Dutch Resilience!

Of the 5 social sources that we are about to discuss, the last one, concerning our national identity, is possibly the trickiest one. So, why not start with that one!

Sylvia and I have been bridge-builders for most of our life, and we take great joy in connecting, working, and creating teams with others from different nationalities. When I was 19, I moved to Germany to learn to work together with people that are living and working, coming from a really different cultural background. This was especially meaningful to me since my parents have had rather bad personal experiences with Germans (my father was sent to the concentration-camp Vught, and my mother had barely survived the Hongerwinter), and therefore they haven’t exactly raised me Pro-German. Nonetheless, I have lived and worked for 22 years in Germany, and I have learned a great deal during these years. Interestingly enough, looking back now, I think that, that is also really thanks to the fact that I am deeply routed in my Dutch Identity.

My ancestors already lived in the Netherlands since 1200, as the Family de Beers (they arguably lived there hundreds of years already, but documentation goes as far back as 1200). In 1600 a branch of the family called themselves Donders. Legend has it that this branch, this family, was one with 7 enormous blokes (the 7 sons of the Donders family). To me, this feels like I am part of the Dutch identity for hundreds of years already. It makes me feel Dutch through and through. And I am grateful for it as well. Which does not mean that, being Dutch, makes me feel better than any of the other 300 nationalities, or 2000 tribes. Each and every tribe has many things to be proud of, to be grateful for.

Something that I am very proud about is the fact that the Netherlands are, for quite some years now, number 1 on the UNICEF ranking of the most child-friendly countries of the world. And, if you are kind and good for the smallest in the society, this automatically guarantees a safe place for all. 

Secret 1: if you are aware of your own identity, if you accept it, respects it, appreciate it, and embrace it, you also gain a healthy image of yourself too. And, finally, you are better able to deal with the other nationalities surrounding you.

Secret 2: if you reject your own nationality and identity, you have no natural authority to rise up and to lead.

Secret 3: if you don’t have any vision and appreciation for your own country, you have little hope, and you are missing out on a lot of resilience.

Bridge-builders, like Sylvia and myself, even have a double chance here: being well rooted in your own culture, and – at the same time – having the opportunity to get rooted in another culture. Speaking for us, it has really enriched our lives.

Now, over to you!

• What do you especially appreciate of your own culture and national identity?What are you especially proud of?
• How could you put a hold to some of the resent that you feel towards your own culture?
• Could you possibly place this negative side in the perspective of a shadow-side of a national strength, 

During my life I have learned to wear a positive-minded/discovering pair of glasses, when I am thinking of my own identity, and certainly also when I am looking at other cultures. As long as you are being aversive towards a culture, it will only amount in energy-loss, and nothing more.

I hope you will have some fun (re)discovering your special national roots!

Paul