Dutch

Dutch is spoken by about 25 million people as a first language and 5 million people as a second language, constituting most of the population of the Netherlands and about 60% of the population of Belgium.

Outside the Low Countries, it is the native language of the majority of the population of Suriname where it also holds an official status, as it does in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. In addition, Dutch is one of the official languages of the EU.

One can only truly comprehend the Dutch and Flemish culture if the language is also understood.

The content provided will help you on the journey to learning Dutch.

Flag of netherlands

All Dutch Articles

Imperfect vs Perfect Tense in Dutch The Exact Difference and How to Choose in Real Time Main Image
Dutch

Imperfect vs Perfect Tense in Dutch: The Exact Difference and How to Choose in Real Time

For many English speakers learning Dutch, the past tense is a major hurdle. Why are there two? When you just want to say “I worked,” Dutch forces you to choose between ik werkte and ik heb gewerkt.

English often uses one simple past tense (“I worked,” “I saw,” “I went”) for everything. Dutch, however, forces you to make a distinction every time. You must choose between the imperfect tense and the perfect tense.

This isn’t just a minor grammar point; it changes the entire feel of what you’re saying.

The good news is that the Dutch imperfect vs perfect tense debate isn’t as complex as it looks. There is a core logic to it. This article will give you a simple decision-making model to help you choose the right tense in real time, automatically.

Read More »
Dutch Christmas Food A Festive Path to Fluency Main Image
Dutch

Dutch Christmas Food: A Festive Path to Fluency

Language opens doors, but shared meals walk you through them. In the Netherlands the holiday season is the perfect moment to taste both typical flavours and everyday Dutch in one sitting. Below you’ll find the key dishes, their pronunciation and short sentences you can use at the table—so by the time the candles are lit you will have added a stocking-full of new words to your repertoire.

Read More »
The Dutch days of the week More than just names– A journey through everyday life and culture-Main Image
Dutch

The Dutch days of the week: More than just names– A journey through everyday life and culture

We take the days of the week for granted, so much so that we rarely think about how interesting their names and meanings actually are. If you want to learn Dutch, it’s exciting to learn the days of the week – ‘dagen van de week’ in Dutch – because they tell little stories about culture, history and everyday life. Here we take you on a journey of discovery through the seven Dutch days of the week.

Read More »

Learn Dutch Today With Us

It’s easy to learn a new language with the Tobian Language School. 

Why not check out our Dutch language courses or get in touch to find out more.