Thread by @alexandreafonso

A theory of Dutch arrogance (thread).

The Dutch are very self-confident and many people seem to be convinced of the superiority of their country over others in Europe. This cover is probably not representative but the fact that a mainstream magazine used it says something about a certain face of national opinion.

Coming from Switzerland I find it puzzling because even if Switzerland is also successful, richer, a bit better organized and honestly has much better landscapes, there is bit of a latent complex of inferiority vis-à-vis France, Germany, maybe Italy.

I mean people diss France and make fun of them but we secretly envy them. We don't have Molière, Sartre and the like. We have venerable dynasties of private bankers.

That's because they speak the same language as we do, speak it often much better, have greater culture and humour. We're richer but we envy them. The Netherlands doesn't have a bigger neighbour that speaks the same language to compare themselves to and to make them feel ashamed.

So that creates a culture of national pride without the countervailing forces of shame we have in Switzerland.

The Dutch have good reasons to be proud of their country, it is really very successful and organised. Cycling is amazing. If there is a tree somewhere, it is because an engineer somewhere in a government office has decided that this was the best place to put a tree.

But it sometimes translates in an overconfidence that is rarely based on actual knowledge of other countries. In Switzerland, because of the language, we know a lot about neighbouring countries. Many Dutch people *think* they know.

Arrogance doesn't mean snobbery. In Switzerland and the Netherlands, politicians are just normal people. On the left, former Swiss president Burkhalter waiting for his train (while in office). Right, Dutch PM Mark Rutte cycling to work.

This is the current Portuguese president waiting for his turn at the supermarket.
tvi24.iol.pt/amp/politica/d…

Today's FT lunch between @KuperSimon and @rcbregman gives an insight into Dutch culture.

Yougov did a survey a few years ago. Doesn't include the NL but significant differences across countries:
57% of Danes and 59% of Norwegians think their country "is better than most other countries". Only 32% of Brits and 29% of French think it is the case
d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_upload…

Full results. Americans are where you'd expect.

4% of French respondents think their country is the worst in the world. Seriously?!