The Undutchables: An Observation of the Netherlands: Its Culture and Its Inhabitants

After looking at the reviews of this book, I've noticed an interesting trend: Primarily, the positive reviews of the Undutchables were written by Dutch or people close to Dutch culture, while negative reviews were often written by those who are not close to Dutch culture and Americans who are worried about being PC. My personal opinion is that the Undutchables is a humourous account meant to be read by people who are already otherwise familiar with Dutch culture. It is not a travel guide. While many of its points are true, it is not to be taken seriously and any traveler should form their own opinion of Dutch culture, possibly using the Undutchables to alleviate some culture shock and create a bit of understanding. You would be better off buying a travel guide of the Netherlands if you want an unadulterated view of the country, but the Undutchables offers a lot of character. I am an American married to a Dutch man and this book was recommended to me by 2 Dutch people. Many other inlaws and friends have now read it and everyone finds it good and unoffensive. My mother, who knows little about Dutch culture, is the only person who seems confused by the book and a little put off by its negative points.

I lived in the Netherlands for a few years (in Leiden) and found this book to be an essential in surviving there as a foreigner! The Dutch are extremely friendly and hospitable, but take some getting used to as I'm sure my odd American characteristics bewildered them as well. (Example: The Dutch do not pepper their sentences with words such as, "great, "awesome, WOW...") The book explains every bewildering characteristic of this strange and fascinating country from the weather to the pot to the Red Light District to the lack of seasoning in the cuisine. The Dutch are a proud people and every reason to be so. They live in one of the most beautiful and liberal countries in the world. Now if only the sun would shine would more...

When The Undutchables came to my hands I had already six months of experience as a foreigner from Germany living in the Netherlands. Most surprisingly, expecting some funny stuff at first, I had a deja vu almost with every chapter's detailed description of the various aspects of the dutch society. While one day earlier I was still judging my landlord a peculiar person offering exactly one cookie to me during a two hour's chat in his living room and afterwards accurately sealing and removing the container for the rest of the time I was taught by this book that nothing irregular had happened. Just to name one of the hilarious yet to a great extent realistic contents. If you know enough dutch I would recommend reading in vernacular.

Two days ago, I returned from my 4th trip to the Netherlands in the last year. My boyfriend is Dutch, and while I was there, one of his friends gave me this book. I laughed so hard I nearly cried (especially with the part about Dutch toilets-how true it is!). My Dutch friends are always telling me, "If it ain't Dutch, it ain't much!" and even they found this book to be an almost completely accurate portrayal of themselves and their society. After spending as much time there as I have, I can tell you honestly that the Dutch are a very unique people, but incredibly endearing as well. Their idiosyncracies will grow on you, and this book uncovers them all!

Being Dutch and not having lived there for 25 years, I had to get this book when I heard of it. It was money well spend. I laughed so hard sometimes that I cried. I bought a copy for my mother who still lives in the Netherlands, she didn't think it was very funny, but I told her that the truth hurts sometimes. I still go back "home" on a regular basis with my family and after reading this book I look at my fellow Dutchmen through different glasses. My husband is American, he read the book and says that he sees some of those things in me, so even after 25 years I'm still Dutch and proud of it. The book is great fun, but you have to have a sense of humor and take it with a grain of salt. I recommend the book to anyone who is Dutch or who knows someone Dutch.