Contradictions Found in Character of Dutch By Richard de Burnchurch AMSTERDAM – The character of the Dutch people is contradictory in many respects. On the surface, they are cool, calm and efficient, but beneath the formal exterior there is a great deal of warmth and expansiveness. When the Dutch believe, they believe with passion. At the same time, they have a tradition of tolerance and a strong, if restrained, sense of humor—they can laugh at themselves. “There is a marked tendency to take things seriously—the Dutch work hard and play hard. The family and home are very important. Great importance is attached to birthdays—these are always accompanied with gifts and cards, and a big party is held within the extended family. Weddings also tend to be on a magnificent scale. The saying that an Englishman’s home is his castle applies to the Dutch. Their love of cleanliness and neatness is reflected in their homes. They like everything in its place. The home invariably contains masses of potted plants, knickknacks and souvenirs. Being great travelers and linguists, the Dutch collect things from all over the world. About 16 percent of the annual budget is spent on household goods and furnishings—more than twice the share in the United States or Britain, for example. A Hard Bargain The old saying that in matters of commerce the fault of the Dutch is giving too little and asking too much is not true. It is true that in business they drive a hard bargain. This comes from their attention to detail in everything—they always read the find print, and examine things from every aspect before deciding. At the same time, they are noted for keeping their word when they make a deal and for paying on time. They are often accused of hairsplitting and of being disputatious. The hair-splitting is best illustrated in religion and politics. Radio and television time is decided by proportional representation., Any group of people that numbers 100,000 representing any point of view qualified for inclusion. Apart from Roman Catholics (40.4 percent), there are innumerable Protestant denominations, the main ones being the Dutch Reformed Church and the Reformed Church. Some political parties are based on denominational principles, so that there are Roman Catholic, Protestant and neutral parties, for example. There are Protestant, Catholic and neutral sports clubs, and in addition to the Red Cross there is the White-Yellow Cross (Roman Catholic), Orange Green Cross (Protestant) and the Green Cross (neutral). There was even a Roman Catholic goat breeders association. These divisions extend to newspapers, employment and shops for some people. Strangely enough, this leads to a stable society. To the youth of today, these divisions are lessening—they have found new values. It has been said that the Dutch have their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. It is well known that they support all sorts of causes—they have strong convictions about things, but they are realists and know how to compromise. Socially they are very aware, and are generous with foreign aid. They are not mean with money, but they are careful and do not believe in waste. Education The general level of education and culture is high. The Dutch spend a lot of money on books—in three or four languages. Lifestyle differences are less market between social classes than in many other countries—people tend to be modest and there is a general lack of ostentation. This comes from the republican spirit that is so strong in the Dutch character. Until 1815, the Netherlands, apart from a short period of French domination, was a republic; consequently there was no court life, although the princely family of Orange-Nassau was usually at the center of affairs. The upper classes were mostly merchants, as in Venice, and not on the whole a landed aristocracy. The monarch of today is part of the landscape and its presence is seldom questioned. The Dutch love the sea, and it has played a great part in their history—the Dutch Empire was essentially seaborne. The saying that God created the world but the Dutch created Holland is not quite true, but they have increased the size of the Netherlands by making polders and creating good agricultural land. Throughout its history, Holland has been invaded by floods, usually naturally, although sometimes deliberately as a weapon against invading armies. The constant struggle for mastery of the sea has played aformative part in the Dutch character. The flat countryside and vast sky hand the omnipresence of water have inspired innumerable artists. The most struiking Dutch characteristic is independence: The Dutch do not like to impose themselves on others, and likewise do not want to be imposed upon. For example, the idea of carrying identity papers is totally unacceptable to Dutchmen. -- The author has written a book entitled “An Outline of Dutch History,” published by Wouter Wagner in the Netherlands.