Nor is anyone here...

Back on topic please.


Dutch pride! We started the Enlightment!

Did we?

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verlichting_(stroming)#Nederland

Well, some early thinkers originated in the Netherlands and also there was a softer regime on the press as in other countries, so revolutionary books could be published here.

So Ursa, who should win the elections? :-)

Whoa, the politicians will win the elections.

My favorite is Blue Bombay with a little tonic, feel the bite :-)

Can we turn this thread into how to appropriately (and successfully) woo a Dutch lady? One just joined the department and damn is her accent sexy. Among other things ;)

I love Dutch people, and I have a certain fondness for the Dutch language, but sexy....

...ik dent het niet...... :P

I like Belgium. The Netherlands, not so much.

lol. Have you ever visited Belgium and NL Putin? Are there a lot of Belgians on this site? I think I played against one once.

Which part of Belgium? It's seriously like three different countries. Vlaandaren (Flanders), Brussel/Bruxelles (Brussels), and Wallonie (Wallonia).

If you liked Flanders, I'm surprised you dislike the Netherlands.

He dislikes me and that's his way of saying it.

Anyways, what about these elections? I'm surprised to see Samsom make several strong showings, I really thought he wouldn't be up for the task ever since the tank-deal-thing.

Aw no redhouse! This thread isn't about politics! (unless that's the way to woo my coworker, in which case, by all means, tell me about the politics!)

Well as an opening you can tell her what she thinks about the coming elections. The vote's next week wednesday and determines parliamentary and ultimately government composition. Then quickly direct the conversation to more interesting stuff.

*ask her.

Lol. But you could also try to tell her. :-)

Most Dutch people appreciate direct approaches in my experience. Sometimes it can be quite the shock. :P

(A more unflattering way of saying this is that Dutch people can be abrupt and rude :D )

That being said, my total time spent dating Dutch women probably hovers around an aggregate of 3 hours, so I am almost certainly the worst person to give advice.

(Another piece of advice on dating in the Netherlands... don't be short!)

^What Friendly Sword said. We are in fact abrupt and rude, it's just that we have a pretty good tolerance for it. When meeting foreigners, it takes effect. It's funny because we always think foreigners really like us (because we're used to others being rude and somebody not doing it is considered "being nice").

Meeting foreigners can be a very traumatic process for the inexperienced Brit. The huge self control required not to punch the Italian chap you've never met and yet is insisting on trying to repeatedly kiss you can put quite a strain on you. Almost as bad is the distant American cousin who wraps you in the sort of hug you'd only consider giving to your mother... and only then if you'd been apart for a year or she'd just survived a near death experience.

Compared to a lot meeting the Dutch is something of a relief. Those from Belguim, not so much.

With all that aversion towards touching other humans you have expressed I'm surprised there are still Brits left. :P

You forget the magic of beer

Thank you Octavious that was entertaining and slightly frightening at the same time. +1

Woerden, worked there, love that place, beautiful little town.
The Dutch are great........

@Oct - the best beer comes from Bavaria. The hops are especially wodnerful in the Schwaben region.

Red, love the typo about telling her what she thinks. Also love the "we think everybody likes us" comment. That's tremendous. I'll let you know tomorrow. Or Friday. Whenever I make time to ask her out. Probably Friday.

Octavious, also good reading.

Northern Europeans in general are more abrupt and seemingly rude than most areas of the United States. An Exception might be New England. In the South of the United States, you have to smile even if you are sticking it to the other guy (think JR on Dallas--that's not an evil smile; it's genuinely meant). In the Midwest and the West you need to be friendly and nice and say "hi" even if you don't know the person, but please don't expect anything more. In parts of Texas where there aren't a lot of people, drivers wave to each other as they pass--even if the other car is full of prune-pickers from California. In New York language like "Kill the umpire," "Are you BLIND?", "My grandmother can pitch better than that" is the rule rather than the exception, and doesn't require beer first. Mexican culture is very polite if you meet someone in the course of your regular business/school/etc., and sometimes there's a huge clash between latinos and New England Yankees. In fact the Spanish word "Yanqui" is a derogatory term that represents all that is the worst in U.S. society.

In Japan, "Maybe not" is an extremely strong negative. And so on... anybody got any cross-cultural clash stories??

"He dislikes me and that's his way of saying it."

Because it's all about you.

No, I like Belgium because of their importance as a center of the New Communist movement (and in the 19th century it was important for similar reasons). Every year they host the International Seminar in Brussels, and this is a very important event. Ludo Martens (RIP) and the Parti du Travail de Belgique inspire my entire political worldview, and I am very grateful for the leadership those comrades have provided the rest of us.

As for the Netherlands, they make a sport out of Serbophobia.