Amsterdam Coffeeshop Directory Forums

I dont want to come across as ignorant to anyone, so should I learn some basic dutch to help me along, or will english do just fine?

nearly everyone can speak english m8, you,ll be ok

Good! 'cos i'm shit at learning languages anyway, nevermind being high as fuck trying to speak a hard language to learn haha

well I always think it is polite to learn a few basic phrases when going to a different country, perhaps I'm weird in that regard though

Rufus wrote:well I always think it is polite to learn a few basic phrases when going to a different country, perhaps I'm weird in that regard though

No see i'm the same, every country i've visited i've always learnt a few phrases to help me along, but (being ignorant) I gathered most of the tourist's would be english, therefore everyone would be english speaking!

Rufus wrote:well I always think it is polite to learn a few basic phrases when going to a different country, perhaps I'm weird in that regard though

Yeah im with you on that one ! you being weird i mean only jokin im the same ! i think its only good manners to learn some words even just Thanks , please , good bye !!

I agree with your ethos but for Amsterdam I advise against it.

You won't be easily understood unless you understand the pronunciation. Everyone will speak in English back to you.

If you want to learn the culture then I do recommend it. Amazingly close to English.

wietroker wrote:
You won't be easily understood unless you understand the pronunciation. Everyone will speak in English back to you.

speak for yourself...

roker wrote:

wietroker wrote:
You won't be easily understood unless you understand the pronunciation. Everyone will speak in English back to you.

speak for yourself...

As a tourist with lousy pronunciation and barely knowing a handful of words, using this in the centre - absolutely 95% of people will speak English back in this situation.

Don't worry, I don't need you to speak for me or anyone else

wietroker wrote:
As a tourist with lousy pronunciation and barely knowing a handful of words, using this in the centre - absolutely 95% of people will speak English back in this situation.

Absolute nonsense...if that were the case then I wouldn't speak it fluently with hardly an accent...Maybe YOUR pronunciation is not up to scratch, but don't try to say it's the same for everyone...It makes me laugh, some people spend a few months or weeks in Holland and immediately become 'experts' and think they know everything, pontificating and blowing hot air...It's statements like yours that will deter everyone from even trying, I find that plain wrong!

I'm not picking a fight with you, just giving my opinion...

roker wrote:

wietroker wrote:
As a tourist with lousy pronunciation and barely knowing a handful of words, using this in the centre - absolutely 95% of people will speak English back in this situation.

Absolute nonsense...if that were the case then I wouldn't speak it fluently with hardly an accent...Maybe YOUR pronunciation is not up to scratch, but don't try to say it's the same for everyone...It makes me laugh, some people spend a few months or weeks in Holland and immediately become 'experts' and think they know everything, pontificating and blowing hot air...It's statements like yours that will deter everyone from even trying, I find that plain wrong!

I'm not picking a fight with you, just giving my opinion...

Not at all, au contraire mon ami, I encourage people to learn.

But for the average tourist, I still maintain there is little point to it and also fewer opportunities to practice compared to other countries.

What I say is not nonsense at all. Don't assume it is based on my own experience, it is based on the experiences of many with whom I have spoken to. If anything, you should not assume that your own experience is the norm.

lol, now I'm a pontificator, think I know everything and am blowing hot air? Take a look in the mirror mate

Thanks for calling me an expert though

The last line you slipped in there is at total odds with everything you wrote above it.

I'm not picking a fight with you, just giving my opinion...

Maybe I was a little harsh...we'll have to agree to differ...if somebody asks me whether it's worth learning a little Dutch, I'd say wholeheartedly YES! go for it...

roker wrote:Maybe I was a little harsh...we'll have to agree to differ...if somebody asks me whether it's worth learning a little Dutch, I'd say wholeheartedly YES! go for it...

I can understand your enthusiasm though. Don't get me wrong, when I said not to bother, it is not like when most people say "don't bother everyone speaks English".

But I think a more positive experience follows if you go to France and use a few words of French, for example. Rather than Dutch in Amsterdam. Efforts may not be rewarded, relatively speaking.

I agree, learn Dutch. It is a cool language. Maybe you can drop here some essential words to learn for coffeeshop-goers? I only know a few and would like to know some myself.

heb je voor mij een grammetje Silver? have you for me a gram of Silver?

Doe maar een jointje white widow graag...WW joint please

Ik wil dat mijn hoofd ontploft, vijf gram bubble hasj als je blieft...I want my head to explode, 5 grams bubble hash please...


should keep them going for now...

cisco wrote:

Rufus wrote:well I always think it is polite to learn a few basic phrases when going to a different country, perhaps I'm weird in that regard though

Yeah im with you on that one ! you being weird i mean

Ah Cisco, excuse me, you wanna say that to my face?? In fact nah, join the queue lots of people think it