1799-] 
ON THE NATIONAL CHARACTER OF 
THE DUTCH.* 
| From the manufcript Notes of a German.|_ 
PYNHE firft thing that offends a fo- 
reigner upon his entrance into Hol- 
land, is a certain indifference and coldnefs 
of manners. He hears none of thofe warm 
expreflions of kindnefs which in other 
countries are a part of good breeding, and 
which, thouglr they cott little or nothing 
to the fpeaker, fo agreeably flatter thofe to 
whom they are addreiied: he witneffes 
none of thofe eager marks of efteem, 
friendfhip and folicitude, which indeed are 
feldom {ferioufly meant; in fhort, none of 
what are generaily confidered as the prin- 
cipal ingredients of politenefs. 
A ftranger, when he delivers ‘his letters 
of introduétion toa fafhionable Hollander, 
will be difgufted by his cold and ceremo- 
nious reception of him: and feel +himfelf 
compelled by the monofyllabic abruptnefs 
of his converfation immediately to enter 
upon the bufinefs which has brought him 
to Holland,. and particularly occafioned 
that-vifit. The Dutchman will then with 
due formality exprefs the fuggeftions of 
the moment, promife his affiftance, and 
then, pleading an immediate engagement, 
make an appointment at the exchange; 
the place of common refort for every kind 
of bufinefs: and our traveller may con- 
gratulate himfelf if he be now and then 
invited to his*table (op un Kabbeljaawitje 
or Tongotje) or in fummer to his country- 
houfe: as to every thing elfe, he is left 
entirely to himfelf, on the fuppofition, that 
at his hotel, or at fome coffee-houfe, he 
will meet with perfons who for a gratuity 
will point out to him what is worthy of 
obfervation in the town, or affift him in 
paffing away the time. Every vifit, not 
upon bufinefs, which he makes at the 

* The following notes were occafioned by 
reading a little work, ‘¢ Tbe familiar Letters 
of a Dane,” and afterwards “* Riem’s Travels 
through Holland.” Amongit the many ob- 
fervations made by thefe travellers during 
their very rapid journey, are fome precipitate 
and but half true. Againft this error I am 
perhaps protected by a nine years” refidence in 
Holland, *till the fpring of 1798. Befides, 
what will enfure credibility to my affertions, 
George Forfter, who of all travellers has 
mot profoundly and accurately examined the 
charatter of the Dutch, as well as of other- 
Nations; and whofe ‘* Views’? I had the 
means of comparing with the following re- 
marks, immediately after they were written, 
Nas in many points eftablifbed the fame con- 
clifions, D. Erns. 
On the national Charafter of the Dutch. 
695 
houfe to which he was introduced, will 
difcover to him that he is an incumbrance 
both to the mafter of it and all his family. 
Qn the other hand, civility and hofpita- 
lity generally prevail among the middle 
claffes of the people, in proportion as they 
are lefs defirous to imitate the higher or- 
ders. The anecdote in ¢¢ Forfter's Views” 
of the landlord who pulled off his warm 
flippers to offer them toa traveller, is a 
ftriking reprefentation of the good difpo- 
fitions of the wealthy Dutch citizens ; 
however, the contraft between them and 
thofe of more fafhionable life is not al- 
ways fo remarkable. And, generally 
{fpeaking, there is no country where hu- 
manity and civilization are more com- 
pletely found among the middling clafles 
than in Holland; and even among the 
rich and fafhionable in the {maller towns, 
if not at Amfterdam, an unafluming’ ci- 
vility and kindnefs are found ina confi- 
derable degree. 
A fftranger who has loft his way, or 
cannot find the place to which he is going, 
may venture to inquire of the firft perion 
-he meets in the ftreet, or ring at the next 
houfe, whether the door be open or fhut : 
The perfon addreffed will, if he can any- 
how guefs his meaning, affift him with the 
-greateft readinefs, or if he does not under- 
ftand or cannot inform him, will call to 
fome one who is paffling by; fo that a 
ftranger may occafionally find himfelf fur- 
rounded by perfons, every one of whom 
is defirous of affifting him. And all this 
takes place without the leaft pretenfions or 
expectation of praife. It often happens 
that a perfon, obferving a ftranger appa- 
rently ignorant of the town, will antici- 
pate his inquiries and offer his fervice. 
It-is never-advifeable rudely to refufe any 
requeft whatever, as for inftance, to help 
a porter with a heavily laden wheel-barrow 
overabridge. A man who was fmoaking 
before his door, was driven into the houle 
by the hifles of a mob, which foon col- 
leCted, becaufe he refufed to light the pipe 
of a day-labourer who was paffing by. 
In other refpects, it is found here, par- 
ticularly at Amfterdam, that in proportion 
to his rank and riches a man lofes his 
\ 
natural goodnefs of difpofition; and fuf- ~ 
fers himfelf to be meanly and narrowly 
limited in every word and action by felffh 
confiderations of profit and lofs, No per- 
fons talk more about good-breeding, 
(bebeefdheid). ov pride themfelves more 
upon it, than the Dutch: but their good- 
breeding is nothing but a fff and cald 
ceremonial comprehending fome half-dozen 
mighty points; one of the moft important 
AML Of 
