You were doing so well. “Dus ik dacht dat…” you began confidently, conjugating verbs, forming sentences, thriving. And then, without a single warning, the Dutch person in front of you replies in flawless English.
It’s one of the most universally shared experiences among expats in the Netherlands.
But there’s more going on beneath the surface than impatience or pity. Let’s unpack it!
It’s called code-switching, and it’s completely normal
Linguists call this code-switching: flipping between languages mid-conversation, sometimes even mid-sentence. It’s a well-documented phenomenon in bilingual communities, and it’s actually a sign of high fluency, not rudeness.
When someone speaks two languages well, their brain doesn’t keep them in separate, neatly labelled boxes.
READ MORE | Dutch Quirk #77: Switch to English even if you speak Dutch
Think of it more like two apps running in the background at once. Sometimes the wrong one pops to the front. In the Netherlands, that “wrong” app opens constantly, because the Dutch are extraordinarily good at English.
The Netherlands is basically cheating at English
According to the EF English Proficiency Index, the Netherlands has ranked number 1 in the entire world among non-native English-speaking countries for six consecutive years.
Amsterdam, specifically, scores higher than any other non-native-English-speaking capital city on the planet.
So when a Dutch person switches to English mid-conversation, they’re not making a conscious effort. English is just… there. Fully loaded, always ready, requiring almost zero mental overhead.
For them, switching languages is as effortless as switching tabs. It’s a big part of why the Dutch are so good at English in the first place.
They think they’re being helpful
Here’s where it gets interesting, and slightly ironic.
According to Professor Felix Ameka of Leiden University, Dutch speakers switch to English because they want to be inclusive.
They assume English is the most considerate choice in mixed settings, the linguistic equivalent of holding a door open.
The problem? It often doesn’t land that way. Ameka argues that many migrants and language learners actually experience the switch as exclusion: a signal that their Dutch isn’t welcome in the Dutch community.
The intention is kindness; the effect is the opposite.
Efficiency is basically a Dutch personality trait
There’s also a broader cultural explanation. Dutch communication prioritises directness and efficiency above almost everything else.
If English is the fastest route from A to B, most Dutch people will take it, not out of arrogance, but out of reflex.
That switch is often triggered by tiny signals: a slight hesitation, an accent, a half-second pause while searching for a word. The Dutch brain reads these as cues to “help,” and help it does, whether you wanted it to or not.
It’s not a verdict on your Dutch. It’s a shortcut like eating a broodje kaas for every meal or dropping a fiver in a deposit casino.
How to keep the conversation in Dutch
The good news: most Dutch people will happily stay in Dutch if you just ask. Directly. Which, again, is very on-brand for them.
Try one of these early in the conversation:
- “Mag het in het Nederlands? Ik wil oefenen.” (Can we keep it in Dutch? I want to practise.)
- “Laten we Nederlands praten, alsjeblieft.” (Let’s speak Dutch, please.)
- “Ik probeer mijn Nederlands te verbeteren.” (I’m trying to improve my Dutch.)
Confidence is key. Dutch culture genuinely respects directness, so a clear, friendly request almost always works.
Another tactic: when they switch to English, just respond in Dutch anyway. That gentle nudge often brings things back without any awkwardness.
You can also ask for clarification instead of a translation. “Kun je dat langzamer zeggen?” (Can you say that more slowly?) keeps the interaction in Dutch while showing you’re engaged.
When switching to English is the right call
There are moments when English genuinely is the better choice. Complex medical conversations, legal documents, or anything where a misunderstanding could have real consequences. In those cases, clarity matters more than practice.
But for a chat at the bakker (bakery) or a casual coffee with a colleague? Push back. Politely, persistently, in Dutch.
You’re not being difficult. You’re doing exactly what Professor Ameka wishes more people would do, and what your Dutch language journey depends on anyway.
Have you ever successfully kept a Dutch person speaking Dutch with you? Or did they outlast you in English? Share your strategy, or your defeat, in the comments below.
