Asking for help can be a good way of making contact. Dutch hospitality and gift-giving follow rules of their own. They tend to treat each other as equals and are generally non-competitive. The system features two parallel forms of higher education, unique diplomas, and study programmes that are valued equally despite being highly varied. Although secondary school can be harrowing, students do not undergo a selection procedure and competition is nearly absent.
Great value is assigned to independence, individual opinions, and teamwork.
Dutch policy on drugs is held up as an example around the world. Relations between the sexes seem very free. The back of the book offers recommendations for further reading, lists of alumni associations and International Neighbour Groups, and instructions for ordering Nuffic publications.