The Netherlands
Lifestyle
The Netherlands may be a small country, but it is densely populated, and has a very developed, well-ordered lifestyle. Allowance is made for all citizens to live as they please; to live and let live.
Family
The Dutch hold family values very dear to the them. Both in cities and in farms, the core of Dutch life is family. Families are closesly knit, and serve as the center of social identity.
The family circle is where cultural values are transmitted from one generation to the next. Be it through gathering for meals or other leisure activites to spend together. Often these values brought on my Duth families have a straightforward and practical look on life.
In most situations, as you've been learning, the Dutch are formal and reserved. With family, this is not the case. With family and friends, the Dutch are generally relaxed and good-humored.
The most famous and important art museum in the country.
Colorful street organs are a common sight in most towns.
The most famous and important art museum in the country.
The Arts
For being such a small country, the Netherlands has had a surprisingly large impact on the world of art. The Dutch greatly value bringing art and culture into the community and society. Paintings and sculputres especially are used to enhance the enviroment, some estates are planned with sculptures and such in mind even!
With this in mind, it is not hard to imagine the tremendous support of the arts in the Netherlands. The government actively supports arts and artists, by subsizing artistc magazines, theaters, and other projects!
The theater and cinema are probably the least subsidized form of art in the Netherlands. Music on the other hand, plays a central part in Dutch life! As a whole, just about every town has its own orchestra, chamber music ensemble or choral society!
A dating couple could look like this couple in the Netherlands!
Some Good Advice by Dutch Painter Hendrik Jacobus Scholten 1824
Traditional Dutch wooden clogs dressed up for a white wedding!
A dating couple could look like this couple in the Netherlands!
Dating & Marriage
Modern dating and marriage are in ways similiar to dating and marriage in America. Dating couples follow similiar routes to those of Americans. Although public display is generally not liked, and privacy is valued, a dating couple could get away with minimal public display of affection and it wouldn't be frowned upon.
The Netherlands is more a liberal nation, even with marriage. In 2001 gay marriage was legalized in the Netherlands. Since then, marriage has steadily rose in the Netherlands.
Dutch weddings are in may ways similiar to the Western wedding. Green is a traditional color incorporated in Dutch weddings, but in modern days many Dutch couples have "white weddings". The Dutch also have many sweet traditions and customs for weddings. One is planting lillies of the valley around their house to symbolize happiness and with each season their love would be renewed.
Image of a few Dutch ladies celebrating Koninginnedag!
Sinterklaas is the Dutch "version" of Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas.
An Easter game where children will bump their decorated eggs together to see whose will break first.
Image of a few Dutch ladies celebrating Koninginnedag!
Holidays
The Dutch celebrate a variety of holidays. There are many public holidays you may be familiar with. On January 1st they celebrate New Year's Day, on December 25th they celebrate Christmas Day, and they celebrate Easter Monday in March/April. But they also have many unique holidays. One major holiday is the Queen's Official Birthday or "Koninginnedag". This holiday started with Queen Wilelmina in 1891, and has changed over the years with her successors and their birthdays. Eventually, the holiday had the date of April 30th. On this day, it is tradition for people to be given the day off of work, and to celebrate with a grand parade. Another major holiday is Remembrance Day on May 4th, which gives commemorates to those whose died during WWII. On this day, the whole country gives two minutes of silence at 8 p.m. to give rememberance. On May 5th, the day after May 4th, Liberation Day is celebrated. This holiday celebrates liberation from Germany in 1945, although it is only celebrated once every five years. The Dutch celebrate numerous other public holidays, as well, such as Boxing Day on December 26th, and Whit Monday!
Dutch women at bicycle traffic lights.
A canal in Amsterdam
Dutch women at bicycle traffic lights.
Getting Around (Transportation)
As discussed, the Netherlands is a unique country. Not only is it small and crowded, it is criss-crossed with numerours rivers and canals. As a solution, the country has created many systems. Originally the waterways provided the country's passenger transportation system. Eventually in the 19th century a railway system was built. In modern day, the Dutch can get by by driving cars (which are few and far between) or mopeds on roads and freeways.
In addition to these modes of transportation, bicyling is also a major form of transportation. Bicycles, along with mopeds are encouraged in the small country, and often times they're ideal. Much more people own bicycles than those who own cars. In fact, there are about three times as many bicycles in the Netherlands as there are cars!
Dutch clogs are a staple of Netherlands' culture.
Traditional Dutch costume.
Dutch clogs are a staple of Netherlands' culture.
Customs & Traditions
As any culture does, the Netherlands have many customs and traditions. So many, maybe an entire website would be adequate, but nothing less. Please take a look at other points of interest in the Lifestyle tab, because there are traditions and customs in those topics! Or you can stick here and learn of a few major traditions and customs.
If you're like me, your first thought probably went to the wooden shoes called clogs. Clogs weren't only popular in the history of this country, they were essential to getting around the muggy terrain. There purpose was to keep feet from getting wet. Today, other shoes have replaced clogs, but clogs are still used by some Dutch and show up often in festivals and holiday traditions.
In addition to clogs, another popular custom is the wearing of tradtional dutch costume (included in the slideshow above). Originally, costumes worn were to distinguish the people wearing them. They could show what town they were from, their status (married, unmarried, widowed), professions, and relgious backgrounds! Today, few Dutch people wear the traditional costume, and the costume has really turned into a tourist attraction.
Mills are another iconic image of the Netherlands. Watermills, the oldest of the mills,dates back to the eigth century. And windmills, the most popular mill today, also goes back into time! The mills in the country have declined, but they still remain as another staple to the Dutch culture!
A Dutch family enjoying a festival together.
Urban Architecture/Dutch Furniture
Many of the Dutch reside in urban places, so there has been much oppurtunity to develop and create urban architecture in the Netherlands. For one, as solutions to the problems that come with a rising population in a small country, and also because of the enviromental limits the country comes with.
For centuries, urban architecture has been famous. Many impressive homes have been built, especially during the Golden Age by wealthy merhcant classes. The buildings seem to be very similar, but in actuality, each building has a great amount of variety and detail. Buildings were constructed using small bricks faced with stone; these were called gabled houses.
Along with the exquisite architecture, dutch furniture also plays an important part of the daily life. The Dutch have a taste for fine furniture. In modern day, Dutch furniture design is unique and is an innovative approach to style and function, which means they had to consider the smaller spaces of modern Dutch homes.
Recreation and Leisure
Because of the importance of family to the Dutch, leisure in the Netherlands are family and home orientated. For the most part, the Dutch are a home-loving people. Many will choose to relax and rest at home after work or a long day, and read a book or grab a newspaper or maybe watch some T.V.
Outside of the home activites, although not the number one choice for the Dutch, are increasing in participation. Sports are one point of interest to the Dutch. Soccer especially, or as they say "voetbal",
is a national sport many Dutch people are passionate about. Other sports, such as skating and tennis can also be leisure pursuits. Nearly all Dutch children learn to skate during cold winters, and tennis is the second largest organized sport in the country!
Vacations are also an activity the Dutch use for leisure. Many stay at home, where they can camp, sail or swim, or go on cycling shores! For every Dutch family who vacations at home there are just as many who venture off. Mediterranean countries are a popular destination for many Dutch families, and other European countries have many Dutch visitors too. The wealthy used to be the only who could travel a lot, but thanks to inexpensive travel packages, many Dutch people can now afford to vacation abroad!
Festivals
Dutch people celebrate a variety of festivals. Some festivals are religious, others are in rememberance of historic events, and some reflect the lifestyles of Dutch culture. Many of the festivals involve a wide varieties of flowers, cheese, windmills, music, kite flying, and more! Although many are one-time events, others are not!
The Holland Festival is one that takes place on annual basis. The Holland Festival is held every year in June and July, and is rated as one of the best in Europe. Another anual festival is the North Sea Jazz Festival held in The Hague every July.
Works Cited
Cultures of the World Netherlands. Tarrytwon, NY: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 1995. Print.
"Gay Marriage Goes Dutch." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 1 Apr. 2001. Web. 20 Feb. 2015. <http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gay-marriage-goes-dutch/>.
"Dutch Traditions." - Traditional Holland. NBTC, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015. <http://www.holland.com/uk/press/story-ideas/traditional-holland/dutch-traditions.htm>.