Foreigners are struck by the extraordinary openness and straightforwardness of the Dutch, who are confident that honesty is very important - even more important than empathy.

I had been living in Amsterdam for about a year when one day my husband and I agreed to meet his friends in one of the many cafes in the Vondelpark.

We arrived first and waited quite a long time for the waiter. When he finally materialized, he dumbfounded us with the question: “What do you want?” - instead of the traditional “What would you like to order?” or at least “What should I bring you?”

His question sounded too straightforward, if not rude. Perhaps it was because he spoke non-native English. Or maybe he was having a bad day. However, I was unpleasantly surprised.

Later, my Dutch teacher explained that the Dutch are very straightforward, a trait that is especially common in Amsterdam.

Writer Ben Coates shares similar impressions. He moved to the Netherlands from the UK eight years ago and wrote the book Why the Dutch Are Different.

Once, after a visit to the hairdresser, he met a Dutch friend who immediately stated that the new haircut did not suit him.

“The Dutch always say what they think. Even on business meeting“If your proposal is not very successful, they will certainly point it out to you,” explains Coates.

Briton Coates this national trait immediately caught my eye. In Britain, he says, people tend to communicate and behave in ways that do not offend the other person with words or behavior.

“The British don’t speak loudly on the train, as it can be unpleasant for fellow passengers, and they always try to follow the rules of etiquette,” explains Coates.

However, in the Netherlands they believe that “everyone has the right to say what they think. And if you don’t like it, that’s your problem.”

To many foreigners, such frankness seems impolite and perhaps even arrogant.

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Once in a supermarket, I accidentally dropped food, which, horror of horrors, scattered all over the floor. In a matter of seconds, I was surrounded by at least a dozen Dutch men and women who vying with each other and began to advise me what to do.

However, none of them lifted a finger to help. For me the situation was obvious: I needed help. However, the Dutch saw it differently: unless I asked for help out loud, they would not intervene.

“Some may think that we don’t know how to empathize. Perhaps this is true, because for us, honesty is more important than empathy,” explains Eleanor Breckel, an expert in intercultural communication.

But in reality, these are just different communication models. According to Brekel, who was born in the Netherlands but lived in different countries world, the straightforwardness of the Dutch is associated with Calvinism, although today, as the news site Dutchnews notes, the vast majority of the Dutch do not associate themselves with any one religion.

With the beginning of the Reformation movement in the 16th century, Calvinism spread to France, Scotland and the Netherlands. However, only in Holland did he significantly influence the national character.

The wide popularity of Calvin's teachings was facilitated by the fact that it was at that time that the Dutch were fighting for independence from the influence of Catholic Spain, which dominated the Netherlands from 1556 to 1581 (at that time both countries were part of the Holy Roman Empire. - Translator's note).

In 1573, Prince William I of Orange, nicknamed the Silent (founder of the Orange royal dynasty that still rules the Netherlands today), renounced the Catholic faith and embraced Calvinism to unify the country.

As a consequence, Calvinism had a great influence on national identity - as opposed to Catholicism, which the Dutch associated with Spanish oppression.

“Calvinism preached personal responsibility for saving one's soul from a sinful world through reflection, honesty, renunciation of earthly pleasures, and also renunciation of wealth,” writes Brekel in an article about Dutch business culture published on its website.

Openness and honesty are so characteristic of Dutch society that they even came up with a special word for this phenomenon - bespreekbaarheid (which can be translated as “the desire to discuss everything”). And this really means that everything can and should be discussed, that there should not be taboo topics.

The openness of the Dutch is manifested even in the habit of not hiding what is happening in their home from prying eyes.

In Holland there is a tradition of not covering the windows, so that any passerby can look inside.

“The Dutch have a completely different idea of ​​privacy,” says Coates of their habit of discussing intimate matters publicly.

“Being surrounded strangers, they may talk loudly about their health problems or their parents' divorce or love relationships. They see no reason to keep it a secret.”

It seems that any topic, no matter how complex, is subject to discussion here. No other country in the world speaks as openly about prostitution, drugs or euthanasia as the Netherlands.

Euthanasia, by the way, is completely legalized here, but is strictly controlled, just like prostitution.

And although legal restrictions have recently been placed on the sale and use of marijuana, in accordance with the policy of tolerance, the sale of drugs in coffee shops is not prosecuted by law.

Brekel, however, does not agree that there are no taboos for the Dutch.

“We don't usually talk about wages or pensions. It is not customary for us to say that someone good house or expensive car. We don’t discuss anything related to money,” she emphasizes.

Are the Netherlands and Holland the same thing? Yes and no. How to look.

The name of the state is translated as “lower lands”. In the Middle Ages, this territory was called the “Low Countries” (plus Belgium). Well, fair enough. After all, most of the state is below sea level. An elevation of over three hundred meters is considered local residents high mountain. Perhaps for this reason, the population, when developing rights and responsibilities, easily took into account their “mundane desires”, thanks to which there is no need to break the law in order to feel flight and free-thinking. When a lot of things are allowed, there are almost no temptations left, and everyone lives in peace and harmony.

The country developed its own culture and had its own language. The state experienced each historical turn in its own way. If you managed to stay away during the First World War, then the Second World War did not pass you by. For five years this area was occupied by Germany. The Marshall Plan, created by the United States of America, helped the country recover quickly.

Today, this area pays great attention to the social rights of all segments of the population. It has the highest unemployment benefits and pensions. This is one of those rare places where residents are almost 100% satisfied with their government and the laws adopted. For example, prostitution and the sale of weed are legalized here.

Thus, The Netherlands is a full-fledged state. With its own language, with its own territory, history, culture. The country has its own development path, own view for the life of its population. Then why is the Netherlands called Holland? Where exactly are the two countries that are so often confused?
Most developed province

Holland is a province of the Netherlands. Surprisingly, this is a fact. One of the provinces. Or rather, two. Because they distinguish between North Holland and South Holland.

The northern part of this area became territorially isolated back in the sixteenth century. South - much later, at the end of the eighteenth. But here we will talk about Holland in general. To make it easier.

So here it is. From the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries, Holland was the most important province amazing country, the most developed in many respects. It was known to all states that had trade relations with the Netherlands. So they called the entire territory “Holland”.

There is some degree of justice here. Take, for example, the capitals of the Netherlands, official and unofficial. The official capital, Amsterdam, is located in the northern part of the country. Here the monarch swears allegiance to the Constitution. Unofficial, factual - The Hague - in the South. The royal residence is located here, the Government meets, and many foreign embassies are located. That is, the most important events The Netherlands originate precisely in the provinces of Holland.

But still. How should you choose the right name when mentioning this amazing area?

In official speeches and documents – “Netherlands”. On travel sites, in fiction, in the museum of painting, in flower shop- "Holland". By the way, the second name is used more by the Russian-speaking population than by people speaking other languages.

Hello, Dear friends, site readers! Vadim Dmitriev is in touch again. It's no secret that the Dutch are now considered the tallest people in the world, but few people wonder why this nation is tall. Today I bring to your attention an article by a girl named Maria Worrell. She moved to Holland from the USA and wrote on her blog about why the Dutch are so tall. I found her article and translated it from English to publish here. The story contains very interesting observations, you should like it.

I had a conversation on Twitter with several people about why Dutch people are the tallest in the world. My friend is 195 cm tall and the people around him are tall. Even the women here are tall and proud of it. Later, I had a conversation with my friend Amber, who is working on a project related to the availability of local food. All this got me thinking.

My short stature gives me some difficulties here. Shelves and racks are high, toilet seats are high, and so on. Much has been written about why Dutch people are so tall and here are the arguments I've come across:

• Genetics
• Abundant consumption of dairy products containing calcium. The Dutch consume tons of milk and dairy products. You can easily see people walking down the street with cartons of milk.
• Healthy lifestyle. They walk a lot. This likely reduces cholesterol levels from dairy products and improves their health. Most people ride bicycles regardless of height, weight and age. It's also surprising how active the elderly people are here. If they don't ride bicycles, they walk or ride wheelchairs, but they certainly don’t sit at home waiting to die.
• The Dutch eat in cafes and restaurants less often than Americans. It's quite expensive here. It is preferable to have a snack with homemade food from a bag, taken with you. Many times I have seen people on bicycles taking out food wrapped in foil to snack on. Apples are very popular. At the same time, they love snack bars where everything except the ice cream is well-done... sometimes twice.
• Affordable medical care. Every person should buy himself medical insurance and use it when necessary. If you can't afford it, you receive an allowance that pays for medical care. And it's not just for the poor. Even people earning 30 thousand euros a year receive a small benefit. I come here, but I receive my allowance. Easy access to health care likely has an impact on their health and height.

Since moving to Holland, there is one thing that has bothered me the most: the cost of eating out. They are quite big. Weekly markets near the city are helpful, where you can buy cheap and fresh products. I buy a lot of fruits and vegetables for less than 20 euros. They cost much more at the grocery store or farmer's market in the US.

Let's take a recent food outing as an example. I went to a small market near my house, where the prices are a little higher, but it's still cheap. Here's what I bought for 19 euros (please note that I took several expensive products that I do not eat regularly - strawberries, mangoes, avocados): 1 kg plums, 3 grapefruits, 4 oranges, 8 tangerines, 5 big apples, 3 avocados, a bunch of basil, a bunch of mint, a bunch of parsley, a bunch green onions, green salad, 2 large heads of broccoli, sweet peas, 250 grams of champignons, 2 bags of strawberries, red Bell pepper(about 10 pieces), 2 chili peppers, 1 large cucumber, 1 zucchini, 4 lemons, 3 limes.

True, none of this is positioned as “organic”; some products were from local producers, but they are available to the population. I don't know what food prices are like in America these days, but I don't remember being able to buy that much food for less than 25 bucks. For this money, I could, of course, fill the refrigerator with fast food or discounted, rotten fruit, but definitely not with fresh fruits and vegetables. And here everything is fresh and pretty good quality. The Dutch are big on freshness when it comes to their food.

Still, I miss America with its abundance of take-out restaurants, especially now that I am a student again. After all, there you can find not only establishments with fatty, disgusting dishes, but also really healthy food, if you set your mind to it. And in Holland you only have to choose from McDonald's, KFC or fast food restaurants, because all healthy food restaurants are incredibly expensive and require more than 12 euros per dish. But in general, the Dutch and Europeans have done a better job than Americans of making sure they have local, cheap sources of healthy food within reach.

Best regards, Vadim Dmitriev

Elena Lapko answers,

Director of NOOSA-Amsterdam Russia

In fact, you cannot put an equal sign between Holland and the Netherlands. Moreover, there are two Hollands: North and South. They are only two of the 12 provinces of the Netherlands.

Consequently, the Dutch nationality also does not exist, and all indigenous people it is correct to call them Dutch. However, in Russian colloquial speech Both options are acceptable. As for the language, it is Dutch, and Dutch is one of its dialects.

The reason for the current confusion is historical. Back in the 17th century, people walked from North and South Holland sea ​​vessels to Arkhangelsk. Being natives of these provinces, the merchants presented themselves as Dutch in Russia. Peter I brought even greater confusion. In 1697-1698, during a diplomatic mission to Western Europe he visited the Netherlands, or more precisely, the most developed regions of the country - both Holland. When he returned, he began to talk not about the Netherlands, but about Holland, which only strengthened the Russians’ misconception about the name of the country.

Now these provinces are no less important in the life of the Netherlands than before. Amsterdam, which is located in North Holland, serves as the financial and cultural capital.

The seat of the Dutch government and parliament is located in The Hague, which is the center of South Holland. At the same time, the monarch takes the oath in Amsterdam. Even the government's travel website is called holland.com. This was done in order to maintain a friendlier image of the state and at the same time get into the top of search queries.

By the way, the confusion between Holland and the Netherlands exists not only in the Russian language. For example, in Greece, the country is colloquially called Hollandia (Ολλανδία), but the official name remains Kato-Hores (Κάτω Χώρες), which literally translates as “lower lands”, in fact, like the Netherlands. It is even more difficult for the British and Americans, since they have this country in different time was called the Dutch Republic, the United States of Belgium and the Kingdom of Holland.

However, calling the Netherlands Holland, meaning the state, is as absurd as calling the United States, for example, Florida or Texas.

The Netherlands means “lower lands,” but now this European kingdom is increasingly called by another name: the Land of Giants and Giants. There is nothing strange about this and it is not an exaggeration, because the average height of a Dutch woman is 1.71 meters, and a Dutch man is 1.85 meters.

The reason for such superiority in height over residents of other countries remained a mystery until recently. Scientists did not know why the Dutch became the tallest people on the planet. Although, just a couple of centuries ago, the subjects of this kingdom in the north of continental Europe were considered among the most... low.

How could such a significant metamorphosis occur in just two hundred years, a very short period by evolutionary standards? The most common explanation is increased nutrition and a high-calorie diet, in which important place occupy meat and dairy products.

However, scientists are now confident that it is not just about nutrition and diet. Quite a few others European countries also achieved considerable success in increasing the level of well-being of their people, but this did not make them grow at the same astronomical speed as the Dutch. The average Dutchman, according to the statistical department of the Dutch army, has gained a very impressive 20 centimeters over the past 150 years, i.e. became a head taller than his ancestors who lived in the mid-19th century. Over the same century and a half, the average American, who 15 years ago had the status of the tallest person on the planet, became only 6 centimeters taller, although he also did not starve and ate a lot of meat.

Unravel the mystery like this rapid growth The Dutch were solved by scientists from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, led by population health specialist Gert Stulp. They checked the statistics of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (the so-called LifeLines), a huge database containing the most detailed information about more than 94,500 Dutch people who lived in the years 1935-67.

British scientists drew attention to an interesting pattern - the height of fathers with many children, who had on average 0.24 children more than the least fertile Dutch, was 7 centimeters higher than the height of the average Dutch. The height of the least fertile parents was 14 cm below average. In addition, tall and stately men of Dutch blood are more likely to get divorced and start new families with more children.

The researchers explained this pattern as evolution at work. It turns out that tall men find it much easier to find a partner than short men, and short women are more likely to choose men who are taller than average as their life partners. Thus, tall men have a greater chance of passing on their gene pool to future generations.

The same pattern is observed among Dutch women, although in a less pronounced form compared to men.

British scientists did not conduct research at the gene level. They concluded from their observations that apparently, over time, more and more Dutch people acquired genes for tallness.

"Natural selection in addition to good environment may explain why the Dutch are so tall,” says a paper with research results published in the Royal Society journal Proceedings B.

“Height is a very heritable trait,” explains Gert Stulp. “Tall parents give birth to taller children. Since tall people in the next generation have more children who are also taller, then the average height of this generation, other things being equal, also increases.”

The palm is shared with the Americans and the Dutch by the most tall people Africa. This representatives of the Nuer people from Eastern Sudan - (average height of men 184 cm).

Tall groups (170 centimeters and above) also live on the east coast North America and in Argentina. In Europe, tall people tend to live in the north of the continent. In addition to the Dutch, these are Norwegians, Swedes, Danes, and Scots. For a long time, among Europeans the record was held by Montenegrins: the average height of men in the country is 177 centimeters, and in the city of Trebinje - 183 centimeters.

In 1960-1970, the average height of Soviet men was 168 cm, women - 157 cm. In Russia in the early 90s, the average height of men was 176 cm, women - 164 cm.

In the world, the average height of an adult man is currently 165 centimeters, women - 154 centimeters. The difference in height between men and women different nations fluctuates between 8-12 centimeters.

The shortest people on Earth are the Mbuti pygmy tribe. Average height men are less than 140 centimeters, women - 120-130 centimeters. They live in Equatorial Africa in the Congo River basin, in the least accessible wooded areas. Pygmies - “people with a fist”, this is how this word is translated. Very small people can be found in many places near the equator. These are the Aeta tribes living in the Philippines, the Semang of the Malacca Peninsula. Short stature is also typical for the population of the far north of Europe, Asia and America (Lapps, Mansi, Khanty, Eskimos).