Dutch language guide

When you go to the Netherlands for your new job, getting used to the new country is the first thing you have to go through. And a big part of this adjustment process is the Dutch language, which most expats arriving in the Netherlands for work don't know. 

To make your settling in process easier, DB Work offers several benefits when you sign your contract such as free accommodation and free transport, but we also have this Dutch language guide to help you learn more about the language, where it is spoken, and some pronunciation and grammar rules that will help you settle in much faster in the Netherlands.

Where is Dutch spoken in the world?

After English and German, Dutch is the third most spoken Germanic language in the world, being the main language for more than 24 million people around the globe. Dutch is obviously the language spoken by most Dutch people, but you will hear it in Belgium and very rarely in the east of the globe. Fortunately, most Dutch speakers are also English speakers, so you'll be able to find alternative dialogue and it will be easy enough to at least understand what's being said.

A short history of the Dutch language and its origins

The Dutch language belongs to the Indo-European language category and in terms of the elements that define it, it lies somewhere between English and German with commonalities in each. The first signs of Dutch language use date back to 510, but today no native speaker of Dutch could decipher how it was spoken at that time. 

Until 1150, the Dutch language had no clear structure and several dialects were spoken throughout the Netherlands. But following the rebellion of small regions seeking independence from Spain, the Dutch language was for the first time defined and seen as a common language spoken by all regions.

Dutch grammar and pronunciation

Without going too much into the details of Dutch grammar, an expat or visitor who doesn't speak Dutch at all but wants to learn it should keep in mind the most important differences that make Dutch as difficult as they say.

The difference that makes the Dutch language difficult in comparison with English is the order of words in sentences. Unlike English, the order of Dutch words is completely reversed. That's why it can be difficult to learn Dutch, and it seems to be a language that is harder to get used to. 

Another difficult step you have to take if you're not an English speaker either is getting used to the pronunciation. Even for an English speaker, it is difficult to understand the rules of pronunciation. For those who are used to Spanish or Arabic, Dutch pronunciation will seem very simple, but in most cases, contact with the Dutch language is not pleasant. We hope, however, that this information will help you to pay more attention to the particularities and thus make it easier for you to learn the language.

Fun facts about the Dutch language

To end on a funny note though, around the Dutch language you won't only come across difficulties, here are some fun facts about the language that you probably didn't know:

-If you've ordered coleslaw before or pronounced the name of Brooklyn, you can tell yourself you already know two words in Dutch.

-The eighth president of the United States, Martin Van Buren, who served from 1837-1841, is the only president whose primary spoken language was not English but Dutch.

-In World War II, the Dutch identified German spies by having them pronounce the word Scheveningen.

When moving to the Netherlands, language isn't the only difficult thing to manage. The DB Work team can help you get through it all by providing transport, accommodation, medical insurance and we can even recommend some Dutch language courses.

Contact us and start your new career in the Netherlands!