This presentation by Jacques Bazen provides an overview of Dutch culture, stereotypes, and essential facts about the Netherlands, including its geography, government, and tourism highlights. It discusses common stereotypes such as liberalism, bicycles, and tulips, while also outlining the bare necessities for living in the Netherlands. Key points include average consumption statistics for coffee and beer, transportation details, and a subjective list of the top 15 tourist destinations in the country.

1. Netherlands, history and
culture
Jacques Bazen
Lecturer International Economics / Entrepreneurship
Welcome to the Netherlands!

2. Overview of the presentation:
1. Stereotypes of Netherlands
2. Bare necessities for survival in the Netherlands
3. The Netherlands and it’s culture

3. Stereotypes
Google is a great way to explore stereotypes, with its search
suggestions:

4. Stereotypes about Netherlands/Holland
(according to research of Groningen university)
1. Drugs/Coffeeshops
2. Thriftiness
3. Clogs
4. Tolerance/Liberalism
5. Tulips
6. Cheese (Gouda/Edam/Maasdam)
7. Bicycles (loads of them)
8. Below the sea level
9. Mills
10.Amsterdam

5. Stereotypes II
Our preferred touristic image abroad:

6. How we would like to be
seen abroad…
Picture from a tourism
brochure of our government

7. How we are actually seen abroad….

8. Bare necessities for survival in the
Netherlands
1. A bicycle

9. Bare necessities for survival in the
Netherlands
2. A strong lock (usually more expensive than the bike)

10. 3. Umbrella
Bare necessities for survival in the
Netherlands

11. Step up to Saxion.
The Netherlands,
Holland or
Dutch?
Dutch is bad?
1. Dutch courage
2. Going Dutch
3. Double Dutch
4. Dutch comfort

12. Step up to Saxion.
The Netherlands,
Holland or
Dutch?
Dutch is bad?
1. Dutch courage
2. Going Dutch
3. Double Dutch
4. Dutch comfortA piece of Dutch comfort:
In Belgium things are more confusing

13. Step up to Saxion.
The Netherlands
• General information:
• Area: 41850km2 (Rank #130)
• Inhabitants:
16,7 million people (Rank #63, 0.24%)
Density: 405 km2 (Rank #30, 405)
• Capital city: Amsterdam
• Government centre: Binnenhof The Hague
• Constitutional Monarchy

14. Step up to Saxion.
The Dutch
Some important facts about the country:
Average coffee consuption: 140 liters per
person per year, 3.2 large cups a day…8.4
kg per capita. (avg. 1.4 kg per capita)

15. Step up to Saxion.
The Dutch
Some important facts about the country:
Average coffee consuption: 140 liters per
person per year, 3.2 large cups a day…8.4
kg per capita. (avg. 1.4 kg per capita)
But… Netherlands is not the world
champion. That honour goes to the
Finnish. A staggering 12 kg per capita per
year…

16. Beer
Beer consumption in the Netherlands,
75 liter per capita per year…
Nothing compared to the 140 liters per
capita in Czech republic

17. Beer
Beer consumption in the Netherlands,
75 liter per capita per year…
Nothing compared to the 140 liters per
capita in Czech republic
However…. we do win from the Belgians…
They just drink 74 liter per capita
(by the way, this is not a discussion about quality)

18. Rainy climate
Rainy climate in The Netherlands???
We are only 102nd in the world…

19. Step up to Saxion.
Transport in Netherlands
Total number of cars in Netherlands:
7.9 million = 0.47 cars per person
Total number of bicycles in Netherlands:
18 million = 1.07 bikes per person

20. Step up to Saxion.
Lowest point
of Europe
-6,76 m
0 m

21. Step up to Saxion.
Highest point in The Netherlands
Mount Scenery, 877 meter

22. Step up to Saxion.
Highest point in The Netherlands
Vaals mountain, 322 meter

23. Step up to Saxion.
Schöne Grüße aus Holland!

24. Typical Dutch city landscapes
Canals were the highways of the past, they are abundant in
Dutch cities (although many have been filled up over time).
Amsterdam

25. Typical Dutch city landscapes
Canals were the highways of the past, they are abundant in
Dutch cities (although many have been filled up over time).
Utrecht

26. Typical Dutch city landscapes
Canals were the highways of the past, they are abundant in
Dutch cities (although many have been filled up over time).
Den Haag

27. Canals even became a trade mark
for Dutch colonial cities

28. Broad Street, NY

29. Typical Dutch city landscapes
And canals are great places to get rid of unwanted bicycles as well

30. Typical Dutch city landscapes

31. Canals: Inspiration for St. Petersburg
Tulip Crazyness, Narrow canal houses
Amsterdam

32. Below the sea level

33. Understanding the Dutch
Understanding the Dutch: main concern is independency.
Already from the Middle Ages. The country was never really
feudalized. “Democracy of the dry feet”

34. Settlement of the lowlands

35. Windmills

36. Milling

37. Dikes

38. Natural disasters

39. Natural Disasters

40. Natural Disasters

41. National Anthem
• Founder of the dynasty: William
of Nassau-Dillenburg, prince of
Orange:
• Rebel leader who was the
driving force behind the Dutch
revolution. Murdered in 1584
• The National anthem is about
him

42. National Anthem
• Founder of the dynasty: William
of Nassau-Dillenburg, prince of
Orange:
• Rebel leader who was the
driving force behind the Dutch
revolution. Murdered in 1584
• The National anthem is about
him
Dutch National anthem (Wilhelmus):
William of Nassau, I am of German blood.
I'm faithful to the fatherland until I die.
I'm a prince of Orange, free and without fear
I have always honoured the king of Spain
(written by Philips von Marnix, lord of
Saint Aldegonde and West Souburg, 1572)

43. Golden Age

44. According to our queen, who is of
Basque-Argentinian offspring, Dutch
culture is like:
• 1 Cookie rule (3 variants)
• Open curtains and big windows
in the houses
• Money savers – heating off at
night
Typical Dutch: Does it exist?

45. Dutch Language
Achthonderdachtentachtig prachtige
grachtenbruggen in Amsterdam

46. What to visit in this country
My (subjective) top 15
Tourist visits

47. 15
Lisse, bulb growing capital of the Netherlands

48. 14
Kröller – Müller, National Park Hoge Veluwe

49. 13
Deventer

50. 12
Rotterdam and its harbor Europoort

51. 11
Naarden

52. 10
Gouda, city of cheese

53. 9
The Hague and the government center

54. 8
Giethoorn, Venice of the North

55. 7
Neeltje Jans, Dutch Delta Works

56. 6
Groningen

57. 5
Amsterdam

58. 4
‘s Hertogenbosch

59. 3
Utrecht

60. 2
Amersfoort

61. 1
Maastricht

62. Would you like to know more?
Thank you for your attention!
(This presentation can be viewed from www.slideshare.net/jacquesbazen)