Do you like to eat fries and pancakes by the beach? If so, you might have Dutch ancestry. Arguably best known for its capital city and much-loved tourist destination, Amsterdam, the Netherlands has always been famous for canals, clogs and a windmill dotted countryside.

By understanding more about our Dutch exchange students’ lives back home, it will help you gain insight into their culture and background and prepare you for a successful hosting experience. Let’s start by learning about what’s typical in Dutch communication, home life, education and food, as described by our program participants.

Communication style

Dutch students are typically direct and are not used to sugarcoating their communication. They often are not familiar with undertones. In general, the traits most admired by the Dutch are honesty, humor, modesty and intelligence. A strong handshake is an appropriate greeting in the Netherlands. It is also common for friends to kiss alternating cheeks three times when greeting. Eye contact and facial expressions are key characteristics of Dutch communication.

Tip From EF: Give your student space to speak directly, and make sure you have open and honest conversations about communication expectations in the home. Help your student by explaining American norms for expressing concerns and appreciation. Share expectations clearly and directly with your student to ensure they are understood.

Food habits

The Dutch generally eat three meals a day. Dinner, served around 6 or 7 pm, is the main meal. Arriving at the table in time for a meal and washing hands before eating are important qualities for the Dutch. It is also impolite to begin eating before everyone is seated or to leave the table before everyone has finished. A common Dutch breakfast is bread or toast with jelly, Dutch Cheese or cold cuts, boiled eggs and coffee or tea. Lunch generally consists of open-faced sandwiches. Seafood is very common in the Dutch diet, specifically herring and eel. Dining out is not common for the Dutch as families tend to eat most meals at home.

Tip From EF: Invite your student to go to the grocery store with you! While shopping, encourage your student to tell you what they like to eat and discuss what new foods they may be willing to try. When eating together as a family during the first few weeks, discuss differences in table etiquette between your family and their own. Encourage your student to cook some of their traditional or favorite foods.

Home life

The Dutch love to ride their bikes everywhere, and the youth enjoy the freedom to do so. Asking parents’ permission to go somewhere is not common because sending updates via text is sufficient. Dutch children are expected to help with chores around the house, such as dishes or taking out the trash. Students often have part-time jobs or play sports after school. Parents encourage their teens to be involved in extracurriculars and support them in their academic studies.

Tip From EF: Sit down with your student at the beginning of the year and go over all rules, schedules and expectations. Be sure to include simple things such as getting around town, the importance of checking in with you and their curfew. Lack of public transportation will be a difficult adjustment for your student. Help them to understand the best way to get around and how to communicate with you about this.