CROSS CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING

NETHERLANDS CULTURES

Iegayanti Wulandari
NIM. 110210401056

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM

LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
THE UNIVERSITY OF JEMBER
2014

INTRODUCTION

There are many cultures in this world. Culture makes each country has its
own unique characteristic. Culture creates so many products, such as language,
food, appearance, music, etc. Each product of the culture has important role in
ways to make the country become easily recognized. Not all countries in this
world have strong culture to make them more conspicuous and captivate than
other country.
Netherland is one from many countries that succeed bring out their culture
to the world. Netherland have conspicuous cultures, such as cloth, language,
behavior, etiquette, social classification, and etc. Some of their cultures are similar
with ours because our country was colonized for 350 years. However, there are
still some different cultures with ours that make misunderstanding and culture
shocks.
This paper intended to explain about some Netherland cultures in details.
Some of them are about the history of Dutch language, belief and value, etiquette
and behavior, social stratification, and their National Dutch Cloth. By the
explanation of this paper, the writer expectation is to make people understand
about Netherland culture to avoid cultural misunderstanding.

NETHERLAND

General Overview
The English word Dutch comes from German deutsch which means
German. Dutch originally referred to both Germany and Netherlands but
became restricted to the people and language of Netherlands when its
independence came in the seventeenth century. Holland and Netherlands are
considered as synonyms although Holland refers only to the provinces North
and South Holland.
The Netherlands is located in northwestern Europe and borders on
Germany to the East, Belgium to the south, and the North Sea to the west and
north. The name Netherlands means Low Lands because the topography of its
land is an alluvial plain. The Netherlands is also a relatively small country (13,297
square miles [34,425 square kilometers]) without surface water. The Netherlands
is divided in twelve provinces. Amsterdam (730,000 inhabitants) is the capital, but
the government meets in The Hague (440,000 inhabitants). Utrecht (235,000

inhabitants) is the transportation hub, while the port city of Rotterdam (590,000
inhabitants) constitutes the economic heartland. These four cities together with a
string of interconnected towns form the Randstad, which has a population of
6,100,000.
The Netherlands had a population of 15,898,331 in 2000. There are
2,700,000 foreign residents. The majority, approximately 780,000, originate from
the European Union, including 432,000 Germans. Other sizable groups are
Surinamese (297,000), Turks (300,000), Moroccans (252,000), and Antilleans
(99,000).

Cultural Aspects of Netherlands

1. Language
The official language of the Netherlands is Standard Dutch. This language
is used in all official matters, by the media, and at schools and universities. Dutch
closely resembles German in both syntax and spelling. It freely borrows words
and technical terms from French and especially English.
Dutch is also the official language in Flandres, Belgium, where it is called
Flemish. Friesian is the second official language of the Netherlands; it is spoken
by a half million Friesians. In addition, there are about twenty-five major dialects
of Dutch.
The history of Dutch Language (Source: The Low Countries. Jaargang 4.
Stichting Ons Erfdeel, Rekkem 1996-1997)
- Old Dutch
The story of Indo-European languages can be traced back to around 3000
BC, but at that time there was no separate Dutch language, there was a separate
English or German language. Germanic split itself off from Indo-European in the
period 1000-500 BC. Then English, Dutch and German each began to go their
own separate way in the period of 600 AD. The language of the period 600-1200
is mostly referred to as Old Dutch.
-

Middle Dutch
From the thirteenth century onwards a wealth of material has been handed

down. Great cities grew up in the south, such as Bruges, Ghent, Brussels,

Mechelen and Antwerp. With the appearance of the cities a new population group
came as the townspeople. It was these townsfolk who first began to use the native
language, Dutch, also as a written language on a large scale.
In the beginning there was no standard language. People used the dialect of
their own city or region as the written language. In the fourteenth and fifteenth
century, due to changes in political and economic circumstances, Ghent, Brussels
and Antwerp took over the role of linguistic model. The need for a standard
language increased. Not until the sixteenth century we can state that there was a
standard written language in the Low Lands.
-

The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries

The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries are without doubt the period

during which the Dutch language underwent the greatest changes. After the fall of
Antwerp in 1585 there was a great stream of emigrants from the south, especially
to the cities of Holland (Amsterdam, Haarlem, Leiden etc.). In the north the
process of standardization of the language continued. From the seventeenth
century onwards the standard language has been based on the dialect of the
province of Holland. The other (northern) provinces turned increasingly to the
language of Holland. From the sixteenth century onwards dictionaries, grammars
and spelling books appeared. Dutch was used for all areas of life, including
scholarly circles and the (Protestant) church.
In the seventeenth century, under the leadership of Jan van Riebeeck,
Dutch colonists established themselves in South Africa. Their language developed
there in a totally distinctive way, and over the centuries has become increasingly
differentiated from Dutch, both in vocabulary and grammar.
- The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries
The period of prosperity that the Netherlands enjoyed in the seventeenth
century was clearly past its peak in the eighteenth. In the Netherlands the process
of standardization continued. Around 1600 it is true that there was a standard
written language (mainly because a more or less uniform spelling was used in the
various provinces), but there was still no standard pronunciation to go with it. On
the other hand the standardization of Dutch is certainly far stronger than the
standardization of German, where even among the educated sectors of the nation
there is still considerable variation in dialect.
- The twentieth century

It was not until the twentieth century that Belgian Dutch and the Dutch of
the Netherlands began to develop equally and together. Nowadays circumstances
are less unequal, and contact is intensifying all the time. Radio, television and
education, and considerable mobility on the part of the population, all work to the
advantage of a standard language, and to the further suppression of the dialects.
Around 1900 the standard pronunciation of Dutch was the exclusive characteristic
of a small upper social layer, but today the

ABN

pronunciation can be heard not

only in all the provinces but also among all social classes.
2. Beliefs and value
Dutch colonies were a melting pot for religions in the 1600s. People fled to
the colonies from overseas to escape religious persecution. Many people and
faiths followed. The colonies saw the arrival of Irish, Scots, Dutch and French.
The colonies had many denominations, including Protestants, Catholics,
Calvinists and Humanists.
Religion has played a major role in the history of the Netherlands, which
was created as an alliance of provinces following the 16th century Calvinist
uprising against the Catholic Philip II, King of Spain, who previously ruled the
lands which now form the Netherlands.
Since then, the Netherlands has increasingly become a secularized country,
and it has been estimated (2002) that 41% of the population are not affiliated with
any religion and that only around a fifth of people in Holland attend religious
services regularly. Just under a third of the population (31%) are recorded as being
Catholic and about 20% as belong to Protestant denominations, mainly the Dutch
Reformed Church and the Calvinists (2002). Catholicism is strongest in the south
of the country and Protestantism in the north. Within the Catholic Church in
Holland, there are large variations between parishes in the extent to which the
teachings and practices of the church have been modernized or remain very
traditional.
The Netherlands also now has an estimated 500,000 or more practicing
Muslims, or around 5.5% of the population (2002). There is a fairly large Jewish
community, and significant numbers of people practicing other religions such as
Buddhism and Hinduism. A number of non-religious organized groups which

follow particular philosophies, such as the Humanists, are also represented in

Holland.
Religious practitioners (priests, ministers, and imams) belong to the major
religions in the Netherlands. The Roman Catholic ecclesiastical authority is
represented by bishops who try to influence national debates about the family,
social welfare, abortion, and euthanasia.
- Marriage and Family
Dutch people are free to choose their spouses. The common basis for
marriage is most often love. This does not mean that people marry independently
of the constraints of class, ethnicity, and religion. The choice of a partner is often
class-based. Monogamy is the only marriage form allowed. Many Dutch couples
live in a consensual arrangement. Same-sex couples can marry and have the same
rights as heterosexual couples.
A civil wedding ceremony, usually conducted in the town hall, is required
in Holland to give marriage legality; so many couples have both a religious and
civil ceremony on the same day. The wedding ceremony is usually followed by a
series of celebrations consisting of a reception, a formal dinner and a party, and it
is common practice for family and friends to be invited to either all or just part of
the celebrations, depending on their closeness to the couple. Wedding
anniversaries are not always celebrated, but the 12th, 25th and 50th anniversaries
are considered significant and often marked with a party. Almost 45 percent of the
Dutch population is married; about eighty thousand marriages are registered each
year, while on average thirty thousand couples file for divorce.
The nuclear family is the most common household unit, although it is
increasingly losing ground to single-parent families, couples without children, and
single-person households. The principal authority in the household is generally the
man, although there is a trend toward more equality of marriage partners.
Extended family households are rare. Dutch couples have a neolocal postmarital
residence pattern, as couples are free to choose where they live.
The Dutch make a distinction between relatives by marriage and relatives
by blood. Consanguineal relatives are considered more important than are affinal
relatives. Solidarity and support (financial and emotional) are usually directed at
the closest kin (parents, children, and siblings). This is also illustrated by

prevailing inheritance patterns. Disinheritance is not permitted by law. Every child

receives an equal share.
After the birth of a baby, friends and relatives usually make arrangements
to visit the new parents and child, and will take a gift such as clothing or a baby
toy. Traditional cookies decorated in little blue or pink sweets are usually served
to visitors at this time, along with tea and coffee.
Beliefs about death and the afterlife correspond to the doctrines of the
major religions. The deceased is either buried at a cemetery or cremated at a
cremation center. All burials and cremations are arranged by professional
undertakers.
3. Etiquette and Behavior
Most traits of Dutch etiquette resemble those of the rest of the Western
world, but there are several distinguishing national codes of behavior. The Dutch
either shake hands when they meet and depart or, in the case of women and
closely acquainted men and women, kiss each other three times on the cheek.
Most Dutch only use first names with family and close friends.
If invited to a Dutch home bring a box of good quality chocolates, a potted
plant, a book, or flowers to the hostess. Flowers should be given in odd numbers,
but not 13, which is unlucky. Avoid giving white lilies or chrysanthemums, as
these are associated with funerals. Gifts should be wrapped nicely. Wine is not a
good gift if invited for dinner, as the host may already have selected the wines for
dinner. Do not give pointed items such as knives or scissors as they are considered
unlucky. Gifts are usually opened when received.
The Dutch have a strong desire to order their time in agendas and on
calendars. Dutch children are given their first agenda at primary school to write
down scheduled lessons and homework. A full agenda signifies a full life. The
Dutch are very punctual, and showing up even five minutes late is considered
inappropriate. As a result, everything has to be done at fixed times: There is a time
to work, a time to clean the house, a time to drink coffee, and a time to visit
friends.
The Dutch do not line up and show almost no consideration in public for a
persons status, gender, or age. The use of the formal you (U) to address a
person is becoming less common, whereas the growing importance of the
informal you ( jij) is meant to illustrate a commitment to equality.

The Dutch are reserved and don't touch in public or display anger or
extreme exuberance. The Dutch value privacy and seldom speak to strangers. It is
more likely that they will wait for you to make the first move. Don't be afraid to
do so. The Dutch expect eye contact while speaking with someone.
Moving your index finger around your ear means you have a telephone
call, not "you're crazy." The crazy sign is to tap the center of your forehead with
your index finger. This gesture is very rude.
Dutch society is egalitarian, individualistic, and modern. The people tend
to view themselves as modest, independent and self-reliant. They will appreciate
ability rather than dependency. They dont like an arrogant and a show-off
behavior. A high lifestyle is considered wasteful by most people and sometimes
met with suspicion.
The Dutch are proud of their cultural heritage, rich history in art and
involvement in international affairs. Dutch are straight to the point when they are
talking and they combine informality with loyalty. This might be perceived as
impersonal and patronizing by other cultures, but is the norm in Dutch culture. A
well-known more serious source for Dutch etiquette is "Dealing with the Dutch"
from Jacob Vossestein: Dutch egalitarianism is the idea that people are equal,
especially from a moral point of view, and accordingly, causes the somewhat
ambiguous stance the Dutch have towards hierarchy and status.
4. Social Stratification
- Classes and castes
Differences in wealth are relatively small in comparison to many other
countries because of progressive taxation and the redistribution of fiscal funds to
the unemployed and occupationally inactive. This equality of income is clearly
shown when Dutch households are subdivided into four separate income
categories. The lowest quartile has an average income of 8,730 euros ($10,105)
after taxes, whereas the highest quartile has an average income of 38,365 euros
($44,420). An open discussion of class, income, and status differences is more or
less taboo in a society that strongly emphasizes equality. Although Dutch society
in general is firmly middle class, an estimated 5 to 10 percent of the population
lives at a subsistence level. This income polarization and the ensuing social
segmentation began in the 1980s. Low-skilled workers, the unemployed, the
disabled, the aged, and single-parent households have been hit hardest. Low-

income households are concentrated in the Randstad cities and the two most
northern provinces, Friesland and Groningen.
- Symbols of Social Stratification
Class differences entail few visible signs of cultural differentiation, but
those minor differences have a great symbolic value in creating social distinction.
The most obvious differences can be observed in housing, consumption patterns,
and community participation. Lower-class homes are small and tend to hold a
large amount of furniture and decorative articles. Higher-class homes are more
spacious and tend to hold less and often more sober furniture. The social
participation of Dutch people does not depend entirely on class background, but
higher-income households tend to have less involvement in community life than
do low-income households. Lower class people are in general more rooted in
community life and less restrained in contacts with neighbors and relatives.
Differences in clothing are relatively slight but important class markers.
The Dutch dress with little eye for flamboyance. Even corporate dress codes are
informal. Only the very rich and young urban professionals have a dress style that
adheres to international clothing standards.
Speech patterns also may vary with class. Lower class people tend to speak
in a local dialect, while the middle and upper classes speak Standard Dutch.
Cultural Product of Netherlands
CLOTHES
In the seventeenth century the Netherlands played a prominent role in
fashion, transforming Spanish Catholic court fashion into sober, monochrome
clothing symbolizing Calvinist Dutch burgher culture. Before 1850, most Dutch
provincial citizens and villagers wore regional dress, which sometimes even
differed according to village. In the eighteenth century, the Netherlands ceased to
be a leading nation when the regents failed to initiate new developments. Changes
started around 1850. The first fashion house, Maison Hirsch & Cie, opened in
Amsterdam in 1882. In the early twentieth century Gerzon was the first Dutch
shop to concentrate on inexpensive manufactured garments. French fashion
remained influential until 1960, although always adapted, the assumption being
that sober Dutch women dislike frivolity. Many Dutch people found the 1960s

liberating; suddenly casual clothes were acceptable. The Netherlands became

increasingly sophisticated in the 1980s, keenly following developments in Paris.
Japanese designers made a strong impression, and new Dutch stores specialized in
these designs. Today, Dutch fashion designers have made their mark. The Dutch
are much more open to international fashion, although most clearly prefer
informal clothing.
Dutch clothing and costumes originated in the country now called the
Netherlands, which has 14 provinces, and each province has its own traditional
costumes. The most well-known type of dress, considered the national costume,
came from the southern province of Volendam and is still wore by Dutch women
for the tourists.

A. Head Covering
In all but one province, Dutch ladies wore some type of head covering
made of either lace or stiff fabric. Some of them wore small lacy caps, a few had
long lace coverings that came down passed their shoulders, while others wore the
larger white-peaked ones. Some caps tied under the chin and some did not.
The men also wore hats, though mostly when outdoors; some had widebrimmed hats while others sported a traditional fishermans hat or flat cap.
Childrens apparel mirrored the adult clothing.
B. Bodices and Shirts
The upper part of the womens clothing consisted of at least two layers.
The first layer always had sleeve (cap sleeves, elbow-length sleeves or wrist-

length sleeves) usually a dark color, but sometimes this bottom garment was white
with the outer tier having color.
The outer tier of most dresses attached to the waist of the skirt but one or
two had colorful tunics that were worn over darker skirts. Some women had
embroidered close-fitting vests.
Men wore loose-fitting shirts, some white, some the conventional navy
blue with the traditional double rows of brass buttons up the front. Many men
sported a vest or suspenders.
C. Skirts and Trousers
Dutch women had modest skirts, usually in somber colors. Some were
gathered at the waist while some of the ankle-length ones had pleats. Men had
dark, loose-fitting trousers that either came to their knees or their ankles. Long
socks accompanied the shorter pants. In the province of Twente, the men donned
wrist-length double-breasted black coats.
D. Footwear
Although town and city people wore European-style leather shoes, the
rural folk put on the famous wooden shoes that they called klompen, which
were also worn in many European countries such as Spain, Belgium and
Germany. Traditionally hand-carved, plain and unpainted, they were perfect for
the pervasive marshy lowlands that comprised the surrounding fields. Even today
they are used by farmers and others who live in the rural wet areas. The secret to
wearing the hard wooden klompen lies in the thick woolen socks that Dutch
women know how to knit that keep feet warm, dry and free from chafing.
E. Accessories
The most visible accessory was the apron worn by most Dutch women.
Whether short and flowered or floor-length and plain, in a subdued color or white,
with or without lace, these items defined the Dutch woman and the province in
which she lived. Some women carried knitted pouches at their waists, and some
had short shawls that attached at the waist. In some provinces, both men and
women wore suspenders. For the rich, diamonds, gold and silver jewelry had been
available in Amsterdam since the 1500s.
There are three variants of the costume. There is the everyday costume,
and the young girl's costume which resembles it, the Sunday go to Market

costume, and the costume for special occasions, which is the one you most often
see these days.
For the 'Bruiloftsgast' or 'Wedding Guest' costume, the foundation is a
chemise, which has no sleeves, and a petticoat. The traditional costume is about
ankle length. The chemise does not show
when the costume is completed. Over the
chemise is worn a 'kraplap', also called
'koplap', ' kralap' or 'kroplap', a type of
double bib, similar to the overcollar found
in some German costumes. It fastens at the
neck and is secured on the bottom by
ribbons on the front panel which thread
through loops attached to the back panel.
The kraplap is found in many Dutch
costumes, and is often decorated. Mevrouw
Kil will be showing us how to put on the costume.
They are made in two pieces, front and
back, one shoulder is sewn closed, and
the other has a fastening. There is a
piece of ribbon or lace around the neck
opening. Today, the kraplap usually has
a design of machine-embroidered satin
stitch flowers, usually roses. Here is an
example of a contemporary kraplap.

Around 1930 a family named Tol developed

way to mechanically spray paint Rose designs on a

silk background using a series of templates. This
appears to be the precursor to the machine
embroidered ones of today. When dressing up, an
'Edelkraal' is placed around the neck, made of
several strands of coral beads and an ornamental
buckle.
The skirt is then put on, the white and red
striped skirt for the 'Wedding Guest' costume, otherwise
a long full skirt in a plain dark color, most commonly
black or navy. The women in Marken, just a few
kilometers away, wear a very similar striped skirt, but
always

under the topskirt. They make fun of

Volendamers for walking around in their 'underwear'.

Over this is put on the 'kletje', a blouse or jacket of black
wool with a bit of a peplum in back, and a couple of
wide lappets in front. It has a square-cut neckline both
front and back, which are edged with trim. The front
closes with hooks.
Then the apron is put on over the kletje. The apron should be long and full.
You can see cheap versions which are sometimes not
made long or full enough. The apron has a tie which is
usually made of an ornamentally woven band. For the
'Wedding Guest' costume, the apron is black, or perhaps
another dark color, and the top part of the apron matches
the kraplap.
When worn properly, the 'Wedding Guest'
costumes incudes a white kerchief worn over the shoulders and tucked into the
front neckline of the kletje

For the Sunday and Market-day costumes, they wear a dark or black skirt,
a striped apron, and a scarf woven or knitted from colorful yarn instead of the
white kerchief. The Market day apron is often decorated over the gathers at the
top with colorful smocking.

Some women like the everyday shirt so much they wear it with their market day
costume, sometimes with the full lace cap. When it starts to show signs of wear,
then it becomes an everyday shirt.

The famous peaked lace caps are supported

by the black under caps. The caps themselves
are made of two symmetrical pieces for the
body of the cap, derived from the round back of
the standard bonnet, and two wings, derived
from the rectangular piece that makes up the top
and sides of a bonnet. I do not have an exact
cut, but the good ones are made of very fine and
beautifully made lace, and the wings are
gathered and pleated to shape.
This high peaked cap is a relatively modern innovation, from around the turn
of the 20th cent, in much the same way as the lace cap of Bigouden, in Brittany.
Here is a famous painting of the Volendam costume made in 1865, showing a
much more modest cap, albeit with similar wings. No other Dutch costume has a
similar cap, although some are just as impressive.

CONCLUSION

Netherlands has so many unique cultures. Some of their cultures are

acceptable for other countries, but there are also many cultures that are
unacceptable for the others. Based on the interview of some foreign students in
Netherlands by a certain website, there are many things that they do not like about
the Low Land cultures. For example, a student really appreciates the Dutch
politeness and their tolerance with racial and ethnical issues.
On the other hand, a Spanish student said that the Dutch dont appreciate
when people visit them unexpectedly. If you get invited to enter the house while
the family is eating, most likely they offer you a chair to sit with them at the table
but they wont offer you anything to eat. If you get lucky you may be offered
some dessert. It is in contrary with Spanish culture that everybody loves company.
The Spanish like to go and visit friends and relatives at every time of the day. And
when dinner is served, it is considered a bad manner if you leave, you would
insult the hostess.
However, we really cannot be generic about a whole country. There are many
sub cultures in the Netherlands. Most of it is based on geographic location. It
really depends where we are. It also depends on who we meet, but the most
important thing is ourselves. We need to realize that there are differences which

will not go away. So live with it or leave, keep in mind that each human is an
individual. Do not expect that everything is the same as at home. And would it not
be a boring world when it was everywhere the same? Maybe there are some
generic bad habits but again, an individual might be different!

REFERENCES

Alpers, Svetlana. The Art of Describing: Dutch Art in the Seventeenth Century,
1983.
Besamusca, Emmeline & Jaap Verheul. Discovering the Dutch: On Cultures and
Society of Netherlands. Amsterdam University Press, 2010.
Craver, Jackie and Phyllis Zylstra. Dutch Costumes: A Look Into the Past'. Pella,
Iowa: 2007.
Traditional Dutch Wear (online). Available: http://klwear.com/traditional-dutchwear/. Retrieved on 25th April 2014.
Wikipedia. Cultures of Netherlands. (online) Available:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_the_Netherlands. Retrieved on 24th
April 2014.