Hey, Hello, How are you? I Hope GOOD! Well, I get a lot of questions about Holland, The Netherlands, Amsterdam, and a big question is "Do I know how to speak Dutch"? The short answer is "No". I know a few words, some sentences, but I would love to learn. Here is the deal though.

In Amsterdam, but not ALL Dutch cities, the COMMON language among everyone, tourists and locals, alike is English. So no matter where your from, they expect you to generally speak ENGLISH in restaurants, stores, coffeeshops, bars, etc. Now of course if you speak Dutch and they speak Dutch, well by ALL means, proceed; and this does occur, of course, were in The Netherlands. However, the main point is that EVERYWHERE you go you hear English. I speak English ALL DAY and NEVER have to worry about communication problems. For Dutch kids to pass into High School, they MUST know ENGLISH, so the majority of Dutch Citizens do. Of course their has to be an occasional person who does not know English, but it is harder than YOU think.

So, I say, GO to AMSTERDAM with NO FEAR of communication problems. Do NOT be like me on my first trip years back when I was asking everyone the first day if they spoke English, because, guess what, "THEY DO" and was laughed at until someone told me the facts. My last point that I have learned is that United State Citizens, UK Citizens, are lucky, maybe even spoiled, for MOST of us will never have to or want to learn another language.

However, for me, I want to learn a few languages and Dutch is one of them(Although only about 25+ million people or so people speak Dutch worldwide compared to 400+ million English speakers). WOW!  Enjoy AMSTERDAM!  and THANK YOU to the DUTCH for their Hospitality, Love, Fun, Culture, and Freedom! 

Always, with Respect; Christopher Amsterdam