English in the workplace, but Dutch in daily life
More and more international companies in the Netherlands are choosing English as their working language. This makes collaboration accessible and efficient. However, this does not mean that learning Dutch is unnecessary for international employees. On the contrary: especially when English is the standard office language, mastering Dutch helps employees truly feel at home in the Netherlands.
For both employers and employees, this offers major benefits: from better integration and greater self-confidence to stronger engagement and long-term commitment to the company.
An example: Dimitri and Thomas on the Zuidas
This week, Dimitri and Thomas, who work for a large international company on the Zuidas, started their Dutch course. At the beginning of every course, we always discuss language goals: what is your motivation and what do you want to achieve in a 30-hour beginner Dutch course? We asked Dimitri and Thomas.
Dimitri: “First of all, I want to be able to manage a little in daily life: order a drink in a café, understand what my neighbours are saying to me, have a chat with my colleagues, etc. I also want to impress my HR manager, hahaha. In any case, I want to reach B1, which is a basic level of Dutch. Beyond that, it depends: if I really enjoy living in the Netherlands, then I want to speak fluently, at C1 level. I don’t want to be an outsider; I want to truly participate in society. How long does that take?”
(Assume around 2 years of lessons)
Thomas: “First, I want to learn basic Dutch so that, for example, I can buy my cheese sandwich in a shop. (We practised this right away during the lesson.) I want to understand what is happening around me. My first goal is A2 — how long does that take?”
(Expect around 60 hours of lessons)
In their very first lesson, Thomas and Dimitri already learned a few simple words and sentences that they can use tomorrow to surprise their Dutch colleagues and neighbours. Humour is essential!
They also subscribed to the Flowently LinkedIn Newsletter, because the latest article was exactly about a topic they had questions about: public transport in the city. What is being announced on the tram, and what is important to know?
Feeling at home in the Netherlands
Language is more than just communication. It is the key to connection. International employees who learn Dutch feel part of society more quickly. They better understand how Dutch people communicate, become familiar with local customs, and find it easier to build social connections outside of work.
When expats understand and speak basic Dutch, it gives them independence and confidence. An expat who feels at home in the Netherlands is often more comfortable, happier, and more settled.
Investing in the future: Small Talk Matters
People who speak the language also better understand what is happening at work. From company news and important announcements to informal conversations during lunch or drinks after work: Dutch helps internationals feel more involved.
A lot of informal communication between Dutch colleagues naturally happens in Dutch. Conversations by the coffee machine really do take place in Dutch. Expats who learn Dutch social small talk feel more part of the team.
Companies that invest in Dutch language training for international employees are investing in collaboration, company culture, and loyalty. In addition, understanding the language contributes to inclusivity within teams. Colleagues understand each other better, communication runs more smoothly, and cultural differences are easier to bridge.
Company Dutch Training for Businesses
Flowently offers Dutch language training for companies, both individually and in groups. With our unique method, we get expats speaking Dutch from lesson one. Our focus is on practical, social language skills and work-related Dutch. We can also prepare your expats for the Civic Integration Exam or the NT2 State Exams.
Would you like your internationals to truly feel at home within your company? Flowently has many creative ideas to strengthen team spirit within your organisation.
Contact us for advice: https://flowently.com/contact-us/
