Culture

Dutch culture or culture of the Netherlands is diverse, reflecting regional differences as well as the foreign influences thanks to the merchant and exploring spirit of the Dutch and the influx of immigrants. The Netherlands and Dutch people have played an important role for centuries as a culturally liberal and tolerant center, with the Dutch Golden Age regarded as the zenith.

The Netherlands have multiple musical traditions ranging from folk and dance to classical music and ballet. In the 21st century people with an African or Middle Eastern background have also had a profound effect, most notably in hip hop and rap. Much more so than most non-English speaking European countries, the Netherlands has remained closely in tune with American and British trends ever since the 50's.

Aruba and the five main islands of the Netherlands Antilles are part of the Lesser Antilles island chain. Their music is a mixture of native, African and Dutch elements, and is closely connected with trends from neighboring islands like Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago and Guadeloupe, as well as the mainland former Dutch possession of Suriname, which has exported kaseko music to great success on the islands. Curacao and Bonaire likely have the most active and well-known music scenes. Curacao is known for a kind of music called tumba, which is named after the conga drums that accompany it.

One of the most characteric festivities in the Netherlands is the feast of Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas. It is celebrated especially in families with little children. In the United States the original figure of Dutch Sinterklaas has merged with Father Christmas into Santa Claus. In the Netherlands, gift-bringing at Christmas has recently gained some popularity too, but Sinterklaas is still more common.

Dutch cuisine is characterized by its somewhat limited diversity; however, it varies greatly from region to region. The southern regions of the Netherlands for example share dishes with Flanders and vice versa. Dutch food is traditionally characterized by the high consumption of vegetables when compared to the consumption of meat. Dairy products are also eaten to great extent, Dutch cheeses are world renowned with famous cheeses such as Gouda, Edam and Leiden. Dutch pastry is extremely rich and is eaten in great quantities. When it comes to alcoholic beverages wine has long been absent in Dutch cuisine (but this is changing during the last decades); traditionally there are many brands of beer and strong alcoholic liquor such as jenever and brandewijn. The Dutch have all sorts of pastry and cookies (the word "cookie" is in fact derived from Dutch), many of them filled with marzipan, almond and chocolate. A truly huge amount of different pies and cakes can be found, most notably in the southern provinces, especially the so called Limburgish vlaai.

As in most countries, sport is practised by many inhabitants of the Netherlands, mostly at recreational level. About 4.5 million of the 16 million people are registered to one of the 35,000 sports clubs in the country. About two thirds of the population older than 15 years participates in sports weekly. Additionally, many Dutch enjoy watching sports events from the stands or on television. Passionate supporters of their national teams, Dutch fans are well-known for wearing bright orange, often-extravagant clothing and accessories to sports events, and whole blocks of stadia may be dominated by orange-clad Dutch supporters. The most popular sports, both for active participation and audience are football, cycling, speed skating, field hockey and tennis.

Business Customs

The Dutch market is highly competitive and the U.S. exporter must keep certain factors in mind to achieve success. The "golden keys" of customary business is courtesy, especially replying promptly to requests for price quotations and to orders. These are a prerequisite for exporting success. In general, European business executives are more conservative than their American counterparts; therefore, it is best to refrain from using first names until a firm relationship has been formed. Friendship and mutual trust are highly valued, and once an American has earned this trust, a productive working relationship can usually be counted upon.

Punctuality is important in Dutch business culture. If you know that you will be late for an appointment, be sure to phone ahead and give a plausible excuse. The Dutch place value on the efficient use of time and spontaneity is not considered desirable. Provide at least one weeks' notice for an appointment made by telephone or email. Written communication may be written in English but a formal tone should be maintained. Bear in mind that Dutch executives frequently take extended vacations during July and August, and late December. Avoid planning a business trip to the Netherlands in the summer or around Christmas, as this is the most popular time for people to go on vacation.

The Netherlands is an increasingly popular base for Advance Fee Fraud schemes. For more information on these schemes, click on the following links (Nigerian Letter or "419" Fraud): http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/fraudschemes.htm and http://www.usembassy.nl/advance_fee_fraude.html.

Travel Advisory

The State Department Consular Information Sheet for the Netherlands can be found at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/netherlands.html.

Visa Requirements

Every U.S. traveler must have a valid passport. No visa is required for U.S. citizens visiting the Netherlands for less than three months, but one is required for longer periods. An American citizen entering the Netherlands for permanent residence must register with the Dutch Aliens Police within three days of entering the country. American citizens should also register with the U.S. Consulate General if they plan to live in the Netherlands. (Please refer to www.usembassy.nl for information on consular services). U.S. citizens planning to work in the country must obtain a work and residence permit. Such permits must be obtained by the Dutch employer and are usually granted only for specialized work.

U.S. Companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should be advised that security options are handled via an interagency process. Visa applicants should go to the following links:

State Department Visa Website: http://travel.state.gov/visa/index.html
United States Visas.gov: http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/
U.S. Consular services in the Netherlands: http://www.usembassy.nl/hours_of_operation4.html

Telecommunications

The telecommunications infrastructure in the Netherlands is highly advances and highly developed. Newer communications channels, e.g. ISDN, mobile communications and satellite reception have grown substantially in recent years. Cable, with more than 90 percent penetration, presents an almost saturated market. The main network/backbone in the Netherlands is a fiber optic network. Cell phones operate on GSM technology and the number of cell phone subscriptions is 16 million (same as the total population). Cell phone rental is relatively cheap, especially when a prepaid service is purchased. The City of Amsterdam hosts the AMX-IX, one of the largest Internet Exchanges in Europe.

Transportation

There are excellent international links to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Rental cars are available at numerous locations. An international or U.S. State driving license is acceptable. Cars are driven on the right-hand side of the road. The national roads and highways are excellent. Newcomers may find driving in town a little disconcerting and must exercise speed caution. Trams have right-of-way, and the many cyclists often make unexpected turns or must be passed at close range. Some city streets have special bicycle paths. Right-of-way is that of the vehicle entering from the right unless the vehicle is coming out of a driveway. Roads posted with orange diamonds do not have to yield the right-of-way. The speed limit in the cities is 30 miles (50 km) per hour and on most highways about 73 miles (120 km) per hour. Speed limits are very strictly enforced. Most cities in the Netherlands have good public transportation systems (e.g. trains,
buses, and trams), and prices are reasonable. Taxis are available everywhere and the fare is comparable with other European cities.

Language

Dutch is the official language. English usually can be used in commercial correspondence. While language barriers pose no problems, some expressions and terms may have different meanings from those in the U.S.

Health

Medical services are excellent and hospitals compare with those in the U.S. Common medical needs are readily obtained, and special supplies are normally available on short notice. An international certificate of vaccination is not required for travelers from the U.S. Drinking water is excellent, most pharmaceuticals are available, and sanitation is at American standards.

Business Hours & Holidays

The time zone for the Netherlands is Greenwich meantime +1, or 6 hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern Standard Time (EST + 6 hours). Offices: Monday to Friday 8:30p.m. - 5:30p.m. (37 hours) Banks: Monday to Friday 9a.m. - 4p.m. Government: Monday to Friday 8:30a.m. - 4p.m. Retail: Store hours are generally from 9a.m. - 6p.m. weekdays, with one late evening per week, 9a.m. - 5p.m. on Saturday and closed on Sunday. 2007 Public Holidays:

Good Friday – April 6
Easter Monday – April 9
Queens Day – April 30
Ascension Day – May 17
Whit Monday – May 28
Christmas Day – December 25
Second Christmas Day – December 26

Temporary Entry of Materials & Personal Belongings

As a result of various customs agreements, simplified procedures are available to U.S. business and professional people for the temporary importation of commercial samples and professional equipment. A carnet is a customs document that facilitates customs clearance for temporary imports of samples or equipment into foreign countries. With the carnet, goods may be imported without the payment of duty, tax, or additional security. The carnet also saves time since formalities are all arranged before leaving the United States.

A carnet is valid for one year from the date of issuance. The cost ranges from $120 to $250. A bond or cash deposit of 40 percent of the value of the goods covered by the carnet is also required. This will be forfeited in the event the products are not reexported in a timely manner, goods are lost, stolen, destroyed, or carnet certificates are not properly validated. Carnets are sold in the United States by the U.S. Council for International Business at the following address: 1212 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, Toll-free: (866) 786 5625, Fax: (212) 944 0012, Email: atacarnet@uscib.org, website: www.uscib.org.

The Netherlands participates in the International Convention to Facilitate the Importation of Commercial Samples and Advertising Materials. Samples of negligible value imported to promote sales are accorded duty free and tax free treatment. Prior authorization is not required. To determine whether the samples are of negligible value, their value is compared with a commercial shipment of the same product. Granting of duty free status may require that the samples be rendered useless for future sale by marking, perforating, cutting, or other means.