language/nationalities - liked more/less by the dutch??

[Nestaman]

Hello,

I am from Vienna/Austria and will go to Amsterdam from Nov7th-9th.

As I am Austrian I speak German, but also very good english.

I know that most of the dutch people understand german and many of them also can speak german.

I wonder if I should speak english only in coffeeshops, or can I ask to speak german ?

A Friend has told me that most of the dutch unfortunatelly make no difference in german/austrians, they might think austria is kind of a part of germany, or with other words that we are all the same ...
don't get me wrong, I personally have no problems with germans but on the other side I don't want to be handled as a german when I am not ...

so what do you think in generall which nationality is not that popular in amsterdam?
I mean I know at the end it comes up to the person itself and you can't say ALL dutch dislike germans same as you can't say ALL english hates the irish (as I know personally)
In another thread here I have read that a french person had to convince a bouncer she is NOT english before she was allowed to enter the coffeeshop ...

to get to the point I would like to know if it would bring up disatvantages if I try to start conversations in german?

[Tall Guy]

You speak German in Australia? sorry, couldn't resist...

I don't think anybody gives a damn where you come from in Amsterdam - a lot of workers aren't Dutch anyway, and I think the type of people who gravitate towards coffeeshops are mostly open-minded. We're all Europeans now, mein bruder!

[Tall Guy]

And FYI, nobody can tell the difference between Germans/Austrians/Swiss, it's not just the Dutch!

[Nestaman]

yeah, of course you are right...

as "in general" there is a quite traditional rivalry between the dutch and germans (even this is most based on football I think..) I was only worrying if it could be a personal disatvantage being treated as a german (as of course you can't expect the dutch figuring the difference in german to austrian accent ... )

I believe I shouldn't bother too much on how to communicate in such a "open minded" city ...
I guess those worries are literally "blown" away straight after lighting a joint in the first coffeeshop ....

[Nestaman]

And FYI, nobody can tell the difference between Germans/Austrians/Swiss, it's not just the Dutch!

..... aaaaarrrrrggghh ...... I am aware of that .... but it still hurts


kind of the same when people here in austria calling Ireland a part of great britain ....

[Tall Guy]

I know an Oesterreicher in Thailand called Herbert, and everyone calls him "Hermann the German"...man he must hate that.

Personally, I've found our Deutsche cousins, and Austrians to be amongst the friendliest of all nations. It's like they try that bit harder because of our past er....differences.

[Nestaman]

thanks tall guy, such words are nice to hear...

and yeah I can imagine herbert doesn't like to be called hermann even every day and even more as there was this german guy hermann goering which I think is not described as the nicest person in most of history books ... (which is good so)

however, I think we are going too off topic now

again, danke fuer das kompliment.

[cheese]

this is sorta off topic.. but i had a german shepherd named herman... and everyone used to call him herman the german

[DC]

Football rivalry?. Try occupation during WWII. This'll be the reason any germans get any attitude, to avoid it speak english and you'll just get the 'tourist' attitude.

[FlyByNite]

I am from Vienna/Austria and will go to Amsterdam from Nov7th-9th.

I have posted you on the November Whos In Town page. Have a grand adventure.

[geoffk]

Don't sweat it. Your'e a tourist no matter what language you speak and best of all your'e on vacation. If you get some slack from speaking German or English fuck 'em, they don't deserve your business. Remember every individual is their own ambassador, so the only thing that counts is the way you carry yourself. You can't represent your whole country, only you. Of course, being polite will go a long way, but that's common sense. Have fun and meet some people.

[Lafe]

Remember every individual is their own ambassador, so the only thing that counts is the way you carry yourself. You can't represent your whole country, only you. Of course, being polite will go a long way, but that's common sense. Have fun and meet some people.

Solid advice.

[HiFolks]

Remember every individual is their own ambassador, so the only thing that counts is the way you carry yourself. You can't represent your whole country, only you. Of course, being polite will go a long way, but that's common sense. Have fun and meet some people.

Solid advice.

Have a great time. We may be going back for the North Sea
Jazz Fest in July 2008.

[freestyler69]

I'm a chinese man who speaks english (of course they don't know if i'm chinese/korean/japanese/thai/vietnamese/cambodian/taiwanese, Burmese and what else.)... i didn't get any problem so far.. why should you?

[HiFolks]

Football rivalry?. Try occupation during WWII. This'll be the reason any germans get any attitude, to avoid it speak english and you'll just get the 'tourist' attitude.

The first coffee shop we went into when we got to Amsterdam, the Budtender told us he like everyone but the Germans. I was in shock
because he was maybe 24 and the war was 60 plus years ago.

The Dutch have very long memory of their history.