From birthday calendar to Orange craze: typical Dutch habits & customs

Like learning the language, learning about the culture helps you feel more at home in a new country. You understand people better, you can communicate more easily, and you also gradually discover how language and culture influence each other. In our language courses, we therefore also devote attention to cultural aspects. In this blog post, our teacher Annemieke introduces you to some ‘typically Dutch’ things – which can be useful if you are new to the Netherlands (and a feast of recognition for those who have lived here longer)!

Cycling

The Netherlands is a true cycling country. Children learn to ride a bicycle from an early age, and cycling is a very popular activity. As a sport, for fun trips during holidays, but also to commute to work! The countless bicycle paths will take you anywhere you want. Be careful though: using your phone while cycling can cost you dearly, and you can also be fined for cycling in the dark without lights. Be warned!

‘Lekker’

The word ‘lekker’ is used a lot in Dutch, and not only to talk about food! Used as an adjective, ‘lekker’ means tasty or nice, but as an adverb, it means nicely, well, or very. As a result, Dutch people go ‘lekker’ outside when the weather is ‘lekker’, because the sunshine is so ‘lekker’ warm. If you have ‘lekker’ some time off, you go ‘lekker’ on holiday, and hopefully your journey goes ‘lekker’ smoothly. Oh no... did your car break down on the highway, and was the weather awful after all? ‘Lekker dan!’ (Too bad!).

Favourite topic of conversation: the weather

It is no coincidence that the example above is about the weather, as this is a popular topic of conversation. Ideal for having an easy-going chat with anyone, but also for complaining. If it hasn't snowed by January, it's ‘not a real winter’, but as soon as the freezing cold sets in, everyone starts complaining: “Cold, huh!” Come summer, a few days of heat are enough for everyone to start groaning and moaning. So it's useful to learn to talk about the weather, as this will immediately help you feel like you belong!

Diminutives

Did you notice how often Dutch people say ‘zonnetje’, rather than ‘zon’, to mean sunshine? Now the sun is not really what you would call small... But the Dutch do love their diminutives. And not just for things that really are small, like a child's bike (‘kinderfietsje’), but also for things that are nice: “Shall we grab a ‘terrasje’ (terrace) and have a ‘lekker wijntje’ (a nice glass of wine)?” But diminutives can also be used negatively, for example when a strange man is referred to as a ‘raar kereltje’ (‘a weird little guy'’).

‘Borrelen’

When you think of the typical Dutch word ‘gezellig’, a word that matches it perfectly is ‘borrelen’ (drinks). Having a lovely chat with people while sipping on a drink, with a portion of ‘bitterballen’ or some other snack to top it off. Certainly the ‘vrijmibo’ (Friday night drinks) has become part and parcel of Dutch language and culture. For many people, it is their favourite time of the working week!

By appointment only

Dropping by someone's place uninvited? That is not common practice in the Netherlands. We prefer to take out our calendars and make an appointment. And when the time comes? Make sure you are on time, because being late is not appreciated.

Birthdays

It's party time! When you arrive at a Dutch birthday party, you not only congratulate the person celebrating their birthday, but you also shake hands with the other guests. Or you can make it easy on yourself and call out to all present while waving: “Congratulations everyone!” If you go to the toilet, chances are you will also find out who else has their birthday when: many Dutch people have a birthday calendar hanging in the toilet. All you can do is hope that you are on it too, because then you'll know you really belong! 😉

Orange

Orange is the national colour of the Netherlands. The colour has been associated with the Dutch royal family for centuries. For example, all of the Netherlands turns orange on 27 April, when we celebrate the King's birthday. But you also see orange garlands, clothing and treats everywhere during major football tournaments. The orange ‘tompouce’ is a true classic!

Tasty treats

Speaking of treats... The Netherlands may not be known for its high-brow cuisine, but we do have some well-known tasty treats. Think liquorice in all sorts and flavours, ‘stroopwafels’, ‘bitterballen’ and, of course, during Sinterklaas season, ‘pepernoten’!

Dive further into Dutch language and culture with one of our courses

Curious about more typical Dutch customs as well as about the Dutch language? In our Dutch courses, you not only get the chance to learn Dutch, but you also get to know the culture in a fun way. Who knows, you may soon be singing along with an archetypal Dutch tearjerker during class, discovering who Sinterklaas actually is, or tasting your very first ‘stroopwafel’! 

Written by Annemieke van Ballegoyen
Annemieke is an NT2 (Dutch as a second language) teacher at In’to Languages and teaches Social Dutch courses, among others.