Abstract
Paul Hoebink tries to find out what kind of relation there might exist between Dutch national identity and the development cooperation policy of the Netherlands. He indicates that, in line with remarks of Benedict Anderson on nationalism, descriptions of what might be a Dutch national identity are rather shallow. In general they don't arrive at more than a list of so-called positive national characteristics that may easily be turned around in their negative opposite poles. He therefore suggests to consider these characteristics more as scales, in which positions might change in and overtime. The Dutch development policy receives international praise, but critical remarks can be made using these scales. The Dutch, for example are more pragmatists philosophers, which leads to a lack of policy content and weak policy analysis and to situations in which bookkeepers take the lead over policy makers. Dutch politicians are by nature consensus builders, which in the field of development cooperation from time to time may lead to supply-oriented and not demand-oriented aid.
