Learning how to speak Dutch?

Question

I am going to Denmark in the summer. Any good books on how to learn Dutch?

Thanks

Answer 1

For Denmark you (indeed) need Danish, Dutch will be no use. I am Dutch and I do not understand Danish, nor do the Danes understand me. (But I do understand Norwegian, Swedish, German and several other European languages.)

The best will be to pick up some basic knowledge and show that you are of good will, and try to get the Danish people to teach you a bit more.
(Like Dutch, Danish is not often taught outside the countries borders, and neither is easy to understand when spoken.)

Answer 2

Danish and Dutch are 2 separate countries and 2 separate languages...far apart. so they are in no way related or the same. Danish is what you need if you are moving to Denmark. It is very hard to learn and will take a good bit of time unless you learn really fast and never speak english.

Good Luck

Answer 3

There is a good program CD based a bit expensive but great I think it was called Rosetta Stone, Danish edition...I know Danish/Dutch who cares (The danes seem all up in arms about it though, i.e. people confusing the two) It's just a word...Dutch/Danish who cares. It must be an identity problem Ha!

Answer 4

i'd think this is because each are Germanic languages and hence bear a tremendous number of similarities because they derive from an same shaped tongue. As an English speaker i visit assert that German comes better obviously to me than French or Spanish. also Dutch and German sound very resembling foreigners.