The Netherlands is a country of the 22nd century that will surprise you with more than just chip-operated bio waste containers or bikes on every corner. Beyond that, I never stop being amazed by which customs and traditions are typical of the Netherlands. A country that isn’t all that far from us. Did you know the Netherlands is among the pioneers of modern banking as we know it today? If not, these traditions and customs will surprise and entertain you all the more.
Dutch culture in a nutshell
If I had to sum the Dutch up in three words, it would be openness, equality and honesty. That said, I’ve absorbed it from family: a hugely honest Dutchman in the setting of a Czech family (my father-in-law). He himself claims that the Dutch often have two faces in their own country – especially in the big cities.
In a country that literally wrested its land from the sea, people have above all learned to be practical. On the other hand, nobody here pretends to be anything more than anyone else – whether you’re a government minister or a student on a bike, you’re equals.
Traditional holidays and celebrations
King’s Day (Koningsdag) – on 27 April the whole country wraps itself in orange, the colour of the royal family. People sell old things on the streets, drink beer and music plays… It’s the largest street party in Europe. If you’re going to be in Amsterdam, book accommodation in advance.
Sinterklaas – the Dutch version of St Nicholas. Sinterklaas arrives by boat from Spain (not from the North Pole) in mid-November and hands out presents on 5 December along with his helper “Zwarte Piet” (these days more likely modern colourful elves).
The tulip days take place in spring – usually in April, when the whole of the Netherlands celebrates the flower season. Across the country there are flower parades (bloemencorso), with floats covered in millions of tulips.
Dutch social customs
At a birthday you congratulate every member of the family. Some people bring presents for both the birthday person and the parents or hosts. In some parts of the Netherlands you congratulate everyone present at the party.
Invitations to any event state a strict FROM – TO. So no staying up all night and no over-the-top spreads with plenty of alcohol. Usually cake, coffee and goodbye.
At parties people sit in a circle in a shared space and everyone talks together.
The Dutch greet each other with three kisses on the cheek. Left, right and left again. Believe me, they take it seriously.
When a child finishes secondary school, a flag is hung outside the house with a backpack on it, showing that the child has graduated. Likewise, when a baby is born, a flag goes up and makes the baby’s sex quite colourfully clear.
Everyone cycles, everywhere. They even have special names for them. For example the pub bike – a beater you don’t mind having stolen. Bikes with a cargo area (a box) at the front, where you can put the shopping, the kids… actually anything. 😀
Traditional treats
The Dutch don’t really do lunch. Usually bread with something good on it, or instant soup. They aren’t used to hot, large lunches like we are. All the more do they enjoy dinner together, which is that much bigger. Whenever we’re at home for the weekend, Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes are purely wishful thinking. 😀
Hagelslag – chocolate sprinkles on bread. In Czechia we’d probably use them to decorate cakes.
The unpleasant herring! A traditional treat from the sea. A headless fish, but with its tail, cured like a herring with onion. To eat this delicacy you take the herring by the tail, tip your head back and bite off as big a piece as you can. Another treat is bitterballen, deep-fried balls with a meat filling.
Oliebollen – little doughnuts dusted with sugar! Mainly around winter and Christmas, and people get through an awful lot of them.
You’ll find the widest indulgence of treats and traditional food in Amsterdam. Read what you can fit into one day in Amsterdam.
Houses
The Dutch have enormous windows – you can see into most of their houses. The reason is so that other people (friends, neighbours…) know that “nothing is going on in our house”. No curtains, no nets.
Jumping into the sea on New Year’s Day
Dutch customs supply the next generations generously. The Dutch hold an official plunge into the North Sea on New Year’s Day. You can read more in this article.
Ready to head to the Netherlands?
Have more time? Perfect, then it’s ideal for you to combine trips outside Amsterdam, including a visit to the island of Texel.
