YourRotterdam.com

The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch, although the pronunciation varies across the different regions in the country. In total 13 other Dutch regional dialects are spoken.

As the country has a large immigrant population; 165 different countries are represented here, there are many other languages spoken also. The major ethnic language groups are Indonesian (300,000), Turkish (192,000) and Moroccan Arabic (30,000).

Around 75% of the country speak English in varying degrees, however this is generally limited to the larger cities. The best course to take is to make your greeting and introduction in Dutch, then if not sure about using your fledgling Dutch say "Sprekt u Engels?", which means "Do you speak English?", or alternatively "Ik sprekt geen Nederlands", translated as "I don't speak Nederlands".

Where do I start?

It would be wise to learn some basic phrases and words for your daily life but you will find that you will be able to communicate in English in most places around Rotterdam. When more in depth questions or application processes are involved, it would be best to find a Dutch speaking person to help out with translation or use sign language, spelling and pointing. This is where knowing the alphabet is useful also.

Take the time to learn some basic Dutch language, it will make life less frustrating. You can use this new language in small ways as simple greetings and basic sentences with shopkeepers but more importantly what do all those detour signs say and what does the advertising mean?

There are some useful books that would be advisable for you to purchase to help you along. These will certainly help you out on a daily basis, from trying to decipher mail, to grocery shopping, to what to those sales promises and advertising words mean? For a list of useful books and where to buy them, go to our file "Books".

Dutch 101

Depending on the length of time you plan to live here, you may want to take some lessons in Dutch and there are many courses available in Holland and on line.

You can get lessons privately; try posting an ad on Expatica in one of their forums, or more formally with a specialist company. There are also online sites where you can learn at your own speed such as www.unforgettablelanguages.com. "The Expat Survival Guide" contains several names of language courses with specialist companies around the country.

The tables below show some basic things to get you started. It will be very useful to come to grips with the Dutch alphabet, it is very different in pronunciation from the English one. You will find yourself using it frequently to spell out your requests and while you (and they) come to grips with your accent. It is also useful when having to complete the myriad of forms and applications you will come across.

Useful words and phrases

Days & months

English J anuary February March April May June July August September October November December	Nederlands Januari Februari Mart April Mai Juni Juli Augustus September Oktober November December

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday	Maandag Dinsdag Woensdag Donderdag Vridag Zaterdag Zondag

The basics

English Good morning Good afternoon Good evening Good night/sleep well Welcome	Nederlands Goedemorgen Goedemiddag Goedeavond Goedenacht/welterusten Welkom	Pronunciation Ghoodemorghen Ghoodemidagh Ghoodenahvont Ghoodenaght/wehlterusten wehlkom

Yes No Please Thank you Fine thank you No thank you You’re welcome Goodbye See you later See you tomorrow	Ja Nee Alstublieft Dank u wel Uitstekend, dank u Nee, dank u Graag gedaan Tot ziens Tot straks Tot morgen	Yah Nay Alstewbleeft Dank ew wehl Œstaykent dank ew Nay, dank ew Ghrahgh ghedahn Tot zeens Tot straks Tot morghen

Where? Where is/are? How? How much? How much does it cost? Which? Why? What do you call this? What does this mean? It’s Is/are there any? I would like Do you have?	Waar Waar is/zijn Hoe Hoeveel Hoeveel kost het Welk(e) Waarom Hoe heet dit Wat betekent dit Het is Is/zijn er Ik wil graag Heeft u..	Wahr Wahr is/zaiyn Hoo Hoovayl Hoovayl kost het Whelk(e) Wahrom Hoo hayt dit Wat betaykent dit Heht is Is/zaiyn her Ik wil graahgh Heft ew

Do you speak English? I don’t speak Dutch I’m English I’m foreign I cant read this How do you pronounce this? Could you spell it for me Could you write it down	Spreekt u engels Ik spreek geen nederlands k ben engels Ik ben buitenlander/ buitenlandse Dit kan ik niet lezen Hoe spreek je dit uit Kunt u het spellen Kunt u bet opshrijven	Spraykt ew ehngels Ik sprayk ghayn nayderlands Ik behn ehngels Ik behn bœtenlander/ bœtenlandse Did kan ik neet layzen Hoo sprayk ye dit œ Kunt ew heht spehlen Kunt ew heht opsghraiyven

Deciphering road signs

Driving in Rotterdam can be a bit nerve-wracking but with the right information, your eyes open and lots of chutzpah you will be fine. Everything will be a mystery to you for the first few months, there seems to be a continuous run of roadworks across the Rotterdam region so much so, these next words will be invaluable.

Your first clue that there are roadworks will be gaffer tape over a name on the blue overhead signs, quite sensible really but looks like their five year old got carried away on the cherry picker. If you see this, look for Yellow signs saying any of the following.

Omleiding Terug Gesloten Afgesloten Doorgaand verkeer Nr door verkeer Werk in uitvoering Voerboden toegang Geen ingang Beperkt	Diversion or detour Back Closed Concluded, generally combined with a date Through traffic No through traffic Road construction No access No entry Restricted

Other useful traffic and driving related words:

File File vrij Voorsorteren Fiet Fietspad Andere Richting Knookppunt Afrit Drempels	Tail back, generally with distance supplied No tail back Get in lane Bicycle Bicycle lane Other routes Turnoff/exit Exit Speed bumps

Advertising words & phrases

Op=op Let Op! Reclame Korting Pas voordeel Stuk Per stuk Laagste prijs Leegverkoop Uitzoeken Alles moet weg Betalen Waardebon Vanaf Gratis	Once it is gone, it's gone; last items Watch this Advertisement Discount Take advantage Item Per item Lowest price Clearance sale To select Everything must go To pay Value order/coupon From Free