The UnDutchables is a term originally coined by author Colin White who, together with author Laurie Boucke, wrote a book with the same title. The complete title is: ''The UnDutchables: an observation of the Netherlands, its culture and its inhabitants''. The book was first published in 1989, has been a
best-seller
A bestseller is a book or other media noted for its top selling status, with bestseller lists published by newspapers, magazines, and book store chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and specialties (novel, nonfiction book, cookb ...
in the Netherlands since 1990 and is also popular in
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
, the United Kingdom, Australia, and former
Dutch colonies. To remain current, it is updated every 2–4 years. The book has been translated into
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
and
traditional Chinese
A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...
(荷蘭不唬爛).
Authors
When the book was first released, the authors had spent a cumulative total of 22 years living in the Netherlands. Colin White (British) lived and worked there for 7 years, and Laurie Boucke (American) lived and worked there for 15 years.
Overview
There is no plot and the book is not a travel guide. Instead, the authors subject the Netherlands and the
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
to an irreverent and unmerciful scrutiny. ''The UnDutchables'' takes an in-depth humorous look at daily Dutch life, quirks and character, with subjects varying from coffee drinking habits to child rearing, and from train travel to the toilet. The Dutch press refers to the book as a laughing mirror.
Popular culture
The name “The UnDutchables” has been used by numerous entities including a radio program in New Zealand, sports teams, a rock band, an employment agency, an online chat group, a theatrical play, nightclub, firmware, and many videos on YouTube. In 2004 White-Boucke Publishing acquired a Trademark registration for the name “UnDutchables” and for a line of UnDutchables merchandise that includes a Dutch-style perpetual birthday calendar, a desk calendar with daily jokes, coffee mugs, T-shirts and pens.
History
In 1987 near the end of a long stay in the Netherlands, Laurie Boucke had the idea to write an in-depth humor book about that country. At the time, there were no books of this genre readily available. Laurie Boucke began formulating the structure and text during the authors’ last months as Dutch residents. Colin White joined the project when his interest was piqued by the advent of desktop publishing. New editions have been published in 1989, 1991, 1993, 2001, 2006, 2010, 2013 and 2017. The first edition appeared in a comic book / magazine format (8.5" x 11") with 80 pages. Subsequent editions have been in a more standard book format, with the most recent edition being 312 pages in length and consisting of 21 chapters.
In 1989, renowned Dutch journalist Johannes van Dam spotted the book in the front window of the Athenaeum bookstore in
Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...
and wrote a review for the Dutch daily ''
Het Parool
''Het Parool'' () is an Amsterdam-based daily newspaper. It was first published on 10 February 1941 as a resistance paper during the German occupation of the Netherlands (1940–1945). In English, its name means ''The Password'' or ''The Motto' ...
''. In his review he wrote that the book “in a very exact yet funny way discloses all the secrets about us that we really would have preferred to keep to ourselves.” This review launched the book in the Netherlands. There have been many subsequent reviews. For example, in 1991, ''de
Telegraaf
''De Telegraaf'' (; en, The Telegraph) is the largest Dutch daily morning newspaper. Haro Kraak,Gaat Paul Jansen de crisis bij De Telegraaf oplossen?, '' de Volkskrant'', 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015. Paul Jansen has been the editor-in-chief s ...
'' called the book a “laughing mirror: readers can only laugh as they concede their ridiculous habits.” Later, ''
The European'' called the book “a cult among English-speaking expatriates” and ''
The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
'' described it as “a sometimes funny, sometimes scathing portrayal of Dutch national habits.” Film rights were optioned in 1996 when a studio hoped to sign
John Cleese
John Marwood Cleese ( ; born 27 October 1939) is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. Emerging from the Cambridge Footlights in the 1960s, he first achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and ...
as the main presenter, but Cleese was not available, and the film rights are again available.
External links
* http://www.undutchables.com (official site)
* http://www.white-boucke.com (home site)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Undutchables
1989 non-fiction books
Books about the Netherlands