DUTCH HUMOUR EXPLAINED: WHY THE DUTCH LOVE SARCASM AND BRUTAL HONESTY | MAG GOING DUTCH S02E03 скачать в хорошем качестве

DUTCH HUMOUR EXPLAINED: WHY THE DUTCH LOVE SARCASM AND BRUTAL HONESTY | MAG GOING DUTCH S02E03

In this new episode of MAG Going Dutch, our hosts try to decode Dutch sarcasm, memes and other forms of Dutch humour. What happens when sarcasm meets international classrooms? In the latest episode of MAG Going Dutch, hosts Luba and Salomé take a closer look at Dutch culture by unpacking one of its most confusing traits for newcomers: Dutch humour. Their guest is Ajur, a third-year International Business student who grew up in the Netherlands and sits comfortably between Dutch directness and international sensibilities. Asked to describe Dutch humour in just a few words, he doesn’t hesitate: dry, direct and often sarcastic. ‘It’s closest to British humour,’ he says, ‘but still very much its own thing.’ That dryness, Ajur explains, can be both a bridge and a barrier. In international study programmes, Dutch and international students often split into familiar groups, not out of hostility but comfort. Language plays a major role, but humour does too. Jokes that land effortlessly in Dutch can fall completely flat in English, especially when they rely on understatement or brutal honesty. The hosts recognise the situation immediately. Switching between Dutch and English mid-conversation, cracking jokes that only half the group understands, or accidentally excluding others happens more often than anyone intends. Ajur says he actively tries to avoid that by sticking to English when internationals are present, even when Dutch friends question why. ‘It’s about making people feel included,’ he says. At the same time, he admits that Dutch culture has a reputation for being blunt, sometimes uncomfortably so. Honesty is valued, but not everyone draws the line in the same place. ‘Some people confuse being honest with just being rude,’ he says. ‘But at least you know they’re not lying.’ That directness can actually be reassuring, especially when you need genuine advice or unfiltered feedback. Humour also shows up beyond everyday conversations. Ajur points to viral memes, social media sketches and even political debates as examples of how joking, teasing and roasting are woven into public life. Things rarely stay completely serious for long. ‘Otherwise it just becomes sad,’ he says. When asked about Dutch icons, Ajur brings up Johan Cruijff, a name that still carries weight across generations. Even students who don’t follow football recognise his influence, though some internationals admit they only learned about him through series like Ted Lasso. It’s another example of how Dutch cultural references don’t always travel automatically. The episode ends with rapid-fire questions that humanise the discussion. Ajur chooses going out over staying in, names the Forum as his favourite place in Groningen, praises spring as the moment the Netherlands suddenly shows its best side, and says what really makes him laugh is simple: gaming with friends or helping others. ‘It just makes you feel good,’ he says. With this episode, MAG Going Dutch continues to explore Dutch culture not as a fixed set of rules, but as something you slowly learn by listening, misinterpreting, laughing, and sometimes crossing the line by accident. New episodes are coming soon.