From the enthusiastic to the timid, expats always have varying degrees of success in learning the mother tongue of the country they reside in. The Netherlands is a special case because the Dutch are all practically fluent in English, thus rendering the Dutch language, well, unnecessary for English-speaking foreigners.

However, it’s always good to integrate (right, Verdonk?) and there are plenty of low-risk, everyday places to practice what little Dutch you may speak. Try the grocery store: The lingo here is very straightforward and after about ten trips or so, you should have everyone fooled into thinking you’re a native. Or the bar: Who can’t handle “Een biertje”? Giving directions in Dutch can be a bit trickier, but if you master this one, you know you’re heading for victory.