Dutch culture from the viewpoint of an immigrant. (warning: rant, some swearing)

[Sigmund Av Volsung]

Far right and nationalist movements are gaining momentum in mainland Europe as the financial crisis runs its course.

There's not much you can do about it. Just a sociological effect. In times of economic downturn, the people turns to extreme political ideologies.

What I'm saying is: You shouldn't think of this as a characteristic of Dutch culture. It's a symptom of the times we're living in.

Whilst this is true & I agree with you, the times that we live in do not compare to the aftermath of the Great Depression in Germany(as that is the period of time that I assume you're referencing?) and I just think that it is, as a European citizen would call, "growing pains" or an effect of WWII.

Eastern European countries (& some central European) in general have been slow to become accpeting of other peoples' cultures; Nazism does exist in my country(Lithuania, if you're wondering) but in minute ammounts, and well, people still(sometimes) call a person of African descent the n-word.

OT: You're just gonna have to live through it, I guess, that it is only a temporary problem; in times of despair, people just try to pin the problem on any large foreign presence in their country, as they cannot outright blame themselves for being S*** at football or being crap at managing their economy, or in general just being unahppy.

As with all things, it will pass.

 

[Killertje]

Maybe you should move out of that village, it sounds like a retard magnet.

+1 for "**** polish", you should trademark that. I'm sure lots of ladies would love something like that.

 

[Neonit]

Maybe you should move out of that village, it sounds like a retard magnet.

+1 for "**** polish", you should trademark that. I'm sure lots of ladies would love something like that.

ha! good one. didnt notice that. but we cant really move out seeing as its a house bought on mortgage.

 

[Hagi]

Yeah...

It's quite a shame what happened to this country...

We used to be the country that first legalised gay marriage and had a reputation for tolerance and open-mindedness. Sure, even then bigots existed but at least there was some serious rational counterweight to them.

Now it seems that there's more and more small-minded racists out there seeking to blame everyone but themselves whilst there are fewer and fewer who speak out against them and call them out on their discrimination and bigotry.

 

[joonsk]

I am born and raised in the Netherlands and I know what you mean. A lot of poeple are incedibly dumb. What sickens me the most is the amounts of hate the greeks get. And the Germans. A lot of poeple think that all the germans are Nazi's, and that the everyone in greece does nothing.

And I'm fucking SICK of all the orange EVERYWHERE!!!!!

 

[Eamar]

I have absolutely no experience of the Netherlands, but your description (both of the racist behaviour and the apparent lack of culture) could easily apply to all sorts of towns in the UK as well. Every nation has its racist elements and its shitty towns, and as others have said, the economic climate is aggravating this sort of behaviour.

Of course, just because it's widespread doesn't make it acceptable. At all.

 

[Treblaine]

"Today in the newspapers i read about dutch people burning down german cars as a "revenge" for football.
Then i read about how dutch people refuse to pay in greek restaurants saying as "we are already paying (EU)"
Then i read about how major newspaper here was making up news about discrimination in poland."

Yes, DUTCH NEWSPAPERS object to these cases enough to report on them, they take exception to such outbursts as from an unacceptable minority opinion. And perhaps there are genuine criticism of the establishment in Poland not being as liberal enough. I don't think the Dutch establishment wanted those arson attacks or people refusing to pay small businesses for duly paid goods and services.

You go to any country in the world you'll find rowdy revellers from time to time, as long as people aren't getting stabbed and it's just some noise pollution then possibly on balance the better option would be let them be. Maybe in future make arrangements with council that parties are held where the non-parties are not trying to sleep.

PS: I think with people being decapitated in the streets for making a religious joke, Dutch society is not without basis to suggest some bad ideology has come in from outside that was not fostered in the Netherlands. I don't think when they are talking about "immigrant" they are talking about the industrious Polish, they are talking about the groups that prescribe how much you can beat your wife and what kind of jokes should carry the death sentence.

 

[George Barrow]

I can see what you are saying, where I live near London we have a giant community of Polish immigrants, and in my school they take up about 25% of the student body. The thing is, while yes there is still discrimination about immigrants, The whites are actually the minority in the school, with Asians taking up 30%. It is just a melting pot of cultures and then some right wing asshole in the middle of it saying that we should deport all the foreigners back to their countries. While usually ignored, there has been quite a movement recently where I am in which some English whites have actually had protests about all the foreigners, saying if Cameron does nothing they will vote BNP, which is completely absurd. Needless to say, I tell who ever says that to shut their mouths, lest my fist does it for them

 

[Bloodtrozorx]

Oh wow, that is pretty bad. All I ever hear about regarding immigration for the Dutch is how "muslims are ruining our country" which incidentally is a sentiment some of my fellow Americans have been chirping about. Sadly the truth has already been stated, everyone is looking for a scapegoat and immigrants are an easy target.

 

[Woodsey]

Maybe you should move out of that village, it sounds like a retard magnet.

+1 for "**** polish", you should trademark that. I'm sure lots of ladies would love something like that.

**** Polish: Rub it 'til it shines!

I can see what you are saying, where I live near London we have a giant community of Polish immigrants, and in my school they take up about 25% of the student body. The thing is, while yes there is still discrimination about immigrants, The whites are actually the minority in the school, with Asians taking up 30%. It is just a melting pot of cultures and then some right wing asshole in the middle of it saying that we should deport all the foreigners back to their countries. While usually ignored, there has been quite a movement recently where I am in which some English whites have actually had protests about all the foreigners, saying if Cameron does nothing they will vote BNP, which is completely absurd. Needless to say, I tell who ever says that to shut their mouths, lest my fist does it for them

Bleh, the BNP are so old-hat. Funny story, apparently one of their higher-up members emigrated to South Africa not too long ago. I think that was after they managed to bankrupt a local council they were elected to within about 3 months.

OT: Sounds like you live in a pretty rural area, which tend to be full of backwards-arse morons whatever country you're in.