Books About the Netherlands
I moved to the Netherlands in 2000. You could say I’m a dab hand at this living in the Netherlands thing by now. But that doesn’t stop the quest for great reads about the country I now call home. These books about the Netherlands, or about living abroad in general, are worthy of a coveted place on your bookshelf. Click on the pictures for the link. If there is a book you highly recommend for this list, let me know in the comments.
Language
Dutch in 3 Months with Free Audio App: Your Essential Guide to Understanding and Speaking Dutch (Hugo in 3 Months) – Before I left England and set foot in the Netherlands with my worldly possessions, I was already dipping hungrily into this book to get at least a basic grasp of the Dutch language. This book and the audio (was a CD back in those days!) helped me enormously!
Here are a few more Dutch language books that will help you on your quest to get to grips with the language of the Netherlands.
Easy Dutch Phrase Book: Over 1500 Common Phrases For Everyday Use And Travel
Dutch Frequency Dictionary – Essential Vocabulary: 2500 Most Common Dutch Words
Conversational Dutch Dialogues: Over 100 Dutch Conversations and Short Stories
Remember, you can make language learning fun…
Dutch Short Stories for Beginners: 20 Captivating Short Stories to Learn Dutch & Grow Your Vocabulary the Fun Way! (Easy Dutch Stories)
And if you need help with Dutch grammar, and believe me you will, then try one of these reads.
Essential Dutch Grammar: All The Grammar Really Needed For Speech And Comprehension (Dover Language Guides Essential Grammar)
Dutch: A Comprehensive Grammar (Routledge Comprehensive Grammars)
For Children
Holland, by 
Jan Terlouw’s Winter in Wartime (a translation of Oorlogs Winter, a great book which has also been made into film) is a historical read for 10 to 14-year-olds based on the writer’s boy time experience during WW2 in the Netherlands.
Dutch Culture
Looking to get an understanding of the Dutch and what makes the Dutch, well, Dutch? Get these books on your bookshelf.
Why the Dutch are Different – if you are interested in learning why, grab yourself a copy of this book, written by Ben Coates.
And when in the Netherlands, cycle like the Dutch: Building the Cycling City: The Dutch Blueprint for Urban Vitality.
And any of you familiar with the Xenophobe’s guide series will be happy to know there is a book about the Dutch, and the Frisians!
Dutch Food
A spot of Dutch cooking? There’s nothing like assimilating with food.
Delectable Dutch Recipes: A Complete Cookbook of Delicious Dutch Dish Ideas!
Stuff Dutch people eat: a celebration of the delightfully delicious food Dutch people eat
Historical Reads
The Cut Out Girl – a thoroughly enjoyable read!
And if your Dutch is up to it, try Het Pauperparadijs by Suzanna Jansen.
