Cultural Markers

As a person who is raised in a Dutch household, being ‘direct’ is something I’ve grown up with. It is a common characteristic among the Dutch culture, and seems normal to us. Then as well, many will call Dutch people rude. This idea is based on a character stereotype, which comes from a misunderstanding of Dutch politeness. In reality, us Dutch people are no more or less polite than anyone else. The difference is that our society has thought us to express it differently. In the Netherlands, honesty is highly valued above anything else. It is almost at all times expressed as directness. Some cultures may look upon it as being abrupt, rude, or awkward, but for a Dutch person it is simply means of expressing curiosity for one another. They will start to respect others in order to be honest, against the threat to social face. Societies and cultures that highlight positive politeness may find Dutch behaviour a bitter pill to swallow. Instead of looking at friendliness to be unmistakable, our society sees it as means of consideration for others. In Dutch culture, people feel it is better to be honest and sincere, and to express this by saying exactly what/how it is. A slight part of this misconception also  emerges from the structure of the Dutch language itself. The language often leaves out markers that are common in English such as the use of the word ‘please’. It is uncommon to add this word when buying something in a store. This is all because we use short sentences that cut straight to the point. I believe that if different cultures become aware of this Dutch characteristic, it will make tourists feel welcome rather than disrespected or discouraged. It might even help different cultures act similar when visiting the Netherlands.