Aldert sees Finland more closely than the Finns themselves

Dutchman Aldert van der Burg first came to Finland in 1989. His first contact with the Finnish soul landscape was in the Forssa region, where he arrived as an exchange student. At the time, he had no idea that Finland would become a permanent part of his life.

It had all started a few years earlier, in a somewhat surprising place.

“I was on holiday in Greece in 1985. The hotel had a book in Finnish. I leafed through it and thought: what language is this? I was also fascinated by the fact that Finland is so close, but we still heard almost nothing about it. Except when Kekkonen was re-elected president. That's exactly why I decided to go to Finland as an exchange student,” Aldert says.

In Finland, he found himself in a country where people might not talk much, but usually really mean what they say when they open their mouths. For the young Dutchman, it was both confusing and refreshing.

Aldert has since returned to Finland dozens of times. His longest stay since 1990 was three months, during which time he also worked here. Over the years, he has learned Finnish so well that he can get by reasonably well in everyday life.

Silence is not coldness

Over the years, he has developed a picture of the country that is interestingly different from how Finns often describe themselves. Finns like to say they are stoic, shy, and perhaps a little modest. In Aldert's eyes, Finns are not so much cold as thoughtful.

“Here, people don't talk to each other just because the silence feels awkward. In the Netherlands, a conversation can start quickly and progress even faster. In Finland, a person might first look, think for a moment, and only then say something substantial. It can take time to get used to it, but after that it has its own charm,” he says.

According to Aldert, Finns also tend to underestimate themselves. When something works well in Finland, people don't pat themselves on the back. The train runs, the school works, nature is nearby, and trust in society is evident in everyday life. A Finn shrugs his shoulders: this is how things should be. A Dutchman might look at the same landscape and think that something quite exceptional is going on here.

Aldert is also amused by the Finnish way of talking about the weather.

“Where many people use the weather as small talk, Finns use it as a measure of their shared destiny. If November is dark, we acknowledge it together. We don’t complain too much or pretend to be happy, but we accept the facts. Maybe that’s what’s so Finnish about it: life isn’t always a party, but the coffee is hot and the sauna is warming up.”

Language can be a bridge, not a locked gate

Alongside all the positives, Aldert also sees a challenge. Finland can be a difficult country to get into, especially in the job market. Language skills are often required even when the job itself would be successful in English or through practical work. Learning Finnish is important, but the language should be a bridge, not a locked gate.

"If Finland wants to attract skilled people, workplaces need the courage to hire people who don't yet speak perfect Finnish. We need English orientation, clear language support during work, and above all, an attitude that sees a foreigner as an opportunity and not an additional burden. You don't have to know everything on the first day. After all, Finns don't learn small talk in an instant," Aldert says with a smile.

Ultimately, Aldert's story also tells about Finns themselves. We easily see our own shortcomings: silence, caution and modesty. At the same time, an outsider often sees reliability, honesty and a rarely well-functioning everyday life. Maybe we should look at Finland through Dutch eyes sometime. Then we might notice that there is a lot here to be proud of — although we don't have to say it too loudly.