Do Dutch people talk to strangers?

The Dutch value privacy and seldom speak to strangers. It is more likely that they will wait for you to make the first move. Don’t be afraid to do so. The Dutch expect eye contact while speaking with someone.

Why do Dutch people switch to English?

Dutch people (at least in the bigger cities) are often proud of how well they speak English, and enjoy practicing and showing off their skills. The idea is that it’s less of an effort for us to switch languages than it is for the other to learn this tiny language that hardly a few million people in the world speak.

Are Dutch people good at speaking English?

Next to ranking among the tallest people in the world, the Dutch are also better at speaking English than any other non-native country. According to research, between 90\% and 93\% of Dutchies claim to be able to hold a conversation in English.

Why are the Dutch so good at speaking English?

Dutch people speak English so well because it’s being taught from elementary school, the Dutch are a trading country and have a lot of international connections, TV shows are not dubbed, Dutch and English are both Germanic languages, and the Dutch have an affinity with English and American.

What percentage of Dutch speaks English?

In the Netherlands, the English language can be spoken by the vast majority of the population, with estimates of English proficiency reaching anywhere from 90\% to 93\% of the Dutch population according to various estimates.

Do Dutch people speak English in the Netherlands?

If you’re traveling in the Netherlands, most people speak English, however it’s always polite to learn some Dutch. Don’t be offended if people switch to English if they hear you speaking Dutch. The level of English spoken in the Netherlands is really high and most Dutch people rather just talk to you in English rather than hear you struggle.

Is Dutch a difficult language to learn?

But let’s be honest: Dutch is one of those languages that is not taught at school in many countries. Living in the Netherlands without speaking Dutch can sometimes be embarrassing. Thus, if you want to learn it, you have to learn from scratch. It is also a known fact that the older you get, the harder it becomes to learn a new language.

How do you say thank you in the Netherlands?

Thank you is used in a number of contexts in the Netherlands. When someone does anything for you, you usually say Dankjewel. Generally, when you say thank you in English, you say thank you in Dutch. I usually say thanks after placing a food or drink order at a restaurant.

Why is English so popular in the Netherlands?

English is a mandatory subject in secondary schools/middle schools. Also, Dutch people are more likely to watch movies or TV shows with subtitles rather than the voice dubbing preferred by our German neighbors. And most of the Internet so many Dutch people rely on is written in English.