ABSTRACT
The theme of identity is on the minds of a lot of people in our country. Not only among scholars and in political circles, but everywhere. It affects us all. Therefore it is important that the WRR has investigated this subject. A difficult job because there are so many dimensions to it. It has been seven years since I started my personal search for the Dutch identity. I received help from numerous experts. I had the privilege to meet many people, to see, hear and taste a lot from the Netherlands. It was a beautiful, rich experience for which I am enormously grateful. But the Dutch identity, no I did not find that. The Netherlands are: large windows without curtains so that everyone can look inside, but also valuing privacy and cosiness. The Netherlands are: only one cookie with coffee, but also enormous hospitality and warmth. The Netherlands are: sobriety and moderation, pragmatism, but also experiencing intense emotions together. So the Netherlands is much too many-sided to be captured in a single cliché. The Dutchman does not exist.
