Why are time and appointments so important in the Netherlands?
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In the Netherlands, many things are planned. This applies to work and appointments, but often also to getting together with friends and family. Time plays an important role in this. In this article, you will learn how this works.
An agreed upon time is taken seriously
In the Netherlands, when you make an appointment for a specific time, the appointment is usually supposed to start at that time. This applies, for example, to appointments with your family doctor, at school, at city hall or at work.
How important it is to arrive on time depends on the situation. A job interview or an appointment with an organisation, for example, is different from visiting a close friend. Do you think you will be late? Then it is normal to let the other person know. You can, for example, call or send a message. That way, the other person will know why you are late.
Many Dutch people also plan their free time
In the Netherlands, a planner is not just used for work. Many people also use it to schedule sports activities, family visits, and get-togethers with friends.
As a result, social plans are sometimes made days or weeks in advance. People also often make plans in advance before visiting someone at home. How people handle this, of course, varies from person to person, family to family, and situation to situation.
Planning serves mainly a practical purpose. Work, family, school, sports and social activities all need to be scheduled. Setting a specific time helps with that.
Study shows how the Dutch view time
Scientific research also shows that appointments play an important role in how the Dutch manage their time.
Researchers sometimes distinguish between societies in which activities are planned and societies in which planning may be more flexible. In this type of research, the Netherlands is often classified as belonging to the first group.
For example, a researcher at the University of Amsterdam studied how Dutch, South African, and Pakistani participants viewed being late. On average, Dutch participants were less tolerant of people being late than Pakistani participants. Dutch participants indicated that keeping appointments is important.
This does not mean that the Dutch are always exactly on time or that the Netherlands is very strict. For example, research on the Dutch and Germans in the workplace shows that appointments and scheduling are important in Germany as well. On average, the German participants were stricter about time and scheduling than the Dutch participants.
'Afspraak is afspraak'
In the Netherlands, you sometimes hear the expression 'afspraak is afspraak' (an agreement is an agreement). This means that people believe you must honour an agreement once it has been made.
That goes beyond just showing up on time. At work or in a training programme, for example, it may be agreed that something must be completed by a certain date. Such a date is called a 'deadline'.
If you cannot meet an agreement or deadline, it is a good idea to let the other person know in advance. That way, they can take it into account and adjust their schedule if necessary. Being on time does not mean you have to arrive way too early everywhere. The main thing is that others can count on you to keep your commitments.
Dates are important when it comes to bills, too
Bills usually specify when you are supposed to pay. A due date is different from a social commitment because there are rules and financial consequences involved.
If you do not pay a bill on time, you may incur additional charges. That is why it is important to check when your payment is due.
Are you unable to pay a bill on time? If so, contact the organisation and ask what options are available. Do you have debt or financial difficulties? If so, you can also ask your municipality for help.