<P> There are two possible senses--each person paying their own expenses, or the entire bill being split (divided evenly) between all participants . In strict usage, "Going Dutch" refers to the former, paying one's own expenses, and the latter is referred to as "splitting the bill", but in casual usage these may both be referred to as "going Dutch". </P> <P> A derivative is "sharing Dutch", which stands for having a joint ownership of luxury goods . For example: four people share the ownership of a plane, boat, car or any other sharable high - end product . This in order to minimize cost, sharing the same passion for that particular product and to have the maximum usage of this product . </P> <P> One suggestion is that the phrase "going Dutch" originates from the concept of a Dutch door, with an upper and lower half that can be opened independently . </P> <P> The Oxford English Dictionary connects "go Dutch" and "Dutch treat" to other phrases which have "an opprobrious or derisive application, largely due to the rivalry and enmity between the English and Dutch in the 17th century", the period of the Anglo - Dutch Wars . Another example is "Dutch courage". </P>

Where did the term dutch treat come from