Erik said:
The residents of the Randstad area do have that boasting attitude that appalls the other 8.5 million of the Dutch population. That part of the population has the same attitude you have, with the minor but not unimportant difference that they would refer to it as Randstad arrogance as opposed to Dutch arrogance. That's the superficial side of it.
The deeper motives behind said 'arrogance' are socio-cultural and historical and when examined can be closely linked to a very strange paradox between optimism and calvinist influences. Optimism not shared by the rest of the nation. I could go deeper into that, but I won't.
Finally, that same 'arrogance' is something you will encounter in Italy. If you can't tolerate or appreciate it, you might need to rethink that Erasmus plan.
Also, I'm baffled by how I keep running into that attitude when interacting with Belgians (the Flemish population, anyway). Why the hell would anyone care so much about another nation that it actively turns into hatred? Even the Dutch-German rivalry doesn't have nearly the same dimensions.
Oh no, I'm actually very fond of Italian arrogance

. To us, Flemish, "Randstad arrogance" is what I would call "Zlatan arrogance". Not only unjustified, but also very unstylish and even clumsy.
Of course there are deeper motives behind it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Besides this doesn't mean I can't like Dutch people. It's also not the fact that the Dutch nation would be proud if Holland were to win the WC, it's that annoying "party attitude" some Dutch have. Somehow painting the town orange is annoying to me while the Spanish, Italian and Brazilian can have whatever festa they want

.
This attitude is even strengthened by your players if I might add, Kluivert, Seedorf, Davids (I actually do like him) and Van Nistelrooij haven't aided your case.
I wouldn't know if that part about active hatred is actually true. To me the 29th of June was sweet because it was an historical Italian victory, and yes, also because the Dutch were so confident to win. I would probably have had just as much fun had it been England or Germany though.