Learning Dutch

Guide to Learning Dutch in Rotterdam: Courses, Resources, and Tips

Learning Dutch for latin or Asians speaker may seem challenging, but with the right resources and a good amount of practice, it is completely achievable. In this guide, you will find the best schools, free programs, alternative methods, and tips to integrate the language into your daily life in the Netherlands.

Is It Necessary to Learn Dutch if You Live in the Netherlands?

Although many people in the Netherlands speak English, especially in the Randstad area (where Rotterdam is located), speaking Dutch is key if you plan to live here long-term.

Why should you learn Dutch?

More job opportunities: You will access the local labor market, which offers more stability in the long term.
Bureaucratic procedures: Mortgages, insurance, schools, taxes, and more require understanding the language.
Cultural integration: Knowing the language connects you better with Dutch society.
Avoid extra costs: You won’t have to pay for translations or help with official documents.

If you plan to stay for several years, we recommend getting started as soon as possible.

Studying a new language opens up numerous opportunities

Where to Study Dutch in Rotterdam? Recommended Schools and Courses

Here are some places where you can start learning Dutch:

ABC Dutch Rotterdam: A very popular language school for expatriates who want to learn Dutch quickly. You will meet people from all over the world and gain fluency in Dutch rapidly. Classes are held during the day or in the evening. Small groups and highly professional teachers. Join ABC Dutch to improve your job opportunities in the Netherlands.

ABC Dutch Rotterdam: Located at Vijverhofstraat 47, a ten-minute walk from the Central Train Station. Visit their website at this link.

Beter in Taal: This academy has a couple of locations offering Dutch classes, one in North Rotterdam and another in South Rotterdam.

The classes are free and prepare you for the Dutch diploma and the “inburgering” (exam required to become a permanent resident or Dutch citizen).

People with a European passport do not need to take this exam. Visit their website at this link.

Nuestra Casa Foundation: This Rotterdam-based association supports Spanish speakers. They assist women in need, provide legal help, and offer companionship to the elderly.

Among the many activities they organize, they offer Dutch courses to help integrate into the country’s culture. The association mainly works with volunteers. Drop by Nuestra Casa on a Thursday morning, and you will surely be welcome.

Nuestra Casa Foundation: Verbraakstraat 23. Tram nº 8, Soetendaalseweg stop. Visit their website at this link.

UPB: School offering classes in several languages at multiple levels with native teachers. They provide private and group lessons, intensive courses, online classes, and courses for children.

Una Paloma Blanca: Walenburgerweg 3. Ten minutes on foot from Central Station. Visit their website at this link.

Taalhuis Rotterdam: The central library of Rotterdam organizes Dutch courses every year for immigrants who want to improve their language skills. A basic level of Dutch comprehension is required.

There are various levels to improve writing, reading, and speaking. They organize two daily sessions of one and a half hours in the morning and afternoon, and the courses are free.

They will advise on other options to continue studying the language and websites you can visit to learn faster. Visit the first floor of the library for more information during weekdays.

Centrale Bibliotheek Rotterdam: Hoogstraat 110. Metro Blaak.

Practice your Dutch in Rotterdam with Walking and Talking

Alternative Methods to Learn Dutch in Rotterdam

Walking and Talking: A great initiative by two women living in Rotterdam. They meet a couple of days a week in the evening and organize walking tours around Rotterdam.

They take a group of foreigners who want to practice Dutch and divide them into pairs or trios. Every twenty minutes you change partners, so you practice your sentences, get used to speaking Dutch, meet new people, and discover some city secrets.

We’ve joined them for a walk, and they are highly recommended. Visit their website at this link.

Albeda College: They offer beginner Dutch courses subsidized by the municipality. Classes are held in the morning and afternoon. You can earn a diploma through them, which will open doors to job opportunities.

Albeda College: Baljuwstraat 2. Ten minutes on foot from Central Station. Visit their website at this link.

Another way to learn Dutch is to find an elderly person who is alone and needs company.

They will be happy to spend an hour a day teaching you the language and sharing friendship. Maybe you can contact elderly people who spend the day at the library.

You can also volunteer in local organizations such as hospitals, libraries, festivals, or sports clubs. You will expand your social life and integrate faster.

There’s no choice but to work hard on your Dutch

Other Centers and Resources to Learn Dutch

Instituto Regina Coeli: Founded by the Canonesses of St. Augustine in Vught. The Regina Coeli Language Institute helps people from different countries learn new languages and is a well-established institution in the Netherlands.

They offer intensive courses in several languages, and their method helps people learn faster than at a regular school. The courses last one week, from 8 am to 7 pm, focusing on conversation, reading, and Dutch comprehension.

Classes are taught by highly qualified native teachers. Accommodation and meals are included. Some international companies include these courses as a benefit for employees, mostly for management positions. Prices exceed €5,000 per week.

You can also negotiate this when leaving a company as part of your severance package, using the excuse of improving your chances in the Dutch job market.

Highly recommended. Visit their website at this link.

Academia Holandesa: A school in Madrid where native teachers teach Dutch and Dutch cultural aspects. They offer both in-person and online courses, including summer courses, to learn Dutch before arriving in the Netherlands.

Visit their website for more information at this link.

Practical Tips to Learn Dutch Faster

Watch TV and listen to the radio in Dutch.
Read children’s books or comics to start.
Listen to Dutch podcasts or music.
Do language exchange: Spanish for Dutch.
Practice daily, even if it’s only 15 minutes.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. It’s part of the process!
In this section you can see some basic Dutch phrases.

Things to Consider When Arriving in the Netherlands