The UnDutchables
Encyclopedia
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 in the Netherlands
since 1990 and is also popular in North America
, 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 and complex Chinese (荷蘭不唬爛).
, 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.
In 1989, renowned Dutch journalist Johannes van Dam spotted the book in the front window of the Athenaeum bookstore in Amsterdam
and wrote a review for the Dutch daily Het Parool
. 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 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 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
as the main presenter, but Cleese was not available, and the film rights are again available.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
since 1990 and is also popular in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and former Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
colonies. To remain current, it is updated every 2–4 years. The book has been translated into Dutch and complex Chinese (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 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 ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, 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 Holland. 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 and 2010. 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 318 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
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and wrote a review for the Dutch daily Het Parool
Het Parool
Het Parool is an Amsterdam-based daily newspaper. It was founded as a resistance paper during World War II by Frans Van Heuven Goedhart and Jaap Nunes Vaz...
. 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 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 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 Cleese
John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
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)