If I were asked to describe the Dutch people who my wife and I worked with and lived among for more than two years, I would say that the Dutch I knew in business and as social friends are, without many exceptions:

• People who care more about benefits than earnings
• People who value the family more than the company
• People who find cooperation with colleagues & supervisors more important than advancement or the admiration of others
• People for whom job freedom counts more than success
• People who rate attractive physical conditions higher than efficiency in the organization
• People who are not preoccupied with employment security
• People for whom family and personal life factors are far more important than work factors
• People for whom the small fortune of the many is to be preferred to the great fortune of the few

There are many good reasons why American companies form close partnerships, alliances, and other forms of relationships with Dutch companies. Among the most commonly given are:

• Name the language, the Dutch speak it
• They’ve been around the world a long time
• They know their neighbors and how to deal with them
• Their neighbors know and respect them
• They are tough, honest, and loyal
• They wrote the book(s) on culture and business
• Tolerance is a core social policy strategy and is widely practiced by individuals
• The Dutch are pragmatic, intellectual, and creative
• Most Dutch genuinely like (most) Americans
• The Dutch see American cultural/business strengths as complementary to their own

On a personal level, some of the characteristics which I believe distinguish many, if not most Dutch people from people from other European cultures are:

• They have a commitment to experiencing maximum possible quality of life
• They have a strong sense of collegiality in business
• They exhibit a natural, cautious friendliness
• They maintain active bonds with family and friends
• They honor and celebrate life cycle events
• They have respect for differences in beliefs, lifestyles, and values
• They are passionate about sunshine and flowers
• They value both private property and public spaces
• They are equally comfortable in a Mercedes or on a bicycle
• They prefer food, fun, and companionship to just about anything else

For an American considering The Netherlands as a place to live

• The Dutch are a cosmopolitan people, accustomed to foreigners moving in among them
• They have a world-class medical system that is easily accessible by registered expatriates
• This is a highly civilized society, ruled by law
• Almost everyone speaks English
• You will be living among people who know how to survive every kind of storm
• There is plenty of affordable (not cheap) real estate, especially in the smaller cities like Utrecht
• The Dutch live an active, outdoor lifestyle
• If you love flowers and very small dining utensils, you’re in
• The rest of Europe is easily accessible by great rail and low-cost air
• Taxes are high, but expatriate residents can quality for significant breaks
• For those who care, the hashish supply is excellent and reasonably priced