Dutch For Dummies

Dutch is spoken by 23 million people, mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium, and is an official EU language. For English speakers, written Dutch can be fairly straightforward to pick up, although the pronunciation can be more of a challenge.

This simple guidebook and its downloadable content cover Dutch grammar, pronunciation and everyday phrases, making this vibrant language more accessible to English speakers - whether you're just visiting or planning to stay on a long-term basis. Dutch For Dummies is the essential guide for everyone from students and holidaymakers, to those wanting to speak Dutch for business purposes.

From numbers and vocabulary to greetings, popular expressions and proper etiquette, this clear, easy-to-follow guide will have you speaking Dutch like a native in no time.

Dutch For Dummies includes:

• Downloadable content to assist learning

• Introductory grammar and vocabulary

• Meeting and getting to know people

• Dining out, shopping, leisure time and the workplace

• Dealing with emergencies

• Tips on how to pick up Dutch quickly

Note: Downloadable files are available to download when buying the eBook version

Auteur

Margreet Kwakernaak has taught Dutch to foreign students for over ten years. She is the founder and director of Suitcase Talen, a language school in Almere, the Netherlands.

Contenu

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started 7

Chapter 1: You Already Know Some Dutch 9

Chapter 2: Low-cal Grammar: Just the Basics 27

Chapter 3: Number Magic: All Kinds of Counting 49

Part II: Dutch in Action 65

Chapter 4: Greetings and Introductions 67

Chapter 5: Getting to Know Each Other Better 85

Chapter 6: Enjoying a Meal and Eating Out 99

Chapter 7: Shopping 'til You Drop 131

Chapter 8: Making Leisure a Top Priority 149

Chapter 9: When You Have to Work 177

Part III: Dutch on the Go 199

Chapter 10: Money, Banks, and Post Offices 201

Chapter 11: Asking for Directions 215

Chapter 12: Staying in a Hotel 231

Chapter 13: Using Transport 249

Chapter 14: Coping with Emergencies 283

Part IV: The Part of Tens 303

Chapter 15: Ten Ways to Pick Up Dutch Quickly 305

Chapter 16: Five Things You Should Never Say 309

Chapter 17: Ten Favourite Dutch Expressions 311

Chapter 18: Ten Public Holidays to Remember 315

Chapter 19: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Professional 321

Part V: Appendixes 325

Appendix A: Dutch Verbs 327

Appendix B: Minidictionary 341

Appendix C: About the Downloadable Content 355

Index 357