Global citizenship in the Netherlands
The city of Amsterdam is home to the largest number of different cultures worldwide. All together Amsterdam accommodates 178 nationalities. The global frontrunner is closely followed by Antwerp (164) and New York (150). Their top chart of nationalities consists of Dutch (over 500.000), Moroccan (65.000), Turkish (38.000), British (10.000), German (6.700) and Surinam (5.600). Over thirty percent of Amsterdam citizens contribute to Amsterdams’ multicultural status. In other major Dutch cities, like Rotterdam, this rises up to even fifty percent.
The city of Amsterdam is home to the largest number of different cultures worldwide. All together Amsterdam accommodates 178 nationalities. The global frontrunner is closely followed by Antwerp (164) and New York (150). Their top chart of nationalities consists of Dutch (over 500.000), Moroccan (65.000), Turkish (38.000), British (10.000), German (6.700) and Surinam (5.600). Over thirty percent of Amsterdam citizens contribute to Amsterdams’ multicultural status. In other major Dutch cities, like Rotterdam, this rises up to even fifty percent.
No wonder Dutch companies offer jobs to many nationalities. To this you can add the fact that in 2010 over 120 multinationals opened office in Amsterdam. The city is number two in the top chart of cities with most European head offices, following London. A total of 2.000 foreign companies are stationed in Amsterdam, providing over 140.000 jobs. More than 330 of these companies are Japanese. Local businesses often profit from these new multinationals. They provide serious new business and trade options. I guess I don’t have to explain to you these local businesses have to adjust their ways. That is, if they want to do business with these new Japanese, Chinese or American giants. What is interesting to see, is how micro multinationals have become the fastest growing businesses. These small companies of less then 10 employees, all different cultures, prove to be most innovative and flexible.
Working with cultural differences
As global citizenship and business increases, people experience both the fun and complications of working intercultural. This is subject to many good jokes, painful misinterpretations, some serious bias and many mistakes caused by best intentions. What most professionals in an international business context experience, is how we tend to actually know almost everything about our differences, but we just don’t take it any further. How interesting would it be to integrate these differences, without overadjusting or sacrificing personal qualities?
Just for the fun of it, let’s summarize some of the differences we often know too well. As they say, in the ideal world the policemen would be English, the cooks would be French, the car mechanics would be German and the lovers would be Italian. In reality car mechanics may be French, cooks may be English and policemen just might be German. Admit it, you would spend a lot more time selecting the right garage for your car. Obviously Japanese, French, Chinese and Dutch tend to have different ways of dressing. And of course we recognize their different ways of looking at things and expressing personality or goodness.
Coach cultures
As a coach working in the Netherlands, I’ve had the opportunity to work with several cultures. A concept many coaches work with, is that of a ruler or measurement staff. How do we judge our selves and others? A ruler helps you to objectify in which direction you would like to develop. It also helps you to clarify to which extent change is necessary to meet company values. As I work with clients with different cultural backgrounds, I can add all dimensions along which cultures vary as rulers. You can imagine how all these dimensions stack up. They can easily make things a lot more complex. How do I make use of them? If coaches recognize pitfalls, and shamelessly use them for information along the way, the intercultural coaching process will be way more effective.
Round about and during my travels in 2011 and 2012 I am studying intercultural coaching ‘the coach way’, by meeting with various people in various cultures. On this website I have drawn out my personal interest on this subject. If you’re interested, I happily invite you to read my blog. You can read it as a travel blog through a coaches' eye. By adding comments and posing new questions we can work out and develop intercultural coaching together.
