In case I get stuck....?

Question

I am taking a train from Amsterdam to Beligum. If the people at the train station can't understand me. How would I write can I have a ticket to...... I would appricate serious answers and not jokes.

Answer 1

You will not have any problem speaking English in Amsterdam. English is almost universally spoken and understood in Holland.

Answer 2

A a seasoned traveler throughout europe,I can safely say you will have no problems. First, most people in holland speak english as their second language. I fact the dutch can speak many languages and are very good. And nearly all tourist areas such as rail / bus / air outlets speak good english.

Need a train ticket,then visit http://www.simply-europe.co.uk/european-rail

Answer 3

In case you are ever stuck in a train station where people do not understand you, (unlikely to be Netherlands or Belgium,) write down the name of the town you want to start, arrow, where you want to go to. Add the date and the local word for first or second/standard class. (In the Netherlands that is 1e or 2e klas.)
Or print a travel schedule and take that to the station.

If you want to go to a town where you do not know the pronunciation for sure, write it down.

The only time I had to resort to writing in asking for a ticket was when I wanted to go to Keynsham in England, expecting to pronounce it as Key-ns-ham, but it is pronounced as Kayn-sham, and the people at the next station did not understand me.

In most of the world many people who do not speak English will understand written English, but write clearly and large, and keep it simple.

Answer 4

Don't worry, I have been to Europe 7 times and everyone in the bigger cities speaks English. Holland And Belgium both almost speak better English than most English speaking people. Have a great time.

Answer 5

The Dutch are very good at languages, and learning the language and how to give directions through the language is part of their training on the job. You won't have any problems.