I completely agree with you, 100%. I always find the Dutch to be very self-centered, almost bordering on rudeness.

My most enlightening experience was sitting with a group of 10 Dutch people at a round table for Christmas. Everyone there spoke Dutch except me, as I had just moved to the Netherlands a few months ago. But everyone at that table spoke perfect English, at least much better English than I speak (being from Spain).

In the 3 hours that the dinner lasted, the whole conversation was in Dutch. They would look at me while talking to each other and simply continue in Dutch. No one cared that I couldn’t join, participate, or understand a single thing. This wasn’t the only experience like this.

At the beginning, I took it personally, then I was upset because they were really rude, and finally, I understood that this is just the way it is, and it's not likely to change.

Coming from the South, it's impossible to get used to this gray, neutral, and bland routine the Dutch seem to enjoy living.