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!