do the Dutch also speak ....? and other Amsterdam, Netherlands Local Custom Tips

Most of us speak Dutch, and most of us will also speak English. We have to learn it at school and hear it a lot on television (translated with Dutch text).

Most of the times, German is also not a big problem. A few of us might speak Spanish.
If you only speak Turkish, you will find a lot of Turkish people in Amsterdam. There are also a lot of people from Morroco, who live in Amsterdam.

In bigger hotels there maybe someone who speaks French.

But if you only speak anything else, please try it in English or bodylanguage.

In some touristshops they only speak English, and no Dutch at all!

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In Holland it is common to give a tip (5-10%) to the waitress in a restaurant (if he/she was friendly and the food was good). They don't need the tips to live, serving food and drinks is a normal job. The waitresses does not always work as fast as in other countries, but it is still hard work to do.

Unfortunality they are not always in a good mood when you are sitting on a terrace, because they have to work too hard. So be friendy and respectfull, give a smile and get a smile. Only give a tip if they were nice to you.

In bars and café's some people give a tip, others don't.

It is common to give the taxidriver a tip. Only if they were nice, of course!
Never give a tip if someone asks for it.

You can leave the tip at the plate (if you get the bon on a little plate), leave it on the table (if it's not to crowded), or give it to the waitress or barceeper.

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It is easy to find out what we eat in Amsterdam: just go to a supermarket!

You might be amazed, because you can buy a lot of sweats to cover your bread. We usually eat bread for breakfast and bread for lunch also.

Big supermarkets in the touristic area:
Albert Heijn (AH) in the street behind the Palace on the Damsquare,
Albert Heijn (AH) at the Museumplein (under the hill at the Van Baerlestraat),
Dirk van de Broek at the Heinekenplein (Ferdinand Bolstraat, close to the Albert Cuypmarket),

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If you want to know what the customs are of people who live in Amsterdam, go to a supermarket. I allways do that when I'm abroad.

Big supermarkets in the touristic area:
Albert Heijn (AH) in the street behind the Palace on the Damsquare,
Albert Heijn (AH) at the Museumplein (under the hill at the Van Baerlestraat),
Dirk van de Broek at the Heinekenplein (Ferdinand Bolstraat, close to the Albert Cuypmarket),

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Favourite by Dutch students: "patatje oorlog" (chips "war" with mayonaise and peanut-sause). Also favourite: "patatje speciaal" (chips with mayonaise, onions and ketchup- or tomatosaus). Eat it on the street.

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Try this:

* Go to a streetvendor, a big car where you can buy fish.
* Buy a "haring met uitjes" (haring with unions). Don't let it cut!
* You eat it by taking the tale in your hand, dip it in the little onions and put it above your face. It is a salted fish, I like it very much. It is typical Dutch.

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Typical Dutch is "koninginnedag" on April 30th. It starts early in the morning, around 06.00 o'clock. A lot of locals are dressed in orange and partying on the streets. In the centre there are everywhere streetvendors, you can hardly walk there.

In other neighbourhoods the local people are also partying. They sell their unused second hand produkts on a carpet at the streets. This is also the case in "de Jordaan", a beautifull old part of Amsterdam. Go there and you will have a good time!

This is not a good day to take a taxi or tram in the citycentre. The streets are to crowded, it is inpossible to drive. During all day long till around 22.00 o'clock. The trains to Amsterdam are also very crowded.

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Local people from Amsterdam are very direct and open. It's easy to begin a conversation with them. Be polite, but don't be shy. They all speak English.

They like it if you try some Dutch words. 'Good morning' is 'goedemorgen'. 'Good afternoon' is 'goedemiddag', and 'good evening' is 'goedenavond'. If you leave a place you say 'doei' of 'tot ziens'.

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Every year, on April 30th, it Queensday / koninginnedag in Holland, a free day for most of us.
It is very, very busy in the centre of town. And at many places is loud music.

If you don't like the crowd or the noisyness, I would suggest to go just outside the centre. You can go to the "Jordaan" (to the West, still a little crowded), Ferdinand Bolstraat (to the south), or to the Dapperstraat (to the East). The further you go outside the centre, the more quiet it will be.

Another difference between the centre and outside the centre is who are selling. In the center the streetvendors are mostly from a shop; outside the centre are more common people who sale their old stuff on a carpet on the street.

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I'm very sorry to say that most of us, Dutch natives, will make it very hard for you to practise Dutch if you want to learn our language.
I don't know why, but almost everyone will answer in English if you try to ask something in Dutch. Maybe because a lot of us like to practise their English. Or they try to make it easier for you. But you will never learn it that way. Maybe you have to search longer till you find somebody who is willing to speak Dutch with you. Or try an older person (above 65).
I would suggest to keep talking back in Dutch always, if you really want to learn the language. And take a lot of lessons.

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