Campaign attacks rude behaviour of the Dutch

Nose-picking, burping and noisy mobile phone conservations are among the top irritations for Dutch people – 95 percent of whom say they’re fed up with the behaviour of others.

These are surprising statistics for a nation renowned for its tolerance. The figures come from the Foundation for Idealistic Advertising (SIRE) which has conducted a survey into perceptions of rude behaviour in public.

The survey also showed that four out of five people said they could imagine others being irritated by their own public behaviour.

In the face of a seeming epidemic of anti-social antics, the foundation is launching a campaign to try and get people to change their ways.

It is the 100th campaign conducted by SIRE since its foundation in 1967. The organisation is the brainchild of six retired advertising executives who wanted to put the techniques of advertising at the service of socially beneficial aims. Earlier campaigns include “You’re an oaf if you play around with fireworks”, “Society, that’s YOU”, and “Don’t think lightly about being overweight”.

Related:
Say please! – Expats slam Dutch manners

Source: Radio Netherlands, 16 March 2009