Learn Dutch?

[BlasterBates]

Next time I happen to have a contract in NL, I might go to evening class and learn Dutch. It would be interesting anyway, but could it lead to being able to apply for "Dutch-speaking" contracts? Or do they really mean "Dutch person wanted"?

No they mean someone who can speak Dutch. If you get fluent it would be no problem.

[Ignis Fatuus]

Holland is nothing like the Germanic world. In the latter you're appreciated if you speak their language, in Holland if you speak Dutch they'll reply in English.

Yes, but if you read Dutch then you won't get the effect where nobody wants to send you an email conversation because then they'd have to translate all the previous emails for you.

[norrahe]

Yes, but if you read Dutch then you won't get the effect where nobody wants to send you an email conversation because then they'd have to translate all the previous emails for you.

Hasn't stopped my colleagues from sending me stuff, but thankfully I've had a lot of exposure so I get the general context without having to resort to google gobbledygook ( the Dutch to English is hilarious).

[BlasterBates]

If you speak the language fluently you'll be treated like a local so definitely worth learning. Once the fluency is there people don't see the "foreigner" anymore. You don't necessarily have to write it, thouigh once you can speak it you should be able write pretty well as well. If you already speak German it's pretty easy to get fluent.

[petergriffin]

If you speak the language fluently you'll be treated like a local so definitely worth learning. Once the fluency is there people don't see the "foreigner" anymore. You don't necessarily have to write it, thouigh once you can speak it you should be able write pretty well as well. If you already speak German it's pretty easy to get fluent.

I'm glad it worked for you but my experiences have not been very good. In my last contract I got in serious trouble with my colleagues who stopped speaking Dutch when I was around because I understood them (well , sort of..). The only good thing is that I'm able to read and almost wholly understand a Dutch contract, but this hasn't really helped me much. But I improved my German while in Holland as the Germans were very keen on speaking with me in their language.