Expats living in The Hague are fed up with Dutch people immediately switching into English when they hear their accents.

Although the Dutch may think they are being courteous, expats are irritated at not being able to practise their Dutch in cafes and shops, according to The Hague language institute Direct Dutch.

The institute has launched an action with a button marked with the Dutch words for ‘Speak Dutch! With me!’. The hope is this will encourage catering and shop workers not to switch to English.

Expats living in the Netherlands are more than happy to learn Dutch, according to Direct Dutch director Ruud Hisgen. ‘Many also want to explore Dutch culture but are put off when they are constantly spoken to in English,’ he told the Volkskrant.