Do we need to learn Dutch?

Most expats are wondering whether they should learn Dutch before they move to The Netherlands. It is true that in some cases it is vital for someone to be in a position to understand the basics at least, especially for those who are looking for a job.

However, there are a lot of foreigners that don’t speak the language, although they have been living and working in the Netherlands for years. So, in general, it is doable to cope with everyday life without speaking the language, but the question that remains is what kind of citizen do you really want to be?

Jobs: IT graduates, people who have studied economics, accounting, management or marketing have big chances to find a job that provides a good salary, in a multinational company even without speaking a word of Dutch. Of course, it might take time, as the number of unemployed Europeans heading to the Netherlands to find a job is growing rapidly over the last few years and there is a lot of demand for any job. The people who have the “good jobs” in multinational companies in Holland are not moving to other jobs as much as they used to. Mobility is not as high as it used to be among the Dutch and the internationals who live here, because things are still a little unstable after the crisis. Mobility is slower and at the same time nowadays employers require that you speak Dutch – at least on a basic level – even if the job’s main communication language is English. And they do that for two reasons, to promote competition among employees and to try and limit the number of applications.

Other available jobs in English or in your native language – if you are lucky enough – are jobs in Customer Service or in dishwashing, cleaning, waiting or working as a sales assistant. Another important factor here is location. There are cities like Amsterdam where you can find a lot of these jobs in English – and other smaller places where English is not spoken as often as in Amsterdam.

Daily Life: Most of the Dutch people or people who reside here are able to speak at least basic English, so in the street, in shops or in public places you don’t really need to speak in Dutch to get by. Of course not ALL people who live in Holland speak English. If you go to the open market for example, in Albert Cuyp or Kinkerstraat in Amsterdam, there you may find some locals who don’t or won’t immediately speak in English with you. Besides that, if you speak at a place like a market in English, they immediately treat you as a tourist, and you might lose points in your negotiation for a better price or for a better product. You might get much better service if you speak Dutch.

However, you might face problems when you visit a supermarket, since only Dutch can be found on product packaging. From ingredients until recipes, everything is in Dutch. Of course, smartphones could come in handy in that case, and just by using an app for translation, you can find everything you are looking for.

The majority of restaurants and cafes in the Netherlands, offer menu catalogs in both languages, so ordering food or coffee shouldn’t be a problem for you. In public transportation you will not find it too difficult to know where you are going since all the announcements are in English as well. However, when there emergencies, or for example when the same train splits in two directions, the announcements will most likely be only in Dutch.

Public services: Ιn public services, such as the town hall or the tax office, there is always a department which is authorized to offer its service in English. But despite the fact that this is possible, it is true that the communication is much easier when it is in Dutch. And especially by the Belasting, the tax office, they cannot help you over the phone with questions over taxation. In general, being in a position to understand some basic Dutch, would help you comprehend how the Dutch system works, so that you can avoid any pitfalls, failures, or fines due to misunderstandings.

Calling services such as the bank could be a bit tricky, because in most cases a pre-recorded message asks you to press a number or say something, in order to connect you with the right department. Those pre-recorded messages are always in Dutch, so keep in mind that you might need to find someone who speaks Dutch to give you a hand.

Valia Papadopoulou

Hellas Pindakaas Tip: Although finding a job in English is oftentimes doable in the Netherlands, daily life is easier if you are able to speak at least some basic Dutch.

The question, however, is whether you would like to integrate with the Dutch society or not.  If the answer is no and you are interested in socializing only with your compatriots or with other internationals, then either English or your native language should be enough. If the answer is yes, then try to learn Dutch as soon as possible.

It doesn’t really matter if you are coming to work or study, because in both cases if you are able to understand some basic and very useful things in Dutch, your whole experience will become easier and more enjoyable, and of course, you’ ll manage to integrate smoothly in the Dutch society, let alone the fact that it will add further qualifications in your resume, which will certainly increase the chances of finding a job. Don’t forget that living here gives you a great advantage of being able to practice the language every time you leave your house, when you turn on the TV, when you go shopping or when you explore your city or the country. And that is crucial since the Dutch language is not so much based on written rules and grammar, but more on the spoken tradition. You learn it better and quicker by listening to it in the street than from a book.

Nikos Koulousios