In this episode (in Dutch with subtitles), I share 5 easy, real-life ways to improve your Dutch - even if you're abroad, tired, or 'je hebt geen zin'.

🎧 Listen to this episode if you want to:

- Improve your Dutch with minimal effort

- Add Dutch to your everyday routines

- Keep learning without study burnout

- Use real-life tools like journaling, music, series & more

These tips work even if:

- You’re not in the Netherlands

- You feel stuck at B1

- You’ve already given up (a little)

👇 Links mentioned in this episode:

My Dutch summer music playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4JdrDBa58lEzET9v2vGclZ?si=IT120f5HS3K8wC8bw8FCYQ

Boek: Nieuw in Rotterdam by Max Koedood

👉 https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/nieuw-in-rotterdam/9300000177665558/?referrer=socialshare_pdp_www

Easy-to-read books via Leeslicht

👉https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/s/?searchtext=leeslicht%20boeken&suggestFragment=leeslicht

🎓 Want structured support + a real community this fall?

Dutch for Parents - the live group program - starts Sept 24

Sign up now & get immediate access to the Online Academy- Learn Dutch around parenting, school, culture & daily life

- Short videos, audio, vocabulary lists & speaking practice

- Practice in real conversations with others like you

👉 Join here: https://dutchspeakingacademy.nl/dutch-for-parents/

Wat is jouw favoriete tip?

Laat het me weten in de comments hieronder!

Vergeet niet te liken, abonneren en deze podcast te delen met een vriend(in) voor wie dit ook interessant is.

Dank je wel!

“I thought I should be fluent by now…”Ever felt like you're behind in your Dutch journey? Like you should already be fluent - after 3, 5, maybe even 10+ years?In this episode, I share the story of one of my students who let go of that invisible deadline. And what happened next brought her freedom, joy, and confidence to finally speak Dutch with ease.If that "I should have been fluent by now" voice lives in your head too - kijk dan deze video.👉 Ready for your next step?Two powerful programs start this fall:▸ Dutch for Parents: a 6-week community program for international parents with kids in Dutch daycare or school.https://dutchspeakingacademy.nl/dutch-for-parents/▸ Dutch Confidence: a 4-month deep-dive for high-achieving internationals who want to finally speak Dutch with confidence. https://dutchspeakingacademy.nl/confidence/You're not late. You're not behind. You're ready for the next step. Let me help you take it.- Mariska

https://www.instagram.com/dutchspeakingacademy/

Je weet dat je Nederlands kúnt spreken.

Maar je doet het niet.
Misschien heb je een B1 certificaat, misschien heb je jarenlang cursussen gedaan.
Maar in de winkel, op werk, bij schoolgesprekken... you keep speaking English.

In deze aflevering vertel ik wat make-up, grammatica en spreken met zelfvertrouwen met elkaar te maken hebben.

En waarom focussen op perfectie je alleen maar stopt.

Ik vertel:
– waarom grammatica nooit de focus is in mijn programma’s
– wat mijn studenten écht tegenhoudt om te spreken

Ben jij klaar om eindelijk te gaan spreken, ook al is het niet perfect?

Tot 1 juli krijg je een extra bonus bij je aanmelding voor Dutch Confidence.
This is only for you if you are REALLY READY to stop postponing and to finally take the step to dare to speak - op werk, op school, in je dagelijks leven.

➡️ Meld je aan vóór 1 juli.

https://dutchspeakingacademy.nl/confidence/

Questions?

I'm [email protected]

https://www.instagram.com/dutchspeakingacademy/

Liefs,

Mariska

So… I watched a clip of Queen Máxima the other day.

She was answering a journalist’s question (in het Nederlands) and you know what?

She made mistakes. Our Queen.

Small ones. De/het stuff. Word order.

The usual 'Dutch mess'.

And I loved it.

This episode is for every international who’s still holding back from speaking Dutch because it’s “not perfect yet”.

Here’s the deal: Máxima had top-tier language training, years of experience, and STILL makes mistakes.

And yet - she shows up. She speaks.

And so should you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

- Why speaking imperfect Dutch is better than staying silent.

- How to keep going when your brain freezes mid-sentence.

- How to stop listening to the mean voice in your head (and turn up the volume on your inner cheerleader).

- What to do when people judge your accent or grammar (because YES - they will).

- How to shift from “not good enough” to “I said what I needed to say. Period.”

Expression beats perfection.

Every. Damn. Time.🔥

Want to feel that for yourself?

Join the Switch to Dutch LIVE Workshop on Wednesday, July 2nd at 19:00.

One powerful evening of real practice, real motivation, and finally speaking the way you want to speak.

Tickets are limited.

Sign up now via:

https://dutchspeakingacademy.nl/switch-to-dutch/

Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dutchspeakingacademy/

Or drop a comment below — I’ll get back to you.

Listen to this episode any time you need a nudge, my dear.

You’re not here to be perfect.

You’re here to finally start speaking.

🧡 Don't forget to rate this podcast and subscribe 🧡

Liefs,

Mariska

Ready to speak more Dutch – beyond just “Hoe gaat het?”
In this video, I’ll teach you real Dutch conversation starters that locals actually use. In easy to follow Dutch - with subtitles.
They’re easy, effective, and instantly help you connect — whether you’re at the school gate, in the supermarket, or by the coffee machine at work.

No more awkward silences or switching back to English.
These Dutch phrases help you to connect, enjoy small talk, and build confidence while your'e at it.

You’ll learn:

• How to open any convo with the weather (yes, it’s a thing in Dutch culture!)

• How to give casual compliments that feel natural

• What to say on Mondays ("lekker weekend gehad?") or Fridays ("leuke plannen dit weekend?")

And… how to reply like a local with:

• “Nou!”

• “Zeg dat wel!”

• And even, “Nee joh, Zeeman, drie euro!” (when someone compliments your outfit)

This is a must-watch if you want to make Dutch part of your daily life.
Practice these phrases, try them this week — and let me know in the comments how it went!

🎟️ JOIN ME LIVE: SWITCH TO DUTCH – July 2 in Amsterdam
Want my help making the switch from English to Dutch?
Join my high-energy evening workshop on Wednesday 2 July in Amsterdam. You’ll learn how to start speaking Dutch with confidence — in just one evening.
🪪 Space is limited → https://lu.ma/n6lpl33c

Don' forget to subscribe to this podcast - and to leave a review if you enjoyed this episode.

Dank je wel lieverd!

Mariska

https://dutchspeakingacademy.nl/nieuwsbrief

https://www.instagram.com/dutchspeakingacademy/

Dutch for Parents – laatste kans (chance) om mee te doen!Are you an international parent who wants to feel more confident communicating with school, other parents, and your child in Dutch?✨ Today and tomorrow are your final chance to join Dutch for Parents.If you join now:- You'll have access to the group until mid-September – so you’ll start the new school year feeling prepared- You can study flexibly over the summer with short videos and audios – ideal for holidays, busy schedules, or unexpected situations- You won’t feel left out anymore at the school gate or during parent-teacher talks- You'll learn exactly how to arrange a playdate, chat with the teacher, or message other parents- You’ll be part of a supportive group of parents who face the same language challenges – you're not aloneAnd let’s be honest: the perfect moment to start never comes. But this moment is perfect. Don’t let the gap between you and your child grow – grow together instead.Listen to my Instagram Live for more info or send me a DM op Instagram if you have questions.https://dutchspeakingacademy.nl/dutch-for-parents/I got you lieverd.Mariska

In deze Instagram Live deel ik 3 échte situaties van moeders uit het Dutch for Parents programma:

– Een kindje valt en jij moet hem helpen.
– Je belt midden in de nacht de dokter voor je kind, maar die spreekt geen Engels.
– Je kind vertelt enthousiast over school, maar jij begrijpt het niet - en hij kent de woorden niet in jouw moedertaal.

Drie momenten waarop Engels geen optie was.
Drie momenten waarop Nederlands spreken het verschil maakte.

Kun jij het je permitteren om nog 6 maanden te wachten?

Dutch for Parents start op 28 mei.
Meld je nu aan: https://dutchspeakingacademy.nl/dutch-for-parents/

Je hoeft het niet alleen te doen.

Liefs,
Mariska

#dutchspeakingacademy #dutchwithkids #dutchforparents #dutchconfidence #expatsinthenetherlands

Do you want to speak more Dutch but it just feels… hard, boring, or awkward? In this video (in easy to follow Dutch for A2 levels and up), I’ll show you how to make learning Dutch fun (leuk!), and something you might actually look forward to – even if you're tired, busy, or not confident yet.Because here's the truth: if it's not 'leuk', you're not going to keep doing it.So let’s make it leuker, together.✨ Curious about learning Dutch with support and real results?Dutch for Parents starts soon! https://dutchspeakingacademy.nl/dutch-for-parents/Join the free try-out session of Dutch for Parents – my practical and fun course that helps you speak Dutch in school, at the playground, and with other parents.Sign up for the tryout here: https://mbmamadutchm.activehosted.com/f/11Are you on the emaillist yet?https://dutchspeakingacademy.nl/nieuwsbrief/Liefs,Mariska

🎙️ Moederschap, migratie en Nederlands leren – luister naar Griselda’s verhaal.

Wat gebeurt er als je kind vloeiend Nederlands spreekt en jij niet?

Griselda vertelt hoe ze via Dutch for Parents het zelfvertrouwen (confidence) vond om Nederlands te spreken in alledaagse situaties – op de opvang, in winkels en met andere ouders.

Ze deelt hoe ze nu met haar dochter in het Nederlands kan praten, iets wat eerst ver weg leek.

Een eerlijk gesprek over taal, moederschap en je thuis voelen in een nieuw land via de taal.

Leer alles over Dutch for Parents hier: https://dutchspeakingacademy.nl/dutch-for-parents/

Kom op mijn mailinglijst: https://dutchspeakingacademy.nl/nieuwsbrief/

Volg je me al op Instagram? https://www.instagram.com/dutchspeakingacademy/Liefs,Mariska

Ps: Vergeet je niet te abonneren (subscribe) 🧡

Liefs,

Mariska

In deze aflevering vertel ik je over iets nieuws wat ik ben gestart: pianoles.

Spannend... want ineens (all of a sudden) ben ik weer een beginner.

En dat gevoel – dat je iets wilt leren, maar dat je hoofd vol zit met twijfels (doubts) – dat herken (recognize) jij natuurlijk ook als je probeert Nederlands te spreken.

Ik deel wat dit met mij doet, hoe belangrijk mindset is bij het leren, en waarom dit precies is wat we morgenavond in mijn gratis masterclass gaan doen.

Prepare to Speak at School is speciaal voor internationale ouders die de stap willen zetten om eindelijk Nederlands te spreken rond de opvang of school van hun kind.

Je bent welkom als je kind net geboren is, naar de opvang gaat, of al op de (Nederlandse) basisschool zit!

Wanneer: donderdag 15 mei om 19:45
Waar: online via Zoom
Voor wie: internationale ouders (A2/B1-niveau)
Kosten: gratis

Meld je aan via:
https://dutchspeakingacademy.plugandpay.com/checkout/masterclass-dutch-at-school

Ik hoop je daar te zien!

Liefs,

Mariska

(Ps: is het na 15 mei? Schrijf je in voor mijn nieuwsbrief zodat je het niet mist! https://dutchspeakingacademy.nl/nieuwsbrief/)