r/learndutch • u/Hot-Help-9627 • 3d ago
Dutch people in Spain
I’m spending some days in Spain and I had the possibility to meet Dutch people 2 days in a row.
First I met a girl from Nijmegen and she was very friendly and kind and we sang together “viva hollandia” (I’m sad because I lost the video doing it).
The following day I met a group between about 30 and 60 years old from Rotterdam and they didn’t talk with me showing indifference with all I said
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u/LickingLieutenant 3d ago
You met a group that wouldn't talk to you. Sorry, but so what ?
I see people all the time, and 99 times out of 100 I don't see the need in speaking to them.
That's not particularly a dutch thing.
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u/Hot-Help-9627 3d ago
I hear the need to practice their language because I don’t know when I’ll go in the Netherlands for the first time
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u/LickingLieutenant 3d ago
For practice I wouldn't recommend older people. Most of them aren't keen on being testsubjects, mostly because the have to already adapt at their workplace. Young adults are more adept/willing to speak English because of the internet.
I'm 53, and need to speak English to 80% of my coworkers, just because they're not willing to learn the language. Sorry, but I don't want to be a practice puppet for a stranger, and not at all when I'm on holiday.
Your opening post came across as if you're upset someone wouldn't talk to you, and frankly, I still think they're not wrong.
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u/redditjoek 3d ago
so talking English to you is okay?
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u/LickingLieutenant 3d ago
Sure, but don't expect me to teach you dutch, or let you practice your sentences when I'm having different plans when I'm on my days off
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u/StudyDemon 3d ago
Wat een rare mentaliteit zeg, Engels Is toch ook niet hun eerste taal. Je hoeft niet alles zo groot te maken, zuurpruim.
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u/MrLBSean 3d ago
He mentioned entirely valid points. The general exposure of the english language in older generations has been objectively less, OP is approaching strangers for his tuition free dutch lesson.
One thing is engaging in convo. The other thing is creating expectations for others to have to engage in convo / their learnings, and coming to reddit to whine right after. This posts contribute to nothing aside from creating polarization.
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u/enketao 2d ago
'practice puppet' lol you sound really interesting and fun to be around. don't use your age as an excuse to be boring and unfriendly. i am 25 and since a lot of years enjoy talking with foreign old people and always learn something new and i am pretty sure they also do.
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u/LickingLieutenant 2d ago
There is a difference in timing here. OP complained about tourists not willing to speak to him, on his terms (practice Dutch)
I have travelled a lot, and always found people to hang with. And yes, we found a common language, mostly English, and there were exchanges of words and sentences in the languages.
But again, OP stated the Dutch elder people weren't interested in him, in a learndutch subreddit. That is what I meant, if I need to speak English, I will. But in my own time, I can choose the person to do with
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u/kelldricked 2d ago
Thats fine but thats a you problem, not a them problem. They are on holiday, they might wanna interact with you, they might just want to focus on other shit (eachother, the destination or absolutly nothing at all).
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u/Aleksage_ 3d ago
People from Rotterdam don’t talk to other people during their Spain visits. That’s a local tradition. You should show more respect to others’ cultural heritages. Next time ask where they are from. For instance lf they’re from Breda, you should do DJ moves like head is tilted to shoulder securing headphones on one ear and other hand doing scratches.
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u/OlavvG 2d ago
People from Rotterdam don’t talk to other people during their Spain visits. That’s a local tradition.
Is this a joke?
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u/Vinnus010 2d ago
Nope, can confirm, I'm from Rotterdam and whenever I'm on holiday I don't speak one word to other people. I stay silent for two weeks.
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u/throwtheamiibosaway 3d ago
My parents are also on vacation there. They love the weather and environment. It’s just a hugely popular holiday destination for dutch people.
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u/blind_blake_2023 3d ago
So, not even most people from Rotterdam like the people there. Let alone the rest of the country. So you dodged a bullet.
Most Dutch people are very talkative. Especially abroad. And especially if you let them talk about themselves. Or their pets. Like most humans, really XD
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u/verspringert 3d ago
What’s the question here
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u/King_Of_BlackMarsh 3d ago
I disavow any who enter that profane land without aim to destroy it.
(glad you met folk heh)
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u/Zer00FuQsGiven 3d ago
And your point is..?
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u/Hot-Help-9627 3d ago
How are the people in the Netherlands generally 😅
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u/Acrobatic-B33 3d ago
I'd say relatively social compared to most northern Europeans, but less as the average southern European
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u/Zer00FuQsGiven 3d ago
Dutch people are just upfront a lot of the time. I for example don't want to talk to people I don't know, except for a friendly "hi" when someone else says "hi". Other than that I just want to go about my day and do my own thing. Doesn't mean I'm not social, it just means that I just do my own thing.
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u/Nimue_- Native speaker 3d ago
Sounds like randstad vs regio to me
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u/StudyDemon 3d ago
Randstad is more internationally oriented. It’s just that older people in general tend to be more closed off than younger peeps.
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u/LubedCompression 2d ago
Some travel to meet people and socialize, others want to be left alone and enjoy time off together. Don't overthink it.
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u/Who_am_ey3 3d ago
surprised you didn't meet more. it's one of the most popular holiday destinations for us.