DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Dutch news & articles
How the Dutch share good news
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy



Related Stories

Chocolate eggs and bunniesChocolate eggs and bunnies
Exercising your democratic rights in the NetherlandsExercising your democratic rights in the Netherlands
The key to fast-tracking your careerThe key to fast-tracking your career
How long does it take to learn Dutch?How long does it take to learn Dutch?
Top 3 motivations for hiring a trainer, coach or mentorTop 3 motivations for hiring a trainer, coach or mentor
5 mistakes people make when applying for a job in the Netherlands5 mistakes people make when applying for a job in the Netherlands
How to get the most out of your investment as an expatHow to get the most out of your investment as an expat
Carnival in the NetherlandsCarnival in the Netherlands
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairsWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Kirtika van Hunen
Kirtika van Hunen is a certified intercultural trainer, writer, coach and founder of Between2Cultures https://www.between2c.nl/ Through her trainings; 'Leading Across Cultures', 'Working effectively with the Dutch', 'Intercultural Awareness and Communication', she helps managers and global teams understand the essentials of working across cultures and equip them with critical strategies and knowledge to work effectively across cultures. She is a guest lecturer (Dutch Culture and language, for international students) at the Fontys University in Tilburg. She has also worked as a policy officer for the Dutch government for 17 years. Having been born, brought up and working with diversity in the East she now lives and works, for more that 26 years with diversity in the West. As an experienced professional living between cultures she wrote a book ’Dutch-ess from the Himalaya’ https://www.between2c.nl/dutchess-from-the-himalayas/ which did catch the eye of the local newspaper and the National radio NPO1 also interviewed her. This book is written to inspire people living and working between cultures. Her second book, ‘Wanneer culturen elkaar onmoeten’ is in Dutch and was published in November 2020. Via this book she gives, The key to working successfully with other cultures to her readers. Read more

How the Dutch share good news

Oct 12, 2018

“Hoera, een jongen!” (hurray, it is a boy), say the blue flags that are hanging in the front garden of a house. Good news is meant to be shared and there are various ways of doing so. Still, I bet that nothing beats the striking ways of how the Dutch spread good news.

New arrival

New baby born tradition the NetherlandsThe birth of a baby in a Dutch neighbourhood is something that does not go unnoticed. This piece of good news is communicated to the world by placing a board in the front garden that has an animated animal or a children’s book hero like Winnie the Pooh painted on it, along with the name of the baby. This is the Dutch way of letting the world know about the new arrival.

If you are familiar with the family, then you will also receive a birth card, with the details of the baby’s name, weight and length at birth! After you have received these intimate details about the baby, you can make an appointment to go visit and admire the tiny new member of the house.

"Beschuit met Muisjes®"

To celebrate this new arrival, “beschuit met Muisjes®” will be served. These are round, light toasts, or rusks, spread with butter and sprinkled with either blue and white or pink and white sugar-coated anise sprinkles, depending on the gender of the baby. As tradition has it, this manner of celebrating the birth with a treat, usually something sweet, has existed since the middle ages.

Back then, birthing was a highly risky affair and to celebrate the survival of both mother and child, children in the neighbour were treated to something sweet. Much later, sugar-coated anise was used for the occasion.

National flag and school bag

Flag and school bag netherlands traditionAround the end of June, just before the summer vacation, you will notice a lot of Dutch flags accompanied by a school bag, placed prominently on a flag post. This is how the Dutch share the good news that a child in that house has graduated! Note, this tradition only applies to high school graduation.

“I thought they were suddenly disrespecting their national flag!”, was the astonished remark of a person who was unaware of this tradition.

Well, some Dutch people might say that this is not far from the truth. In fact, in the seventies, there was some discussion regarding this particular aspect of this tradition. For some, it did feel like disrespect, but there were others who regarded this as an innocent tradition where proud parents were trying to let the world know about the achievement of their child.

As for the school bag? This is usually the very same bag that was used by the child to carry their books to school! If you happen to bump into the proud members of the household, do congratulate them. After all, it is good news that should be celebrated!

Sara or Abraham

abraham netherlands traditionHave you ever noticed a huge inflated doll representing an old woman or man in a family’s front garden? If you have, you just saw Sara or Abraham, as they are referred to in the Netherlands.

This is the Dutch way of letting the neighbourhood know that someone in the household has turned the magical age of fifty. Generally, these dolls are placed there by friends, family or neighbours as a joke.

Have you come across these ways of celebrating? What do you think of them? Let us know in the comments!

Pictures: ©Kirtika van Hunen

*Muisjes® is a registered trademark of Koninklijke De Ruijter B.V.

By Kirtika van Hunen