From our blog
News, developments and articles from Regina Coeli
Correct word order in Dutch sentences
The structure of Dutch sentences is something that many people who learn Dutch struggle with. That is not surprising. While many languages have a fixed sentence structure, Dutch has three! In this article, we look at the general rules concerning Dutch sentence structures.
The Dutch and time
The Dutch place a great deal of emphasis on time. If you are not originally from the Netherlands, you may have to get used to the fact that the Dutch always arrive on time, do not want to waste it and plan their professional and private lives well in advance. This is also reflected in their language: the Dutch are direct in their communication (in order to save time) and often refer to time. Where does this fascination with time actually come from?
Speaking Dutch on the job
Do you speak a lot of Dutch with friends, at the sports club or in the supermarket, but cannot imagine ever speaking Dutch at work? Or have you learned Dutch but not yet found an pressing reason to use the language? Then read on, because your work can be the ideal place to learn how to speak Dutch better.
Read Dutch books and improve your Dutch
Do you like reading good books and does this seem like a great way to improve your Dutch? It could be that you find many Dutch books just a bit too difficult to follow properly. You could read with a dictionary in hand, but that may not exactly be relaxing. So, what can you do?
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.
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. It is useful to know the mores of the average application procedure in the Netherlands. What do Dutch companies consider important when hiring a new employee, and what is the fastest way to find a job? Here are a few tips on how to prepare well for the application process.