Culture of the Netherlands

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This article deals with the culture of the Netherlands.

Cultural pecularities

One of the main characteristics of the Dutch culture is the bluntness. Their proverbial bluntless is not to everyone's taste. The Dutch are also so commited to equality, compromise and avoiding conflict that they have created a labyrinth of rules and regulations from which there is no easy exit. Dutch obsession with equality and keeping everything "normal" is reflected in one of the most famous Dutch sayings which says: "Doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg" (Behave normally, that's mad enough). Another traits which can define the Dutch behaviour are the fact that many of them are practical, direct, outspoken, stubborn, well-organised, blunt and think they are always right, these traits are reflected in the English term Dutch uncle. (See the source below p. 38). The Dutch are also very prone to grumbling and complaining. According to the writer of the "Culture shock, the Netherlands" this is the result of the fact that the Dutch think they know how matters really should be arranged. Hypocricy is also a characteristic which is often called as a wide-spread trait in the Dutch society and culture. (Source of this section: Janin, hunt, Culture shock, a guide to customs and etiquette, Netherlands, London: Kuperard 1998, pp.36, 38-39)

Architecture

Waag (Weigh House) - Gouda - 1667
Built by Pieter Post (1608-1669)

The first significant period of Dutch architecture was during the Dutch Golden Age. Due to the thriving economy cities expanded greatly. New town halls, weighhouses and storehouses were built. Merchants that had gained a fortune ordered a new house built along one of the many new canals that were dug out in and around many cities (for defense and transport purposes), a house with an ornamented façade that befitted their new status. In the countryside new country houses were built, though not in large numbers. For more information see: Dutch Golden Age.

See also:

During the 20th century Dutch architects played a leading role in the development of modern architecture. Out of the early 20th century rationalist architecture of Berlage, architect of the Amsterdam Beurs, three separate groups developed during the 1920’s, each with their own view on the direction modern architecture should take. Expressionist architects like M. de Klerk and P.J. Kramer in Amsterdam (also known as the Amsterdam School). Functionalist architects (Nieuwe Zakelijkheid or Nieuwe Bouwen) like Mart Stam (Housing in Stuttgart), L.C. van der Vlugt (Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam) and Johannes Duiker (Zonnestraal in Hilversum and Open Air School in Amsterdam) connected with the international modernist group CIAM. A third group came out of De Stijl, J.J.P Oud and Gerrit Rietveld among them, both architects later built in a functionalist style.

During the 50’s and 60’s a new generation of architects like Aldo van Eyck (Burgerweeshuis in Amsterdam), J.B. Bakema and Herman Hertzberger, known as the ‘Forum generation’ (named after the magazine Forum) connected with international groups like Team 10.

From the 80’s to the present Rem Koolhaas and his Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) became one of the leading world architects. In his wake architects and offices like MVRDV, Mecanoo, Erick van Egeraat (EEA) and Neutelings Riedijk formed a new generation (the third) of Dutch architects working in a modernist tradition.

See also:

Art

File:Mondrian CompRYB.jpg
Piet Mondrian's Composition with Red, Yellow and Blue 1921. Oil on canvas. 39 x 35 cm.

Until the religious wars of the late 16th century, Dutch and Flemish art are hard to separate. Most artists of the period (like Breugel) are described as Flemish, even though their place of birth is often unknown or disputed. Some of the most famous truly Dutch artists from before the seventeenth century are Hieronymus Bosch, a painter, and the brothers de Limbourg, three miniaturists who are most famous for their work for the Duke of Berry.

In the seventeenth century, many painters fled Flanders, for religious reasons and because the Netherlands was growing economically. Both regions had a golden age of painting in this period. The most famous Dutch painter was Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, but other painters such as Johannes Vermeer and Frans Hals are nowadays world famous as well.

The Dutch artists of the 18th and 19th century are less well-known. The most important paintings were the land- and seascapes (or marines). Only at the end of the 19th century did an internationally-important painter, Vincent Van Gogh, appear.

In the 20th century, the Netherlands produced many fine painters and artists, including Piet Mondriaan and some of the members of the COBRA movement, including Karel Appel.

The Dutch have a distinct comics tradition as well. Heavy readers of Flemish comics (Spike and Suzy), Franco-Belgian comics, and American kids comics from Disney, they also achieved their own tradition, with a more literary kind of comics. The most prominent author was Marten Toonder and his creation Tom Puss.

Graphic arts

Museums

Nature

Painting

Comics

See also

Theatre

Cabaret

Film

Main article: Cinema of the Netherlands

Actors

Films

Directors and producers

Movie theaters

Main article: Movie theaters in the Netherlands

the encyclopaedia of film exhibition in the Netherlands from 1896

Movie theaters: [1] (PDF)

The main movie theatre chains are Pathé, Jogchem's, Minerva, Wolff Cinema Groep, and Utopia/Utopolis.

Film festivals

Music of the Netherlands

Further information: Music of the Netherlands

The Netherlands has multiple musical traditions, mostly related to nearby German and Belgian forms. Immigrants from Africa and the Middle East have also had a profound effect. Much more so than most non-English speaking European countries, the Netherlands has remained closely in tune with American and British trends.

To get to know Netherlands' current popular culture and society, a suggested read would be the lyrics of a popular song by Lange Frans & Baas B that apparently reflects the feelings of some people in the Netherlands: Het land van... ("The country of..."). It superficially mentions several aspects of typical Dutch low-culture. One of them is an annual event called fietsvierdaagse. Note that the lyrics are Dutch.

Music of Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles

Further information: Music of Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles

Aruba and the five main islands of the Netherlands Antilles are part of the Lesser Antilles island chain. Their music is a mixture of native, African and European elements, and is closely connected with trends from neighboring islands like Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago and Guadeloupe, as well as the mainland former Dutch possession of Suriname, which has exported kaseko music to great success on the islands. Curaçao and Bonaire likely have the most active and well-known music scenes. Curaçao is known for a kind of music called tumba, which is named after the conga drums which accompany it.

Classical music

Orchestras

Dance

Publishing

Newspapers

Magazines

Ca. 70 Dutch magazines have been sold to and are now published by the Finnish publisher Sanoma. Apart from many typical Dutch ones like Margriet, Libelle and Nieuwe Revu these include a Disney magazine named after Donald Duck and the Dutch edition of Playboy.

National library

Food

Further information: Dutch cuisine

In the Netherlands it is common to have two cold meals and one hot meal. For snacks, people of the Netherlands usually eat fruit, candy bars, liquorice, or other snacks such as cakes, sausage rolls etc. Bread is generally eaten with breakfast and lunch while sometimes crispbread, crackers, ontbijtkoek, rye bread, cereal flakes or muesli substitute for the bread. Like many other parts of Europe, chocolate with breakfast is common, like a slice of bread with butter and hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles). Dinner begins usually with soup and the main course is compromised of boiled potatoes, vegetables and meat or fish. Rice, other cereal, pulses or pasta sometimes takes the place of the potatoes. Desert is usually yoghurt, cold custard or fruit. Holland is famous for its cheese products.

"Gouda cheese"

Some Dutch cheeses indlude:

Some traditional Dutch food include:

Language

Most ethnic Dutch people speak the Dutch language. The Dutch language is a West Germanic, Low Franconian language. The language originated in the Middle Ages, was standardized in the 16th century and has many Frankish and some Middle Saxon influences. As the Netherlands have colonized Suriname in the 17th century, the language is also spoken there. Most people in Flanders speak Dutch as well. Frisian is also spoken as an official language of the Netherlands in the area of Friesland. Dutch and Afrikaans are very similar as the Boers originated from the Netherlands. Most Dutch people can understand spoken and written Afrikaans easily.

Religion

The Netherlands is one of the most secular countries in Europe. An estimated 40% of the population (1998) is non-religious. The remaining are 31% Roman Catholic, 21% Protestant, and 4.4% Muslim. Protestants used to be the largest religion in the Netherlands however over the past century the older Protestant churches have been in rapid decline. Recently Islam has begun to gain a foothold.

Miscellaneous

Culteral hallmarks of average Dutch people that are usually noticed by visitors are the following: the toilet is often seperate from another "full" bathroom, and in the toilet room (the WC, or water closet) it is not uncommon to see a birthday calendar hung on the inside of the door. Birthday greetings are usually givien to all members of the jarige, or the one having the birthday. Mens' hands are shaken and women's cheeks are kissed, all while saying "congratulations" to everyone. The jarige is responsible for accommidating and serving the guests at the party.

See also

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