Why The Dutch Are Different: A Journey into the Hidden Heart of the Netherlands
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.73 (591 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 1857886852 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 304 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2015-11-19 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
He has written articles for numerous publications including the Guardian, Financial Times and Huffington Post. Ben Coates was born in Britain in 1982, lives in Rotterdam with his Dutch wife, and now works for an international charity. During his career he has been a political advisor, corporate speechwriter, lobbyist
Actually, he stayed for good. In the first book to consider the hidden heart and history of the Netherlands from a modern perspective, the author explores the length and breadth of his adopted homeland and discovers why one of the world's smallest countries is also so significant and so fascinating. It is a self-made country, the Dutch national character shaped by the ongoing battle to keep the water out from the love of dairy and beer to the attitude to nature and the famous tolerance. Ben Coates investigates what makes the Dutch the Dutch, why the Netherlands is much more than Holland and why the colour orange is so important. He also discovers a country which is changing fast, with the Dutch now questioning many of the liberal policies which made their nation famous.A personal portrait of a fascinating people, a sideways history and an entertaining travelogue, Why the Dutch are Different is the story of an Englishman who went Dutch. *A SCOTSMAN TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR* Stranded at Schiphol airport, Ben Coates called up a friendly Dutch girl he'd met some months earlier. And loved it.. Along the way he reveals why they are the world's tallest people and have the best carnival outside Brazil. He learns why Amsterdam's brothels are going o
Why the Dutch are Different provides the answers to all the questions I had but didn't dare ask about the Netherlands. I eagerly sat up late into the night reading, laughing often and enjoying the ride into my adopted homeland.DutchNewsFascinating. Ben Coates's day-to-day life sits effortlessly alongside deeper dives into history and folklore. Author Ben Coates has produced an insightful gem.Scotsman - Books of the YearI thoroughly recommend this book. Coates is entirely convincing in his affectionate portrait.ProspectVivid and informative. An accomplished debut.GeographicalOne of the few books on our near-neighbour, Coates gets under the skin of a nation renowned for its liberalism.The BooksellerIn Why the Dutch are Different,
Quite interesting Liorah For this former Dutch national there were lots of changes. Especially in how the Dutch society has become more weary about the goings on. To me the fuss about Zwarte Piet, a traditional and fantasy character is amazing. I never saw him as a lowly slave but an assistant who happened to be a Moor.The drug scene seems to be out of control, which I have noted on my yearly trips back to the country.Also tolerance of different nationalities and religions is no longer.I belief this book . "No headline needed." according to Fernao de Magalhaes. I am an American who is looking to retiring to the "grachten of the Netherlands" on a barge. I wanted to find out why the Dutch think like they do. For this reason, I am learning about Dutch Barges, speaking Dutch and have read this book. The story is presented like the movie "The Godfather Part 2" as it goes for a bit in present day and then flashes back to an earlier time. It was very educational It is not a political book per se, but the author does let his political views show. "The Differences are Mostly Great!" according to W. FLANAGAN. This book went a long way towards explaining to me why my Dutch upbringing, by immigrant parents in the U.S. during the 1960s and early 1970s was so different from that of my cousins, who grew up in the Netherlands during that same time. The changes that Dutch culture has gone through in the last 50-60 years is amazing. The author provides a nice overview of the culture and traditions of Dutch society, and while he is occasionally critical, mostly he is very appreciative of the wa