Blogs
Understanding the CEFR Language Levels for Dutch Learners
A new year is a great moment to reflect and set new goals. For many expats in the Netherlands, this includes learning Dutch or taking the next step to use Dutch more confidently in their daily lives. When looking for a course, you quickly come across labels like...
Dutch Words You Can’t Translate (But Should Be Using!)
When you’re learning Dutch, it’s tempting to think in English first and then translate. But that slows you down and often makes your Dutch sound unnatural. Think of words like gezellig ("cosy", "fun") or lekker ("tasty", "nice", "comfortable"). Or expressions like...
How To Overcome Speaking Anxiety: A Dutch Teacher’s and Psychologist’s Perspective
Language learners know the feeling: you’ve studied your Dutch, you know the words… and yet, when it’s your turn to speak, nothing comes out. Or worse, you open your mouth and the sentence collapses halfway. Suddenly you feel stressed, embarrassed, maybe even a...
5 Misconceptions About Learning Dutch (And What Actually Works!)
Learning Dutch as an expat can be exciting, but also frustrating. Progress can feel slow at times, and you might feel overwhelmed by how there always seems to be something else to learn or improve on. However, it’s usually not your ability to learn that’s the...
Why Speaking Dutch Is Difficult, Even When You Know the Words!
You know the Dutch vocabulary. You understand the grammar rules. You can even follow Dutch podcasts or read news articles. You're feeling pretty good about yourself and your progress! But then, the moment someone starts a conversation with you out in the real...
Is Dutch A Difficult Language To Learn?
I recently embarked on a new adventure - learning Spanish! Every Friday morning, I find myself back in the student seat, diligently practicing basic conversations and grappling with verb conjugations and adjective endings. Being a language teacher myself, it's an...
Use It or Lose It! Five Effective Tips to Maintain Your Dutch Language Skills
So you’ve invested the time, energy, and money into learning Dutch, and you are feeling more and more confident every day. But as your concern about learning Dutch fades, another concern appears: “What if I lose my Dutch language progress?”. I can empathize with...
5 Tips to Support International Employees Learning Dutch
Are you Dutch or a Dutch speaker in the Netherlands who works for an international organization? If so, it's almost certain that you work with international employees or colleagues who are in the process of learning Dutch. As an experienced Dutch language teacher...
The Expat’s Guide to Finding Dutch Housing on Funda.nl
Essential vocabulary and top tips you need to know for using Funda like a local and finding the Dutch housing of your dreams.
Dutch Vocabulary Words: How to Learn Intentionally and Effectively
Learning Dutch can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it can also be a daunting task, especially when it comes to learning vocabulary. Luckily, a lot of research has been done into vocabulary building. We now know exactly how many Dutch vocabulary words...
The Dutch Diminutives: Why is everything so small in Dutch?
You have probably ordered a “biertje” in a café in the Netherlands before. Did you know that this word is actually a diminutive (implying smallness) form of the word “bier”, but in this context, it doesn’t actually mean that you ordered a small glass of beer. You...
10 Dutch Day Trips in Zuid-Holland
With the Netherlands being such a small country, taking a Dutch day trip is the perfect way to explore the country, whether you choose to travel by bike, train, or car! It's also a great opportunity to see something new, gain a new appreciation for your new home,...
How Long Does It Take To Learn Dutch?
It's the question all expats in the Netherlands ask me: "How many hours will it take for me to learn Dutch?" The question of how long it takes to learn Dutch is not a simple question to answer. While this Cambridge paper suggest it takes an average of 200 hours to...
The 15 Little Mistakes Beginner Dutch Speakers Make (and How to Fix Them!)
In Dutch “jij”, “je”, “jou” and “u” all mean “you” in English. And the word “zijn” can mean “are” or “his” depending on the sentence. This is all super confusing for beginners! Over the years I have heard students making a lot of similar mistakes, so I have...
How to Stay Motivated While Learning Dutch
If learning Dutch is one of your New Year’s resolutions, congratulations! You are about to take the first steps to feeling more comfortable, connected, and confident here in the Netherlands. Getting started is a challenge, but to practice and stay motivated while...
8 Reasons an Online Dutch Course Is Both Fun and Effective
Students are often not quite sure what to expect of an online Dutch class. During my first online Dutch course I was a bit anxious about the new technology and creating the right classroom atmosphere. However, after over a year of online classes and much...
Improve your Dutch in 4 weeks
As a native Dutch speaker and Dutch teacher, expats are often asking me the best way to improve Dutch skills quickly. While taking high-quality lessons from an experienced teacher (like me!) is of course the most efficient way to develop your Dutch skills, there...
Haar haar is roze. Her hair is pink.
Nine tricky Dutch words for beginners: haar, je, heet, heel, zijn, zeer, weer, meer, pas Beginners During the first lessons of my beginners ‘course Dutch for expats students always look puzzled when they first hear the sentence “Haar haar is roze”. They find it...