A majority of Amsterdam city councillors are not in favour of making English an official second language, the Parool reported at the weekend.

Last week D66 councillor Jan Paternotte suggested that by becoming bilingual, Amsterdam would become a real ‘world city’ and be more attractive for both tourists and industry.
‘The city is already English enough,’ says Labour councillor Daniël Roos. ‘It would be too much hassle.’
And Socialist councillor Carlien Boelhouwer tells the paper that the suggestion is ‘ridiculous’. ‘Why not go for Moroccan or Turkish?’ she asks, adding that ‘expats could learn a little Dutch as well.’
But Liberal councillor Huub Verweij sees merit in the plan. ‘And then we should adopt the American attitude to service, German discipline, the beauty of northern Scandinavia and a real Liberal government for the city,’ he says on his weblog.

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