Amsterdam, Languages
The official language of The Netherlands is Dutch and a very hard language to learn, which is spoken by 14 of the 16.5 million people living in the Netherlands, Turkish, Moroccans and English speakers make up the remainder. In Belgium nearly 6 million people speak Dutch, mostly located in Flanders.
English is the second language and is widely spoken especially in Amsterdam as it is now taught in schools from junior school. Many people also speak German and some French.
The Dutch language unlike the French or German use a lot of English words and have not bothered to invent new words to replace modern english words like computer, internet and such like.
Below are some useful basic Dutch words and phrases with the English translation which you can practice before you arrive.
Do you speak English? - Spreekt u Engels?
I don’t understand - Ik begrijp het niet
Yes - Ja
No - Nee
Hello - Hallo
Goodbye - Tot ziens
Please - alstublieft
Thank you - Dank U wel
My name is ... - Min name is ... / IK heet ...
How much does it cost? - Hoeveel kost het?
Where is ...? - Waar is ...?
Danger - Gevaar
Toilets - Toiletten / WC
Doctor - Dokter
Hotel - Hotel
Restaurant - Restaurant
Entrance - Ingang
Exit - Uitgang
Beer - Bier
Wine - Wijn
Menu - Menu
How are you? - Hoe gaat Het?
I’m very well - Met mij gaat het goed
I feel ill - Ik voel me ziek
Open - Geopend
Closed - Gesloten
Today - Vandaag
Tomorrow - Morgen
Monday - Maandag
Tuesday - Dinsdag
Wednesday - Woensdag
Thursday - Donderdag
Friday - Vrijdag
Saturday - Zaterdag
Sunday - Zondag
One - Een
Two - Twee
Three - Drie
Four - Vier
Five - Vijf
Six - Zes
Seven - Zeven
Eight - Acht
Nine - Negen
Ten - Tien
Twenty - Twintig
Thirty - Dertig
Forty - Veertig
Fifty - Vijftig
Sixty - Zestig
Seventy - Zeventig
Eighty - Tachtig
Ninety - Negentig
One Hundred - Hunderd
One Thousand - Duizend
