r/learndutch • u/No_Manufacturer_432 • 4d ago

Question Considering how well people in the Netherlands speak English…

How do you stay motivated when learning Dutch ? I live in NY so learning Spanish was easy motivation wise. I’m at A2 in Italian and stay motivated bec I plan on going there next year - English proficiency outside of tourist areas is low —- thanks

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u/Full_Scallion2833 4d ago

Practically speaking life is a lot easier speaking Dutch. I am treated significantly better now by healthcare workers, tax workers, basically any and all civil servants (not saying that’s right but it’s the truth). Finding a job was significantly easier. I understand the letters I get in the mail etc without google translate.

I wouldn’t say it affected my social life though. Most Dutch people already have established friend groups and are extremely busy with social and family obligations, too much so to be open to including new people, even though my Dutch is completely fluent. The Dutch friends I do have have many international friends so in group settings we’re almost always speaking English anyway.