Apr 21, 2021

Do I need to learn Dutch when studying in the Netherlands?

You have decided: you want to study in the Netherlands. But then you ask yourself "Do I now need to learn Dutch?" Well you are not the only one wondering about that and it is a good question to think about. Even though the answer is simply "no."

Silly as it may sound, it is normal to be at least a bit worried about language differences when moving to a different country for your studies. Rest assured, at HZ University Of Applied Sciences you will find an international community where most also did not know one Dutch word while coming here. And the international study programmes are 100% taught in English. 

Learn more about studying at HZ Download the free brochure

Dutch people are English speakers

Perhaps it comes as no surprise that your Dutch classmates are all English speakers. But did you know that approximately 90% (source: European Commission) of the Dutch population claims to be able to converse in English. That means that even if you do not speak Dutch, you will be able to communicate in the Netherlands as studies shows. 

Personally, I have experienced that almost everyone I encountered in the streets, and especially in the shops, are fairly good at English, at least on a conversational level, regardless of their age which had me quite surprised the first couple of times!

And if you are wondering whether you'll be able to find a job without speaking Dutch, the answer is yes. However, it would be a lot easier if you at least learn the basics before applying to jobs, and most will require that.

So, no, you do not need to learn the local Dutch language as long as you speak English.  Still it can be helpful for a number of reasons. 

Reasons to learn Dutch as an international student

If you plan on staying in The Netherlands after your graduation, even if it is just for further studies, learning Dutch is quite handy for multiple reasons: 

  • Personal growth;
  • The world is getting smaller, so learning a new language is always a bonus;
  • It makes it easier to land a good job in the Netherlands during and after your studies;
  • With learning a new language skill, you also learn a whole new set of cultural skills;
  • Just because it's really cool to learn something new.

How to learn Dutch as an international student

Studying Dutch at HZ is quite easy for students since you can take it up as an elective course in most programmes and for some it is even mandatory. That is a big advantage over foreigners that are not students and even other international students in the Netherlands, as they have to pay for their Dutch courses.

The level of Dutch you start with is up to you, but most students start at the very beginning. That means you start with learning things like numbers, how to introduce yourself, and so on. If you start in a beginner class and decide after the first few classes that that is too easy for you, you can talk to your teacher about transferring to one of the more advanced classes. Of course you will have Dutch speaking students in your class. So you can always ask them to help you practice your skills.

Learning your first Dutch words

OK, so you do want to learn some Dutch before coming to HZ? To get you started, here are some basics that you can practice everyday. 

  • Hello - Hallo
  • Good morning - Goedemorgen
  • Good afternoon - Goedemiddag
  • How are you? - Hoe gaat het?
  • Goodbye - Tot ziens
  • I'm going to study in The Netherlands - Ik ga in Nederland studeren 

 

In short, learning Dutch is helpful, but not necessary as you can communicate with most people in English without any problem. All of your classes will be in English if you choose an international study programme, so even the Dutch teachers and local students will speak English during your studies.  

Do not knowing Dutch hold you back from studying at HZ! 

Download the free brochure by clicking on the image and learn more about studying at HZ. 

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