Netherlands Business Culture

NETHERLANDS BUSINESS CULTURE

Making appointments

Planning, regulating, and organizing are prevailing values in this culture. Punctuality is essential and expected in Dutch business culture, whether for business or social engagements. Openly showing impatience and insisting on asap is perceived by the Dutch as an indication that you have not planned properly. Their asap [z.s.m.] usually means: at your earliest convenience. If you know that you will be late for an appointment, be sure to phone ahead and give a plausible excuse. The Dutch place tremendous importance on the efficient use of time. Appointments will be carefully scheduled; never assume that they can be changed at the last minute. Again, spontaneity is not considered desirable in Dutch business culture. Give at least one or two weeks' notice for an appointment made by telephone or fax. For appointments made by mail, allow for a full month. Always acknowledge [by mail] when you have received important business letters or documents such as contracts. Other messages can be done by e-mail, if need be.

Business letters may be written in English. Maintain a formal tone in all of your correspondence [since the letter might be passed on to other departments]. Even if you are on a first-name basis with the correspondent, it's recommended that you use his or her family name with or without the professional title in your letters.

Keep in mind that Dutch executives frequently take extended vacations during July and August, and late December. Consequently, avoid planning a business trip to the Netherlands in the summer or around Christmas, since this is the most popular time for people to go on holiday. Business hours, generally, are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Banking hours, generally, are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Some banks have Thursday night hours as well. Store hours vary and can remain open between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, but few shops open that long. Generally, supermarkets in city centers will be open between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Other stores, and elsewhere, however, will close at 6:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.

Welcome topics of conversation

General Guidelines

Be aware of recent political events, both in your own country and in the Netherlands, since the Dutch tend to be keen on discussing politics. Don't, however, get involved in a political discussion if you are not well informed.

Regarding Dutch politics, remember that one's choice of party is considered private information.

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In private conversation, the Dutch may easily criticize American policies, but remember that in Dutch culture a critical approach is a sign of involvement rather than of rejection Make it clear that you are aware that the country is officially called the Netherlands. But in speaking English, the Dutch themselves will also say Holland, a shorter term officially referring to only two of the 12 provinces that make up the country.

Contacts are vital to doing business in the Netherlands, so make a point of remembering the family name of every possible person who could give you or your company a good reference. After first contact, the Dutch like a fairly personal approach, certainly when business contact will be over a longer period. Meaningful conversation is appreciated after business is finished, as a way to become closer.

Welcome Topics of Conversation :

your home country or city

your flight and accommodations [briefly only]

politics [if you know what you're talking about]

Topics to Avoid

boasting about your income and possessions

criticizing the Dutch Royal Family--enquiring about them, however, is OK

religion [This has been a very private issue since the 1970s. Many Dutch people never go to church. They don't welcome anything they might perceive as proselytizing.]

sex/legalized prostitution in the Netherlands [Asking questions on the issue is OK in some situations, but this is obviously a topic for outside direct business contact.]

Addressing others with respect

Academic titles [one's own and someone else's] are only used in writing and in work life, but not in speech and/or in private contacts. It is overly polite to keep on using them in correspondence [hard copy or e-mail] once a more informal contact has been established. If you expect your business letter to your good friend Tom to be filed or inspected by other people in his firm, you may prefer to address it formally and add 'Dear Tom' behind his official name, or say hi in a separate note. In private life, especially the older Dutch and people outside the urbanized and more cosmopolitan western part of the country, are more reluctant than, for example, Americans or Australians to use first names. If contact goes well, both parties can suggest to do so and they will then happily use first names unless there is clearly a senior person involved. Gender plays no role here.