The diverse groups in the Netherlands must work together. This might explain why the Dutch have developed a high degree of tolerance.
Due to the openness and the usually quick acceptance of various groups the Netherlands has been able to develop as a country in which modern ideas can flourish.
In a country of polders, flatness defines everything. This flatness means that nobody can rise above you, nor you above them.
Due to the population density, the Dutch have developed a strong sense of individuality and privacy.
The Dutch have a constant willingness to compromise and whose aim above all is a general consensus.
The Dutch like to fend for themselves, for fear of further interference. They love their freedom and independence.
Jan Renkema provides a clear analysis of the Dutch identity in his pamphlet ‘The DNA of the Netherlands’. He starts with a conversation on a flight to Schiphol.