Direct like the Dutch or beating around the bush like the British? Take your pick! Which communication style you prefer of course depends on your own cultural ways. If you have a need for clarity obviously the Dutch style will be more to your liking. If you prefer to keep your options open, you will feel more comfortable conversing with a Brit.
Direct and Indirect use of language
The Dutch and British styles represent 2 extremes of the cultural dimension direct or indirect use of language. But within their own cultures they would not consider themselves to be extreme at all. On average the use of the English language is quite clear to a British person. They know exactly what the underlying message is. In other words, indirect communication works perfectly well on the island 😉
The same goes for the Dutch who take no offense whatsoever to their direct communication style. They are not even aware of their directness until being confronted by foreigners. The famous blind spot can be quite persistent though. Even when told that their communication style comes across as blunt and to a British person oftentimes even as ‘a slap in the face’, the Dutch still tend to think that it’s not all that bad. This is because in the Dutch view directness equals honesty which in turn is regarded as the highest moral standard. Another explanation relates to the limitation of words in Dutch language. In contrast to the British who have many ways to describe their amazement (wonder, surprise, amazed, flabbergasted and what have you), the Dutch settle for a few words and leave not much room for interpretations and nuances.
Crossing the Channel
As long as both parties remain on their own side of the channel, all works fine. But when they meet at either side, there is a fair chance of communication hiccups. The Dutch believe they all speak English just fine and they interpret the use of first names as an informal or ‘gezellige’ atmosphere. Besides, they do share a similar sense of humor, so what could possibly go wrong…?
In practice, the slow Dutch decision making drives the British mad while the Dutch often have great difficulty deciphering the outcome of a meeting run by a British manager which results in  them leaving the meeting clueless about what was decided upon and who is in charge of the follow-up.
The English way of consistently saying the opposite of the actual message is another big source of confusion for the Dutch who tend to take everything that is being said literally. If a British person says: ‘Could we consider some other options’ the Dutch translation would be ’they haven’t decided yet’ and they would start working out the details, whereas the actual message is: ‘I don’t like the idea’. Or how about a British person saying: Oh, I’m sure it’s my fault. Of course he means you f..cked up but the Dutch again literally understand that indeed, it was his fault. In this particular case, the British person actually shoots himself in the foot since the one thing that British people really try to avoid is taking the blame. So be warned and don’t take anything at face value.
