Dutch culture: honesty, birthdays and the ‘doe normaal’ mentality
The Dutch tend to have this tendency to be very direct in their communication. This directness is believed to be a strength which values frankness and direct messages. It may sound a bit brusque at first, but it comes from a culture that doesn’t care for excessive small talk or politeness.



Don’t be shocked if a next-door neighbor offers an opinion about your curtains or if a co-worker says your idea “needs work” — it’s usually not a reflection on you. There are also elements of Dutch social customs that might appear strange, like the quasi-holiday way people celebrate each other’s birthdays — with formal greetings and with the birthday calendar found in many a Dutch bathroom.

Another key Dutch value is “doe normaal,” meaning “just act normal.

” Excessive drawing attention to oneself (pomposity) and flamboyance are commonly discouraged.

On the move: bikes, rules and rainy days
The bicycle is central to life in the Netherlands. There are more bikes than people, and people use bikes by default for getting to work, doing the shopping and running errands round the city.



But cycling here is not as casual as it may seem. These are unofficial codes to follow, lanes to.