The Netherlands, Indonesia and Switzerland

The Centrepoint talk held on 11 December 2025 was titled simply “The Netherlands”. But the event proved triply rich. Jan-Willem van Wijck, Giok Zaat, and Maarten Koning, all Centrepoint board members, delivered an entertaining, wide-ranging presentation.

The Netherlands

“Who speaks some Dutch?” asked Jan-Willem, before launching into the geography, history and economy of the country.

He explained that the Netherlands is the size of Switzerland, but has more than twice as many people. It is also a country of contrasts. Over a quarter of the land is below sea level, and 20% is reclaimed areas called polders.

The highest point is the Vaalserberg at 326 m, a fact that got a few chuckles from the audience. The Netherlands has the 3rd-highest GDP per capita in the EU but is also one of the most polluted countries in the region. It has an open economy and is the 2nd-largest exporter worldwide of agricultural products and processed foods.

We were given a capsule tour of the Netherlands’ storied past, up to and including its golden age, which produced Rembrandt and Vermeer, along with innovations in microscopy, shipbuilding, maritime law, and financial markets. During these years, profitable commercial ventures in the East Indies culminated in the colonisation of Indonesia around 1800, followed by its independence in 1949.

The Netherlands and Indonesia

Both the struggle for independence and its aftermath were difficult times, said Giok Zaat, who offered a personal perspective. The forced assimilation policies of the new nationalist government, for example, led some people to leave the country for the Netherlands. Giok’s Chinese-Indonesian parents were among them, enduring a month-long boat trip to study abroad.

Yet the connection between the two countries remains profound. Citing popular books and films, Giok told the audience that young people in the Netherlands are now curious about its complicated history. The Indonesian connection is also evident in contemporary music, fashion and cuisine. During the break, we were offered a sampling of traditional delicacies such as cassava, shrimp chips and peanut cookies.

The Netherlands and Switzerland

Maarten Koning examined similarities and differences between the Netherlands and Switzerland. Napoleon abolished the Republic of the Seven United Provinces and replaced it with the Batavian Republic in 1795. He also dissolved the Swiss Confederation of Cantons in 1798 and replaced it with the Helvetian Republic.

However, after Napoleon’s fall in 1815, the Netherlands became a unitary monarchy, while Switzerland again became a decentralised republican Confederation of independent cantons. Switzerland remained territorially intact, but the Netherlands was enlarged by Belgium (until 1839) and Luxembourg (formally until 1890).

The last part of the presentation focused on tourist tips. As an alternative to Amsterdam, the speakers recommended Delft, Haarlem and Alkmaar (“nice little towns”), Rotterdam (Manhattan on the Maas), Enkhuizen (for its open-air museum) and the Keukenhof in Lisse in spring (for the flowers). If engineering is your thing, check out the Delta Works in the southwest.

Finally, we now know that the cheese spelt “Gouda” is actually pronounced “Gowda”. The way to eat herring is raw, and by the tail. An unscientific sampling of the three speakers would tend to support the general impression that Dutch people are indeed very tall.

Written by: Giselle Weiss