Why the Dutch don't say sorry - BBC REEL

[@MrJimheeren]

I was not aware we did not say sorry. I’m sorry

[@I.Love.My.Border.Collie]

Good comment! 😂 People don't know what they are talking about sometimes. There are always exceptions and extremes in all situations in life. I wrote a reply above yours. Tot ziens! ❤

[@BehaviorDynamics]

😂 this is typically Dutch humor!

[@Four-of-Six]

Sorry???!!!! Daar heb ik mijn hele zolder vol van!!!! ( Sorry???!!!! I have an attic full of those!!!! Is sometimes said in the Netherlands when someone says 'Sorry' but you're not content with their apology.

[@chatterboxjan8]

It's true, I've lived here 50 years and they never think to say sorry about anything unless they are being sarcastic.....

[@LIZZIE-lizzie]

Sometimes terminology is wrong. Excuse me - is more appropriate than "sorry" in many instances.

[@dawnkindnesscountsmost5991]

There are times I'd rather hear a person say to me, "I understand," after I've clarified a preference, for example. No one has to say sorry for not knowing something, nor for existing. I do dislike when someone says sorry to try to avoid the responsibility and the consequences of their actions; sorry isn't a magic word that makes everything okay.

[@kimberlysoto6864]

Yes they say sorry in place of “excuse me.” Then push you aside.🤷🏻‍♀️

[@jesse9710]

@@kimberlysoto6864 if you're getting pushed around 9/10 you're either standing somewhere you shouldn't be or you aren't aware how much of a road/path/area your blocking.

[@kimberlysoto6864]

@@jesse9710 I have to screech my brakes to come to full stop to avoid someone cutting immediately across or in front of me. I am talking nose close they come to me on my way. When right behind me is a Gap of 20 yards. I don’t stand around nor Lollygag. Grocery store is another example. LEan over to pick something shelf and totally cut off by a person jumping in front. There is NO concept of personal space nor waiting YOUR turn, nor a line. Try entering a festival and or getting drinks at a bar. Elbows must be out to get your proper turn. If you live there , you probably don’t notice this is the habit.of locals . Look around with thought you will see it over and over. . A line? Ha, forget it. What Line for your turn, non existent. Assertiveness is in full when I am in Netherlands. 😁Coming for one of my annual event visits , my ADE WEEK IN A couple days AND FOR my space wherever I go. 😁

[@jesse9710]

@@kimberlysoto6864 okay the line thing is just nonsense, I've been in this country for 25 years and the amount of times somebody jumped the line I can count on 1 hand so that is just utter nonsense and and EXTREME exaggeration. The festival part, yeah its a festival, what do you expect when there are hundreds if not thousands of people wanting to get their drinks asap while already being drunk? As to your bike/car part really depends on where in the country you are. Small village? Yeah it's rude. Big city like Amsterdam? Get over it

[@FoxFox-i1c]

This is so not true. Dutch people do say sorry. And I know that for I am dutch. Dutch people may be quite direct and/or frank and they mostly speak their mind. But do not confuse that with being rude or not being able to say sorry.

[@joebox9462]

Compared to other cultures, you are rude and selfish. Typical, you can never admit it. Only direct when you want something.

[@Eza_yuta]

I think what the video mean is Dutch don't say sorry when they don't feel sorry. Other cultures say sorry just for beng polite or diplomatic.

[@joebox9462]

Its just you are more selfish and lack the class of other cultures.

[@ytwos1]

Yep, you didn’t watch the vid right, the title is to lure you in. Sorry to say😅

[@mister4593]

Goedpraten

[@madsmadsoleh8642]

"Don't say sorry to me. Say it to the sun." - some Dutch driving instructor

[@DaveFlash]

that was from an advertisement!

[@daviddecelles8714]

People who lack sorrow either conceal themselves from reality or are brutishly simplistic. If the Dutch are such, then it is indeed impertinent to express sorrow to them because they lack the depth needed to empathize. It is best to withold our feelings of sorrow for their shallowness.

[@JD-oe5uc]

@@daviddecelles8714clearly you don’t understand the Dutch. It is basically that it don’t make any sense to say sorry to a driving instructor if you make a mistake. We would typically think ‘don’t make that mistake twice’ of help to prevent making that mistake again. And a lot of Dutch are quite sarcastic (more in the West). I mean even I as a Dutch person from the East had to get used to it when living in Rotterdam, but I liked it! Directness combined with sarcasm. Nothing to do with empathy

[@ronaldv_tm]

@@daviddecelles8714 this is a direct (albeit translated) humorous quote from a well known Dutch TV commercial.

[@aitje5065]

00:58 ‘I asked people from other countries…’ - second person: ‘I’m from Maastricht!’ 😂

[@DrWhom]

Hilarious.

[@Thommie33]

I came looking for this comment, fell of my chair laughing😂

[@har3036]

Maastricht is in Limburg, totally different from the West of the country.

[@YouriBeckers]

Typical people from Maastricht. They are known for their arrogance and chauvenism. Terrible people...

[@Asjemenou-d3j]

well in all fairness, she is the girl? friend from the Syrian fellow.

[@XD-cr3du]

I'm a Dutch person, and for me personaly, saying I'm sorry is only done when you really want to apologise for something. Something you might have said that offended someone or something important you've forgotten. I think Dutch people in general are allergic to word inflation, we use certain words less often (I'm sorry, I love you, I hate this), because we feel that using these words too often degrades their meaning (word inflation). Whenever I watch American real life drama series for example I'm always suprised how the word love is thrown around so easily even with people who just met a few weeks ago.

[@zeddeka]

I think a lot of other countries find American communication to be very shallow and fake.

[@geertcautereels]

As a Belgian, I look at this uninvolvedly but up close. So convinced of your rightness, you rarely see a reason to apologize. An innocent physical contact on the tram is not your fault but that of the other person. This somewhat arrogant attitude has already brought your country far. Or is it the other way around. But what are you going to say when Saint Peter asks you about the definition of modesty?

[@XD-cr3du]

@@geertcautereels I was actualy in Belgium this weekend, and the country is beautiful and I really like the people there. And for your information, if I bump into someone in the tram I will say sorry. Judging someone before you've even met them as arrogant is not a moral virtue. Something to think about before you attempt to assert yourself as moraly superior.

[@geertcautereels]

@@XD-cr3du I judge no one, just a opinion on Dutch people from the period that I worked there. Was not looking for moral virtue, 'm not superior, hate ranking . have a nice weekend.

[@XD-cr3du]

@@geertcautereels You call an entire nation of people arrogant, yes you do judge.

[@masterprophet8378]

A 40 something looking Dutch woman cut me in line at the Jumbo supermarket 2 days ago. And when I said, "Excuse me, I was next in line," she immediately said, "I'm so sorry." And she continued to apologize, profusely, even so much as gently patting me on my shoulder, and was very kind. Everyone I've met here in Amsterdam has been very kind. I've only met one person who could be considered rude. Amsterdam is truly awesome.

[@rossmurray6849]

The British style of "politeness" is actually fraught with dangers. When the entire culture avoids saying anything confrontational, people start looking for hidden messages to signal disapproval in whatever others say, as if everything others say must be scanned to detect any 'passive aggressive' insults. I have Asperger's and my brain is hard-wired to say what I mean and interpret what others say literally, and assume others do the same. I'm often left bewildered when people become angry because they think they see some criticism in what I've said -- even though the statement has a perfectly innocuous literal meaning.

[@sheilasydneynotyerbizniz2933]

I would rather have a person be open and honest, than be polite to my face and talk behind my back.

[@dimilands]

they are pretty back stabbing there too..

[@rayjones1113]

Dutch people are the biggest backstabbing racist you,ll know😂😂

[@MariahLeyla]

İ prefer honest and polite

[@mitkoogrozev]

@MariahLeyla those two things can be mutually exclusive

[@ZeroFocu5]

The only sorries I tend to dispise are the unnecessary ones, like profusely apologizing for trying to skirt around me when I'm in the way. Or when people apologize for behaviors that they never change. You can say sorry all you want, but if it happens again 5 minutes later your apologies are worthless to me.

[@ytwos1]

I am Dutch and I work in support. I do sometimes miss the real meaning of what a UK based customer says to me. Once I asked if they were happy with the answer, if all was clear, customer seemed happy to me, closed the incident in agreement, received a bad survey. I dont like to close an incident without being on the same page. So I did really miss that.

[@floepiejane]

They cannot tell you that they don't like something about you or your ideas to your face. They think that lying and acting nice is more polite than just telling you their thoughts. Not all of them, of course; the working class everywhere will tell you what they think. Maybe it comes from the same place as "if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all." But the Dutch aren't all that direct either. They're laden with their manners and class politics as well. As a New Yorker expat in Holland, I can say, in my experience, the Dutch might be forward compared to the rest of Europe, but not to the States, and certainly not to New York. They often search for the meaning between my lines, which are just not there; I said what I meant. And I think the answer's there: I generally don't use sarcasm. They are loaded with it. Everyone is, really, and I mean western civ at least. Maybe I'm the weirdo these days. Who knows.

[@michaelburggraf2822]

That's quite bad. Creating the impression that everything's ok and just leaving a bad review online is plainly dishonest.

[@KaasSchaaf666]

@@floepiejane no, that's a piece of the Dutchman in you, New York is an old colony of the Netherlands and the character of the New Yorkers has largely remained the same. The English left it that way because it works, but they thought Jan and Kees were weird. # yankees.

[@floepiejane]

@@KaasSchaaf666 prove that. Lol it's wishful thinking

[@KaasSchaaf666]

@@floepiejane somewhere a professor who has done research on it at a university, is of no use to you either, but I didn't pull it out of thin air.

[@jensimaster]

I grew up in a Dutch household, in Canada. I feel so awkward.

[@feliciahackney9073]

Sore-y

[@annemarieboon7778]

You probably say sorry all the time, speaking English, as a word without real meaning

[@leendersc]

Cool, so did my kids and my grand kids ..Nothing to feel awkward about , be proud of your Dutch heritage

[@MamaPinks]

LOL'z that's a conundrum! Canadians always say, "sorry" they're so polite about it. But saying that word all of the time, it looses it's true meaning and seems to feel very disingenuous.

[@JillianSiobhanMal]

😹

[@Leo-pd8ww]

Directness, honesty and punctuality is also a way of respecting one another and showing integrity as a person. If you are not punctual, then you are not appreciative of the effort of the other person to be punctual. If you are not honest towards a person, then you are dishonest. In no way we wish to trample your feelings or self-worth, but bullshitting or lying is disrespectful. If you are not direct about some issue, then you don't take this issue seriously and you are basically wasting my time.

[@Ikbeneengeit]

This is helpful, thanks. In English I would say that respect is shown by empathizing with the other person and giving them space to express themselves in a conversation, at the cost of room for one's own opinions. Punctuality is somewhat less critical.

[@MamaPinks]

Very interesting, and it makes perfect sense, too! I wish more people outside of the Netherlands could behave this way. It simply shows respect, and respect goes a long way. "I'm sorry" is used way too much for every single thing and it seems to lose its meaning.

[@chatterboxjan8]

The Dutch language doesn't lend itself to apologies because of the lack of vocabulary, no nuance.....

[@meriotheart]

One thing I think people don't know about is that Dutch is a direct language, but one that uses modal particles (I learned about them very recently). They're basically words that tell you the emotional meaning of what's being said while not blocking direct conversation. Dutch people are still direct and value honesty, but they greatly influence the way your critique/opinions/jokes are perceived. Doe het raam open alsjeblieft (open the window please) vs Doe het raam eens open alsjeblieft (open the window please). They both technically mean the same, but the first one feels like an order/like they're angry, while the second one sounds more friendly and like they're asking you a small favor. There are a lot of modal particles in Dutch (eens being one of them) and they all change the meaning of the sentence. They're aren't really translatable into English and people learning the language probably won't recognise them at first. There are combinations with different meanings and they get used subconsciously, but can have the conversation end up in a fight. Doe het raam nou open alsjeblieft (sounds like an order and like you're annoyed with the person) Doe het raam nou eens open alsjeblieft (sounds like you're annoyed and have asked them already at least once) Doe het raam nou eens even open alsjeblieft (you've asked them several times to do a relatively small task and are starting to get kind of pissed of) Doe het raam eens eventjes open alsjeblieft (implies that it is a small task, but you'd like them to do it quickly)

[@therankingworld7627]

Wow nice

[@tomz5704]

I'd say doe infront of a request sounds like an order either way, were as saying kan je het raam open doen sounds waaay more polite

[@mamasash1]

This was helpful to me. As a Canadian who lived 6 years in Brabant, it was difficult for me to understand.

[@timetraveler43]

It’s the same in English. Saying „just open the window“ sounds like an annoyed command. „Could you just open the window „ sounds more pleasant.

[@nanwuamitofo]

Every language has that. Nothing special.

[@miserimuslovestarvus6587]

I wish more people were direct and clear. How much time we would save!

[@floepiejane]

Oh no, they've got a bureaucracy that can send you in circles forever.

[@rientsdijkstra4266]

@@floepiejane That is a different subject, please don't confuse matters.

[@floepiejane]

@@rientsdijkstra4266 it's not, though

[@rientsdijkstra4266]

@@floepiejane I am sorry, but the bureaucracy is not caused by the Dutch tendency to directness. If anything that reduces bureaucracy.

[@jillmcaleese6514]

Oh, so true! We Brits lived part-time in the Netherlands over 10 years or so. It taught us to laugh at ourselves, always saying sorry and being so self-effacing. We will never forget the day we heard a bus driver telling off a passenger for not saying good morning! She just walked past the driver and flashed her pass. He was not amused, and told her so. We were cowering in our seats at such a public display of direct feelings. It’s also hard for us to boldly take our place in a queue, like in a supermarket. Sometimes a nice Dutch person would tell off someone who took advantage of our hesitation. We really remember and treasure and laugh about these memories. Thanks for the video!

[@rachidow2125]

Haha the thing about the bus driver is so true. But it’s also not good to just flash your card and to say nothing when u entered the bus. Also the bus driver is a human being.

[@marcsetmais7598]

10 jaar in Nederland en nog geen woord Nederlands ? En dan hier zulke onzin opschrijven? Flikker toch op!

[@Rhodiac]

Aussie with dutch mum in the UK right now. Sometimes the talking around issues and saying sorry too much is insufferable

[@Ned-nw6ge]

Dutchman here, that bit about the bus driver is very recognizable indeed. It's also a custom to tell the driver "goodbye" or "have a nice day" when you exit the bus. In some parts of the country strangers even say a polite "hello" to each other when passing each other (though this also happens in the Dutch speaking part of Belgium if I'm right). And the directness and sometimes downright bluntness of the Dutch (especially the Hollanders aka the westerners) is something that's appreciated as well as disliked by other parts of the country and of the world. Personally I prefer directness/bluntness and honesty over sugarcoating and beating around the bush, but I've seen some people who see the Hollanders' direct, no-nonsense attitude as a lack of social skills.

[@Rhodiac]

@@Ned-nw6ge Yes. I find being indirect very insincere and almost rude

[@tamara8908]

I have just made a huge self discovery. My family is Dutch-Indo. I am the first American in my family raised by Dutch speakers. I am known to be a direct speaker. I also get impatient with long winded presentations. Now I know why!

[@gloriascientiae7435]

Same here, can't stand it. Then I suppose you're not really one for outrage culture and all that victemo BS either. :p

[@Rhodiac]

Same, first gen Australian. Family is dutch and it makes sense

[@yvonnebrink9912]

Canadian of dutch parents....drives me crazy when people beat around the bush or say what they think you want to hear....no just tell me what your thinking so we can get on with it. People my whole life say I'm rude and blunt....now i know its because its the dutch in me

[@wouternieminen844]

Welcome to the club

[@BonQueerd]

Welcome to the club everyone

[@Theories16]

We do say Sorry if we made a genuine mistake, we dont say sorry when we dont mean it. Thats a difference. Cause then u can get into a dialogue, and open about what ppl are feeling. Its just about directness and being open and not talking around the bush or how you say it.

[@beenishsadiq5870]

Yea exactly.

[@nyvictoryvictory4356]

Yes, but in England the environment has a huge impact on our emotions and we live very isolated that creates alot of overthinking and overeacting and depressing

[@lindalarsson1436]

​​@@beenishsadiq5870 Sorry to inrerrupt , I am Canadian. We start sentences with Sorrry or excuse me. 😂😂😂

[@thecolorjune]

Even in the case of genuine mistakes, I’ve found that Dutch people usually explain “I didn’t mean that” or some other reason but skip the “sorry” as they find the explanation more important. Which is sometimes helpful but also can feel like they forget to validate your feelings.

[@RoyCousins]

In Britain, "sorry" can be a passive/aggressive term. The use of "sorry" can often lead to a fight.

[@ytwos1]

Sorry to hear that. Slap, ouch.

[@DrWhom]

as can "excuuuuuuuuuuuse me"

[@joshcollins9125]

Sorry you feel that way

[@andrewlarasen9615]

In my experiences, the Dutch don't say "sorry". Perhaps the best way of describing it, is that they have a tendency to avoid this particular word. Why? I am not sure. They avoid this by either not saying it at all or using an alternative (workaround) "Ik had het niet moeten (doen)" this is basically a false apology and is certainly not meant. "Het spijt mij" is used then this is from the heart and is meant. "Excuses" or "Mijn excuses" is another form of a real apology.

[@sarahpengelly8439]

I agree that the Dutch are generally very direct in their communication style but people do use the word 'sorry'.

[@fseffefsfefe7996]

I think it's suppose that we only say sorry if we ARE. Not when we feel like we have to. In other countries, you often say sorry even if you aren't to escape conflict.

[@LeTim013]

@@fseffefsfefe7996 as a dutch guy, I usually let people just walk over me and completely ignore them since it is just too bothersome to call someone out on their bs. Smiling sarcasticly agreeing with their reasoning knowing full wel im in the right, i say sorry daily bcause it saves me time not because i am.

[@gerritvalkering1068]

I think the video wasn't too clear about it, but I feel it's more about using sorry as a general throw in word. If you're calling support and the line is bad, a Dutch person is more likely to say 'could you repeat that? the line broke up' rather than making it 'sorry, could you repeat that?'. It's not their fault the line is bad, so why should they apologize for having a hard time hearing what's being said, is the sentiment behind it. Sorry, in the Dutch vocabulary, means admitting you did something wrong, or at least that whatever needs apologizing for was in your power to prevent. It also means it's more than just a mild inconvenience. Ask anyone who works in a support center that's closed in the weekends, and they'll tell you that it's always the busiest on Monday morning. It makes sense. So if you call on Monday morning and complain you had to wait longer than usual before being connected to someone, do not expect a 'sorry', expect a 'yeah, that's Monday mornings'. And of course this is a general tendency, not a universal truth

[@leandrog2785]

This is a BBC video. The standard for them is saying sorry for absolutely any situation.

[@TeleshitNL]

we use more '' Het spijt me'' because it has more and powerfull meaning to it! then sorry.

[@norbertjanssen814]

This is the most untrue BS i've seen in weeks. I would like to see what all these opinions are based on and what proof there is to this story. The Dutch don't say sorry when they don't mean it and that's the only difference. Saying that we never say sorry is just ridiculous. We even use the exact word in our language.

[@greg_216]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but "sorry" in Dutch or German is more like a polite acknowledgment for bumping into someone in public or some minor faux pas. It's not some huge admission of guilt. The problem arises from the English word "apology" having so many meanings.

[@TimDutch]

It can be used for both but it's more appropriately used for what you said first. If you did something really bad and you just say 'sorry' people can get annoyed.

[@rodgerhargoon3402]

Since when did the b b c use fair and frank reporting??? They pick and choose the countries to their benefit

[@yogachick1955]

I think a lot of folks on the spectrum would enjoy communicating with the direct & honest Dutch

[@victoremmanuell_ptbr1902]

I visited the Netherlands in 2016 and I was very aware of the directness of Dutch people. So, I was very prepared for "straight-to-the-point" answers 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣I was OK, 'cause I knew they were not trying to hurt me. Plus, the country is so cozy and beautiful. There were happy days of vacation there!!

[@Tiger313NL]

Glad you enjoyed your stay here. :)

[@ichneu]

Elton John: Sorry seems to be the hardest word. He's referring to Brits, not Dutch people. When a Dutch person says sorry it doesn't mean anything. Well, get out of my way. At best.

[@aromaticsnail]

2:57 someone forgot the subtitles

[@k.kangsar8305]

Ooops. Sorry! 😋😆🤭

[@PiXie232]

@@k.kangsar8305 lol

[@Tiger313NL]

No subtitles needed, I can hear what he's saying perfectly fine. Oh wait... I'm Dutch, sorry! 🤭

[@massimilianoazzara9257]

True,I lived in Uk for 20 years…loved it yet,one thing always let me down,most Brit’s uses sorry or apology to avoid communication

[@TeleshitNL]

because of their fakeness

[@AudieHolland]

When we were on holidays in Great Britain, in 1979, we found the British people we talked to very friendly. Example: me (9 year old kid) and my father were wandering around the country side, realizing we were a bit lost. So my father stopped a random passing car. The English driver was very friendly and forthcoming in his directions. After some more time walking, we stopped another car to ask for directions. Same experience. I even said to my father, the British are rather friendly to foreigners, aren't they! My father agreed. But perhaps this is because it was long ago and/or in the countryside? It was near Wind Mill Hill. Perhaps they were used to tourists getting lost and asking directions.

[@nanwuamitofo]

Those professional experts are hilarious in their simplicity. They barely rise above pub talk.

[@paulinaarevalo7203]

As a foreigner married to Dutch and living in The Netherlands for almost 8 years, my perception is that Dutch people do say sorry when they make mistakes, they are very direct, and they can be very rude too sometimes. You dont need to comment EVERYTHING that comes into your mind and make unnecessary remarks about situations or people in a very DRY way, even if its true sometimes is better to be quiet.

[@fseffefsfefe7996]

Don't worry, even some Dutch people get tired of those ones lol.

[@nomoresunforever3695]

That's just your opinion. Different cultures can think differently about this. Stop talking like you have the moral truth on your side. ✋️

[@floepiejane]

@@nomoresunforever3695 you're the only one with a "moral truth" here.

[@nomoresunforever3695]

@@floepiejane nope

[@floepiejane]

@@nomoresunforever3695 Cope is spelled with a C.

[@joskoevoet9569]

Sorry but that's just nonsense. I've lived in the 🇳🇱 for half my life and Dutch people definitely say sorry. In fact it's a very common phrase that you can hear daily wherever you go.

[@dutchgamer842]

Sorry needs to be sincere, otherwise don't say it. It would sound Sarcastic

[@FantomwithanEff]

Well actually the Dutch have a challange then to understand non verbal cues...as discussed in the video, because British ( coz they owned the world almost) and Americans (because they are self proclaimed king of the world) have had a huge impact on world and most people are not direct.. so the Dutch i think have a massive challange at hand to pick up non verbal cues.. like with the "hmm it's interesting, i will get back" example, most of the rest of the world work pick the cue that they probably not going to think of it and move forward with next steps the Dutch one may be left pursuing and hoping where as if they understood that everyone in the world is not Dutch, it would be nicer

[@avortinus6031]

True

[@picardy7488]

I agree - I made a comment above that the Japanese operate through body language and subtleties. It is expected that you are sharp enough to pick up the cues.

[@ZeroFocu5]

@@picardy7488 Or you could just say it.

[@Tiger313NL]

@FantomwithanEff You think the Dutch didn't have any impact on the world? If so: think again! Also, we understand perfectly well that not everyone in the world is Dutch. If you have to travel from A to B, say for work or to get to a hospital, where time is of the essence, do you drive the shortest route? Or do you waste time by taking the long way around via CDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ? We don't want people to waste our time. Say what you want, mean what you say.

[@FantomwithanEff]

@Tiger313NL hey tiger chill out? Tell me where did I say dutch have no impact? If anything one thing dutch are masters of (and I respect, even admire that) is that for commerce they can put all difference aside... They all speak English now coz they know it helps commerce... So wether u call it waste of ur time or whatever, you will need to understand how other people operate if u want to work with them... Btw tho dutch are my fav kind of Europeans after the Scandinavians... But just to piss with u here, gone are the days when Europe held all power and the world needed to adjust to them.. and if the dutch don't want to learn to do business with others people have other avenues to go to...

[@timepainter6831]

Well we say "sorry" if we recognize we said or did something wrong. But we don't apologize for outing what we think or feel. And Dutch ate not direct or open. Be aware, especially when you come from for instance English politeness culture. For us it's non polite not to say what you really think. But for Dutch people that isn't necessarily being direct or open. And for foreigners, "Dutch being open and direct"...don't make this mistake....When you speak, or are asked "do you like this or that" it's actually non polite in the Netherlands not to give your thoughts or feelings. I've noticed sometimes English people, to be polite, they tend to give soothing answers which can set of a chain of miscommunication. Very important for foreigners. We have a saying....the soup isn't eaten as hot as it's served...meaning that if a Dutch outs his or dislike about a thing it is not that you are bad or what you are doing is bad, it means he or she doesn't like it. And it's considered polite because you don't have to waste your time and energy....

[@Pescador-Flandria]

We're the tallest people in the world and look down on you.......😂

[@kaasmeester5903]

We do say sorry often, albeit in a somewhat flippant manner, like saying “well, excuse me”: Sorry hoor. (Pronounced like “Surrey whore”).

[@endthisnonsense7202]

I'm Dutch, the Dutch DO say sorry. Unlike Anglo-Saxons they say sorry only when they ARE sorry. This ensures you know they mean it.

[@hutchhound3788]

Bullshit. This sounds like all Asians are good at maths or all black people can dance.

[@smilingatbadpeople1413]

Michelle Potters waar heeft u uw onderzoek gedaan?

[@sanchoodell6789]

The Japanese are the polar opposite of the Dutch when it comes to being "direct". So its fascinating hearing some Dutch people here speaking about their interactions with Brits when it comes to doing business with them Because it seems Brits use more nuanced language. This is certainly *more* the case in Japanese culture as being "direct" or "to the point" is potentially confrontational or comes across as rude or obtrude etc. One needs to "read" the situation.

[@DrWhom]

In my experience the English are just fundamentally dishonest and uncivilised.

[@Asdos.]

Funny enough the dutch have a trading relation with the japanese that goes back ~400 years :)

[@flexyco]

I often say to people around me, regardless of nationality: "You don't have to say sorry for that, it's all fine. We're all just humans."

[@jumatm]

I live in the Netherlands, and imho this is bulshit. Lots of times I know Dutch people talk behind other people's back, honesty my ass.

[@Pescador-Flandria]

You must be living in the south.

[@jumatm]

@@Pescador-Flandria haha in this you are correct, I live in Limburg xd

[@PendelSteven]

@@jumatm I suspected as much to be honest, especially Limburg.

[@DrWhom]

@@jumatm Or "Limbabwe" as we call it in the North.

[@rutger1963]

@@Pescador-Flandria Strrrike,bullseye....je mag nooit meer raden,geweldig

[@jimmymiata]

wij zeggen: neem me niet kwalijk, niet vaak maar toch

[@FBAagent]

I hope that they will stay like that! I like transparency and directness :)

[@PendelSteven]

Excuse me! I'm a Dutch from South of the Great Rivers and known to say sorry when I apologise: "Oh, sorry!" "Het spijt me" sounds so Calvanistic to me. But there are always "mijn excuses". Welgemeend, or not. Then again, when there's nothing I can do about it, I often add a sentence like "[Sorry[, but I can't help it". (Ja, sorry, maar ik kan er ook niets aan doen) And that's definately where some would reply: "then why are you saying sorry?". Out of politeness... So there you go. I do it, I guess.

[@daviddecelles8714]

Calvanistic? Well, do you not do-or fail to do- things for which you ought to be remorseful, particularly, if your misconduct or negligence actually hurt another? If so, is it not good to express that remorse to the harmed person?

[@ikkelimburg3552]

@@daviddecelles8714PendelSteven tried to explain the difference in culture between the North (dominant Protestant area) and South (dominant Catholic area).

[@willekefarrington3020]

“Het spijt me”, even my English husband says that when saying it is appropriate. So when you are really, really sorry. Usually that also means that further communication is required.

[@ETS186]

I'm Indonesian. The Dutch do say sorry. They were the first to apologize for their colonial "mistakes". Not only the government, the Royal family too. And not just through a spokesperson, the King himself apologized...in Indonesia. Now we enjoy a very close relationship.

[@xXTheoLinuxXx]

But that is because we love Indonesia :) Back in the day the politics screwed it up.. and that is something the Indonesians and the average duch knows it too. If certain persons weren't that greedy, it all would be different..

[@liodemirror1775]

@@xXTheoLinuxXx yes you do! Now apologize to the other colonies as well

[@liodemirror1775]

You must be so happy belanda lover

[@MarcVesseur]

❤

[@nanwuamitofo]

That was one heck of an insincere, stuttering apology. Means nothing to me. Glad it works for you, though.

[@tarajoyce3598]

Cherish the directness of the Dutch! Say what you think and mean what you say. Excellent! Sounds like they are the global example to follow.

[@daviddecelles8714]

Reality is often complex, subtle, nuanced and ambiguous. How does one express such reality "directly?" "Direct" speech often betrays the speaker to be simplistic, brutish and insensitive. Are the Dutch such?

[@tarajoyce3598]

@@daviddecelles8714 I disagree but perhaps we have different definitions of direct. To me it means do not expect others to know what you think, do not obfuscate and do not "put off" by redirection.Maybe one simply needs more expansive vocabulary. Native english only speaker so perhaps other languages don't have the nuance available in the english language.

[@jeanjacqueslundi3502]

Yes, the dutch are the epitome of human evoltuion. Lol, please listen to yourself. If they weren't emotionally constipated like most northern european countries, I'd humor your idea.........but a big chunk of this directness comes from them just being a colder people too.

[@DRnova2023]

@@daviddecelles8714 I really appreciate your considered thoughts, and style of writing. I'm thinking that the (straight-forward, saying-it-like-it-is) Dutch might miss the implication and think: 'Why did you end with a question?'

[@DRnova2023]

@@tarajoyce3598 I agree, certainly be clear. The Dutch vocabulary is rich and nuanced; it is the user that needs to avail themselves of this. I have a family member whose humour is brilliantly delightful because he has an unique grasp of how to encapsulate a lot of subtle meaning within a few words (direct) -- a refined gift.

[@JACOBMILLERPETERS]

It's a communication style. That's all it is. Nothing to do with the actual intent or niceness or character or Dutch being inherently rude or assholes. Just as we learned in school to write English emails or letters with 'would you' or 'if you would be so kind', start a sentence with 'I'm sorry to ask', etc. We don't do that in Dutch.

[@B0K1T0]

Well a lot of dutch people use certain phrases for politeness as well, such as "Mag ik u iets vragen?". But maybe that illustrates even better that it's probably more of a communication style indeed.

[@queenofnoonesheart]

@@B0K1T0 Yes, or what I often use: Zou je dit of dat kunnen (of willen) doen?

[@TeleshitNL]

And as finishing touch, God created the Dutch 🌷💐

[@mariussielcken]

Directness or phallologic (literally 'piercing-knowledge'), 'to get to heart of the matter', 'to not mince words', 'to not prevericate', 'to not skirt around the issue.' etc. is a mark of all Western civilisation and patriarchy generally, though Dutch culture is most direct or, as we say, straight-through-sea (recht-door-zee)

[@luisliscabo]

you really had to add "patriarchy" there 🥱

[@curiousworld7912]

Thanks for this look at the cultural differences in people, even when using the same language, or are so geographically close. Fascinating. :)

[@tim3440]

Its a BS video

[@rientsdijkstra4266]

@@tim3440 Ah, nice illustration of the typical Dutch directness!

[@tim3440]

@@rientsdijkstra4266 No problem. Love to illustrate.

[@InsistentlyInterdisciplinary]

SORRY, but it's just not an accurate picture of The Netherlands being presented here. Lived here for years, speak the language fluently (including some local variants etc), I am a linguist and anthropologist as well... so I spend a lot of time thinking about these questions... it's just not true.

[@DrWhom]

The BBC had een soortgelijk item over de Fransen, die nooit "ja" zouden zeggen. Fransen hebben juist een heleboel uitdrukkingen om instemming en akkoord met een afspraak te bevestigen.

[@InsistentlyInterdisciplinary]

@@DrWhom ja precies! Goed punt 😊

[@plerpplerp5599]

Brits say sorry, but it doesn't mean anything. It's an involuntary noise that people make, like burping or farting. 😂

[@herrprofessor]

The British sorry is fake politeness and sometimes it can mean the F-word with 4 letters.

[@stephenvanwijk9669]

When we say sorry, it means sorry. Would it be so clear if the rest of the world do so too. To us it is rude to beat around the bush the whole time. Don’t waste people’s time.

[@pushslice]

Dutch people must completely freak out when they go to Canada and hear “Sorry!” every couple of minutes in a conversation.

[@naomiharrison311]

What about body language? The expert says that Dutch people find it hard to understand whether English people are really interested or not, but to me (as an English person who has travelled a lot), it seems obvious that body language would provide the answer. I’m not trying to be mean or anything, just genuinely curious. I studied linguistics at Uni and find things like this fascinating.

[@corne1717]

Finally a British person giving her opinion in a direct way and then she finishes her statement with the words: "I'm not trying to be mean or anything." Sounds like a sorry to me... As a direct Dutch person I would never say that after giving my opinion. I don't even understand to whom you are talking to when you say you are afraid to be mean. Mean to whom? Or is this just some random phrase that British people always say without thinking about it?

[@meh23p]

3:00 Why is this guy not subbed?

[@a_r_n_o_b_r_o_e_n_s]

We don’t say it, if we don’t mean it.. if I’m wrong I’ll say it..

[@maykecase-hogestijn8929]

What a load of nonsense. If a Dutch person is wrong, of course he/she will apologise. I'm Dutch and ought to know.

[@p.a.6170]

Have never experienced it yet. Hope to see this in my lifetime.

[@cocomine8897]

I like that tradition straight forward, transparency and honesty because the indirect communication is full of hypocrisy and betrayal which makes the community worsen.

[@Melaniiiita]

This is not true according to my experience living 8 years in the Netherlands. People is telling sorry and not all Dutch are direct. I live in the east of The Netherlands, people is completely not direct here, they don't dare to be direct like in the west of Holland.

[@imqqmi]

I think in many situations the Dutch admit their mistake and saying 'sorry' that way is implied. So Dutch can be indirect in that way as well. British can go overboard taking the blame even if it's not their fault just to be polite or defuse/diffuse the situation. The Japanese do this even more so.

[@ilseboekelo980]

As a Dutch i only say sorry if i mean it. If i said it to fast i will come back to you and say that i actually did not even mean it. I don't know if thats wrong, i just don't play games and like to keep it real with someone.

[@AudieHolland]

I'm Dutch but I have no issue with saying sorry even when I don't mean it. If it makes the other side happy and means there won't be a confrontation, who is complaining? However, in those rare situations where I am truly sorry and apologize, I do tend to react rather aggressively when the other side says something 'Huh it's too easy to say sorry.' *I SAID I WAS SORRY* And then they should be grateful for still being in one piece.

[@julieb750]

New Yorkers got this from the Dutch. We are so much more direct than the rest of America.

[@GeometricPidgeon]

That would make sense. I really ought to visit NYC again.

[@julieb750]

@obimk1 Absolutely and a bunch Upstate: Rensselaer, Kinderhook, Ghent, etc. The streams are “kills” and certain words such as cookie, stoop and boss. The Dutch influence in architecture is all around the Hudson Valley, too.

[@julieb750]

@obimk1 Yankee was a slur for the Americans that the British soldiers used during the French & Indian War. They thought the colonists were rubes and made fun of them. Americans took ownership of it and it became a patriotic term. Of course NYC’s baseball team is named for it. And Knicks is short for Knickerbockers, another Dutch term. So much Dutch influence in New York State and City. Commerce, language, names, directness, architecture, religion, etc.

[@floepiejane]

New Yorkers didn't get that from the Dutch. The abundance of Dutch names casts the illusion of long Dutch power, but their reign was actually fairly short. Some of these names were given in honor of that Dutch heritage.

[@floepiejane]

@@julieb750 I'm not sure how much of that list of influences I agree with. Commerce and names, of course. Don't forget the American Wallen: Wall Street, and yeah Words, not Language, but just no to candor, architecture, and religion.

[@damonchampion823]

I’m English and say what I think and feel and people are surprised by it. Bring direct saves so much time and misunderstandings

[@JustDaniel6764]

I'm English too, Sorry.

[@annemariecandyflip6531]

True, I'd rather hear the truth than being lied to. In the end you will find out and that's frustrating

[@Skeggi]

We say a lot of sorry, but it is often followed by a "maar". Example: "Sorry, maar je moet nu echt je kankerbek houden anders sla ik je helemaal de teringtyfus.", which is just sheer poetry, I think.

[@mijmerdingen]

It's a nice clickbait title but it's not true. Dutch people do apologise. It is true that we are direct, at least people in bigger cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht etc. In areas further away from the west/ bigger cities, people are usually less direct. But in general, I think Dutch people do care more about getting the message across than they care about the other person's feelings. Which can cause communication problems with the rest of the world :P

[@wallyjansen898]

But we don't mind really what other people think,we are very assertieve

[@sofri4451]

😄 That's how their boats reached far coasts, 'sorry' but I need to pass ;-) because my family has been drowning back home and our oldest brother doesn't want to share our father's heritage with his many siblings. Communication may be a 'survival and trade strategy' that can be drawn too far sometimes ? Just guessing, this was an interesting video.

[@tangaz5819]

Neither do the Danes! I was shocked when I lived there for a while. I thought it was rude but when it was explained to me, I got it.

[@timdetmers3240]

My father was raised by his Dutch born grandparents. He NEVER EVER apologized for anything, and being human, he had a lot of apologizing to do. I don't attribute his lack of apologizing to his heritage, but rather to his raging narcissism (narcissists never apologize). He was very direct in his communication, and this was a good thing, but never apologizing - not good.

[@p4l4d1n7]

Id take narcists over fake politeness any day.

[@jeanjacqueslundi3502]

@@p4l4d1n7 lol, you can't mean that........unless you are a narc yourself.

[@p.a.6170]

@@jeanjacqueslundi3502smart point

[@samw5767]

Je bent helemaal gek.

[@lilyhk701]

Thank you for the video. I just moved to the netherlands and the directness is my biggest culture shock. They keep it real here but at customer service level, they drop the bomb on u sometimes, esp the older generation, rudeness cannot describe it, it sounds like they have no empathy nor care of the misfortunate that occurred while using the service. Dont get me wrong, there is alot of pros here but bluntless translates to indirect messages for most people from warm cultures.

[@dimrrider9133]

sorry for that but we Dutchies all love you 🤗🤗🤗

[@myafelicia]

In no time you will learn to use the same directness to tell them off. Just a properly executed "Excuse me!?! ( Pardon!?!) will show them that you will now cower for them and that you're standing up for yourself. Strangely enough that will have you gain some respect in their eyes. In general, I crack jokes left and right, quickly creating that sense of comraderie which always helps me to get what I want from them. Don't think that you will be perceived as rude when you tell those people off. Just say that they are rude and that you refuse being their punching bag just because they're having a bad day. A few times I've even said to certain people that they should consider getting another career because their current ones wasn't it with their nasty attitude. It always shuts them down when you act aloof, calm, and collected. If that doesn't help, demand speaking to a co-worker. And now you also know why the Dutch love to cuss so mch. We can't stand rudeness. Directness isn't rudeness, keep that in mind. All in all, most people - Dutch or not - don't like real confrontations, but one must be ready for moody people in order to survive emotionally. Hence why the Dutch often say, "Doe effe normaal, zeg!" (Act normal/behave yourself): it's the main reminder to the other person that they're being a jerk. And on the positive side: when a Dutchie ask you how you're doing, thay actually mean it and are interested in your well-being. Don't say you're fine while they can tell you're not. It's okay to tell the truth, that you're not feeling well or having a rough day: they will show you compassion and will try to comfort/support you any way possible.

[@rientsdijkstra4266]

The thing is that the people from other cultures who are sugar coating their words more are not necessarily more empathic. Only difference is that they have learnt different ways of being not-empathic. And the advantage of the Dutch way is that it offers the other person an opportunity to react (as @myafelicia describes), where as in the English way the lack of empathy will remain undetected and can fester on (like the anecdote somewhere else in this stream of a service employee who thought her customer was content, only to receive a bad review...).

[@koenkeep]

I'm curious, this 'warm culture' you mentioned in opposition to the Dutch culture, is that a nice thing to say to Dutch people or is it actually also rude?

[@AudieHolland]

*@lilyhk701* You're entirely correct about the lack of empathy in our so-called 'Customer Services.' I used to commute by train on a daily basis so I had a Chipkaart. When the card was nearing its expiration date, I thought it was time to request a new one. When I called the Dutch railways (NS), they couldn't help me because the NS abonnement had a chipkaart and for that I should contact OV-Chipkaart, a different company. NS customer service were friendly, no complaints. However, when I finally reached OV-Chipkaart, the lady on the phone told me that my current card would be invalidated as per direct and I would receive a new card after a full week! I asked, but how am I supposed to travel in the mean time? The woman told me, very bluntly, I don't know, buy a ticket? - edit: my then employer reimbursed my travel expenses but only for the usage of the card, not for buying seperate tickets - I felt very disappointed as a Dutchman, thinking and hoping that if I called before my card expired, they could fix it so I would receive a new card when my current one expired. But no, my 'reward' for calling in time was that my card was immediately invalidated and I had to wait 7 days for the new card. In the end, it got even worse. After waiting for a full week, I called OV-Chipkaart again to inform them I had not received my new card yet. I don't remember them giving any explanation or even an apology. But I finally received my new card two days later. So it was possible to get me new card in less than a week after all. But due to OV-Chipkaart's incompetence and complete lack of empathy, I got my new card 9 days after making the first call.

[@economiaadistancia]

Theres nothing about preciseness or directness. It is pure rudeness and a uncontrolable desire to correct people. They have this urge to point mistakes and tell people off. And the funniest. They are the most fragile to it. You give it back to them they get all feisty innseconds. I lived in Berlin, and they give this same excuse.

[@Billy-the-Kid]

Nope. Direct saves time. You probably cannot handle it...

[@economiaadistancia]

@@Billy-the-Kid you see hahhaha, in 2 seconds someone got butthurt...

[@djczanzibar]

I would love Dutch culture. I am South African British, Irish and European ancestry, but the British culture comes through strongly. Be polite and don't say what you think. I really hate that. I think Germans can be quite direct too. I prefer direct and to the point. I hate reading between the lines.

[@rachidow2125]

Yeah and I think it’s more polite to just tell your feelings, save time and don’t waste it with not telling your feelings.

[@waltersteyger1215]

Only difference I have experienced is that Dutch people tend to have more patience with non native speakers than German. When I am in Germany they do not even seem to try to slow down talking in there native language what makes it really hard to understand.

[@MrFlyby34]

As a Dutch person living in the UK I adopted my style of communicating with Brits because I can’t always use my cultural background as an excuse😂 Overall we Dutch could learn a few things from the British culture and adopt a bit more diplomatic language at times. Funny enough when I’m in Britain amongst friends and we had a bevvy or two, language all the sudden becomes way more direct hahaha.

[@Sophietheharp]

Is Maastricht a foreign country now? 😅

[@dutchgamer842]

Maastricht is foreign they don't even speak proper Dutch, they make all of the province of Limburg look stupid

[@DrWhom]

It is on the border!

[@GPatrick137]

they say what they mean and they mean what they say

[@tjerkschoonheim]

All over the world there are groups of people that dont know how to say sorry or that have no sorry culture, this depends on how your parents have raised you. Some say sorry and mean it Some say sorry and dont mean it It depends on the situation, and the person and his or her upbringing. It is not something typically Dutch.

[@queenofnoonesheart]

I am Dutch and I say sorry regularly. So do the people around me.

[@tjerkschoonheim]

@@queenofnoonesheart that should have been my reply. But short was never my strong side

[@tjerkschoonheim]

Sorry

[@teee1111]

Someone forgot to subtitle the Dutch guy in green at 2:58

[@EquesTemplar1969]

In het Nederlands wordt ‘sorry’, een Engels woord, gebruikt als zwak excuus, zonder enige betekenis. Wanneer Nederlanders hun excuus menen, dan zeggen zij ‘het spijt me’.

[@BagusWidyanto_HappyIn1997]

01:14 : "Indonesian are not direct at all". Obviously her knowledge of Indonesia is limited to Jakarta or West Java only

[@TheLastAngryMan01]

In the Irish language, there are no words for "yes" and "no". As a result, we are generally quite indirect in our communication, with the other person often left to decipher what the speaker means. I imagine that the Netherlands may well present a culture shock in this sense to some of my compatriots.

[@n.m4497]

Why are you guys so retard?

[@TheLastAngryMan01]

@@n.m4497 The word is “retarded”, dear. And try not to throw stones in glass houses.

[@honeybell]

I think it’s a beautiful thing that the Dutch are direct.

[@ChrisMinusHumour]

I think this is a bit dishonest. This portays that Dutch people only speak the truth and are so honest. While British people speak dishonestly and are saying sorry not meaning it. English is spoken by lots of different demographics and so the use of the language is different. I am Scottish and we are very direct with our English but we still say sorry for minor inconveniences. The basis for being apologetic is the desire to not cause inconvenience. That is more direct than ignoring the people around you.

[@jaysimoes3705]

That s the way we use sorry too in NL. And it is black and white in this clip. Not everyone is so direct over here etc.

[@dpaj5308]

Their King said sorry to Indonesia actually for centuries of colonization..

[@ingmar1831]

It’s still more than the British queen did

[@dcbaars]

For foreigners that struggle with directness it’s also our gateway to transparency and openness. Imagine that your are not direct and not know what you are up against. It’s a different culture for sure, but I always says you know what I am about. There’s no facade or anything. It’s just me. It should provide more trust to foreigners as well in that sense

[@canadafree2087]

If you were born Canadian-Dutch, would you be, :Sorry, not sorry"?

[@paulinebrus7580]

we do say sorry :) and as always also in the Netherlands there are people who say sorry a lot and people who won't. As well as being direct. I am very direct, but my partner is not. And he says sorry even for things he doesn't have to. But nice video anyways ;)

[@floepiejane]

This is how it really is.

[@MemoTea]

They say *less* sorry than british, french or even german (I grew up and lived in all these countries), but they do say it regurarly.

[@kbyg995]

They are so rude and arrogant. They call it being "direct" but it's just an excuse to cover for their chronic rudeness and arrogance.

[@rbnw]

What you’re doing is what Dutch people call ‘generalising’. Which really is arrogant in its own right.

[@kbyg995]

@@rbnw What you’re doing is denying that they are really rude. It’s also arrogant because you deny their rudeness exists.

[@Jeannette-op5qe]

You don't say sorry , and give points , then the Netherlands your bloody well CURST. That's FINAL!!!!.

[@SarahConnor618]

Yea, they say "pardon" instead lol Ridiculous accusation of the BBC, as if Dutch people never appologize.

[@petrasandberg1328]

We say sorry , sorry this a fals info video . I’m dutch and I do say always sorry

[@ageoflove1980]

What an absolute nonsense. We say sorry all the time. To be polite : "Sorry, can I ask you something?" Or when you accidently bump in to someone " Oops, sorry!" "Pardon" can also be used of course in pretty much the same way. Perhaps we do say it less than UK folks as we usually don't apologise for existing. 😀

[@gerhard6105]

Sorry. I am Dutch.

[@okidoki878]

Aha Maastricht is a other country.

[@dutchgamer842]

Yes, since they refuse to learn how to speak proper Dutch

[@nomoresunforever3695]

What are you talking about. We say sorry all the time.

[@hvermout4248]

Huh? I say sorry very often. And I mean it ...

[@somcana]

I need to move to Netherlands. I am so direct and kind.

[@daviddecelles8714]

Directness as a reason to move there? Yes, likely; but 'kindness?' May want to re-think that one. Nothing especially kind about the Dutch.

[@VeraDonna]

Duch people do say "sorry". Literally. They say the word "sorry" when their meaning is more casual or less intense than "het spijt me". Was this commissioned by a canadian? 😂

[@nyvictoryvictory4356]

I highly prefer the Dutch way

[@jsb7975]

Biggest bullshit comes from clichés. In this case introduced by a seemingly amaturistic voice-over. Don't see any relevance showing this little "BBC" documentary. I think it's fake.

[@tinfoilhomer909]

"We can both speak English, but it doesn't mean we get the real message" I felt this a lot, I have spoken in Dutch with other L2 speakers from Uruguay, Thailand, Australia, Finland... and they all understand the Dutch communication style. We can apply this to English too, due to the ease of translation, however there are still a few rare Dutch words that throw me off as a native English speaker. One is "Pech" which I heard when I was struggling, and the other is "Hallo!" which was often more sarcastic than polite. "Toch" and "Gezellig" are easy in comparison.