Official Language
Dutch
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: nltimes.nl, erasmusmagazine.nl
Overall9/10More English-friendly than about 85% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Rotterdam has the world's strongest English proficiency among non-native speakers—you can comfortably get by with English in daily life and business
- English is not the official language (Dutch is), but it is almost universally spoken in urban Rotterdam, especially by younger generations and professionals
- Much of the international business community and expatriate population in Rotterdam communicates primarily in English, which normalizes its use in professional and daily contexts
- While English is very accessible, learning some basic Dutch phrases is appreciated by locals and can aid integration into the broader community
Official Language
Dutch
English Proficiency
- Level
- Highest in the world for non-native speakers
- Details
- Rotterdam residents rank as the best English speakers globally as a second language. In urban centers like Rotterdam, English is almost universally spoken.
- Ranking
- Rotterdam leads at 71.68 on the EF English Proficiency Index, followed closely by Amsterdam and The Hague
Daily Life In English
- Details
- It is genuinely possible to live in Rotterdam without knowing Dutch. Daily communication in major cities like Rotterdam can often be conducted in English. English is commonly used in business and everyday conversation.
- Feasibility
- Highly feasible
- Note On Expat Integration
- Many multinational corporations based in Rotterdam conduct business operations in English, and universities like Erasmus University Rotterdam offer multiple programs taught in English.
Media And Cultural Exposure
English-language content on television and in films is subtitled rather than dubbed, which reinforces English language skills across the population
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this language & english friendliness research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Rotterdam
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.