reading a book about 'the dutchwoman'

on my last trip to holland, i went as usual into a bookstore, and found just the book i wanted....a book i did not know existed! 'het poldermodel - de nederlandse vrouw', 'the poldermodel - the dutchwoman' by female writer santje kramer. the writer interviewed men and women from foreign countries who live in holland for this book( i am always on the look out for books about holland and its inhabitants. it helps me to get rid off or to stimulate my homesickness, whatever the day asks for). foreigners see the dutchwoman as one drressed in jeans, with crocs or uggs on their feet or any kind of flat shoe like boots(big favorite), equal to a man as in having a strong caracter, not working a lot, keeping hair short, talks like a construction worker and is not capable of flirting. i wrote the next email to the writer as a response to her work.

dear santje,
i can tell you something, come and have a look in ticino! the women there are not dressed to their best. you would think the swiss would have the money to buy nice things and the italian influence in ticino would make the fashion sence come up.... but no! crocs are a big thing here, the whole family walks around on them. most women are color blind. and if you drop by at someone's house after working hours they are lying around in sportwear which has known better days. during the weekend the whole family, grandparents, kids, everyone, walk around in 'think pink' matching sets. when i am in  holland, i would not even think to dress in that way and walk around in the streets. it is not done! you will be gapped at. me, a girl from the hague, and one of my 'big city' girlfriend here from geneva, have talked about this. we started down dressing:( . we will be stared at when we go around in a short skirt, nice tights, highheeled boots, scarf, sunglasses. women might be staring out of jealousy and men will be licking their lips. and then all those women who walk around like hippies: black potatoe sack, hennaed hair, one short and one long earring. gross! the only woman i know where you can ring the bell at 7 in the morning and she will be dressed up to the nines, is a dutch friend living just down the road. and what i missed in the book was the jeanjacket. that catches more my eye than the jeans.

looking forward to all your responses, or thru this page or by email to dutchwomanabroad@gmail.com

see you soon!

what do you want in a wife or girlfriend

talking to my nephew gained by pairing up with his uncle, we came to talk about life as a couple. this nephew is very worldwise. his english is poor, but he gets around by using hands and feet comunicating with everyone. he is still living in ticino, but his view is very opened up. he has traveled around the world. we got into a personal discussion about being part of a couple. he is a smart looking guy. watches the way he dresses, and keeps in shape. the right guy if i would have a daughter and this daughter would not be his niece:). he is end twenties and i asked if he had a girlfriend, his answer was 'no'. all the girls from ticino he has gone out with, have been very disturbing about him meeting up with his friends. always badgering and being jealous. i told him get a dutch girlfriend! well, maybe it is only me between dutch girls, but i am am quite cool about laws between lovers. not that i would appreciate it if my big love would get himself a girl on the side, but i see that he has his needs to be in male company. last saturday we had an invitation for diner of one of his friends. and when i found i found out it was only male company, i just let him go by himself. ofcourse he could abuse the situation, but i believe he will not. my big love bought a big house up on top of a mountain more or less and there is lots to do. so most weekends he will be away and have some friends join him for work and play. i see that he needs male company as i need female company, and we have to let the other one go sometimes. this is not very customary in the relationships i see around me. there is often a payback requested. is this habitual in other countries? i think in holland people are more open to let the other one do what he/she needs, but maybe i am wrong.