Coming to the Netherlands and the Eindhoven region
If you're coming to Eindhoven, it's a good idea to prepare well. On the one hand you'll first have to complete a number of formalities. And on the other hand, it's worth finding out more about the character of the Dutch and some of their customs that may appear a bit unusual to outsiders.
Characteristics of the Netherlands and the region
The Netherlands, also referred to as the ‘Kingdom of the Netherlands' or ‘Holland', is a relatively small country with an area of 35,000 square kilometers. The distance from north to south is no more than 400 kilometers, and from the (west) coast to the German border less than 150 kilometers. The Netherlands has a population of more than 16 million, and is one of the most prosperous countries in Europe - and as a result, in the world. The Netherlands is subdivided into twelve provinces. The capital is Amsterdam.
The basis for the country's welfare was laid in the seventeenth century, when the Dutch merchant ships sailed the seas of the world, discovering one ‘new' country after the other. For example the Dutch were the first to open up the route to ‘the East'. Trading in spices and - we have to admit it - slaves was very profitable. The money from that trading was invested in property, which explains the many stately canal-side houses in Amsterdam.
In modern times, the Netherlands remains a prosperous trading nation. Because of that trading background, the Dutch have always been able to deal with change. They are good at languages, and do business with all parts of the world. In general, the Dutch are regarded as somewhat introverted, with a touch of Calvinism. ‘Just behave normally, that's crazy enough.' But compared with people from the ‘Randstad' area (the west of the Netherlands), those from the south are regarded as flamboyant ‘bon viveurs'...
