If you come to live in The Netherlands, it is wise to learn the Dutch language. Although almost all Dutch people speak English, you will make a good impression by speaking a few words Dutch. It is up to you to decide how well you want to speak the language. Even if you only speak a few words of Dutch, you will make a very good impression on Dutch people. After all, you are making an effort to try. The fact that you are trying is allready good enough for the Dutch. Don't worry if you make mistakes in the Dutch language. That is not at all important to the Dutch. Your effort is the most important thing!

Is the Dutch language difficult?

Many expats find the pronunciation of certain Dutch sounds difficult. For example, there are many nationalities who cannot pronounce the letter G. The G feels to foreigners as if they have a fly in their throat that needs to be spat out... GGGgggggg.....

Many expats also have difficulty with the letter R. This letter sounds quite hard in Dutch. You roll the letter over your tongue. That is why you hear RRRrrrr.... 

However, the grammar is much simpler than in other languages. You don't have to make as many choices in grammar.

Professional or leisure?

It is up to you to decide how well you want to speak Dutch. It is usually not compulsory to speak Dutch when you come to live in the Netherlands. If you can speak Dutch, it is much easier to find a job. The amount of English spoken jobs is of course a lot smaller then Dutch spoken jobs. You should also ask yourself how long you are thinking to live in the Netherlands. If, for example, you only want to live here for a year, learning the Dutch language professionally is unnecessary. If you want to live in The Netherlands permanently, it is wise to start learning as soon as possible. 

Professional

There are 4 levels at which you can learn Dutch and take exams. 

• Level A1 Beginner. Do you not speak any Dutch yet? Then this is the first level to start with.
  
• Level A2 Civic integration exam. If you are obliged to become a Dutch citizen, you have to pass the A2 exam.
  
• Level B1 State Exam 1. If you pass the exam, you will receive an official government certificate.
  
• Level B2 State Exam 2. If you pass this exam you will be able to speak Dutch as well as a Dutchman.

A good website to learn Dutch is nt2taalmenu.nl. This is a Dutch organisation that offers expats free help in learning Dutch.

Learn basic Dutch

You can also choose to learn just a few words of Dutch. This is mainly so that you can make yourself understood, for example, in shops or on the street. The basics are often the most important. If you know a few basic phrases and words in Dutch, you will already have come a long way in The Netherlands. Your efforts will certainly appreciated!

There are different ways to learn Dutch. You can learn it via the Internet. There are several websites where you can learn Dutch in a playful manner. A popular website is Duolingo.com.

It is often more fun to get in touch with Dutch people and other Expats. It is much more sociable to learn the language together. Especially in Amsterdam, there are many initiatives where there are small classes where you meet other Expats to learn the language. A good website to visit is Meetup.com. Through this site, you can join a class to learn Dutch in a fun and sociable way. An example of such a group is Language Cafe on Meetup.com. Sometimes it is free, but sometimes you pay for example a small fee of EUR 5 per class.

Good luck!