Dutch People Don't Like to Touch

At the conference today Bill who is Dutch was responding to a presenter and touched him on the arm. During the conversation the other gentlemen noted that he too was Dutch. Bill said "I'm surprised you let me touch you then!". Everyone laughed as though this is a known fact. It wasn't until I went to a Willow Creek conference that I learned that the Dutch have a stereotype of being cheap.

I think this might be an Dutch-American thing. In Holland there was way too much kissing going on for my liking - both cheeks - please - watch my boundaries. But expression of heartfelt emotion does seem to be limited. People talk a lot about what they think - but not much about how they feel. Instead of people criticizing I wonder how it would sound if they talked about their feelings? I bet stuff would create more sympathy then hostility.