WHY THE DUTCH ARE DIFFERENT

Sub-titled 'A Journey into the Heart of the Netherlands' this has been an international bestseller, an affectionate portrait of the Netherlands in the 21st century and a refreshing update on the way the Dutch national character is described. Going beyond red-lit windows and Anne Frank to the true depths of the country, Ben Coates's day to day life sits effortlessly alongside deeper dives into history and folklore. You will find out why the Dutch are the tallest people on Earth, that they are closing prisons through lack of demand, that they are not as environmentally friendly as everyone thinks and that they are voracious cheese-eaters. Coates discovers why Amsterdam's brothels are going out of business, why the colour orange is so important, and why the Dutch are now questioning many of the liberal policies that made their country famous. He covers climate change and the battle against the tides, carnivals, Catholics and the war against Spain, empire, slavery and the rise of Amsterdam, the Nazi destruction, football and Ajax the pride of the nation, mosques and immigration, Islam and murder, sex, drugs and the tradition of tolerance. Political advisor Ben Coates now lives with his Dutch wife in Rotterdam. 294 page paperback, maps.