English is to become the second official language for Amsterdam city council, the Telegraaf reports on Friday.

Liberal Democrat (D66) councillor Jan Peternotte had been behind the plan, with support from Labour, the left-wing greens and Liberal party VVD. Last September the plan was rejected.
‘Unfortunately we did not manage to turn Dutch into a global language,’ the paper quoted Paternotte as saying. ‘In the meantime, our shops and cafes manage perfectly well in English. But the council can not. That is not very hospitable and must change.’
VVD councillor Huub Verweij told the paper this was the first step in the right direction. ‘Now for American standards of service, German discipline and the beauty of northern Scandinavia and Amsterdam will be quite all right,’ he was quoted as saying.
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