h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Off to Holland next year for me hols. Went to France this year and managed to survive on the French I remembered from school but I have no idea about how to speak Hollands native tongue.

I've heard that most folks speak English quite well but I'd like to make the effort and try 'talk the talk' whilst I'm over there if possible.

Can anyone recomend any good books/websites to give me the basics?

Just stand out in the rain for a while, untill you develop a sore throat. That should get you a long way in that country.

Anyway, thank you is called dankjevel, or bedankt. Beautiful girl is moi meisje. And they like to use the word lekker about a lot of things. Lekker food, lekker weather, lekker women.

But don't worry, you won't get a chance to speak Dutch. As soon as they spot you as a foreigner they will start speaking in English to you. That's what makes it so hard to learn the language.

here is list of links to sites for foreign (beginning) students of Dutch:
http://www.onzetaal.nl/koppling/dutch.htm

Dutch -> English
onze taal -> our language
koppelingen -> links

Over the years I've spent quite a long time staying in Holland (mainly Amsterdam) and have managed to pick up not a single word of the language. Very soon after arriving you get used to NOT asking, "Do you speak English?", as all you'll get is the slightly hurt reply of, "well of course I do."

I don't know what it is about the Dutch education system that instills such a strong grasp of the English language into its youngsters. It seems to be better than any other country I have ever come across, and certainly way better than the English schools system

Ahem, Danish people are also good at English. It's a matter of need, we are both small countries and nobody else are going to learn our language.

Well, that's a shame. On the other hand, if everyone in Holland already knows English, then the ratio of effort to benefit for an English (or American) person to learn Danish is extremely bad.

It's just one more language to say you can speak to impress people.

i read somewhere that more dutch teenagers are fluent in english than american teenagers

Uhh, careful.

about the unknown source?
yeah, sorry, ignore it if you wish, I just cannot remember where i read it.

Ever met an American who speaks English instead of American?

An American asks for the bill and pays with a check, an Englishman asks for the check and pays with a bill

Well, as both Pheloxi and Xanatic are here, my understanding is that Holland is actually only a region within the country and calling the entire country Holland is a bit like calling the entire UK, England. Is this true?

yes, but I am good mood so I am ignoring calling The Netherlands holland....

holland is only 2 of 12 twelve provinces...

more the Netherlands A562916 by tdbiii

The Netherlands consists of twelve provinces, two of them are North- and South-Holland. The others have completely different names.

But Holland is easier and faster than the full The Netherlands.
In the past the two Hollands and Zeeland were the most important, as there the VOC-ships started to all over the world.

I should mention I'm not Dutch. I just lived there for a while.

Oh, sorry Xanatic, my bad!

Xanatic, if you have lived in the Netherlands you are partly Dutch

Yes, there are so few of us on this , we need every addition we can lay our hands on

few of us, but we are largest invester in the usa

Be careful in Holland- you'll end up very drunk very quickly. The Dutch are some of the most gregarious people I've ever met- you'll be welcomed with open arms, and you'll soon find a group of people that want to take care of you, show you the best pubs, places to stay etc. I shouldn't bother trying to learn the language- I tried once, I found it incredibly hard- and they all speak English with an American accent