Dealing with the Dutch

If you’ve decided to come to the Netherlands to study or work, you will inevitably have to learn how to ‘deal with the Dutch’. The Dutch are of course renowned for being internationally oriented, with most of the population able to speak English very well. Nevertheless, some aspects of Dutch behavior can still puzzle and startle the foreign visitor, especially in the workplace.

As the subtitle of Vossestein’s book suggests – ‘Dealing With The Dutch: A Guide For Visitors, New Residents And Better Business Relationships’ – the author goes beyond the standard areas of such books about ‘Dutchness’ by specifically exploring the ways the Dutch conduct business and interact in the workplace.

Vossestein, a Dutchman with 20 years of international management and communications experience, works as an intercultural trainer at the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) of Amsterdam, providing business effectiveness and intercultural management training to executives from multinational companies and international organizations.

As such, ‘Dealing with the Dutch’ is an excellent book for foreign students who must deal with Dutch people in business and professional environments, either in the Netherlands or in their own countries. Vossestein aims to prepare his readers for encountering Dutch culture, which in turn will make working for and with Dutch people more effective and satisfactory.
Vossestein explains certain important aspects of the Dutch character and behavior, identifying characteristics of the Dutch society that are relatively new, and others that are in a process of change or historically have remained the same. He explores such typically Dutch features as Dutch directness, ways of leveling criticism and the often slow decision making processes.

So, what do foreign people often complain about regarding the Dutch? What underlying norms and values of the Dutch confuse and at times irritate foreigners the most? And what are the reasons for the many rules and regulations that govern most of Dutch society?

‘Dealing with the Dutch’ sets out to answer these questions, while taking into account the economic, social and cultural history of the country. Many observations by foreigners who have already ‘dealt with the Dutch’ are also included in the book.
Typical behavior

Vossestein accounts for the rapidly changing norms and values as an accelerating process that Dutch society has been going through for some time. Old religious, ideological and family structures are breaking up and the younger generation has a different, at times extremely contrasting, perception of life and the world.

Cultural characteristics and ’typical behavior’ do not change overnight, however, so Vossestein’s offers tips for preparing the reader to deal with people who behave in a ’typically’ Dutch manner. Readers will encounter the Dutch in small companies, in larger or multinational companies, and in many other international institutions, where it is stressed, the overriding mentality and behavior of the people working there will be more surprising and challenging to people from non-European countries, like Nigeria, Malaysia and China, than they will be for people from countries like Germany, Belgium or Britain.

When there are a hundreds of small but crucial differences in behaviour, frustration and culture shock can become a real problem. Vossestein’s book provides many examples, quotes and explanations about the types of Dutch behavior that visitors are almost certain to encounter.

‘Dealing with the Dutch’ is a very useful guidebook for helping readers understand the Dutch, their culture, norms and values. But ultimately what sets it apart from many similar books about ‘Dutchness’ is Vossestein’s expert ability to explore the Dutch business culture. Reading this book will help foreigners new to this country learn how to effectively build up social and professional contacts and ultimately prosper in the Dutch workplace.

‘Dealing with the Dutch’, by Jacob Vossestein, € 14.75. Publisher: Koninklijk Instituut Voor De tropen. ISBN: 9068325655. Available at the American Book Center (ABC), Den Haag. Students and TU staff members receive a 10% discount on all ABC books. Non-students who show a copy of this Delta review will also receive a one-time 10% discount on this book.

If you’ve decided to come to the Netherlands to study or work, you will inevitably have to learn how to ‘deal with the Dutch’. The Dutch are of course renowned for being internationally oriented, with most of the population able to speak English very well. Nevertheless, some aspects of Dutch behavior can still puzzle and startle the foreign visitor, especially in the workplace.

As the subtitle of Vossestein’s book suggests – ‘Dealing With The Dutch: A Guide For Visitors, New Residents And Better Business Relationships’ – the author goes beyond the standard areas of such books about ‘Dutchness’ by specifically exploring the ways the Dutch conduct business and interact in the workplace.

Vossestein, a Dutchman with 20 years of international management and communications experience, works as an intercultural trainer at the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) of Amsterdam, providing business effectiveness and intercultural management training to executives from multinational companies and international organizations.

As such, ‘Dealing with the Dutch’ is an excellent book for foreign students who must deal with Dutch people in business and professional environments, either in the Netherlands or in their own countries. Vossestein aims to prepare his readers for encountering Dutch culture, which in turn will make working for and with Dutch people more effective and satisfactory.
Vossestein explains certain important aspects of the Dutch character and behavior, identifying characteristics of the Dutch society that are relatively new, and others that are in a process of change or historically have remained the same. He explores such typically Dutch features as Dutch directness, ways of leveling criticism and the often slow decision making processes.

So, what do foreign people often complain about regarding the Dutch? What underlying norms and values of the Dutch confuse and at times irritate foreigners the most? And what are the reasons for the many rules and regulations that govern most of Dutch society?

‘Dealing with the Dutch’ sets out to answer these questions, while taking into account the economic, social and cultural history of the country. Many observations by foreigners who have already ‘dealt with the Dutch’ are also included in the book.
Typical behavior

Vossestein accounts for the rapidly changing norms and values as an accelerating process that Dutch society has been going through for some time. Old religious, ideological and family structures are breaking up and the younger generation has a different, at times extremely contrasting, perception of life and the world.

Cultural characteristics and ’typical behavior’ do not change overnight, however, so Vossestein’s offers tips for preparing the reader to deal with people who behave in a ’typically’ Dutch manner. Readers will encounter the Dutch in small companies, in larger or multinational companies, and in many other international institutions, where it is stressed, the overriding mentality and behavior of the people working there will be more surprising and challenging to people from non-European countries, like Nigeria, Malaysia and China, than they will be for people from countries like Germany, Belgium or Britain.

When there are a hundreds of small but crucial differences in behaviour, frustration and culture shock can become a real problem. Vossestein’s book provides many examples, quotes and explanations about the types of Dutch behavior that visitors are almost certain to encounter.

‘Dealing with the Dutch’ is a very useful guidebook for helping readers understand the Dutch, their culture, norms and values. But ultimately what sets it apart from many similar books about ‘Dutchness’ is Vossestein’s expert ability to explore the Dutch business culture. Reading this book will help foreigners new to this country learn how to effectively build up social and professional contacts and ultimately prosper in the Dutch workplace.

‘Dealing with the Dutch’, by Jacob Vossestein, € 14.75. Publisher: Koninklijk Instituut Voor De tropen. ISBN: 9068325655. Available at the American Book Center (ABC), Den Haag. Students and TU staff members receive a 10% discount on all ABC books. Non-students who show a copy of this Delta review will also receive a one-time 10% discount on this book.