Going Dutch: An Easy Guide to Dutch Business Culture for Expatriates

A guide to conducting good business in the Netherlands. Every expatriate business person, diplomat or teacher who comes to work in the Netherlands has to acclimatize to the Dutch culture. People who are just "travelling through" will not be bothered by the peculiarities of the Dutch way of life, but anyone posted to Holland for any period of time will need to learn certain things. The organization principles in Dutch company practice, for example, are not the same as elsewhere. This text describes these peculiarities clearly. The most important characteristis, including collective management, participation of workers in decision making processes, and non-hierarchical interactions are discussed, and are illustrated using examples taken from real situations. The author goes more deeply into a number of specific situations, including "The Management Team", the structure and legal powers of the Company Workers Advisory Body, the use of direct speak and the importance of such rituals as the coffee break. There is a brief outline of the historical background of the Dutch culture and the final chapter is reserved for the spouses of expatriates.