Act normal

Why is it that the Dutch hardly ever show their enthusiasm in public, and believe it's important always to get straight to the point? How should Dutch women be addressed? Who picks up the check in a café or restaurant? These are some of the 99 topics in Act Normal!, a light-hearted 'user's guide' for anyone who _ voluntarily or otherwise _ is confronted with the Dutch in daily life. This thumbnail sketch of Dutch culture contains on-the-mark descriptions of present-day etiquette in the Netherlands.
For the Dutch themselves, Act Normal! offers an amusing 'look in the mirror'. Yet it also serves as a concise and useful manual for all foreigners who have settled in the Netherlands. It is indispensable for the many tourists who visit our country every year.


Hans Kaldenbach is an advisor at Centrum Archimedes, the rights department of the Hogeschool Utrecht.

'An hilarious description of Dutch etiquette and a useful manual for foreigners who wish to familiarise themselves with the Dutch habits. Act Normal! shows the Dutch that they have a culture of their own, and teaches foreigners the rules of this culture.'
bert van der ent, algemeen dagblad

'The 99 tips form a carnival mirror, discussing culture clashes in a light-hearted manner.'
trajecta