From our blog
News, developments and articles from Regina Coeli
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.
Multilingualism starts with mastering your mother tongue
In an international work environment, multilingualism is a given. Without English, you will not get very far. And if you speak another language as well, you have a clear advantage. Still, true multilingualism does not start with your second or third language. It starts with your mother tongue.
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.
How to choose the right moment to start learning Dutch after moving to the Netherlands
When you’ve just arrived in the Netherlands, you face an important decision: are you going to learn Dutch? And when will you do that: right away or after you settle in a bit?