6 reasons to learn Dutch

Not yet convinced? Here are six reasons to learn Dutch.

1. Increase your chance of a great job. It is a myth that you can get along everywhere in the Netherlands if you only speak English: in most companies, only Dutch is spoken. Learn Dutch and find your dream job!
   
   
2. Want to get to know Dutch people? It is much easier to connect with Dutch people if you speak the language. Even though many people speak English, we prefer to speak Dutch with each other.
   
   
3. Dutch people appreciate it very much when people make the effort to learn their language. Count on a lot of enthusiastic reactions and a great many compliments once you can speak a few sentences.
   
   
4. Dutch is a beautiful and versatile language. And no worries: we also like to borrow English words, so you probably already know ‘Dutch’ more than you think
   
   
5. When you speak and understand the Dutch language, a world will open for you: a world of beautiful literature, award-winning films, quirky theatre and absurd humour.
   
   
6. Learning a new language with others is a fun and educational experience, and it offers opportunities to form beautiful new friendships.

Learning a new language: how do you actually do that?
Deciding to learn a new language is one thing, but how do you actually do that? In this dossier, we give advice on how best to approach learning Dutch if you want to. We know that it can be quite a challenge to learn a foreign language; we therefore describe a structured approach that includes the following steps:

• Step 1: Set a goal. By determining for yourself what your final goal is and what steps are needed to achieve that goal, you create clarity about what you are doing. It helps to make the choices in Step 3 about the methods and tools you will use to learn Dutch easier.
• Step 2: Identify your personal situation. Without self-knowledge, it is hard to determine the best way for you to learn Dutch. We therefore look in this section at your situation and your preferences.
• Step 3: Make choices about methods and tools. Once you have determined a goal and have an idea of your personal situation, you can make informed choices about how you are going to learn Dutch, what tools you will use, and how much time and money you will invest in it.

The information on the various pages can also be read separately, so if you only want to know more about one of the topics we cover, you can find it. On the ‘Tips and tricks to learn Dutch faster’ page, we also provide a great many practical tips to help you on your way.