Onthou ook: was daar geen Engelse bewindhebbers aan die Kaap nie, sou daar geen Afrikaans gewees het nie. Die Engelse het net soos die Franse op Korsika en in Vlaandere partikularisties te werk gegaan, om die plaaslike dialek van die standaardtaal te vervreem, om die volke (taalgenote, stamgenote) se samehorigheid te verswak en dan vinniger te assimileer (divide et impera). Net soos op Korsika deur die Franse aangevoer word "Korsikaans" is nie "Standaarditaliaans" nie [al is Korsikaans as dialek Sardinies sterk aanverwant], net so is aangevoer "Cape Dutch" (smalend in die Engelse pers bekend as "Kitchen Dutch") is nie "Standaardnederlands" nie. 'n Wig is met opset tussen die taalgenote ingedryf.
Kortom: sonder die Britte sou die "Afrikaanssprekendes" vandag steeds geglo het, soos in die 1800's, dat hulle Nederlands praat.
Ek vind die uiteinde van die 1980's betreurenswaardig vir sowel die stiksiende Nederlanders wat hul taal reeds in Indonesië verloor het [en stééds geen slapelose nagte kry oor die verdere inboet van hul taal op internasionale vlak nie], as die Afrikaner.
Nederlandse boeke kon die Suid-Afrikaanse biblioteke volgestaan het - maar nee, dit word verpulp.
Die Afrikaanssprekendes kon Nederlandse boeke verslind het en 'n veel wyer wêreldbeeld gekry het. Maar nee. In Amsterdamse boekwinkels koop Afrikaanssprekende toeriste Engelse boeke...
Dit was juis ook in dié tydperk (1980's) toe verdomming en veragterliking en onderdanigheid aan die Britse koningin ingetree het onder die Afrikanerdom - want Frans, Duits en Nederlands is links en regs uit die skoolkurrikula geweer. Latyn ook. Mediëvistiek ook. Sy hele Vastelandeuropese geskiedenis [soveel uit te leer!] is van hom afgesny, danksy politici. Soveel so dat die hedendaagse Afrikaanse pers netsowel in Londen gedruk kon gewees het: veral wat nuus en glanspersoonlikhede aanbetref. In die dorpsbiblioteke en boekwinkels is alle boeke in Engels (almal ingevoer, natuurlik), met 'n piepklein rakkie vir Afrikaanse boeke. Nederlandse, Duitse en Franse boeke sou jy WENS om te sien. Gott sei Dank vir Google Play, archive.org, Nederlandse toeriste wat hul leesboeke in hotelle "vergeet" en die handjievol Duitse boekwinkels.
Oor "The Undutchables": moenie die boek te ernstig opneem nie. Eie aan 'n boek wat vir die humor geskryf is, vind die leser growwe oordrywings en veralgemenings.
February 16, 2020
This is a typical satire book, the authors surely wanted the readers to have some good laughs when reading it – and I did! But it is so full of stereotypes, I am starting to get tired/bored. Additionally, the authors are clearly Americans, so for them, a culture where people are not afraid to lose their jobs or give their opinions to their bosses is shocking. The same about the collaborative culture of the Dutch – it´s hard for the Americans to understand how people simply do not compete with each other at all times, at all cost! For them, tolerance and equality is such a foreign concept that they make fun of it all the time! And it´s fine, do it! But the satire gets soooooooo boring…
And yes, some parts or comments of the book are really funny, but I would have enjoyed more the book if the author would not give away his opinion so often…
As a conclusion, I am DNF-ing this book for now on page 170… maybe in a few months I will get back to it, but for now it is just a sacrifice to pick it up and there are too many good books out there…
And yes, some parts or comments of the book are really funny, but I would have enjoyed more the book if the author would not give away his opinion so often…
As a conclusion, I am DNF-ing this book for now on page 170… maybe in a few months I will get back to it, but for now it is just a sacrifice to pick it up and there are too many good books out there…
April 24, 2020
dnf na 20 pagina's/de eerste twee hoofdstukken.
Ik kon het gewoon niet aan om verder te gaan. Ik vind dat er niet genoeg research is gedaan door de auteurs wat tot misleidende informatie over Nederland leidde. Ook vond ik het verwarrend dat de termen Nederland en Holland door elkaar werden gebruikt aangezien ik het als twee verschillende dingen zien.
Verder is dit boek ook heel erg verouderd. De eerste uitgave kwam uit in 1989, maar deze versie in 2013. Ik had verwacht dat het wel geüpdatet zo zijn, maar nee.
Ik kon het gewoon niet aan om verder te gaan. Ik vind dat er niet genoeg research is gedaan door de auteurs wat tot misleidende informatie over Nederland leidde. Ook vond ik het verwarrend dat de termen Nederland en Holland door elkaar werden gebruikt aangezien ik het als twee verschillende dingen zien.
Verder is dit boek ook heel erg verouderd. De eerste uitgave kwam uit in 1989, maar deze versie in 2013. Ik had verwacht dat het wel geüpdatet zo zijn, maar nee.
December 30, 2019
Honestly the worst book I've ever read.
It's clear the writers absolutely hate the Netherlands and everyone in it.
Pretending it's 'humor', when really it's just ranting about every single thing possible, even things that are exactly the same in every other western country.
Doesn't matter if what they're talking about is a good thing or a bad thing in reality, this book will make it seem like it's the worst thing in the world. And if they can't find enough bad things about the Netherlands: They'll just make stuff up, pretending they're real facts!
It's clear the writers absolutely hate the Netherlands and everyone in it.
Pretending it's 'humor', when really it's just ranting about every single thing possible, even things that are exactly the same in every other western country.
Doesn't matter if what they're talking about is a good thing or a bad thing in reality, this book will make it seem like it's the worst thing in the world. And if they can't find enough bad things about the Netherlands: They'll just make stuff up, pretending they're real facts!
June 29, 2013
Ik kon hier de humor echt niet van inzien. Niet grappig genoeg om grappig te zijn, en niet serieus genoeg om serieus te zijn.
January 30, 2016
Awesome book! A must read to understand much about the Dutch culture. Cynically informative, it is exactly what you need to know about being Dutch!
October 4, 2020
Obviously a ridicule and not an actual book about the Dutch. Funny at points, but it's so outdated that many things are not even recognizable anymore. Meh!
January 22, 2021
4th book of 2021. I’m a big fan of travel writing and, having exhausted the more well-known books in the genre, I had added The Undutchables to my list of potential reads some time ago. When I found myself evaluating the possibility of a temporary relocation to the Netherlands, the book shot to the top of my priority list. Yet even from the perspective of someone who might move to the NL, I didn’t particularly enjoy this book - I’m very grateful I didn’t previously waste my time reading it just for fun!
I read the 2017 version, as that was the most recent release (it’s apparently updated every few years). But there was definitely a sense that the authors had been reluctant to cut past sections to focus on updates, so there was often a detailed discussion of something deemed outdated, followed by a brief tacked-on update sentence or two. Sometimes, this was especially confusing - for example, I was entirely unable to interpret the rambling section on driving taxes to determine if there is currently a pay-per-mile fee in place.
However, the most unpleasant thing about this book was its overall tone. The authors were clearly very amused with themselves, and perhaps they’d be enjoyable to speak with in person. But the writing style was painful. The flow was choppy, and hundreds of words were randomly capitalized throughout (the weird font used made this even more disruptive). Above all, the authors’ perspective on social issues seemed very outdated. There’s humor, and then there’s dismissive condescension...and these authors far too often fell into the latter category (e.g., in regards to the feminist movement).
There were certainly still some helpful and amusing anecdotes, language/idiom notes, and cultural pointers. Should we decide to pursue the Netherlands opportunity that’s arisen for us, I will hold onto this book as a mildly useful resource. But I absolutely would not recommend it for readers who don’t have a personal Dutch connection - it’s definitely not a story format kind of book, and the overall tone is just plain grating.
I read the 2017 version, as that was the most recent release (it’s apparently updated every few years). But there was definitely a sense that the authors had been reluctant to cut past sections to focus on updates, so there was often a detailed discussion of something deemed outdated, followed by a brief tacked-on update sentence or two. Sometimes, this was especially confusing - for example, I was entirely unable to interpret the rambling section on driving taxes to determine if there is currently a pay-per-mile fee in place.
However, the most unpleasant thing about this book was its overall tone. The authors were clearly very amused with themselves, and perhaps they’d be enjoyable to speak with in person. But the writing style was painful. The flow was choppy, and hundreds of words were randomly capitalized throughout (the weird font used made this even more disruptive). Above all, the authors’ perspective on social issues seemed very outdated. There’s humor, and then there’s dismissive condescension...and these authors far too often fell into the latter category (e.g., in regards to the feminist movement).
There were certainly still some helpful and amusing anecdotes, language/idiom notes, and cultural pointers. Should we decide to pursue the Netherlands opportunity that’s arisen for us, I will hold onto this book as a mildly useful resource. But I absolutely would not recommend it for readers who don’t have a personal Dutch connection - it’s definitely not a story format kind of book, and the overall tone is just plain grating.
April 2, 2023
I picked up this book, because it was billed as a hilarious, light-hearted discussion of Dutch customs and culture. I read this genre of expat books all the time, and I usually enjoy them immensely. However, this book just felt mean, like when a bully covers up cruelty by saying, "I am just kidding. Can't you take a joke?"
I decided to stop reading when I got to this mockery of feminism. "Understandably, no one dared to remind them that in the Western world, the custom is that MAN goes out to work and WOMAN manages the home and family." And, "Ironically, many Dutch women emulate and incorporate the very masculine characteristics they seemed to despise so very intensely. These 'butch-bitch' characteristics have been [frowned] upon by concerned males for centuries." This paragraph is followed by demeaning quotes towards Dutch women.
I have only left one other negative review on this platform, because I generally think writers should be applauded for their efforts/bravery. If I don't like a book, I treat it as a personal opinion that I keep to myself. However, I do think people should know the type of content they are supporting in this book.
I also just finished reading "Why the Dutch are Different." That expat book was thoughtful, funny, and instructive. While it had some strong and debatable points of view, the discussion seemed nuanced and intelligent. In contrast, UnDutchables just made me feel embarrassed that I had purchased it.
I decided to stop reading when I got to this mockery of feminism. "Understandably, no one dared to remind them that in the Western world, the custom is that MAN goes out to work and WOMAN manages the home and family." And, "Ironically, many Dutch women emulate and incorporate the very masculine characteristics they seemed to despise so very intensely. These 'butch-bitch' characteristics have been [frowned] upon by concerned males for centuries." This paragraph is followed by demeaning quotes towards Dutch women.
I have only left one other negative review on this platform, because I generally think writers should be applauded for their efforts/bravery. If I don't like a book, I treat it as a personal opinion that I keep to myself. However, I do think people should know the type of content they are supporting in this book.
I also just finished reading "Why the Dutch are Different." That expat book was thoughtful, funny, and instructive. While it had some strong and debatable points of view, the discussion seemed nuanced and intelligent. In contrast, UnDutchables just made me feel embarrassed that I had purchased it.
January 23, 2024
wow, well i'm not too sure what i can say about this that isn't already reflected in the reviews. in all fairness, i did read version 3, which was published in 1993. by the time this came out, neither author (one English, one American) didn't live in NL anymore.
this book is very, very obviously written by boomers with a healthy dose of out-of-touchness, out-of-dateness, and a nice spinkling of sexism, racism, and homophobia. they don't seem to like young people, gay people, POC, or women, and the idea that any of them may want rights or freedom or equality (or god forbid equity) is made fun of quite a lot.
i enjoyed the more lighthearted bits making fun of the tiny WCs, the road rules, or the dutch children, but all in all, it was at best funny and at worst (mostly) not good and quite uncomfortable to read.
here are some selections of some bad bits:
"Holland was one of the first (if not the first) to provide generous welfare benefits to a lesbian couple who "had" a child through artificial insemination."
"Recent research indicates that (some) gay males may be born with homosexual tendencies."
They also use the n-word, when poking fun at foreigners pronouncing Scheveningen.
"In California, there are so many strains of lifestyle and ethnic cultural diversity (all fighting for their share of the current sensitivity and pity boom)..."
oh yeah, and there's literally a chapter called "Bikes, Dikes, Flags & Fags"
this book is very, very obviously written by boomers with a healthy dose of out-of-touchness, out-of-dateness, and a nice spinkling of sexism, racism, and homophobia. they don't seem to like young people, gay people, POC, or women, and the idea that any of them may want rights or freedom or equality (or god forbid equity) is made fun of quite a lot.
i enjoyed the more lighthearted bits making fun of the tiny WCs, the road rules, or the dutch children, but all in all, it was at best funny and at worst (mostly) not good and quite uncomfortable to read.
here are some selections of some bad bits:
"Holland was one of the first (if not the first) to provide generous welfare benefits to a lesbian couple who "had" a child through artificial insemination."
"Recent research indicates that (some) gay males may be born with homosexual tendencies."
They also use the n-word, when poking fun at foreigners pronouncing Scheveningen.
"In California, there are so many strains of lifestyle and ethnic cultural diversity (all fighting for their share of the current sensitivity and pity boom)..."
oh yeah, and there's literally a chapter called "Bikes, Dikes, Flags & Fags"
April 26, 2022
Als eigentijdse Nederlander ben ik natuurlijk bekend met onze karakter eigenschappen, de goede en de slechte kanten. En dat ik dit als geboren en getogen Nederlander zelf lees bevestigd natuurlijk waar de auteurs mee openen in het boek. Onze zelfingenomenheid en zelflovendheid.... Oeps haha.
Er zit zeker een leuke opbouw in, veel dingen vind ik te generaliserend om te bestempelen als typisch voor heel Nederlands. Want veel voorbeelden en conclusies die de auteurs schrijven komen uit de grotere steden en de randstad. En volgens mij is heel Nederland er wel mee eens dat je de Randstad niet kunt vergelijken met de rest van Nederland. Het leuke van ons landje is juist dat er zoveel verschillende niveaus van leven, nuchterheid, drama, emoties, etc voorkomen en ondanks dat de auteurs vele jaren hebben gewoond in verschillende plaatsen in NL, representeerd het boek net niet helemaal de ware aard van de Nederlanders. Ondanks dat dit een oudere editie is, want ik weet dat het tegenwoordig wel heel anders aan toe gaat in NLse maatschappij weet ik ook nog heel goed hoe het was toen deze editie uit zou komen.
Er zit zeker een leuke opbouw in, veel dingen vind ik te generaliserend om te bestempelen als typisch voor heel Nederlands. Want veel voorbeelden en conclusies die de auteurs schrijven komen uit de grotere steden en de randstad. En volgens mij is heel Nederland er wel mee eens dat je de Randstad niet kunt vergelijken met de rest van Nederland. Het leuke van ons landje is juist dat er zoveel verschillende niveaus van leven, nuchterheid, drama, emoties, etc voorkomen en ondanks dat de auteurs vele jaren hebben gewoond in verschillende plaatsen in NL, representeerd het boek net niet helemaal de ware aard van de Nederlanders. Ondanks dat dit een oudere editie is, want ik weet dat het tegenwoordig wel heel anders aan toe gaat in NLse maatschappij weet ik ook nog heel goed hoe het was toen deze editie uit zou komen.
June 5, 2024
I encountered this book in one of those "little free library" bookstands in the neighborhood, and since one set of grandparents were Dutch, picked it up out of mild curiosity. It's not a relevant handbook for anyone planning to relocate. First, the edition I read, 3rd, is way outdated socially - most of the comments about certain aspects of the culture, such as acceptance of LGBTQ folk, could have been written by the suburban Nixon Republicans of my childhood. Well, OK, the original publication was 1989, but still. Much of the so-called humor is bumbling and mean-spirited.
I remember my grandparents believing that their version of Dutch culture - conservative and Calvinist - was morally superior. However, I did notice that one of the authors of the book is British, and since they've had their own issues with nationalism and superiority, I wondered if maybe he was just irked by the existence of another group with ruddy self-esteem. In any event, for readers who are planning travels or living abroad, there are far more current and better sources in information.
I remember my grandparents believing that their version of Dutch culture - conservative and Calvinist - was morally superior. However, I did notice that one of the authors of the book is British, and since they've had their own issues with nationalism and superiority, I wondered if maybe he was just irked by the existence of another group with ruddy self-esteem. In any event, for readers who are planning travels or living abroad, there are far more current and better sources in information.
July 28, 2020
I recently moved to the Netherlands, and although I'm very familiar with Dutch culture since I've have spent most weekends the past two years in the Netherlands and have a Dutch boyfriend and I speak Dutch, I thought this book might provide some useful info as I settle in to my new home. But wow, what right-wing, conservative, racist, sexist, trash. Perhaps the writers think they're funny, but if you can't tell if something is satirical or not, it's just poorly written. On top of that, it's quite negative about the Netherlands as a country. And that is a weird thing for me to say, because I certainly have my own complaints and struggles with Dutch culture! And on top of THAT, a whole lot of information is outdated. Not worth reading in any way.
October 1, 2018
It was funny. That´s a fact. So many facts about Dutch people and Dutch culture seem out of place or even weird but to be honest Europe is a weird place and the cloggies are no different. Charming and appealing in their own way, if you re open to new experiences you will love living in the Netherlands or with a Nederlander. Yet sometimes you feel frustrated but it s all part of the charm.
The approach of the book was very funny but at some points it felt really insulting and I disliked that feeling greatly. It is a nice read, sometimes hilarious sometimes boring and repetitive but it is what the title says: an observation - nothing more nothing less.
The approach of the book was very funny but at some points it felt really insulting and I disliked that feeling greatly. It is a nice read, sometimes hilarious sometimes boring and repetitive but it is what the title says: an observation - nothing more nothing less.
February 9, 2025
If you need a kick-start on becoming a part of the Dutch culture and way of life, look no further. Witty, sarcastic, straight-to-the-point and humorous, this book will guide you through the basic societal norms and day-to-day life in the Netherlands. Dutch directness, aardappelen as the staple of national cuisine and mindset, how to fietsen and survive, why the NS is the best railroad service in Europe (and the world, obviously), how to squeeze every last cent of value out of every purchase and more - all lovingly put together in this hilarious read.
Even if you're only visiting the Orange Kingdom, and not living in it - this book is a must.
Even if you're only visiting the Orange Kingdom, and not living in it - this book is a must.
April 11, 2021
Speakable and not so much truth about Dutch and it’s people. Not sure what I expected to find her (that’s why I pick it?) but did not find anything worth time to me. Simple, easy-to-read story; some tips and insights that to could be found on internet (like public transport, welfare, buildings etc); culture, children. All seems so flat, common or ease-fetched elsewhere yet book has humorous flavor.
Do not recommend reading as a encyclopedia for and about Dutch, but might open occasionally if foreigners find nothing else to perform.
Do not recommend reading as a encyclopedia for and about Dutch, but might open occasionally if foreigners find nothing else to perform.
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