Greeting

Every business meeting begins and ends with a handshake. The handshake should be vigorous, firm, and short.

During the greeting it is customary to shake hands with both men and women.

While communicating, it is important to maintain direct but unobtrusive eye contact. This helps to create a relationship of sincerity and trust with your partner.

If you have been introduced to a small group of people, shake hands with each of them while saying your last name.

If you are not formally introduced at a business event, take the initiative to introduce yourself. Shake hands with each person and give your last name.

It is impolite to keep your other hand in your pocket while shaking hands.

Close friends exchange light kisses on the cheek when they meet, but this occurs when men say hello to women or between female friends. Men, even in friendly relations, usually greet each other by shaking hands.

Among young people, it is common to address each other immediately by name.

Introduction

Traditionally, people in the Netherlands use their surname when greeting each other. However, in recent years the communication style has become increasingly informal and your business partners may suggest that you call each other by your first name at the start of the contact.

In official situations, the communication style remains formal. In such cases, people address each other using the polite forms Mr, Ms, Mrs, Miss (if the conversation is in English), followed by the name of the person they are talking to.

Your Dutch partner may have several first names. As a rule, only the first name is used in everyday conversation.

Many Dutch surnames contain or begin with the affix van (of/of), de/het (that) or der (of), e.g. Vincent van Gogh or Greg de Vries. These affixes are capitalized, but only when written together with a name. If there is no name, the affix should be capitalized, e.g. Professor De Velde.

Exchange of Business Cards

In the Dutch business community it is customary to exchange business cards. This often takes place at the end of a meeting rather than at the beginning.

There is no special ritual for exchanging business cards in the Netherlands.

Small Talk: Overview

When communicating with a partner from the Netherlands, do not refer to the country as Holland, as this is not true anymore. By the way, North and South Holland are just two of the twelve provinces of the present Netherlands, which throughout history have been the most developed and therefore best known outside the country.

Not much time should be spent on small talk in a negotiation or business meeting. Your Dutch partner is likely to go straight to discussing business issues.

During communication, avoid active gesticulation as well as physical touching, keep a certain distance between yourself and your partner, and maintain direct, non-intensive eye contact.

Preferred Topics

Travelling.

Sport and above all football, speed skating and cycling.

Sights in the Netherlands and places you have visited in the country.

International, and national events and current news can serve as a topic of conversation. However, make sure that the topic you propose is not controversial.

Family, family events, or news.

Weekend or holiday plans.

Taboo Topics

Avoid making harsh judgements or categorical statements about government policy or about issues related to religion, immigration, drugs or prostitution.

Your interlocutor in the Netherlands may be one of those people who are annoyed by questions and comments about liberal attitudes towards drug use and sex trafficking. It is best to refrain from these topics.

When communicating, do not try to impress your interlocutor by telling him or her about your successes. Avoid self-glorification and self-promotion. The Netherlands can be characterized as an egalitarian state in which the most important value is the priority of equality for all its members. By emphasizing your importance, you risk losing your partner's trust.

Personal Space

The comfort zone in Dutch society is at arm's length (or slightly more) in both business and social situations. This distance should be respected in conversation, as it is important to your Dutch partner that his or her personal space is not violated.

Physical contact during communication is not accepted in any of its forms, be it patting, hugging, etc. The exception is the handshake, which people exchange at the greeting stage.

Only in communication between friends and relatives is light physical contact allowed, as well as an open display of feelings.

When talking to your Dutch partner, keep in mind that words are more important than gestures. Compared to other cultures, body language is used less to support or emphasize a thought or emotion.

Communication Specifics

The Dutch have a direct style of communication, they are quite clear and open in their thoughts, trying to rely on facts and reliable information.

"Everything can be discussed and everything can be solved by discussing" - this is the approach that Dutch society adheres to, even in difficult situations, trying not to keep silent or avoid uncomfortable or unpleasant topics.

Your Dutch partner will prefer an honest, clear, and direct conversation where there is no room for hidden meanings or ambiguous statements.

In the course of communication, you will find that your Dutch partners behave in a friendly yet businesslike manner. Expressions of excessive politeness and deference may be mistrusted here, as they do not always match the direct and unambiguous language typical of the Dutch.