Spontaneity is hard to find in Dutch culture: ‘Life is getting out of hand’s to-do list’

An overcrowded agenda naturally leaves little room for spontaneity. In the Netherlands we are champions of keeping diaries, but is that something positive? “The Netherlands has been reclaimed, has a rich trading position, and that only works if you make strict agreements,” Völker explains. “Every square centimeter in the space has been planned. It is excellently done, but that is also what we do with our time.”

Lots of demand, little supply

Parents are especially guilty of this. “We do this ourselves,” says Völker. “It is a collective action. As an individual you can always create space.” But it’s not that easy, since you often depend on a reservation if you want to go somewhere. “There is a lot of demand and little supply,” responds Hendrik-Jan Mensink, campsite owner of De Twee Bruggen. “Reservations are increasing, especially since corona. People have discovered the outdoors and continue to do so. You see that you have to be there early, especially during popular periods.”

To-do list

Christiaan Weijts wrote an essay about the increased reservation behavior NRC. “You go on a trip to experience spontaneous, unexpected things. Life becomes a to-do list that has gotten out of hand,” the journalist says now. “You are on the road to experience something. Those experiences do not seem to be directed properly. We are in a time when things are no longer allowed to fail. If you have free time, it must also be a good experience. That is a recipe for failure, you have to have room for a lesser experience.”

Mentality

Weijts thinks it is time for more spontaneity in life. “It’s about a mentality. You have to be able to allow it.” Listener Yvonne Morselt agrees. “I think it’s crazy. It’s not good for our system and well-being either. It causes permanent stress. We have to let go a lot more.” The same goes for caller Kathleen Ferrier. “My plea is to experience more spontaneity, go with the flow and enjoy life.” Caller Els Bertus van Kempen is a fan. “It makes things calmer and you can do more things. I like it.”