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What is Dutch Courage?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Dutch courage is slang term that has fallen out of use in many cultures. It is essentially courage obtained by imbibing alcoholic drinks. There is something to be said for such courage. Alcohol may reduce inhibitions and make people less likely to be fearful in difficult circumstances. However, too much alcohol simply makes people stupid and certainly won’t help in situations where a clear head is needed as much as bravery.

There are numerous explanations of why or how the phrase Dutch courage evolved. This idiom is thought to have arisen in England and been one used to express the very serious distaste people had for those who lived in the Netherlands. There are many negative phrases originating from England and then the colonized Americas about the Dutch, and for many years several centuries back, enmity between England and the Netherlands ran very deep.

The phrase "dutch courage" is thought to have started as a derogatory slur by English-speakers against people from the Netherlands, who were said to be heavy drinkers.
The phrase "dutch courage" is thought to have started as a derogatory slur by English-speakers against people from the Netherlands, who were said to be heavy drinkers.

Part of the anger between these two countries came from the dispute surrounding who would control the seas, trading, and the colonization of the new world. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Dutch and the British fought four wars, called the Anglo-Dutch Wars. English soldiers may have evolved the phrase Dutch courage to dispute the bravery of their foes. In this sense the term is a racist slur suggesting that the Dutch would only show up for wars if they were drunk.

Dutch courage is often gained by drinking alcohol quickly.
Dutch courage is often gained by drinking alcohol quickly.

A kinder explanation also emerges from the 17th century. When England was in the grip of the Bubonic Plague, only the Dutch would deliver supplies to England. However there are accounts that they would do so after getting drunk. This might have been to create courage or to potentially minimize chances of contracting the disease.

Another potential origin for the term Dutch courage may have to do with the fact that the Dutch invented gin. The drinking of gin became problematic in England in the 18th century. This prompted England to enact laws tightening restrictions on who could sell or purchase gin. It’s unclear why the invention of gin is linked to Dutch courage, since it usually has to do with bravery or lack thereof, except for the fact that the Dutch created gin.

When England was in the grip of the Bubonic Plague, only the Dutch would deliver supplies to England.
When England was in the grip of the Bubonic Plague, only the Dutch would deliver supplies to England.

Most of the origin stories for Dutch courage have at their heart racial and national prejudice, and unfortunately there are many terms that slight the people of the Netherlands. Dutch treat means people pay for their own food, and a Dutch uncle is one who lectures too much. In the modern sense, as need for global understanding becomes ever more important, these terms are outdated. They represent enmity of the past that no longer exists and continued racial discrimination.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Discussion Comments

lluviaporos

I never realized that this term could be taken as being a little bit racist. I guess I never realized that people were prejudiced against the Dutch in the first place.

I guess I always thought it was more to do with the fact that the Dutch invented gin and alcohol in any form is known to loosen you up a bit. So, you could just as easily call vodka Russian courage. And maybe it started out like that, but that people eventually just called every kind of alcohol Dutch courage, because word use often gets corrupted like that.

I never know, after learning this kind of thing, if I should continue using the phrase. I don't want to offend anyone, but it gets to the point where you can't say anything at all without somehow offending someone.

Mor

@Ana1234 - I guess I'm the same, although it depends on what the activity is in question. If it's something I'm reluctant to do, but not totally against, then a bit of a drink beforehand can help. I'm a lightweight though, so anything more than a bit is going to leave me in a state where I'm not much use to anyone.

Ana1234

Drinking actually makes me more likely to refuse to do something I don't want to do. If I'm at a karaoke party, for example, I might be bullied into singing before I have a few drinks, but after I've had them, nothing will get me up there. I'm not sure what that says about why I'll get up there if I'm not drinking though! But I guess it's good people can't use Dutch courage as a way of manipulating me.

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    • The phrase "dutch courage" is thought to have started as a derogatory slur by English-speakers against people from the Netherlands, who were said to be heavy drinkers.
      By: Ruslan Olinchuk
      The phrase "dutch courage" is thought to have started as a derogatory slur by English-speakers against people from the Netherlands, who were said to be heavy drinkers.
    • Dutch courage is often gained by drinking alcohol quickly.
      By: Ahileos
      Dutch courage is often gained by drinking alcohol quickly.
    • When England was in the grip of the Bubonic Plague, only the Dutch would deliver supplies to England.
      By: Negura Dincolo
      When England was in the grip of the Bubonic Plague, only the Dutch would deliver supplies to England.
    • Drinking too much alcohol can result in foolish behavior.
      By: Kmaeda
      Drinking too much alcohol can result in foolish behavior.