Amsterdam Language: What language do they speak in Amsterdam?
Want to know what the main Amsterdam language is? You’re in the right place.
Amsterdam is one of the most popular cities in Europe to visit. Whether it’s the stunning canals, the abundance of attractions or a certain leaf which attracts you to Amsterdam, you’re guaranteed to have the trip of a lifetime.
But many people wonder what language is spoken in Amsterdam.
It’s an important question to ask before visiting, as you need to know what language to use on Google Translate, or what language to learn some basic phrases in.
Luckily for you, I’m a full-time traveller and I’ve visited Amsterdam more than once so I’ve created this ultimate guide to Amsterdam’s languages.
So without further ado, let’s explore the linguistic side of the Dutch capital.
Amsterdam Language
There is only one official language in the Netherlands, which Amsterdam is the capital city of. Therefore, there’s only one official language in Amsterdam.
The official language of Amsterdam is Dutch.
Dutch is the original and native language of the Netherlands, it’s where the language originated. You might have guessed this since people from the Netherlands are known as “Dutch”.
It’s also spoken in some other countries that the Dutch used to rule, such as Aruba, Suriname and Dutch is actually spoken in Brussels and other parts of Belgium.
As a language, Dutch is somewhat similar to German. Some people even think Amsterdam is in Germany– it’s not.
Both languages are a West Germanic language, which categorises the way things are pronounced and spelt. English is also a West Germanic language.
Dutch is a pretty fun language to learn, and even though it’s not the most popular language in the world, it’s still a useful tool to have. As a random example, I like the Dutch word for squirrel. It’s “Eekhoorn”. I think it perfectly summarises the unique letter patterns and pronunciation you get in the Dutch language.
Even though Dutch is the only official language in Amsterdam, there are of course other languages spoken throughout the city. After all, 180 nationalities call Amsterdam their home.
Some other languages you might hear when visiting Amsterdam are German, French, Turkish and Arabic. Arabic is a particularly common foreign language in the city as there are large numbers of Moroccan people who immigrate to the Netherlands and Amsterdam.
English is the most common second language spoken in Amsterdam, but I will move on to that topic shortly.
To summarise, the official Amsterdam language is Dutch.
Do they speak English in Amsterdam?
Yes, English is spoken very widely in Amsterdam. Although it’s not an official language in Amsterdam, it’s been widely adopted as a lingua franca, which is an unofficial language which is used by all of the locals.
Speaking statistically, the people of Amsterdam scored an EF EPI score of 73.65. When you average the score across the population of all the cities and towns and villages in the Netherlands, it works out that the Netherlands is the top-English speaking country outside the Anglosphere.
English is taught from a very young age in the Netherlands. You can even take university courses in Amsterdam which are taught in English. This is the case in Zürich too where the language isn’t officially English, but is widely spoken.
So yes, the English language is spoken by nearly every single person in Amsterdam, which makes it super easy to visit. Every museum or attraction or sign will usually have an English translation if it’s not in English already.
It’s great as it means you can converse with locals really easily, like with your driver if you take an Uber in Amsterdam.
That being said, making a small effort of learning Dutch basic phrases will not only help you get by, but the local people will appreciate your effort to learn Dutch, the local language. It’s also just a good skill to have- speaking basic phrases in languages.
Even though English is so widely spoken, I would always recommend learning some Dutch.
But to answer the question, whether you are taking a private boat tour of Amsterdam or taking a group walking tour, you’ll be able to converse in English without any problems.
Useful phrases to learn before visiting Amsterdam
You might not ever need to use Dutch in Amsterdam, but it will put a smile on the locals’ faces. Something as simple as saying thank you in Dutch rather than English goes a long way. “It’s the small things that count” as the saying goes. So here are 10 basic phrases that I suggest taking 15 minutes to learn before visiting Amsterdam.
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hallo |
| Goodbye | Tot ziens |
| Please | Alsjeblieft |
| Thank you | Bedankt |
| Yes | Ja |
| No | Nee |
| How are you? | Hoe is het? |
| Excuse me | Pardon |
| I don’t understand | Ik begrijp het niet |
| Where is…? | Waar is…? |
As you can see, some words are quite fun to say. As someone who only really speaks English fluently (I do dabble in some Spanish on Duolingo before trips), I appreciate that some phrases are similar to English words. “How are you?” for example, is really easy for me to pronounce.
But don’t worry if your pronunciation is a bit wrong, the Dutch have a good sense of humour and will laugh it off and appreciate you trying to speak their local language. It’s a really fulfilling feeling speaking the local language, even if it is only something as simple as Bedankt.
Amsterdam Language: FAQ
Below are some questions related to the official Amsterdam language along with my answers.
The only official language in Amsterdam and throughout the Netherlands is Dutch. English is also very widely spoken- the Netherlands is the most proficient English-speaking country where English is not the first language. You can get by with just English if you are visiting, or even living, in Amsterdam.
Yes, it’s definitely ok to speak English in Amsterdam. English has become a lingua franca in the Netherlands, and nearly every person speaks at least some English. So it’s definitely fine to visit Amsterdam only speaking English.
Of course, you should try and speak Dutch in Amsterdam! Even though English is extremely well-spoken in Amsterdam, making the effort to learn and speak some Dutch is a fulfilling feeling. The Dutch people appreciate your efforts, and learning a new language is a good skill to have. Something as simple as saying thank you in Dutch goes a long way.
There are lots of reasons why English is spoken in Amsterdam. It’s taught from a young age, Amsterdammers don’t dub English shows into Dutch…they watch the English version, there are some similarities between English and Dutch, and lots of other reasons contribute to the high percentage of English spoken in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam Language: Conclusion
And that’s a wrap! A complete guide to the Amsterdam language, or languages.
Remember, the only official language in Amsterdam is Dutch.
But you will hear so many other languages spoken in the city, most commonly English which is spoken by almost everyone in Amsterdam.
That being said, it’s a nice gesture to learn some basic phrases in Dutch.
Whether you choose to practise some Dutch or stick to English, enjoy your trip to Amsterdam. It’s a special place to visit. 🙂
