---
product_id: 112987497
title: "Why the Dutch are Different: A Journey into the Hidden Heart of the Netherlands"
brand: "ben coates"
price: "₪11"
currency: ILS
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 10
url: https://www.desertcart.co.il/products/112987497-why-the-dutch-are-different-a-journey-into-the-hidden
store_origin: IL
region: Israel
---

# Why the Dutch are Different: A Journey into the Hidden Heart of the Netherlands

**Brand:** ben coates
**Price:** ₪11
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Why the Dutch are Different: A Journey into the Hidden Heart of the Netherlands by ben coates
- **How much does it cost?** ₪11 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.il](https://www.desertcart.co.il/products/112987497-why-the-dutch-are-different-a-journey-into-the-hidden)

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- ben coates enthusiasts

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## Description

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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    A memoir and guide book in one
  

*by V***P on Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2017*

4.5 stars. I started reading Why the Dutch are Different a while ago and have just finished it now. At first I wasn't sure whether it was memoir, history, social comment or what it was, but actually it's a mixture of all three.Ben Coates is a young Englishman who was formerly in the hectic political world of the UK. As a speech writer and lobbyist, I am sure he must have been used to viewing the world through a critical lens. This book is a reflection of his ability to stand back and look at the Netherlands without any rose-tinted glasses on, something I think I would find hard to do myself as I tend to want to focus on the positive aspects of life wherever I have lived it, and of course I've lived in the Netherlands for nearly seventeen years.First and foremost, let me say Ben Coates is an exceptionally good writer. His flexible use of English in his keen perceptions on the Dutch, their history and their customs is perfect and I often stopped reading simply to admire a sentence or phrase that seemed particularly apt or succinct. There were, however, quite large sections of the book I felt tempted to skim over. For those who don't know much European, and specifically Dutch, history, this book gives a kind of potted summary of many of the important periods in the country's past. For these people, it will probably be useful; for myself, I could have done without quite so much straying into the activities of the VOC (the East India Company), King William's exploits into England and the history of the Spanish and French domination of the Netherlands. This was all background I studied at school and university and unfortunately, it didn't really strike me as anything more than just reeling off the facts; nor did it seem to have much to do with why the Dutch are different now, other than setting the historical background for the country's great reputation as a trading nation that supported the arts in its Golden Age. On the plus side, I learnt a lot of fascinating little gems, such as why the city of Breda got its name (the breede Ee, meaning the wide river Ee) and other such titbits. I found myself frequently asking my Dutch partner 'Did you know this?' and often he didn't, so for all those interesting snippets, I was very grateful.Strangely enough, I enjoyed the section on the Dutch obsession with football. I'm not a football fan at all, but the fanatical devotion the Dutch have to soccer is a curious phenomenon in this country and I found the accounts he gave of the teams, the key players and managers and both the national adoration and criticism that the Dutch have for their footballers really entertaining. However, most of all, I enjoyed the later chapters where he writes about how the intrinsic Dutch culture of 'anything goes' has been tested in recent years by what opening borders and increased immigration have meant to the Netherlands. He writes lucidly and honestly about how this has affected the traditionally relaxed attitude Dutch have had to drug use, prostitution, homosexuality, euthanasia and immigration.All this quite intense discussion is set against the background of Ben Coates' own experience as he travelled around the Netherlands during his early years in the country and while he makes few personal judgements until quite close to the end of the book, he tells things like they are. I must say I quite often wondered if he even liked it at all; that was until I reached the final chapter, when I realised that he, like me, appreciates how much our easy, breezy self-confident and optimistic Dutch hosts have to offer. He also shows how fond we can become of these smiling, but direct people who fully espouse their 'philosophy of a flat country'. As I said at the beginning, this book is part memoir, part history lesson and part editorial. Overall, it is a really good read and I learnt a lot from it and I am now looking forward to reading his new book about the Rhine, which is apparently due out soon.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Now I know why the Dutch are different . . .
  

*by K***L on Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2020*

Had a lighthearted armchair trip to the Netherlands with Ben Coates during Covid Christmas 2020. His writing style suits me perfectly: witty, insightful, down-to-earth. There’s enough history and geography to help an American reader connect the dots (make sense of the scattered bits and pieces of Dutch facts and stereotypes we know about) without bogging down in excess detail. His Englishman’s observations about Dutch personality traits, values, and interactions with foreigners had me laughing out loud. Fascinating to learn of the similarities in the way immigration issues there resemble what we struggle with here. In both countries hate and tolerance vie for dominance, with hate nosing forward in disturbing ways. He’s an astute observer of Dutch life and is candid about how his own political views evolved over years, the result of living and traveling among the Dutch. He does so without taking sides in an offensive manner. I came away admiring the Dutch greatly for their creativity, innovation, and openness, while recognizing their oppressive colonial history. After reading Why the Dutch are Different, I am more determined than ever to spend an immersive vacation in the Netherlands as soon as it is again safe to travel.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Enjoyable read and conversation catalyst with Dutch friends
  

*by A***Z on Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2018*

After working with Dutch customers and colleagues, I’ve been intrigued for quite some time about life in the Netherlands, potentially as new host country for my German wife and me (non-EU citizen). I got this book after having read “In the City of Bikes: the Story of the Amsterdam Cyvlist” by Pete Jordan (also recommended if interested in learning about the Dutch’s love for their bikes as a mode of transportation).Ben Coates did a very good job in his book to give us the highlights of the Netherlands from an expat perspective. I enjoyed learning about the Golden Age of the Dutch empire, the impact of the German invasion & the second WW (particularly important for my wife!), multiculturalism, and the current social challenges (not seen from the scope of the atrocious News and Media in the US).I’ve had fun already sharing/confirming Ben’s learnings with my Dutch friends (particularly their views about the Belgians).I look forward to read the Rhine as soon as it is available in Amazon.

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*Product available on Desertcart Israel*
*Store origin: IL*
*Last updated: 2026-02-16*