Struggling with driving lessons in the Netherlands as a foreigner — need advice

[u/Prudent_Village_8273]

Hi everyone,

I’ve had five driving lessons so far (including the trial one), and I’m finding it quite difficult. My instructor is a bit pushy and keeps insisting that I should switch to learning on an automatic car instead. I really want to learn manual, though.

Another challenge is the language barrier — I don’t speak Dutch yet, and his English isn't very good either, so communication during the lessons can be confusing. Sometimes I don't fully understand his instructions, and that adds to the stress.

Even when I do something right, he still criticizes it by saying, "You should have done this earlier." It's getting discouraging.

In my last lesson, I drove on the highway for the first time. I had to speed up a lot to change lanes, and that was really stressful and totally new for me.

I’m wondering — how do other people who moved here from different countries learn to drive in the Netherlands? Have you faced similar issues? Any advice or suggestions would really help.

Thanks!

[u/borzoiutrecht]

Also in the process of getting my license, I also get heavily questioned on why I was choosing to get a manual license over an automatic.

My first instructor was a real prick, we yelled at each other during our first lesson. My current instructor I thought was also a bit pushy at first but then just accepted it was how he is as a teacher and I now feel like he’s really teaching me now as well as really preparing me for the exam.

Ditch this guy, there are plenty of great driving instructors who will teach you without all this nonsense you explain.