English was all that was needed in the Netherlands!
For short visits certainly true. Apparently it ticks off the Dutch when foreigners are in the country for years and can't speak the local language (same goes for Scandinavia) Though they fail to see how they facilitate this attitude.
Aren't you the slightest bit curious about your global neighbors
He's a narcissist, they have no natural curiosity. It is what it is. Why continue to yap at him (giving him attention which he is interested in)?