Belgians cry foul over ‘smart Dutch’ IQ study

28 March 2006

AMSTERDAM — Belgian academics have criticised research that suggests the Dutch and the Germans have the highest IQs in Europe.

Both countries score 107 in the league table of European IQs drawn up by Professor Richard of the University of Ulster.  Belgians — traditionally the butt of many Dutch jokes — are in 10th place in the ranking on 99, tied with Denmark and Finland.

“It is very difficult to compare results from different countries — it’s really very unscientific. You should only make comparisons with the same population,” Professor Jo Lebeer of the medical sciences department at the University of Antwerp told newspaper ‘Gazet van Antwerpen’ on Tuesday. 

Lieve Willems of the career guidance centre in Antwerp agreed: “A globalised IQ test seems a little crazy to me”.

According to Willems, Belgians are absolutely not dumber than the Dutch. “Certain tests show the Dutch score higher than we do in terms of maturity, but weaker in terms of insight and spelling. But these are elements that say nothing about global intelligence,” Willems said.

Professor Lynn caused controversy last year by suggesting men were more intelligent than women by about five IQ points on average.

He now hypothesises people living in the more challenging environments of Northern Europe developed larger brains than those in warmer climates further south.

A “normal” IQ ranges from 85 to 115, but exceptionally gifted people have scores starting at 145.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2006]

Subject: Belgian news + Dutch news