ABSTRACT
Dutch society presents a paradox. While the Netherlands is famous for its strong feminist movement and for tolerance about certain gender issues such as homosexuality, abortion, birth control and single parenthood, in terms of a basic ‘gender contract’ Dutch society maintains a ‘housewife’ contract. Regulations in taxation, social security and housing favour traditional one-earner families (Pott-Buter 1993). Though in several cases anti-discrimination legislation in the Netherlands is enforced by the European Union (EU)—for example, with respect to gender equity in old age and widow(er)s' pensions—in numerous areas of daily life, the housewife contract prevails. Notable among these are the legal restrictions on the opening hours of shops and public services and the lack of provision of childcare facilities. Banks close at 4.00 p.m., post offices at 5.00 p.m. The Dutch parliament struggled for many years over the issue of the statutory opening hours of shops and only recently changed their time of closing from 6.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. Schools are open from 8.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. or 3.30 p.m.; primary schools are free on Wednesday afternoons. Public childcare is scarce—a place in a day-care centre is provided for less than 5 per cent of all children under 3 years of age.
