From our blog
News, developments and articles from Regina Coeli
A small guide to Dutch football words, habits and orange streets
If you live in the Netherlands during the World Cup or another tournament, you may suddenly notice that the country changes colour. For expats, this can be charming, surprising or slightly confusing. Why orange? Why are entire streets decorated? And what does Hup Holland Hup actually mean?
Applying for a job in the Netherlands
If you are an expat looking for a job in the Netherlands, it is extremely helpful to understand the Dutch way of applying for jobs. Perhaps your Dutch is good enough to apply in Dutch. For international positions, you can often apply in English. Nevertheless, it is useful to know the customs and expectations of the average application procedure in the Netherlands.
Meetings in the Netherlands
Nowhere else will you have as many meetings as in Dutch companies. The Dutch adore consulting, brainstorming and meeting up. Even though you often hear them sighing about their diaries being packed with back-to-back meetings, the alternative—no meetings—would be even less appealing. Then the Dutch would feel left out and that their opinion does not count. Do you find Dutch meetings something of an enigma? Then read on for some pearls of wisdom and helpful tips.
Teach in Dutch with confidence
Many classes at Dutch colleges and universities are taught by foreign lecturers, and that happens primarily in English. However, government policies are resulting in a decrease in the number of English-language programmes that are offered and an increase in programmes taught in Dutch. For teaching professionals from the Netherlands, this is naturally a non-issue, but what if you are not yet proficient in the language?
Writing emails in Dutch
Emails are generally fairly quick and easy things to write and send off. But it’s more difficult if you haven’t yet mastered the details of the language in which you’re writing. In this article, you’ll read how to write a typical Dutch email and find some helpful standard sentences.
Making small talk in Dutch
Despite Dutch directness, you’ll need to—if you wish to truly integrate into Dutch culture—be prepared to make a bit of small talk in Dutch. By being able to chat about any number of general subjects, you’ll connect with your colleagues, neighbours and business partners. It’s a valuable skill which you can quickly feel at ease using, because you don’t actually need a great deal of vocabulary for it.