Complain, split bill, coal English? Fortunately, the Dutch have to laugh about it themselves. And we don't have it that bad because more than 60% of the Dutch would like to be born as a Dutch again.
From complaining about the weather to splitting the bill down to the penny and using the bike as if it were a car. These are not only typical idiosyncrasies that only the Dutch understand, but also idiosyncrasies that the Dutch themselves are secretly quite proud of (42%). This has emerged from research by research agency Motivaction and Venco into typical Dutch idiosyncrasies, among 1.024 Dutch people aged 18 to 70 years.
Stock up on food for the entire holiday
The fact that we first go to the supermarket on a camping holiday to stock up on food for the entire holiday is the most funny Dutch feature (34%), followed by the fact that we like to complain a lot, especially about the weather (30%). %). We also have to chuckle about the fact that we coach our national team with seventeen millions at the same time (23%), that we actually don't speak English as well as we sometimes think (23%) and that we celebrate our birthdays in a circle. celebrate (22%).
The survey also asked what Dutch people consider to be the most typical Dutch idiosyncrasy. There too, complaining and grumbling - especially about the weather - scores high (50%), as does the fact that there is a rule for everything in the Netherlands (38%) and the habit of greeting everyone with three kisses (35% ).
Trots
The research also shows that the Dutch are not only able to laugh at some (strange) customs that are part of the Dutch, but that the Dutch are also proud of their idiosyncrasies and Dutch citizenship. In fact, more than sixty percent of the Dutch would, if that were possible, want to be born Dutch again.
According to the study, these are the five most typical Dutch characteristics:
- That we like to complain a lot, especially about the weather (50%).
- That we have a rule about everything in the Netherlands (38%).
- That we greet each other not with one, not with two, but with three kisses (35%).
- That we use our bicycle as if it were our car (22%).
- That we celebrate birthdays in a circle (21%).
According to the study, these are the five typical Dutch characteristics that make Dutch people laugh the most:
- That we first go to the supermarket on a camping holiday to stock up on food for the entire holiday (34%).
- That we like to complain a lot, especially about the weather (30%).
- That we coach our national team with its seventeen millions at the same time (23%).
- That we secretly don't speak English as well as we think (23%).
- That we celebrate birthdays in a circle (22%).
I also want to come back as a Swiss. No Euro, but a much more solid franc, and a very bearable climate. Beautiful mountains, a snowy winter (winter sports), pleasant summers and Italy just around the corner! Come back as Thai? No thanks! Certainly not in the Isaan! Or it must be as the son of an unappetizingly rich Thai family in a kitchy, gaudy pseudo-castle in Bangkok as seen in the Thai soap opera!
From my years of experience with Dutch (international) contacts, I can indeed confirm some of the above-mentioned typical characteristics/characteristics of the Dutch:
* split the bill down to the cent,
* not speaking English very well, especially the pronunciation is sometimes terrible and recognizable from miles away,
* stop by the supermarket to stock up on food for the holidays,
I don't recognize that complaining a lot and like to complain at all, just like the three kisses because that seems rather Flemish to me.
I would add as fairly typical (positive and negative):
* noisy talking and behavior, especially in groups, and being overly confident,
* very pleasant to be around,
* visit a liquor store with three people and order only one drink,
* very communicative,
* very assertive,
* certain sense of humor, sometimes very successful, sometimes completely inappropriate,
* use many English words,
I like them, Dutch!
I would like to come back as an inventor of something that is good for humanity and brings peace and tolerance between all population groups and ideologies. A kind of Buddha
Oh banish all diseases and of course make everyone immortal.
Furthermore, of course, a filled wallet like a Bill Gate or something.
I know tour guides who deal with both Dutch and Flemish tour groups. What they find very positive about the Dutch is that they are much more generous with tips than the Flemish are.
But otherwise they often get annoyed that the Dutch are loud, have to know everything, are too assertive but otherwise easily accept their fate when things go wrong. The Dutch also express themselves more openly and honestly about what they think than the Flemish.