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Travel Literature
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My ’Dam Life by Sean Condon is a witty and hilarious true-life tale of three years in the Dutch capital, where the Australian and his wife spend much of their time looking for work and trying to define the Dutch character. It’s an excellent read for anyone contemplating a trip (or a move) to the Netherlands.
Xenophobe’s Guide to the Dutch by Rodney Bolt takes an irreverent look at all things Dutch and strikes a fine balance between humour and truth. A quick, fun read.
The Dutch I Presume? by Martijn de Rooi, Jurjen Drenth and friends is another book attempting to explain the peculiarities of the Dutch psyche, and their love affair with windmills, wooden shoes and shelf toilets. It has more facts than insights, but it’s still an interesting read and the photos are inspired.
Amsterdam: A Traveler’s Literary Companion (edited by Manfred Wolf) is a collection of 20 stories by Amsterdam writers, including Harry Mulisch, Cees Nooteboom, Marga Minco and Bas Heijne, which delve into a side of the capital rarely seen by tourists. Highly readable prose and accessible even for armchair travellers.
The UnDutchables by Colin White and Laurie Boucke takes a humorous look at Dutch life, from language and transport to child-rearing and social habits. Sometimes it’s spot-on and sometimes it’s so wide of the mark it becomes slapstick.
Amsterdam by Geert Mak interweaves tales of ordinary citizens with cultural, social and economic history. It also delves into the Dutch psyche, eg why the Dutch eschew nationalism for business reasons.
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier, made into a major Hollywood film, is a tale of duty and sexuality and offers a peek into life in Delft during the Golden Age, and that of painter Jan Vermeer.
The Acid House by Irvine Welsh is a collection of gritty short stories, some of which are set in Amsterdam’s drug underworld. While not for everyone, it’s a good read and a sample of life beyond the capital’s touristy façade.
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