How To Speak Dutch With Dutch People That Don't Want To Speak Dutch

[@exploringtheforeign]

Are these tips the secret recipe for foreigners to combat Dutch people's high level of English?! I think so haha. Huge thanks to Koen from the Dutch learning school Koentact for the workshop, as well as the awesome students who were willing to participate in this video, and lastly to Carmen for helping with filming!

[@osieoscar1]

As a Dutchie myself, I agree with Koen that in NL we tend to switch to English when we see foreigners struggle with Dutch. I would like to know if this study is only done in Amsterdam. Because my opinion of Amsterdam is that its hard to tell who can speak Dutch and who can't when you first meet someone. Amsterdam is very diverse in culture and people, where they are from and if they know Dutch or not. Im not from Amsterdam and I can not tell, when I walk around in Amsterdam, who can and who can't speak Dutch, its super multicultural. Maybe other Dutchies have the same idea as me and tend to speak English faster instead of trying to speak Dutch back. Therefore I think in other parts of the country like the north and south it is definitely more common for Dutchies to speak Dutch back, instead of switching to English. Do others share the same opinion?

[@Fuwacutie]

Yeeeesssss as an expat, even in Haarlem almost no one spoke to me in English @@osieoscar1

[@Treinbouwer]

Wees wat koppiger. Dat kan erg helpen. Toen ik een keer in Amsterdam was (als Nederlander) wilden ze ook niet meewerken en was "ik wil graag afrekenen" nog te moeilijk.😅 Maar na een paar keer herhalen was het toch duidelijk genoeg en mocht ik toch afrekenen.🙃 Blijkbaar wilden ze toch hun centen.😂 Het helpt ook om Amsterdam uit te gaan.🙃 Misschien is een boeren gat niet de beste optie, want daar wandelen er soms ook rond die alleen dialect spreken. Dat vind ik altijd wel leuk, is voor beginners een beetje hoog gegrepen,😅 maar in kleine steden en grote dorpen wordt je niet zomaar in het Engels geholpen.😁

[@Treinbouwer]

​​​@@osieoscar1In Amsterdam zouden ze een soort vernederlandsingsbeleid moeten voeren. Het is werkelijk absurd dat in veel winkels geen Nederlandstalig personeel is.🤯 En er ligt meer buiten de ring dan het noorden en zuiden. In het midden en oosten kun je ook prima terecht.😉 Ik zou vooral suggereren de grote steden en de pas tot woke strook gedoopte lijn tussen Amsterdam en Arnhem te mijden als je zeker wilt zijn dat je in het Nederlands antwoord krijgt. Wellicht wil je ook Limburg en Friesland ook mijden als je zeker wilt zijn dat er in het Nederlands geantwoord wordt, maar dat is niet door de verengelsing.

[@Koentact]

Het is een toffe video geworden Samuel! Bedankt voor de gezellige middag!

[@Logical]

Best tip is in the end, just be direct and tell them you want to practice your Dutch and ask if they want to speak Dutch with you. All the other stuff is unnecessary. However the 'I don't speak English' is good for a fast conversation in a shop or if you really don't want to explain yourself. But if you want to learn the language and culture, try the direct route.

[@rachelschloesser7438]

The more confident you are in speaking, the more likely they are to reply in Dutch. I’ve had full interactions in Dutch but then the moment I fumble and lose my words, they like to try to switch to English with me! The key in my experience is not to be tempted to give up and switch to English. If you don’t remember a word you can substitute it for English and still be understood most of the time, but then continue in het Nederlands. It’s easier said than done, especially for those of us who are a bit shy and afraid of making mistakes, but it really is worth it. While you can get by pretty well with just English in Nederland, learning Dutch opens a lot of doors. Good luck!

[@Treinbouwer]

Dat doen hogeropgeleide Duitsers ook. Da's kei iritant, want dan heb ik twee vreemde talen doorelkaar en dan weet ik het niet meer.😅

[@xPhantomxify]

Je kan met mij oefenen hoor :)

[@__.AV.__]

It's so bad that I was having an English conversation with people I met on the street, and halfway, we found out we were all Dutch and had no idea why we weren't speaking Dutch. I guess they thought I was eastern European like Polish or something and I thought they were uni students who are often international in my experience, so we all kinda assumed. Dont even know who started it but halfway we facepalmed about the mix up and continued in Dutch😅

[@exploringtheforeign]

💀💀💀 that's hilarious!

[@Ytcomntsrtb]

Ik heb dit al een paar keer gehad 😂😂

[@-_YouMayFind_-]

Expats always talk English to me. I started talking Dutch to them but then they answer in English.

[@dicknr1]

@@-_YouMayFind_- This is why we should deport those lazy migrants as the law says, 2 years to speak the language at a basic level, if not deport. but left agendas in those tourist ruined provinces called holland make this always impossible, for them its good. locals would never vote for these fools, so if you replace the local community more and more with these migrants who refuse to intergrate they will vote for them at some point, because they promote the laziness they are always given.

[@italorossid]

saying outright that you'd like to practice is the best way. I've done this going to my huisarts and specialists... "hoe meer ik kan over mijn toestand in het Nederlands leren, hoe beter", and they will also be very comfortable using their own language and everyday terms to explain things to me instead of struggling to find the words. if they insist with English but still throw a random word in Dutch, I tell them they can continue in Dutch :)

[@jeffafa3096]

6:15 Dutch directness really comes in handy here: Just ask, and people are usually very willing to cooperate. This is true for many things in The Netherlands by the way. If you don't ask for help, people will assume you don't need any.

[@Kuiperownz]

We dutchies really appreciate honesty/directness, so just tell the other person: "Ik wil graag nederlands leren, kan je alsjeblieft in het nederlands spreken. Dan leer ik het beter.". This way you can also practice beeing direct. ;)

[@exploringtheforeign]

Je hebt gelijk!

[@andrisk2703]

Move to a small provincial town. I live in Roosendaal and here nobody switches to English even while seeing me struggling with my Dutch.

[@nazarkgb1]

Absolutely not 😂😂😂

[@LindaCasey]

This happened to me too time and again, but I always just politely asked the good hearted Dutchman to please speak to me FIRST in Dutch and then if I really couldn't understand, to then speak to me in English. They were ALWAYS accommodating. They just want to practice THEIR English (which they're BRILLIANT at).🌹

[@abi219]

Yes we all tend to switch to English. I think the best tip is 💯 saying 'Ik spreek geen engels ' brilliant idea 👍😀😊

[@exploringtheforeign]

Haha ja toch?!

[@8alakai8]

that shoe store you see at 2:13 was started by the brother of johan cruijff a legend of a football player

[@dutchyjhome]

Hey Sam, for a Dutchman you really speak English very well ;-)

[@exploringtheforeign]

haha, dankjewel!

[@Floorman7285]

That’s really awesome!!! Ik wil graag Nederlands spreken ook 😊

[@MichelBaek]

Cool video. Educational and still fun to learn Dutch with these tips. Learning a new language is not only good for communication but also boosts your confidence because you have gained a new skill. ❤❤❤

[@exploringtheforeign]

Thanks, Michel! And I agree, learning a language is an amazing growing experience.

[@jannetteberends8730]

That’s so true. I’m learning Swedish now with Duolingo. I will most likely never go to Sweden, but it’s so much fun to do. And it’s good against dementia 😀. (I’m 70)

[@PokemonHolo]

You guys talked in english from the start and for the most part amongst each other instead of practicing Dutch :P I appreciate the effort and willingness to speak Dutch. My father is English lived in The Netherlands for about 30 years and we only spoke in english because he was to scared to speak Dutch and almost everyone spoke English so it didn't matter. I speak fluent Dutch no real accent that I'm aware of. People from the south say I have a hard G. But because my dad would speak english with a waiter or whoever I would often just pretend that I only spoke English so that I wouldn't have to explain myself orso saving time. And I can hear any potential Dutch Gossips without then knowing that I know what they are saying :P

[@RelaxThinkGrow]

I loved this video I learned so much and got a few good laughs as well. Excellent!

[@lbergen001]

Wat heb je weer een goede video gemaakt. 👍👍 ik vind dat voortaan in het Nederlands gereageerd moet worden.

[@exploringtheforeign]

Heel erg bedankt!

[@neeleonhelemaalniet]

Ik vind dat Koen VEEL te veel Engels spreekt tegen mensen die in het Nederlands aangesproken willen worden!

[@exploringtheforeign]

Haha ik zal hem vertellen

[@woutersplinter4981]

Wat een geweldig leuke video Sam! Zit met glimlach op mijn gezicht te kijken naar al deze tips en interacties, deelnemers deden het fantastisch.

[@exploringtheforeign]

Super leuk om te lezen! Dankjewel!

[@Logical]

​@@exploringtheforeignik lees dit nu in jouw accent 'super leuk'😅

[@8alakai8]

i think i said this on a other video but back in the day we had a englisch friend when skatebaording and after 10 years he when to school to learn dutch and when he could it took us i think like 1.5 years to start speaking dutch to him.but the thing was growing up in amsterdam its normal to meet tourists so we would just all switch to englisch even when not talking directly to the person that did not speak dutch

[@Melch192]

Koen is great!

[@hunchbackaudio]

I’ve learned to continue to speak Dutch to English speakers that try to speak Dutch as you know. But some of these tips where really funny. Maybe I should ask for drop to continue in Dutch next time 😂

[@exploringtheforeign]

😂😂 it doesn't hurt to ask!

[@johnstafford7288]

Me i'm lazy if they want to practice their English thats fine with me but normally they just speak Dutch. I do have a couple of friends that dont speak English very well so i act as translator when with English speaking friends and them. Those tricks are worth trying but works for one but wouldnt with another but worth a try. Happily i'm past that stage but great theres someone out there with tips to help people just learning. Interesting video as always enjoy the rest of the week.

[@DenUitvreter]

Impressive to find a shops in Amsterdam where the employees still speak Dutch at all. Another issue is that many foreigners haven't put in enough effort yet themselves and then expect you to take time and a lot of patience for their practice. I can't imagine a fast learner like exploringtheforeign himself not being let to speak Dutch.

[@michalovesanime]

Dutch is a very difficult language, and we Dutch people struggle with the same issue when we live aboard , when learning a language that we find difficult. Its HUMAN behavior

[@DenUitvreter]

@@michalovesanime Not entirely, some take more patience after living here for two years than I do after two days in France. Imo the proficiency in English is an advantage when learning Dutch and only a disadvantage that it doesn't force the foreigner to learn Dutch. If you decided to learn Dutch you have to force yourself.

[@bradleyheissmann4538]

Dutch is not a very difficult language for those who already know a Germanic language like English or German. It's not even "very difficult" for any other IE language native speaker. Have a look at the official rankings various languages have for difficulty. Difficulty is assessed by how long it takes to gain fluency.@@michalovesanime

[@Seema.Ashwina]

Wat goed dat deze mensen echt proberen om Nederlands te spreken. Als een Nederlandse waardeer ik dit echt. Niks is vervelender als je hier woont en werkt en niet probeerd de Nederlandse taal te spreken. Zeker als je al jaren hier woont.

[@Makhpiyaluta2]

ماذا تقول؟

[@patricklebens6602]

het is als simpel als zeggen, ik wil nederlands oefenen, ben direct.

[@yasmeenislam3330]

This made me laugh and was helpful 😂 great job on the video! 👏 👏

[@exploringtheforeign]

Thank you! Really happy to hear this😁

[@lordsleepyhead]

Omg I love this! Yes! Force us to speak Dutch with you!

[@8alakai8]

when i am wih friends not from here that understand dutch perfectly and speak it just have a accent i have to tell the person in the store no speak dutch he wants to speak dutch but he moved from amsterdam to the south of the netherlands and he says he speaks a lot more dutch there and they just speak dutch back so i think its more of a north holland problem

[@Wielie0305]

Oh herkenbaar. Ik schakel heel snel over naar Duits of Engels wanneer ik merk dat mensen de Nederlandse taal niet als moedertaal hebben. Gaat vaak automatisch. Wanneer iemand dan Nederlands blijft praten dan begrijp ik het gelijk en schakel weer terug naar NL taal 😎👍🏻

[@8alakai8]

i had a polish girlfriend for a year and she got sort of mad like she said and was right if i would go to spain and live htere for a year i can speak some spanish and understand it in amsterdam its not the case

[@wgsips]

Leuke video! En leuke cursus!

[@exploringtheforeign]

Dankjewel!! :)

[@RealConstructor]

It’s so simple. I always ask if they want me to speak Dutch or English. But I ask the question in Dutch: Wilt u dat ik Nederlands of Engels praat? And at beach towns I add German to the question.

[@8alakai8]

oh the video starts on the elandsgracht its like 30 meters from the house i grew up in

[@crasho]

Ironically enough, Koen is doing exactly (in this video at least) what triggers most people trying to learn Dutch. He is using Dutch for the simple stuff but talks to them in English for the instruction make sure nothing gets lost in translation. Which usually causes people to switch to English to and then stay in English mode. I feel this is also one of the main reasons Dutch people (myself included) do it, not to practice. But because they (over)estimate their English ability over the other persons Dutch ability and want to have the biggest chance at avoiding miscommunications.

[@exploringtheforeign]

You have a point!

[@Logical]

Yeah I was like, waarom praat die kerel dan Engels tegen ze...

[@kerithsunshine9584]

Mijn vrienden van toen in in Nederland woonden zijn altijd verbaasd dat ik nog goed Nederlands kan spreken. Ik gebruik zoveel mogelijk Nederlands als ik een berichtje stuur of zo. Je moet gewoon niet op geven.

[@TregMediaHD]

My final comment and conclusion to the upcoming , awaited Exploring the foreign meets Highly combustible reactions interview is Greetings From Richard,(treg) and Ommen Netherlands. I still attest to this video and always practice this where im spoken to when im doing my normal dutch speaking day ,typically bij Kiosk op NS spoorwegen

[@shaunn]

I felt this one ! 🤞🏾

[@8alakai8]

i do have to you speak very good dutch for the time you have been here but maybe you learn german at school then its a lot easyer

[@DarthLordRaven]

geweldig om te zien maar engels is vaak makkelijker switchen voor ons. omdat veel kennis uit de engelse taal komt. vooral in ict termen.

[@mikepictor]

Haha, tip 3 is grappig. Ik moet het proberen

[@exploringtheforeign]

hahah

[@Genesizs]

we like directness , althoo maybe it is a little lying as well The Sorrie ik spreek geen Nederlands (Sorry i don't speak English) seems to be the most efficient or the direct way ask them directly to not speak English and speak Dutch :3

[@-_YouMayFind_-]

In my experience most expats or people speak English to me so standard I talk English back. Even if I deliver a package at peoples doors they say: Thank you and I talked Dutch because I didn't know. I am not sure if the person even understood what I said hahaha

[@PunsCulture]

Ik denk dat dit wel vooral een probleem is in Amsterdam. Ik antwoord meestal in het Nederlands, zelfs al spreekt de andere Engels😂😂

[@geniusincplusplus1947]

wat een grappig video!

[@exploringtheforeign]

Dankjewel!

[@NourAmsterdam]

Wij de Nederlanders, hebben directheid nodig. Soms switchen we naar het Engels , om het onszelf maar ook de ander makkelijker te maken. We zijn niet moeilijk, wees direct en vraagt het 😊 Ik vind het persoonlijk heel erg knap als iemand het Nederlands kan. Al is het een beetje, ze begrijpen vaak alles wat ik zeg. Het is vaak het praten dat meeste oefening nodig heeft. We Dutch people need directness. Just tell them to speak in Dutch. Sometimes we think it’s also easier for ourselves to switch to English, and also for the person that has difficulties with the Dutch. We aren’t difficult , just be blunt ask 😊. I also find it very admirable when somebody can speak Dutch. Even if it just a little bit, they understand when talked to in Dutch easier. It’s mostly the talking that’s the hardest part.

[@randomguy-rm1wf]

4:53 third cap

[@bepsnet]

Jammer dat je zelf na het experiment in het Engels door gaat, en dan vraagt of wij meer Nederlands willen praten met de buitenlanders. Wel een heel leuk filmpje met goede tips. 👍🏽

[@exploringtheforeign]

Haha je hebt gelijk! Ik moet zelf een goede voorbeld zijn!

[@LiMoo02]

As a Dutch person myself, I can confirm that there is nothing we love more than to switch to English THE MOMENT we encounter a non-native Dutch speaker.😂 And it's actually really sad because Dutch is such a difficult language to learn, people practice SO hard, they muster up the courage to start a conversation in Dutch... and then. we switch to English!😂 We should stop doing that and I will be more mindful of this, next time.

[@benjackson7872]

Do you try to speak Dutch back?

[@LiMoo02]

@benjackson7872 sometimes, depending on the amount of Dutch the non-native speaker knows. I suppose we think we are helping the other person by switching to English, and sometimes that might be the case, but like I said, we should also give them an opportunity to practice.

[@8alakai8]

i have to say not learning dutch is because of the dutch i can say that as a amsterdammer

[@coverhoeven2904]

I dont have time to ask what you exactly mean with some words, its faster to talk English

[@benjackson7872]

When’s a good time to speak Dutch, then?

[@Treinbouwer]

De beste tip die ik kan geven: ga Amsterdam uit!😂

[@randomguy-rm1wf]

He was joking with those tipps

[@GabberPinda]

The first tip to say ik spreek geen Engels doesn't work in real life😂 We hear at the accent she's american😆

[@exploringtheforeign]

😂😂 it might work on some haha

[@abi219]

Not all foreigners are American, and not all Dutch recognise an American accent in Dutch. It's always worth a try 😂

[@AnXX94]

I think it is a good tip though! It just means that you dont speak it at that moment lol

[@riemervdzee]

It still would be rude to continue talking English though

[@Laubotje]

Nederlandstalige mensen moeten hier echt mee stoppen. Dit doodt echt onze taal en dat is jammer. Engels is al zo alom vertegemwoordigd. Het zou jammer zijn dat we het nederlands en al zijn dialecten verliezen en ons spreken ook verandert in een homogene engelse massa. Respecteer je eigen taal en komaf. Dat is een teken van zelfrespect :-)

[@partsgeriausias]

If they speak English to you than switch to your native tongue

[@marcomaihofer]

Ik zeg dan: Spreek je / spreekt U geen Nederlands ? 🤣

[@unplannedonion]

First!

[@exploringtheforeign]

🙏🏾🔥

[@thijsgerhardus8672]

jammer Eerste 🙂