Dutch scout here, I've been a scout since I was 7 and I'm now 28 and a cub scout leader (kids aged 7-11).
Being in scouting can be perceived (in NL at least) as for nerds/geeks or 'corny' (don't know what is a good translation for the Dutch 'oubollig')
Especially when the kids hit puberty (the scouts/guides age), this negative image thing among school peers can be a reason for kids to quit.
When I was that age, I didn't really care about much of that sort of talk and really enjoyed my time at scouting. Although there definitely was a negative image among school peers.
The image is changing for the better though. I certainly would not hide it.
I heard some nice stories from the scouts/guides at high school telling they hiked through the woods for the weekend with a backpack and went canyoning etc, while their non-scout peers only played video games inside.
When I was older and went to university, I noticed a lot of people did scouts when they were little kids. Not sure why they quit.
The social aspect is definitely a plus in some professions.
I remember more details: this was about the 'instemming' (in Delft), a sort of interview you need to go through to get a room. So I suppose being uncool could be a factor there.
I'm Dutch and have spent several years as a scout myself, and know several others who have done the same. I've never seen anyone getting looked down upon for that. Perhaps you'll be made fun of if the scouts in your country include merit badges and you keep showing them to everyone, but in that case you kind of deserve it...
Apparently it's looked down upon enough that it's best to keep it quiet, especially if you're trying to get a room in a house rented by students.
Can a Dutch person comment on this? Is this true, and if so, why?