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This is pretty much standard for most tech startups in Amsterdam, and I suspect several other European cities. The main reason isn't the ambition to expand inte

This is pretty much standard for most tech startups in Amsterdam, and I suspect several other European cities. The main reason isn't the ambition to expand internationally, but staffing. However, I've also encountered a lot of resistance, especially outside such international cities. Some people fundamentally dislike the idea of having to speak English if working for or partnering with a local company. It's also heavily associated with pretentiousness.

namenotrequired 13y ago
Yep, just yesterday I had an interview at an Amsterdam startup, everything in Dutch. Right afterwards I was introduced to the team, and suddenly everything was in English. I was a bit surprised and unprepared but I don't mind, some other employees and interns are from other countries and I actually love working in English (I do at my current, remote job too).
- wouterinho 13y ago
  As a company you're constraining yourself so much by requiring Dutch if you want to hire good people. I know many companies that still do so. Better for the rest of us! One thing I noticed: Dutch people can switch pretty well during "work" discussions, but during lunch or social events, the switch is harder and you have to remind people to speak English.
msantos 13y ago
> It's also heavily associated with pretentiousness. I have also noticed that in Brazil, over a decade ago, in a local company that was trying its luck in the US market. Eventually it failed, for many reasons but mostly because some of the staff wasn't fluent enough in English while others were. Internal bickering ensued, until the company went bust. The management was only focused on the US expansion and failed to address internal disputes.
mgl 13y ago
Yes, I think so too. At http://codedose.com http://codedose.com we document projects, write comments to our source code and communicate with our clients in English only, not because most of them are from Western Europe and US but it's just more convenient and natural than coming up with wicked translations. A singleton is a singleton, right? ;)

namenotrequired 13y ago

Yep, just yesterday I had an interview at an Amsterdam startup, everything in Dutch. Right afterwards I was introduced to the team, and suddenly everything was in English. I was a bit surprised and unprepared but I don't mind, some other employees and interns are from other countries and I actually love working in English (I do at my current, remote job too).

wouterinho 13y ago
As a company you're constraining yourself so much by requiring Dutch if you want to hire good people. I know many companies that still do so. Better for the rest of us! One thing I noticed: Dutch people can switch pretty well during "work" discussions, but during lunch or social events, the switch is harder and you have to remind people to speak English.

msantos 13y ago

> It's also heavily associated with pretentiousness. I have also noticed that in Brazil, over a decade ago, in a local company that was trying its luck in the US market. Eventually it failed, for many reasons but mostly because some of the staff wasn't fluent enough in English while others were. Internal bickering ensued, until the company went bust. The management was only focused on the US expansion and failed to address internal disputes.

mgl 13y ago

Yes, I think so too. At http://codedose.com http://codedose.com we document projects, write comments to our source code and communicate with our clients in English only, not because most of them are from Western Europe and US but it's just more convenient and natural than coming up with wicked translations. A singleton is a singleton, right? ;)