None of course; but they all speak English…

The same reader goes on to reassure: "You certainly don't have to change your mentality, personality, or shed any part of yourself to speak Dutch, or any other language. Let me reassure all you anxiety-ridden expats that it isn't as hard as you think! So get cracking!"

Thanks Lila. Welcome encouragement.

The second point I touched upon, inadvertently, was a book or books to read – in the English language – which are useful to help newcomers entering the Netherlands gain insight into the Dutch culture.

On Expatica we've reviewed a few, but I've noticed that we need to update, as well as add to, the list .

Once again, Lila Lundquist came to my aid. Her suggestions for reading include Simon Shama's The Embarrassment of Riches, which gives historic insight into Dutch culture and society, and Ian Buruma's Murder in Amsterdam, which gives contemporary insight into the crisis that the Netherlands has been experiencing since the death of Dutch film director Theo van Gogh.

Another way into the Dutch mind perhaps is to read contemporary Dutch literature in translation, for instance Arnon Grunburg, Henk van Woerden (A Mouthful of Glass) and Hella Haasse, says Lundquist.

The Low Sky: understanding the Dutch which the author, Han van der Horst, presented at Expatica's Welcome Fair in the Netherlands two years ago, is also a book to read. Van der Horst, who is now sending me a review copy, mentioned that he updated his book last year due to what he describes as 'developments in the Netherlands' - the beginning of which were marked by the murder of the popular anti-immigrant politician Pim Fortuyn in 2002, which he believes fuelled an unwelcoming attitude towards foreigners. Van der Horst also mentions how the rapid evolution of new technologies has contributed towards a changing social landscape; think of online shock-log GeenStijl, which allows the Dutch to air their views without the constraints of political correctness.

Speaking of pre- and post-Fortuyn, reminds me of a comment sent in by a Dutch reader, who wishes to remain anonymous, in reponse to topical piece Tolerance v xenophobia written by the previous editor Aaron Gray-Block. In the reader's view Fortuyn did not fuel xenophobia, but rather addressed everyday feelings of discomfort as the cultural gap between immigrants and Dutch people grew wider.

A Dutch acquaintance of mine supported this view to some extent, saying that what people see as being marked in time by Fortyn's murder was actually the end result of what started as early as the mid-eighties and what had simply become more visible by the mid-nineties.

In his view, the Netherlands is now reaping the result of a left-wing government with no clear immigration policy, which imagined that foreigners would integrate seamlessly into the country and culture without any help or encouragement.

Asking him to recommend a book to help foreigners understand the Netherlands he suggests, if your Dutch is up to it, Een nieuwe wereld by Auke van der Woud, which looks at the factors influencing the development of the modern Dutch economy.

Breaking news

My Dutch isn't up to reading the above-mentioned book, yet, but I can manage the Dutch news – albeit slowly and certainly not fast enough to suit our readership.

Happily, this doesn't matter because Expatica Netherlands publishes the Dutch news in English, which mainly comes via our partnership with Radio Netherlands World.

Plus, check out the Expatica discussion forums where expats discuss what they come up against when learning the Dutch language  as well as other relevant topics such as Dutch culture.

Natasha Gunn

Editor
Expatica Netherlands

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