It is the complaint we hear most from expats: “I want to learn Dutch, but everyone just answers me in English.” You start a sentence, your accent gives you away, and the other person kindly switches. It is meant to be helpful, and it quietly stops you from ever practising. (If you are still asking yourself whether it is even worth it, see do expats actually need to learn Dutch to live in the Netherlands.)

Here is the thing. The Dutch and Flemish switch to English because it is faster and friendlier, not because your Dutch is bad. So your job is to make staying in Dutch the easy, friendly option. These habits do exactly that.

Start in Dutch before they can switch

Whoever opens the conversation sets the language. If you walk up and say “Hi, do you have…”, you have already chosen English. If you open with a simple Dutch greeting and your request, most people stay in Dutch with you.

You do not need a long sentence. “Hoi, mag ik een koffie?” is enough to set the tone. Lead with Dutch, even if the rest wobbles.

Learn the phrases that buy you time

The reason people switch to English is usually a pause. You hesitate, they jump in to help. A few small phrases fill that pause and keep you in Dutch:

  • “Kunt u dat herhalen?” (Could you repeat that?)
  • “Een momentje.” (One moment.)
  • “Hoe zeg je dat?” (How do you say that?)
  • “Sorry, mijn Nederlands is nog niet zo goed, maar ik oefen.” (Sorry, my Dutch is not great yet, but I am practising.)

That last one is the magic phrase. It tells people you want to keep going in Dutch, and most will happily slow down for you. We go deeper on building this kind of starter kit in the realistic guide to learning Dutch as an expat.

Practise in low-stakes moments

You do not need a language partner to practise. You need small, safe moments where a wobble costs nothing:

  • The bakery, the supermarket checkout, the market stall
  • Ordering coffee or asking where something is
  • A quick “dankjewel” and “fijne dag” on the way out

These are perfect because the script is short and predictable. You can prepare the three phrases you need and use them on autopilot until they feel natural. Once the café feels easy, move to the next situation. The city-specific set in Dutch phrases for Amsterdam expats is a good place to pull from.

Read before you translate

Practice is not only speaking. Every day you are surrounded by Dutch: tram signs, supermarket labels, the subject line of an email, a sign on a shop door. Make a habit of reading it and guessing the meaning before you reach for the translation.

This is free, constant exposure, and it trains the most useful skill of all: understanding what is happening around you. After a few weeks you will catch words on the train and in shops without thinking, and that alone makes you feel far less like a tourist.

Reply to one Dutch message a day

If you get Dutch WhatsApp messages from a landlord, a delivery service, or a group chat, do not auto-translate and reply in English. Read it slowly, and answer in one short Dutch sentence. It can be clumsy. “Ja, dat is goed, dankjewel” is a complete, correct reply to a lot of messages.

One message a day is tiny, but it is real writing practice in exactly the Dutch you need, which is far more useful than textbook exercises.

Accept slow over silent

The biggest mental shift is this: a slow, imperfect Dutch sentence is a win. A perfect English one is a missed rep. Most expats stay silent because they are waiting to be good enough. You get good by being slow and wrong in public for a while first.

People here are patient with someone who is clearly trying. The accent does not matter. The effort does, and it almost always earns you a warmer response than English would.

Make it a five-minute habit

None of this works if it depends on willpower or long study blocks. Tie it to something you already do. Learn one small situation in the morning, use it during the day, and let real life be the practice. Short and daily beats long and rare, every time.

This is the whole idea behind Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store: five-minute lessons built around the exact moments where you would normally switch to English, so the next time it happens, you have the words ready. And if you are still deciding whether a general app is enough, read Duolingo versus real-life Dutch before you commit your evenings to streaks.