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8th July 2009, 06:19 PM
|  | Annoy, tiny blond one, annoy like the wind!
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Reps: 488,989,716,042,163,520 (power: 488,989,716,042,176) | | Originally Posted by Pogue  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.
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9th July 2009, 05:11 AM
|  | alles van waarde is weerloos
  
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Reps: 242,068,944,616,009,632 (power: 242,068,944,616,027) | | Originally Posted by Antigone That, and historically low self-esteem.
Yup.
Alright, for a few days you don't need to, but at least ask someone first whether they speak English. They probably do, but it's still politer to ask.
And yes, you're right, English is a lingua franca - but in many countries you cannot address random strangers in English, for example Italy.
Scandinavians usually speak better English than we do.
Pogue, have you tried good beer yet? Lots of wonderful pubs in Amsterdam. Which reminds me, perhaps this is of use to the OP as well:
Amsterdam Pub Guide: the best beer bars, pubs and brewpubs
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.
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9th July 2009, 12:30 PM
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Reps: 346,773,836,970 (power: 346,773,853) | | | 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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12th July 2009, 05:21 AM
| | Annoy, tiny blond one, annoy like the wind!
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Reps: 488,989,716,042,163,520 (power: 488,989,716,042,176) | | Originally Posted by Rebekka 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.
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25th September 2009, 08:23 AM
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| | Join Date: 25th September 2009
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Reps: 10 (power: 0) | | | The shelter is the best, its a christian hostel. |
26th September 2009, 12:54 AM
|  | CF's Ruskie
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Reps: 648,827,618,311,827,456 (power: 648,827,618,311,832) | | | 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.
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My heart is aggrieved, , my thoughts are disheartened, My very soul weeps Originally Posted by wesley To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
dir="ltr"> The boogey mans checks his closet for Sasha at night To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. |
30th September 2009, 02:42 AM
|  | Legend
| | Join Date: 24th March 2005
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Reps: 225,918,858,897,027,968 (power: 225,918,858,897,054) | | "The shelter is the best, its a christian hostel." Welcome to the website of Shelter Christian Hostels!
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.
It's a great place to go! Have fun! |
1st October 2009, 10:55 AM
| | Annoy, tiny blond one, annoy like the wind!
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Reps: 488,989,716,042,163,520 (power: 488,989,716,042,176) | | Originally Posted by Gym 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.
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3rd October 2009, 03:17 AM
| | CF's Ruskie
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Reps: 648,827,618,311,827,456 (power: 648,827,618,311,832) | | Originally Posted by Antigone 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
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My heart is aggrieved, , my thoughts are disheartened, My very soul weeps Originally Posted by wesley To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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3rd November 2009, 08:53 AM
| | Newbie
| | Join Date: 8th September 2009 Location: Singapore
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Reps: 2,100,767,135,082 (power: 2,100,767,138) | | | 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 | | |
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