5 reasons to love learning Dutch

11 years ago, in 2013, Direct Dutch Institute launched the campaign “Spreek Nederlands! Met mij!” (Speak Dutch! With me!). In these 11 years, many thousands of newcomers have found that they love learning Dutch, but many internationals in the Netherlands are still yet to take a Dutch course, perhaps because they have some misconceptions about learning Dutch. This article offers five compelling reasons that may help newcomers change their minds about the Dutch language.

1. Werk (work)

If you work in an English-speaking environment, you may not feel the immediate need to learn the Dutch language. All meetings and consultations will be conducted in English. So, learning Dutch will feel like a waste of time and money. But it is very likely that some of your colleagues are Dutch and when they’re having lunch or a “vrijmibo” (Friday afternoon drinks), they’ll get together, let their hair down, switch to Dutch and you’ll feel the odd one out.

Maybe you and your family love living in the Netherlands so much that you will end up applying for a job with a Dutch company. This may pose a challenge. Many jobs in the Netherlands require or prefer Dutch language skills. Proficiency can enhance your career prospects and help you stand out in the job market.

2. Integratie en verbinding (integration and connection)

So, you’ve found a “gezellige” place in a fascinating area. Great. Your partner and your kids are really enjoying it. How wonderful that your neighbours speak English. You’ve even joined the local sports club. Yet, after a while, you feel as if you’re missing the subtleties when trying to connect and you notice a growing gap between your neighbours and you.

Learning Dutch will help you connect with locals, fostering friendships and deeper relationships. Speaking Dutch allows you to participate more fully in community events, local groups, and activities. This can lead to a more fulfilling and engaging experience.

3. Cultuur en kunst (culture and art)

Language is a key to understanding culture. Learning Dutch gives you insights into Dutch traditions, humour and social norms, enriching your experience in the country. There is so much to discover and explore in this small country. Yet, most of it is in Dutch.

The reasonably priced “museumkaart”, for instance, will give you access to over 500 museums for a year. After you’ve mastered some Dutch, you’ll be able to read the information and understand the guides, and in doing so, enrich your knowledge of Dutch. And on Koningsdag (King’s Day) and other festive days you will be able to joke, sing and converse with the “feestvierders” (merrymakers) in their own language.

Plus, let's not forget about Dutch literature. In the BBC programme The Forum (22 May 2010), Dutch-born author Ian Buruma suggested that it would be a good idea for English speakers to learn Dutch as their first second language: “It has a rich literature. So, there is a lot to read.”

4. Praktisch gemak (practical convenience)

Navigating daily tasks, such as shopping, banking and healthcare, becomes easier when you can communicate in Dutch. It reduces your reliance on translation tools and can make everyday tasks more efficient.

Your children will easily make Dutch friends and you’ll be jealous at the speed with which they pick up the language. Don’t be left behind. Learning Dutch can significantly enhance your life in the Netherlands!

5. Nederlands leren, leuk! (learning Dutch, it’s fun!)

The Dutch will tell you that there is no point in trying to learn the language, because Dutch grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation are “far too difficult”. Nonsense!

At first, you’ll think Dutch is “brabbeltaal” (double Dutch), but once you’ve figured out the simple logic to the sounds and word order, you’ll quickly get the hang of it.

Feel more at home in the place where you live

Learning and practising Dutch is not a boring chore. Before long, you’ll love learning Dutch. Invest a little money and time in Dutch lessons and you’ll be surprised how fast you’ll learn, how rewarding it is, and how much fun! You’ll be able to read the local news, understand the culture better, make new friends, understand some of their jokes and feel more at home in the place where you live!

Do yourself a favour: Spreek Nederlands! Met de Nederlanders! (Speak Dutch! With the Dutch!) The courses at Direct Dutch will help you achieve your language goals. They offer Dutch lessons for different levels as well as free resources and articles.