Believe it or not, there is an art to making friends with the Dutch. They're a very practical people who tend to hold onto their friends from school and university and don't see the need to expand their friendships beyond that circle. That's not to say that they don't make new friends—just not that easily.
Dutch people are usually very open, friendly and welcoming. In the Netherlands, only parents and children live together. In general, they do not live with grandparents, aunts, and uncles.
Mexico came in at second place, followed by Argentina, Uganda and Malta. At the other end of the list, Sweden was voted the hardest place to form friendships. Switzerland plus three Nordic countries rounded out the bottom positions on the list of 65 countries - Norway, Denmark and Sweden.
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.
Inclusive and welcoming culture
In general, the Dutch are welcoming to foreigners and make an effort to engage newcomers into the community.
This is absolutely no problem. You can stay here for as long as your tourist visa lasts without having to learn Dutch. And if you speak English, you will find that many Netherlanders speak English as a second language. But if you want to live in the Netherlands, you must learn Dutch.
Economic migrants less welcome than refugees
Half of the Dutch population feel that these immigrants should not be not allowed to live and work in the Netherlands, versus nearly one-quarter (24 percent) who are open to this. In the case of migrants from other EU countries, the shares are 30 and 44 percent respectively.
Basic Etiquette
It is considered rude to keep people waiting. It is polite to cover your mouth when yawning. It is rude to speak whilst chewing gum. Knock before entering a room if the door is shut.
Dutch people value honesty, so they're known to be frank and speak their minds. Some expats may interpret this directness as being rude. However, to the Dutch, being direct allows them to communicate more clearly and efficiently. Being open makes it less likely that there will be any ambiguity or misunderstandings.
Dutch culture values industriousness, social responsibility, democratic principles, education, and tolerance. They believe everyone has a voice—and they will share their opinion. (They will expect you to do the same.) The Dutch have a universally powerful sense of community and the environment.
As you know, Australians are so friendly, so it's really easy to make friends here, either inside of the classroom or without.
Mexico, Bahrain, Serbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Uganda, Colombia, Taiwan, Israel, and Portugal are the top countries for making friends for expats. Expats in Mexico not only find it the easiest place in the world to make friends, they are also happiest with their life in general!
America and the United Kingdom's Friendship The United States and the United Kingdom are two of the most powerful countries globally, both being superpowers with huge economies. They are among the best friends in the world as well, and this is because they share a lot of similarities and values.
Dutch people do not like to make detailed agreements or long-term plans. They prefer to simply start working together and let things develop. This requires much closer coordination and the willingness to adjust course if necessary.
The Dutch are hardy with a history of hardiness and this breeds self confidence into them at an early age. From the outside looking in, foreigners might think this is arrogance. It really isn't. It's confidence and that is closer to fearlessness than it is to arrogance.
Our country is ranked fifth in the World Happiness Report 2023. In the newspaper AD, happiness researcher Ruut Veenhoven says we are so happy because we can make choices. "There is a sense of choice. You have to be able to choose to know who you are.
Dutch man and woman consider each other as equals
This means equal in all parts of life – girls don't expect your dates to pay for you. This is called 'going Dutch'. It's not meant to be rude; it just means that your date sees you on his level (or they are cheap, who knows). It is advisable to get used to this.
Flirting in the Netherlands
Dutch guys are known for being pretty direct and not shy of going Dutch. Be warned, you may have to open the doors yourself, ask or fish for compliments and pay for your own dinner. The good thing is, you know sooner when a guy is really honestly interested instead of just being romantic.
Refusing a handshake is considered as very poor manners. If you have a good reason (religious or medical, for instance) not to, you should be careful to explain, so that it doesn't seem like you are just snubbing people.
Dutch people are known for their spirit of commerce, open-mindedness towards people from different countries, international ambitions and innovative ways of thinking. The ideal place for an international education.
Job market in the Netherlands
There are lots of opportunities for expats to work in the Netherlands. The country is home to a wide range of international and multinational companies; Dutch internationals alone include ING Group, Royal Dutch Shell Group, Unilever, Philips, and Heineken.
The Dutch people prefer you use “The Netherlands” as Holland is a Western region of the country and consists of two provinces: North Holland and South Holland [it used to be a single Province].