Dutch Uncles

Dutch Uncles

A 'Dutch Uncle' is an English term for a person who issues, direct, critical and severe comments and/or advice in order to 'educate'.. whether advice has been asked for or not.

The Netherlands is full of Dutch Uncles (and Aunts),”Well of course it is”! you will say, but I do mean the country is full of people who conform to the above definition, it is an intrinsic part of the Dutch character. Although national stereotypes can be misleading they do usually have some basis in reality. In The Netherlands, whatever the activity, there will always be somebody telling you how you could, and indeed should, be doing it differently and better ...and they will not let a lack of knowledge on the subject prevent them from doing so.

For a foreigner living in the country it is a constant but minor irritation. When just about everybody is telling you the best and/or correct way to do just about everything you soon learn to shut out or ignore virtually all unsolicited advice... even the good bits! Among the Dutch themselves it seems not to be a problem, I suppose, as each individual knows best, they sort of cancel each other out. Which could explain why socially and politically they mostly manage to end up with a compromise rather than a conflict!

No, …it's when Dutch people travel abroad that this national characteristic becomes something of an embarrassment.  
In Hungary I once had to persuade a Dutch couple not to tell a restaurant owner how he should make goulash!

The Dutch are great travellers but I can't help feeling that they see travel less as a learning experience and more as a teaching opportunity!
But you don't have to take my word for it. I'd like to refer you to the Dutch travel writer and TV program maker Jelle Brandt Corstius. In his book ' The general Guide to Travelling in Difficult Countries' he refers to this trait as the Preacher Complex: Ask any foreigners who spends a great deal of time with Dutch people what they really think of the Dutch and, after a few drinks, nine out of ten will say “They are overly opinionated and always know best”. “We” (the Dutch) he says “think of ourselves as messengers, as missionaries spreading our Dutch ideals and way of life. But let me assure you, the rest of the world is not desperately waiting to hear our message”!
The message, by the way, has a great deal to do with ' The Work Ethic' ….
'Work ethic': a belief in the moral value of work... basically – if you work hard you will become a 'good person' and go to heaven.
I have always suspected, despite what the literature may say, that this concept was thought up and introduced by rich factory owners who then laughed all the way to their tennis clubs. In America it is referred to as the Protestant Work Ethic but in The Netherlands it is a national characteristic that crosses religious boundaries...yes, only in The Netherlands, even non-believers and Catholics can be Calvanists! The Dutch as a nation are traditionally thought of as sober, hard -working and down to earth. However, I wouldn't like you to think that the Dutch don't have fun, of course they do, but the work ethic is so ingrained in their DNA that they still tend to think that fun has to be earned or is a reward for hard work and diligence.

This summer I travelled with a group of Netherlanders in Georgia, as with other Dutch groups I had previously accompanied, they soon started to critiscise the imperfect state of the infrastructure, the poor maintenance of the buildings, the neglected commercial possibilities and the lack of initiative, industry and effort shown by the inhabitants. In just a few days they had observed, judged and concluded. They were ready, happy and willing to tell anybody who would listen how, why and what the Georgians should do to improve themselves, their cirumstances and their nation.

Now - put simply, the Georgians are the exact opposite of the Dutch. They are variously described by themselves and in the literature  as lazy or laid-back, it is a matter of opinion which. Whatever your point of view, however, it is an undisputed fact that Georgians prefer eating, drinking, making music and having a good time with their friends and families to hard work......

.... and  to be honest.... I can't find much wrong with that!