Hofstede and Trompenaars compared

On the left you see two pictures of the culture of the Netherlands, one developed by Hofstede and one by Trompenaars. The latter scores are based on the response to two questions per dilemma, as mentioned in his books; the overall national scores are not in the public domain.

We see two quite different pictures. In view of the different theories, different representative samples and so on this should not surprise you. Nevertheless, it clearly demonstrates the difficulties of describing a national culture. Dozens of other pictures may be added and each overlaps only partially with the others. That is also why you need to apply several theories in preparing for a trip or stay abroad.

Regarding individualism most theories place the Netherlands (much) lower than Hofstede indicates. The Netherlands has something of having its cake and eating it too: its inhabitants want the protection of the group but also their own opinion on all and everything (individual self-expression).

The preference for rules does not extend to their full implementation (from not waiting for a pedestrian light to the sale of illicit drugs; ’gedoogbeleid’). On the other hand they do not need the rules that much (medium uncertainty avoidance and low power distance).

The Dutch are not that affective but their direct style of communication may come across as aggression in the eyes of foreigners.

The Dutch are on their own (specific) and get status by doing their job well. However, according to Hofstede we score very low on masculinity (achievement and success) and focus rather on quality of existence and care for others).

Furthermore, they think they are the masters of the universe (internalist; ’God created Earth but the Dutch created land’).