Netherlands - Culture, Etiquette and Business Practices

Explore Dutch values, manners, culture and business etiquette!

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What will you Learn About The Dutch?

You will gain an understanding of a number of key areas including:

• Language
• Religion and beliefs
• Culture and society
• Social etiquette and customs
• Business culture and etiquette

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Facts and Statistics

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Location: Western Europe, bordering Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

Capital: Amsterdam

Population: 17+ million (2019 est.)

Ethnic Make-up: Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-Western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians)

Religions: Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%, unaffiliated 40%

Business Culture: Ranked 4th in The Business Culture Complexity Index™

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Keep Calm and Klomp On! Photo by Denise Jans on Unsplash

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The Dutch Language

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• Dutch, the official language, is spoken by around 90% of the population.
• Around 350,000 people, or 2.2% of the population, speak Frisian as their first language, mainly in the northern province of Friesland, where it is recognised as an official language.
• Turkish and Arabic are also spoken in the Netherlands, each by over 0.6% of the population.

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Dutch Society & Culture

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The Role of the Family

• The Dutch see the family as the foundation of the social structure.
• Families tend to be small, often with only one or two children.
• Relatively few women work outside the house full-time as compared to many other cultures.
• This allows mothers to be more available to their children throughout the entire day.

 

Dutch Demeanour

• Appearances are important to the Dutch.
• They are disciplined, conservative, and pay attention to the smallest details.
• They see themselves as thrifty, hardworking, practical and well organized.
• They place high value on cleanliness and neatness.
• At the same time, the Dutch are very private people.
• They do not draw attention to themselves and do not value the accoutrements of success highly prized by other western societies.
• They dislike displays of wealth, as they run counter to their egalitarian beliefs.
• They do not boast about their accomplishments or their material possessions.

 

Egalitarianism

• The Dutch are egalitarian and highly tolerant of individual differences.
• Their children are raised without gender biases.
• There is practically no abject poverty in the country because of the social programs, which, however, also increase the tax burden on workers.
• This egalitarian outlook is carried over into the workplace.
• Even in hierarchical organizations, every person has a right to their opinion and to have it heard.
• The boss may be the final decision maker, but he/she will typically want input from the workers and will strive for consensus.
• Everyone is valued and shown respect.

 

Dutch Privacy

• The Dutch are reserved and formal when dealing with outsiders.
• They are private people and do not put their possessions or emotions on display.
• Self-control is seen to be a virtue.
• The Dutch do not ask personal questions and will refuse to answer should you be foolish enough to intrude on their privacy.
• Personal life is kept separate from business.
• If a friendship develops at work and is carried into the personal arena, this camaraderie will not be brought into the office.
• Personal matters are not discussed with friends, no matter how close.

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The Dutch tend to draw a line between personal and professional time. Photo by Mikail Duran on Unsplash

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Etiquette and Manners in The Netherlands

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Meeting and Greeting

• The handshake is the common form of greeting.
• It is firm and swift, accompanied by a smile, and repetition of your name.
• Shake hands with everyone individually including children.
• Very close friends may greet each other by air kissing near the cheek three times, starting with the left cheek.
• Most Dutch only use first names with family and close friends.
• Wait until invited before moving to a first-name basis.

 

Gift Giving Etiquette

• If invited to a Dutch home bring a box of good quality chocolates, a potted plant, a book, or flowers to the hostess.
• Flowers should be given in odd numbers, but not 13, which is unlucky.
• Avoid giving white lilies or chrysanthemums, as these are associated with funerals.
• Gifts should be wrapped nicely.
• Wine is not a good gift if invited for dinner, as the host may already have selected the wines for dinner.
• Do not give pointed items such as knives or scissors as they are considered unlucky.
• Gifts are usually opened when received.

 

Dining Etiquette

• Dining is fairly formal in the Netherlands.
• Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.
• Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown to a particular seat.Men generally remain standing until all the women have taken their seats.
• If you have not finished eating, cross your knife and fork in the middle of the plate with the fork over the knife.
• Do not begin eating until the hostess starts.
• Most food is eaten with utensils, including sandwiches.
• The host gives the first toast. An honoured guest should return the toast later in the meal.
• Salad is not cut; fold the lettuce on your fork.
• Always start with small amounts so you may accept second helpings.
• Finish everything on your plate. It is offensive to waste food in the Netherlands.
• Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel across the right side of your plate.

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Dutch business culture is shaped by values such as egalitarianism and democracy. Photo by S. ter Burg  (CC BY 2.0)

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Dutch Business Culture and Etiquette

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Building Relationships & Communication

• Many Dutch are familiar with doing business with foreigners since the Netherlands has a long history of international trade.
• They will want to know your academic credentials and the amount of time your company has been in business.
• The business community is rather close and most senior level people know one another.
• Older, more bureaucratic companies may still judge you by how you are introduced so it is wise to have a third-party introduction if possible, although it is not mandatory.
• The important thing is to demonstrate how your relationship would be beneficial for both sides.
• The Dutch take a long-term perspective when looking at business, so be clear what your company's intentions are.
• Since the Dutch value their personal time, do not ask them to work late or come in over the weekend if you want to foster a good working relationship.
• The Dutch are hospitable, yet this is often reserved for family and friends. In business they tend to be reserved and formal.
• They do not touch one another and appreciate it when those they do business with maintain the proper distance, do not demonstrate emotion or use exaggerated hand gestures.
• The Dutch are extremely direct in their communication.
• They may sound blunt if you come from a culture where communication is more indirect and context driven.
• They do not use hyperbole, and likewise they expect to be told yes or no in clear words.
• In general, ideas will be discussed quite openly at meetings, with everyone entitled to their opinion.
• Information is shared across departments and corporate strategies and goals are usually communicated to all employees, especially in more entrepreneurial companies.
• Decisions are often consensus-driven in these cases.
• Always appear modest and do not make exaggerated claims about what you or your company can deliver.
• Your word is your bond and making claims that later prove to be untrue will brand you as unreliable.

 

Business Meeting Etiquette

• Do not try to schedule meetings during the summer (June through August), as this is a common vacation period.
• Punctuality for meetings is taken extremely seriously.
• Being late may mark you as untrustworthy and someone who may not meet other deadlines.
• If you expect to be delayed, telephone immediately and offer an explanation.
• Cancelling a meeting at the last minute could jeopardize your business relationship.
• Meetings are rather formal in nature. Little time is spent on pleasantries.
• Meetings adhere to strict agendas, including starting and ending times. Do not attempt to deviate from the agenda.
• Maintain direct eye contact while speaking.

 

Negotiations

• The Dutch prefer to get down to business quickly and engage in relatively little small talk.
• Communication is direct and to the point, and may seem blunt.
• Make sure your arguments are rational as opposed to emotional.
• Use facts and figures to confirm your statements.
• Business is conducted slowly. The Dutch are detail-oriented and want to understand every innuendo before coming to an agreement.
• Decision-making is consensus driven. Anyone who might be affected by the decision is consulted, which greatly increases the time involved in reaching a final decision.
• Avoid confrontational behaviour or high- pressure tactics.
• Once a decision is made, it will not be changed.
• Contracts are enforced strictly.

 

Management

• Read our guide to Dutch Management Culture for more detailed information on this topic.

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