Cross Cultural Management Assignment (PGCHRM-22)
Prepare a report covering the following aspects about the
specific country i.e. NETHERLANDS
·
Socio-cultural
variables (religion, education system, language, history, etc.) and how each of
them influences the culture.
·
National
variables (economic system, legal system, political system, physical situation,
technological know-how, etc.) and how each of them influences the culture.
·
Describe
the culture of the country. This would include the shared values, norms, and
beliefs of the people of the country.
·
How
their culture is impacting the organizations, management practices, and
individual behaviors in the country.
History of the Netherlands
THE
ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL NETHERLANDS
Farming was introduced
into the Netherlands about 4,500 BC. At first farmers made tools and weapons of
stone. However after 1,900 BC they used bronze. About 750 BC the inhabitants of
the Netherlands learned to use iron.
In the 1st century BC
the Romans conquered Belgium and the southern Netherlands. They built roads and
towns. However they did not colonize the northern part of the Netherlands. Then
in the late 4th century the Romans withdrew from the Netherlands as their
Empire crumbled.
Afterwards the
Netherlands was left to Germanic peoples, Franks, Saxons and Frisians. However
in the 8th century AD the Franks conquered the others and became masters of the
region. Meanwhile the area was converted to Christianity although a missionary,
St Boniface was martyred by the Frisians in 754.
In 768 Charlemagne
became ruler of the Franks and he created a great empire in Europe. Under him
the Netherlands was divided into cantons, each ruled by a count. However when
Charlemagne died in 814 his empire was divided into three parts, roughly modern
France, Germany and the region between At first the Netherlands was part of the
Middle Empire. However in 925 it was absorbed into the German Empire.
During the 9th and 10th
century the Netherlands suffered from Viking raids. However during the Middle
Ages town life and trade flourished in the Netherlands. In the 14th century
Dutch towns enjoyed considerable freedom. However in the 15th century the Dukes
of Burgundy gradually took control of the region.
Eventually the Low
Countries including the Netherlands became the possessions of the powerful
Habsburg family. In 1555 Phillip II of Spain became ruler of the region.
Meanwhile the Reformation
was sweeping the Netherlands despite rigorous persecution. Calvinism, the
teachings of John Calvin became popular in the Dutch towns. In 1566 Calvinists
destroyed religious art in many churches in a movement called the Iconoclastic
Fury.
In 1567 King Phillip
sent his servant the Duke of Alva with an army to suppress the Calvinists and
impose his will on the Netherlands. Alva set up the Council of Blood, which
tried and condemned to death 12,000 people for taking part in the riots of
1566.
Then Prince William of
Orange, known as William the Silent became the champion of Dutch freedom. In
1572 William led pirates called the Sea Beggars against the Spanish. From the
sea they sailed up rivers and captured Dutch towns. The Dutch flocked to join
the rebellion. However the Spanish fought back and a terrible war ensued.
In 1579 seven provinces
of the Low Countries signed the Union of Utrecht. In 1581 they declared
independence from Spain. In 1588 they formed the Republic of the Seven United
Netherlands. However the Spanish fought to hold onto the region and in 1584
William the Silent was assassinated. Yet the English sent help and Spain was
weakened by the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. Phillip finally died in
1598.
During the 17th century
the Netherlands became a prosperous trading nation helped by a 12 year truce
with Spain from 1609 to 1621. The Dutch East India Company was formed in 1602.
The Dutch West India Company was formed in 1621 and in 1625 the Dutch founded
New York (later New Amsterdam). In 1652 they founded a colony in south Africa.
Meanwhile Dutch sailors
went on long voyages. In 1606 Willem Jansz discovered Australia and in 1642
Abel Tasman discovered Tasmania.
Meanwhile the Spanish
finally recognized the independence of the Netherlands in 1648.
However trade rivalry
with England led to three wars in 1652-54, 1665-67 and 1672-74. However William
of Orange, Stadholder (ruler) of the Netherlands made peace with England and
married Princess Mary of England. In 1688 William became king of England.
In the late 17th
century science, art and philosophy flourished in the Netherlands. However as
an economic and political power Holland declined in the 18th century. The Dutch
were involved in the War of the Spanish Succession against the French. The long
war left the Netherlands exhausted. Increasingly Britain and France dominated
world trade.
THE NETHERLANDS IN THE 19TH CENTURY
At the end of the 18th
century Europe was thrown into turmoil by the French Revolution. In 1795 the
French invaded The Netherlands and founded the Batavian Republic. In 1806
Napoleon made his brother Louis king of the Netherlands. However the brothers
fell out and Louis was forced to abdicate in 1810. The Netherlands was then
absorbed into the French Empire.
However by 1813 Napoleon
was facing defeat and in that year William of Orange returned to the
Netherlands. In 1814 he was made King William I. In 1815 Belgium and The
Netherlands were joined together as one country under King William I. However
the two countries were too different to be united. In 1830 the Belgians
rebelled and in 1839 the great powers forced William I to give Belgium its
independence.
William I died in 1840
and in 1848 his son introduced a new liberal constitution. For the rest of the
19th century the Netherlands was a prosperous and stable country. However
everybody did not share the prosperity. Some industrial growth took place. (In
1839 a railway was opened from Haarlem to Amsterdam). However conditions in
19th century factories in the Netherlands were terrible.
THE NETHERLANDS IN THE 20TH CENTURY
During the First World
War The Netherlands remained neutral but the German Kaiser fled to the
Netherlands in 1918 and was granted asylum there.
During the 1930s like
the rest of the world the Netherlands suffered from the Depression and there
was mass unemployment. Yet despite the depression living standards rose during
the 1920s and 1930s.
When the Second World
War began Dutch remained neutral but on 10 May the Germans invaded. On 14 May
the Germans bombed Rotterdam. The Netherlands was forced to surrender. However
Queen Wilhemina escaped.
During World War II the
Netherlands suffered terribly. Thousands of Dutch men were deported to work in
Germany and 23,000 people who resisted the Germans were shot. The worst suffering
was during the Winter of Hunger in 1944-45 when the Germans looted the
Netherlands of food, reducing the people to near starvation. Furthermore the
Nazis murdered a huge number of Jews. In 1940 about 140,000 Jews lived in The
Netherlands but less than 25,000 survived. The Germans the Netherlands
recovered from the war and a new welfare state was created. In 1949 the Dutch
colony of Indonesia became independent. It was followed by Suriname in 1975.
Meanwhile the Netherlands was a founder member of the EU in 1957. In 1999 the
Netherlands joined the Euro.
THE NETHERLANDS IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Like the rest of the
world the Netherlands suffered in the recession of 2009 but it soon recovered.
Today the Netherlands is a prosperous country. Flower growing is still an
important industry. Today the population of The Netherlands is 17 million.
Ethnicity, Language, & Religion of the Netherlands
Most citizens in the
Netherlands are ethnically Dutch, which is a primarily Germanic ethnicity.
However, there have been numerous other genetic introductions making it
distinct from German ethnically. There have also been a fair number of
immigrants to the country in recent decades, primarily arriving to Amsterdam.
Among these many ethnic minorities many come from former Dutch colonies,
including many Indonesians.
Dutch and Frisian are the two official languages of the Netherlands. Dutch is a western Germanic language, which falls somewhere between German and English in many ways. Frisian is spoken by a small group in the northern part of the country and this language is similar to Dutch, but falls closer to the English language side of the spectrum. English, German, and French are also widely spoken as second languages and it is not uncommon for a citizen of the Netherlands to be fluent in three or four languages. Dutch, the official language, is spoken by around 90% of the population. Around 350,000 people, or 2.2% of the population, speak Frisian as their first language, mainly in the northern province of Friesland, where it is recognised as an official language. Turkish and Arabic are also spoken in the Netherlands, each by over 0.6% of the population.
Almost half the people
in the Netherlands don't subscribe to any religion. After this, the country is
divided into believers of a number of religions, the largest of these being
Catholicism, followed by Protestantism. There is also a decent sized Muslim
minority as many of the Indonesian immigrants are Muslim.
Catholicism is a
Christian religion that is one of the first Christian religions (founded after
the death of Jesus in about 30-33 AD). Catholicism believes that there is a
single God who created everything, a savior, the son of God, Jesus Christ who
is the forgiver of sins, and there is the Holy Spirit, which makes up the last
part of the Holy Trinity. Catholics follow the teachings of the Bible,
consisting of the Old and New Testaments. Much of the faith is based on the
life and teachings of Jesus, which is found in the gospels (in the New Testament).
Protestantism is a
general term referring to nearly every Christian religion that is not Catholic
or Orthodox. Like all Christian faiths, Protestants believe there is one God
and that His son, Jesus is the savior and forgiver of sins. Protestants also
believe that the Bible, which includes the Old and New Testaments, is the only
true word of God. Due to this reliance on the Bible, nearly every protestant
faith, and even individual, may interpret the Bible differently, which has led
to a huge number of Protestant churches.
THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE NETHERLANDS
The higher education system in the Netherlands
is based on a three-cycle degree system, consisting of a bachelor, master and
PhD degree. The three-cycle system was officially introduced in the Netherlands
at the beginning of the academic year 2002-2003. The Netherlands has a binary
system of higher education, which means there are two types of programmes:
research-oriented education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, wo), traditionally
offered by research universities, and professional higher education (hoger
beroepsonderwijs, hbo), traditionally offered by hogescholen, or universities
of applied sciences. In this description, the Dutch abbreviations wo and hbo
will be used. Primary and secondary education Children are allowed to begin
school at the age of four, but are not legally required to do so until the age
of five. Primary education lasts eight years (of which seven are compulsory),
in the last year of which pupils are advised as to the type of secondary
education they should pursue. Secondary education, which begins at the age of
12 and is compulsory until the age of 16, is offered at several levels. Vmbo
programmes (four years) combine general and vocational education, after which
pupils can continue in senior secondary vocational education and training (mbo)
lasting one to four years. The two programmes of general education that grant
admission to higher education are havo (five years) and vwo (six years). Pupils
are enrolled according to their ability, and although vwo is more rigorous,
both havo and vwo can be characterized as selective types of secondary
education. The vwo curriculum prepares pupils for university, and only the vwo
diploma grants access to wo. The havo diploma is the minimum requirement for
access to hbo. The last two years of havo and the last three years of vwo are
referred to as the tweede fase (literally, second phase), or upper secondary
education. During these years, pupils focus on one of four subject clusters
(profielen), each of which emphasizes a certain field of study in addition to
satisfying general education requirements. Each cluster is designed to prepare
pupils for programmes of study at the tertiary level. A pupil enrolled in vwo
or havo can choose from the following subject clusters: 1) Science and
Technology (Natuur en Techniek) 2) Science and Health (Natuur en Gezondheid) 3)
Economics and Society (Economie en Maatschappij) 4) Culture and Society
(Cultuur en Maatschappij) Senior secondary vocational education and training
(mbo) Senior secondary vocational education and training (mbo, middelbaar
beroepsonderwijs) is offered in the areas of economics, technology, health,
personal care, social welfare and agriculture. Mbo programmes vary in length
from one to four years as well as in level (1 to 4). Graduates of vmbo
programmes are eligible for admission to mbo, and completion of mbo programmes
at level 4 qualifies pupils for access to hbo. Higher education Higher
education in the Netherlands is offered at two types of institutions: research
universities (universiteiten) and universities of applied sciences
(hogescholen) 1 . Research universities include general universities,
universities specializing in engineering and agriculture, and the Open
University. Research universities are primarily responsible for offering
research-oriented programmes (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, wo). Dutch research
universities provide education and conduct research in a wide range of
disciplines: language and culture, behaviour and society, economics, law,
medical and health sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and agriculture.
Universities of applied sciences include general institutions as well as
institutions specializing in one of the seven hbo sectors: agriculture,
engineering and technology, economics and business administration, health care,
fine and performing arts, education (teacher training), and social welfare.
Universities of applied sciences are primarily responsible for offering
programmes of higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, hbo),
which prepare students for particular professions. These tend to be more
practically oriented than programmes offered by research universities. In
addition to lectures, seminars, projects and independent study, students are
required to complete an internship or work placement (stage) which normally
takes up part of the third year of study, as well as a final project or a major
paper in the fourth year. Since September 2002, the higher education system in
the Netherlands has been organized around a three-cycle degree system
consisting of bachelor, master and PhD degrees. At the same time, the ECTS
credit system was adopted as a way of quantifying periods of study. The higher
education system continues to be a binary system, however, with a distinction
between research-oriented education and professional higher education. The
focus of degree programmes determines both the number of credits required to
complete the programme and the degree which is awarded. A wo bachelor's programme
requires the completion of 180 credits (3 years) and graduates obtain the
degree Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science (BA/BSc), depending on the
discipline. An hbo bachelor's programme requires the completion of 240 credits
(4 years), and graduates obtain a degree indicating the field of study (for
example, Bachelor of Engineering, B. Eng., or Bachelor of Nursing, B. Nursing).
The old title (pre-2002) appropriate to the discipline in question (bc., ing.)
may still be used. Institutions offer wo master's programmes that in most cases
require the completion of 60 or 120 credits (1 or 2 years). Some programmes
require 90 (1,5 years) or more than 120 credits2 . In engineering, agriculture,
and math and the natural sciences, 120 credits are always required. Graduates
obtain the degree of Master of Arts or Master of Science (MA/MSc). The old
title (pre-2002) appropriate to the discipline in question (drs., mr., ir.) may
still be used. An hbo master's programme requires the completion of 60 to 120
credits and graduates obtain a degree indicating the field of study (for
example, Master of Social Work, MSW). The third cycle of higher education,
leading to a doctor's degree, will be offered only by research universities.
All research universities in the Netherlands are entitled to award the
country's highest academic degree, the doctoraat, which entitles a person to
use the title doctor, abbreviated to dr. The process by which a doctorate is
obtained is referred to as the promotie. The doctorate is primarily a research
degree, for which a dissertation based on original research must be written and
publicly defended. The minimum amount of time required to complete a doctorate
is four years. Requirements for admission to higher education For access to wo
bachelor's programmes, students are required to have a vwo diploma or to have
completed the first year (60 credits) of an hbo programme. The minimum access
requirement for HBO is either a havo diploma or a level-4 mbo diploma. The vwo
diploma also grants access to HBO. For access to both types of higher
education, pupils are required to have completed at least one of the subject
clusters that fulfils the requirements for the higher education programme in
question. A quota, or numerus fixus, applies for access to certain programmes,
primarily in the sector health, and places are allocated using a weighted
lottery. Potential students older than 21 years of age who do not possess one
of the qualifications mentioned above can qualify for access to higher
education on the basis of an entrance examination and assessment. The only
access requirement for the Open University is that applicants be at least 18
years of age For access to all master's programmes, a bachelor's degree in one
or more specified disciplines is required, in some cases in combination with
other requirements. Graduates with an hbo bachelor's degree may have to
complete additional requirements for access to a wo master's degree programme.
Credit system and grading Workload is measured in credits (studiepunten). Since
2002, a student's workload is measured in ECTS credits. According to Dutch law,
one credit represents 28 hours of work and 60 credits represents one year of
full-time study. The grading system has been the same for several decades: the
scale is from 1 (very poor) to 10 (outstanding). The lowest passing grade is 6;
9s are seldom given and 10s are extremely rare, and grades 1-3 are hardly ever
used. Accreditation and quality assurance A guaranteed standard of higher
education is maintained through a national system of legal regulation and
quality assurance. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is
responsible for legislation pertaining to education. As of 2002, responsibility
for accreditation lies with the Netherlands-Flemish Accreditation Organization
(NVAO). According to the section of the Dutch Higher Education Act dealing with
the accreditation of higher education, all degree programmes offered by
research universities and universities of applied sciences will be evaluated
according to established criteria, and programmes that meet those criteria will
be accredited: i.e. recognized for a period of six years. Only accredited
programmes will be eligible for government funding, and students will receive
financial aid and graduate with a recognized degree only when enrolled in, or
after having completed, an accredited degree programme. Accredited programmes
will be listed in the Central Register of Higher Education Study Programmes
(CROHO) and the information will of course be available to the public. The NVAO
plans to review all study programmes before 2009. Before that time, all
programmes that are registered in CROHO that have adhered to the quality
assurance regulations in the past, are considered to be recognized by law.
Besides the accreditation of degree programmes, the Netherlands has a system by
which the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science recognizes higher
education institutions by conferring on them the status of either bekostigd
(funded) or aangewezen (approved). Bekostigd indicates that the institution is
financed by the government. Aangewezen indicates that the institution does not
receive funds from the government and has to rely on its own sources of
funding. Regardless whether a degree programme is offered by a 'funded' or an
'approved' institution, it must be accredited and registered in CROHO to be
considered recognized. According to legislation regarding accreditation,
institutions are required to write on degree certificates the date that the
degree programme in question was granted accreditation. Because accreditation
is an ongoing process, it will be important that people who review Dutch
degrees make sure that a programme was accredited at the time the degree was
awarded. Once accredited, the validity of the accreditation of that particular
degree is of course permanent.
Economic System of Netherlands
The Netherlands, the
sixth-largest economy in the European Union, plays an important role as a
European transportation hub, with a persistently high trade surplus, stable
industrial relations, and moderate unemployment. Industry focuses on food
processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly
mechanized agricultural sector employs only 2% of the labor force but provides
large surpluses for food-processing and underpins the country’s status as the
world’s second largest agricultural exporter. The Netherlands is part of
the euro zone, and as such, its monetary policy is controlled by the European
Central Bank. The Dutch financial sector is highly concentrated, with four
commercial banks possessing over 90% of banking assets. The sector suffered as
a result of the global financial crisis and required billions of dollars of
government support, but the European Banking Authority completed stringent reviews
in 2014 and deemed Dutch banks to be well-capitalized. To address the 2009 and
2010 economic downturns, the government sought to stimulate the domestic
economy by accelerating infrastructure programs, offering corporate tax breaks
for employers to retain workers, and expanding export credits. The stimulus
programs and bank bailouts, however, resulted in a government budget deficit of
5.3% of GDP in 2010 that contrasted sharply with a surplus of 0.7% in 2008. The
government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte has since implemented significant
austerity measures to improve public finances and has instituted broad
structural reforms in key policy areas, including the labor market, the housing
sector, the energy market, and the pension system. As a result, the government
budget deficit at the end of 2015 dropped to 2% of GDP. Following a protracted
recession during which unemployment doubled to 7.4% and household consumption
contracted for nearly three consecutive years, 2014 saw fragile GDP growth of
1% and a rise in most economic indicators. Growth picked up in 2015 as
households boosted purchases through reduced saving. Drivers of growth included
increased exports and business investments, as well as newly invigorated
household consumption.
The Netherlands is a
civil law country. Its laws are written and the application of customary law is
exceptional. The role of case law is small in theory, although in practice it
is impossible to understand the law in many fields without also taking into
account the relevant case law. The Dutch system of law is based on the French
Civil Code with influences from Roman law and traditional Dutch customary law.
The new civil law books (which went into force in 1992) were heavily influenced
by the German Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch.
The primary law making
body is formed by the Dutch parliament in cooperation with the government. When
operating jointly to create laws they are commonly referred to as the
legislature (Dutch: wetgever). The power to make new laws can be delegated to
lower governments or specific organs of the State, but only for a prescribed
purpose. A trend in recent years has been for parliament and the government to
create "framework laws" and delegate the creation of detailed rules
to ministers or lower governments. (e.g. a province or municipality). The
Ministry of Security and Justice is the main institution when it comes to Dutch
law.
The domain of Dutch law
is commonly divided in the following areas:
·
Administrative law
·
Civil law (including family law,
inheritance law, contract law and commercial law)
·
Criminal law
·
Constitutional law (including laws on
the structure of the state)
·
European law
·
International law
Civil law is the domain
of law that regulates the everyday life of persons and other legal entities
(such as corporations). The main code of Dutch civil law is the Burgerlijk
Wetboek.
Criminal law deals with
the prosecution and punishment of criminal offenses. The main code is the
Wetboek van Strafrecht (nl).
Constitutional law
involves itself with the constitution and the structure of the Netherlands. It
involves the powers of democratic institutions, the organisation of elections
and the divisions of powers between central and local governments. See also the
article on the Constitution of the Netherlands. Following the practice of many
civil law jurisdictions and in contrast to practice in nations such as the
United States, the practice of Dutch constitutional law is that judges are not
allowed to determine the constitutionality of laws created by the legislature
(the government and parliament acting jointly).
Administrative law is
the area of law that regulates the operation of the various levels of
government and the way persons and legal entities can appeal decisions of the
government. The basics of Dutch administrative law were overhauled completely
in 1994 with the advent of the new Basic Administrative Law (Dutch: Algemene
Wet Bestuursrecht).
European law deals with
the influence of laws and regulations of the European Union in the laws of the
Netherlands.
International law
(a.k.a. the law of nations) involves the application of international laws
(mostly laid down in treaties) in the Netherlands. The Dutch constitution
contains a clause that allows the direct application of most international laws
in Dutch courts. The laws that regulate jurisdiction and applicable law in
cases with an international aspect (e.g. because parties come from different
countries) are not part of international law but form a specific branch of
civil law.
Political system of Netherlands
Since 1815 The
Netherlands has been a constitutional monarchy. Historically for centuries
before, it had been the proud republic, a union of provinces. Since 1848, the
Netherlands is also a parliamentary democracy. Dutch monarch has no real
political power, but serves as representative head of state and a symbolic
person uniting the divided parliamentary politics.
The parliament consists
of two chambers. The Lower House (Dutch: Tweede Kamer,
or Second Chamber) is elected every four years in a direct national elections
together with the provincial parliaments. It consists of 150 members. Only the
political parties can take part in the elections. The lower chamber
approves the budget and has the right of the legal initiative, the right of
submitting amendments, the right to start its own inquires and the right of
interpellation. The members of the provincial parliaments vote for the less
important Senate (Dutch: Eerste Kamer, or First Chamber)
consisting of 75 members who approve or reject all laws of the Netherlands
without the right of amendment. Together, the First and Second Chamber
constitute The Estates-General (Dutch: Staten Generaal,
established 1593). In fact, Dutch political system gives a lot of freedom to
the government, as long as it has support of the parliament.
King Willem-Alexander
van Oranje-Nassau is the nominal head of state of the Netherlands. The King has
several mostly representative functions. He nominates all the mayors in the
Netherlands as well as the politician who forms the government after the
general elections. The monarch also signs all the laws approved by the
parliament.
The Netherlands is
usually governed by a coalition of different political parties. Prime minister
is usually coming from the party, which won the most seats in the elections.
Usually the King gives the leader of the party, which won the elections, or an
important politician coming from this party, the task of forming the new
government. The constitution does not permit to a member of the parliament to
serve in the government.
The council of
ministers leads the country’s policy, the minister together with junior
ministers govern. The council of ministers with the King form together the
Crown, an organ which nominates the members of the State Council (Dutch: Raad
van State), an institution with influence on certain decisions and more
important nominations.
Prime Minister is the
head of the government. Mark Rutte from the People's Party for Freedom and
Democracy – VVD (liberals) is at present the Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
Physical Situation of Netherlands
The Netherlands is
bounded by the North Sea to the north and west, Germany to the east, and
Belgium to the south. If the Netherlands were to lose the protection of its
dunes and dikes, the most densely populated part of the country would be inundated
(largely by the sea but also in part by the rivers). This highly developed part
of the Netherlands, which generally does not lie higher than about three feet
(one metre) above sea level, covers more than half the total area of the
country. About half of this area (more than one-fourth of the total area of the
country) actually lies below sea level.
The lower area consists
mainly of polders, where the landscape not only lies at a very low elevation
but is also very flat in appearance. On such land, building is possible only on
“rafts,” or after concrete piles, sometimes as long as 65 feet (20 metres),
have been driven into the silt layer.
In the other, higher
area, the layers of sand and gravel in the eastern part of the country were
pushed sideways and upward in some places by ice tongues of the Saale Glacial
Stage, forming elongated ridges that may reach a height of more than 330 feet (100
metres) and are the principal feature of the Hoge Park Veluwe National Park.
The only part of the country where elevations exceed 350 feet (105 metres) is
the border zone of the Ardennes. The Netherlands’ highest point, the
Vaalserberg, in the extreme southeastern corner, rises to 1,053 feet (321
metres).
In the late Pleistocene
Epoch (from about 126,000 to 11,700 years ago), the Scandinavian ice sheet
covered the northern half of the Netherlands. After this period, a large area
in the north of what is now the Netherlands was left covered by moraine
(glacial accumulation of earth and rock debris). In the centre and south, the
Rhine and Maas rivers unloaded thick layers of silt and gravel transported from
the European mountain chains. Later, during the Holocene Epoch (i.e., the past
11,700 years), clay was deposited in the sheltered lagoons behind the coastal
dunes, and peat soil often subsequently developed in these areas. If the peat
soil was washed away by the sea or dug away by humans (for the production of
fuel and salt), lakes were created. Many of these were reclaimed in later
centuries (as mentioned above), while others now form highly valued outdoor
recreational areas.
The climate of the
Netherlands is temperate, with gentle winters, cool summers, and rainfall in
every season. Southerly and westerly winds predominate, and the sea moderates
the climate through onshore winds and the effect of the Gulf Stream.
The position of the
country—between the area of high-pressure air masses centred on the Azores and
the low-pressure region centred on Iceland—makes the Netherlands an area of
collision between warm and polar air masses, thus creating unsettled weather.
Winds meet with little resistance over the flat country, though the hills in
the south significantly diminish the velocity of the potent wind that prevails
along the coast. On average, frost occurs 60 days per year. July temperatures
average about 63 °F (17 °C), and those of January average 35 °F (2 °C). Annual
rainfall averages about 31 inches (790 mm), with only about 25 clear days per
year. The average rainfall is highest in summer (August) and autumn and lowest
in springtime. The country is known—not least through the magnificent
landscapes of Dutch painters—for its heavy clouds, and on an average day
three-fifths of the sky is clouded.
Culture,Customs, Shared Values and Norms of Netherlands
- The Dutch see the family as the
foundation of the social structure.
- Families tend to be small, often
with only one or two children.
- Relatively few women work outside
the house full-time as compared to many other cultures.
- This allows mothers to be more
available to their children throughout the entire day.
- Appearances are important to the
Dutch.
- They are disciplined, conservative,
and pay attention to the smallest details.
- They see themselves as thrifty,
hardworking, practical and well organized.
- They place high value on
cleanliness and neatness.
- At the same time, the Dutch are
very private people.
- They do not draw attention to
themselves and do not value the accoutrements of success highly prized by
other western societies.
- They dislike displays of wealth, as
they run counter to their egalitarian beliefs.
- They do not boast about their
accomplishments or their material possessions.
- The Dutch are egalitarian and
highly tolerant of individual differences.
- Their children are raised without
gender biases.
- There is practically no abject
poverty in the country because of the social programs, which, however,
also increase the tax burden on workers.
- This egalitarian outlook is carried
over into the workplace.
- Even in hierarchical organizations,
every person has a right to their opinion and to have it heard.
- The boss may be the final decision
maker, but he/she will typically want input from the workers and will
strive for consensus.
- Everyone is valued and shown
respect.
- The Dutch are reserved and formal
when dealing with outsiders.
- They are private people and do not
put their possessions or emotions on display.
- Self-control is seen to be a
virtue.
- The Dutch do not ask personal
questions and will refuse to answer should you be foolish enough to
intrude on their privacy.
- Personal life is kept separate from
business.
- If a friendship develops at work
and is carried into the personal arena, this camaraderie will not be
brought into the office.
- Personal matters are not discussed
with friends, no matter how close.
Shared values and Customs in The Netherlands
- The handshake is the common form of
greeting.
- It is firm and swift, accompanied
by a smile, and repetition of your name.
- Shake hands with everyone
individually including children.
- Very close friends may greet each
other by air kissing near the cheek three times, starting with the left
cheek.
- Most Dutch only use first names
with family and close friends.
- Wait until invited before moving to
a first-name basis.
- If invited to a Dutch home bring a
box of good quality chocolates, a potted plant, a book, or flowers to the
hostess.
- Flowers should be given in odd
numbers, but not 13, which is unlucky.
- Avoid giving white lilies or
chrysanthemums, as these are associated with funerals.
- Gifts should be wrapped nicely.
- Wine is not a good gift if invited
for dinner, as the host may already have selected the wines for dinner.
- Do not give pointed items such as
knives or scissors as they are considered unlucky.
- Gifts are usually opened when
received.
- Dining is fairly formal in the
Netherlands.
- Table manners are Continental --
the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.
- Remain standing until invited to
sit down. You may be shown to a particular seat.Men generally remain
standing until all the women have taken their seats.
- If you have not finished eating,
cross your knife and fork in the middle of the plate with the fork over
the knife.
- Do not begin eating until the
hostess starts.
- Most food is eaten with utensils,
including sandwiches.
- The host gives the first toast. An
honoured guest should return the toast later in the meal.
- Salad is not cut; fold the lettuce
on your fork.
- Always start with small amounts so
you may accept second helpings.
- Finish everything on your plate. It
is offensive to waste food in the Netherlands.
- Indicate you have finished eating
by laying your knife and fork parallel across the right side of your
plate.
Impact of
Culture on Building Relationships & Communication in Business organisations
- Many Dutch are familiar with doing
business with foreigners since the Netherlands has a long history of
international trade.
- They will want to know your
academic credentials and the amount of time your company has been in
business.
- The business community is rather
close and most senior level people know one another.
- Older, more bureaucratic companies
may still judge you by how you are introduced so it is wise to have a
third-party introduction if possible, although it is not mandatory.
- The important thing is to
demonstrate how your relationship would be beneficial for both sides.
- The Dutch take a long-term
perspective when looking at business, so be clear what your company's
intentions are.
- Since the Dutch value their
personal time, do not ask them to work late or come in over the weekend if
you want to foster a good working relationship.
- The Dutch are hospitable, yet this
is often reserved for family and friends. In business they tend to be
reserved and formal.
- They do not touch one another and
appreciate it when those they do business with maintain the proper
distance, do not demonstrate emotion or use exaggerated hand gestures.
- The Dutch are extremely direct in
their communication.
- They may sound blunt if you come
from a culture where communication is more indirect and context driven.
- They do not use hyperbole, and
likewise they expect to be told yes or no in clear words.
- In general, ideas will be discussed
quite openly at meetings, with everyone entitled to their opinion.
- Information is shared across
departments and corporate strategies and goals are usually communicated to
all employees, especially in more entrepreneurial companies.
- Decisions are often
consensus-driven in these cases.
- Always appear modest and do not
make exaggerated claims about what you or your company can deliver.
- Your word is your bond and making
claims that later prove to be untrue will brand you as unreliable.
- Do not try to schedule meetings
during the summer (June through August), as this is a common vacation
period.
- Punctuality for meetings is taken
extremely seriously.
- Being late may mark you as
untrustworthy and someone who may not meet other deadlines.
- If you expect to be delayed,
telephone immediately and offer an explanation.
- Cancelling a meeting at the last
minute could jeopardize your business relationship.
- Meetings are rather formal in
nature. Little time is spent on pleasantries.
- Meetings adhere to strict agendas,
including starting and ending times. Do not attempt to deviate from the
agenda.
- Maintain direct eye contact while
speaking.
- The Dutch prefer to get down to
business quickly and engage in relatively little small talk.
- Communication is direct and to the
point, and may seem blunt.
- Make sure your arguments are
rational as opposed to emotional.
- Use facts and figures to confirm
your statements.
- Business is conducted slowly. The
Dutch are detail-oriented and want to understand every innuendo before
coming to an agreement.
- Decision-making is consensus
driven. Anyone who might be affected by the decision is consulted, which greatly
increases the time involved in reaching a final decision.
- Avoid confrontational behaviour or
high- pressure tactics.
- Once a decision is made, it will
not be changed.
- Contracts are enforced strictly.
