The Dutch

I bumped into this picture on facebook. Although I have become partly kiwi I will always stay Dutch as well and inside I feel sometimes a little yearning to everything Dutch. Recognition flamed up when seeing this picture and I'll give you my perspective.

what younger tourists think we do
When I talk to young people in NZ, they do think Holland is all about drugs, and they get excited about it. Right.... not. Although there are many coffee shops in the Netherlands. I never went to one but people come there to buy soft drugs which are legally not allowed but the police tolerates it.
It is often popular with tourists and because of this tourist attraction they want to get rid of this popularity and want to introduce the "wietpas" which is a licence which allows Dutch people to become a member of coffee shops and makes it forbidden ground for tourists.
Many are afraid however that this doesn't solve any problem but moves the use to the street.

What older tourists think we do
Yep true They often ask me here about clogs. I tell them only some farmers still wear them but otherwise you never ever see them. Since I live here though I have a pair of little clogs in my house. Possibly to show that I am Dutch as I never had any relationship with clogs in the past.

What other Europeans think we do
Could be as many Dutch go camping and invade the camping grounds in France, Spain and Germany. Often they take half of the supermarket with them to eat their favourite foods. I think they love going to camping because it is an ideal place for kids and because they can stick together with other Dutch which is "gezellig"
We never went camping as my mum hated camping which is cramping (kramperen) according to her.

What soccer fans think we do?
Right!! I think Dutch people are pretty much individuals but with national soccer games (and on Queens birthday) they become one, are passionate and sing Dutch songs and dress in orange. I love it.

What we think we do?
I do think the Dutch are tolerant and liberal in many areas
There was always an attitude of "live and let live" and people with many backgrounds, religions etc lived peacefully together.
I have the impression however that in the past decades a fear started to burn
which has challenged the tolerance towards some groups.

What we really do?
Spot on That's what I remembered. I spend many many hours on my bike.
I biked for 8 years everyday from my town to the city to go to school. When my kids were small I biked everywhere with them. One sitting in a bike seat on the front and one on the back. Holland is a fantastic country for biking.

What I miss most is the Dutch "gezelligheid" which means fun, cosines, togetherness, comfort. It is hard to translate. We have this feeling here as well but I think the Dutch are top notch in creating this atmosphere.
I also miss the sense of humor which has a touch of irony, sarcasm. (Although since the earthquake I have enjoyed in Christchurch an amazing sense of humor) I always just loved "ouwehoeren" which means something like , talking nonsense, twaddle, talking pointlessly. We had a lot of fun doing that. I don't know if I lost that as you don't come across it here a lot even not among the Dutch in NZ. I guess we are adapting to the NZ way.

Anyway only 3 1/2 months to go before I will be immersed in it all again.

Underneath a nice song about the Dutch, which is old as there are now about 16 Million people in the Netherlands.