The Kingdom of the Netherlands Socio-cultural environment

The Kingdom of the Netherlands Socio-cultural environment

General Facts n n Capital – Amsterdam Official language – Dutch Recognised Dutch regional languages – Frisian, EU Papiamento, English Indonesian Currency – Euro s Turks Surinames e Moroccans

BUSINESS CULTURE

Manager is not the Boss n The manager in the Netherlands will rarely take an authoritarian approach to the team, preferring to be seen as the colleague who has most influence rather than as the ultimate arbiter on all decisions.

Respect is shown through speaking one's mind and being direct n Little respect is given to those who appear devious or underhand in what they are saying. This directness of approach can sometimes be misconstrued as aggression or even rudeness - but is a useful tool for enabling the meeting to reach an agreed solution.

Dress Code is Formal n Dress is somewhat informal in comparison with countries such as the UK or Japan. To some extent, dress code is determined by industrial sector.

Don’t waste their time!!! n Since the Dutch value their personal time, do not ask them to work late or come in over the weekend if you want to foster a good working relationship.

Stay away from them n They do not touch one another and appreciate it when those they do business with maintain the proper distance, do not demonstrate emotion or use exaggerated hand gestures.

Be direct n They do not use hyperbole, and likewise they expect to be told yes or no in clear words.

Meeting n n n Do not try to schedule meetings during the summer (June through August), as this is a common vacation period. Meetings are rather formal in nature. Little time is spent on pleasantries. Maintain direct eye

Negotiation n n They prefer to get down to business quickly and engage in relatively little small talk. Business is conducted slowly. The Dutch are detail-oriented and want to understand every innuendo before coming to an agreement.

Not Holland, but Netherland n Make it clear that you are aware that the country is officially called the Netherlands. But in speaking English, the Dutch themselves will also say Holland, a shorter term officially referring to only two of the 12 provinces that make up the country.

Topics of Conversation Welcome Topics of Conversation n your home country or city Topics to Avoid n your flight and accommodations [briefly only] n politics [if you know what you're talking about] n boasting about your income and possessions religion [This has been a very private issue since the 1970 s. Many Dutch people never go to church. ] sex/legalized prostitution in the Netherlands [Asking questions on the issue is OK in some situations, but this is obviously a topic for outside direct business contact. ]

Gifts n n n Wait until you have established a relationship with your Dutch contacts before presenting them with gifts. If you are invited to dinner at a Dutch home, it's recommended that you bring a bouquet of flowers or potted plant for the hostess. Bringing a gift of chocolate or candy is often appreciated

No smoking!!! n They do not like when people smoke on a meetings!