Moving to a new country is exciting, but let’s be honest, it can also feel isolating. You want to connect, to feel at home, but where do you start? When I lived in South America and Spain, I realized how difficult it can be to truly connect with a new culture. I spoke Spanish fairly well, but in group conversations, people used words and expressions I had never learned from textbooks. It felt like there was an invisible wall between me and those around me. I wanted to join in, but I didn’t know how. The only way to break that wall was to keep pushing myself to engage rather than withdraw. It was challenging, but it gave me a sense of belonging.
That experience shaped the work I do today. For the past ten years, I’ve been teaching Dutch, and for the last five years, I’ve been running Amstel Dutch with a wonderful team. We don’t just teach the language; we help expats understand Dutch culture. Because language is so much more than vocabulary and grammar. It’s the key to understanding the people around you, to feeling part of your environment, and ultimately, to making the Netherlands feel like home.
I see this transformation happen in my classes all the time. At first, many of my students feel uncertain. They don’t always understand the people around them, and they feel like outsiders. But as they learn the language, they also start to grasp the unwritten rules of Dutch culture. They suddenly understand why the Dutch are so direct, how to strike up a casual conversation at a borrel, or why people here are so attached to their agendas. And when that happens, something changes. They start to move differently, literally and figuratively. They feel more at ease, more confident, and they find their own place.
I always tell my students: give yourself time. Learning Dutch isn’t just an intellectual process; it’s also a mental shift. You have to accept that, in the beginning, you’re not the adult you usually are. You’re a toddler learning their first words. And that can actually be freeing. Because once you embrace that beginner’s mindset, something amazing happens. Not only do you start speaking Dutch more naturally, but you also become more open to trying new things. Things you may have hesitated to do before.
And that’s what I love most about language: it gives you an entry point, a way to connect, and ultimately, a way to feel at home.
Phone: +31614194644
info@amsteldutch.com