A Guide to Workplace Communication
The Dutch are known for speaking excellent English. But when they switch to English at work to include international colleagues, something unexpected can happen: they may sound rude without even realizing it. The reason? A few tiny words that make a big difference.
The Mountain Next Door
Imagine growing up next to Table Mountain in Cape Town. Would you climb it every weekend? Probably not. When something is always around, you hardly notice it. Language works the same way. Dutch speakers use little words without thinking about them. Only when learning another language do you discover how much these seemingly insignificant words actually matter.
International colleagues sometimes describe Dutch communication in English as blunt, demanding or even rude. A simple request can sound like an order.
What international colleagues say:
“When Dutch people need something, they can be so direct that they sound rude or irritated.”“Asking you to do something can feel more like an order than a polite request.”“Sometimes I feel genuinely offended by the way my Dutch colleagues speak to me. I realize it may be a cultural habit, but I do my best to accept it.”
So, what goes wrong?
Polyglot James Bond
We all know James Bond, the ultimate international gentleman. In Germany, he speaks German; in France, French; in Spain, Spanish; and in Italy, Italian. But in the Netherlands? He speaks English! The Dutch grow up watching James Bond, Superman and countless other English-speaking heroes. No wonder they speak English so well. But here’s the catch: the Dutch speak excellent English, but don’t always speak it kind and polite enough.
Dutch has its own collection of little words that soften everyday communication: even, eens, maar, misschien and hoor. When Dutch speakers switch to English, these words often disappear — and so does some of their politeness.
The Case of Margarita
Margarita, an expat from Brazil, nearly quit her job over a communication misunderstanding. During an English-language meeting, her Dutch manager asked, “You take notes?”
To him, it was an ordinary question. To Margarita, it sounded like a command. In Dutch, he would probably have said “Kun jij even notuleren?” or “Zou jij misschien even kunnen notuleren?” Not translating the “even” and “misschien’. Could you please take notes?
Words like even and misschien soften a request. They don’t literally mean please, but they function like please and make it sound less direct. Without them, the English translation can come across as much harsher than intended. Fortunately, a colleague explained the misunderstanding. Margarita realized her manager wasn’t trying to be rude, and she stayed.
A Little Word Goes a Long Way
For the Dutch: Try going 24 hours without using even, eens, maar, misschien or hoor. You’ll soon discover how much more abrupt your Dutch sounds!
Understanding these cultural differences helps international colleagues avoid unnecessary frustration and helps Dutch professionals communicate more warmly and effectively. After all, nobody wants to lose a talented colleague over a few missing words.
Practical Tips for International Teams
- Dutch professionals: Channel your inner Dutch kindness. Practice phrases like “Could you please…?” and “Would you mind…?”
- International colleagues: Remember that direct communication doesn’t necessarily mean bad intentions.
- Companies and HR teams: Flowently offers tailored Business English courses and intercultural workshops to help international teams communicate and collaborate more effectively.
- Expats: Learn social, practical Dutch with Flowently and discover how locals really speak. We provide corporate Dutch courses for groups and individuals. Including CI and NT2 preparation.
Shaken or stirred? I’ll have a beer, please! Doe mij maar een biertje!
Remember: sometimes, a little maar goes a long way.
