Religion

According to Countryaah, more than 60% of the country’s population belong to Christians, with about half of them being adherents of Catholicism and the same proportion of Protestantism. 3% adhere to the Muslim faith, the rest prefer to be atheists.

Attitude towards tourists

The Dutch themselves are affable and friendly, distinguished by moderation and thrift in everything. At the same time, they are always ready to help. Russian tourists are treated the same as other foreigners.

In the country, most of the population speaks common European languages ​​(English, German), so it will be quite easy to find a common language with them. Here it is customary to judge a person by his creditworthiness, you should not pretend to be someone who you really are not. The Dutch do not tolerate a dismissive attitude towards a person, in this way you will cause similar feelings towards yourself.

Local residents are characterized by openness and hospitality. This is evidenced by large windows in houses without curtains. Each can look into the living space of the other.

Behavior rules

Arriving in the Netherlands on vacation, you should adhere to local rules and norms of behavior.

Tourist behavior rules:

• The Netherlands is the only country that allows the use of soft drugs. They are mostly smoked in establishments with a sign “Coffee Shop”. Also, be careful with souvenirs. A given flower in a pot may well be marijuana.
• Politeness is a national feature of the Netherlands. Be sure to greet those present when entering stores, offices, and other public places.
• Wearing natural fur Clothing is not recommended, as you may fall out of favor with one of the animal advocates. Dress simply but tastefully. When visiting the office, it is better to wear a trouser suit. Wearing a tie is mandatory in expensive restaurants. Shorts and a top are best left for a beach holiday.
• Walking in crowded places, be attentive to others. There are pickpockets on the streets. Therefore, it is advisable to leave the original passport and large sums of money in the hotel safe. To prove your identity, it is enough to have a copy of your passport with you. Also avoid visiting port areas at night. Do not leave valuables in the car.
• Always fasten a rented bike in the parking lot when visiting shops, otherwise you will lose the deposit paid for it.
• Smoking in public places is prohibited.
• Residents of the capital are particularly thrifty and the desire to save money. Therefore, if you are invited to dine together, then be prepared to visit a cafe or restaurant. For lunch, according to tradition, everyone pays for himself. Dancing in the institution is not accepted. To do this, dances and discos work in the city.
• Lunch in the Netherlands is strictly from 18.00 to 20.00, by being late you will offend the owner. The same applies to business meetings. If you cannot arrive on time, please let us know in advance.
• Lost in a bar or restaurant personal belongings of customers are stored in the back room. You can return them upon request.
• When meeting and parting, it is customary to shake hands with each other. Moreover, the longer the handshake lasts, the more respect you are given. Address the interlocutor mainly by name. With a longer acquaintance, the greeting changes to a light kiss on the cheek.
• During tea drinking, refrain from eating a second piece of cake, thus you will cause disapproval. Taking olives or nuts from the table as a snack is not recommended on your own, since the owner of the table is responsible for distributing treats.
• If in the Netherlands you are in line, then you will be offered a coupon with a number (the number will be displayed on the scoreboard when your time is up). In stores, asking who is last is not accepted. Locals usually remember those present and those who came after them. This rule does not apply when boarding a bus. Here, elbows and umbrellas are used, increasing the chance to take a seat.

Holidays

There are few official holidays in the Netherlands. The main holidays are on:

• New Year is celebrated on January 1st
• The Queen’s birthday is April 30,
• Memorial Day – May 4th
• Day of liberation from fascism – May 5,
• Catholic Christmas, according to tradition, is celebrated on December 25, it gradually turns into the celebration of St. Stephen – the patron saint of livestock (December 26). Many Catholics consider this date a “second Christmas”.

Also in the country during the year are carnivals and fairs, which are often accompanied by folk festivals. Check agooddir for recent history of Netherlands.