Working with the Dutch: Tips for Expats

Rohan D'Sa

Being an expat in the Netherlands can be rather confusing, especially in the beginning. As I started working with the Dutch, I saw patterns emerging that helped me understand the workplace better. And now that I’ve been here for six years and speak the language well, I find myself in a unique position of seeing the Dutch as well as the expat’s side of the story. Here are my top five tips on working with the Dutch:

1. Be patient, it’s the ‘Polder Model’!

Sometimes translated to English as the ‘Consensus Model’, this is unique to the Dutch decision-making process. Everyone, irrespective of their position and experience, is asked for their input. As an outsider, you might often find yourself feeling that this is overkill.
Flipside: The decisions can be qualitatively better, given that no stone is unturned in arriving at a conclusion.

Tip for managers: Don’t expect your word to be final. You need to negotiate with your subordinates and get them on-board with your decision.
Tip for team members: The Dutch workplace empowers everyone to contribute to a decision.Your opinion counts, and it is expected!

2. Don’t mix your colleagues and friends

I’ve never used the word ‘colleague’ as often as I’ve used it in the Netherlands. That’s because the line between friends and colleagues is well-defined in the Netherlands. Most Dutchies reserve the term ‘friends’ for their school or university mates, with whom they keep in touch.

Social and personal events are reserved for such friends, whereas the most common way to socialise with colleagues is the ‘borrel’ or the after-work drink, which doesn’t last more than a few hours.

Tip: Socialise and find friends outside of work. Don’t expect your colleagues to be your friends!

3. Be funny… or not.

My personal observation is that the Dutch have an, ummm… different sense of humour. They laugh at unexpected things and hold a straight face while you’re rolling on the floor. But that’s not to say that they aren’t funny -- they are very good at ironic humour and are sporting, always ready to laugh at their own expense.
Tip: Nuanced English-based humour can often get lost in translation. You may need to be more direct and re-discover your funny bone to be the life of the party again!

4. Throw out automatic respect for authority

The Dutch do not automatically respect authority. In fact, I’d go as far to say as they have a chronic contempt for it. A colleague once told me, “He’s not right because he’s my boss, he’s right because he’s right.” This is in stark contrast to more authority loving cultures such as India and the US.
Tip for managers: Know that your stripes don’t automatically demand respect, especially if you’re new to an environment. Try and build a relationship with your subordinates.
Tip for team members: New managers will often look to you to show them the ropes. Being open in your feedback will be appreciated.

5. Respect the ‘agenda’!

Asking a Dutch person for a drink could very well elicit, “I have an opening in my diary on the second Friday of next month.” That’s because a Dutch person’s life consists of neatly divided pieces of time. These pieces come together in their diary, known in Dutch as the ‘agenda’! And this does not only apply to work, where diaries are sacred anyway. This also applies to meeting family and friends! An 83-year old neighbour once told me how irritated she was that her daughter was visiting when she had other things planned!

Tip: Don’t expect that you’ll immediately find ime to meet with someone. Be prepared for long discussions about finding a suitable time for a meeting. But once you do, always honour your commitments.

It goes without saying that every human being lives on a continuum and there will be people who deviate from the generalisations I mention here, so take this advice with a pinch of salt and avoid boxing people into groups without even getting to know them.
In summary, the Dutch way of living and working is unique. They have their quirks and lot of their idiosyncrasies might need some getting used to.
On the other hand, maybe there is something to be said about it. After all, the Dutch have the shortest work weeks, are one of the least overworked countries in the world, while still being among the top 10 productive countries! Cultures that boast about their ‘hours in office’ can learn a lot from the Dutch!

Rohan D'Sa is an expat living in the Netherlands. He hails from India and works as a scrum master for a Fortune 500 consulting organisation. His passion for Agile also led him to explore the influence culture has at the workplace. He can be contacted at www.about.me/rohandsa

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