The good intercultural skills of the Dutch ! - Page 4

August · 04-07-06, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abraham

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abraham

Some people from other provinces, especially when they still have their own culture like Friesland, Limburg and Zeeland, dislike to be called "Hollanders" but prefer "Nederlanders" instead. Others don't care. With "Dutchmen" you're always playing safe!

How can your provinces have such different cultures when the whole country is so tiny?

@ August:
Sixpack reminded me that I still have to answer your question.
O.K.
The - short - answer is that we Dutch are very individualistic.

The - long - answer is that until the end of the 19th century The Netherlands was a terrible country to travel through. Water and mud, swamps, rivers and islands everywhere in the lower half. Only a few military roads made by Napeloen. Travelling from one part to another toke several days and was often the most efficiently done over water. Since there was relatively little interregional traffic (the Hollanders and Zeelanders sailed the world but not their own provinces) the different character of the provinces didn't change over the ages.
After the Second World war there - due to the destruction the war caused - was for several years again a situation that travelling from the centre of the country to the outskirts took more than a day and - given the daily traffic jams in our country - such a situation may rise again in the near future.

But can't you all just get along?

Abraham · 04-08-06, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abraham

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abraham

Some people from other provinces, especially when they still have their own culture like Friesland, Limburg and Zeeland, dislike to be called "Hollanders" but prefer "Nederlanders" instead. Others don't care. With "Dutchmen" you're always playing safe!

How can your provinces have such different cultures when the whole country is so tiny?

@ August:
Sixpack reminded me that I still have to answer your question.
O.K.
The - short - answer is that we Dutch are very individualistic.

The - long - answer is that until the end of the 19th century The Netherlands was a terrible country to travel through. Water and mud, swamps, rivers and islands everywhere in the lower half. Only a few military roads made by Napeloen. Travelling from one part to another toke several days and was often the most efficiently done over water. Since there was relatively little interregional traffic (the Hollanders and Zeelanders sailed the world but not their own provinces) the different character of the provinces didn't change over the ages.
After the Second World war there - due to the destruction the war caused - was for several years again a situation that travelling from the centre of the country to the outskirts took more than a day and - given the daily traffic jams in our country - such a situation may rise again in the near future.

But can't you all just get along?

We can, I guess. There's no civil war going on.
I can savely drive to Friesland or Zeeland, get out of my car, mingle between the locals and say that I am from Amsterdam.

I'm just saying there are noticable social and cultural differences within The Netherlands. One is the Western part, Holland and Zeeland, being very open-minded towards foreigners, having always depended on international trade for their economy. The other provinces were far more 'introspective', being basically agricultural. Another cuyltural divide is the line of the main rivers, the part South of it is considered Roman Catholic with a more "Burgundy" lifestyle, the North is considered Protestant, Calvinistic, hard working, serious and blunt.
By the way, there were always more Catholics in the North than Protestants...
By the other way: these contrasts are receiding through enhanced mobility and a changing demography.
Sixpack can brief you about that last aspect.

Sixpack · 04-08-06, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abraham

By the other way: these contrasts are receiding through enhanced mobility and a changing demography.
Sixpack can brief you about that last aspect.

But I have informed this board plenty already. Enough for now.