Introduction to Holland

Holland is rather small, the surface area only 41 52 square kilometers. Holland's official name is the Kingdom of Netherlands and the capital city of Holland is Amsterdam. It has a population of 16.6 million and is the densest country in Europe and one of the densest countries in the world. It consists of the Netherlands itself and six islands in the Caribbean sea. Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles.

 Holland is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system, and its government consist of the Queen as well as the ministers. The Netherlands has a coalition government, a land of compromise, with Queen Beatrix the head of state. In Netherlands, The ethnic groups are predominantly Dutch however there are other communities such as Moroccans, Turks, Antillean and Surinamese from the Dutch Caribbean. In terms of religion, 27% of the Dutch are Roman Catholics, 17% are Protestants, 6% are Muslim 1% Hindu and 1% Buddhist. The Netherlands is relatively a multicultural country but  is more prevalent in the larger cities. For instance, In Amsterdam alone, there are about 200 over different nationalities.

 We shall further explore the culture and traditions of Netherlands such as their culture, their traditions and practices, their indigenous groups, their languages, their mode of education, their leisure activities and what is the country known for? 

Culture of Holland ( Freedom, creativity and Innovation)

The Dutch culture is rich, dynamic and vivid especially in arts and expression.

People

The Dutch are passionately liberal and believe that people are free to do whatever they want so long as it does not inconvenient others. The Calvinist tradition have an influence of Dutch character as see themselves as sober, hardworking, level headed and to a certain extent unable to enjoy themselves without feel guilty. Netherlands is crowded and people tend to be more reserved with strangers. They treasure their privacy as it is a rare commodity but this does not mean they are antisocial. Many Dutch live independent and busy lives and live on strict schedules. Socializing is usually done at home through clubs and in circles of old friends which can make it difficult for foreigners to "break in". The Dutch do not just invite anybody to their home but if they do, it will mean you're a friend for life. 

The Netherlands is a world leader in the field of art and culture. The arts, in every form, flourish in a country that has outstanding museums and an impressive variety of classical and innovative music and theatre. 

Arts 

The Dutch take justifiable pride in what their art. Much of which can be admired in the museums of Amsterdam, The Hague, Leiden, Utrecht, Haarlem and Rotterdam. In fact Holland has almost 1000 museums and is the country with the highest density of museums in the world. Some of the famous museums are Rijksmuseum and the Vincent Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, the Museum Bojimans-Van Beuningen is Rotterdam and Mauritshuis in the Hague.

Famous painters include Hieronymus Bosch, Rembrandt van Rijn, Frans Hals, Johannes Vermeer and Vincent Van Gogh. 

One of Van Gogh's famous paintings.

"Starry nights"

Rembrandt. "Night watch"

Contemporary Dutch artists such as Ger Van Elk, Marlene Dumas, etc... are also well represented in international events such as the Biennale in Venice and the Documenta in Kassel.

MusicThe Dutch also treasure music and in the Netherlands there are many orchestras, based in towns and cities throughout the country. Thus today the Royal Cocertgebouw Orcherstra in Amsterdam and the Residentie Orchestra in The Hague are two of the finest and famous ensembles in the world. Opera flourishes in the Netherlands. There are several music festivals in the Netherlands such as the Holland festival, a renowned music festival held in Amsterdam in June yearly. There is also the Early Music Festival held annually in Utrecht that features medival and baroque music and the North Sea Jazz Festival that is the largest and famous jazz festival in Europe.

Architecture and DesignThe Netherlands is renowned for their architecture. No fewer than 50 000 buildings are listed monuments. Amsterdam's 17th and 18th century canal-side houses are world famous. Well known architects include Aldo van Eyck, Herman Hertzberger, Wim Quist, Pi de Bruyn, Rem Koolhaas and Jo coenen. The simplicity of Dutch design is reflected in a variety of everyday objects from postage stamps to waste bins, traffic signs, trains and office equipment.  The Netherlands is seen as a mecca for artists. It attracts many young designers, architects and artists who come especially to Amsterdam to work in a climate of artistic freedom, dialogue and innovation. Creativity is what counts in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam's "dancing houses" of falling architecture 

LiteratureThe Netherlands has a rich literary heritage and has produced many well known writers. The influence of the middle ages, 17th century gave rise to many traditional epic tales and the birth to many acclaimed writers.

Post war literature was long dominated by three eminent novelists mainly Williem Frederik Hermans, Harry Mulisch and Gerard Reve. Also the popular Diary of Anne Frank. 

FilmThe Netherlands has a relatively small film industry, which produces around 20 feature films a year, some in  association with other countries. A few have won international awards. In 1996, Marleen Gorris won an Oscar for Antonia's Line and Mike van Diem did the same for Character in 1998. There are also several film festivals held in the Netherlands such as Rotterdam International Film Festival every February, Amsterdam's International Documentary film festival every December.

DanceThe Netherlands is a world leader in the field of modern dance. The troupe of the Nederlands Dans Theater in Den Haag leaps to international audiences. The National Ballet in Amsterdam performs ballet from the classical repertoire but also the works for 20th century choreographers such as Van Dantzig, Van Maanen etc... The Hague's biennial Holland Dance festival features some of the most outstanding dance productions in the world. The Springdance Festival in Utrecht and the Cadance Festival in the Hague annually holds festivals that showcases modern dance.

 

Websites used: 
http://www.theresidenceschicago.com/blog/?p=645

Books used:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International information and Communication Division, The Hague (2004) Focus on the Netherlands

Traditions of the Netherlands

There are many traditions that the Dutch treasure and value and these are some of the popular traditions that the Dutch still withhold.

First, Carnival or Carnaval is held 40 days before Easter, during February/ March. The Carnival has been celebrated since medieval times and was modernized after world war II. During the Carnival, party goers will dress in costumes and parade the streets. Locals will be bizarrely caricatured in papier-mache figures and songs are sung poking fun, for example, at the local mayor. This festival is prominent particularly in Southern Netherlands, mostly in the Catholic provinces of Netherlands. It is customary to eat herring on Ash Wednesday, which traditionally marks the end of Carnival.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNjomLaljk0&feature=related
Watch this video of the Carnaval parade in 2007

Another traditional feast of the Netherlands is Queen's day or "Koninginnedag". This is celebrated in honour of the Queen's birthday. However, this day 30th of April is not the birthday of Queen Beatrix, the current Queen of Netherlands. The celebration is to celebrate the birthday of her mother, Queen Juliana.

The Queen decided to keep this date, because her own birthday (January, the 31th) is in the winter. It is a national holiday on April 30th and the entire country wears orange. Events and celebrations are held throughout the country with drinking, flea market activities, music and dance.

The Royal family will also visit one or two towns each year.

 

Queen Beatrix waving to the crowd in Makkum

Princess Maxima

One traditional festivity the Netherlands is the feast of Saint Nicholas or Sinterklass. It is celebrated on the evening before Sinterklaas' birthday on December 5, especially in families with little children. Sinterklass is the basis of the mythical Snata Claus in the United States.

Traditionally, in the weeks between Sinterklass arrival and 5 December, before going to bed, children put their shoes next to the fireplace chimney of the coal-fired stove or fireplace. In modern times, they may put them next to the central heating unit. They leave the shoe with a carrot or some hay in it and a bowl of water nearby "for Sinterklaas' horse", and the children sing a Sinterklaas song. The next day they will find some candy or a small present in their shoes. Of course Sinterklass does not exist but children are excited about this tradition and parents are the ones who leave candies and present in their shoes.

Sinterklass and his Black Peters.

Sinterklaas isnt just for small children but for grown-ups and older children as well. It is a day of giving and receiving gifts, much like on Christmas, but now the presents are like a surprise. It is a gift hidden within a product of tinkering, aimed at giving the gift the appearance of something completely different, accompanied by a  funny poem. It serves to embarrass the addressee by reminding him or her of some embarrassing moments in the past year, or to point out a general failure of character in a mocking way. It is a day to get even with anybody for anything, but it is mostly played with family or friends.

Remembrance day is another tradition as well. Every year at 8pm on the 4th of May, there will be two minutes of silence throughout the country to commemorate those who died during the WW II.  The fallen from WW II are honoured in an Amsterdam ceremony with a commemorative service held at the National Monument on Dam Square in Amsterdam with speeches and the laying of wreaths.

Liberation day is celebrated the day after Remembrance day on the 5th of May. However, it is celebrated on a grand scale every five years with Festivals and celebrations. Liberation day is to mark the end of the occupation by the Nazis during World War II.

New year in the Netherlands is very exciting and interesting as their New Year traditions has been brought down by Dutch settlers and preserved and cherished till today. The age-old tradition to visit friends and families on New Year's Day. Mothers and sisters prepare delectable dishes with the best silver and china at tables. 

Unique among the various New Year Traditions in Netherlands is the New Year's Swim on New Year's Day. At noon thousands of people dive into the freezing cold North Sea. The largest dive is held at the beach of Scheveningen, where 10.000 people plunge into the sea. This tradition is observed not only for fun and recreation but also to ensure good luck and health on the ensuing days of the New Year. 

In the Netherlands, people burn Christmas trees on street bonfires and ignite colorful fireworks to herald in the New Year. This practice is also considered to be a means of driving away the bad spirits of the old year. There goes a belief that anything in the shape of a ring symbolizes good luck, since it indicates completion of the cycle of a year. That is why there is a custom to have donuts on New Year's Day to usher in good luck and cheer. 

http://www.nlplanet.com/almanac/carnival

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/royalwatch/features/article_1402788.php/In_photos_Netherlands_Queens_Day?page=5

http://www.holland.com/global/activities/events/januari2011/newyearsdive.jsp

http://www.123newyear.com/newyear-traditions/new-year-traditions-netherlands.html

Books used:

Bedford N & Sellars S. (2007) Lonely Planet. The Netherlands.

Indigenous people of Holland

There are no indigenous people in the Netherlands. However, the less linguistic and minorities are the Frisians who inhibit the Northern Province of Netherlands.

A brief history about the Frisians

The earliest record of indigenous Frisians inhabiting their land are from 700 BC. Up until at least the fifth century their tribal lands included the entire North Sea coast of Holland. In the eighth century they were annexed by the Frankish empire, and then won their independance again during the Middle Ages, spending the next 700 years as a unilingual and autonomous people. Then in 1579 Friesland was taken over by the United Dutch Republic, and Dutch language was introduced to replace Friesian.

However, many Frisians fought to maintain and reestablish their aboriginal language, and in 1993 Frisian became a mandated subject in primary schools and secondary schools in Friesland. Today both Dutch and Frisian languages are used in the community. 

Currently, there are 550 000 Frisians in Friesland.  The Frisians value their independence as a unique ethnic group and Friesland is the only province of the Netherlands to retain its own language. The inhabitants of Friesland considers themselves to be Frisians in the first place and Netherlanders in the second place. 

The Frisian is primarily an agriculture province.  Many Frisians living in inland areas work on small family farms, raising crops or dairy cattle. The dairy products, construction, and tourist industries are also important employers.

The Frisian minority does not have its “own” government structures. There are the regular provincial and local government structures that facilitate the Frisian language in the province of Friesland. There are, of course, several civil society organizations lobbying for more autonomy for the province, defending culture, tradition and customs, or promoting protection of heritage sites.

The traditional old-fashioned Frisian farm house consists of modest-sized living quarters. These are connected to a barn by a narrow section containing a kitchen, milk cellar, and butter-churning area. The living quarters are generally divided into an all-purpose family room and a formal parlor where visitors are received. Tile roofs have largely replaced the older thatched roofs.

Like other Dutch people, the Frisians wear modern Western-style clothing for both casual and formal occasions. One difference, however, is their preference for wooden shoes. They wear the modern variety, made of lightweight poplar (a kind of wood) and generally painted black with leather trim.
Websites used:
http://www.suite101.com/content/netherlands-indigenous-people-a10146

Languages of Holland

Dutch is the National language of Holland. However, English is spoken by almost everyone. The Dutch speak German and French as well. Dutch is the mother tongue of the the Dutch people as well as Flemish people. The Flemish people are Dutch speaking nationals of Belgium. Dutch is used in schools and in government institutions.

 Dutch is the mother language of more than 22 million people in Netherlands and in Belgium. In Northwest France, around 60 000 speak a Dutch dialect. Dutch language is very influential as it has influenced other languages especially in shipping, waterworks and agriculture. Even in Indonesia, some lawyers and historians speak Dutch due to the historical ties in the past. Dutch was even the basis for Afrikaans which is the language spoken in South Africa. There are a few minor languages spoken in the Netherlands such as Turkish and Arabian. In fact, in around 250 universities, Dutch is taught and in many European countries like Belgium, France and Germany, pupils chose Dutch as their second language.

In the province of Friesland, they speak a separate language. Frisian is spoken and is the first language by 2.2% or 350 000 of the population of  Northern Netherlands, Friesland which is recognised as their official language. It is somewhat similar to English and the Scandinavian languages. However Dutch is used in schools in Friesland.

Books used:

Bedford N & Sellars S. (2007) Lonely Planet. The Netherlands.

Janin H & Eil R. (2003) Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company. Culture shock Netherlands

Mode of Education

Since the foundation of Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815, the government has been responsible for ensuring that all Dutch children receive a decent education. Not that is has a monopoly of schools or the right to dictate what is taught in them. Under the 1814 Constitution, any group of people may set up a school based on religious or philosophical beliefs or educational principles.

The government is definitely responsible for supervising the educational system. It is compulsory for children in the Netherlands to attend school full-time from five years old and to attend school part time between the ages of sixteen and eighteen. The subjects taught in all types of school are laid down by law as an attainment target. This enables the government to ensure that qualifications are uniform throughout the country.

Schools set up by public authorities are called public authority schools. All other schools that are founded by private bodies are called private schools. More than three quarters of schools in Netherlands are private, they are still eligible for government funding so long as they meet a criteria.

In 2001, the Netherlands spent 5.3% of its Gross domestic product on education. Education is free of charge for children up to sixteen years old. But the parents of secondary school pupils have to pay for textbooks and other materials.

In the Netherlands, few Dutch schools, colleges or universities provide accommodation for their students, and there are no dress codes of school uniforms.

Primary education: Primary school in Netherlands caters for children aged four to twelve. It has an eight year education system and curriculum that focuses on pupil's emotional, intellectual and creative development along with the acquisition of essential social, cultural and physical skills. Every primary school draws up its own school work plan on the basis of conditions specified by a government.

Secondary education: Children from the age of twelve are eligible for admission for secondary education. There are three types of educations available in their secondary school system. First, the Pre-vocational secondary school education (VMBO); Senior general secondary education (HAVO) ; and pre university education (VWO)

VMBO takes 4 years and leads on to secondary vocational education (MBO).

HAVO is a 5 year course and leads on to higher professional education (HBO).

VWO takes 6 years and leads to university (WO).

The pupils in the first two to three years of secondary school are all taught the same core curriculum, consisting of 15 subjects.

Higher education comprises higher professional (HBO) as well as the university education (WO) which is a bachelor master degree structure. The HBO will take four more years while the WO will take three more years. Graduates with a bachelor degree can then take a Master's degree and the Master's courses usually take between one and two years depending on nature of study.

Many people pursue higher education. Nearly 3.5 million of the total population of 16 million have attended some form of higher-education programme. Of the younger generation, one out of three school-graduates completes a university degree.

The Netherlands has nine general universities, three technological universities and one agricultural university.
Books used:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International information and Communication Division, The Hague (2004) 
Focus on the Netherlands

Leisure activities of the Dutch

People work on average no more than 40 hours a week and they get at least five-weeks of holiday each year. They value their spare time and it seems that the historical Calvinistic values of the Dutch are almost forgotten. People tend to spend more time with their friends and family, engaging in sports, travelling and enjoying good food and drinks. Gezellig is a unique Dutch noun used to describe quality time with one’s family or intimate friends in a cosy environment.

Sports

The Netherlands is one sport-happy country. About 7 million Dutch engage in some form of sport activity so much so that there are thousands of sports club in the Netherlands with a total membership of about 5.7million. The Dutch love to participate in football, ice skating, cycling, tennis, swimming, gymnastics, volleyball, hockey, golf and handball. But the more popular sports are as follows:

Football Football is the Dutch national game and the Dutch are football fanatics. The National football team competes in the World Cup and produces world class players such as Ruud Gullit and Dennis Bergkamp. Passion for football is immensely high, the national football association KNVB, counts a million members making it the country's largest sporting organization. 

The Dutch Football Team

Thousands of Dutch soccer fans rooting for their soccer team before the Euro 2008

Skating

Ice Skating is another popular sport in the Netherlands. Thousands of people hit the ice skating rink when the country's lakes freezes over. However when the lakes are not frozen, there are dozens of ice rinks with Olympic size tracks and areas for figure skating. The most famous skating event is the Friesland's 220km long Elfstedentocht or Eleven town tour. It is not just a favourite past time of both the young and old but also a professional sport in the Netherlands. The Dutch has won nine medals of three were gold in the 2006 winter Olympics in speed skating. 

At the Kinderdijk canal in the Nederlands with thousands of joyous ice skaters who descended on the frozen canal

Cycling

The Dutch love to cycle, for leisure and pleasure as well as get from A to B. Around 70% of the Dutch take their bicycle on a recreational day trip.

Tennis

Tennis is also another popular sport in the Netherlands. With 700 000 members in their tennis association, it is the second largest sporting organization in the country.

Arantxa Rus, Dutch Women's tennis player

Festivals & Events in Netherlands 

There are many festivals in Netherlands ranging from music to dance to film to bizarre festivals such as the Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam. However, I have chosen several festivals that were more interesting.

Amsterdam roots festival: This festival targets music enthusiasts as it seeks out and presents new forms and new acts within the massive range that world music offers. Fans can sample the great variety and richness of music from around the globe, absorbing and learning from other cultures.

Amsterdam Stilleto Run: The stilleto run is a bizarre race whereby racers compete in a race over a distance of 100 metres. The catch is that racers have to wear at least 9cm in height heels.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-LXwb-Le0A

Holland Dance festival: It is the largest Dance festival that is hosted in Hague every two years since 1987. In every Holland dance festival it strives to showcase the development of modern contemporary dance.

Holland Festival: The country's oldest and biggest extravaganza for theatre, dance, film and pop music and takes place every June. 

North Sea Jazz Festival: A festival in Mid July, in Rotterdam. It is the World largest jazz festival that attracts names from around the planet and a huge crowd.

Smashing Valentine: The Smashing Valentine tournament is an indoor tennis tournament with alliance with the International Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance tour. More than 250 gay men, lesbians, heterosexuals, bisexuals and transgender people from the Netherlands, Europe and beyond are taking part. 

Gay Pride Canal Parade: On the first Saturday of August, one of the world's most popular and visually incredible gay parades in the world. It is the only water borne gay parade in the world, with lots of pride showing on the outlandish floats and colorful boats.

Watch this video to have an insight of what the parade really is about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAS7Ia06VqM

Trance Energy: This is a dance event featuring DJs from around the world such as Armin Van Buuren, Tiesto, Above and beyond and etc... It is held once annually at the Jaarbeurs Convention center in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is so popular with the Dutch that the event is usually sold out.

FFWD Dance Parade or Fast Forward Dance Parade happens in Downtown Rotterdam whereby Rotterdam lets down its hair in a big way and turns into one big open air techno club in Early August.

Websites used: 

http://www.2camels.com/festivals/netherlands.php
http://nieuws.nijmegenonline.nl/ffwd-dance-parade-rotterdam/