# Ask the Dutch guy! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 17, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480 "2010-04-17T20:46:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/1 "2010-04-17T20:46:16Z")
Hi, I’m a thirty-something Dutch, single male. Ask me stuff! To get one thing out of the way first: Yes I do smoke weed occasionally. It’s not technically legal, but in practice it is. But you would know that being the smart and well-informed people that you are. 🙂 \* - I only put that there because apparently every American on chatroulette thinks I’m getting high just because I’m rolling my own cigarettes. I got over my getting high every night phase long ago. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/2 "2010-04-17T20:49:44Z")
Tell us about dikes. Why are they necessary? Are there lots of them? Do you feel insecure due to being below sea level? Am I completely ignorant of your country here or are these legitimate questions? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/3 "2010-04-17T20:58:14Z")
You used to be an important power. Or at least you were punching far above your weight globally. How did that come to be? What happened that made you lose it? You say that in practice pot is legal. Could you smoke a joint in front of a cop? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/4 "2010-04-17T21:15:07Z")
> **[Going Dutch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Going_Dutch)** > > "Going Dutch" (sometimes written with lower-case dutch) is a term that indicates that each person participating in a paid activity covers their own expenses, rather than any one person in the group defraying the cost for the entire group. The term stems from restaurant dining etiquette in the Western world, where each person pays for their meal. It is also called Dutch date, Dutch treat (the oldest form, a pejorative), and doing Dutch. > A derivative is "sharing Dutch", having a joint ownership of... > **[Dutch courage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_courage)** > > Dutch courage, also known as pot-valiance or liquid courage, refers to courage gained from intoxication with alcohol. > The popular story dates the etymology of the term Dutch courage to English soldiers fighting in the Anglo-Dutch Wars (1652–1674) and perhaps as early as the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648). One version states that jenever (or Dutch gin) was used by English soldiers for its calming effects before battle, and for its purported warming properties on the body in cold weather. Another v... > **[Dutch uncle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_uncle)** > > Dutch uncle is an informal term for a person who issues frank, harsh or severe comments and criticism to educate, encourage or admonish someone. Thus, a "Dutch uncle" is the reverse of what is normally thought of as avuncular or uncle-like (indulgent and permissive). > During the Anglo-Dutch Wars between England and the Netherlands in the 17th century, the English language gained an array of insults (including "Dutch uncle"), such as: > These terms also gained prominence in 17th-century New England... [Dutch wife - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_wife) (specifically, [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_doll)) ? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/5 "2010-04-17T21:15:15Z")
Can you see the ash cloud from your house? ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/6 "2010-04-17T21:24:58Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Tell us about dikes. Why are they necessary? Are there lots of them? Do you feel insecure due to being below sea level? Am I completely ignorant of your country here or are these legitimate questions? 😉 Quite a lot of our country is below sea level. We also have plenty of fairly substantial rivers that overflow with the seasons. Currently, I’m living on relatively dry soil (in Utrecht; Amsterdam is just mud in comparison - see [deep foundation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_foundation)). So, yes: flooding is a concern in a lot of the Netherlands, but we’ve got qualified people who do nothing but worry about that and[we spend a lot of money on the problem](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Works), so that the rest of us can mostly ignore it. 🙂 As an aside, the oldest _democratic_ governmental bodies in the Netherlands are the [Water Boards (founded in the 13th century)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_board_%28The_Netherlands%29) > [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > You used to be an important power. Or at least you were punching far above your weight globally. How did that come to be? What happened that made you lose it? As far as I know, mechanical (wind) power made possible the construction of large timber ships. Also, an influx of intellectual & merchant immigrants from catholic countries and the founding of the VOC (the first stock-traded company in the world) helped. Exactly how we lost that status isn’t very clear to me; Neil Stephenson insinuates that once the English got a grasp of stock trading the end was inevitable for the Netherlands, but he’s a fiction writer. > [@](#): > > You say that in practice pot is legal. Could you smoke a joint in front of a cop? Yes. Unless you piss them off too much. You won’t get arrested for smoking pot, though. They’ll have to charge you with something else and then they can arrest you and take your pot away. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/7 "2010-04-17T21:28:58Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > [Going Dutch - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Going_Dutch) > [Dutch courage - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_courage) > [Dutch Uncle - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_uncle) > [Dutch wife - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_wife) (specifically, [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_doll)) > > ? We’re cheap, we like a drink, we don’t think we’re the best country in the world but we do tend to think the Americans (and the rest of the world too, only less) have got it all wrong and I don’t know about those sex dolls but we don’t get hung up about a couple of bare breasts. Even if our teenagers can see them. That’s what the beach is _for_. Make of that what you will. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/8 "2010-04-17T21:30:02Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Can you see the ash cloud from your house? No. But my vision and smell isn’t too good right now because my kitchen is being rebuilt and my house if full of dust. Skies looked clear to me this morning though 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cyningablod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Cyningablod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyningablod)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/9 "2010-04-17T21:37:36Z")
Re: “being the smart and well-informed people that [we] are” : Are you referring to SDMB members in general, or sarcastically to Americans? In case this was directed to US citizenry: You do know that **not all** Americans are fat, lazy, and stupid…right? (Admittedly, a lot are, though.) A surprising number of us actually **are** aware that we didn’t singlehandedly “save Europe’s ass” in WWII, and that we didn’t really invent democracy, fire, and the automobile. Jus’ sayin’. 🆒 Now, my question for the Low-Countryman: Don’t you think Within Temptation just KICKS ASS?? (I happen to be one of the stupid, lazy, nationalistic Americans. Hence the insipid question. :D) ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/10 "2010-04-17T21:40:19Z")
Addendum to the Deep Foundation link: [this is how you build stable buildings in Amsterdam](http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bestand:Paalfundering_001.svg) ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/11 "2010-04-17T21:47:45Z")
Did you ever get your bicycle back? Collectively, did you ever get your bicycles back? ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/12 "2010-04-17T21:52:05Z")
> [@Cyningablod](#): > > Re: “being the smart and well-informed people that [we] are” : > > Are you referring to SDMB members in general, or sarcastically to Americans? SMDB members. Well, most of them. 🙂 > [@](#): > > In case this was directed to US citizenry: You do know that **not all** Americans are fat, lazy, and stupid…right? (Admittedly, a lot are, though.) A surprising number of us actually **are** aware that we didn’t singlehandedly “save Europe’s ass” in WWII, and that we didn’t really invent democracy, fire, and the automobile. Hey, I’m grateful that the US came to help us out in WWII. It would probably have dragged on for many more years, and we might have ended up under Russian control - after a very nasty German collapse. Not a good prospect indeed. - ETA: and let’s not forget the Canadians. They’ve got a special place in our hearts too. > [@](#): > > Now, my question for the Low-Countryman: Don’t you think Within Temptation just KICKS ASS?? (I happen to be one of the stupid, lazy, nationalistic Americans. Hence the insipid question. :D) Haha 🙂 I don’t mind them but it’s just not my style of music. I can name a bunch of Dutch techno acts (popular and/or great) though. 🙂 > [@Isosleepy](#): > > Did you ever get your bicycle back? > Collectively, did you ever get your bicycles back? I wasn’t even born in WWII. Thanks for asking 🙂 Collectively, I don’t think so. I don’t even know if “ze Germenz” ever took that many bicycles anyway. It’s mostly something (very) old people say. ---
**Author:** ![Cyningablod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Cyningablod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyningablod)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/13 "2010-04-17T21:58:51Z")
So who are the good Dutch techno acts? I’m actually really interested in this. I dig Euro techno. Video links will be appreciated. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/14 "2010-04-17T22:02:25Z")
If they were to build a Mount Rushmore in the Netherlands, who would likely be on it? Does everybody know who Max Euwe was? ---
**Author:** ![Siddhartha\_Vicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@Siddhartha\_Vicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siddhartha_Vicious)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/15 "2010-04-17T22:12:36Z")
Is it true that you cook your foods by [farting under blankets](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_oven_%28practical_joke%29)? And if so, do you need to be under the blanket at the time? ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/16 "2010-04-17T22:13:53Z")
> [@Cyningablod](#): > > So who are the good Dutch techno acts? I’m actually really interested in this. I dig Euro techno. > > Video links will be appreciated. > > Thanks! [Speedy J](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSSNsBjvtx0) is pretty good. [He did this popular (and pretty stupid but likable) track](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSSNsBjvtx0) Also [Joris Voorn](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noCSKfme5Qk) and pretty much everything on the eevolute label and Stephan Robbers & Wladimir M in particular. Also: unit moebius and all its spin-offs ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/17 "2010-04-17T22:23:22Z")
> [@AppallingGael](#): > > If they were to build a Mount Rushmore in the Netherlands, who would likely be on it? That’s 4 faces, right? In keeping with the US example, I guess we’d have to put some revolutionary presidemts on there. Dunno who that would be. For one, we don’t have presidents. Secondly, our history is pretty muddled when you get to the top. > [@](#): > > Does everybody know who Max Euwe was? Some do. I had to look him up to be sure. I’m not a gamer nor a mathematician. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/18 "2010-04-17T22:40:35Z")
> [@Siddhartha\_Vicious](#): > > Is it true that you cook your foods by [farting under blankets](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_oven_%28practical_joke%29)? And if so, do you need to be under the blanket at the time? Yes. Yes it’s all true. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/19 "2010-04-17T23:18:14Z")
Being Dutch myself I have no factual questions for you that I can’t answer myself. Still, I have for you what is probably the most important question for a Dutch person to answer: Feyenoord or Ajax? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480/20 "2010-04-18T00:34:24Z")
Does it annoy you when foreigners call your country Holland, rather than the Netherlands? What’s the general attitude towards Queen Beatrix and the monarchy? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-dutch-guy/536480.md?page=2)