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Okay I confess -- it was coffeeshops that first lured me to the Netherlands.

But eight visits later, the coffeeshops are still lots of fun, but I've discovered what a rich, fascinating, remarkable nation the Netherlands is. Once I land at Schiphol, it's really difficult for me to escape from Amsterdam and the Netherlands to see the rest of Europe.

Just as the USA fought a long, nasty war for independence from Britain, the Netherlands fought a very long and terrible war against its colonial master, Spain.

The freedom-fighters forged a victorious coalition based on religious, political and intellectual freedom 150 years before the USA guaranteed these things in its new Constitution.

An American historian, Motley, wrote the best standard history of this world-shaking struggle for independence, "The Rise of the Dutch Republic." A condensed edition is available to read on-line at

http://www.archive.org/stream/motleysdu ... 7/mode/2up

I strongly urge folks who are spending lots of time in the Netherlands to read it or browse through it. Until you're familiar with this remarkable (and horrifying) history, you're missing the key to the character and nature of these remarkable people and this unique nation. You'll understand why ethnic and religious hatred, bigotry and strife which plague so many other countries are nearly absent from the Netherlands.

It's about far more than the coffeeshops, but you'll understand why the Netherlands was light-years ahead of the rest of the world in sane, rational, enlightened drug policy.

there is a hell of alot of european history!!

i am very much into my history, and love all the expansive history within europe!

Welcome to ACD with some great first posts. Will read this book soon. I am halfway through a book about the history of Amsterdam, which touches a lot on the fight against Spain.

I do have say, that I can't agree with this statement (wish I could):

You'll understand why ethnic and religious hatred, bigotry and strife which plague so many other countries are nearly absent from the Netherlands.

There is probably as much racism here as I observed in the US, but different. Like many Europeans countries, many Dutch are in denial about their own racism (not that we all are not, to a degree). Geert Wilders obtianing 12% of the vote is a very bad sign. There is ugliness here if you scratch the surface. An example is in hiring, I so rarely see people of color in the work place here.

Many, many Dutch I come across are very aware and anti-racist for sure.

Marco wrote:Welcome to ACD with some great first posts. Will read this book soon. I am halfway through a book about the history of Amsterdam, which touches a lot on the fight against Spain.

I do have say, that I can't agree with this statement (wish I could):

You'll understand why ethnic and religious hatred, bigotry and strife which plague so many other countries are nearly absent from the Netherlands.

There is probably as much racism here as I observed in the US, but different. Like many Europeans countries, many Dutch are in denial about their own racism (not that we all are not, to a degree). Geert Wilders obtianing 12% of the vote is a very bad sign. There is ugliness here if you scratch the surface. An example is in hiring, I so rarely see people of color in the work place here.

Many, many Dutch I come across are very aware and anti-racist for sure.

i agree Marco, not forgetting it was the dutch that invented the slave trade!!!

Oh come come now dava! the dutch didnt own slaves! why you tell lies ,They only traded the f-ing s**t out of them thats all! ive seen tons of you-tube stuff & read lots also where most dutch commerce ships simply came home empty for a period in time as all the money was being made simply in sending slaves either here or there! the "de waag" building was a rally point if you like,Liverpool was another trading point for slaves as it happens! i mean if the boat took in water they would just start throwing guys overboard,& while they are all chained together as well! or worse still if some pisshead captian messes up the maths for the food rations well he just threw the ones who couldnt feed OVERBOARD,You even heard of them being chained below decks while the boat was sinking,& If you were sick you went over the side also! admiralty law & common law sucked in those days mate.