Learn Dutch at home, at work, or online
Did you know that there are around 30 million people in the world who speak Dutch? While most of these people are native speakers from the Netherlands and Belgium, approximately 5 million people from all around the world speak it as a second language, and if you become one of them, you’ll be able to access plenty of amazing opportunities in the UK and abroad. For example, if you wish to visit Amsterdam, being able to communicate fluently in the language will allow you to connect much more deeply with the locals, understand their particular sense of humour, and immerse in the fascinating local culture. On top of this, knowing the language will help you get by much more easily in the Netherlands, and discover areas of this beautiful country that aren’t very well known by tourists, so if you’re planning a trip anytime soon and want to get to improve your experience there, don’t waste any more time being monolingual and sign up for a Dutch course right now!
Tips to Master Dutch
Because Dutch is a Germanic language like English, most learners find it much less intimidating than other languages such as Russian or Chinese. However, fluency won’t happen overnight, and you’ll very likely find several stumbling blocks along the way, so here are some tips and recommendations for you to learn this beautiful language more effectively and avoid the most common mistakes beginners make.
Immerse Yourself in Dutch from Day One
If your goal is to master this language as fast as possible, you should immerse yourself in it as much as you can from day one. There are plenty of ways you can do this, but you could start by watching Dutch TV series and films with English subtitles or listening to songs in Dutch and looking up their meaning. Once you get more comfortable with the language, you can start listening to podcasts or radio shows in Dutch or watch content creators on YouTube who help you expand your vocabulary and understand grammar. Whatever you do, try to do it often, as the more you listen to actual native speakers talking in the language, the easier it will be for you to pick up new phrases, improve your listening skills, and understand Dutch pronunciation.
Find a Dutch Teacher
As you probably know, learning a language on your own is not an easy feat. Although there are plenty of free materials online, making your own learning plan can be quite challenging and time-consuming, plus it can be hard to stay motivated throughout the whole process if you don’t have someone that guides you along the way. Because of this, if you want to save time and reach fluency as quickly as you can, find a qualified Dutch teacher who can help you reach your goals as soon as possible.
When it comes to Dutch Pronunciation, Start Slow
Pronunciation is one of the most daunting aspects of learning Dutch, as it has many sounds that exist in English which can be quite hard to make, like its hard G sound, or its many consonant combinations. However, if you’re patient enough, and don’t expect to sound like a native after the first weeks of learning, you’ll be able to master Dutch pronunciation in just a few months. The trick to not getting frustrated is to start with the easy sounds that you already know thanks to your knowledge of English, like its vowel sounds, and then move on to diphthongs, consonant combinations and the much-dreaded G sound. If you find that you’re struggling to make progress as fast as you would like to, you can always get the help of a language professional, or attend a language exchange event in your city or town.
Resources to Learn Dutch for Free
In addition to signing up for a Dutch course, if you want to become bilingual quickly, you need to put your free time to good use and study the language in your free time. To help you do this, here are some useful websites and apps you can use to boost your language skills.
Free Language Apps to Learn Dutch
Using language apps will help you expand your vocabulary and master Dutch pronunciation, so whenever you have some extra minutes you can devote to learning the language, make sure to use them. There are plenty you can try, but some of our top picks include Drops, Duolingo, LingQ, and Clozemaster.
Best YouTube Channels to Learn Dutch
Another way you can learn Dutch in your free time is to watch YouTube videos! Fortunately, on this website, you’ll find plenty of amazing content creators that will help you learn useful expressions and understand Dutch grammar rules. In case you don’t know any of them, here are some amazing channels you can visit right now.
Podcasts to Learn Dutch
Lastly, if you want to take your listening skills to the next level and listen to native speakers talk about various topics, don’t miss out on this amazing podcasts!
Survival Dutch Phrases
In case you’re planning to visit the Netherlands or Belgium anytime soon, and you want to get by more easily there, here are some words and phrases you can memorise in just a few hours which will make your stay there much more enjoyable!
| English Version | Dutch Version |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hallo |
| How are you? | Hoe gaat het? |
| Very good | Heel goed |
| Yes | Ja |
| No | Nee |
| Bye | Doei |
| See you later | Tot ziens |
| Excuse me | Pardon |
| Thank you | Dankjewel |
| Please | Alsjeblieft |
| You’re welcome | Graag gedaan |
| Sorry | Sorry |
| Do you speak English? | Spreekt u Engels? |
| I don’t speak Dutch | Ik spreek geen Nederlands |
| I’d like… | Ik wil graag… |
| Can I have the bill, please? | Mag ik de rekening, alstublieft? |
| How much does it cost? | Hoeveel kost het? |
| I’m lost | Ik ben verdwaald |
Now that you know your first phrases in Dutch, you probably can’t wait to achieve fluency in this beautiful language! To do this, the smartest thing you can do is to study with us at Listen & Learn! We have some of the best native teachers and offer language courses that are completely flexible and adapt to your lifestyle. On top of that, if you reach out to us now, we’ll have one of our language professionals tailor a completely personalised course that fits all of your requirements, so whether you want to work on your skills to study in the Netherlands, communicate with relatives or get to know Dutch culture, contact us today, and we’ll help you find the most suitable language course just for you!