Overview
　　The language of the Dutch people is Dutch, a West Germanic language spoken natively by 22 million people speakers. In the course of their history the Dutch grew from a largely rural society to one of the most urbanized in the world, with 50% of the total population already living in cities by 1500 AD.
　　荷兰人的语言是荷兰语，属西日耳曼语支，有22，000，000本土人口使用。在历史的发展过程中，荷兰由一个以农业为主的社会逐步转变为世界上都市化最大的国家之一。公元1500年，其城市人口就已占总人口的50%。
　　Culture
　　The traditional art and culture of the Dutch encompasses various forms of traditional music, dances, architectural styles and clothing, some of which are globally recognizable. The Dutch also have a strong presence in modernist and post-modern arts. The most important religion of the Dutch is Christianity (both Catholic and Protestant).In modern times the majority is no longer openly religious but majovity percentages of the Dutch are adherents of humanism, agnosticismor atheism .
　　荷兰的传统艺术文化包括多种形式，有传统音乐，舞蹈，建筑风格，服饰等，其中许多都是被世界所公认的。荷兰在现代主义和后现代主义艺术中也有很强的表现力。最主要的宗教信仰是基督教（包括天主教和新教）。在现代，大多数不再是公然的修道公员，而是是人文主义，不可知论或者无神论的拥护者。
　　Climate
　　Holland is blowod located in the Earth is in the vogue .Meanwhile it lies off the Atlantic ocean.It also enjoys a typial marine.The wind from the sea to the continent blows an year along.This has provided hollond lucking of the mater power,enovgy remvce the use wind power munificent compensation.
　　荷兰位于地球的盛行西风带，一年四季盛吹西风。同时它濒临大西洋，又是典型的海洋性气候国家，海陆风长年不息。这就给缺乏水力、能源的荷兰，提供了利用风力的优厚补偿。
　　Windmills
　　Windmills have always played a great part in the life of Holland and its inhabitants. While at first they served to grind corn, to remove excess water from the low-lying districts, and to saw timber, thus made the country fit for human habitation and added to habitable area.They developed especially in the seventeenth century into a most important factor in the social structure of those days. It is with increasing interest that one learns about this.
　　风车在荷兰人的生活中扮演着重要的角色. 最初风车被用来磨面,抽水,锯木,从而使这个国家更适合人类居住,并扩大人类居住地域的面积.到了17世纪风车获得了长足的发展,演化成社会结构的重要组成部分. 对风车的研究总是激起人们极大的兴趣
　　Although it can be said that windmills which can be compared with the Dutch windmills are to be found in other European countries as well (England, Belgium, France, Denmark, Germany, Finland), it has to be observed that their number is relatively small there. It is only in Holland that so many windmills are present in so small an area. These windmills moreover are in very reasonable, many of them even in excellent, condition and a considerable number of them are working regularly. There are windmills of the most varied types: drainage mills, corn mills, and industrial mills for all sorts of purposes.
　　尽管荷兰风车在欧洲其他国家（英国，比利时，法国，丹麦，德国，芬兰）也可以见到,但相对而言,数量都较少.只有在荷兰,才可以见到数量众多的风车集中在一片狭小疆域的景象.这些风车仍然运转正常,有些甚至状态非常出色. 大量风车都定期运转. 风车种类各不相同,主要有排水风车,磨面风车和用于各种用途的工业风车。
　　The people
　　Dutch society is egalitarian, individualistic and modern. The people are modest, tolerant, independent and self-reliant. They value education, hard work, ambition and ability. Ostentatious behavior is to be avoided. Accumulating money is fine, but spending money is considered something of a vice and associated by some people with being a show-off. A high style is considered wasteful. The Dutch are proud of their cultural heritage, rich history in art and music and involvement in international affairs.
　　荷兰社会是一个人人平等的，个人主义的，十分现代的社会。那里的人们朴实，宽厚，独立，自立。他们看重的是教育程度，工作努力，抱负和能力。他们避免夸张，炫耀的行为。攒钱是好的，但花钱时要考虑到一些恶习，还有一些为了炫耀的人。高消费被认为是一种浪费。荷兰人以他们的文化传统，丰富多彩的艺术音乐史，还包括一些国际性的事件而骄傲。
　　Greetings
　　When entering a room it is customary to shake hands with everyone present, then shake hands again on leaving. It is polite to ask where to sit. If there are too many people to shake hands with and the setting is informal, publicly identifying yourself will suffice. Usually an acquaintance will introduce a visitor to others, otherwise the guest introduces himself. The Dutch consider it rude not to identify oneself. When introducing themselves, the Dutch shake hands and generally say either their first or surname. If sitting, it is polite to stand up before shaking hands. It is considered impolite to enter a house without being invited to. The Dutch consider it an invasion of privacy.
　　当你进入房间时，要和在场的每个人握手，离开时也是一样。问一下别人自己应该坐在哪是很必要的礼仪。如果在非正式的场合，房间里有许多人的话，公开的介绍一下自己就足够了。通常一个熟人会介绍客人给大家，要不然就是客人自己介绍自己。荷兰人认为，不介绍一个人是很不礼貌的事情。当介绍他们自己时，荷兰人握手，一般都说自己的名字或小名。如果你是坐着的，那一定要站起来与他人握手。如果没有被邀请而进入他们住宅，是不礼貌的，荷兰人认为那是侵犯隐私。
　　Phrases saying hello or goodbye differ between regions, but are generally understood everywhere. However, the use of dialectal forms links the speaker to that region.
　　虽然打招呼和再见的习惯用语在各地区是不同的，但是，一般各地区都会明白。可是，各地方言的使用规律把他们联系起来。
　　When meeting friends and relatives, the Dutch usually kiss cheeks three times. Normally, the first kiss is on the right-hand cheek, the second on the left and the third again on the right (from the perspective of the person being kissed). This ritual is also often used when saying goodbye. Women will kiss women and men, whereas men kiss women but shake hands with other men.
　　当见朋友或亲戚时，荷兰人通常会吻对方的脸颊三次。通常，第一个吻要吻对方的右脸颊，第二个吻要吻对方的左脸颊，第三个吻要再一次吻右脸颊（要根据对方对于接吻礼的态度而定）。在再见时，也同样使用这种方式。女士会亲吻男士和女士，而男士亲吻女士，但要跟男士握手。
　　Body language
　　Compared to most cultures, the Dutch are reserved in public and do not often touch each other or display anger or extreme exuberance.
　　较之于其他文化，荷兰人不会在公共场所经常触摸对方或显露出生气或极度丰富有力的言语。
　　They value privacy and seldom interact with strangers, no matter where they are from.
　　他们很重视隐私，他们也很少打扰陌生人，无论他们从哪里来。
　　In the communication, they expect eye contact. Looking away or staring at the ground is considered impolite and may be perceived as lying.
　　在交谈中，他们期望有眼神的交流。避开眼神或者盯着地看是很不礼貌的，很可能被认为是在说谎。
　　In Netherlands, the crazy sign is absurd made by tapping the centre of your forehead with your index finger. This gesture is considered rude.
　　在荷兰，用你的食指在你的额头中心轻敲是很荒唐的手势。这个手势被认为是粗鲁的。
　　The sign indicating someone is smart or intelligent made by tapping the area around temporal bone (just above the ear) with the index finger.
　　用食指在颞骨的周围轻敲,明这个人很聪明.
　　The crazy sign can also be thought of being foolish made by twisting your index finger around the temporal bone.
　　食指在颞骨周围环绕更是一种愚蠢的手势。
　　Dining and entertainment
　　A waiter or waitress is beckoned by making eye contact and raising a hand, perhaps adding "ober" (waiter) or "mevrouw" (which normally means "madam"). Finger snapping is considered extremely rude.
　　一个服务生或女服和女服务生通过一个眼神的交流，举手示意，可能加上一句“服务生”或者“小姐”。打手响是很不礼貌的。
　　In most cases the Dutch will make it clear when they intend to pay the bill. If not, assume the arrangement is to “go Dutch”. No one will be embarrassed at the bill.
　　在多数情况下，荷兰人若有意愿要付账，那么他们会事先声明。如果不是这样，那么他们就会平摊用餐费用。没有人会因为买单而难堪。
　　On a romantic date, the man is expected to pay for the woman (although she may offer to pay her share out of politeness or to show her independence). She may leave a tip for the waiter. When invited to a birthday party or wedding, guests are expected to bring a gift. Common gifts include chocolates, alcohol, perfumes. Often, wedding invitations have symbols on them indicating what kind(s) of gifts the couple would like to receive. Children may be given toys or books. An envelope with money in (usable to buy CDs, DVDs or computer games) is a good choice to give to an adolescent. It is normal to stay an hour or two after dinner. The Dutch dine is early: often around 6 p.m., unusually after 7p.m.
　　一个浪漫的约会，男人一般会买单（尽管女士可能出于礼貌或都为了展示出她是独立的，会说她要支付她的那一份）。她可能会给服务生小费。当参加生日聚会或都婚宴的话，客人们要带礼物。普通的礼物一般是：巧克力，酒，香水。婚礼请柬上会有一个符号暗示这对夫妻想要什么礼物。给孩子们的礼物可能会是玩具，书。一个装有钱的信封（可以用其中的钱去买CDs,DVDs,或电脑游戏）是给青少年礼物的一个很好的选择。通常，晚餐后要需要持续一到两个小时。荷兰人用餐很早：经常是下午6点，在7点已后的时候很少。
　　Food does not play a major role in hospitality. It is not considered imperative for making someone feel welcome, although coffee, fruit juice or a carbonated drink is usually offered to guests.
　　在款待中，食物并不扮演主要角色。尽管通常为客人准备好了咖啡，水果汁和汽水，但它并不是使客人感觉受欢迎的一种必须。
　　Guests should not expect a meal unless the invitation mentions it. It is impolite to stay until dinner is about to be served. Dinner is often considered a family moment or a private moment. Usually only family or the closest of friends may join without asking.
　　客人不要期望能在主人家吃饭除非邀请的时候有说明，在饭前还没离开是被认为不礼貌的。晚餐公认为是与家人分享的时刻或私人空间，通常只有家人或亲近的朋友可以共进晚餐。
　　It is polite to keep hands above the table during a meal but elbows should be kept off the table. (Dinner) Parties may continue until very late in the evening, even early morning.
　　在进餐时，手要放在桌上，但肘不能接近桌子。（晚餐）聚会可能要持续到深夜甚至是第二天。
　　It is polite to offer to help out with the dishes or cleaning the table. Out of same politeness, the host will usually decline the offer.
　　客人一般会礼节性地提出帮忙饭菜或者打扫餐桌，主人一般会客气地拒绝。