“It's Not Dutch to Close the Curtains”: Visual Struggles on the Threshold Between Public and Private in a Multi-Ethnic Dutch Neighborhood

Abstract

The front of the house functions as a border between the public and the private sphere. Different people have different customs in dealing with this area. Whereas some use it as a “front-stage,” on which they present themselves to the outside world, others block their windows with curtains or devote little attention to creating an attractive image. The practices of older Dutch inhabitants, rich decoration, and open curtains, are guided by social norms on tidiness and gender roles. The confrontation with other customs, often linked to other ethnic groups, is considered an intrusion in a space they consider to be theirs. Partly as a consequence of this, they are also retreating into their private sphere, reflected in changed practices at the fronts of their houses.