Body Language
- Compared to most cultures, the Dutch are reserved in public and do not often touch each other or display anger or extreme exuberance.
- The Dutch expect eye contact while speaking with someone. Looking away or staring at the ground is considered impolite and may be perceived as disinterest or lying.
- The Dutch tend to be reserved in using hand gestures. However, having your hands in pockets or arms crossed might be interpreted as a sign of disinterest.
- The crazy sign is made by tapping the centre of your forehead with your index finger. This gesture is considered rude.
- NB the sign indicating someone is smart or intelligent is made by tapping the area around temporal bone (just above the ear) with the index finger.
- NB the crazy sign can also be made by twisting your index finger around the temporal bone. However, there is a slight distinction: This particular gesture indicates insanity, whereas tapping the forehead usually indicates stupidity.
- Winking at strangers will generally be perceived as a sexual advance and is unlikely to be appreciated.
- Using the middle finger for pointing something out (like on a map) is not considered rude, but it does draw attention.
- When yawning, coughing or sneezing, the mouth should be covered with a flat hand or fist.
Read more about this topic: Dutch Customs And Etiquette
Famous quotes containing the words body and/or language:
“A graceful bearing is to the body what good sense is to the mind.”
—Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)
“Now that Stevenson is dead I can think of but one English- speaking author who is really keeping his self-respect and sticking for perfection. Of course I refer to that mighty master of language and keen student of human actions and motives, Henry James.”
—Willa Cather (1873–1947)