Frequently Asked Questions

What is Dutch Perspective?

A levensbeschouwing based on three themes: cultural affairs, international affairs and public relations.

Dutch Perspective is a quest to articulate my abstract and concrete views on these three interdependent themes. Drawing from personal experiences and issues in the news, I attempt to illustrate the synchronism and interconnectedness of the three themes with a special focus on how communication pertains to cultural and international affairs.

Topics of special interest include nationalism, immigration, civil rights, international relations and understanding, cultural policy, arts management and advocacy, public relations, linguistics, semantics, and storytelling.

Geographically, my writing is influenced by, but not limited to Chicago and the Netherlands. Intellectually, my writing is influenced by a social liberal philosophy and by people ranging from Benedictus de Spinoza to John Stuart Mill and George Orwell.

Dutch Perspective was created in September of 2005.

Who is the author/editor of Dutch Perspective?

Dutch Perspective is written and/or edited by Marc van Bree, a native Dutch public relations practitioner living in Chicago with a broad experience in the arts and non-profit environment. I am currently employed as public relations coordinator for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing Communication with a concentration in Public Relations from Columbia College Chicago.

For more information, visit the main Web site or About the Editor on this site.

Is Dutch Perspective a credible source?

As this is a collection of opinions, I am not Fair and Balanced as Fox News, but rather Fair and Flexible as the Sprint cellular phone plan. I pledge fairness most of all, but sometimes writing is not simply a matter of reporting what one or the other side states; sometimes balance is unwarranted and the other side to an argument fictitious, hence the flexible.

As far as credibility; I have little to none. I write about issues and things that interest me, but I will not claim any expertise other than what I have read, seen or experienced. I’d like to think that I have read, seen and experienced quite a lot.

What is Dutch?

Of or relating to the Netherlands or its people or culture.

The Netherlands is a country in Europe across the Channel from England, to the left of Germany (when facing North), and to the right of Belgium (when facing West).

Isn’t marijuana legal there?

No. Possession of small quantities is decriminalized, which means it is a non-criminal offence in the likes of a parking ticket. This law and the law against selling marijuana are simply and mostly not enforced.

And no, I don’t have any.

Can you tell me about Hans Brinker?

Who? Really, I had no clue before moving to the United States: why don’t you ask someone else.

Do the Dutch really wear wooden shoes?

Sometimes. Just like Germans wear lederhosen and Texans wear cowboy hats. We do have plenty of windmills, tulips, and dykes. Here’s the Dutch Embassy for more Dutchness.

What is levensbeschouwing?

Levensbeschouwing is the Dutch word for weltanschauung, which in its turn is the German word for world view. A small linguistic difference does exist, as levensbeschouwing technically translates as life view.

What is disce, vive et exhibe?

A personal fundamental principle; in the spirit of Leonardo da Vinci and his assertion that inaction saps the vigor of the mind. It is Latin for learn, live and display.

Anything else?

The views and opinions expressed on this Web site are the opinions of their respective author(s) and do not represent the opinions of any other person, organization or entity unless noted otherwise.

Please read the Web Site Policies for questions about privacy, copyright and all the other small print.

How can I contact you?

Please contact me at dutchperspective (at) mcmvanbree.com