Why do you hear so much English in some Dutch cities?
Share on social media:
You place an order in Dutch, but receive a response in English. Or you hear people speaking English on the train, on the street or in a café. This happens especially often in big cities. Why is that?
People from many different countries live in large cities
As of 1 January 2026, more than 3.1 million people living in the Netherlands were born outside the country. That is about 17 percent of the population. People from many different backgrounds live in large cities in particular.
Not all of them speak Dutch or the same
Many international students study in the Netherlands
International students also play a role. In the 2025–2026 academic year, 129,764 international students were enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s programme at a Dutch
That is why, especially in university towns, you hear different languages and English as a common language.
So English is not just used to talk to people from England or the United States. It is also a language that people from different countries use to communicate with one another.
Dutch is a minor language internationally
Dutch is also spoken outside the Netherlands, but much less widely internationally than, for example, English, French or Spanish. Therefore, Dutch people usually cannot expect people in other countries to speak Dutch.
For centuries, the Netherlands has had extensive contact with other parts of the world. Starting in the 17th century, international trade grew significantly, and the Netherlands also became a colonial power. The Netherlands was a country that exercised power over other territories and the people living there.
In several Dutch colonies, Dutch did not become the common language of the entire population. In the Dutch East Indies - now Indonesia - for example, the language remained associated with the colonial administration, education and certain groups in society.
For the Netherlands, other languages therefore remained important for international relations. Especially in the 20th century, English increasingly took on that role. English became important worldwide in trade, science, technology and popular culture.
Dutch people learn English at school and through the media
English is a required subject in primary school. Pupils also take English classes in secondary school.
But the Dutch do not just learn English in school. English-language movies and TV shows are usually not dubbed into Dutch. People hear the original English voices and often read Dutch subtitles.
Many Dutch people are also exposed to English from a young age through music, video games, YouTube and social media.
Dutch people generally speak English well
The Netherlands ranks highly in international studies on English proficiency. As a result, many Dutch people find it easy to use English when someone does not speak Dutch.
Dutch people also sometimes use English words or phrases when speaking Dutch with each other. Young people, in particular, are exposed to a lot of English through social media, video games, music and movies.
English is useful, but Dutch remains important
Still, Dutch remains important if you live in the Netherlands for an extended period of time. For many jobs and educational programmes, Dutch is important or required. The language also helps you communicate with colleagues, neighbours and your child’s school, for example.
Sometimes you try to speak Dutch, but someone immediately replies in English. Often, that person is just trying to make the conversation easier for you. Do you actually want to practice Dutch? Then you can say:
"Kunnen we Nederlands praten? Ik wil graag oefenen." (Can we speak Dutch? I would like to practice.)