Culture is the values, ideas, beliefs, customs, and social behaviors of a group of people. It is the determinant of the character and behaviors of a people based on the values and traditions that individuals adopt throughout their lives (Lin, 2020). Culture is influential because it determines an individual’s identity, making them unique to others, even among members of the same community (Alhendi, 2021). The Dutch culture promotes simplicity, openness, and tolerance, influencing their practices, beliefs, and values. Countries like America, where there is high diversity, require community members to learn about the cultures of others to improve interactions and co-existence. The Netherlands has a unique and exciting culture that incorporates the values and practices of its people. The Dutch’s communication, unique practices, behaviors, and customs have similarities and differences with the American culture.
Dutch behaviors are unique to other countries and are becoming popular. Punctuality is a crucial element of people, with most learning to be time from an early age. The Dutch expect their associates to keep time, and in return, they are punctual. Failing to respect their time is considered rude and can lead to poor relationships, especially in official matters like business (Golcher, 2020). The Dutch are also known for their directness when communicating. They prefer to say things as they are when sharing information, which usually saves time for everyone. However, this may be considered rude when interacting with people from other cultures where directness is not favored. Agendas are a vital feature in their meetings, and they prefer to have specific agendas when interacting to save time for everyone involved (Golcher, 2020). Other features of the culture include their tolerance, given that they have legalized some soft drugs, allow prostitution, and have accepted gay marriages (Golcher, 2020). The tolerance level is different in countries like America, where strict laws have been imposed on most drugs and prostitution.
The Netherlands is a small country with a small population that is managing to preserve its identity despite the several changes in the world. The country has approximately 17 million people, with the Dutch being the most spoken language (Nag, 2019). The Friesland province has Frisian as the official language in the area (Nag, 2019). Making Frisian the official language in the region is essential for cultural preservation. That is because the dialect faces much competition from other languages like the national Dutch language and English, which is increasingly becoming common among the locals. The Dutch are one of the most proficient English speakers in the world (University of Twente, 2020). The Dutch have not taken up religion as much as other European countries. A significant section of the population (50.7%) is not affiliated with any religion (Nag, 2019). A section of the population is Christian and Muslim, but they comprise a small part. The Dutch accept and respect all religions despite the small percentage of people taking up faith.
Dutch cuisine is influenced by its geography and availability of ingredients, exhibiting their simplicity. The Netherlands is located in the North Sea river delta, which has fertile soils and access to the sea. The people’s meals in the area are based on farm products, fishing, and trading. The fertile soils provide farm produce that predominates the majority of their meals. Fishing and products acquired from trading also feature in their meals. The simplistic or “rustic” nature of their meals stands out in Dutch culture. The locals rely on seasonal vegetables to prepare most of their food. They also feature meat and milk, but their consumption is lower when compared to countries like America. Their cuisines are similar to America’s, where geography determines the availability of ingredients. However, due to cultural interactions, Americans have become more diverse in their meals.
Coffee is the most common drink in the Netherlands due to the large number of people who take coffee. The Dutch are one of the highest-ranking coffee drinkers in Europe, with an average of three or four cups per person. The consumption of coffee fits into the culture as most people like to meet over coffee to socialize. The average day in the Netherlands entails having coffee with bread and cheese for breakfast. Lunch usually entails a light meal, with bread and coffee being preferred. Other light meals are also consumed during the day and before dinner. Heavy meals are characteristic of dinners where meat and vegetables are taken, similar to American evening meals.
Some of the unique features in Dutch cuisine include salted herring, which is salted raw fish. Erwtensoep pea soup in English and stroopwafel, which are waffles with syrup in between, are some of the typical cuisines in the Netherlands. Potatoes are a significant element of Dutch cuisine and have some of the best cheese and pastry in the world. The country’s food continues to evolve as influence and adaptations from other cultures are adopted. Refinements have been made to some traditional meals, making them more cosmopolitan. One must get international meals in the major cities in the country. It is also essential that the Netherlands participate in the FIFA soccer championships, where they show excellent results (Besters et al., 2019; Loyens et al., 2021). The Dutchman, Max Verstappen, also holds the Formula 1 title for the second year in a row. This demonstrates how important the Netherlands is in the global sports culture.
The social life in the Netherlands is similar to America’s. Socialization in the Netherlands revolves around family and friends, with most people cherishing the moments they get to share. The Dutch enjoy family gatherings since they bring people together to share special moments. Birthdays and weddings are famous in the country, and most people spend time at weddings. Family and friends also gather to celebrate during special events like the Christmas holiday. The trait is similar to America, where special events bring people together.
Socialization is vibrant for a section of the year due to festivals that have become part of the culture. The Dutch have developed a festival culture where the locals socialize at festivals of their choice. May to September is considered a festival period in which more than 100 festivals can be held in one month. Many festivals like Lowlands, Zwarte Cross, and Pinkpop make it possible for the locals to choose what they prefer from various events for interaction (University of Twente, 2020). Unlike concerts, where music is the primary feature, festivals give the locals a variety to choose from, which enhances their social lives since people who share the same interests get to choose from what they like most. Sports like football, volleyball, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, and tennis are played in the country, with football being the most popular among locals (Nag, 2019). Football has a large fan base in the country when compared to other sports. Both sports and festivals are used in America for socialization purposes.
The Netherlands has a rich culture supported by people intent on preserving their practices, beliefs, and values, which is different from American culture. The Dutch are among the most proficient English speakers in the world despite having Dutch as the national language. The Dutch living in the Friesland province are intent on maintaining the dialect and have made Frisian the official language. Their meat consumption is low compared to America, but they share similarities in the consumption of coffee. The Dutch like punctuality, directness, and agendas during meetings, which are shared traits with Americans, but they must follow them strictly. These features are vital to their mode of interaction and help ensure respect for time and the value of relationships between them. The practice’s beliefs features show similarities and differences in cultural practices between the Dutch and Americans.
In conclusion, the values and customs of citizens are included in the Netherlands’ distinctive and fascinating communication culture. There are parallels and differences between Dutch communication, particular customs, manners, conventions, and American culture. They are known for showing up on time and speaking clearly. One of the world’s best English speakers is Dutch, which shows their ability to communicate interculturally. Despite the small number of people who practice a religion, the Dutch accept and value all religions. In the Netherlands, it is common to drink three to four cups of coffee per person. Locals in the Netherlands socialize during events of their choice as part of festival culture. Festivals allow residents to choose and improve their social lives, unlike concerts, where music is the main attraction. Even though Dutch is the official language, the Dutch are among the best English speakers in the world. Ultimately, the Netherlands as a country and the Dutch as a people are incredibly prone to intercultural relationships and communication.
References
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Loyens, K., Claringbould, I., Rossem, L. H. V., & van Eekeren, F. (2021). The social construction of integrity: a qualitative case study in Dutch Football. Sport in Society, 25(9), 1714–1733. Web.
Lin, C. (2020). Understanding Cultural Diversity and Diverse Identities. In The Springer Encyclopedia of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Quality Education. Springer.
Nag, O. S. (2019). The culture of The Netherlands. WorldAtlas. Web.
University of Twente. (2020). What is Dutch culture like? Universiteit Twente. Web.