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Family
The Dutch have strong families, which are moderate in size. Most have
one or two children, but southern (Catholic) families tend to be a bit
larger. Single parents are common. Grandparents live on their own
or in a nursing home. People generally live close to extended
family. Many holidays emphasize family gatherings. As is the case
throughout Europe, both parents often work
outside the home. However, Dutch women are somewhat less likely to work
outside the home than women in other European countries. Thirty-nine
percent of the labor force is female. However, more and more younger
women are entering the job market, partly due to better access to
education. Young people often leave home at age 18 to continue their
education or to work. Children are expected to behave at home and at
school. Parents help children with their studies but also encourage
them in sports, music, and other activities.
Diet
Bread or toast with jelly, Dutch cheese or meats, boiled eggs, and coffee or
tea are the most common foods for a Dutch breakfast. The most popular
breads include multigrain and dark-grain varieties. Most people eat
something sweet on their bread for breakfast or lunch. Children often
eat hot cereal for breakfast. Open-faced sandwiches are popular for
lunch. Seafood is also an important part of the Dutch Diet; herring and
eel are particular favorites. Dutch P\pastries are world famous.
Favorite snacks include fries 22(eaten with mayonnaise, not ketchup), stroopwafels
(syrup waffles), and many varieties of Dutch licorice. Restaurants in
larger towns offer a wide variety of cuisine, and Indonesian food has become
an established part of the Dutch diet. Eating out is not as common as
it is in the United States.
Families usually eat most meals at home.
Recreation
The most popular sport is soccer. Tennis, field hockey, swimming,
sailing, ice-skating, wind surfing, basketball, badminton, and other sports
are also enjoyed. Many Dutch participate in cycling; nearly every
person old enough to ride a bicycle has one. Fietspaden (bike
paths) run throughout the country. People participate in sports through
clubs. Games are organized locally, regionally, or nationally depending
on the level of the players. Each sport has a national association that
oversees its organization. Football (soccer) clubs have a million
members; tennis clubs have 800,000. The Dutch and tourists alike take
advantage of sandy beaches on the North Sea,
although it is windy and the water is often cold. Discos are popular
gathering places for young people. Most people also enjoy drama, music,
and art. There are more that six hundred museums in the Netherlands,
and with good reason: some of the world’s most famous artists are Dutch,
including Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh.
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