Prijswinnende
inzending:
The
Netherlands: a revealing metropolitan village
The
ambition of the Netherlands as metropolitan village (or ‘metro-village’)
shows where we, the Dutch, are from and are going. The ambition contains points
of discovery, recognition and awe. Deep in our heart we know that this ambition
touches the core of our nature and it shows our special value for the world.
We’ve accepted that the Netherlands and that we Dutch are a bit different. The
Netherlands are not dogmatic, nor grand, nor compelling. We don’t understand
all the developments on the world stage, but we can deal with any circumstances
flawlessly. That’s how we keep being Dutch: pragmatic, a model, and ‘great
on small scale’.
 Close
your eyes for a moment, let go of the illusions of the day, and come see the
past, present and future state of the Netherlands. Real ambition doesn't sprout from the silly things one can think of and even less from the hectic
daily business. Ambition is not a random idea, but necessary to become what
we’ve always been: a revealing metropolitan village.
The
revelation:
the Netherlands as the delivery room of worldwide paradigms.
The
Netherlands are marked by her disasters, and the resulting scars are much loved.
Overpopulation, de-forestation, desertification, floods and world-domination.
We’ve had it all. Our country has no primal forms left: not in nature, nor in
culture. Everything was thought out and constructed after it was first lost.
Since the middle-ages great parts of the Netherlands have eroded away. Other
parts regularly flooded. Primal forest became heath which became shifting sands. 'Schorren' and 'slikken' - sand banks - were build
on and inhabited. At the end of the
19th century the poor Netherlands consisted largely of sand dunes and
water - flowing in, out and through. Then the Netherlands modernized and started
to deal with her problems: land-reclamation, planting forests, dredging, and
work on the delta showed the Dutch determination. Water became a (water-)way and
land or shifting sands became ‘nature’ and the coastal land was permanently and
ingeniously separated from the sea with basalt. The disasters of yesteryear
are no longer a threat, but proof of our motto (‘je maintendrai’, I will maintain) and shape and give meaning to
our national identity. We are an artificial country and that proves that human
activity, after a lot of trial and error, can maintain a balance with the
environment.
Overpopulation, de-forestation, desertification, floods and world-domination.
We’ve had it all.
 The
water and the disasters have brought us another peculiar characteristic: the
ability of cooperation. Landowners were forced to cooperate in the building of
dykes, if one didn’t participate they all got wet feet. It cannot be a
coincidence that the Netherlands were the cradle of many of the institutions
that presently govern the world at large. We formed the first republic. We
brought forth the first multinational (the V.O.C.,
the United East India Company), the first issued stock (again the V.O.C.) and the
first stock-market. Our small-scale and peculiar experiments have led to large consequences. So large that we couldn’t control and contain them. With the
same matter-of-course by which we gained world domination we lost her again.
It cannot be a
coincidence that the Netherlands were the cradle of many of the institutions
that presently govern the world at large.
New
paradigms were conceived of in the Netherlands and presented to the world. But
after the pioneering stage others have shown to be better in the application on
a larger scale. More than symbolic is the development of New York after the
founding and growth of New Amsterdam. We, the Dutch, know are limitations. When
things start becoming large and exciting we let the developments take their
course. A small-scale cosiness is much more appreciated by us. Maybe we consciously
have ‘unconsious ability’, because ‘concious ability’ would
demand to much responsibility, something that would bind the open mindedness and
the spontaneouity of the experiment.
We,
pioneers of the land-reclaimed Atlantis, don’t persist in old concepts. Our
struggle isn’t one of dogmatism and suppression. Just as easy as we struggled
against the water, we are now in search of places where we can give ‘water a
space to flow’. You can’t stop water by staring blindly at one stream. The
water swirls and flows on all fronts. Sometimes we have to let it go for a bit,
to see where dams and dykes are useful. That’s how we spread the notions of
tolerance and gedoogbeleid,
‘tolerating accepted illegal behavior-policy’ (a policy of allowing
soft-drugs (marijuana) and prostitution, although it is/was technically against
the law.)
The
metropolitan village: the human measure of a practical spirit.
The
Netherlands don’t have a grand and compelling spirit. If you want to taste a
cosmopolitan atmosphere don’t come to the Delta-metropole. Someone who wants
to exploit his artistic talents to new and great heights escapes the country
where ‘all sharp edges are made blunt’-
pointy expressions aren’t appreciated. The grandeur that Holland brought forth
was given to her by foreign refugees. The ports and the canals in Amsterdam are
more a result of struggles elsewhere on the European continent than because of a
Dutch initiative. We can only be proud of not standing in the way of those who
saw new opportunities.
 Our
own celebrities quickly outgrew our small country. How many of his productive
years did Erasmus spend in the low countries? How fast did the Netherlands
become an unsafe place for a man like Hugo Grotius. Even the painter that
stunned the world with his talent was pulverized by the very night watch that he
portrayed. Only after the Dutch discovered the money value of paintings by
Rembrandt, their enthusiasm grew for his art.
We
don’t often have a stake in the power struggle on the world stage, but we do
get advantages from it. As the world polarizes around matters of principle we
find pragmatic middle grounds. Here we ‘don’t
eat the soup as hot as it’s served’ - we let time cool heated debate and avoid digging in on positions, busy as
we are bridging differences and tolerating obstinacy. Is there a better place in
the world to house international institutes for justice? We don’t aim to
dominate them. Political power games aren’t our thing. Hospitality and a
commercial spirit more so. As long as the rent is paid and the peace isn’t
disturbed we enjoy the cosiness with those strange characters around.
The
Netherlands has passed the stage of large-scale approaches and monocultures.
Rationality and the human measure governs here. As an alternative to
universality we parade cosiness and sociability. After welfare, now well-being
is central. Next to economic values we speak about multicultural values,
environmental values and human values.
The
Netherlands are a pivotal point in a world that needs a change but has trouble
letting go of old and settled ways.
In
our country agitators are frivolous and ‘power’ tends to lead to servitude.
Individuality and solidarity go hand in hand en self-determination and voluntary
commitment are highly regarded. We rather accept than polarize. The seeds of a
enduring environmentally friendly society are to be found here. Understanding
and respect are more important than (formal) justice and confidence is more
important than a quick profit. Reciprocity is the basis for of all relations
between people, but also between people and the environment; ‘treat your neighbor
as you would treat yourself’ and 1000 acres of port is good for 1000
acres of forest. Although Dutch frugality has had perverse results like inbreiding and verdichting - condensing – such suffocating jargon doesn’t turn
the dominating trend. Even now paradigms are switching. Is it the start of a
next golden century? This time not based on trade and water but acting in
accordance with how the water flows and people develop.
 The
Netherlands are a pivotal point in a world that needs a change but has trouble
letting go of old and settled ways. Someone that reveals doesn’t invent a new
thing, but simply takes the veil off something that already exists. To be
revealing it is necessary to defeat pride and thirst for action. This isn’t a
problem in a country where ‘exageration’ isn’t appreciated and where
‘problems solve themselves’. Decisions aren’t ‘taken’ and new
structures aren’t ‘designed’. They don’t need acts of heroism or a grand
vision but appear spontaneously if the right preconditions are met, like space
and a respectful exchange between two open minds and reciprocity in relations
between people and between people and the environment. That’s how the oldest
republic, who later realized it rather was a monarchy, breaks new ground for a
new welfare state.
The ambition
How
tempting is it to think of what breathtaking landscapes, technical achievements,
beautiful men or tough women the Dutch can send out into the world. But what is
tempting is usually temporary. The goldmines are emptied, images become
unfashionable and new heroes are easily forgotten. An ambition that doesn’t
last is a poor one. Also poor is an ambition that isn’t complementary to our
authentic national identity. Doesn’t it show wisdom to have an ambition in
tune with that which is already there? Isn’t it honorable to let be what has
to be? Isn’t it grand to let appear what has to come, although it still is
small? History shows that this is the greatest challenge of humanity. The
challenge that can avoid conflicts, that can stop environmental disasters and
that dreams of a living planet in harmony with a humanity becoming an adult.
© 2002 - elannet bv / postbus 932 -
3160 ac rhoon
Nederlandse
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