You got here because you wanted to read something online in Dutch, like our Newsletter.
Instead of providing you with a direct translation, we want to encourage your Dutch learning by providing you with a few alternative options for reading Dutch online.
Option 1 – Try to read the Dutch
Do your best and try to read the Dutch, even if you find it challenging. You can look up certain words that you don’t understand and think are essential to understanding the meaning, but focus mostly on getting the big picture instead of understanding everything. You will probably pick up more than you think this way, and you will learn by getting this input. However, if there is really a lot that you don’t understand, or if it is way too time-consuming, there are also other options.
Option 2 – Read the Dutch, but assisted with technology
To facilitate reading Dutch online, there are tools that help you. For example, the application called ‘ReadLang‘. It makes it possible to just click on a word and instantly view the translation. It can even make flashcards automatically from your translated words! There are paid plans, but the main functionality is free!
See below for an illustration of how it works:
You can install it in Chrome (however, other browsers are also supported). After installing, you can just click a word you don’t know, and it shows the translation.
Option 3 – Translate the whole text
You can also run the whole page through a translator. You can do that in your browser (see for example here how to do it in Chrome). Alternatively, you can try our recommended translator DeepL. It provides better translations than Google Translate.
You can try a few methods:
- Read the translated text fully first, then read the Dutch text
- Read the Dutch text, but look at the translated text when you don’t understand something
- Read the translated text fully, then wait for a few days, and then read the Dutch text
If you have any questions about a Dutch word or the meaning of something Dutch on the website, just send an email to dutchlanguagecafe@gmail.com!
Good luck, you can do it!
In the end, do you think we should still provide an English translation? Please send your feedback to dutchlanguagecafe@gmail.com!