Getting around
Tram
Waarheen?
Where to?
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. The government sits in The Hague. The old centre is a grid of canals.
How the language is used
Dutch is the language of the tram, the shop, and the city office. English is common in a tourist street. It does not replace Dutch on the tram.
In this city
- Language
- Dutch
- Also heard
- Mostly Dutch
- A local word
- Dank u — Thank you.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
Café
Een koffie, alstublieft.
One coffee, please.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
Winkel
Hoeveel kost het?
How much is it?
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
Straat
Dank u.
Thank you.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
Dutch is the language of the ride, the shop, and the street.
A first day in Amsterdam can run on four lines: “Waarheen?”, “Een koffie, alstublieft.”, “Hoeveel kost het?”, and “Dank u.”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Latin alphabet.
- One everyday you-form covers most shops. Please and thanks do the polite work.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Amsterdam, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Dank u. It means Thank you..
Places you can see
- Dam — The square at the end of the main shopping street.
- Jordaan — A quarter of narrow streets and small bridges west of the centre.
- Canal ring — The ring of canals around the old centre, with houses on the water.
Food
A sandwich or a herring is the ordinary order. You ask in Dutch.
Getting around
Trams cross the centre. Stop names and announcements are in Dutch.
Daily life
Bikes fill the streets. A short question in Dutch gets you through a shop.
A few everyday phrases
Dutch
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hallo | Hello |
| Dank je | Thank you |
| Goedemorgen | Good morning |
| Ik heet… | My name is… |
