You're right about how frustrating it is! I honestly thought about getting a t-shirt made which said "SPEAK DUTCH TO ME" on it.
I know some people at my university who study German, but not Dutch, and when they went to Amsterdam they decided to speak German to everyone "because it's nearly the same". *groan* That was a very bad plan.
Yes, it is. It's like calling a Scotsman English, "because it's all the same." I suspect you'd get into trouble too.
I'm normally very much in favour of people learning languages, but I would still maintain it's not necessary in Amsterdam due to the Dutch and their amazing language-learning superpowers! (what's the secret? Something in the stroopwafels?)
That, and historically low self-esteem.
__________________ God expects spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
First time I have read the Bible
It had stroke me as unwitty
I think it may started rumour
that the Lord ain't got no humour
-- Gogol Bordello
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It's very good, written by a Brit who's been living in Amsterdam for many years, and he has good taste in pubs and special beers. The guide is elaborate and organised by neighbourhood.
De Wildeman, de Beiaard, Gollum, 't Smalle, 't Papeneiland are some of my favourites. I still haven't visited De Arend, a pub that specializes in Dutch beers; they have beers from all (micro and macro) breweries and brew some themselves.
I've been put off beer for life after trying grapefruit beer in Germany and having the worst hangover I've ever had the next morning, but I still got to explore a couple of pubs in the Jordaan! I like the way they look, if not the beer itself!
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Wanton killing of innocent civilians is terrorism, not a war against terrorism. Noam Chomsky
Wenn aber man kann nicht meinem Rede Verstehen, so werde ich ihm später dasselbe übersetz, wenn er solche Dienst verlangen wollen haben werden sollen sein hätte.-Mark Twain Waiting for the German verb is surely the ultimate thrill-Flann O'Brian
And yes, you're right, English is a lingua franca - but in many countries you cannot address random strangers in English, for example Italy.
The younger generation does. Sort of. Enough to make themselves understood to tourists, at the very least. And even anglophobe Italians will have to speak a different language if they go abroad, because the number of English speakers far outranks the number of Italian speakers.
It's true that some European nations are lagging behind a bit when it comes to the use of English, but the Netherlands is definitely not part of that group.
__________________ God expects spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
First time I have read the Bible
It had stroke me as unwitty
I think it may started rumour
that the Lord ain't got no humour
-- Gogol Bordello
**Catholic - with Pastafarian Tendencies**
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If you're not all ready there and you have the ability, try to go to Venlo (town)
It's quite the beautiful site.
Also I'd second the learning of at least a little Dutch. I for example practiced 'Hello, I'm sorry, but do you speak German or English' everyday for about a month before going and it was nice to see the smile. I'm told I butchered it horribly but they understood what I wanted.
Also, it just so happened the person I asked spoke German not English- which oddly seems contrary to most persons experiences here.
__________________ All Winston Churchill:
-A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.
-You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.
- Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.
If you take the train, then you will arrive at a very active area -- bicycles, street rails. Facing away from the train, to your left is the red light district with great canals. It is safe, and beautiful, but you will have more strangers talking to you. No threats, just asking.
The Shelter hostel is in that area. If you want to enjoy your whole experience, weigh the cost difference against how well you will sleep with a lot of people around. It could also help you feel grounded, like you have people to turn to in an emergency.
Straight ahead leads you down toward museums. There really isn't anywhere you can go that won't feel like you ARE somewhere. The city vibrates with energy. Even people who aren't out for your best interest will leave you alone if you are direct with them.
If you're not all ready there and you have the ability, try to go to Venlo (town)
It's quite the beautiful site.
Also I'd second the learning of at least a little Dutch. I for example practiced 'Hello, I'm sorry, but do you speak German or English' everyday for about a month before going and it was nice to see the smile. I'm told I butchered it horribly but they understood what I wanted.
Also, it just so happened the person I asked spoke German not English- which oddly seems contrary to most persons experiences here.
That depends, really - Venlo is so close to Germany that most people spend half of their lives there - grocery shopping, for instance, is often cheaper there. In Heerlen, a bit further down south, there are streets where one side is in The Netherlands and the other side is in Germany. These people are usually almost bilingual.
I prefer Maastricht to Venlo, personally - if you ever get the change to go there, DO IT. It looks nothing like the rest of the country, but it's very picturesque - storybook pretty, really, with its massive medieval churches, cobblestone streets and tree-lined squares.
__________________ God expects spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
First time I have read the Bible
It had stroke me as unwitty
I think it may started rumour
that the Lord ain't got no humour
-- Gogol Bordello
**Catholic - with Pastafarian Tendencies**
Pinko Commie ScumAlert
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That depends, really - Venlo is so close to Germany that most people spend half of their lives there - grocery shopping, for instance, is often cheaper there. In Heerlen, a bit further down south, there are streets where one side is in The Netherlands and the other side is in Germany. These people are usually almost bilingual.
I prefer Maastricht to Venlo, personally - if you ever get the change to go there, DO IT. It looks nothing like the rest of the country, but it's very picturesque - storybook pretty, really, with its massive medieval churches, cobblestone streets and tree-lined squares.
Maastricht is nice from pictures I've seen, perhaps one day I'll make it up there
__________________ All Winston Churchill:
-A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.
-You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.
- Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.
hi all, i will be going to Italy for 3-4 weeks on jan / feb 2010, from Singapore (i work in Singapore) and i have an auntie (father's sister) in amsterdam, i will be happy to know anyone in Amsterdam and Italy, esp in Pordenone. thanks
It's like calling a Scotsman English, "because it's all the same." I suspect you'd get into trouble too. 
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