For a few hours… On Thursday, June 20, the Blokker bookstore in Heemstede will be the guest of American reporters, where he will talk about his book ‘Vos in de VS’. It is now twenty years since Voss left Maastricht for America, and we know him as an interpreter of American politics, a position in which he regularly appears on talk shows. He uses various events in his book to illustrate how the past two decades have passed during Harlem Today. “I feel more American now, but with ‘a Dutch heritage’.”
According to him, the biggest difference between Maastricht and the US at the time was ‘size’. “Maastricht is definitely a beautiful, nice city, but you come to New York and it’s like a big stage where people come from all over the world to show off their tricks,” Voss says. “If you succeed in that trick, you can stay, and if you don’t, you really have to leave because you usually don’t get to continue. So there’s a lot of pressure, but also a bit of tension and competition.
Listen to the full interview with Michael Voss below. Text continues below section
Looking back over those twenty years, Voss concludes, the biggest change between Maastricht and America was perhaps the direct nature of the Dutch. “The Dutch like to be very direct and honest and can tell everything, while Americans want to be more open in life,” he says. When asked if he adapts to the American mindset, he says it’s ‘fairly compelling’.
“I’m used to the American way of doing things now. Sometimes a bit superficial and a bit distant. I like it now.”
Michael Voss, American Correspondent
“America is so complete that it forces you to become an American, kind of welcomes you with open arms like a happy toddler,” Voss explains. “You have to reinvent yourself as an American, there’s no other way. In his case, he said goodbye to his Dutch modesty. “You have to leave it very honest, very direct, even to the point. It becomes a role playing game.
Dutch directness
According to him, in the US your accomplishment comes first and your personality comes second, while in the Netherlands it’s the other way around. Voss doesn’t see this as insulting, but rather ‘pleasant’. “I’m used to the American way of doing things now. Sometimes a bit superficial and a bit distant. I find it sweet now,” says Voss. “I don’t like the Dutch directness.”
Michiel Vos will be the guest on Thursday, June 20 at 8 p.m Bookstore Blogger in Heemstede. Admission is free, but reservations are required and there are limited spaces available.
