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Culture Netherlands Across the channel from England, just south of Scandinavia and bordering German and Belgium, the Netherlands draws on a diverse range of European neighbors, as well as a rich series of Atlantic ports, making it one of the most cultured, cosmopolitan regions in all of the EU. The Dutch are known for their markedly progressive views on life and religion, with their capital, Amsterdam – where drugs and prostitution have been decriminalized, – being a testament to the liberality of the country.
Contrary to many peoples’ assumptions, however, such permissiveness, as evidenced in Amsterdam and other major urban centers throughout Holland, has hardly created a degenerate society. Indeed, the “sin” is neatly contained within the red light districts, while these cities tend to be among the cleanest, most cultured in all of Europe. That said, these liberated values do clash with the more traditional values of those immigrating to the Netherlands, and the current cultural climate – while marked by occasional culture wars – is also fertile ground for the dynamic synergies of east and west which have helped shape the culture and character of the Dutch.
Indeed, it was only just a few centuries ago that the Spanish Empire extended to the Netherlands, back when Spain had only recently moved on from Moorish influence, and was in the midst of manifesting a decidedly Mediterranean culture. Today, Spain has integrated strongly with the European Union, but just over a hundred years ago it identified much more with the Mediterranean bowl, including the Middle East, southern Europe, and northern Africa. As such, its influence over the Netherlands brought more than just “Southern Europe” to the Netherlands, but indeed an exotic world of intense culture which the Dutch absorbed as yet another layer in the rich tapestry of their heritage.
Creativity in the Netherlands is by no means found only in the statehouse and city hall. Artists from the Netherlands, such as Van Gogh, have been responsible for carrying painting into new eras and are highly celebrated by locals. Their work is on display in galleries throughout the Netherlands, drawing artists looking for inspiration.
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