AlsoTapered
Bluelighter
I only visited for a week, went to a jam band festival and the cannabis cup in '07. I learned a couple basic phrases, but otherwise Dutch looked utterly alien to me, especially after 14g of mushrooms.
If you can say please, thank you and order simple items, the Dutch see that you are TRYING.
You know in Amsterdam bars open until 2AM? We missed a train and went to a bar (by GF was Dutch). 5 minutes later 3 English guys walk in and the owner in (fake) faltering English apologises that it's past 10PM and so he cannot serve them.... then they left and he came to our table and said 'Natuurlijk bedien ik Nederlanders tot 02.00 uur'. I was SO excited, The very first time a Dutch person called ME a Dutch person.
That was after 6 months.. but when you 'become Dutch' prices go down, you can run tabs at bars and every one of them is proud of you.