THE NETHERLANDS
General information
• Language: Dutch
• Capital: Amsterdam
• Population: about 16,850,000
• Ethnic make-up: Dutch 83% and other 17% (of wich 9%
non-western origin)
• Religions: Roman catholic 31%, Protestants 21%, Muslims
4,4%, other 3,6% and unaffiliated 40%
Society and culture
•They are very proud of their cultural heritage
• Duch value their individualism and privacy
•Dutch are modest and don’t like to show off
•Appearences are important for the Dutch
•The Duch are easy going and informal with
friends
•Punctuality, education and hard work are
highly valued, monochronich time
•Family is important for the Dutch and the
families usually have one or two children
•Compared to other countries Dutch mothers
work less outside the house wich makes them
availeble for their children
•Children are raised without gender biases
Safe topics
•They are quite open minded and direct about
everything
•Exept they don’t want to talk about their
personal things for example their salary/money
or religion
Customs
• Shake hands with everyone, cheek kisses with close
friends
• Duch do not like to talk about personal things
• They don’t get offended by behaviour or
appearence
• They are usually very direct which can appear rude
• It’s expected that if you are invited to a dinner you
will bring a gift for the host
Business Customs
• In business its normal to use formal clothing
• They don’t expect a lot of small talk before getting
to business
• You have to be invited to use first names, until that
they use the surename
• They use a lot of time to get to the decision but
once is done they stick to it
• Low context
Power Distance & Individualism
• Scores low on power distance (38/100)
• -> Values independency and equal rights
• Employees expect to be consulted.
• Communication is direct and participative.
• INDIVIDUALISM
• Scores very high on individualism (80/100)
• -> Individualism society
• are expected to take care of themselves.
Masculinity
• Scores low on masculinity (14/100)
• -> important to keep the life/work balanced
• decision making is achieved through involvement
• people value equality, solidarity and quality in their working lives
• Dutch are known for their long discussions until consensus has been reached
Uncertainty avoidance
• The Netherlands scores (53/100)
• The Dutch are not afraid of the uncertain future but in the other hand they also like the
certain future
• Security is an important element in individual motivation.
•
Lähteet
http://geert-hofstede.com/netherlands.html
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/intercultural-businesscommunication/tool.php?culture1=16&culture2=33
http://www.worldbusinessculture.com/Dutch-Business-Communication-Style.html
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/netherlands.html
http://www.culturecrossing.net/basics_business_student_details.php?Id=8&CID=146
http://wikitravel.org/en/Netherlands