What are Dutch People Like?

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I am a Dutchman myself and I can confirm a large part of what has been said here. The Dutch are quite open and direct about the most intimate subjects, such as finances and relationships, etc. But we are not really hospitable; each visit should preferably be announced in advance. Knowledge of foreign languages is indeed good. The Dutch like to grumble and often don't realize how good they have it in this country. Many Dutch people are not really proud of their country, nor are they really chauvinistic. Our own country will be denounced rather than insulted. We are really only nationalistic when the Dutch national football team wins, or Max Verstappen.

Do never visit a Dutch family around 18.00. Most of them will have their dinner at that time and you are not invited to join the table like in Spain, Italy or Greece. I lived in Spain mid 60s till 1972. We were always prepared for visitors to join us. Even now, 60 years later, I still cook enough for others to eat. Anyone is welcome.

To summarise: us dutch people are very welcoming and friendly unless u didn't tell us before hand u were coming. Then we big mad haha

True Story: Some years ago I was talking to an older Dutch man at the busstop. He was very sad because he just came from his sons house. He had brought him an apple pie and thought he would be invited to come in, but his son just thanked him at the door, took the pie and told his father that they were just about to have dinner. He asked me if we were like that in my culture ( Dutch Caribean) and I told him no sir, I could never do that to anyone, let alone to my own father. I feit so sorry for the man.

I am Indian and find the Dutch very open and welcoming . Every person at least wishes you with a smile and a “ hi” whether they know you or not . I find that refreshing

The Dutch are very emancipated, direct, progressive and open. But they’re also not too inviting and what the half Irish woman said, they’re very individualistic, like most northern Western Europeans.

I am dutch myself and what i don't like in my country is that old people are not taken care of. Most of the children put them in a retirement home and never visits them again. I take care for my mother every day like i did with my father till he passed away. And that's what the dutch should do more. Take care of your parents you owe it to them.

As someone who has lived there for 15+ years, the bluntness & stubborness is very real.

Another characteristic is that dutch people complain endlessly about what dutch people are like and the irony is always lost on them. This comment included, I suppose.

As an American, my first impression of the Dutch people was their friendliness to foreigners. I've lived and worked here now for over 30 years and I don't really know what's meant by their directness (ik vind het normaal) .. but what I did notice was that they really don't like to wait their turn in shops much, which really surprised me. As a general rule, I think they're basically natural and uncomplicated, going about their hive-like daily lives like every other Dutch person. Ik houd van Holland.🌹

Een aantal geïnterviewden geeft aan dat Nederlanders hun bezit voor zich zelf houden, terwijl wij wel graag ontzettend veel belasting betalen voor sociale zekerheid en zorg. Met als gevolg dat ook de armlastigen in de samenleving (in de meeste gevallen) niet in de kou hoeven te zetten. Daarnaast zamelt Nederland vaak recordbedragen in t.b.v. rampen die elders plaatsvinden.

Yeah I agree with most things. I think it's also way harder to get new friends then in other countries because "group of friends" rarely invite new people to join. When you're in a association or community it a bit easier though to meet new people.

I've been living in the Netherlands for a few years, i have some Dutch friends and i speak the language enough to have a conversation in Dutch, the people in general are very friendly everywhere i go, but like that couple said...they have everything but they don't share it, its all about "its mine", me coming from Portugal, its the opposite, we are always happy to share with friends( most of us) we value friendship, and we love having friends over for dinner and overnight. but i guess every culture is different, so, there's no right or wrong.

My neighbors invited me for a block bbq and guess what? You had to bring your own food and even your own plates. It was a group of 10 people. I thought I heard it all in the Netherlands until that happened to me and I was born and raised here. If if invite you to a bbq, I’m the one buying and cooking the food and I will have plates and cups. Not to mention not being invited for dinner when they’re eating.

“Directness is something you should get used to” That’s killing me since day first lol

As a Dutch person, I can say that it really also depends on where you live. I'm always blown away by the directness of people in, for example, Amsterdam. As a person from the east, I'm used to communicating less directly and more politely.

Self criticism leads to development in general. Much love to the Dutch ppl. You are like Germans with more style.

After watching that video & reading the comments, I'll stop ranting about my experience with the Dutch. Compared to what I've read, most of the Dutch people I met were very kind to me. Three Dutch friends did invite me to their places although not for dinner & I stayed in the country for only 9 months during the lockdown!! Some people were rude but it's more of an individual trait that you can't generalize to everyone. I've always appreciated their "direct ways" in expressing their feelings & ideas. I think of them more as very honest people & I respect that.

Being cold-hearted is something I experience very often as a nurse… especially towards their elderly are they somehow not always caring or compassionate… Children being cold to their parents, never visiting them, and even passing that mentality on to their own children… which makes the grandkids distant as well. It saddens me, cause people in The Netherlands die in a large amount due to loneliness. My Persian mom has always thought me to respect my elderly, eventually I’ll be in their shoes one day. So to the Dutch people reading this comment: Ga een keertje extra langs naar je ouders deze week! Dat zullen ze echt waarderen.