From your job prospects to making friends and being able to communicate with others in your day-to-day life, learning Dutch is a huge asset when you’re living in the Netherlands. 

However, I understand how important it is to pick the right Dutch language school for you — does a language school teach a course that suits your language level? Do they offer lessons that fit into your schedule?

Dutch Courses Amsterdam knows that many of its students face these struggles, which is why they offer a large variety of schedules and intensities to fit your personal learning style, language level, and availability. 

Let’s get into exactly what Dutch Courses Amsterdam has to offer for an eager international like yourself. 

Choose from an array of course types

While every Dutch language school has its way of structuring courses, Dutch Courses Amsterdam has a wide selection of course types to choose from.

Whether you’re looking for intensive or bi-weekly courses, online or in-person classes, one-on-one lessons or group courses, Dutch Courses Amsterdam has a space for you.

Chosen a course type? Fabulous. Once you know what type of course you want, it’s important to choose the right language level for you. 

Dutch Courses Amsterdam is equally flexible when it comes to the level of Dutch you want to learn, offering courses from levels A0 to C1.

Nothing on during the day? Free your evenings with an afternoon course

If you have a flexible schedule in the afternoons or prefer to keep your nights free, you can take an afternoon Dutch course with Dutch Courses Amsterdam. 

Dutch Courses Amsterdam teaches these classes at their central location from 4:30 PM to 6:45 PM three times per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 

These semi-intensive courses run for a total of four and a half weeks. 

This course is perfect if you’ve got a little time in the afternoon to spare or want to learn Dutch without having to dedicate your evenings to a class. 

Night owl? Join an evening course! 

Perhaps you’re a hustling professional and want to squeeze in some time for a language lesson. Dutch Courses Amsterdam also offers the option for extensive Dutch courses later in the evening. 

These classes take place from 7 PM to 9:15 PM on both Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays and run for seven weeks. 

Evening courses are available both online and offline for a gezellige group of seven students, where you’ll be learning Dutch at a less intense speed. 

Part of a group? Take a tailored course to suit your needs

If you like the idea of doing classes with your colleagues at work, your group of international friends or any other large group of people, Dutch Courses Amsterdam offers group courses that are easily adapted to fit your needs. 

With these personalised courses, you can adjust the structure, format, and frequency of the course and pick the level of Dutch you want to learn. 

Prefer studying remotely? Enrol in an online course

On the other hand, if you’ve gotten comfortable with online Zoom lessons or prefer learning from the comfort of your own house, an online course could be suitable for you.

Online courses can be taken in the evening in more extensive classes twice a week. 

This option is definitely handy if you are working from home or can’t travel to and from their Amsterdam location easily. 

Want to have solo time with your teacher? Go for private or duo lessons

If you’re not a fan of big classes or prefer to have all of your teacher’s focus and attention, you can opt for a one-on-one Dutch course, or take classes with one other person. 

You can get in touch with Dutch Courses Amsterdam for a tailor-made programme at your own level, schedule, and frequency. 

Prefer learning in short, intense bursts? Take an intensive course

Whether you’re short on time, want to learn Dutch extra snel (fast), or just like working at a faster pace, an intensive course might be the one for you. 

Dutch Courses Amsterdam offers an intensive course occurring every weekday from 10:15 AM to 2:15 PM for two weeks. 

You can choose to do the course from A0 to B2 and in-person or online in small groups with a maximum of seven students. 

I know what I want, how can I sign up?

Easy, just get in touch! You can drop an email or call Dutch Courses Amsterdam to request information on a course of your choice through their contact page. 

Check out Dutch Courses Amsterdam’s host of courses and find the one that suits you best. 

Have you taken a Dutch course before? Tell us about it in a comment below!

Whether we’re talking about pre-coronavirus or post-reopening of horeca, anyone who drinks has a night-out story they’re probably not proud of.

But like everyone else, Dutchies have their own remedy for the effects of a night of drinking — a trip to the snackbar.

What is it?

If you have no idea what a Dutch snackbar is, let us be your guide. Snackbars are small fast-food-like venues that make your classic Dutch frituur (fried food) go tos.

From friet (or is it patat?) and bitterballen to kroket and kaassoufflé, you and your empty stomach’s desires will be fulfilled.

Plenty of people, Dutchies and internationals alike, love going to a snackbar after the bar to grab a bite to eat when nothing else is open.

Why do they do it?

Frituur is the perfect food after a night out of drinks — it’s greasy, it’s filling, and it’s carb heaven, making it the ideal food to eat to soak up the alcohol.

(And, most importantly, prevent the impending hangover! )

READ MORE | The Dutch food dream: 13 unmissable dishes in the Netherlands

Not to mention, frituur can curb your salty cravings late at night.

Friet is a great snack to have if you’re sharing it with other people but otherwise, falafel wraps or a broodje frikandel is the perfect thing to keep for yourself.

Why is it quirky?

The more you drink, the more questionable your snack choices become.

Whether it’s putting obscene amounts of mayonnaise on everything or picking an “interesting” sauce combination for your friet, we can’t blame you for your cravings.

And while eating a lot of snack food in the night seems like the best idea at the moment, you might find yourself feeling a little queasy from it.

We can’t tell you if that’s the alcohol or the snack food talking, though.

Should you join in?

This activity is definitely something to try out, especially if you want to try some fun Dutch snacks but also drink responsibly!

READ MORE | These are 7 Dutch foods you need to try before you die

Although, these snack foods aren’t the most healthy (deep-fried in lots of oil) but it doesn’t do much harm if you have them once in a while.

What do you think of this Dutch quirk? Have you experienced it? Tell us in the comments below!

Maybe it’s on your to-do list, or you’ve been putting it off, but you might be asking yourself whether it’s actually worth your time and money to learn Dutch. 

We all know at least one person who didn’t intend to stay in the Netherlands for long but still find themselves not speaking a word of Dutch even after 10 years. 

Here are a few things to ask yourself if you’re considering taking a Dutch language course.

If your answer to any of the below questions is yes, then perhaps it’s time for you to learn some Nederlands.

1. How long do you plan on staying in the Netherlands?

First and foremost, it’s important to consider if you want to stay in the Netherlands and how long you intend to live here.  

If the plan was to get your university degree in the Netherlands and head back to your home country, it’s completely fair if you don’t want to spend too much time or money on learning Dutch. 

However, if you envision yourself staying here long-term, then that’s all the more reason to take Dutch courses and learn the language. 

Take it from a seasoned expat, if you plan on building a life in the Netherlands, then you need to be able to have full access to all that life here has to offer — and you can’t do that if you’re restricted by a language barrier.

2. Do you want to build a career in the Netherlands?

While it’s really handy that the Netherlands already offers a lot of jobs entirely in English, some careers have better prospects if you speak Dutch, and this is something you need to consider if you want to build a career in the Netherlands. 

For example, if you work in communications, administration, human resources, politics, or law, to name a few, proficiency in Dutch will definitely give you an edge in the job market. 

Even if your role doesn’t technically require you to speak Dutch, by speaking the same language as many of your colleagues, you open yourself up to friendships, networking, and, perhaps, an even better job in the future! 

Learning Dutch will open many more doors for you while living in the Netherlands — plus, having an extra language under your belt could never hurt while you’re looking for work in Europe. 

3. Do you want to have more Dutch people in your life? 

It’s easy to stay in an international bubble when you live in the Netherlands, especially if you’re surrounded by only international students from your university or your entire work friend group are expats. 

If you want to make friends with more locals or already have Dutch friends you want to connect with better, learning Dutch is a great way to expand your social circle and skills. 

There are plenty of sports clubs, music clubs, and more where you can meet more Dutchies and learn to socialise in Dutch. 

4. Is your partner Dutch?

This is an important one: if your partner is Dutch, learning the language can be especially helpful in building a stronger long-term relationship with them. 

READ MORE | 6 things to know about dating Dutch people

And it definitely doesn’t hurt your chances of impressing your partner’s Dutch parents and extended family! 

After all, who doesn’t want to show off their skills at perfectly ordering food or have a friendly discussion about the proper way to eat tompouce? 

On the other hand, if you’re single or don’t have a Dutch partner, we can see why learning Dutch might not be a top priority for you.

5. Will your kids grow up in the Netherlands?

Speaking of family, if you’ve moved to the Netherlands with your children or plan to have and raise children here, there’s a good chance they will learn to speak Dutch as well — and you’ll want to be able to communicate with them!

Being able to speak Dutch will be especially handy if you’re sending your child(ren) to a Dutch school. It’ll be easier for you as a parent to communicate with your kid’s teachers and other parents. 

If you answered “yes” to at least one of the above questions, then I strongly recommend taking a Dutch course.

There are plenty of advantages to learning Dutch, from improving your job prospects to opening up your social life. And if you plan to stay in the Netherlands, knowing the language will help you integrate comfortably. 

So, what were your answers? Is it time to learn Dutch? Geen stress (no stress), you’ve got this.

Have you taken a Dutch course before? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Did you see it last night? Dutch skies were graced by the beautiful Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, on Sunday evening.

The Lights were particularly visible to the naked eye in the northern provinces, but were also seen in Hoek van Holland and Enschede, reports the NOS.

Missed catching a glimpse of them? Take a look at last night’s captures:

How do the Northern Lights work?

Auroras are caused by solar flares from the sun. Charged particles enter spaces and are drawn to the north and south poles of Earth, where the magnetic field is strongest.

The particles pass through Earth’s atmosphere at high speed and collide. Energy is released and creates the colourful patterns in the sky that seem to dance.

Typically, the Aurora Borealis is seen much further north in Scandinavia, but they’re visible in the Netherlands for a few days in the year.

Your best chance at spotting the lights is to find a light-pollution-free area in the Netherlands on a dark night with a clear sky.

Did you see the Northern Lights last night? Have you seen them before? Tell us about it in a comment below!

First time celebrating someone’s birthday in the Netherlands? Gefeliciteerd! Birthdays are a special event in every culture and have their own little quirks — and the Netherlands is no exception. 

Naturally, it’s important to know about some common (but entirely weird to foreigners) traditions from the Netherlands that just make Dutch birthdays…different!

1. Congratulate everyone in sight

In most cultures, you just wish the birthday celebrant a happy birthday.

In the Netherlands, regardless of whose birthday it is, everyone is congratulated for celebrating a birthday with one simple word: gefeliciteerd (congratulations).

The birthday celebrant’s parents? Gefeliciteerd! Their siblings? Gefeliciteerd! Their grandparents, their aunts and uncles, cousins, and even their pet guinea pig? Gefeliciteerd! 

Why? Who knows?! Perhaps it was invented by the same people who invented the three-kisses greeting. Prepare for incoming slobbery lips and wet cheeks.

2. Text someone’s parents instead of the birthday person

This is a bit cute but mostly impressively organised. Alright, so there’s a lot of congratulations in person. But did you know many parents of children having a birthday will receive a flood of texts?

Let’s say your dad’s colleague at work may know it’s your birthday today. They’ll message your dad to congratulate him, buuut (since they probably don’t know you directly), you’ll get — you guessed it — nothing.

But, nice for your Dad, we guess.  

3. Sit in the circle of death during birthday parties

Usually, at a party, you would expect people to walk around and mingle with other guests. Instead, the Dutch LOVE to sit in one massive circle. 

No matter how many people there are at a birthday party, you wouldn’t catch them standing up. Why? Who knows.

However, we’ll give them this: sitting in a circle is essential for gezelligheid. This essential Dutch concept embodies all things comfy, warm, and happy.

You can’t have a Dutch birthday party without feeling cosy. And how do you do this? A circle layout!

A little circle (or maybe a large circle) is a great way to get a good look at everyone who’s at this party, and it makes sure that no one gets left out — talk about gezellig, indeed! 

But Dutch people do have their pet peeves with this tradition. The circle is known for being unbearably boring.

After all, there’s not much to sitting in a circle and talking to whoever you’re sitting next to.

4. Serve birthday tart instead of cake

If you’re wondering why anyone would bother serving something that isn’t a rich chocolate cake or a flawlessly decorated vanilla cake, your guess is better than ours. But, such is Dutch life.

Although they’re equally common, Dutchies, like to serve pies or local tarts, called vlaai instead of cake. Vlaai is a traditional dessert to have on your birthday, so it’s only natural to serve something so unequivocally Dutch. 

These delightful treats are made of pastry and all kinds of fillings, from fruits like cherries and strawberries to a crumbled butter and sugar mix. 

The Netherlands isn’t known for being culinary innovators or for having an inventory of delicious recipes, but we have to say they nailed it when they invented vlaai. 

You’re also likely to find appeltaart at birthdays, the Netherlands’ iconic rendition of apple piece — and once you have a taste of these, you’ll never want to go back. 

5. Open birthday gifts in front of all their guests

Buying someone a birthday present is always appreciated!

But if you expect the celebrant to thank you for the gift and stash it away for later — think again. 

People will open your gifts in front of EVERYONE, and there is no stopping them.

So maybe take that as a warning to not buy any gifts that could be embarrassing or inflammatory in front of their parents and oma en opa (grandma and grandpa). 

Not to mention, it feels extremely awkward having everyone watch one person open their presents one by one — often in silence to achieve peak awkwardness.

6. Let all their friends roast them on their 21st birthday

The legal age in the Netherlands is 18, but for some reason, doing a big celebration for your 21st birthday has become a big thing in the Netherlands. But if it’s an excuse for another party, how can we refuse?

Celebrating your 21st birthday is a pretty big event — some people go all out with caterers and seating arrangements, and guests come over for a huge celebration.

But it all boils down to a big birthday roast for the celebrant — and no, we don’t mean the dinner kind. Birthday celebrants must be prepared to have all their embarrassing night-out stories and middle school blunders revealed to friends and family. 

This is on the newer side of Dutch birthday traditions, so don’t be surprised if you’re met with blank stares when asking an older person about the 21st birthday dinner. 

7. Call you Abraham or Sarah when you turn 50 years old

Are you turning 50? Well, hello, Abraham! It’s nice to meet you, Sarah! 

You might be wondering, “Who the heck is Abraham and Sarah?”

These oddly specific nicknames are a biblical reference that honours gaining wisdom from experience.

You are old enough to be “visited” by Abraham or Sarah by the time you’ve reached age 50, and so they impart you with some wisdom because they’re very old themselves. 

Along with turning 50, it’s very common that friends and family of the celebrant will set up funky inflatable Abrahams and Sarahs around their home or workplace, as well as funny posters so people can congratulate them. 

8. Bring your own celebratory birthday treats to the workplace

Sorry to break it to you — if you expect to be the one getting treated for your birthday, you might be in for some disappointment and culture shock.

In many cultures, your workplace will buy you a cake and maybe even a present for your birthday. In the Netherlands, birthday celebrants have to bring their own treats to share with their colleagues. 

Of course, it is your special day, but you’re expected to be generous towards other people. 

Generosity applies to other parts of celebrating your birthday, like serving everyone beer and cake at your birthday party (no, no one else is allowed to help you) and sometimes even paying for everyone’s meals if you invited them out for dinner. 

It seems a little counterintuitive, but a Dutch person’s birthday is the only day you will not find them being overwhelmingly stingy — as many stereotypes say. 

9. Keep birthday calendars in the toilet 

Okay, normally, a birthday calendar wouldn’t be so strange to keep. It’s just the fact that it’s in Dutchies’ toilets specifically that makes it just plain weird.

Do Dutchies expect to memorise birthdays when Mother Nature calls? Well, it seems like a pretty decent place to do so.

If you like to keep busy while doing your thing, browsing the birthday calendar is a convenient and casual read.

While it is very strange to internationals, we can’t help but feel like it’s kind of sentimental that they’re doing their business and thinking about all the birthdays that are coming up. How sweet!

And there you have it! Birthdays are indeed a special celebration, and hopefully, you will know more about how Dutch people like to spend their birthdays (so you can be prepared for your next Dutch birthday party!)

Is there a Dutch birthday tradition we missed? What’s your favourite tradition listed here? Tell us what you think!

You may have heard of a few Dutch delicacies before coming to the Netherlands — perhaps it was the delicious rendition of Dutch fries, crispy fried codfish, or maybe Europe’s underrated sausage delicacy, the frikandel.

Regardless of what you’ve tried, there’s also a pretty decent chance your Dutch friends have attempted to feed you their version of liquorice.

What is it?

That’s right — life in the Netherlands isn’t just about unhealthy, fried snack food. They’ve also got the sweet treat (or terror) known as drop.

Drop is essentially the Dutch version of black liquorice, but it’s so much more than that.

There are so many types of drop, it’s hard to keep track! And yes, some of the flavour profiles of these types of drop are less than ideal (looking at you, hard, salty drop).

Why do they do it?

Of course, just because you might have an unfit palate for this type of candy doesn’t mean it would stop Dutchies from trying to find the perfect type of liquorice for you.

They just want you to experience the same bliss they live in whenever they eat their questionable candy choices.

Some may consider Dutchies stingy by nature, but you can’t help but feel a little special when they want to share something of theirs with you.

Why is it quirky?

Lots of foreigners (if not the majority) are confused as to why the Dutch want you to try their candy so badly — it’s not every day they’re thinking about sharing their culture and food with other people so enthusiastically.

But of all things, why did it have to be drop? It’s just so far out of most people’s comfort zone, and some of it tastes very “interesting” (or gross).

READ MORE | 7 Dutch foods you need to try before you die

It’s quite fascinating that the Dutch are so willing to share this part of their treats, and we’re just not sure if this is the treat that we wish they would share with us.

Should you join in?

Drop is definitely worth trying if you’ve never had it before, but don’t be surprised if it doesn’t taste sweet like your typical black liquorice.

If you like it, that’s great! And if you don’t, don’t worry. There are plenty of Dutchies who will just eat your share of drop for you.

What do you think of this Dutch quirk? Have you experienced it? Tell us in the comments below!

If you’ve gotten used to next-day delivery on your mail and packages, we might have some bad news for you.

PostNL, the mail and e-commerce giant based in the Netherlands, wants to start delivering mail less often. Why? Because they have a shortage of workers and fewer people are sending mail, reports the AD.

Herna Verhagen, CEO of PostNL, urges a change in postal laws so that mail can be delivered within two or three days of being sent rather than the usual one-day delivery rule, with the exception of urgent mail.

A steady decline

The amount of mail sent has been on the decline for the last 20 years, yet mail is still legally only allowed to take one day to be delivered. A general labour shortage has also made it difficult to fill vacancies and keep up operations.

As a result, letters are more frequently being delivered too late — and about one in five items arrived after the expected delivery time in 2023.

@dutchreview Just us? #dutchreview #netherlands #holland #postnl #kevinjames #fyp #foryou #dutchmail ♬ original sound – DutchReview

So, Verhagen is calling on Dutch politicians to find a solution for these developments.

And it seems like there’s precedent to change the legally expected delivery time. Many European countries have less frequent post deliveries, and 79% of PostNL customers say they’re okay with receiving mail after only two or three days.

How often do you use PostNL? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!

Have you ever biked the streets of Amsterdam and watched as a cyclist stuck their left arm out into oncoming bicycle traffic? Or heard frantic bell chimes from out of nowhere?

Dutchies are practically born on top of their fiets, and there are lots of factors that make cycling easy as pie — like having an entirely different way of communicating while cycling.

What is it?

Just like driving a car, Dutch people came up with their own set of rules and regulations to follow when riding a bike.

Part of those rules is an effective way to communicate with others while biking. For example:

• If you want to pass someone, ring your bell before you overtake them.
• Use your hands as signals when turning, i.e. if you’re turning right, extend your right arm for a few seconds before you turn.
• You don’t signal if you’re going to stop — most people will have no idea what you’re trying to signal (and definitely don’t suddenly stop on a busy bike path).

While it might seem like a top-secret language to newcomers to the Netherlands, it’s actually pretty intuitive.

Why do they do it?

It’s no secret that Dutch people are some of the best cyclists in the world, and it’s for good reason too.

Their whole infrastructure is suited to accommodate bicycles and their education even includes cycling safety and etiquette.

In the Netherlands, life on a bike begins very early. #bike #biking #cycling #Netherlands #Dutch #Holland #transport
pic.twitter.com/WfIQKiPErA

— Alexander Verbeek (@Alex_Verbeek) May 9, 2021

This ‘secret language’ serves to make sure biking stays as safe, easy, and popular as it is.

Why is it quirky? 

Well, who else would have an entire rule set to communicate while biking but the Dutch?

Cycling is so ingrained into their society that they can tell what the cyclist behind them wants, all based on a few bell rings.

READ MORE | 7 types of cyclings found when biking in the Netherlands

People have also come up with a few ways to follow the rules without really following them. One time, I was sitting on the back of my friend’s bike and they asked me to do the turn signals so they wouldn’t have to let go of the handles.

Even if they’re ‘breaking the rules’, they’re not really breaking them.

Should you join in? 

Definitely! Using this not-so-secret language will definitely make your cycling experience safer and easier.

Not to mention, cyclists (Dutch or not) will certainly appreciate you communicating clearly on the roads. Stay safe!

What do you think of this Dutch quirk? Have you experienced it? Tell us in the comments below!

From splitting the Friday borrel drinks with your coworkers to paying for your friend’s birthday present with friends, Tikkie is one of the most important aspects of life in the Netherlands.

Anyone who’s lived here knows that the Dutch are sticklers for accounting and finances, and the Tikkie app is one of those innovations that comes from their perceived stinginess.

The handy app lets you forward payment requests via WhatsApp and other forms of social media, making it extra easy for groups of people to split costs.

But why is it called a ‘Tikkie’?

Useful and friendly

According to Freek de Steenwinkel, director of Tikkie, the name ‘Tikkie’ is meant to be an onomatopoeic sound, similar to a “ka-ching” or a check sound that rings when someone is paying for something at a cash register.

Whilst it’s fun to imagine paying with “Kachings” or “Cheqs”, there’s a reason why Tikkie prevailed.

“‘Tikkie’ sounded friendly; besides being useful, it should also be fun”, says Steenwinkel to De Ondernemer. Useful and friendly, it is indeed.

A new set of etiquette

Since its creation, Tikkie has created a whole etiquette surrounding money transfers and finances.

@dutchreview €0,36 for “sip from my water bottle” ??? #netherlands #tikkie #nederlands #fyp #dutchtiktok #dutch #internationalstudent ♬ My Happy Song – Super Simple Songs

That includes when to pay someone’s request, when to send a Tikkie, and even the appropriate amount of money you can request from someone. (Hint: there’s no minimum! )

Call it stingy or call it cheap — the Dutch will call it innovative and considerate.

What are your experiences using Tikkie? Do you like using it? Tell us in the comments below.

It seems like we’re not far off from breaking another housing price record — and not in a good way.

For the second month in a row, housing prices have been on the rise in the Netherlands, with existing houses now costing 1.8% more than last January.

If housing prices continue to rise like this, the Netherlands will reach a new peak by March or April, writes NU.nl.

Prices on the rise

According to CBS, housing prices peaked in the summer of 2022 when people were buying homes for an average of €445,000.

Prices started decreasing until June 2023, but began to climb once again on a monthly basis.

Now, houses are selling for an average of €433,000. Say what?

More homes sold

What’s truly interesting, however, is that there are actually more home sales taking places this year as compared to the last few years.

In January, 14,452 homes changed ownership in the Netherlands, about 10% more than the number of homes sold in January 2023.

There are a few possible explanations for this: the energy crisis and high inflation rate last year likely held buyers back from purchasing homes.

Purchasing power has also increased, and it’s also easier to qualify for the National Mortgage Guarantee that protects homebuyers from debt in case of a forced home sale.

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