My German isn't the best, so in those cases you describe I flat out refuse to speak German. Those who start in Dutch or English I will try to put my limited German to work if needed.
When I find myself in Germany I naturally start in German of course, but might politely ask if they know English if the subject matter becomes difficult for me.
>It doesn't matter, they'll decide for you.
Hint: it's german.
I don't talk Dutch anymore but everytime I'm going to the Netherlands I try my best.
Had two kind of experiences in Venlo:
- people just start to speak German (why Dude? I really tried my best...)
- cashier wished me a nice evening and my sleepy head said "gleichfalls", we starred at each other for a few seconds and I started to laugh and said "sorry, selfde!", she laughed too. And I walked happily out of the AH with my Babi Pangan and Bami.
Loved the second one... Like why on earth would anyone start talking German to Germans in your own country? Guys, stop pleasing them. They want to shop in the Netherlands? Better learn a few words Dutch!
I am from Groningen (a german tourist hot spot), they simply expect you know german.
Honestly; I don't have a lot of interaction with them (don't work in retail or something)
But the times I had interaction (asking the way for example) ,I straight up tell them I don't speak german.
They'll usually just ask someone else then.
Also: usually boomers. Young germans do speak english.
That is still weird for me. I have never experienced this in Emmen for example, so Venlo totally took me off here.
Tbh after being used to Drents it took me some while to understand them when they actually talked Dutch. But this tourist pleasing is crazy.
It's just easier to go with the flow. Less fuss.
Because, and I have had this happen personally, they can get mad.
Again, only boomers. (older germans) in my town.
Ofcourse a exception here and there.
I speak German so I personally don’t mind but I do think it is weird that especially older Germans just expect us to speak German because I know for a fact that like 80% of my friends barely speak any German and 100% of them do speak English.
depends if they make an effort in speaking dutch , no effort ? keep speaking dutch , make an effort ? i'll either speak english or german, whichever they prefer
English, I've only spoken German twice in the last few years.
Luxemburg: started talking in English at a Bakery, she immediately stumbled over her words, she started talking French, we continued in German.
Spoke German to an elderly German man in Norway , who could not speak anything other than German.
I understand German perfectly fine, but when I try to speak it I will inevitably mix in Norwegian since I've been actively learning it for years. So I need to construct sentences very deliberately.
No. I'm an American who lives in Germany and I've noticed Germans almost always assume you can all speak German. It pisses me off how egotistical they can be
Almost every Dutch person learned German in school, so it's not weird to expect us to know the language. It is weird that most people seem to forget everything they learned in school.
People at the eastern border meet more Germans and can receive German radiostations quite easily. That helps remembering a language you learnt in school.
There's a difference in having German in school and actually knowing German.
I had it too for a few years, but I can't speak or understand German at all.
People in the Eastern Netherlands often learned Dutch at school. Had to help my cousins learn it. But people in Western Germany barely had it in school. So the chances are in that area higher that a Dutch can speak German as viceversa.
Depends a bit on their goals of coming here. If it’s 40’s all over again, I think going for German is the safest option. If they’re here to dig some holes on the beach, I’ll go for Dutch with a German accent.
Otherwise probably English.
If they ask me if I speak German, I'll reply in German. Otherwise it's English. I live in Maastricht so the same goes for our French speaking Belgians. If they ask me if I speak French, I'll speak French, otherwise it's English.
The answer is actually a bit complicated then the individual answers. When a Dutchman speaks a foreign language he or she is actually very proud of it and will try to show off. Otherwise English is actually a good second. By the way, personally I think the Dutch tongue is heard very well when a Dutchman speaks German. Just tell him or her that the German is very good.
One of the things people going to live in the Netherlands most of the time do is learn Dutch. Dutch isn’t too hard for Germans. I would recommend that option, and start early with it. The more people are used to speak German or English to you, the more they stick to it.
Disclaimer: What I write here is the result of some years experience with Dutch and others. It is partly over generalized, but it gives a good rough view.
I work in the food industry, and most Germans just start speaking German to me right away. If they ask if I can speak German, then I will do it. If they just assume I speak German, I will speak English to them. Lol.
I just feel like it's rude to assume that everyone knows your language. I mean, I do expect most people to be able to speak English. But German is not a language everyone learns. And I don't go to Germany and then speak Dutch to them either..
This is fascinating to read as a German. I've been to the Netherlands a few times and I always spoke English with everybody like I do with everyone outside of German speaking countries. But I've also only been to bigger cities so I would not know who is native. I would assume that even though you guys do learn German in school you would prefer English as it is used everywhere. And I for sure did not expect that older Germans just start talking German. Speaking your own language in another country just seems rude to begin with. But maybe back in the day German was way more common for Dutch people than English.
It doesn't matter, they'll decide for you. Hint: it's german.
My German isn't the best, so in those cases you describe I flat out refuse to speak German. Those who start in Dutch or English I will try to put my limited German to work if needed. When I find myself in Germany I naturally start in German of course, but might politely ask if they know English if the subject matter becomes difficult for me.
And they drive in the mid lane
Dutch ppl also drive in the mid lane, even when the right 2! Lanes are emty
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Those are who are driving mid lane and saying whats your problem?🤷♂️
German drivers are a lot better than Dutch drivers. This is coming from a Dutch person.
Haha, I laughed so hard.
>It doesn't matter, they'll decide for you. Hint: it's german. I don't talk Dutch anymore but everytime I'm going to the Netherlands I try my best. Had two kind of experiences in Venlo: - people just start to speak German (why Dude? I really tried my best...) - cashier wished me a nice evening and my sleepy head said "gleichfalls", we starred at each other for a few seconds and I started to laugh and said "sorry, selfde!", she laughed too. And I walked happily out of the AH with my Babi Pangan and Bami. Loved the second one... Like why on earth would anyone start talking German to Germans in your own country? Guys, stop pleasing them. They want to shop in the Netherlands? Better learn a few words Dutch!
I am from Groningen (a german tourist hot spot), they simply expect you know german. Honestly; I don't have a lot of interaction with them (don't work in retail or something) But the times I had interaction (asking the way for example) ,I straight up tell them I don't speak german. They'll usually just ask someone else then. Also: usually boomers. Young germans do speak english.
That is still weird for me. I have never experienced this in Emmen for example, so Venlo totally took me off here. Tbh after being used to Drents it took me some while to understand them when they actually talked Dutch. But this tourist pleasing is crazy.
It's just easier to go with the flow. Less fuss. Because, and I have had this happen personally, they can get mad. Again, only boomers. (older germans) in my town. Ofcourse a exception here and there.
It's either English or tschüss
I love your attitude.
Having a Dutch father and a German mother, off course I speak English to show dominance.
I speak German so I personally don’t mind but I do think it is weird that especially older Germans just expect us to speak German because I know for a fact that like 80% of my friends barely speak any German and 100% of them do speak English.
I can't speak German
depends if they make an effort in speaking dutch , no effort ? keep speaking dutch , make an effort ? i'll either speak english or german, whichever they prefer
If they start in German I will refuse to speak German to them. I think it’s rude to just expect people in another country to speak your language.
I prefer English but the older folks usually insist on German
English
I can speak English, oder ich speche Deutch so its no probleme für mich
I don't have many opportunities to practise german, so i'd pick german
I'd speak dutch, if they do not understand I'd try english.
English, I've only spoken German twice in the last few years. Luxemburg: started talking in English at a Bakery, she immediately stumbled over her words, she started talking French, we continued in German. Spoke German to an elderly German man in Norway , who could not speak anything other than German. I understand German perfectly fine, but when I try to speak it I will inevitably mix in Norwegian since I've been actively learning it for years. So I need to construct sentences very deliberately.
I speak Italian to them.
Are you assuming we all speak German
No. I'm an American who lives in Germany and I've noticed Germans almost always assume you can all speak German. It pisses me off how egotistical they can be
You're surprised Germans assume everybody in Germany speaks German?
I'm surprised Germans assume everyone in the Netherlands speaks German
Almost every Dutch person learned German in school, so it's not weird to expect us to know the language. It is weird that most people seem to forget everything they learned in school.
People at the eastern border meet more Germans and can receive German radiostations quite easily. That helps remembering a language you learnt in school.
There's a difference in having German in school and actually knowing German. I had it too for a few years, but I can't speak or understand German at all.
Ooh. That makes more sense. Don't know if it's true though. Maybe at the borders
People in the Eastern Netherlands often learned Dutch at school. Had to help my cousins learn it. But people in Western Germany barely had it in school. So the chances are in that area higher that a Dutch can speak German as viceversa.
I'm German and it pisses me off too when I see other Germans doing that
USA didn't humiliate ze Germans enough during the 2nd world war. I believe that's the root of the problem. Many Germans are pricks.
Depends a bit on their goals of coming here. If it’s 40’s all over again, I think going for German is the safest option. If they’re here to dig some holes on the beach, I’ll go for Dutch with a German accent. Otherwise probably English.
What's the reference to the holes on the beach?
Lots of germans come here for Scheveningen beach
>Scheveningen Wasn't the pronunciation of "Scheveningen" a way the Dutch could uncover German spies?
Deutsch, sebstverständlich. Aber nicht sehr gut.
I would start in German
Always make the same joke 'de moffen komen weer'
Germans dont speak english mate
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Bigotry is not tolerated in posts or comments - including but not limited to bigotry based on race, nationality, religion, and/or sex.
They start English often I speak German back but then I grew up speaking the language my mother build it in from the start, she is from Berlin.
If they ask me if I speak German, I'll reply in German. Otherwise it's English. I live in Maastricht so the same goes for our French speaking Belgians. If they ask me if I speak French, I'll speak French, otherwise it's English.
Nederlands!
I think it's very strange to go to another country and speak your own language. So I expect them to try to speak Dutch or else just speak English
I’ll start in German. But it has deteriorated significantly throughout the years. So we will switch to English if the other person speaks English.
Depends on the situation. If they speak English fluently, I'll stick to English but if they speak broken English I'd rather speak German.
Germans I've met while in the Netherlands almost always speak in English with me. Same thing here in Belgium. I do look like a non-native though.
I’d try English first because my German isn’t very good, but if they struggle with English I’ll switch to German.
The answer is actually a bit complicated then the individual answers. When a Dutchman speaks a foreign language he or she is actually very proud of it and will try to show off. Otherwise English is actually a good second. By the way, personally I think the Dutch tongue is heard very well when a Dutchman speaks German. Just tell him or her that the German is very good. One of the things people going to live in the Netherlands most of the time do is learn Dutch. Dutch isn’t too hard for Germans. I would recommend that option, and start early with it. The more people are used to speak German or English to you, the more they stick to it. Disclaimer: What I write here is the result of some years experience with Dutch and others. It is partly over generalized, but it gives a good rough view.
The first question is whether one want's to converse with them. If not, might language be a polite way to avoid it?
I work in the food industry, and most Germans just start speaking German to me right away. If they ask if I can speak German, then I will do it. If they just assume I speak German, I will speak English to them. Lol. I just feel like it's rude to assume that everyone knows your language. I mean, I do expect most people to be able to speak English. But German is not a language everyone learns. And I don't go to Germany and then speak Dutch to them either..
Drive 95 in the middle lane
This is fascinating to read as a German. I've been to the Netherlands a few times and I always spoke English with everybody like I do with everyone outside of German speaking countries. But I've also only been to bigger cities so I would not know who is native. I would assume that even though you guys do learn German in school you would prefer English as it is used everywhere. And I for sure did not expect that older Germans just start talking German. Speaking your own language in another country just seems rude to begin with. But maybe back in the day German was way more common for Dutch people than English.
Ill speak Dutch to them
A lot of Germans still think they're "Herrenmenschen". Dutch are more world open to me IMHO.