I really love to watch the reactions from people from other countries about the Dutch directness! It is a shame that many cultures experience our directness as rude. let me assure you, we don't mean to be rude! The dutch directness isn't about correcting or belittle people. We find it very helpfull to be straight to the point, so in every social engagement both parties know what to expect and therefore leave very little room for misconceptions or miscommunications. I understand that it can be interpreted as rude in some cultures. for example, if a friend calls you, asking if you want to hang out, a Dutch person might say: "No man, I don't feel like hanging out right now. Maybe some other time." or if someone has something between his/her teeth, we are not afraid to say: "I'm sorry but you should brush your teeth or get a toothpick because you've got something between your teeth." You might get offended by this directness. But would you really feel better if we served you lies, or let you walk around, interacting with other people, with a piece of spinach between your teeth? :p I see the Dutch directness as something really helpfull and efficient. And I really hope that people from other countries can see it like this as well! :)
The Dutch directness is also very much about the form. In Limburg people are very easily offended or think you're "too brash" when you would point out the spinach. They would appreciate it in a more roundabout way (like a mime gesture) but in the North or West it would be appreciated if you would immediately comment on their dental care. I think the key to being the best, direct, is to gauge the situation and person, like the lady in the video said. Of course there are people in any culture that lack any sense and will just blurt out their big thoughts to anyone. We call them Brabanders 😛 I'm half Limburg/Brabant myself but I have worked many years in the Randstad and of my countrymen I prefer the directness of North and South Holland above all.
Often I find it more rude to not be direct, that's wasting my time and brain energy trying to figure out what you really mean. Give it to me straight so we can finish earlier and have more time to just enjoy life.
Honestly, all these examples I see given by the Dutch people in this comment section seem completely fine to me. I don't really know Dutch people so I have no comments to make on my personal experiences with you guys but I heard this about German people a lot too. That they are very direct. Half of the people who called themselves direct were straight up rude, not like the directness you guys comment about but like they were making racist/sexist comments and then just claiming that they were being direct and its their culture and i am a racist for not respecting their culture. I am sorry but how can I respect when you make racist jokes about other countries or call someone you are so hairy or ugly to their face unprompted. Sorry to vent but my point is that some people really do abuse this generalization of directness that comes with their culture to be rude.
@@thestarlitwaters Why mention dental care? That's still unnecessary. Just say: ''you've got something stuck between your teeth''. That's it. There is no need to tell someone to brush their teeth ''better''.
If you think people are rude when they tell you they don't want a cookie or a piece of cake with their coffee, then life in the Netherlands will be very difficult for you.
@@adeebwilson6810 In the Netherlands it is. Dutch people won't be offended if you decline. But i can imagine that people with a different cultural background would be shocked and consider it rude. But than "When you're in Rome act like the Romans. When you're in the Netherlands, act like the Dutch and don't give a shit about what other people might think."
@@val-schaeffer1117 If Dutch people are rude to you, it's most likely because you deserve it. Many people wake up with the expectation and intention that they will be offended at least 1 time today. Those people will not be disappointed in the Netherlands.
@@williamgeardener2509 One can use that argument, in every single case of opposition. On Human rights violation in China to Nazi Holocaust: one who is blaming, deserved it. I can also treat a Dutchman like dirt and pass them blame on him. Your words vs my words. Given my demography, I have louder voice. Try me / us. I am sure if Jews woke up expecting the Holocaust, they would not be complaining. Same goes for you: so stay offended, tightey Whitey.
Wow that lady in the blue shirt speaks amazing Dutch! There are some very minor things that give away she might not speak it natively, like "de karakter" but for the rest she has an amazing command of the language and figurative speech (words like achterbaks), and very good pronounciation
@@marjanwitteveen5617 Ik vind dat ze waanzinnig goed, bijna accentloos Nederlands spreek maar ze zegt " de karakter" en " je kunt op me af" is geen Nederlandse uitdrukking. Voor de rest zie ik wat non verbale dingetjes waarbij ik concludeer dat ze niet Nederlandse is van origine. Ik vind haar ook een bepaalde onnederlandse warmte en vriendelijkheid uitstralen.
I like the fact that the Dutch are open and direct in their behavior and speech. This is an admirable honesty and the basis for building good friendships.
I am Anglo Dutch and was born in New Holland [Australia] to a Dutch father and Anglo - Saxon mother. I have inherited the Dutch directness through my father and it is a part of my character. I appreciate that directness is more honest than beating around the bush like English do. It has sometimes got me in trouble in Australia but that is because most Australians are descended from British stock.
I speak Afrikaans as a second language and it amazes me every time how close these two languages are. Its about 80%or so similar and also very direct which most Afrikaaners prefer. Beautiful language ❤️
Afrikaans is toch gewoon een dochtertaal van Nederlands, afgesplitst van de Nederlandse taal (dialecten) die toen gesproken werden in 1650.. Dus niet zo heel surprising.. Als het goed is versta je dit gewoon. Love naar Zuid-Afrika.
I,m Dutch myself and sometimes I think: Be nicer, what did I wrong you are so unfriendly to me.... ? In the east of our little country I think people more friendly. And Amsterdam: I worked and lived overthere and I love that City and the people. ! In the city I live now, people are more by themself. Not making contact very easy. I changed houses very much, for work, but every town has his own things of making contact. Figure it out.... And enjoy all of it overhere. Have fun and be Lucky ! Whereever you are in the world. Make Love, no war....
Being direct is not a problem. Being disrespectful or aggressive is. You can be direct and still be genial. Why give opinions about everything? (I'm a naturalized Dutch Canadian.)
Hallo allemaal! Allereerst, kom ik uit Bulgarije.☺ Ik woon bijna 7 jaar in Nederland. Het kostte me 3 4 jaar om de Nederlandse taal te leren. in het begin waren de mensen de taal en het dagelijkse leven te moeilijk voor mij. maar nu ben ik blij en gelukkig met het leven hier. ik hou van de Nederlanders en ik hou van hun houding ten opzichte van buitenlanders. nu ben ik in een staatsbaan dus ( ik werk in winkel bijna 1 jaar). mijn collegas zijn nederlanders en ik vind hun gedrag ( meest van de nederlanders) heel aardig. met één woord kan ik zeggen dat de Nederlanders erg geduldig zijn,😍 want als je iets niet begrijpt en het is niet duidelijk voor je, staan de Nederlanders altijd klaar om je te helpen, het maakt niet uit hoe vaak je het ze vraagt. ze worden nooit nerveus en schreeuwen niet tegen je. ze staan altijd voor je klaar. dit vind ik het beste.✌ Ik had moeilijke tijden en conflicten met andere nationaliteiten hier in Nederland, maar ik heb nog nooit iets slechts van een Nederlander gezien. ik ben trouwens blij dat je dit kanaal hebt geopend. wens je geluk🤗
I have Italian family and if I ask something they first start to apologize and then come up with a story why they can or can not help me. We, most of us, Dutch, love to take the short cut and get to the point. Something my Italian family actually think is the best thing to do. However, I do love the extended way to an answer too. Makes life interesting.
Thank you so much for this video. I'm currently trying very hard to learn Dutch and this video was fascinating to listen to, translate myself, practice how your interviewees say words/phrases, and also how some people mixed Dutch with English. I recently returned from a short trip to Holland and hope to return with a more solid working knowledge of Dutch soon.
Ik ben leadership coach in de Verenigde Staaten. Verschillende van mijn Nederlandse klanten hebben gezegd dat het moeilijk is om eerlijke feedback van hun managers te krijgen. Ze willen niet alleen "Alles is geweldig" horen.
Directness isn't the same as being rude or unkind. Of course it can be, but that is the exception. And of course it depends on how well you know somebody/how good your relationship is. Example: someone in the group has multiple time really bad breath. Now there are options (of course more then I give here). 1. you can politely ignore it. (this doesn't help you or him though) 2. you can talk to him one on one and just say it: Hey, I don't want to be an ass man, but do you know your breath is kinda bad? 3. you can blurt it out in the group: Holy shit, your breath stinks. Nr 3 is rude and unkind and normal Dutch people will not do that. But nr 2, yea. It may be uncomfortable for a moment, but I think it is the best for him. Now if it is a really good friend it would be something like: Damn! What did you eat? Can you breath on the window? I am sure it will melt and then at least we get some fresh air in.
As a Dutchman I’ve often been told by people abroad or visitors from outside The Netherlands that they found me direct. Respectful but straight to the point. Personally I think it is just being efficient. Don’t talk with detours, it’ll only make it subject to misinterpretations, and that can lead to time loss and irritation. You can be very direct without being rude or disrespectful.
Ik ook, my father was from den Haag so we learnt directness straight away! So that is the way I am straight to the point! I will never get why some people go round the houses to get to the same answer?
I find Dutch people are very convinced of their ways being the right one. Everything only can be done one way. If people do things differently abroad it is: ‘wat gek’. I am a Dutch citizen, having lived in England for many years.
@@elsab2710 ‘wat gek’ is, by my understanding, not disapproving but simply stating ‘How odd’. Same goes for the tourists from lots of countries stating ‘How odd’ when they find out that they can buy cannabis in a coffeeshop in the Netherlands. Every country, region or village has their quirks with dealing with things. Live and let live I would say, but sometimes ways that things are done elsewhere could strike somebody as ‘odd’. Wouldn’t you agree?
@@snooepijeleeuwenkamp9365 exactly that! Again, people might find it offensive or rude, but that is (almost…)never the actual meaning. Just timesaving economical communication. Once you get ‘the hang’ of it, you can never go back to ‘beating around the bush’. Nice surname by the way, more Dutch than this is impossible 😄👍🏻
@@harm7602vicount-Visconti Sure, But I’m going by the comments of our visitors from Holland, observing various things here. ‘Why do they do it like this and not like that, like we do it?’ One of them made quite an issue about the UK vehicles having a white number plate at the front and a yellow one at he back. Sometimes it just is what it is.
I forget the specifics, but one time I got on a tram in Amsterdam and the driver turned to me and told me it would be more polite if I did such-and-such. In such cases there is the passing feeling of being shamed and called out, but if you shift your perspective just a bit, it's possible to see you may have just gained a valuable bit of cultural information that you would likely never have learned in a less direct country.
I am English speaking and studied Afrikaans as a second language so I can understand quite a lot of Dutch. I actually find the indirect communication of English speakers very annoying. I prefer to speak my mind. Other people seem to find this very amusing. I think I would really enjoy living in the Netherlands. I think Germans are also very direct, but as you say a bit more polite. I have been to Amsterdam. It is a beautiful city.
I think it depends on the perspective. For example, if (like me) you're from England, where everybody apologises constantly for every little thing, then you may well perceive the Dutch as direct. But if you're from Germany (where I've lived for the past 9 years), directness is a normal means of communication and it won't bother you one bit.
yes dutch people are really direct, I'm Indonesian .we have pretty big difference. I think if Indonesian meet Dutch people for the first time, they will be very surprised
I am half Indonesian and I prefer Dutch directness, I consider it rude if people beat around the bush and don't give straight forward answer, beating around the bush is just a wast of time. So it's rude
Yes one time i asked someone of asia how old she was, becauae she would always look young. Bacause i had no idea. But she didnt want to say. (I think she was Indonesian)
In some asian countries you never find out what people really think. In Thailand they won't tell you that they don't know directions if you ask them where to go, they will send you anywhere. We think that is rude, just admit you don't know and we ask somebody else. No harm done.
I live in Germany and people here think they are very direct. Not as much as me though. In the beginning people probably thought I was rude. That is the downside of being a neighbor, people forget that there are cultural differences between the Dutch and the Germans. They just hold you to German standards and find you lacking. What I like about being back in the Netherlands, when people are friendly, they mean it. Not many people are fake or try to be keep up appearances.
Yes, the Dutch are direct. And I think it is layered. There’s the side of being more direct by using less words or questions before saying or asking something. And there’s the side of voicing opinion, speaking up when not asked, such things. I traveled the US a lot and the directness is sometimes seen as a breath of fresh air, but sometimes also not very appreciated. Cultures might have their customs and social rules which the Dutch directness completely ignores / trembles upon. They will notice it, but they might not speak up to you about it. Whereas when it would be the other way around, we Dutch would say that we don’t do it like that. Once they understand the knife cuts on both sides and you can handle the directness back, and would like to learn, they speak up more as well. My advise is to apologize casually every now and then for the directness as being embedded in the Dutch culture, then they understand better that you’re not rude or disrespectful or lacking manners.
I was born in Canada but half Dutch, half French. A Dutch friend told me last year (this is in Bangkok) he was not surprised I'm half Dutch as I was rather direct in my speaking. I knew I was too but never knew it was my Dutch heritage from my mom. What a thing to learn in my late 60s. 😂🤣
I realised I have always been direct in my late 60's my father was from den Haag my mother English, I never realised I was so direct but why go round the houses and not get straight to the point?
Wij draaien niet om dingen heen maar we zeggen gewoon waar het op staat. Lekker helder en duidelijk. Als je ongelijk hebt, wat ook gebeurt, nadat je gezegd heb waar het op staat dan volgt het poldermodel... en dan kan je nuanceren tot je een ons weegt en dan zijn die botte Hollanders best te pruimen. Voor eromheen draaien moet je niet in Nederland zijn.🙃
On the other hand, Dutch people are only direct when it comes to the negative never the positive. Being diplomatic or just able to communicate your thoughts without hearting or insulting anyone is an indication of high intelligence.
If I can summarize my experience with the dutch is that , I work with them but I don't go out with them. I appreciate efficiency and directness for business but often I find they lack flavor and warmth
Richard! Wat leuk dat jij nu Easy Dutch aan het doen bent. Ik ben een trouw volger van Easy Russian en heb je daar zo nu en dan gezien als sidekick van Катя. Grappig dat de rollen nu zijn omgekeerd. Ik wens je veel plezier en succes met de ontwikkeling van Easy Dutch. Houdoe hè. Пока-пока.
My family immigrated to Canada when I was 4. I have spent my whole life (I'm nearly 60 now) fighting against my honesty and directness. Canadians do not like it!
I find it positive, in spain we are also very direct, when I live in england for a while I realized how direct we are, for example: when asking a coffee, in spain, we say: "give me a coffee" and we don't mean to be rude, its just a way to not lose time and go straight to the point. It's very interesting to see how people behave so differently all over the world, greetings from barcelona!
I was interviewed in Dutch company for an international role. They asked me if I have worked in a Dutch culture. I said yes I have. They asked me to share experience- I said till the time my colleagues, superiors and reportees take my directness on par with theirs, I am fine. Note- that was my last round with the HR. And results are obvious. I don't know if this is right or
It's also my experience. The Dutch allow themselves to say whatever, like "you should be doing your work like that" out of the blue, but as soon as you also directly tell them something like "your 15-minute coffee break should not last an hour", they get offended. Double standards all the way. They feel free to be as rude as they can and poke their noses in anyone else's business, but if you do the same, even for things that are true, they just get offended and you're a rude foreigner. At the same time, they just boast about how they are "direct" and how much they appreciate "directness" and so on, but of course, they do appreciate actual rudeness, as long as it is not directed at them.
@@heracletus oh yes, Nikolas... so fucken true. They get upset when I ask them to clean the table after having lunch or not to smoke inside the warehouse when it's raining... then I am the rude one. I think it is even more rude to disrespect the common areas and not caaring about other people's needs or when something can bother you... double standards yes yes for the most part I experienced in 2,5 years I lived here.
In business the Dutch directness is a good excuse to get good deals. Long term relationships appreciate the efficiency of leaving spurious politeness behind. What you see, is what you get.
Most dutch people have a lot of dutch friends and family obviously, so they do it to each other all the time... its part of the culture..they are not having a hard time with each others directness. Or do you mean they cant handle directness from foreigners? If that is the case it might be that they cross the thin line between being direct and rude, as they may be not used to the codes of directness themselves and their nuances. But bottomline, dutch people do appreciate directness from each other and others, as long as its not rude.
@@pieterkock695 Having lived and studied in the Netherlands, ( Groningen) I can only speak from my own perspective. Dutch are direct and blunt even with foreigners. It is not a problem for the. . They have no filter and don’t seem to care much about others sensitivity. But they seem to have a problem when it is the other way around especially when they are caught off guard.
Once I ask an English person “Do you want my opinion wrapped and with a nice ribbon or do you want it right from my heart”, well, this was obviously far too direct. 😂😂😂
Maybe this directness also helped the dutch in international relations and trade? The dutch seem to be very good and effective in these business dealings.
Geweldig om te zien dat mensen zo veel moeite doen om die vreselijk moeilijke taal te leren! Helemaal al, omdat iedereen diret Engels begint te praten ...
Much of the Dutch directness is business-related: the habit of coming straight to the point in a meeting after no more than an introduction of the people present and the pouring of a cup of coffee or tea. In a business context, if the Dutch see flaws in a product or proposal they will immediately say so and elaborate - or say what might be needed to make it work, not react by saying it is "interesting" and "we will get back on it". Foreigners are also often thrown by the Dutch custom that everyone at a meeting table can freely express his or her opinion, regardless of rank - and the subject expert usually takes over from the Board member, who will often just sit back and listen. The Dutch furthermore have a politeness- structure in their use of language that is mostly alien to English-speakers, starting with the two words (polite and familiar) they have for the word "you". And of course the Dutch language practically never uses the Dutch form of "sir"and "madam" as a form of address unless it is to attract someone's attention - and "please" in Dutch is really only used in the context of desperation, as in: "will you please stop making that infernal noise!" Dutch politeness is mostly expressed by the simple use of forms like 'could you' or 'would you'. Directness - outside the realm of talk shows - very rarely takes the form of 'impolite' comment on someone's appearance or opinion, unless it is among very good friends.
In regards to directness, I like that it makes Dutch people relatively honest. What I don't like is that it makes the culture a bit lacking when it comes to respect. I've lived in the Philippines where respect is very important, and I can understand how people can sometimes experience Dutch directness as rude because respect is not as important here generally.
Being the opposite of direct, beating around the bush can also be experienced as rude. It's considered rude, not to answer the question, lying and beating around the bush, very rude
@@alf71999 Actually you would also be considered an asshole when someone wants a simple straight forward answer and didn't ask for a full story (beating around the bush) It can really be considered rude, when you beat around the bush. It's impolite to waste someone's time. It gives a bad 1st impression and you might never be invited to a 2nd phase if it was a job interview for example.
Don't get me wrong. I think by far most Dutch people are respectful and that you can be both very direct and respectful at the same time. I think when directness is coupled with judgementalism it can become rude though. That's what I was thinking of when I wrote the above. It's not something I encounter often in the Netherlands. It's just that I do encounter it at times and I never encountered anything like it in the Philippines which I appreciated. That said, in general I appreciate directness and I'm direct myself. Thinking back to my childhood. I had this girl in my class who was very direct and always busting the balls of the teachers. Some people thought she was a bitch but I loved the way she was. She just said what she thought and her heart was in the right place. The distinction that I make when I feel people are being rude is when someone's heart is not in the right place and when directness is used to put people down in some form or another.
@@alf71999 If I meet someone and doesn't give straight forward answers, but beats around the bush and makes up stories. I consider this person rude and don't want to know him at all. The not showing interest is beating around the bush. Being direct and straight forward is actually showing interest, by beating around the bush. It's the complete opposite this will kill the conversation and you will be considered rude for not listening and not giving an honest opinion.
5:51 dit is wel een belangrijk punt. Als je direct tegen elkaar kunt zijn kan je tenminste een goede discussie hebben wanneer je van mening verschilt, en kritiek niet te persoonlijk opvat. Maar je kunt direct zijn en nog steeds respect voor de ander hebben.
I have a good share of Nederlandse ("Dutch") blood, some Deutsch ("German") and some French. I find the directness of the so-called Dutch as to the point and honest. Unlike Anglophones that never mean what they say, and never say what they mean. While Anglophones love to lie to cover things up, both the so-called Dutch and German people are factual and honest. You mostly know where you stand with them.
I remember a Dutchman writing that he found that the English have an almost Japanese level of politeness and that, when he was learning English, it was something he had to learn. Directness is probably better but you grow up with the social norms of your society and feel comfortable with that. I'm not sure that I would be comfortable with the Dutch bluntness.
The woman at 2:47 is correct. Another way to put it is they have no bedside manner or customer service. And... direct compared to who? The rest of Europe, well yeah... New York? No. But in my experience they are full of sarcasm and assume you are too. To me, direct means that you don't need to read between the lines, not that you're just rudely blunt. People here tend to misinterpret me because they are looking for subtext that just isn't there. How is that direct? I get along great with the Dutch people who don't do this.
@@EasyDutch Here's a simple one: don't say please or thank you too much or they think you want something. And too much is more than once, or maybe even once. Again, it's not everybody, and not all the time. And I'm speaking very generally.
Im very direct and honest, ive been called rude and an asshole many times. Found out my grandmother i thought was French, was Dutch. Makes sense as now i have many dutch traits and personality.
I agree with the woman who works in the shop....i see that Dutch people are normally honest but many times are not careful how to comunicate with the another one, it also depends of the individual "denk niveau"(thinking level).
Yes. I found myself in this new area in life where i dont really get hurt by people anymore, and sometimes i like it to make very clear stupid jokes, because I want the other to show that he/she is strong and does not get hurt. But i discovered some people really take it very serious and really feel offended... But that is more something personal right? I think in this time of my life I need to be more careful not to hurt others, even if it would be great whem he/she doesnt get offended.
As an introvert , I like Nederlander directness. The Danes are strikingly similar to the Dutch people. The former Scouser is right about Liverpool and Northern England, his well spoken Dutch even has a hint of a Scouse ( Liverpool ) accent .
Because we have a small country to live in us Dutch people have learned to be efficient. Nothing to spill, no space but also no time. As for in other countries people come to work an read the newspaper first over a cup or two of coffee, Dutch people get their coffee from the machine and start to work right away. In such an envirement lots of fluffy wooly talk is not efficient. So we learned to tell you as it is right away. This had nothing to do with rudeness. But what the lovely man from Liverpool experienced in a bar is, also by the average Dutch people, considered rude! So don’t do that to people!!
Het woord 'afspraak' is ondertiteld als 'promise' (belofte), maar hier wordt mijns inziens eerder 'agreement' of 'appointment' bedoeld. En het woord 'descriptie' is nogal formeel in deze context. Als het om UA-cam gaat, is 'beschrijving' veel gangbaarder. Gewoon om te helpen hoor! Want dat laatste keert waarschijnlijk in elke video terug. Succes!
Dat directheid met straffen en kerken te maken zou hebben kan denk ik wel kloppen. Ook het gevoel van straffen is belangrijk. Ik vind directheid ook een goede eigenschap omdat je gewoon je mening moet kunnen geven. Mensen zijn daardoor eerlijker tegenover elkaar. Als je het gevoel hebt om gestraft te worden zul je niet zo snel je mening geven en dat kwam vroeger bij de katholieken vaak voor dat ze moesten biechten. Ik ben doopsgezind opgevoed waar straffen en biechten totaal niet in het woordenboek voorkomt. - That directness would have to do with punishment and churches could be true, I think. The sense of punishment is also important. I also think directness is a good trait because you just have to be able to speak your mind. People are more honest with each other because of it. If you feel like you're being punished you won't be so quick to give your opinion and that used to occur common among Catholics to have to confess. I was brought up mennonite where punishment and confession are not in the dictionary at all.
@@hugzpls You don't think so?? I travelled around Europe several years ago, I've been to Arnhem, Apeldoorn, Deventer, The hague and Amsterdam. I met kind and friendly people in every countries and cities, but I personally liked The Netherlands and Dutch people the most. They seem to be just minding their own business, but when I ask them something they were always helpful. I also liked its atmosphere, open-mindness, technology, etc... I'm from the country where the character in your profile picture were born by the way😊, and as a foreigner I felt really comfortable in The Netherlands!
@@tom_tom_tommy I’m with someone who’s Dutch and they said that most of them are pretty blunt and honest in a way that makes them cold hearted. A lot of them aren’t that friendly. In fact, like you said, they just mind their own business and that’s it. Only been to Amsterdam once because you know, I’m not as rich as people who travel a lot, but that’s what I’ve been told
Omg I had the exact same experience as the British guy when I asked a Dutch acquaintance in a bar if he wanted a beer (we were all foreign students in Spain) and he said he wanted to check if I was gay or not just to be clear what the situation was. It was not meant with any homophobic intent, but it seemed a bit paranoid to me, and just mind-bogglingly weird. Certainly not something that any British man would ever say upon being asked if he wanted another beer when a friend was going to order for himself anyway.
The Dutch call a spade a spade, instead of tiptoeing around. This is what I prefer. The English ‘politeness’ can be rude or at least tiresome in it’s meaningless essence…
I think the Dutch have evolved more regarding this, they grasp the goal and essence of communication and act alike, instead of making it a disrespectful, rude guessing game. Communicate as clear as possible, leaving as little leeway or voids as possible. If you want to play games, zip it and grab your nintendo.👴🤷♂
As an Pashtun/ Afghan 🇦🇫heritage This is totally normal in our culture. But for example in iran,🇮🇷 is totally opposite, maybe sometimes you lost your friends forever just for being direct. That’s why they have TAAROF. And this DIRECTNESS is good especially in business, because sometimes you must reject something that you don’t want/like. I personally experienced that.(in business there is no shame) I mean,pleasing someone or saying sorry for no reason, it’s not good in our culture, because people think you’re crazy. And also being shy or not be able to defend your rights, it shows your weakness in our culture.
Echt, die Niederländer sind so direkt? Das finde ich aber sympathisch, so bin ich auch. Mein Eindruck ist, dass sie "hart aber fair" und oft auch sehr locker sind.
How often do men ask women if they want to have sex (out of the blue, strangers). Are the women offended if men are direct like that? What is the success rate for this method of trying to get laid?
A male prospect friend, asked me: " what are doing you"? I thought - litely panicing - oops, I doing three/four things at the same time here, when I gonna name all those things and why, that'll take me several, too much, time at that moment, words to find and type, I'll destract me from my focus I am now experiencing, so I said: "You don't want to know" Even more so because a few days before that, he asked me 'what I was thinking about myself' ... I thought: " even a therapist or husband wouldn't ask for your thoughts, so hey, who do you think you are, right now, in my life? Remember he was a prospect friend, in that stage of getting to know each other. The situation was, I send him two photographs of myself and he replied with three emoticons, 2 winking and one with tongue out of mouth, (plus the words: "lekker ding") I was insulted and wrote: "That is not how I see myself" thats when he asked me: "How do you see yourself"
Blunt is honest, it saves time. And time is money and Dutch don't like to waste both. It is being pragmatic, honesty is always the best policy. Being true to your words is more important than being polite and beating around the bush. Mean what you say and say what you mean. If you don't wanna know, don't ask ;) Dutch proverb "" Doer maar normaal, dat is gek genoeg"" (Act normal, that is crazy enough)
Ik denk dat ik als Nederlander wel sneller een persoonlijk gesprek aanga. Vertrouwelijkheid creer in een gesprek of misschien sneller persoonlijke vragen stel. Maar ik zal nooit ongevraagd mijn mening geven of iets zeggen wat een ander niet prettig vindt. Ik ben me juist erg bewust van wat een ander kan ervaren door mijn woorden. I think that as a Dutchman I am more likely to enter into a personal conversation. Create confidentiality in a conversation or perhaps ask personal questions more quickly. But I will never give my opinion unsolicited or say something that someone else does not like. I am very aware of what someone else can experience through my words.
American here that does not speak a word of Dutch. I could not at all follow the actual Dutch people but the Ukrainian guy speaking Dutch I could pretty much follow what he was saying.
Mijn ervaring met directheid wat niet geapprecieerd werd was in Australië. We sliepen in een huisje terwijl we werkten op het land (frambozen plukken) Het huis was daarom gratis. Maar enorm oud en enorm stoffig, ooit ingericht in de jaren 70.. en daarna gok ik nooit meer wat aangedaan.. 😅 Het bed waar we in sliepen lag je zo krom als een banaan in, wat niet echt super lekker lag. Dus toen de eigenaar vroeg of alles naar wens was legde ik de situatie met het bananenbed uit.. maar dat was dus helemaal niet de bedoeling; dat ik echt serieus antwoord gaf. Ze verwachten gewoon; ja alles is goed klaar. Ze waren flabbergasted.. hoe ik het in mijn hoofd haalde daarover te beginnen.. Terwijl ik het helemaal niet onaardig aankaartte.. Ik dacht misschien kunnen ze er een keer een andere matras inzetten? Zo heb ik meerdere situaties gehad in Australië waar het niet de bedoeling was dat je ‘echt’ en eerlijk antwoord gaf op een vraag. Dat was wel wennen en veroorzaakte af en toe zeer ongemakkelijke situaties… 😅(verder was het er supertof hoor, maar dat viel me wel op..)
‘Bananenbed’ het is heel grappig 😅 dankjewel voor je verhaal! Ik denk, dat Nederlandse mensen heel open zijn en geen zin hebben iemand te beledigen, dus ze hebben dat als een standaard en dan zeggen ze eigenlijk wat ze denken en op dezelfde manier maken ze grapjes 😁
Maar waarom vraag je er dan naar als je dus eigenlijk geen antwoord wil krijgen? Ik beschouw dat persoonlijk juist als onbeleefd en ongeïnteresseerd… Maar ik denk wel dat dat een goed voorbeeld is van wat vaak als Nederlandse directheid (en onbeleefdheid) wordt gezien. Als wij een vraag stellen verwachten we ook een eerlijk antwoord te krijgen. Terwijl we daarbij in het antwoord wel degelijk rekening houden om de ander niet onnodig te kwetsen en hoe genuanceerd we iets brengen (veelal afhankelijk van je relatie tot degene die de vraag stelt).
I am in the Netherlands from the last 5 years now. I have encountered many incidents personally that can not be characterised as "being direct". Someone asking me to pick a brownie, from available snacks, with a comment that being Asian it should be fine for me. Or someone commenting that Asians feel they have wings at their back and they are in a hurry all the time. And many similar comments. But when we remind them about their historical gory details or the deeds of their governments in current geopolitical situation, they are on a back foot and act differently. It's annoying
@@vandijkjesgames9387 you need to read comments again. It says "many" incidents- not "all" incidents. I can not generalise entire country because I haven't met entire population. My experiences are based on "many" people I have met or "many" incidents/examples. For example you are using the word "pathetic" whereas my comments are not having such extreme words- because you feel offended when I say something in general direct terms.
The only way to answer would be to be direct yourself. Replying that stereotyping an entire continent of people isn't intelligent, and then go ahead and order something else. Being silent is taken as acceptance of their "suggestion".
Be direct not is the trouble in Netherland. It's a emotional talk. The value or the trouble, the style, the way you use in be direct. And not only in Netherland, in the world too...
I think there's a small misunderstanding in our directness. As a Dutch person myself I sometimes tend to be a little bit to honest with people and say what I feel or think despite people's opinion of it. But that's mostly with people I've known for a long time. Family or friends. If a stranger comes up to me to ask something they wanna know or I have to talk to someone to ask a question I always stay polite without having to be "lomp" as we call it. Every Dutch person is different with how they communicate with other's. Some feel comfortable and confident enough to fully be themselves with however they interact with. Others like myself look at the situation first and who their talking to and then set the tone of the conversation. If the other person is very casual and relaxed and gives you green light to just be yourself and talk to them like some old friend then there's no need to run around the bushes and get straight to the point. So it's not that we Dutchies are always straightforward and direct it's about the tone of the conversation and the people we talk to. If that makes any sense. When I visit the doctor or the dentist I use a different language to communicate with them then when I hang out with friends or discuss something with my parents but if I've known my doctor for a long time and feel comfortable enough to be myself and the doctor doesn't talk to me as a doctor anymore but like themselves but still proffesional then it's unnecessary to be "indirect". So you have to read in to the conversation and how you can talk and then you'll be fine.
Exactly my thoughts! I live in eastern part as well. Sometimes I work in Amsterdammer or meet some of them. It's not all ghetto's over there but the difference in way of communicating is clear! Someone here also wrote that this directness doesn't exist in Maastricht. Neither do I expect it in Drenthe, Fryslan and Groningen.
This goes for the people ABOVE the rivers Maas , Waal , Rijn . BELOW them in Brabant and Limburg people are more laid back and friendly , their way off speaking Dutch is much softer and more fluid , no hard G or RRRR . REMEMBER , Our country starts BEYOND Amsterdam !
I always pride myself of being from a culture of typically being non-direct, until I watch this video and realise I’m quite direct in relative. That’s why I find people calling me blunt.
Is de invloed van de voorkeur voor directe uitdrukking te wijten aan het feit dat zij een volk zijn dat een Germaanse taal als moedertaal heeft? Vermijdt een klein aantal Nederlanders soms zoveel mogelijk de directe rede?
@@dutchgamer842 Is the influence of the preference for direct expression due to the fact that their mother tongue is in Germanic? Does a small number of Dutch people sometimes avoid direct expression as much as possible?
i loved my time in the Netherlands & found the people straight, honest & friendly
ZOlang je levert zijn 'we' zij - aardig; daarna ben je een last,
AS long as you deliver, 'we' are them - nice; then you're a burden,
I really love to watch the reactions from people from other countries about the Dutch directness! It is a shame that many cultures experience our directness as rude. let me assure you, we don't mean to be rude! The dutch directness isn't about correcting or belittle people. We find it very helpfull to be straight to the point, so in every social engagement both parties know what to expect and therefore leave very little room for misconceptions or miscommunications.
I understand that it can be interpreted as rude in some cultures. for example, if a friend calls you, asking if you want to hang out, a Dutch person might say: "No man, I don't feel like hanging out right now. Maybe some other time." or if someone has something between his/her teeth, we are not afraid to say: "I'm sorry but you should brush your teeth or get a toothpick because you've got something between your teeth." You might get offended by this directness. But would you really feel better if we served you lies, or let you walk around, interacting with other people, with a piece of spinach between your teeth? :p
I see the Dutch directness as something really helpfull and efficient. And I really hope that people from other countries can see it like this as well! :)
The Dutch directness is also very much about the form. In Limburg people are very easily offended or think you're "too brash" when you would point out the spinach. They would appreciate it in a more roundabout way (like a mime gesture) but in the North or West it would be appreciated if you would immediately comment on their dental care. I think the key to being the best, direct, is to gauge the situation and person, like the lady in the video said. Of course there are people in any culture that lack any sense and will just blurt out their big thoughts to anyone. We call them Brabanders 😛 I'm half Limburg/Brabant myself but I have worked many years in the Randstad and of my countrymen I prefer the directness of North and South Holland above all.
Often I find it more rude to not be direct, that's wasting my time and brain energy trying to figure out what you really mean. Give it to me straight so we can finish earlier and have more time to just enjoy life.
Honestly, all these examples I see given by the Dutch people in this comment section seem completely fine to me. I don't really know Dutch people so I have no comments to make on my personal experiences with you guys but I heard this about German people a lot too. That they are very direct. Half of the people who called themselves direct were straight up rude, not like the directness you guys comment about but like they were making racist/sexist comments and then just claiming that they were being direct and its their culture and i am a racist for not respecting their culture. I am sorry but how can I respect when you make racist jokes about other countries or call someone you are so hairy or ugly to their face unprompted. Sorry to vent but my point is that some people really do abuse this generalization of directness that comes with their culture to be rude.
I've felt the same way, it does feel really embarrassing to hear it in public but as long as they aren't too loud when saying it it's very helpful
@@thestarlitwaters Why mention dental care? That's still unnecessary. Just say: ''you've got something stuck between your teeth''. That's it. There is no need to tell someone to brush their teeth ''better''.
If you think people are rude when they tell you they don't want a cookie or a piece of cake with their coffee, then life in the Netherlands will be very difficult for you.
Ik denk dat het is normaal als je zeg nee voor niet wil cookie
@@adeebwilson6810 In the Netherlands it is. Dutch people won't be offended if you decline. But i can imagine that people with a different cultural background would be shocked and consider it rude. But than "When you're in Rome act like the Romans. When you're in the Netherlands, act like the Dutch and don't give a shit about what other people might think."
Most real life situations are far far less benign than that. And you know that.
@@val-schaeffer1117 If Dutch people are rude to you, it's most likely because you deserve it. Many people wake up with the expectation and intention that they will be offended at least 1 time today. Those people will not be disappointed in the Netherlands.
@@williamgeardener2509 One can use that argument, in every single case of opposition. On Human rights violation in China to Nazi Holocaust: one who is blaming, deserved it.
I can also treat a Dutchman like dirt and pass them blame on him. Your words vs my words. Given my demography, I have louder voice. Try me / us.
I am sure if Jews woke up expecting the Holocaust, they would not be complaining. Same goes for you: so stay offended, tightey Whitey.
Wow that lady in the blue shirt speaks amazing Dutch! There are some very minor things that give away she might not speak it natively, like "de karakter" but for the rest she has an amazing command of the language and figurative speech (words like achterbaks), and very good pronounciation
As a non-native the only thing that gave it away for me was the speed she was speaking. I hope I speak dutch as well as her one day!
@@ryangardner6804 as a native i say she is 100 % dutch. a non native is probelbly mot completely sensitve for thr nuances
@@marjanwitteveen5617 11:16 ze zei dat ze uit Canada kwam
I need her secrets
@@marjanwitteveen5617 Ik vind dat ze waanzinnig goed, bijna accentloos Nederlands spreek maar ze zegt " de karakter" en " je kunt op me af" is geen Nederlandse uitdrukking. Voor de rest zie ik wat non verbale dingetjes waarbij ik concludeer dat ze niet Nederlandse is van origine. Ik vind haar ook een bepaalde onnederlandse warmte en vriendelijkheid uitstralen.
I like the fact that the Dutch are open and direct in their behavior and speech. This is an admirable honesty and the basis for building good friendships.
I like it. I’m arriving there soon
I really love the lower pace and speed of the conversations in this video!
I am Anglo Dutch and was born in New Holland [Australia]
to a Dutch father and Anglo - Saxon mother. I have inherited the Dutch directness through my father and it is a part of my
character. I appreciate that directness is more honest than
beating around the bush like English do. It has sometimes got me in trouble in Australia but that is because most Australians are descended from British stock.
I speak Afrikaans as a second language and it amazes me every time how close these two languages are. Its about 80%or so similar and also very direct which most Afrikaaners prefer. Beautiful language ❤️
Dutch*
@@ipat4556 why amazing... zuid afrika was dutch...the language ist alo a very old dutch
Misschien dat we ook eens Easy Afrikaans moeten maken of in ieder geval een aflevering over Afrikaans!
Afrikaans is toch gewoon een dochtertaal van Nederlands, afgesplitst van de Nederlandse taal (dialecten) die toen gesproken werden in 1650.. Dus niet zo heel surprising.. Als het goed is versta je dit gewoon. Love naar Zuid-Afrika.
I have once actually been asked for directions in Afrikaans in the Netherlands. That was not an issue at all.
I,m Dutch myself and sometimes I think: Be nicer, what did I wrong you are so unfriendly to me.... ? In the east of our little country I think people more friendly. And Amsterdam: I worked and lived overthere and I love that City and the people. ! In the city I live now, people are more by themself. Not making contact very easy. I changed houses very much, for work, but every town has his own things of making contact. Figure it out.... And enjoy all of it overhere. Have fun and be Lucky ! Whereever you are in the world. Make Love, no war....
Being direct is not a problem. Being disrespectful or aggressive is. You can be direct and still be genial. Why give opinions about everything? (I'm a naturalized Dutch Canadian.)
In think social media has a big part in making people rude. Not only Dutch people, but all around the globe.
I am Dutch-born but live since 1967 in New Zealand. When I go back to the Netherlands it hits me how direct the Dutch are compared to New Zealanders.
are you referring to Maori culture or british colonial?
@SamuelLanghorn NEW ZEALANDERS ARE NEW ZEALANDERS, WE HAVE OUR OWN IDENTITY 🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿
I'm dutch culturally and can't stand kiwi culture
I love the directness and i love the planning and open mindedness.
Hallo allemaal! Allereerst, kom ik uit Bulgarije.☺ Ik woon bijna 7 jaar in Nederland. Het kostte me 3 4 jaar om de Nederlandse taal te leren. in het begin waren de mensen de taal en het dagelijkse leven te moeilijk voor mij. maar nu ben ik blij en gelukkig met het leven hier. ik hou van de Nederlanders en ik hou van hun houding ten opzichte van buitenlanders. nu ben ik in een staatsbaan dus ( ik werk in winkel bijna 1 jaar). mijn collegas zijn nederlanders en ik vind hun gedrag ( meest van de nederlanders) heel aardig. met één woord kan ik zeggen dat de Nederlanders erg geduldig zijn,😍 want als je iets niet begrijpt en het is niet duidelijk voor je, staan de Nederlanders altijd klaar om je te helpen, het maakt niet uit hoe vaak je het ze vraagt. ze worden nooit nerveus en schreeuwen niet tegen je. ze staan altijd voor je klaar. dit vind ik het beste.✌ Ik had moeilijke tijden en conflicten met andere nationaliteiten hier in Nederland, maar ik heb nog nooit iets slechts van een Nederlander gezien. ik ben trouwens blij dat je dit kanaal hebt geopend. wens je geluk🤗
Wat fijn om te lezen. Veel geluk gewenst.
Kijk een beter voorbeeld kan je niet hebben toch 😊
Je Nederlands is trouwens beter dan vele Nedrlanders 😆😆
Lady with blue shirt at 11:50 seems like the sweetest, most gracious lady in the Netherlands lol! These were all great discussions!
I have Italian family and if I ask something they first start to apologize and then come up with a story why they can or can not help me. We, most of us, Dutch, love to take the short cut and get to the point. Something my Italian family actually think is the best thing to do. However, I do love the extended way to an answer too. Makes life interesting.
Thank you so much for this video. I'm currently trying very hard to learn Dutch and this video was fascinating to listen to, translate myself, practice how your interviewees say words/phrases, and also how some people mixed Dutch with English. I recently returned from a short trip to Holland and hope to return with a more solid working knowledge of Dutch soon.
Good luck! 😁
Ik lere ook
Ik ben leadership coach in de Verenigde Staaten. Verschillende van mijn Nederlandse klanten hebben gezegd dat het moeilijk is om eerlijke feedback van hun managers te krijgen. Ze willen niet alleen "Alles is geweldig" horen.
Smart... ND intelligent... An amazing poeple... I love netherland😍❤️
Directness isn't the same as being rude or unkind. Of course it can be, but that is the exception. And of course it depends on how well you know somebody/how good your relationship is.
Example: someone in the group has multiple time really bad breath. Now there are options (of course more then I give here).
1. you can politely ignore it. (this doesn't help you or him though)
2. you can talk to him one on one and just say it: Hey, I don't want to be an ass man, but do you know your breath is kinda bad?
3. you can blurt it out in the group: Holy shit, your breath stinks.
Nr 3 is rude and unkind and normal Dutch people will not do that. But nr 2, yea. It may be uncomfortable for a moment, but I think it is the best for him.
Now if it is a really good friend it would be something like: Damn! What did you eat? Can you breath on the window? I am sure it will melt and then at least we get some fresh air in.
Excellent explanation. Thank you.
« Saying what their heart desire »
Much love for the Dutch ❤️❤️❤️
As a Dutchman I’ve often been told by people abroad or visitors from outside The Netherlands that they found me direct. Respectful but straight to the point. Personally I think it is just being efficient. Don’t talk with detours, it’ll only make it subject to misinterpretations, and that can lead to time loss and irritation. You can be very direct without being rude or disrespectful.
Ik ook, my father was from den Haag so we learnt directness straight away! So that is the way I am straight to the point! I will never get why some people go round the houses to get to the same answer?
I find Dutch people are very convinced of their ways being the right one. Everything only can be done one way. If people do things differently abroad it is: ‘wat gek’. I am a Dutch citizen, having lived in England for many years.
@@elsab2710 ‘wat gek’ is, by my understanding, not disapproving but simply stating ‘How odd’. Same goes for the tourists from lots of countries stating ‘How odd’ when they find out that they can buy cannabis in a coffeeshop in the Netherlands. Every country, region or village has their quirks with dealing with things. Live and let live I would say, but sometimes ways that things are done elsewhere could strike somebody as ‘odd’. Wouldn’t you agree?
@@snooepijeleeuwenkamp9365 exactly that! Again, people might find it offensive or rude, but that is (almost…)never the actual meaning. Just timesaving economical communication. Once you get ‘the hang’ of it, you can never go back to ‘beating around the bush’. Nice surname by the way, more Dutch than this is impossible 😄👍🏻
@@harm7602vicount-Visconti Sure, But I’m going by the comments of our visitors from Holland, observing various things here. ‘Why do they do it like this and not like that, like we do it?’ One of them made quite an issue about the UK vehicles having a white number plate at the front and a yellow one at he back. Sometimes it just is what it is.
I forget the specifics, but one time I got on a tram in Amsterdam and the driver turned to me and told me it would be more polite if I did such-and-such. In such cases there is the passing feeling of being shamed and called out, but if you shift your perspective just a bit, it's possible to see you may have just gained a valuable bit of cultural information that you would likely never have learned in a less direct country.
Love this example .. thank you
What did he tell you to do?
I am English speaking and studied Afrikaans as a second language so I can understand quite a lot of Dutch. I actually find the indirect communication of English speakers very annoying. I prefer to speak my mind. Other people seem to find this very amusing. I think I would really enjoy living in the Netherlands. I think Germans are also very direct, but as you say a bit more polite. I have been to Amsterdam. It is a beautiful city.
I think it depends on the perspective. For example, if (like me) you're from England, where everybody apologises constantly for every little thing, then you may well perceive the Dutch as direct. But if you're from Germany (where I've lived for the past 9 years), directness is a normal means of communication and it won't bother you one bit.
yes dutch people are really direct, I'm Indonesian .we have pretty big difference. I think if Indonesian meet Dutch people for the first time, they will be very surprised
I am half Indonesian and I prefer Dutch directness, I consider it rude if people beat around the bush and don't give straight forward answer, beating around the bush is just a wast of time. So it's rude
Yes one time i asked someone of asia how old she was, becauae she would always look young. Bacause i had no idea. But she didnt want to say. (I think she was Indonesian)
In some asian countries you never find out what people really think. In Thailand they won't tell you that they don't know directions if you ask them where to go, they will send you anywhere. We think that is rude, just admit you don't know and we ask somebody else. No harm done.
I live in Germany and people here think they are very direct. Not as much as me though. In the beginning people probably thought I was rude. That is the downside of being a neighbor, people forget that there are cultural differences between the Dutch and the Germans. They just hold you to German standards and find you lacking.
What I like about being back in the Netherlands, when people are friendly, they mean it. Not many people are fake or try to be keep up appearances.
really? is the same Netherlands I live in?
Yes, the Dutch are direct. And I think it is layered. There’s the side of being more direct by using less words or questions before saying or asking something. And there’s the side of voicing opinion, speaking up when not asked, such things. I traveled the US a lot and the directness is sometimes seen as a breath of fresh air, but sometimes also not very appreciated. Cultures might have their customs and social rules which the Dutch directness completely ignores / trembles upon. They will notice it, but they might not speak up to you about it. Whereas when it would be the other way around, we Dutch would say that we don’t do it like that. Once they understand the knife cuts on both sides and you can handle the directness back, and would like to learn, they speak up more as well. My advise is to apologize casually every now and then for the directness as being embedded in the Dutch culture, then they understand better that you’re not rude or disrespectful or lacking manners.
I'm learning Dutch but they speak soooo fast!:))
Dutch man: I love you so much
Random woman: hey that’s too direct!
I was born in Canada but half Dutch, half French. A Dutch friend told me last year (this is in Bangkok) he was not surprised I'm half Dutch as I was rather direct in my speaking. I knew I was too but never knew it was my Dutch heritage from my mom. What a thing to learn in my late 60s. 😂🤣
lol
I realised I have always been direct in my late 60's my father was from den Haag my mother English, I never realised I was so direct but why go round the houses and not get straight to the point?
Wij draaien niet om dingen heen maar we zeggen gewoon waar het op staat. Lekker helder en duidelijk.
Als je ongelijk hebt, wat ook gebeurt, nadat je gezegd heb waar het op staat dan volgt het poldermodel...
en dan kan je nuanceren tot je een ons weegt en dan zijn die botte Hollanders best te pruimen.
Voor eromheen draaien moet je niet in Nederland zijn.🙃
Heb je duidelijk verwoord, ik ben het er helemaal mee eens
On the other hand, Dutch people are only direct when it comes to the negative never the positive. Being diplomatic or just able to communicate your thoughts without hearting or insulting anyone is an indication of high intelligence.
If I can summarize my experience with the dutch is that , I work with them but I don't go out with them. I appreciate efficiency and directness for business but often I find they lack flavor and warmth
Richard! Wat leuk dat jij nu Easy Dutch aan het doen bent. Ik ben een trouw volger van Easy Russian en heb je daar zo nu en dan gezien als sidekick van Катя. Grappig dat de rollen nu zijn omgekeerd. Ik wens je veel plezier en succes met de ontwikkeling van Easy Dutch. Houdoe hè. Пока-пока.
Dat is inderdaad andersom nu. Veel succes met je Russisch!
My family immigrated to Canada when I was 4. I have spent my whole life (I'm nearly 60 now) fighting against my honesty and directness. Canadians do not like it!
I find it positive, in spain we are also very direct, when I live in england for a while I realized how direct we are, for example: when asking a coffee, in spain, we say: "give me a coffee" and we don't mean to be rude, its just a way to not lose time and go straight to the point. It's very interesting to see how people behave so differently all over the world, greetings from barcelona!
the man talking about Liverpool showing off his directness without releasing its beautiful
We zijn gewoonlijk duidelijk,geen gezeur , geen flauwekul , straight to the point , the best way
I was interviewed in Dutch company for an international role. They asked me if I have worked in a Dutch culture. I said yes I have. They asked me to share experience- I said till the time my colleagues, superiors and reportees take my directness on par with theirs, I am fine. Note- that was my last round with the HR. And results are obvious. I don't know if this is right or
It's also my experience. The Dutch allow themselves to say whatever, like "you should be doing your work like that" out of the blue, but as soon as you also directly tell them something like "your 15-minute coffee break should not last an hour", they get offended. Double standards all the way. They feel free to be as rude as they can and poke their noses in anyone else's business, but if you do the same, even for things that are true, they just get offended and you're a rude foreigner. At the same time, they just boast about how they are "direct" and how much they appreciate "directness" and so on, but of course, they do appreciate actual rudeness, as long as it is not directed at them.
@@heracletus thank you for explaining what I meant
@@heracletus oh yes, Nikolas... so fucken true. They get upset when I ask them to clean the table after having lunch or not to smoke inside the warehouse when it's raining... then I am the rude one. I think it is even more rude to disrespect the common areas and not caaring about other people's needs or when something can bother you... double standards yes yes for the most part I experienced in 2,5 years I lived here.
@@heracletus My god, generalizing people is the worst thing someone can do, and that is exactly what you are doing!
In business the Dutch directness is a good excuse to get good deals. Long term relationships appreciate the efficiency of leaving spurious politeness behind. What you see, is what you get.
Dutch are very vague and indirect when it suits them. Not to mention, they hardly appreciate if their directness is dished out to them.
@@val-schaeffer1117 If that aint true
@@hugzpls You are Dutch. Innit, dear?
@@val-schaeffer1117 No, I’m just dating one lol
@@hugzpls Words are not evidence. Spill your origin, and will finetune the debate accordingly. Go ahead.
That short blonde young lady is adorable. That is all. Hah. No, this was a really good video, in fact the best Easy Dutch one so far.
Dutch tend to be direct, but when you decide to “turn the table” and be direct with them some of them have a hard time to deal with it.
hahahahaha indeed,
Most dutch people have a lot of dutch friends and family obviously, so they do it to each other all the time... its part of the culture..they are not having a hard time with each others directness. Or do you mean they cant handle directness from foreigners? If that is the case it might be that they cross the thin line between being direct and rude, as they may be not used to the codes of directness themselves and their nuances. But bottomline, dutch people do appreciate directness from each other and others, as long as its not rude.
@@pieterkock695 Having lived and studied in the Netherlands, ( Groningen) I can only speak from my own perspective. Dutch are direct and blunt even with foreigners. It is not a problem for the. . They have no filter and don’t seem to care much about others sensitivity. But they seem to have a problem when it is the other way around especially when they are caught off guard.
@@leonidasthermopylae3378 I don't see dutch people having difficulties when foreigners are being direct to them.. none of the dutch i know for sure.
@@pieterkock695 I do.
There is a big difference between the detach north of the rivers and south of the rivers. In the south of the rivers we are not direct at all
Thanks a lot ❤ for the video
Once I ask an English person “Do you want my opinion wrapped and with a nice ribbon or do you want it right from my heart”, well, this was obviously far too
direct. 😂😂😂
As an Englishwoman, I'd like it wrapped in a pretty ribbon, please! 🤣
Leuk kanaal. Doorgaan ermee.
Dank je wel! 🙏 Het komt goed! 😁
Maybe this directness also helped the dutch in international relations and trade? The dutch seem to be very good and effective in these business dealings.
Geweldig om te zien dat mensen zo veel moeite doen om die vreselijk moeilijke taal te leren! Helemaal al, omdat iedereen diret Engels begint te praten ...
Much of the Dutch directness is business-related: the habit of coming straight to the point in a meeting after no more than an introduction of the people present and the pouring of a cup of coffee or tea. In a business context, if the Dutch see flaws in a product or proposal they will immediately say so and elaborate - or say what might be needed to make it work, not react by saying it is "interesting" and "we will get back on it". Foreigners are also often thrown by the Dutch custom that everyone at a meeting table can freely express his or her opinion, regardless of rank - and the subject expert usually takes over from the Board member, who will often just sit back and listen.
The Dutch furthermore have a politeness- structure in their use of language that is mostly alien to English-speakers, starting with the two words (polite and familiar) they have for the word "you". And of course the Dutch language practically never uses the Dutch form of "sir"and "madam" as a form of address unless it is to attract someone's attention - and "please" in Dutch is really only used in the context of desperation, as in: "will you please stop making that infernal noise!" Dutch politeness is mostly expressed by the simple use of forms like 'could you' or 'would you'. Directness - outside the realm of talk shows - very rarely takes the form of 'impolite' comment on someone's appearance or opinion, unless it is among very good friends.
In regards to directness, I like that it makes Dutch people relatively honest. What I don't like is that it makes the culture a bit lacking when it comes to respect. I've lived in the Philippines where respect is very important, and I can understand how people can sometimes experience Dutch directness as rude because respect is not as important here generally.
Being the opposite of direct, beating around the bush can also be experienced as rude.
It's considered rude, not to answer the question, lying and beating around the bush, very rude
@@alf71999 Actually you would also be considered an asshole when someone wants a simple straight forward answer and didn't ask for a full story (beating around the bush)
It can really be considered rude, when you beat around the bush. It's impolite to waste someone's time.
It gives a bad 1st impression and you might never be invited to a 2nd phase if it was a job interview for example.
Don't get me wrong. I think by far most Dutch people are respectful and that you can be both very direct and respectful at the same time. I think when directness is coupled with judgementalism it can become rude though. That's what I was thinking of when I wrote the above. It's not something I encounter often in the Netherlands. It's just that I do encounter it at times and I never encountered anything like it in the Philippines which I appreciated. That said, in general I appreciate directness and I'm direct myself.
Thinking back to my childhood. I had this girl in my class who was very direct and always busting the balls of the teachers. Some people thought she was a bitch but I loved the way she was. She just said what she thought and her heart was in the right place. The distinction that I make when I feel people are being rude is when someone's heart is not in the right place and when directness is used to put people down in some form or another.
@@alf71999 If I meet someone and doesn't give straight forward answers, but beats around the bush and makes up stories. I consider this person rude and don't want to know him at all. The not showing interest is beating around the bush. Being direct and straight forward is actually showing interest, by beating around the bush. It's the complete opposite this will kill the conversation and you will be considered rude for not listening and not giving an honest opinion.
@@CultureCompassTV For most being direct is respectful. Beating around the bush is lack of respect. Gives a feeling "are you even listening"
Being "direct" is goed. Talking around the point wastes time, maar not everything needs to be said. There is a balance between direct and rude.
El juano. ‘not everything needs to be said’. I think you got it in one.
5:51 dit is wel een belangrijk punt. Als je direct tegen elkaar kunt zijn kan je tenminste een goede discussie hebben wanneer je van mening verschilt, en kritiek niet te persoonlijk opvat. Maar je kunt direct zijn en nog steeds respect voor de ander hebben.
8:36 is the most important line in this whole video and a common dutch phrase.
I have a good share of Nederlandse ("Dutch") blood, some Deutsch ("German") and some French. I find the directness of the so-called Dutch as to the point and honest. Unlike Anglophones that never mean what they say, and never say what they mean. While Anglophones love to lie to cover things up, both the so-called Dutch and German people are factual and honest. You mostly know where you stand with them.
I remember a Dutchman writing that he found that the English have an almost Japanese level of politeness and that, when he was learning English, it was something he had to learn. Directness is probably better but you grow up with the social norms of your society and feel comfortable with that. I'm not sure that I would be comfortable with the Dutch bluntness.
We found Liverpool quite Friendly too.
Very refreshing! Perhaps I'm predisposed?
The woman at 2:47 is correct. Another way to put it is they have no bedside manner or customer service. And... direct compared to who? The rest of Europe, well yeah... New York? No. But in my experience they are full of sarcasm and assume you are too. To me, direct means that you don't need to read between the lines, not that you're just rudely blunt. People here tend to misinterpret me because they are looking for subtext that just isn't there. How is that direct? I get along great with the Dutch people who don't do this.
Do you have maybe a practical example of what you experienced? :) It's an interesting phenomenon!
@@EasyDutch Here's a simple one: don't say please or thank you too much or they think you want something. And too much is more than once, or maybe even once. Again, it's not everybody, and not all the time. And I'm speaking very generally.
Really interesting, I haven't heard that before. Being direct and looking for an implicit meaning at the same time is a contradiction.
@@Zero-ef2cr right
Im very direct and honest, ive been called rude and an asshole many times. Found out my grandmother i thought was French, was Dutch. Makes sense as now i have many dutch traits and personality.
You’re rude because You’re a bad person. Not because your ancestry
I agree with the woman who works in the shop....i see that Dutch people are normally honest but many times are not careful how to comunicate with the another one, it also depends of the individual "denk niveau"(thinking level).
Yes. I found myself in this new area in life where i dont really get hurt by people anymore, and sometimes i like it to make very clear stupid jokes, because I want the other to show that he/she is strong and does not get hurt. But i discovered some people really take it very serious and really feel offended... But that is more something personal right? I think in this time of my life I need to be more careful not to hurt others, even if it would be great whem he/she doesnt get offended.
Yes i feel thats a loving/social part that we are missing sometimes in The Netherlands
As an introvert , I like Nederlander directness. The Danes are strikingly similar to the Dutch people. The former Scouser is right about Liverpool and Northern England, his well spoken Dutch even has a hint of a Scouse ( Liverpool ) accent .
Hahaha I like the honestly of Dutch people
Because we have a small country to live in us Dutch people have learned to be efficient. Nothing to spill, no space but also no time. As for in other countries people come to work an read the newspaper first over a cup or two of coffee, Dutch people get their coffee from the machine and start to work right away. In such an envirement lots of fluffy wooly talk is not efficient. So we learned to tell you as it is right away. This had nothing to do with rudeness. But what the lovely man from Liverpool experienced in a bar is, also by the average Dutch people, considered rude! So don’t do that to people!!
Come on now, that's bullshit.
Nederlanders zeggen dat ze direct zijn, tot iemand wie geen nederlands is (als ik) komt en direct met hun is... dan zijn zijn boos...
hypocrisie
Dit is grappig en leerzaam! goed bezig :)
Wat een super leuk filmpje :)
that woman on 1:30, shes saying it very beautifully
Come to Brooklyn NY.. I’ll show you the directness inherited by the Dutch 20X
Yeah it's truly inherited by the dutch because new york was first called new amsterdam because it was first discovered by the dutch
Brooklyn was named after 'Breukelen' in holland so you have a good point.
Het woord 'afspraak' is ondertiteld als 'promise' (belofte), maar hier wordt mijns inziens eerder 'agreement' of 'appointment' bedoeld. En het woord 'descriptie' is nogal formeel in deze context. Als het om UA-cam gaat, is 'beschrijving' veel gangbaarder. Gewoon om te helpen hoor! Want dat laatste keert waarschijnlijk in elke video terug. Succes!
I could feel the directness just flying with KLM lol, it was strange for me from the UK.
Dutch Canadians are great people.
what makes them great my friend?
@@SamuelLanghorn They are mature, work hard, loyal friends, intelligent and contribute to our society.
Yup that me, brutally honest. But it is not to offend someone, I want to know we are speaking on the same level. To get my point across.
6:43 I'm trying to teach myself a little Dutch, but with the speed at which this lady talks - I think I'll have to admit defeat. ;)
Try our Super Easy videos in slower and easier Dutch! ;) ua-cam.com/play/PLA5UIoabheFOF-wn5yKE8ZI8rmMQCTbMD.html
Dat directheid met straffen en kerken te maken zou hebben kan denk ik wel kloppen.
Ook het gevoel van straffen is belangrijk.
Ik vind directheid ook een goede eigenschap omdat je gewoon je mening moet kunnen geven.
Mensen zijn daardoor eerlijker tegenover elkaar.
Als je het gevoel hebt om gestraft te worden zul je niet zo snel je mening geven en dat kwam vroeger
bij de katholieken vaak voor dat ze moesten biechten.
Ik ben doopsgezind opgevoed waar straffen en biechten totaal niet in het woordenboek voorkomt.
-
That directness would have to do with punishment and churches could be true, I think.
The sense of punishment is also important.
I also think directness is a good trait because you just have to be able to speak your mind.
People are more honest with each other because of it.
If you feel like you're being punished you won't be so quick to give your opinion and that used to occur
common among Catholics to have to confess.
I was brought up mennonite where punishment and confession are not in the dictionary at all.
Dutch people are so adorable...
the worst ... so cold... problem to say hello ....
Eh, you sure about that? Lmao
@@hugzpls You don't think so?? I travelled around Europe several years ago, I've been to Arnhem, Apeldoorn, Deventer, The hague and Amsterdam.
I met kind and friendly people in every countries and cities, but I personally liked The Netherlands and Dutch people the most.
They seem to be just minding their own business, but when I ask them something they were always helpful. I also liked its atmosphere, open-mindness, technology, etc...
I'm from the country where the character in your profile picture were born by the way😊, and as a foreigner I felt really comfortable in The Netherlands!
@@tom_tom_tommy I’m with someone who’s Dutch and they said that most of them are pretty blunt and honest in a way that makes them cold hearted. A lot of them aren’t that friendly. In fact, like you said, they just mind their own business and that’s it. Only been to Amsterdam once because you know, I’m not as rich as people who travel a lot, but that’s what I’ve been told
@@hugzpls Oh really? That's good to know😊 Thank you for your reply!🌈
Now I'm convinced that Dutch is the same as Afrikaans trust me
It used to be the same, just over centuries it developed into two seperated languages
True
South Africans are also direct people.
What a charming accent
Wait a second the first woman is my drama teacher named marije !!! Ps I’m dutch
Damn right we are! Next video!
Omg I had the exact same experience as the British guy when I asked a Dutch acquaintance in a bar if he wanted a beer (we were all foreign students in Spain) and he said he wanted to check if I was gay or not just to be clear what the situation was. It was not meant with any homophobic intent, but it seemed a bit paranoid to me, and just mind-bogglingly weird. Certainly not something that any British man would ever say upon being asked if he wanted another beer when a friend was going to order for himself anyway.
The Dutch call a spade a spade, instead of tiptoeing around. This is what I prefer. The English ‘politeness’ can be rude or at least tiresome in it’s meaningless essence…
I think the Dutch have evolved more regarding this, they grasp the goal and essence of communication and act alike, instead of making it a disrespectful, rude guessing game.
Communicate as clear as possible, leaving as little leeway or voids as possible.
If you want to play games, zip it and grab your nintendo.👴🤷♂
As an Pashtun/ Afghan 🇦🇫heritage
This is totally normal in our culture.
But for example in iran,🇮🇷 is totally opposite, maybe sometimes you lost your friends forever just for being direct. That’s why they have TAAROF.
And this DIRECTNESS is good especially in business, because sometimes you must reject something that you don’t want/like. I personally experienced that.(in business there is no shame)
I mean,pleasing someone or saying sorry for no reason, it’s not good in our culture, because people think you’re crazy.
And also being shy or not be able to defend your rights, it shows your weakness in our culture.
Echt, die Niederländer sind so direkt? Das finde ich aber sympathisch, so bin ich auch. Mein Eindruck ist, dass sie "hart aber fair" und oft auch sehr locker sind.
How often do men ask women if they want to have sex (out of the blue, strangers). Are the women offended if men are direct like that?
What is the success rate for this method of trying to get laid?
A male prospect friend, asked me: " what are doing you"?
I thought - litely panicing - oops, I doing three/four things at the same time here, when I gonna name all those things and why, that'll take me several, too much, time at that moment, words to find and type, I'll destract me from my focus I am now experiencing, so I said: "You don't want to know" Even more so because a few days before that, he asked me 'what I was thinking about myself' ... I thought: " even a therapist or husband wouldn't ask for your thoughts, so hey, who do you think you are, right now, in my life? Remember he was a prospect friend, in that stage of getting to know each other. The situation was, I send him two photographs of myself and he replied with three emoticons, 2 winking and one with tongue out of mouth, (plus the words: "lekker ding") I was insulted and wrote: "That is not how I see myself" thats when he asked me: "How do you see yourself"
Blunt is honest, it saves time. And time is money and Dutch don't like to waste both. It is being pragmatic, honesty is always the best policy. Being true to your words is more important than being polite and beating around the bush. Mean what you say and say what you mean. If you don't wanna know, don't ask ;)
Dutch proverb "" Doer maar normaal, dat is gek genoeg"" (Act normal, that is crazy enough)
Ik denk dat ik als Nederlander wel sneller een persoonlijk gesprek aanga. Vertrouwelijkheid creer in een gesprek of misschien sneller persoonlijke vragen stel. Maar ik zal nooit ongevraagd mijn mening geven of iets zeggen wat een ander niet prettig vindt. Ik ben me juist erg bewust van wat een ander kan ervaren door mijn woorden.
I think that as a Dutchman I am more likely to enter into a personal conversation. Create confidentiality in a conversation or perhaps ask personal questions more quickly. But I will never give my opinion unsolicited or say something that someone else does not like. I am very aware of what someone else can experience through my words.
American here that does not speak a word of Dutch. I could not at all follow the actual Dutch people but the Ukrainian guy speaking Dutch I could pretty much follow what he was saying.
Mijn ervaring met directheid wat niet geapprecieerd werd was in Australië. We sliepen in een huisje terwijl we werkten op het land (frambozen plukken) Het huis was daarom gratis. Maar enorm oud en enorm stoffig, ooit ingericht in de jaren 70.. en daarna gok ik nooit meer wat aangedaan.. 😅 Het bed waar we in sliepen lag je zo krom als een banaan in, wat niet echt super lekker lag. Dus toen de eigenaar vroeg of alles naar wens was legde ik de situatie met het bananenbed uit.. maar dat was dus helemaal niet de bedoeling; dat ik echt serieus antwoord gaf. Ze verwachten gewoon; ja alles is goed klaar. Ze waren flabbergasted.. hoe ik het in mijn hoofd haalde daarover te beginnen.. Terwijl ik het helemaal niet onaardig aankaartte.. Ik dacht misschien kunnen ze er een keer een andere matras inzetten? Zo heb ik meerdere situaties gehad in Australië waar het niet de bedoeling was dat je ‘echt’ en eerlijk antwoord gaf op een vraag. Dat was wel wennen en veroorzaakte af en toe zeer ongemakkelijke situaties… 😅(verder was het er supertof hoor, maar dat viel me wel op..)
Eerlijkheid duurt het langst,is het spreekwoord.
Je commentaar op het "bananenbed" was niet bepaald stuitend,doch functioneel.
‘Bananenbed’ het is heel grappig 😅 dankjewel voor je verhaal! Ik denk, dat Nederlandse mensen heel open zijn en geen zin hebben iemand te beledigen, dus ze hebben dat als een standaard en dan zeggen ze eigenlijk wat ze denken en op dezelfde manier maken ze grapjes 😁
Maar waarom vraag je er dan naar als je dus eigenlijk geen antwoord wil krijgen? Ik beschouw dat persoonlijk juist als onbeleefd en ongeïnteresseerd… Maar ik denk wel dat dat een goed voorbeeld is van wat vaak als Nederlandse directheid (en onbeleefdheid) wordt gezien. Als wij een vraag stellen verwachten we ook een eerlijk antwoord te krijgen. Terwijl we daarbij in het antwoord wel degelijk rekening houden om de ander niet onnodig te kwetsen en hoe genuanceerd we iets brengen (veelal afhankelijk van je relatie tot degene die de vraag stelt).
Ik was er niet bij, dus heb geen idee of dit hier speelde, maar het hangt er soms ook vanaf hoe je het brengt...
Bedankt
Will there ever be an easy dutch podcast?
Definitely! :D
I am in the Netherlands from the last 5 years now. I have encountered many incidents personally that can not be characterised as "being direct". Someone asking me to pick a brownie, from available snacks, with a comment that being Asian it should be fine for me. Or someone commenting that Asians feel they have wings at their back and they are in a hurry all the time. And many similar comments. But when we remind them about their historical gory details or the deeds of their governments in current geopolitical situation, they are on a back foot and act differently. It's annoying
Hypocrisy, also a major part of Dutch culture 😅
That's not cultural, perhaps you met the wrong people.
You are generalizing an entire country here. It's a bit pathetic.
@@vandijkjesgames9387 you need to read comments again. It says "many" incidents- not "all" incidents. I can not generalise entire country because I haven't met entire population. My experiences are based on "many" people I have met or "many" incidents/examples. For example you are using the word "pathetic" whereas my comments are not having such extreme words- because you feel offended when I say something in general direct terms.
The only way to answer would be to be direct yourself. Replying that stereotyping an entire continent of people isn't intelligent, and then go ahead and order something else. Being silent is taken as acceptance of their "suggestion".
Be direct not is the trouble in Netherland. It's a emotional talk. The value or the trouble, the style, the way you use in be direct. And not only in Netherland, in the world too...
I think there's a small misunderstanding in our directness. As a Dutch person myself I sometimes tend to be a little bit to honest with people and say what I feel or think despite people's opinion of it. But that's mostly with people I've known for a long time. Family or friends. If a stranger comes up to me to ask something they wanna know or I have to talk to someone to ask a question I always stay polite without having to be "lomp" as we call it. Every Dutch person is different with how they communicate with other's. Some feel comfortable and confident enough to fully be themselves with however they interact with. Others like myself look at the situation first and who their talking to and then set the tone of the conversation. If the other person is very casual and relaxed and gives you green light to just be yourself and talk to them like some old friend then there's no need to run around the bushes and get straight to the point. So it's not that we Dutchies are always straightforward and direct it's about the tone of the conversation and the people we talk to. If that makes any sense. When I visit the doctor or the dentist I use a different language to communicate with them then when I hang out with friends or discuss something with my parents but if I've known my doctor for a long time and feel comfortable enough to be myself and the doctor doesn't talk to me as a doctor anymore but like themselves but still proffesional then it's unnecessary to be "indirect". So you have to read in to the conversation and how you can talk and then you'll be fine.
My comment got very long btw😂
Depends totally on in which part of the Netherlands you are .. In the east not so much, very different from the ghettos of Amsterdam.
Exactly my thoughts! I live in eastern part as well. Sometimes I work in Amsterdammer or meet some of them. It's not all ghetto's over there but the difference in way of communicating is clear! Someone here also wrote that this directness doesn't exist in Maastricht. Neither do I expect it in Drenthe, Fryslan and Groningen.
This goes for the people ABOVE the rivers Maas , Waal , Rijn .
BELOW them in Brabant and Limburg people are more laid back and friendly , their way off speaking Dutch is much softer and more fluid , no hard G or RRRR .
REMEMBER , Our country starts BEYOND Amsterdam !
east of Amsersfoort, low-saxon, not direct. hollanders and flemish ( brabant, limburg), speakers more direct
@@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands Flemish , or Vlaanderen , is Belgium , not the Netherlands .
Can someone explain for me please? what does "Dat is bam" mean in 8:58?
She means that there is no difference between what she thinks and what she says, so basically a different description of being direct
@@teenslipper1924 Dank je wel!
bam! ? beng! slam!
I always pride myself of being from a culture of typically being non-direct, until I watch this video and realise I’m quite direct in relative. That’s why I find people calling me blunt.
Is de invloed van de voorkeur voor directe uitdrukking te wijten aan het feit dat zij een volk zijn dat een Germaanse taal als moedertaal heeft? Vermijdt een klein aantal Nederlanders soms zoveel mogelijk de directe rede?
I don't get it. Is your native language Dutch? Could you also ask the question in English perhaps
@@dutchgamer842 Is the influence of the preference for direct expression due to the fact that their mother tongue is in Germanic? Does a small number of Dutch people sometimes avoid direct expression as much as possible?
I prefer directness to people that want you to "read between the lines". Let's be adults. Obviously, it doesn't mean that you have to be rude. 😄