Will it be English or American though :P

By TAD | June 26, 2009 1:14 PM

It is not the language that makes one hospitable. It is all about one's attitude. be it the Council or anyone on the street, regardless the language they use, you feel the hospitality in the way they treat you.
if the Council speaks English but is so bureaucratic and showing no support, English does not help.

By Vanerwin | June 26, 2009 1:53 PM

Anyway a good move..

By samjohn | June 26, 2009 2:59 PM

I applaud and thank the Amsterdam council for being more outward facing and ameniable. I cannot forget that I am a visitor to this lovely country but anything that makes life easier for the many, many visitors and foreign residents is appreciated.

By RD | June 26, 2009 3:01 PM

Working and living in The Netherlands for over 10 years now I have to say this is a very good idea. To answer the question of TAD, I don't really hear that much English in Holland I think it more sides to the American type of the language.. I think the American style of the language is more prevalent world wide & easier to understand. I know that in most international schools abroad teach the American style VS the English style, unless you follow the English school system abroad. I have lived and work abroad now for 20 yrs and I have to say, using the American style is easier, esp in Asia and Russia.. For example if you tell a person you are going to go smoke a fag, you might get misunderstood to the point you are going out to shoot a homosexual....lol..When you really mean to smoke a cigarette....lol..

By DR | June 26, 2009 3:31 PM

I found the Amsterdam Gemeente service has improved over the last 2 years. Yes bureaucratic, but slowly getting better.
The move to English is smart and welcome.
UK English of course. It's more eloquent and complete

By Michael | June 26, 2009 3:47 PM

Will The Hague follow on?

By Nigel Wright | June 26, 2009 3:47 PM

"American standards of service?" He hasn't been here lately, has he?

By Petr | June 26, 2009 3:49 PM

well is SHOULD be British English as it is the mother language as it were, UK, OZ,USA,Canada etc

also u guys should do this as you should be proud, the standart of English in NL is fantastic, welldone, just look at how many in the UK can hardly speak there own language (innit) let alone a second language

By adhd | June 26, 2009 4:29 PM

Cannot see why you should have one additional language. Before the half- wits came to power you learned your three foreign languages.And rightly so if you want to understand your neighbour's cultures.

By Pieter | June 26, 2009 4:36 PM

It seems that there is an anti American attitude in Europe. Especially in the media. Why is this? I think the majority of Americans have admire Europe's history, architecture, and culture. With the exception of France inability to recipricate support, I think that Americans think highly of Europeans. Americans soldiers have sacrificed their lives for people they did not even know in Europe. I thought that we were supposed to be allies. Maybe the majority of Europeans wish we did not interfere with the nazi takeover. Do you really think that your country would be able to defend against a world power without the United States's help? Do you think Nato could do it by themselves? Let's try to respect eachother and realize that we both would benifit from remaining allies. I know that people from around the world do things a little differently, but let us forget about the petty differences and focus on the fact that we both want to preserve a democratic society that is not ruled by fanatics. America is made up mostly of European decendants. New Amsterdam(New York), Pennsylvania Dutch, Harlem New York, ect.ect. ect. To hate America is like hating your own children or hating yourself.

By john doe | June 26, 2009 5:40 PM

Then there's hope for the Belastingdienst yet?

By Russell | June 26, 2009 6:16 PM

That's great for NL. In America we can't even make english our official language due to polotical correctness!

By S. Parker | June 26, 2009 7:01 PM

Now I would not wish for Canadian style of service either. That too has been falling by the waist side over the last few years.

By Chris leenders | June 26, 2009 7:33 PM

I am a proud American with direct ancesty linkage to William The Conqueror and I have family living in all area of not only Holland but all of Europe. It is of such comfort when I visit the beautiful country of my orgin to see so many wonderful people speaking English..my language. Long live the House of Orange and my close relatives in Zutphen!! Love to you all

By Howard Barfield de la Chappelle | June 26, 2009 7:59 PM

Fantastic, at least the number of people in the world that does not understand a bit of English is quiet few.

By Dallas | June 26, 2009 8:09 PM

Thanks Amsterdam.
I strongly suggest the Belastingdienst will learn from Amsterdam. Expats pay taxes to them but you cannot get English service when you call them or get mail from them. That makes many people mad already.

By David | June 26, 2009 8:56 PM

Does making English the second official language mean all council documemntation will be in both Dutch and English? If yes, then it will make the city have a more international appeal.

By Ali Balunywa | June 26, 2009 9:12 PM

In response to some of the comments: As a British person living in NL for the past ten years i've found myself moving towards more of the American English language than the UK English. For example 'Center' rather than 'Centre' makes more sense when you think about it, and 'Rationalize' is a better way to spell 'Rationalise'. The English language originally took so much from the French language, so why not now adapt again?

By Guezen76 | June 27, 2009 3:45 AM

Personally, I think it's nonsense. To be able to speak English when nessesary, when helping out foreign people, is one thing, but I think there's no reason why city councils should not speak their native language. Perhaps foreigners living in Amsterdam should try a little harder to learn speaking Dutch...

By Keith Beker | June 27, 2009 8:28 AM

Also looking forward to other cities following this move. The Hague ?

By Marc | June 27, 2009 10:12 AM

Again Holland (Amsterdam) are very forward looking. I'm sure many people don't like this move but it makes perfect business sense and will help a lot of international people who contribute both financially and culturally to the wonderful city of Amsterdam

By peter altman | June 27, 2009 11:22 AM

very good, and very welcome initiative. I wish other countries/cities will follow that.Not necessarily about english but of at least one other foreign language

By kos | June 27, 2009 4:31 PM

Re;Comment by DR, June 26. Am lol here on an island in the Pacific North West......

By AJ Ellens | June 27, 2009 5:09 PM

Hope someday the belastingdienst can also speak English. Right now, the tax authority explicitly refuses to speak English over the phone when tax paying expats call their pricey (0.10 euro/minute) service number.

By Bi Sheng | June 27, 2009 7:54 PM

I thin this is absurd… The official language of a governmental institute/ office should be the language of the country, however all employees are to be encouraged to speak other languages in a metropolitan cities such as Amsterdam.

By Al | June 28, 2009 5:00 AM

I find it amusing that the Americans can not speak their own language. To the American "Howard" it is not your language but Great Britian's. Americans steal things and claim them as "theirs". Your protectionism and isolationist ideologies are peaking through.

By Paul Martin | June 28, 2009 11:53 AM

Its a wonderful news and not only Amsterdam but other big cities should also follow. Like The Hague where our Mayor is working very hard to get the status as International City.
Let it be the 2nd official language of The Netherlands.

We are living in the new millennium where Netherlands is playing quite remarkable role among the other nations.

To keep this role and strengthen the opportunities for our future generation enabling them to compete and play a leading role for Peace and Development, the officials of education ministry and other relevant authorities should involve English in the curriculum right at the start of the basic education.

By Khalid Ahmed Chaudry | June 28, 2009 12:50 PM

Well done Amsterdam! The Hague, you are next!

No one would ever say that a city council shoudl be prohibited from using its native language, just whether another langugae ought to be acceptable as well. It is unfortunate that it is English because then everyone thinks it is just American (with the UK , Canada, Australia, NZ, etc.) taking over the world. That is not the case. Amsterdam is an international city and English is the international language. If you are Polish and want to speak to an Italian person in Amsterdam, you use English. If you are Chinese and want to speak to a Japanese person in Moscow, you use English. Amsterdam is simply adopting the pragmatic attitude that alongside the Dutch many other nationalities live there (EU nationals as of right) and thus there is a need to speak to them too. English is the practical choice.

I noticed that Norway has done this on a countrywide basis already - everything (and I mean everything) is in Norwegian and English.

Please everyone get on board to get the Belastingdienst and the Hague on board for the same reasons. Brazilians, Senegalese and Thai need to speak to the Belastingdienst and English is the logical choice. And if the Hague wants to retain its title as international city, then it must adopt English alongside Dutch.

By Matt | June 29, 2009 3:54 PM