Want to improve your Dutch while exploring Amsterdam’s art scene? At Flowently, we believe language learning should be about more than grammar and vocabulary. It’s about discovering new things, sharing opinions and having real conversations!
That’s why I invited my student Duane to FOAM, Amsterdam’s renowned photography museum, for a Dutch lesson with a creative twist.
After lessons in cafés and online, it was time for something different. Duane had already visited the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum and Stedelijk Museum. Now we were exploring FOAM, housed in a beautiful historic building on the elegant Keizersgracht.
Art: The Perfect Conversation Starter
Duane’s Dutch is at B2 level. He can read and write about complex topics, and now it’s time to put those skills into practice. What better way to practice Dutch conversation than discussing art? Whether you find an exhibition fascinating, beautiful, confusing or downright bizarre, there’s always something to say!
Talking about art helps you express opinions, explain ideas and discover new adjectives. You’ll expand your Dutch vocabulary while learning to speak more naturally and confidently. And you don’t need to be an art expert. Curiosity is enough!
“Please Take Off Your Shoes!”
We start with a hot drink in the museum café before exploring the exhibitions. In the first room, a sign catches our attention: we’re asked to remove our shoes before entering Blessings from Mousganistan.
Looking a little sheepish at our colorful socks, we realize we’re standing on a work of art incorporated into the carpet! Artist Mous Lamrabat challenges us to see familiar images and symbols differently. Through playful photography, he explores themes such as religion, racism and women’s rights.
What do you think of his photographs? What message do you see? And how would you explain your opinion in Dutch? These questions turn a museum visit into a meaningful language-learning experience.
Is It Art?
Back in the museum café, Duane and I discuss what we’ve seen.
Fascinerend! Maar is het kunst? (Fascinating! But is it art?)
For me, art doesn’t have to be beautiful. It can challenge our assumptions, deepen our understanding of history and make us think about the world around us. Wat vind jij? (What do you think?)
Learn Dutch Through Art & Culture
At Flowently, we combine Dutch lessons with real-life experiences to help you speak more confidently and naturally.
Ready to practice Dutch while discovering Amsterdam’s art scene? Book a Flowently session with Topic Art, design & innovation and let’s explore, discuss and learn together—in Dutch!
By Nathalie Ezendam Keller
