[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.15″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ module_class=”reverse-columns-mobile” _builder_version=”4.15″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.15″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.15.1″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.15″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.15.1″ text_font=”roboto-regular||||||||” text_text_color=”#003a7c” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”||15px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Credits: IMB, PIXABAY\/COMMANDER05, W4MEDIA[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.15″ custom_padding=”0px||90px||false|” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.15″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.15″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.15.1″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”] Which language should I speak in Belgium and the Netherlands to be successful in business? The answer to this question alone shows the difference between the two Benelux countries, which we group together for simplicity all too often. \u201cWhen in the Netherlands, initiate all interactions in English \u2013 even if there are some German speakers present. But please don\u2019t assume English is a given,\u201d advises Yvonne Brockhaus, who is an intercultural consultant for international management cultural awareness (IMB) in T\u00fcbingen, Germany. And she knows what she\u2019s talking about. Incidentally, Brockhaus grew up in the German-Dutch-Belgian border region, studied psychology with Dutch-Belgium studies in Amsterdam and worked for four years in The Hague as a recruitment consultant at the German-Dutch Chamber of Commerce. \u201cWith Belgium, it\u2019s more complicated. On the coast it is wise to speak English, whereas in Wallonia and around Brussels, French is the way to go. There are East Belgians whose native language is German,\u201d says Brockhaus.<\/p>\n
The HR professional, with 15 years of professional experience in five countries, also goes on to emphasise that there are more differences than similarities between the two nations. People identify locally more than nationally there. \u201cPeople are more likely to call themselves Limburg-natives than Dutch; or Flemish rather than Belgians,\u201d she explains. This also has an impact on the negotiating culture. \u201cIn Belgium, you will mostly encounter polite and reserved business partners who place more emphasis on long-term relations than on closing a transaction swiftly. Business partners in the Netherlands, on the other hand, often show their well-informed, hard-negotiating side after the first introductory \u2018kopje koffie\u2019. It\u2019s here the country\u2019s successes as a great shipping and trading nation for many centuries come to the fore,\u201d explains Brockhaus. It is not only against this historical backdrop that she recommends all Germans should hold their Dutch business partners in high regard. Brockhaus also has equal respect for the Belgians. They are hidden champions, boasting one of the highest productivity rates in Europe, amongst other successes. \u201cThe most fruitful way you can do business as a big country is to avoid underestimating your smaller neighbours! Before your visit, take a look at the general history of both nations and Google keywords such as “VOC, The Netherlands\u201d, \u201cThe Golden Age\u201d or \u201cBruges\u201d, for example,\u201d she suggests.<\/p>\n
Regarding the issue of appropriate business wear, it is also necessary to differentiate. In Wallonia, suit and smart wear are still popular, whilst Dutch and Flemish people often dress more casually: \u201cJeans and a T-shirt are commonplace, sometimes with a jacket, so it\u2019s no surprise that I haven\u2019t seen a tie worn there for years,\u201d says Brockhaus. The same applies for addressing others formally\/informally \u2013 something which is typically relaxed in the country of windmills, whilst only gradually for its southern neighbour. One thing that unites both countries is the fact that they place less emphasis on titles and hierarchies than is the case in Germany. \u201cThe polder mentality is more integral to our ethos than theirs, which also means that it\u2019s best leaving your doctor title out when introducing yourself,\u201d Brockhaus suggests. Another tip from the expert: \u201cDiscreetly ask your business partners which gift or souvenir from Germany would be positively received. Because assimilation plays a big role in both Belgium and the Netherlands\u201d. Inviting people to eat together is a good idea, as representatives of both nationalities like to be well fed. What\u2019s more, sharing a meal will strengthen a personal connection.<\/p>\n
The two world wars, criticism of the royal family or the health system and the differences between the Flemish and the Walloons are sensitive issues which we may be aware of, but should not be addressed. Football can also unexpectedly ruffle a few feathers, according to Brockhaus. \u201cAs a child, I witnessed the German-Dutch football rivalry first-hand, which arguably peaked when the spitting incident occurred at the 1990 World Cup. Even today, there is still tension over the matter on both sides. The opposite is true for Belgians. Despite being at the top of the FIFA football world rankings, like almost everything, they sweep this under the carpet with great modesty\u201d. One of the most common faux pas Germans commit, according to her experience, is to talk about Holland instead of the Netherlands. \u201cThe country is officially called the Kingdom of the Netherlands and consists of twelve provinces \u2013 two of which are North Holland and South Holland. For some Dutch people, this mix-up would be similar to a North German being labelled a Bavarian or Swabian,\u201d explains Brockhaus with a wink. (bre) <\/em>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb title=”Logistics Pilot” url=”mailto:marketing@bremenports.de?subject=Please%20send%20me%20the%20Logistics%20Pilot%20Magazine” image=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/LP_2022-April-EN-Cover.jpg” icon_placement=”left” _builder_version=”4.15.1″ header_font=”|||on|||||” header_text_color=”#002e5b” header_font_size=”21px” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”17px” body_line_height=”1.4em” animation=”right” link_option_url=”mailto:marketing@bremenports.de?subject=Please%20send%20me%20the%20Logistics%20Pilot%20Magazine” link_option_url_new_window=”on” custom_css_blurb_image=”width:100px;||transform: rotate(-10deg);” custom_css_blurb_title=”padding-top:15px;||margin-bottom:-5px;” box_shadow_style_image=”preset1″ box_shadow_color_image=”rgba(0,46,91,0.3)” global_module=”50941″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Die aktuelle Printausgabe – jetzt kostenlos anfordern.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”dtb-sticky” _builder_version=”4.15″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_sidebar area=”et_pb_widget_area_7″ show_border=”off” admin_label=”Werbung Startseite \/ Artikel” _builder_version=”4.15″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_sidebar][et_pb_sidebar area=”et_pb_widget_area_9″ show_border=”off” admin_label=”Werbung Artikel” _builder_version=”4.15″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_sidebar][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Yvonne_Brockhaus_500px.png” alt=”Yvonne Brockhaus, interkulturelle Trainerin f\u00fcr die Interkulturelle Management Beratung (IMB)” title_text=”Yvonne_Brockhaus_500px” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.15.1″ custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”25px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.15.1″ header_3_text_color=”#002e5b” text_orientation=”center” min_height=”119px” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||40px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Yvonne Brockhaus, Intercultural Consultant for International Management Cultural Awareness (IMB)[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There are three key success factors for a business trip in the Netherlands and Belgium \u2013 some respect, history and English. It is equally important to differentiate and to remember there is no umbrella approach to the Dutch or Belgians.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":59146,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-behind-the-scenes-en"],"yoast_head":"\n\u201cBig countries \u2013 don\u2019t underestimate smaller neighbours!\u201d<\/h3>\n