1. The Netherlands is the country of drugs
Ahh, the completely original “the Dutch smoke weed all the time” misconception. Naturally, as with most countries, there will be people who like to hotbox their rooms once in a while with the good ol’ green. Weed is tolerated in the Netherlands (not legal, mind you), but that doesn’t mean that everyone will be taking drugs left and right. However, I will say that the Dutch government is extremely lenient about drugs and actually wants its citizens to stay safe when it comes to them. Therefore, you’re allowed to send in any drugs you find to the government to be tested for safety, as it is much safer for drugs to be tested in a controlled environment than in the hands of random people if they’re going to be consumed anyway.
2. “Going Dutch” is always the norm, and Dutch people are cheapskates
Yes, most of the time, Dutchies split the bill. It’s fair, right? You only pay for what you ordered, and nothing else. It’s much easier for one person to pay up front rather than having to tell a server that you want to pay separately, especially when there are eight people at a table.
However, I’ve had occasions where I’m pretty miffed by the fact that I cooked dinner for a friend and they didn’t compensate me. I suppose it’s a culture thing, too – if you don’t ask for compensation, you won’t get it. Most of the time, though, Dutch people are not really cheapskates in the definition you’re most likely familiar with. The Netherlands values equality and directness, and splitting the bill is a way of indicating that everyone can handle themselves.
3. Everyone wears wooden shoes
I’m surprised people still believe this. For one thing, I’ve tried those wooden shoes (clogs) several times, and each time I’m reminded about how heavy and uncomfortable they are. Maybe it’s not my thing, but Dutch people definitely do not wear clogs as their go-to sneakers. Some farmers do, perhaps, but those are few and far between.
4. Dutch people are rude
This is probably the most common stereotype I’ve heard about Dutch people. And I do get where this comes from – being from a country where people are very warm and welcoming, it could come across that Dutch people are cold and distant when you’re talking to them. In truth, the Netherlands values directness and getting straight to the point – so if you beat around the bush a lot, expect a bunch of Dutch people to tell you to hurry up with your story. I was definitely surprised when my own Dutch friends would tell me to straight up get to the point when I was telling them something, or if I wanted something. Now I do that myself, too. It’s so much more convenient.
5. Amsterdam is representative of the entire Netherlands
Capital cities are not representative of their countries, and Amsterdam is no different. Amsterdam is crowded, busy, and very pretty, but there are definitely some things there that exist because of the number of tourists the city gets. The only thing I could say about this being true is that the housing architecture is pretty similar across the entire country, Amsterdam included, but life in Enschede and life in Amsterdam are completely different.
6. English is an official language in the Netherlands
The official language in the Netherlands is Dutch. In the province of Friesland, Frisian is also considered an official language. Only in Sint Maarten, Curacao, Saba, and Sint Eustatius is English considered an official language. However, this says nothing about the Dutch’s proficiency in English – in fact, the Netherlands is rated number one worldwide when it comes to proficiency in English as a second language.
7. Tulips come from the Netherlands
Surprisingly, no – and I felt extremely betrayed when I found out about this. Tulips are originally from Central Asia, originating in the 10th century from Iran (Persia) and Kazakhstan, and were introduced to Europe in the late 16th century. However, with how prominent tulips are in the Netherlands, from its marketing to its culture, it’s safe to say that tulips are a core part of Dutch identity.
8. Dutch people have no sense of humour
I find everyone to be pretty funny, fitting in with my own dry wit. This is true for Germany, though.
9. The Netherlands is part of Scandinavia
No idea where this misconception comes from, but I’ve heard older family members (who have never been to Europe, mind you) say that the Netherlands is part of Scandinavia, which is simply just not true factually. Though I understand that the tall, blonde, and blue-eyed stereotype of the Netherlands isn’t helping its case.
10. Everyone is tall, blonde, and blue-eyed
Sure, a lot of people are tall, blonde, and blue-eyed. That’s not to say that everyone is, and naturally, not every Dutch person is like that. I’ve found that people in central Netherlands are slightly shorter than people from the Twente region, for example, and you’ll find a multitude of cultures and ethnicities in Enschede itself. Most of my Dutch friends, bless them, are on the shorter end of the height chart.
11. Holland is the same as the Netherlands
An easy mistake to make, and before I studied here, I also believed this. It also doesn’t help that most Dutch people abroad will say ‘Holland’ instead of the Netherlands, simply because it is easier to say Holland. However, when people say ‘Holland’, what they’re technically referring to are the two provinces – Noord (North)-Holland and Zuid (South)-Holland – out of the twelve that exist in the Netherlands. You’re missing ten more provinces here!
