This time in Language Day we take a slightly different approach. Namely looking at an expression in the English language that has a foreign background. There will be other such articles later on.

We start with Dutch treat. Most English speaking people know exactly what that means, but others perhaps not. A treat yes, but Dutch? Anything to do with the Netherlands?

Everybody knows though what my treat means. I pay for everything - for me, you and perhaps even for the rest of the bunch. Sounds like fun. Perhaps next time it will be your treat. Or the next time. So at some point we’ll be even. Or perhaps we never need to be even. Perhaps it is alright for that one person to pay. It feels good to be generous, and if it is okay by everyone, then it is fine.

Dutch treat goes the other way. Everybody pays for themselves. A very common practice in Europe. But why is it called Dutch?

In the 15th century when baptists were persecuted in the Protestant Germany, going Dutch meant fleeing to the more tolerant Holland. Therefore “Going Dutch” meant going the easy way.

Then in the 17th century, the rivalry between the British and the Dutch navies produced some much used phrases coined by the British navy. All in order to insult and demoralize their Dutch counterparts. Dutch courage was an illusion backed by alcohol, going Dutch was to take the easy way out, and in a restaurant, letting others pay for their own meals and drinks.

In Brussels, Belgium, “manger à l’hollandaise” or “manger à la flamande” does mean splitting the bill between everyone present. But this may have more to do with the reputation among the French speakers of the Dutch and Flemish being tight with their money.

In US English there are several references to “Dutch” used as an adjective, taking the meaning of ‘false’:

Dutch courage - courage from drinking liquor (no real courage)
Dutch metal - imitation gold made mostly of copper
Dutch nightingale - a frog
Dutch concert - an unmusical racket
Dutch auction - auction starting at maximum price

Therefore, Dutch treat means no treat at all.

But don’t think for a minute that Dutch people are stingy. No more than the rest of us. But the Dutch culture strongly favors social equality, so being up front with what you owe is simply considered being fair, and being ostentatious considered socially awkward.

So go ahead, let’s go Dutch! But let’s also reserve ourselves and others the right for the pleasure of a heartfelt treat.

Down below, another type of Dutch treat - reminding you that it is good to know some Dutch in Holland, even if you are a foreigner:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Ko49YgYHI

Updated 29.6.2021