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Why the Dutch Are Different
- A Journey into the Hidden Heart of The Netherlands: From Amsterdam to Zwarte Piet, the Acclaimed Guide to Travel in Holland
- Narrated by: Ciaran Saward
- Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
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Why the Dutch Are Different
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Summary
*A Scotsman Travel Book of the Year*
Why the Dutch Are Different is the internationally best-selling portrait of a fascinating people and the country that was the setting for Tulip Fever.
Stranded at Schiphol airport, Ben Coates called up a friendly Dutch girl he'd met some months earlier. He stayed for dinner. Actually, he stayed for good.
In the first audiobook to consider the hidden heart and history of the Netherlands from a modern perspective, the author explores the length and breadth of his adopted homeland and discovers why one of the world's smallest countries is also so significant and so fascinating. It is a self-made country, the Dutch national character shaped by the ongoing battle to keep the water out from the love of dairy and beer to the attitude to nature and the famous tolerance.
Ben Coates investigates what makes the Dutch the Dutch, why the Netherlands is much more than Holland and why the colour orange is so important. Along the way, he reveals why they are the world's tallest people and have the best carnival outside Brazil. He learns why Amsterdam's brothels are going out of business, who really killed Anne Frank and how the Dutch manage to be richer than almost everyone else despite working far less. He also discovers a country which is changing fast, with the Dutch now questioning many of the liberal policies which made their nation famous.
A personal portrait of a fascinating people, a sideways history and an entertaining travelogue, Why the Dutch Are Different is the story of an Englishman who went Dutch. And loved it.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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What listeners say about Why the Dutch Are Different
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Emma
- 20-06-23
Entertaining and interesting
I am a British person living in the Netherlands with a Dutch husband, we both found this very funny, interesting and entertaining. I have bought it as a gift for others too.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- AL
- 22-06-24
Funny and interesting!
I really enjoyed this audiobook. As a Dutch person who has lived in the UK for the past 23 years, it was both funny and interesting to hear how someone who made the ‘opposite’ move, views my home country and the Dutch people.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Apolitakis
- 30-04-23
excelnent intro in Dutch culture
it is an excellent intro in Dutch culture and society from an outsider with a good perspective
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 30-03-24
A great introspection in the Netherlands
Really nice audio book to have with you when visiting Amsterdam, or, I would guess, any city or place in the Netherlands. It really made the journey much more appreciated
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 20-12-23
Dutch Insight
Interesting insight into the Dutch way of life from a fellow Brit. First hand experience supported with historical facts. More football talk than I needed but then, the Dutch love the game ..! Well read and easy to listen to.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs
- 24-11-21
Go Dutch!
Really interesting book, well researched and the storyline captivating. History, geology, sociology and all the other ‘ologies’. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can heartily recommend it.
However…
The Dutch accent is ghastly. Being bilingual myself, of Anglo Dutch parentage, it’s excruciating. Rather like a German speaking English with a Cockney accent. Or a Swede spouting forth with a strong Glaswegian accent. Middle of the road Dutch please!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- B. Rawlinson
- 02-09-23
Great audiobook , good put down and pick up again listen
Really informative in a way that is both entertaining and interesting
Great voice ! Recommend listening
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Barbara Z.
- 03-10-24
Great way to learn more about Dutch
I learned many new things, despite being married to a Dutchman for years. Great way to see the Netherlands through the eyes of foreigner
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Amy Reed
- 05-08-23
Written by a bigot full of negativity
Couldn’t believe the sentence about the Dutch being opposed to dirty windows but not divorce or their children being gay or transgender etc. No need whatsoever. A dull story written with so much negativity I stopped listening.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 13-09-21
Great potential but badly written.
“I often got the impression that many Dutch people would find it perfectly acceptable for their children to be gay, divorced, unemployed or transsexual but to have dirty windows or an untidy living room would bring great shame on the family”
What an anachronistic and frankly unpleasantly bigoted sentence. It’s the 21st century!
This is a book with great potential given the lack of writing in English on the Netherlands. Unfortunately it’s badly written with a pretentious, irritating tone and a number of mistakes. Not recommended I’m afraid.
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1 person found this helpful