Dutch Culture Overseas

European colonial expansion led to Dutch notions of civilised society, or the Dutch's community's flexible and relatively charitable attitudes toward 'others', being scattered (as in the Greek word 'diaspeirein') to the four corners of the earth. In some cases, the exportation of Dutch cultural values to places overseas, like North America, endowed 'Dutchness' with subtle new meanings. But in colonial Indonesia, Dutch political customs and traditions were transformed in the process of migrating to exotic locales. In this book, Frances Gouda examines the ways in which the Netherlands portrayed its unique colonial style to the outside world. Why were citizens of a small and politically insignificant European nation able to represent as natural and normal their dominance over ancient civilizations on islands such as Java and Bali? How did Dutch colonial residents explain the cultural differences between themselves and the supposedly 'primitive' peoples of the Indonesian archipelago? In trying to understand the 'gendering' practices of colonial governance in the Netherlands East Indies, Gouda also explores the interactions of Dutch and Indonesian women with European men. FRANCES GOUDA earned a Ph.D. in history from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1980. She is currently professor of history and gender studies in the Political Science Department of the University of Amsterdam.

Innocence Abroad explores the encounter between the Netherlands and the New World in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Whether you are coming to the Netherlands on a business trip or to work here for a while, or you have regular contacts with Dutch people in your own country, being prepared for Dutch culture will make your stay more effective and your interactions more satisfactory. People from all corners of the world involved in government, business, academic studies and culture come into contact with the Dutch and may be taken aback by their directness, their critical attitude, and their sometimes slow decision-making processes-just a few of the characteristics that are immediately noticed. Fortunately, there are many good attributes, too. For example, the Dutch may drive a hard bargain, but once agreement has been reached, their word is their bond. As in previous editions, this updated version of Dealing with the Dutch focuses on Dutch values and norms, but also takes into account the rather drastic economic, social and cultural changes that the Netherlands is undergoing. Some of these have hit the international press for their apparent contradictions of the general image of the country as being peaceful, open-minded and tolerant. Book jacket.

Summary: "Cultural Policy in the Netherlands, Edition 2009" deals with the three areas covered by Dutch cultural policy: (1) cultural heritage (museums, heritage conservation, archaeological heritage, and archives); (2) media (broadcasting and the press), literature and libraries; and (3) the arts (the fine arts, the performing arts, photography and design, architecture, film, the amateur arts, and cultural education). The book also considers a number of cultural policy themes, for example cultural diversity, the National History Museum , and international cultural policy. "Cultural Policy in the Netherlands, Edition 2009" is intended for everyone interested in Dutch cultural policy, its history, and recent trends in the field. This edition covers policy up to the beginning of 2009, although the statistics presented relate mainly to the 2005-2008 funding period.

A guide to conducting good business in the Netherlands. Every expatriate business person, diplomat or teacher who comes to work in the Netherlands has to acclimatize to the Dutch culture. People who are just "travelling through" will not be bothered by the peculiarities of the Dutch way of life, but anyone posted to Holland for any period of time will need to learn certain things. The organization principles in Dutch company practice, for example, are not the same as elsewhere. This text describes these peculiarities clearly. The most important characteristis, including collective management, participation of workers in decision making processes, and non-hierarchical interactions are discussed, and are illustrated using examples taken from real situations. The author goes more deeply into a number of specific situations, including "The Management Team", the structure and legal powers of the Company Workers Advisory Body, the use of direct speak and the importance of such rituals as the coffee break. There is a brief outline of the historical background of the Dutch culture and the final chapter is reserved for the spouses of expatriates.