DutchPod101.com Blog

Are you having trouble making the leap from the beginner to the intermediate level? It can be challenging to go from using simple structures in the present tense to figuring out the more difficult structures you need for expressing complex ideas or subtle feelings. 

Don’t worry; help is near. Having access to an extensive set of intermediate Dutch phrases may be the final push that will help you make this leap. And once you’re on the other side, you’ll find a lot of satisfaction in improving your skills and tackling the more challenging aspects of the language. 

In this article, we’ll have a look at some of the most useful intermediate Dutch phrases and sentence structures. You’ll get practical phrases for a wide variety of situations: talking about past events, making plans for the future, explaining your reasons, and more. 

Let’s dive in.

Let’s master those intermediate Dutch phrases!

Table of Contents

1. Talking About Past Events
2. Making and Changing Plans
3. Explaining Your Reasons
4. Making Recommendations and Complaints
5. Reaction Phrases for Everyday Conversations
6. Dutch Etiquette Phrases for Social and Business Settings
7. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. Talking About Past Events

When you’re at a beginner level, chances are that you will only use the present tense. But as you bridge the gap toward becoming an intermediate Dutch student, you’ll need to learn how to use the Dutch past tense to talk about past events and share your experiences. Let’s have a look at some useful intermediate Dutch phrases for talking about things that happened in the past. 

We hebben een geweldige tijd gehad.

We had a great time.

Literally: We have had a great time.

We hebben genoten van het feest gisteravond.

We enjoyed the party last night.

Dat was de ergste dag van mijn leven.

That was the worst day of my life.

Ik werk hier nu drie jaar.

I have been working here for three years now.

Literally: I work here three years now. This Dutch sentence uses the present tense because we’re talking about something that is still ongoing.

Vorig jaar reisde ik naar Argentinië.

Last year, I traveled to Argentina.

Ik had vroeger een hond die Billie heette.

I used to have a dog named Billie.

➜ Do you want a quick overview of Dutch tenses? Then have a look at our Beginner’s Guide to Dutch Verb Conjugation. It’s available for free on DutchPod101.com.

2. Making and Changing Plans

Now that we have a better grasp of the past, let’s go to the future. For this, you’ll need to be able to manage the Dutch future tense. As you will gather from the following Dutch phrases for the intermediate level, there are many different ways to use this tense, and they’re all quite simple—so give them a go! Usually, mentioning the date of the event will be enough for the other person to understand you’re talking about the future; from that point on, whether you use the present or future tense is a matter of preference.

Be aware: The Dutch love to plan, so you may have to make plans in advance and avoid canceling at the last minute (as this is viewed as rude).

How do you make and change plans in Dutch? Let’s have a look!

Ik ben volgende week beschikbaar.

I am available next week.

Heb je dit weekend tijd?

Do you have time this weekend?

Wil je vanavond pizza eten?

Do you want to eat pizza tonight?

Mag ik mijn vriend/vriendin meenemen?

Can I bring my boyfriend/girlfriend?

Kunnen we het naar volgende week verplaatsen?

Can we move it to next week?

Zouden we een nieuwe afspraak kunnen maken?

Could we make a new appointment?

We hebben het er later over in onze bespreking.

We will talk about it later in our meeting.

➜ Do you want to learn more useful phrases for talking about your plans? Then have a look at our free vocabulary list Talking About Your Plans, which comes with audio recordings so you can practice your pronunciation.

3. Explaining Your Reasons

Another essential set of Dutch phrases for the intermediate level consists of those for explaining the reasons behind your actions. Describing your reasons is quite straightforward in Dutch; it only takes a few key words and structures to start talking about causes and consequences. See what we mean by taking a look at the useful intermediate Dutch phrases we’ve listed below. 

Ik eet geen eieren of vis want ik ben allergisch.

I don’t eat eggs or fish because I’m allergic.

Ik hou van deze muziek omdat ik er graag op dans.

I like this music because I like to dance to it.

Ik ben een beetje dronken, dus ik loop terug naar huis.

I am a bit drunk, so I’ll walk back home.

Omdat ik uitgeput was, sliep ik tot in de middag.

Because I was exhausted, I slept until noon.

Ik praat zachtjes want ik wil haar niet wakker maken.

I’m speaking softly because I don’t want to wake her up.

4. Making Recommendations and Complaints

One way to gain a deeper insight and understanding of people is to share our opinions and learn from each other’s experiences. Making recommendations or complaints is a great way to bond with people. Whether you want to recommend a great restaurant to your friends or discourage them from reading a boring book, the following intermediate Dutch phrases will help you get the message across. 

Je moet dit proberen. Het is de beste koffie die ik ooit heb gehad.

You should try this. It’s the best coffee I’ve ever had.

Dit is mijn favoriete restaurant.

This is my favorite restaurant.

Dit is de beste pizzeria van de stad.

This is the best pizza place in town.

Literally: This is the best pizza place of the city.

Ik heb echt genoten van deze film. Ik zou hem graag nog een keer zien.

I really enjoyed this movie. I would like to see it again.

Ik zou dit boek niet aanraden, ik vond het erg saai.

I would not recommend this book; I found it very boring.

➜ Do you want to learn more? Have a look at our vocabulary list Making Complaints in Dutch, which comes with useful audio recordings for pronunciation practice.

5. Reaction Phrases for Everyday Conversations

Get ready for everyday Dutch conversations by learning these useful intermediate Dutch phrases!

Are you interested in improving your Dutch conversation skills? In this section, we’ll teach you some short intermediate-level phrases for reacting to statements and expressing emotions like enthusiasm, curiosity, and disbelief. Being able to react fully (rather than just saying yes or no) is a great step forward in becoming more fluent in Dutch.

1 – Great!

A:
Ik vind de serie die je me hebt aangeraden heel erg leuk.
“I really love the series you recommended to me.”

B:
Wat leuk, ik ben blij dat je het leuk vindt!
“That’s great; I’m glad you like it!”

2 – Sorry.

A:
Ik heb een notenallergie.
“I have a nut allergy.”

B:
Oh, sorry, dat wist ik niet.
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t know.”

3 – I can’t believe it.

A:
Ik hou niet van kaas.
“I don’t like cheese.”

B:
Echt waar?
“Really?” [Formal/Casual]

B:
Meen je het?
“Are you serious?” [Formal/Casual]

B:
Maak je een grapje?
“Are you making a joke?” [Casual]

4 – That’s a shame.

A:
Ik kan vanavond niet komen.
“I can’t come tonight.”

B:
Ah, dat is jammer.
“Oh, that’s a shame.” [Formal/Casual]

B:
Ah, dat is balen!
“Ah, that sucks!” [Casual]

5 – Keep me posted!

A:
Ik weet nog niet of ik vanavond kan komen.
“I don’t know if I can come tonight.”

B:
Oké, hou me op de hoogte!
“Okay, keep me posted!”

6 – Thanks for coming!

A:
We hebben genoten van het feest gisteravond.
“We enjoyed the party last night.”

B:
Wat fijn, bedankt voor het komen!
“How nice, thanks for coming!”

➜ Do you need to improve your Dutch speaking skills? Have a look at our vocabulary list How to Improve Your Speaking Skills for some useful tips. You can also see our Using Small Talk Phrases list.

6. Dutch Etiquette Phrases for Social and Business Settings

What Dutch etiquette rules do you already know?

Last but not least, to really become an intermediate-level Dutch speaker, you should also know some Dutch etiquette phrases for social and business settings. Even though the Dutch aren’t the most polite people in the world, there is more to Dutch courtesy than just saying alstublieft (“please”) and bedankt (“thank you”). We do appreciate some etiquette, especially in the Dutch business culture. So, let’s have a look at some useful Dutch phrases for intermediate-level students who want to make a great impression in social and business settings.

Doe alsof je thuis bent.

Make yourself at home.

Literally: Do as if you are at home.

Laat het me weten als je vragen hebt.  [Casual]	Laat het me weten als u vragen heeft.  [Formal]
Please let me know if you have questions.

Goede reis!

Have a good trip!

Ik kijk er naar uit om van je te horen.  [Casual]	Ik kijk er naar uit van u te horen.  [Formal]
I look forward to hearing from you.

Leuk je te ontmoeten.  [Casual]	Aangenaam kennis te maken.  [Formal]
Nice to meet you.

Sorry dat ik je stoor.  [Casual]	Sorry dat ik u stoor.  [Formal]
I’m sorry to disturb you.
Literally: Sorry to disturb you.

Gezondheid.

Bless you.

Literally: Health. This is used when someone sneezes. When someone sneezes three times, some people may add morgen mooi weer (“good weather tomorrow”), but it’s old-fashioned and mostly used as a joke.

➜ Would you like to learn more about Dutch etiquette? You’re in luck! We have a complete guide [link] on what’s polite and what’s not in the Netherlands. It’s available for free on DutchPod101.com.

7. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

In this guide, you have learned more than thirty useful intermediate Dutch phrases covering different aspects of our daily lives. As a true intermediate Dutch speaker, you can now talk about past events, make and change plans, explain your reasons, make recommendations or complaints, react to everyday conversations, and even use those tricky Dutch etiquette phrases for social and business settings. 

Are there any other types of Dutch phrases for the intermediate level you would like to learn? Or some useful intermediate Dutch phrases on another topic? Feel free to share with us in the comments below!

Try to really practice all of the intermediate Dutch phrases from our list by following these steps:

• Read the sentence carefully and see if you can understand it.
• Try and translate it yourself with the words and grammar that you already know.
• Compare your results to the given translation (and to its literal translation, when needed).
• Once you understand the words and the grammatical structure, you can make some changes to the sentence to make it more personal or applicable to other situations.
• Once you’re comfortable enough, you could even try to rephrase it completely or make it more complex.

Yes, you are ready to master the Dutch intermediate level!

You can start mastering these Dutch phrases for intermediate learners with the help of DutchPod101.com. We offer audio and video lessons, vocabulary lists with audio recordings, and other free resources to boost your studies. With DutchPod101, you can really keep your Dutch learning fun and diverse.

Would you like some special attention? Remember that we also offer a Premium PLUS service with personal 1-on-1 coaching: MyTeacher. Let your private teacher help you with every aspect of the Dutch language, from the pronunciation of common phrases to the expansion of your intermediate Dutch vocabulary. You’ll receive personalized exercises, constructive feedback, and interactive assignments.

What are you waiting for? Sign up today!

Effortlessly learning Dutch: It may sound too good to be true, but it is possible. 

How? 

The solution is really quite simple: Engage in some passive listening. 

Instead of cramming endless vocabulary words and grammar rules into your memory, you can just sit back and listen to something that interests you. As is the case with Dutch movies and series, you can use Dutch podcasts to efficiently practice your listening comprehension and improve your language skills. The key here is to listen to podcasts on a regular basis, as this will give you natural exposure to the language every day. 

Podcasts are very popular these days as they give you the opportunity to listen to something while doing simple daily tasks (cleaning, cooking, walking, commuting to work, etc.). This regular passive listening will help you learn new words and idioms, and it will help solidify the grammar structures you’ve already learned.

There are many different podcasts you could use to learn Dutch, and you can find them on a variety of platforms: Spotify, the internet, or even your phone’s podcast app. 

In this article, we’ll show you the benefits of using podcasts to learn Dutch, list seven of the best podcasts for doing so, and even give you some handy tricks and tips. 

Put on your headphones and get ready to improve your Dutch!

Let’s start listening to podcasts and learn some Dutch along the way.

Table of Contents

1. Benefits of Using Podcasts to Learn Dutch
2. The Best Dutch Podcasts
3. Tricks to Help You Learn Dutch More Effectively with Podcasts
4. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. Benefits of Using Podcasts to Learn Dutch

• Practice when it suits you.
• Improve your listening skills.
• Reinforce correct pronunciation.
• Consolidate your understanding of grammar as you hear different structures in context.
• Enrich your vocabulary on the topics of your choice.

There are many ways to learn Dutch: taking classes, downloading apps, going through long vocabulary lists, doing fill-in-the-blank exercises… These are all reasonable approaches to learning Dutch, but in this day and age, there is so much more you can take advantage of—such as podcasts!

So, what are the benefits of listening to podcasts in Dutch? How can it help you learn the language? Let’s see!

→ How do you motivate yourself when learning a language? If you’re having trouble keeping yourself motivated, have a look at this vocabulary list to find some useful tips.

1 – Optimize Your Time

Practice makes perfect, so it’s necessary to get some daily exposure to the Dutch language if you want to improve. In addition to the primary method or program you’re using to study, the simple habit of listening to Dutch every day in your car, on the bus, or while doing the dishes will contribute greatly to your learning progress.

Listening to podcasts in Dutch will allow you to study during those short gaps in your busy schedule. This could be when you’re on the metro, on your lunch break, or while exercising. As such, you’ll be able to study regularly and spread your Dutch learning throughout the day. 

→ Looking for other ways to learn Dutch while commuting? Have a look at our vocabulary list Effective Ways to Learn While Commuting for some ideas.

Listen to Dutch podcasts while commuting.

2 – Different Levels, Different Perks

Because there are so many Dutch podcasts out there, you’ll always be able to find podcasts suitable for your current level. 

As a beginner, you may want to stick to podcasts designed for Dutch learners, as other Dutch podcasts may be difficult for you to understand. Listening to podcasts early on gives you a good sense of how the language sounds and will help you with your pronunciation.

Intermediate learners can dip into Dutch podcasts that focus on subjects outside of language learning. They can use podcasts to enhance their grammar skills, learn new vocabulary, and get more comfortable with Dutch in general. 

Advanced students may benefit the most from podcasts, especially since they’ll be able to listen to the massive amount of content out there for native Dutch speakers. You’ll have many Dutch podcasts to choose from and can listen to those that cover the topics you most enjoy.

→ Do you like listening to Dutch podcasts but need to improve your Dutch listening skills for a better experience? Have a look at our vocabulary list How to Improve Your Listening Skills for some pointers.

2. The Best Dutch Podcasts

As mentioned, there are many Dutch podcasts you can choose from. Some of them are specifically designed with Dutch learners in mind, while others are geared toward native Dutch speakers and cover a variety of topics. 

So, what are the best podcasts for learning Dutch?

1 – One Minute Dutch

• Level: (True) Beginner
• Theme: Teaching Podcast
• Free

The great thing about the One Minute Dutch podcast is that each episode is only a couple of minutes long and teaches very basic Dutch concepts. There are ten short episodes that cover things like numbers, greetings, and how to introduce yourself. It’s one of the best Dutch podcasts for beginners as it introduces listeners to all the basics they need to get started. 

2 – Zeg Het in Het Nederlands (“Say it in Dutch”)

• Level: Intermediate
• Theme: Teaching Podcast
• Free

Zeg Het in Het Nederlands (“Say it in Dutch”) is an intermediate-level Dutch language learning podcast that will help you improve your Dutch listening and interpretation skills. In this podcast, the narrators speak Dutch at a slow pace, and there’s even a full PDF transcript so you can follow along with the dialogue. The podcast covers a range of topics, including politics, sports, and entertainment. The episodes aren’t that long (usually under 20 minutes), so you can easily combine them with your daily activities.

3 – SBS Dutch

• Level: Advanced
• Theme: News
• Free

This Dutch news podcast is produced by the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), an Australian multimedia network that has a Dutch radio and podcasting program. SBS Dutch gives listeners a range of Dutch content focusing on both international and local news. You’ll have access to interviews, features, community stories, and news stories in Dutch so that you can strengthen your listening skills, broaden your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation. 

There are many episodes available, and SBS frequently uploads new ones so you’ll always have new content to listen to. As most episodes are relatively short (between 5 and 15 minutes long), it’s the perfect way to catch up with the latest news while improving your Dutch.

4 – DutchPod101

• Level: Absolute Beginner to Advanced
• Theme: Teaching Podcast
• Free content + Premium and Premium PLUS subscriptions

DutchPod101 has a great collection of podcast episodes for learners at every level, from absolute beginners to intermediate and advanced students. There are lessons explaining basic Dutch-language concepts, depicting common daily situations, and teaching first-hand information about the country. At DutchPod101.com, you can also complement these podcasts with grammar points, exercises, quizzes, vocabulary lists, and even personal coaching. As there are podcast episodes for every level, you can make use of DutchPod101 throughout your entire Dutch language learning journey.

Discover the benefits of DutchPod101!

5 – Man met de Microfoon (“Man with the Microphone”)

• Level: Advanced
• Theme: Stories
• Free

This is a great podcast for more advanced Dutch learners. The man met de microfoon (“man with the microphone”) drives around Amsterdam by bus in search of exciting stories from strangers. No two stories will be quite the same, as they depend on the people he encounters on the streets. This show is hosted by Chris Bajema, and each episode is around 15 minutes long. 

6 – Echt Gebeurd (“True Story”)

• Level: Advanced
• Theme: Stories
• Free

Echt Gebeurd (“True Story”) is a Dutch podcast hosted by comedians and writers. It focuses on people telling true stories that are a bit unbelievable. This podcast features a wide range of storytellers recounting funny, beautiful, surprising, and special events that have really happened to them. For advanced Dutch students, it’s a fun way to challenge their Dutch skills. There are many episodes to choose from, and new ones are uploaded weekly. The episodes are about 10 or 15 minutes long, so you can perfectly combine them with your daily activities.

7 – Vloeiend Vlaams (“Fluent Flemish”)

• Level: Intermediate to Advanced
• Theme: History and Stories
• Free

Are you learning Dutch but plan to use these language skills in Belgium? This podcast offers you a way to improve your Flemish skills. The podcast is relatively new and doesn’t have a lot of episodes yet. However, it tells you stories about Flemish history, and you’ll be able to listen to correct Flemish accents, intonation, and vocabulary. It’s a great way to improve your Flemish listening, comprehension, and pronunciation skills. 

3. Tricks to Help You Learn Dutch More Effectively with Podcasts

How can you learn Dutch by listening to podcasts?

Now that you have a list of the best Dutch podcasts for learners, you’re ready to start listening. But how can you really take advantage of these podcasts to learn Dutch effectively? 

1. Pick the right podcast for your level.
   Although it sounds very obvious, it’s important to choose the right podcast for your level so that you don’t get discouraged. It’s better to start off easy so that you can get motivated and ready for more. You can always move on to some more challenging content later.


2. Select the right topic for you.
   If you find a Dutch podcast with a theme that you really enjoy, you’ll be more likely to stick with it and come back for more. Of course, it’s mainly the advanced students who have the luxury of choice and can choose the topics they’re most passionate about. 

3. Try out several podcasts.
   There are many podcasts out there, and it’s likely that you won’t find the perfect program from Day One. Try out different podcasts to see which one matches your level and tastes. This will also expose you to more than one voice and accent.


4. Daily exposure is key.
   Try making your podcast listening part of your routine. For example, you could try always listening to them while commuting or washing the dishes. If you can find the time for a daily podcast session, you will get that necessary exposure to really improve your Dutch. You can combine your podcast listening with many activities, but try to avoid too much multitasking as your ears and brain should be fully available.


5. Don’t forget to mix it up.
   Passive learning has many benefits, but you’ll benefit more if you combine it with other language learning methods. So mix it up and combine those Dutch podcasts with the classic grammar and vocabulary work. Use podcasts as a complementary activity and not as your main (or only) Dutch language learning tool.

4. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

Let’s start learning Dutch while having fun!

In this guide, you’ve learned how to boost your studies by using podcasts to learn Dutch. We have shown you our picks for the best Dutch podcasts, and we have given you some tips and tricks to apply for the best experience. 

Are there any other amazing Dutch podcasts you’re following? What do you think is the best podcast for learning Dutch? 

Don’t forget to combine those Dutch podcasts with other language learning methods, such as our vocabulary lists with audio recordings (and other free resources). With DutchPod101, you can really keep your Dutch learning fun and diverse.

Would you like some special attention? Remember that we also offer a Premium PLUS service with personal 1-on-1 coaching: MyTeacher. Let your private teacher help you with Dutch grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and much more. You’ll receive personalized exercises, constructive feedback, and interactive assignments.

Happy learning on DutchPod101.com!

How many Dutch phrases do you know? Does it ever feel like you don’t know enough Dutch to handle the different situations that pop up every day? 

It can be frustrating not being able to explain or express yourself due to having a limited vocabulary. But having access to an extensive set of basic Dutch phrases for beginners will surely help you feel more confident about using the Dutch language. 

Luckily, you don’t have to know everything. Learning even a few Dutch beginner phrases will be enough to help you manage yourself in everyday situations and speak with clarity. 

In this article, we’ll list essential Dutch phrases for beginners that will allow you to communicate in Dutch. We have included greetings, self-introductions, goodbyes, courtesy phrases, dining and shopping phrases, and phrases you can use to ask for help. By the time you reach the end, you’ll know the best Dutch beginner phrases for a wide variety of situations.

Let’s master these Dutch beginner phrases!

Table of Contents

1. Greetings, Self-introductions, and Goodbyes
2. Courtesy Phrases
3. Dining and Shopping Phrases
4. Asking for Help
5. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. Greetings, Self-introductions, and Goodbyes

First, to make a great first impression, it’s important to get your Dutch greetings right. There are different greetings for different situations, from formal gatherings to more casual social encounters. When in doubt, remember that Hallo (“Hello”) is always a great option as it works well in both formal and casual situations.

Hallo.  [Formal or casual]	Hoi. [Casual]
Hello.	Hi.

Goedemorgen.  [Formal or casual]

Good morning.

Goedenavond.  [Formal or casual]

Good evening.

Hallo meneer.  [Formal]

Hello, sir.

Goedemorgen mevrouw.  [Formal]

Good morning, madam.

→ Would you like to learn some more options or hear the pronunciation of the Dutch greetings above? Have a look at our vocabulary list Common Ways to Say Hello in the Netherlands.

Now that you have given your Dutch greeting, you may want to ask how they’re doing. Here are some basic Dutch phrases you could use:

Hoe gaat het met u?  [Formal]	Alles goed?  [Casual]
How are you?
Literally: How are you going?	Literally: Everything fine?

Goed, dank u.  [Formal]	Ja, alles prima.  [Casual]
I am good, thank you.	Yes, everything is fine.
Literally: Good, thank you.

Would you like to keep the conversation going? In case you don’t know the other person, you can use the following Dutch beginner phrases to begin introductions. 

Wat is uw naam?  [Formal]	Hoe heet je?  [Casual]
What’s your name?

Ik heet Mark.  [Formal or casual]

My name is Mark.

Ik ben Kim.  [Casual]

I am Kim.

Waar komt u vandaan?  [Formal]	Waar kom je vandaan?  [Casual]
Where are you from?

Waar woont u?  [Formal]	Waar woon je?  [Casual]
Where do you live?

Ik ben Duits.

I’m German.

Ik woon in Parijs.

I live in Paris.

Ik kom uit Argentinië.

I’m from Argentina.

→ Not sure what the Dutch name for your nationality or country is? You can find your nationality (along with its pronunciation) on this vocabulary list and the name of your country on this one.

Hoe oud bent u?  [Formal]	Hoe oud ben je?  [Casual]
How old are you?

Ik ben dertig jaar oud.

I’m thirty years old.

Aangenaam (kennis te maken).  [Formal or casual]

Nice to meet you.

Literally: Nice to get to know you. You can either say aangenaam by itself or use the whole phrase (aangenaam kennis te maken). Both versions are perfectly fine for formal situations; in more casual settings, it sounds better to just say aangenaam.

Leuk u te ontmoeten.  [Formal]	Leuk je te ontmoeten.  [Casual]
Nice to meet you.

Het was leuk u gesproken te hebben.  [Formal]	Het was leuk je gesproken te hebben. [Casual]
It was nice talking to you.

All good things must come to an end. Here are some beginner phrases in Dutch that are perfect for ending a conversation and saying goodbye.

How do you say goodbye in Dutch?

Dag!  [Formal or casual]

Bye.

Tot ziens.  [Formal or casual]

Goodbye.

Literally: Until seeing you.

Tot later!  [Casual]

See you later!

Literally: Until later.

Tot morgen.  [Casual]

See you tomorrow.

Literally: Until tomorrow.

Succes!  [Formal or casual]

Good luck.

Veel plezier!  [Casual]

Have fun!

→ Have a look at our vocabulary list Most Common Ways to Say Goodbye to discover many more options for saying goodbye in Dutch.
→ Would you like to learn more self-introduction sentences with useful audio recordings? See our list 10 Lines You Need for Introducing Yourself and practice your Dutch pronunciation!

2. Courtesy Phrases

The Dutch might not be the politest people in the world, but there are certain manners that the Dutch highly appreciate. To give you a leg up in social settings, we have included a list of useful Dutch phrases for beginners that are considered polite and courteous in the Netherlands. Make sure to use these courtesy phrases whenever appropriate to leave a good impression on others. 

Excuseer me.  [Formal]	Sorry.  [Casual]
Excuse me.
This phrase is used to catch someone’s attention before asking for something, or to apologize in advance for an inconvenience. For example:  Excuseer me, weet u hoe laat het is? (“Excuse me, do you know the time?”) [Formal] Sorry, weet je hoe laat het is? (“Sorry, do you know the time?”) [Casual]

Alstublieft.  [Formal]	Alsjeblieft.  [Casual]
Please.
Literally: If it pleases you.

Bedankt.  [Formal or casual]

Thank you.

Dank u wel.  [Formal]	Dank je wel.  [Casual]
Thank you.

Graag gedaan.  [Formal or casual]

You’re welcome.

(Dat is) geen probleem.  [Casual]

That’s no problem.

If, despite your best efforts, you make a mistake and want to apologize for it, you can keep it simple:

Sorry.  [Formal or casual]

Sorry.

Het spijt me.  [Formal or casual]

I’m sorry.

Neem me niet kwalijk.  [Formal]

Excuse me.

Use these simple Dutch beginner phrases when you’re sorry.

→ A simple sorry might not be enough if you really messed up. In this case, you might want to consult our Common Ways to Say Sorry vocabulary list.

3. Dining and Shopping Phrases

As you travel through the Netherlands, you’ll surely enjoy the country’s dining culture and the many shopping places we have. Even though the staff in shops, bars, and restaurants will surely speak English, wouldn’t it be nice to practice your Dutch?

Do you plan on dining out a lot? Learning these common Dutch phrases for beginners will help you order food, ask for the bill, and more. 

Ik heb honger.

I am hungry.

Mag ik de menukaart zien?

Can I see the menu?

Ik wil graag twee koffie, alstublieft.

I’d like two coffees, please.

De rekening, alstublieft.

The bill, please.

Ik wil graag contant betalen.	Ik wil graag pinnen.
I would like to pay in cash.	I would like to pay by card.
These phrases will also come in handy for discussing payment options with the cashier at a store.

We willen graag splitsen.

We would like to split the bill.

When you’re with friends (or even a date) in a bar or restaurant, it’s quite common in the Netherlands to split the bill, or “go Dutch.” In this case, you would just ask the staff if you could each pay your own part.

→ You’ll find many more restaurant phrases in our vocabulary list Useful Phrases for Ordering Food. It even contains recorded examples to help you practice your pronunciation!

Now that you’ve quieted your hunger or thirst in a nice Dutch café or restaurant, it’s time to do some shopping. Here are a few beginner phrases in Dutch that will help you shop like there’s no tomorrow:

Waar is de paskamer?

Where is the changing room?

Ik wil graag deze broek passen.

I’d like to try on these pants.

Hoeveel kost dit?

How much is this?

Ik wil graag deze jas kopen.

I’d like to buy this jacket.

Verkoopt u postzegels?

Do you sell postage stamps?

→ Do you need more shopping words? Make sure to stop by our Shopping vocabulary list.

Let’s go shopping with these useful Dutch beginner phrases.

4. Asking for Help

Since you’re reading these basic Dutch phrases for beginners, chances are you’re not fluent yet. This means there will likely be times when you get a little lost and confused. This is perfectly fine, as long as you can explain the situation and move on. The following Dutch beginner phrases will help you do just that, even when you’re dealing with that pesky language barrier! 

1 – Lost in Translation

Are you worried about listening comprehension issues during your visit? While the easiest option would be to switch to English, you should try to stick with Dutch as this will help improve your Dutch language skills. 

Ik spreek niet zo goed Nederlands.

I don’t speak Dutch very well.

Ik begrijp u niet.  [Formal]	Ik begrijp je niet.  [Casual]
I don’t understand you.

Hoe zeg je “dog” in het Nederlands?

How do you say “dog” in Dutch?

Kunt u dat herhalen?  [Formal]	Kun je dat herhalen?  [Casual]
Could you repeat that, please?

Ik versta u als u langzaam praat.  [Formal]	Ik versta je als je langzaam praat.  [Casual]
I understand you if you speak slowly.

And if you really can’t save yourself in Dutch, then you could always say:

Spreekt u Engels?  [Formal]	Spreek je Engels?  [Casual]
Do you speak English?

2 – Asking for Directions

Besides being lost in translation, you might also really get lost when traveling in the Netherlands. When you’re stranded in the middle of a strange Dutch city or you don’t know where the nearest restroom is, you’ll definitely need to know these Dutch beginner phrases for asking directions.

Sorry, waar zijn de toiletten?

Excuse me, where are the toilets?

Waar is het centraal station?

Where is the central station?

Ik ben op zoek naar de Damstraat.

I am looking for the Damstraat.

Hoe kan ik daar komen?

How can I get there?

3 – Getting Out of Trouble

Did you get into trouble in the Netherlands or find yourself in a situation that you really don’t understand? Then these simple beginner phrases might come in handy.

Ik weet het niet.

I don’t know.

Wat is dat?

What’s that?

Wat gebeurt er?

What’s happening?

Het is oké.

That’s okay.

Het maak niet uit.

It doesn’t matter.

Maak je geen zorgen.  [Formal or casual]	Maak je niet druk.  [Casual]
Don’t worry.

→ Did someone go too far? Then have a look at our vocabulary list, Dutch Phrases to Use When You’re Angry.

5. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

These Dutch beginner phrases will surely help you improve your Dutch and start conversing!

In this guide, you’ve learned many phrases in Dutch for beginners: greetings, self-introductions, goodbyes, courtesy phrases, and even phrases for shopping, dining, and getting help.

Can you think of any more basic Dutch phrases you might need to know? 

You can start practicing and rehearsing these phrases right away by checking out the free vocabulary lists on DutchPod101.com. Each list contains a recorded pronunciation of the words and phrases it covers, making them perfect for getting your pronunciation just right! In addition, we provide a variety of free resources and audio/video lessons for learners at every level. With DutchPod101, you can really keep your Dutch learning fun and diverse. 

Would you like some special attention? Remember that we also offer a Premium PLUS service with personal 1-on-1 coaching: MyTeacher. Let your private teacher help you with Dutch vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and much more. You’ll receive personalized exercises, constructive feedback, and interactive assignments.

Happy learning on DutchPod101.com!

Have you been studying Dutch for a while and feel confident in your ability to conquer more advanced Dutch words? It sure takes a lot of dedication and brainpower to master these words, but once you pull it off, you’ll find that there’s nothing as rewarding as having fluent conversations with your Dutch-speaking friends, colleagues, or classmates. 

In this article, we’ll list a wide variety of advanced Dutch vocabulary words. This includes everything from general advanced words to more nuanced terms for the academic, business, medical, and legal spheres. In addition, we’ll introduce you to more sophisticated alternatives to common words that will help you ace your Dutch language exam. 

With this advanced Dutch wordlist, you’ll be able to express yourself better, understand more advanced conversations, and slowly but surely perfect your Dutch.

Let’s refine your Dutch vocabulary!

Table of Contents

1. General Advanced Dutch Words
2. Academic Words
3. Advanced Business Words
4. Advanced Medical Words
5. Advanced Legal Words
6. Alternative Words for Acing a Dutch Language Exam
7. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. General Advanced Dutch Words

These are advanced verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and linking words that you could use in a variety of situations. They allow you to express yourself in a sophisticated manner and relay your ideas with greater clarity.

1  – Verbs

Argumenteren	De leerlingen argumenteren tegen elkaar in het debat.
To argue	The students argue against each other in the debate.

Besteden	Ik besteed een groot deel van mijn budget aan marketing.
To spend / To pay	I spend a lot of my budget on marketing.

Bevatten	Sinaasappelen bevatten veel vitamine C.
To contain / To have	Oranges contain lots of vitamin C.

Discussiëren	We zouden hier de hele dag over kunnen discussiëren.
To debate	We could debate this all day.

Fluisteren	Hij fluisterde in mijn oor.
To whisper	He whispered in my ear.

Leiden tot	De crisis in de huizenmarkt leidde tot vele problemen.
To lead to	The crisis in the housing market led to many problems.

Verantwoordelijkheid nemen	Ik neem verantwoordelijkheid voor de risico´s van deze missie.
To take responsibility	I take responsibility for the risks of this mission.

Verkrijgen	Ik moet een visum verkrijgen om naar Rusland te reizen.
To obtain / To acquire	I need to obtain a visa to travel to Russia.

Verzamelen	Wij zijn data aan het verzamelen.
To collect / To gather	We are collecting data.

2 – Adjectives

Feilloos	Haar kleding is altijd feilloos gestyled.
Flawless	Her clothes are always flawlessly styled.

Gedetailleerd	Hij schreef een gedetailleerd rapport.
Detailed	He wrote a detailed report.

Geschikt	We zoeken een geschikte oplossing.
Suitable / Adequate	We’re looking for an adequate solution.

Onaanvaardbaar	Deze resultaten zijn onaanvaardbaar!
Unacceptable	These results are unacceptable!

Onwaarschijnlijk	Dit lijkt erg onwaarschijnlijk.
Unlikely	This seems very unlikely.

Raadselachtig	De film is erg raadselachtig.
Puzzling / Mysterious	This movie is very puzzling.

Redelijk	Dit is een redelijke oplossing.
Reasonable	This is a reasonable solution.

Subtiel	Een subtiele mix van knoflook en basilicum
Subtle	A subtle blend of garlic and basil

Voortreffelijk	Het eten was voortreffelijk!
Excellent / Outstanding	The food was excellent!

Willekeurig	Er is een willekeurige selectie gemaakt.
Random	A random selection has been made.

3 – Adverbs

Absoluut	Het heeft absoluut geen zin.
Absolutely	It is absolutely pointless.

Abrupt	We zijn abrupt weg gegaan.
Abruptly	We left abruptly.

Briljant	Hij sloeg die bal briljant weg.
Brilliantly	He hit that ball brilliantly.

Gematigd	Hij praat altijd erg gematigd over dat onderwerp.
Moderately	He always talks very moderately about that subject.

Letterlijk	Hij heeft dat letterlijk gezegd.
Literally	He said that literally.

Natuurlijk	Het winnen van de wedstrijd maakte me natuurlijk blij.
Naturally	Winning the game naturally made me happy.

Precies	Het is precies andersom.
Precisely	It is precisely the other way around.

Zeker	Ze is zeker erg populair.
Certainly / Definitely	She’s certainly very popular.

4 – Linking Words

Hoewel	Hoewel mijn oma oud is, is ze nog steeds erg actief.
Although	Although my grandma is old, she is still very active.

Desondanks	Het regende, maar desondanks gingen we wandelen.
Nevertheless	It was raining, but nevertheless, we went for a walk.

Niettemin	Het is moeilijk, maar niettemin moeten we het proberen.
Nevertheless / Nonetheless	It is difficult, but we must try nonetheless.

Ondanks	Ondanks haar vermoeidheid, is ze toch maar gaan fietsen.
Despite	Despite her fatigue, she went cycling anyway.

Ongeacht	Ongeacht wat u ook doet, u zult tot de juiste beslissing komen.
Whatever / No matter what	Whatever you do, you’ll come to the right decision.

Tenzij	Laten we beginnen, tenzij je wilt wachten.
Unless	Let’s start, unless you want to wait.

Terwijl	De prijzen stijgen terwijl de kwaliteit daalt.
While / As	Prices are increasing while the quality is going down.

Wat betreft	Wat uw rol betreft, we praten er morgen over.
As for	As for your role, we’ll talk about it tomorrow.

Zodra	Zodra u klaar bent, kunnen we beginnen.
As soon as	As soon as you’re ready, we can start.

How about these general advanced Dutch words? Did you already know some of them?

2. Academic Words

The next set of advanced Dutch vocabulary we’ll cover consists of words you would hear, read, or use in an academic setting. You’ll find these words especially useful if you plan to study in the Netherlands! 

Aanleiding	Haar slechte prestatie was de aanleiding voor haar ontslag.
Reason / Cause	Her poor performance was the reason for her dismissal.

Abstract	De ideeën van de professor waren tamelijk abstract.
Abstract	The professor’s ideas were quite abstract.

Analyseren	Als je wilt weten wat de kenmerken van een verhaal zijn, moet je het eerst analyseren.
To analyze	If you want to know the characteristics of a story, you have to analyze it first.

Chronologisch	Ik heb het verhaal in chronologische volgorde verteld.
Chronological	I have told the story in chronological order.

Citeren	Hij citeert enkele beroemde filosofen in zijn essay.
To quote / To cite	He quotes some famous philosophers in his essay.

Consequent	Bij het opvoeden van kinderen moet je consequent zijn.
Consistent	You have to be consistent when raising children.

Correlatie	Er bestaat een duidelijke correlatie tussen deze twee factoren.
Correlation	There is a clear correlation between these two factors.

Cyclus	Deze cyclus herhaalt zich elk jaar.
Cycle	This cycle repeats itself every year.

Dilemma	Europa staat duidelijk voor een dilemma.
Dilemma	Europe clearly faces a dilemma.

Diversiteit	In Nederland is er een grote diversiteit aan vogels.
Diversity	There is a great diversity of birds in the Netherlands.

Eficiënt	Als je efficiënt wilt studeren, moet je je leren focussen.
Efficiently	If you want to study efficiently, you have to learn to focus.

Empathie	Hij is erg egoïstisch en voelt weinig empathie voor anderen.
Empathy	He is very selfish and has little empathy for others.

Facultatief	De deelname aan de cursus Spaans voor beginners is facultatief.
Optional	Participation in the Spanish for Beginners course is optional.

Fenomeen	Het toenemende gebruik van smartphones is een universeel fenomeen.
Phenomenon	The increasing use of smartphones is a universal phenomenon.

Fictief	Dit is een fictief verhaal, het is niet echt gebeurd.
Fictional	This is a fictional story; it didn’t actually happen.

Generaliseren	Hij generaliseert veel als hij over zijn studenten praat.
Generalize	He generalizes a lot when he talks about his students.

Hiërarchie	In dit bedrijf is er nog veel hiërarchie.
Hierarchy	There is still a lot of hierarchy in this company.

Hypothese	Volgens onze hypothese heeft dit fenomeen verregaande gevolgen.
Hypothesis	According to our hypothesis, this phenomenon has far-reaching consequences.

Interpreteren	De opmerking kon op verschillende manieren geïnterpreteerd worden.
Interpret	The remark could be interpreted in different ways.

Nuanceren	Kun je die vraag nog wat nuanceren?
To nuance	Can you nuance that question a bit?

Objectief	De beslissing van de minister was gebaseerd op objectieve criteria.
Objective	The minister’s decision was based on objective criteria.

Pragmatisch	De doorgewinterde politicus neemt altijd erg pragmatische beslissingen.
Pragmatic	The seasoned politician always makes very pragmatic decisions.

Synoniem	Ik ken geen synoniem voor dat woord.
Synonym	I don’t know a synonym for that word.

Urgentie	Gezien de urgentie van het probleem moeten we direct handelen.
Urgency	Given the urgency of the problem, we must act immediately.

Variëren	Om de kinderen geïnteresseerd te houden, moet u uw lesmethoden variëren.
To vary	To keep the children interested, you have to vary your teaching methods.

Are you ready to master these academic Dutch words?

3. Advanced Business Words

As you approach the advanced level in Dutch, you might be considering a job or career in the Netherlands. The following words will give you a leg up in the Dutch business world, whatever direction your dreams take you. 

Winstgevend	Mijn bedrijf is niet meer winstgevend.
Profitable	My company is not profitable anymore.

Afdeling	Ik werk op de marketingafdeling.
Department / Division	I work in the marketing division.

Hoofdkantoor	Dit is het hoofdkantoor van Heineken.
Head office	This is the Heineken head office.

Uitbesteding	Door uitbesteding kunnen we kosten besparen.
Outsourcing	Outsourcing allows us to cut costs.

Ontslag	Ontslag werd overwogen.
Dismissal / Resignation	Dismissal was considered.

Activa	Ze hebben activa om met hun schulden te dealen.
Assets	They have assets to deal with their debts.

Aandelen	De gepresenteerde aandelen worden beoordeeld.
Stocks	The submitted stocks will be evaluated.

Aandeelhouder	Ik ben de enige aandeelhouder van mijn eigen bedrijf.
Shareholder	I’m the only shareholder of my own company.

Rentetarief	De rentetarieven dalen elk jaar.
Interest rate	Interest rates are decreasing every year.

Personeelszaken	Personeelszaken zorgt voor uw contract.
Human resources	Human resources are taking care of your contract.

Omzet	De omzet is gestaag gestegen.
Turnover / Revenue	Revenues have steadily increased.

Fondsen	We moeten fondsen vrijmaken.
Funds	We have to release funds.

Dochteronderneming	Wij zijn een dochteronderneming van dat bedrijf.
Subsidiary	We are a subsidiary of that company.

Tarief	U vindt mijn tarief op mijn website.
Rate	You’ll find my rate on my website.

Loonstrook	Ik heb mijn loonstrook nog niet ontvangen.
Payslip	I haven’t received my payslip yet.

Samenwerkingsverband	Ze heeft net een samenwerkingsverband getekend met ons bedrijf.
Partnership	She’s just signed a partnership with our company.

Arbeidsmarkt	Vrouwen worden vaak gediscrimineerd op de arbeidsmarkt.
Labor market	Women are often discriminated against in the labor market.

Vergoeden	Deze opdracht wordt goed vergoed.
To compensate / To pay	This assignment is well compensated.

Solliciteren	Ik solliciteer voor een nieuwe baan.
To apply	I’m applying for a new job.

Filiaal	We hebben een filiaal in Rotterdam.
Branch	We have a branch in Rotterdam.

Boekhouding	Ik ben voor een vereenvoudigde boekhouding.
Accounting	I vote for simplified accounting.

Failliet gaan	Mijn bedrijf is failliet gegaan.
To go bankrupt	My company has gone bankrupt.

Zakenreis	Ze gaat op zakenreis.
Business trip	She’s leaving for a business trip.

Vast contract

Permanent contract

Tijdelijk contract

Temporary contract

Let’s master the Dutch business world with these advanced Dutch words.

→ Are you working in the Netherlands? Then these vocabulary lists might come in handy: Essential Vocabulary and Phrases for Preparing a Presentation and Phrases for Doing Business Successfully.

→ Do you want to apply for a job in the Netherlands? Then have a look at these useful vocabulary lists with audio recordings to perfect your Dutch pronunciation: Words and Phrases for Writing Your Resume and Words and Phrases for HR and the Recruitment Process.

4. Advanced Medical Words

Whether you’re studying medicine in the Netherlands, pursuing a job in the medical field, or sitting in the ER, these advanced Dutch words will help you out in a pinch. 

Behandeling	Ik probeer een experimentele behandeling.
Treatment	I’m trying an experimental treatment.

Goedaardig	Dit syndroom is goedaardig.
Benign	This syndrome is benign.

Desinfecteren	Je moet de wond desinfecteren.
To disinfect	You have to disinfect the wound.

Besmettelijk	Dit virus is zeer besmettelijk.
Contagious	This virus is highly contagious.

Immuun	Ik ben niet immuun voor die ziekte.
Immune	I am not immune to that disease.

Allergie	Allergie voor dit product is zeer ongebruikelijk.
Allergy	Allergy to this product is very unusual.

Bloeddruk	Hij zal uw bloeddruk meten.
Blood pressure	He will measure your blood pressure.

Breuk	Ik heb een dubbele heupbreuk.
Fracture	I have a double hip fracture.

Röntgenfoto	Je hebt een röntgenfoto nodig.
X-ray	You’re going to need an X-ray.

Gips	Ik draag sinds januari gips.
Cast	I’ve been wearing a cast since January.

Hartaanval	Hij stierf na een hartaanval.
Heart attack	He died after suffering a heart attack.

Immuunsysteem	Mijn immuunsysteem was verzwakt.
Immune system	My immune system was weakened.

Bloeding	We moeten de bloeding stoppen.
Bleeding	We have to stop the bleeding.

Vaccineren	Ze willen de hele bevolking vaccineren.
To vaccinate	They want to vaccinate the whole population.

Recept	U kunt dit medicijn niet zonder recept kopen.
Prescription	You can’t buy this medication without a prescription.

Bijwerking	Er is geen bijwerking bekend.
Side effect	There is no known side effect.

Bloedonderzoek	U moet een bloedonderzoek ondergaan.
Blood test	You have to do a blood test.

Griep	Ik kreeg vorig jaar griep.
Flu	I got the flu last year.

Jeuk	Ik begin jeuk te krijgen.
Itch	I’m starting to feel an itch.

Menstruatie	Dit is een middel tegen pijnlijke menstruatie.
Menstruation	This is a remedy for painful menstruation.

Nek	Het slachtoffer heeft een gebroken nek.
Neck	The victim has a broken neck.

Buik	Ik heb buikpijn.
Stomach	I have a stomachache.

Wervelkolom	De wervelkolom is delicaat.
Spine	The spine is delicate.

Ribben	Mijn ribben doen pijn.
Ribs	My ribs hurt.

Longen	Hij ademt slecht want hij heeft last van zijn longen.
Lungs	He’s breathing badly because he has lung problems.

These advanced Dutch medical words will help you feel more comfortable when going to the doctor in the Netherlands.

→ There are so many complicated medical words that it would take days to list them all! For more phrases with recorded examples, head over to these vocabulary lists: Medicine and Medical Treatments, Words and Phrases for Talking About Injuries, and Useful Phrases for Talking to Your Doctor.

5. Advanced Legal Words

Learning these advanced legal words will aid your law studies, allow you to engage in more complex conversations, or maybe even help you work out an unfortunate misunderstanding. 

Conform	Het bedrijf handelt conform de wetgeving.
In accordance with	The company acts in accordance with the law.

Erkende	Ik ben een erkende vertegenwoordiger van de regering.
Authorized / Accredited	I’m an accredited representative of the government.

Strafblad	Ik heb geen strafblad.
Criminal record	I don’t have a criminal record.

Hoger beroep	De beslissing werd door de rechter in hoger beroep genomen.
Appeal	The decision was made by the judge on appeal.

Juridisch advies	We hebben juridisch advies nodig.
Legal counsel	We need legal counsel.

Gerechtelijk	Dit is een gerechtelijke zaak.
Judicial	This is a judicial case.

Schriftelijk bewijs	Schriftelijk bewijs van adres
Written proof	Written proof of address

Dagvaarden	Ze dagvaardde de getuige.
To summon	She summoned the witness.

Wettelijke vertegenwoordiger	Ik ben de wettelijke vertegenwoordiger van dit bedrijf.
Legal representative	I’m the legal representative of this company.

Aangetekende brief	Ik heb het document per aangetekende brief verzonden.
Registered letter	I have sent the document in a registered letter.

Geschil	U heeft twee dagen de tijd om een geschil te openen.
Dispute / Litigation	You have two days to open a dispute.

Huiszoekingsbevel	Ik kom terug met een huiszoekingsbevel.
Search warrant	I will come back with a search warrant.

Vertegenwoordiger	We zullen een vertegenwoordiger aanwijzen.
Representative	We will appoint a representative.

Notaris	Het document is gecertificeerd door een notaris.
Notary	The document is certified by a notary.

Paraferen	Je moet dit contract paraferen.
To initial (a document)	I need you to initial this contract.

Clausule	Hij heeft alle clausules van het contract gelezen.
Clause	He read all the clauses of the contract.

Rechtszaak	Er is een rechtszaak aangespannen tegen het bedrijf.
Lawsuit	A lawsuit was filed against the company.

Officier van justitie	De officier van justitie wil met u praten.
Public prosecutor	The prosecutor wants to talk to you.

Eisen	Ik eis het recht om deze beslissing te nemen.
To claim	I claim the right to make this decision.

Onwettig	Deze handel is in dat land volledig onwettig.
Illegitimate	This trade is completely illegitimate in that country.

Illegaal	De goederen die hij in bezit heeft gekregen, zijn illegaal.
Illegal	The goods he came into possession of are illegal.

Aanvaller	Zijn aanvaller was lang en blond.
Assailant	His assailant was tall and blond.

Corruptie	Corruptie is een misdaad.
Corruption	Corruption is a crime.

Inbraak	De inbraak vond plaats in de nacht van 17 op 18 juni.
Burglary	The burglary took place on the night of June 17 to June 18.

Chanteren	Ze hebben me gechanteerd voor vertrouwelijke informatie.
To blackmail	They blackmailed me for confidential information.

Which advanced Dutch legal words are most useful to you?

6. Alternative Words for Acing a Dutch Language Exam

Do you want to take a Dutch language proficiency test? In the Netherlands, there are two official language proficiency tests: the NT2 Dutch as a Second Language State Exam (Staatsexamen NT2) and the Dutch as a Foreign Language Certificate (Certificaat Nederlands als Vreemde Taal, CNaVT). 

→ Are you interested in taking the NT2 Dutch State Exam? Then have a look at our guide with useful information, tips, and tricks. It will definitely help you prepare for this common Dutch language exam.

One way to do well on a Dutch language proficiency test is to show that you have a diverse vocabulary. It also helps to prove that you’re able to express yourself with subtlety instead of relying on the same (simple) terms.

In the final leg of this advanced Dutch word list, you’ll find simple verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, followed by their more sophisticated alternatives and an example sentence. The first column is the simple word, and the second is the alternative you might want to use.

1 – Alternative Verbs

Beginnen	Aanvangen	Voordat de werkzaamheden kunnen aanvangen, moet dit eerst in orde worden gemaakt.
To start	To commence	Before the work can start, this must be arranged first.

Doorgaan (met)	Hervatten	We kunnen de vergadering hervatten.
To continue	To resume	We can resume the meeting.

Laten zien	Tonen	In deze nieuwe campagne toont het bedrijf de nieuwe modellen.
To show	To show	In this new campaign, the company is showing the new models.

Kopen	Aanschaffen	We willen graag een nieuwe auto aanschaffen.
To buy	To acquire	We would like to buy a new car.

Hebben	Bezitten	Ik bezit een huis in Amsterdam en een huis in Frankrijk.
To have	To own	I own a house in Amsterdam and a house in France.

Zeggen	Beweren	Ze beweert dat ze niets weet.
To say	To claim	She claims she doesn’t know anything.

2 – Alternative Adjectives

Essentieel	Noodzakelijk	Het is noodzakelijk om nu te investeren.
Essential	Essential	It is essential to invest right now.

Handig	Gunstig	Het nieuwe systeem is erg gunstig.
Convenient	Convenient	The new system is very convenient.

Verschillend	Divers	De oceaan kent een rijk en divers ecosysteem.
Different	Diverse	The ocean has a rich and diverse ecosystem.

Makkelijk	Eenvoudig	Je zult zien dat het erg eenvoudig is.
Easy	Easy / Simple	You’ll see that it’s very easy.

3 – Alternative Adverbs

Echt	Werkelijk	Wat zij beweert is werkelijk niet waar.
Really	Really	What she claims is really not true.

Zonder problemen	Probleemloos	Het evenement verliep probleemloos.
Easily	Smoothly	The event went smoothly.

Nu	Onmiddellijk	Kom onmiddellijk naar mijn kantoor!
Now	Immediately	Come to my office immediately!

Vanaf nu	Voortaan	Ik wil dat jij mij voortaan altijd op de hoogte stelt van nieuwe aankopen.
From now on	From now on	From now on, I want you to always keep me informed of new purchases.

Voor	Voorafgaand	Voorafgaand aan het tekenen van het contract, wil ik het huis nog een keer zien.
Before	Prior	Prior to signing the contract, I want to see the house again.

Vroeger	Voorheen	Voorheen was het product niet in winkels verkrijgbaar.
Before	Previously	Previously, the product was not available in stores.

Which alternative Dutch word will you use on your language exam?

7. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

In this guide, you have seen over 150 of the most useful advanced Dutch words in a range of categories. You’ve even been able to discover some alternative Dutch words that will help you ace your Dutch language exam. You might already have known some of them, but now you have them all conveniently gathered in this advanced Dutch wordlist.

Are there any advanced words or categories you think we should’ve included? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll gladly get back to you. 

Ready to start using these 150+ advanced Dutch words? DutchPod101.com hosts a range of vocabulary lists with audio recordings and other free resources to boost your studies.

Would you like some special attention? Remember that we also offer a Premium PLUS service with personal 1-on-1 coaching: MyTeacher. Let your private teacher help you master everything on this Dutch advanced wordlist, and then some. You’ll receive personalized exercises, constructive feedback, and interactive assignments.

Happy learning on DutchPod101.com!

Have you reached the intermediate level of Dutch and can no longer be called a beginner? 

Congratulations! This is an amazing achievement. You’ve found the energy and a successful learning routine to master the beginner level.

However, this is also when your Dutch language learning journey gets more difficult. As you begin learning the intermediate Dutch words and phrases, your progress will slow down and become less linear than it was at the beginning. You’ve got a good basic vocabulary and a decent bit of grammar knowledge, but how do you go from basic to advanced?

In this article, we’ll list the most common intermediate Dutch words you should learn to slowly improve your Dutch and reach the next level. From pronouns and numbers to prepositions, this guide will give you the boost you need to reach—and master—the intermediate level in Dutch!

Let’s master the intermediate Dutch level!

Table of Contents

1. Pronouns
2. Verbs
3. Numbers
4. Nouns
5. Conjunctions
6. Adjectives
7. Adverbs
8. Prepositions
9. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. Pronouns

You probably already manage various Dutch pronouns at this point, such as the personal subject pronouns (ik, zij, jij, wij), the impersonal pronoun (het – “it”), and even the demonstrative, interrogative, and indefinite pronouns.

Now it’s time to move on to some intermediate Dutch grammar stuff with these next-level pronouns.

1 – Possessive Pronouns

A possessive pronoun indicates ownership:

• Dat is mijn boek. (“That’s my book.”)

However, it does not always mean that someone owns something in a literal sense, as you can see in the next examples:

• Haar vliegtuig heeft vertraging. (“Her plane is delayed.”)
• Hij is mijn vriend. (“He is my boyfriend.”)

Let’s have a look at the Dutch possessive pronouns:

Dutch	English
Singular
Mijn	“My”
Jouw (casual with emphasis) Je (casual without emphasis) Uw (formal)	“Your”
ZijnHaar	“His” “Her”
Plural
Ons (het-nouns) Onze (de-nouns and plural nouns)	“Our”
Jullie (casual) Uw (formal)	“Your”
Hun	“Their”

2 – Objective Personal Pronouns

Objective personal pronouns take the place of the sentence’s object, rather than its subject:

• Zij kent mij. (“She knows me.”)
• Daan praatte met hem. (“Daan spoke with him.”)

In these sentences, mij and hem are the objective personal pronouns. Let’s have a look at the rest:

Dutch	English
Singular
Me Mij	“Me”
Jou (casual with emphasis) Je (casual without emphasis) U (formal)	“You”
Hem Haar	“Him” “Her”
Plural
Ons	“Us”
Jullie (casual) U (formal)	“You”
Hun Hen	“Them”

3 – Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns replace the objective personal pronoun when someone is doing something to themselves:

• Ik was me. (“I wash myself.”)
• Ze schamen zich. (“They are ashamed of themselves.”)

Dutch	English
Singular
Me	“Myself”
Je (casual) U (formal) Zich (formal)	“Yourself”
Zich (singular)	“Himself” “Herself” “Itself”
Plural
Ons	“Ourselves”
Je (casual) U (formal)	“Yourselves”
Zich (plural)	“Themselves”

4 – Reciprocal Pronouns

The Dutch word elkaar (“each other”) is a reciprocal pronoun. It can only be used for plural subjects that are doing something to each other:

• Wij kennen elkaar. (“We know each other.”)
• Zij praatten met elkaar. (“They talked to each other.”)
• Zij gaven elkaar de hand. (“They shook each other’s hands.”)

This is another example of where you could use the reciprocal pronoun elkaar. Do you know how?

→ Would you like to learn the pronunciation of these (and other) Dutch pronouns? Then have a look at our Most Useful Pronouns vocabulary list with audio recordings.

2. Verbs

You must already know the most common Dutch verbs for beginners, such as zijn (“to be”) and hebben (“to have”). Now it’s time to expand your vocabulary with some key intermediate Dutch verbs.

→ For more detailed information on the topic, be sure to have a look at our full article on Dutch verbs.

Serveren	“To serve”
Verlaten	“To leave”
Laten	“To allow” / “To let”
Verzenden	“To send”
Ontvangen	“To receive”
Leven	“To live”
Bellen	“To call”
Terugbellen	“To call back”
Presenteren	“To present”
Voorstellen	“To introduce” / “To propose”
Accepteren	“To accept”
Weigeren	“To refuse”
Acteren	“To act”
Spelen	“To play”
Herkennen	“To recognize”
Erkennen	“To acknowledge”
Kiezen	“To choose” / “To select”
Selecteren	“To select”
Aanraken	“To touch”
Opstaan	“To stand up” / “To get out of bed”
Winnen	“To win”
Verdienen	“To earn”
Verliezen	“To lose”
Bestaan	“To exist”
Slagen	“To succeed”
Veranderen	“To change”
Werken	“To work”
Lopen	“To walk”
Proberen	“To try” / “To attempt”
Voorkomen	“To prevent”
Stoppen	“To stop”
Hervatten	“To resume”
Terugnemen	“To take back”
Koken	“To cook”
Behoren	“To belong”
Riskeren	“To risk”
Ontmoeten	“To meet”
Creëren	“To create”
Krijgen	“To get”
Binnengaan	“To enter”
Verlaten	“To exit” / “To go out” / “To leave”
Aanbieden	“To offer”
Brengen	“To bring”
Gebruiken	“To use”
Bereiken	“To reach” / “To achieve”
Bereiden	“To make” / “To prepare”
Voorbereiden	“To prepare”
Toevoegen	“To add”
Betalen	“To pay”
Overwegen	“To consider”
Bestuderen	“To study”
Kopen	“To buy”
Kopen	“To buy”
Duwen	“To push”
Trekken	“To pull”
Vertrekken	“To leave” / “To depart”
Reizen	“To travel”

What other intermediate Dutch verbs would you like to know?

3. Numbers

You already know the basic numbers and can count from 1 to 10 in Dutch like a local. Now it’s time to go a step further and add larger numbers to your intermediate Dutch vocabulary. Learning higher numbers will allow you to handle higher prices, years, or ages. 

Let’s have a look.

1 – From 10 to 20

10	Tien
11	Elf
12	Twaalf
13	Dertien
14	Veertien
15	Vijftien
16	Zestien
17	Zeventien
18	Achttien
19	Negentien
20	Twintig

2 – Counting Up to 100

30	Dertig
40	Veertig
50	Vijftig
60	Zestig
70	Zeventig
80	Tachtig
90	Negentig
100	Honderd

3 – To 1000 and Beyond

200	Tweehonderd
300	Driehonderd
400	Vierhonderd
500	Vijfhonderd
600	Zeshonderd
700	Zevenhonderd
800	Achthonderd
900	Negenhonderd

And from there, the sky’s the limit!

1,000	Duizend
10,000	Tienduizend
100,000	Honderdduizend
1,000,000 (106)	Eén miljoen

Would you like to see some other examples of Dutch numbers and to hear their pronunciation? Then have a look at our Dutch Numbers vocabulary list.

4. Nouns 

The more nouns you know, the greater diversity of conversations you’ll be able to have! Below we’ve included some useful nouns in different categories for the intermediate Dutch level. 

1 – Time

Toekomst	“Future”
Seizoen	“Season”
Lente	“Spring”
Zomer	“Summer”
Winter	“Winter”
Herfst	“Autumn”
Eeuw	“Century”
Trimester	“Trimester” / “Quarter”
Semester	“Semester”

2 – Places

Regio	“Region”
Provincie	“Province”
The Netherlands is divided into 12 provinces.
Dorp	“Village”
Stad	“City”
Park	“Park”
Bank	“Bank”
Apotheek	“Pharmacy”
Ziekenhuis	“Hospital”
Bakkerij	“Bakery”
Supermarkt	“Supermarket”
Drogist	“Drugstore”
Vlakte	“Plain”
Klif	“Cliff”
Strand	“Beach”
Eiland	“Island”
Heuvel	“Hill”

3 – Technology

Toetsenbord	“Keyboard”
A lot of Dutch people also use the English word “keyboard.”
Muis	“Mouse”
Just like in English, muis is also the word for the cute furry animal.
Tablet	“Tablet”
Televisie	“Television”
Oplader	“Charger”
Website	“Website”
Account	“Account”
Wachtwoord	“Password”
Bestand	“File”
Map	“Folder”
Software	“Software”

Are you ready to bring these intermediate Dutch nouns into practice?

4 – Home

Kamer	“Room”
Verdieping	“Floor” / “Story”
Woonkamer	“Living room”
Badkamer	“Bathroom”
Koelkast	“Fridge”
Kast	“Cabinet” / “Wardrobe” / “Cupboard” / “Closet”

5 – City & Transportation

Buitenwijk	“Suburb”
Buurt	“Neighborhood” / “Area”
Snelweg	“Highway”
Steeg	“Alley”
Rotonde	“Roundabout”
Kruispunt	“Crossroad” / “Intersection” / “Junction”

6 – People

Oom	“Uncle”
Tante	“Aunt”
Kleinzoon	“Grandson”
Kleindochter	“Granddaughter”
Baby	“Baby”
Grootvader	“Grandfather”
Grootmoeder	“Grandmother”

7 – Body Parts

Vinger	“Finger”
Rug	“Back”
Buik	“Belly”
Borst	“Breast”
Schouder	“Shoulder”
Been	“Leg”
Dij	“Thigh”
Bil	“Butt cheek”
Voet	“Foot”
Wang	“Cheek”
Kin	“Chin”
Voorhoofd	“Forehead”

8 – Food

Mes	“Knife”
Vork	“Fork”
Lepel	“Spoon”
Gerecht	“Dish”
Voorgerecht	“Starter”
Hoofdgerecht	“Main dish” / “Main course”
Nagerecht	“Dessert”
Drankje	“Drink”
Wijn	“Wine”

9 – Work & Studies

Verpleegkundige	“Nurse”
Politieagent	“Police officer”
Advocaat	“Lawyer”
Ober	“Waiter”
Universiteit	“University”

10 – Clothes

Broek	“Pants” / “Trousers”
Trui	“Sweater”
T-shirt	“T-shirt”
Overhemd	“Shirt”
Jas	“Coat” / “Jacket”
Sok	“Sock”
Schoen	“Shoe”
Jurk	“Dress”
Hoed	“Hat”

Can you already talk about clothes in Dutch?

5. Conjunctions 

Let’s have a look at the more complex conjunctions and see how they work in real-life sentences: 

Noch (“Nor”)

• Ik drink noch bier noch wijn. (“I drink neither beer nor wine.”)

Dus (“Then” / “So”)

• Ik heb geen dorst, dus ik drink niet. (“I’m not thirsty, so I don’t drink.”)

Anders (“Otherwise”)

• Ik drink niet, anders kan ik niet rijden. (“I’m not drinking; otherwise, I could not drive.”)

Aangezien (“Since” / “As”)

• Aangezien je hier nu bent, wil je binnenkomen? (“Since you’re here now, do you want to come in?”)

Als (“When”)

• Als ik moe ben, dan gaap ik. (“When I’m tired, I yawn.”)

Daarom (“Therefore” / “Thus”)

• Ik heb niks gegeten en daarom heb ik honger. (“I have not eaten anything, and therefore I am hungry.”)

6. Adjectives

Although not as essential for beginners who just want to express basic ideas, adjectives are a great way for intermediate Dutch students to make their sentences more meaningful and give them more flavor.

Geweldig	“Great” / “Awesome” / “Amazing”
Fantastisch	“Fantastic” / “Great”
Verschrikkelijk	“Horrible”
Raar	“Weird” / “Strange”
Bizar	“Bizarre”
Ingewikkeld	“Complicated”
Dichtbij	“Near”
Ver	“Far”
Smal	“Narrow”
Wijd	“Wide”
Zacht	“Soft”
Hard	“Hard”
Vol	“Full”
Leeg	“Empty”
Licht	“Light”
Zwaar	“Heavy”
Uniek	“Unique”
Speciaal	“Special”
Bijzonder	“Particular” / “Special”
Nieuw	“New”
Arm	“Poor”
Rijk	“Rich” / “Wealthy”
Schoon	“Clean”
Vies	“Dirty”
Zwak	“Weak”
Slank	“Slim”
Schattig	“Cute”
Gemeen	“Mean”
Grappig	“Funny”
Leuk	“Nice” / “Fun”
Gelukkig	“Happy” / “Fortunate”
Verdrietig	“Sad”
Rustig	“Quiet” / “Calm”
Enthousiast	“Excited”
Gevaarlijk	“Dangerous”
Saai	“Boring”
Vettig	“Greasy” / “Fatty”
Pittig	“Spicy”
Tweede	“Second”
Volgende	“Next”
Vorige	“Previous”
Eén na laatste	“Penultimate” / “Second-to-last”
Oranje	“Orange”
Roze	“Pink”
Grijs	“Gray”
Paars	“Purple”
Magenta	“Magenta”
Turquoise	“Turquoise”

→ Would you like to learn more adjectives? Have a look at our Most Common Adjectives vocabulary list with useful audio recordings to practice your pronunciation.

What Dutch adjective would you use to give someone a compliment?

7. Adverbs

Like with adjectives, you could get away with very few adverbs as a beginner—but you’ll need to learn more as you approach the intermediate Dutch level. Using adverbs will not only improve your writing style and skills, but also help you explain yourself more clearly. 

1 – When

Al	“Already”
Lang geleden	“A long time ago”
Nu	“Now”
Weer	“Again”
Eindelijk	“At last” / “Finally”
Toen	“Then”

2 – How Often

Soms	“Sometimes”
Zelden	“Rarely”
Meestal	“Usually”
Doorgaans	“Generally” / “Usually”
Voortdurend	“Constantly”

3 – Where

Use these Dutch adverbs when you’re looking for something.

Ergens anders	“Somewhere else”
Boven	“Above”
Onder	“Below”
Over	“Over”
Op	“On”
Naast	“Beside”
Om	“Around”

4 – How

Zacht(jes)	“Softly”
Stil(letjes)	“Quietly”
Langzaam	“Slowly”
Snel	“Fast” / “Quickly” / “Shortly”
Rustig	“Calmly” / “Quietly”
Gemakkelijk	“Easily”
Gelukkig	“Luckily”
Gewoon	“Simply” / “Just”

5 – How Much

Eerder	“Rather”
Genoeg	“Enough”
Voornamelijk	“Especially”
Bijna	“Almost”
Hoeveel	“How much” / “How many”
Zoveel	“So much” / “So many”
Ongeveer	“About” / “Approximately”

→ Would you like to discover other Dutch adverbs and practice your pronunciation? Then have a look at our Essential Adverbs of Frequency and Time vocabulary list with audio recordings.

8. Prepositions

Prepositions are vital for helping us structure our sentences, as they mark the relationships and links between people, objects, places, and moments. You don’t need many of them, but as an intermediate Dutch learner, it’s crucial to know at least a few of these prepositions.

1 – Time

Voor	“Before”
Na	“After”
Tijdens	“During”

2 – Space

Tegen	“Against”
Naar rechts	“To the right”
Naar links	“To the left”
Bij	“At”
Voor	“In front of” / “Ahead”
Achter	“Behind”
Naar beneden	“Down”
Naar boven	“Up”
Op	“On”

3 – Other

Tussen	“Between” / “Among”
Dankzij	“Thanks to”
Ondanks	“Despite”
Zonder	“Without”

9. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

Let DutchPod101 help you master the intermediate Dutch level.

In this guide, you’ve seen over 300 of the most useful intermediate Dutch words and phrases in a number of different word categories. You might have already known several of them, but now you have them all conveniently gathered in one place.

→ Want to expand your Dutch vocabulary even further? Make sure to visit our vocabulary lists Most Useful Pronouns, 50 Most Common Adjectives, and 50 Most Common Nouns.

Are there any intermediate Dutch words you think we missed? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible! 

You can begin practicing and reviewing these 300+ intermediate Dutch words with the help of DutchPod101’s vocabulary lists with audio recordings and our other free resources designed to boost your studies.

Would you like some special attention? Remember that we also offer a Premium PLUS service with personal 1-on-1 coaching: MyTeacher. Let your private teacher help you master the intermediate Dutch level through personalized exercises, constructive feedback, and interactive assignments.

Interested in some other intermediate Dutch lessons? Then we recommend checking out our Intermediate lesson series, which contains 25 lessons that focus on natural dialogue and strive to help you improve your language skills in all key areas: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Happy learning on DutchPod101.com!

How many Dutch animal names do you know? Although it may not be the first thing you want to study when you start learning Dutch, knowing how to talk about animals is important in any language. After all, our furry friends play a central role in our lives! 

There are many Dutch animal words for you to discover, ranging from the names of pets to the most common bugs and reptiles. Some of this new vocabulary may be difficult to memorize, but there are plenty of words that may be easier than you’re expecting. Take, for example:

• Rat (“Rat”) 
• Kat (“Cat”)
• Schaap (“Sheep”)
• Beer (“Bear”)
• Vis (“Fish”)

Are you ready to discover the Dutch animal world with DutchPod101? 

In this article, you’ll learn the must-know Dutch animal names, animal body parts, verbs related to animals, and even some funny animal sounds in Dutch.

Learn some Dutch animal names with DutchPod101!

Table of Contents

1. Pets
2. Farm Animals
3. Wild Animals
4. Sea Animals
5. Bugs and Insects
6. Birds
7. Reptiles & Amphibians
8. Animal Body Parts
9. Animal Verbs
10. Animal Sounds in Dutch
11. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. Pets

The Dutch are pet-loving people! A 2016 survey found that over half of Dutch households have at least one pet. 

So, what are the most common Dutch pets? The most popular pet choices are dogs and cats; a 2019 survey showed that 18% of Dutch households owned a dog, while 23% owned a cat. Besides these more obvious furry friends, many Dutch households also have fish, a tame bird, or some small rodents (mice, rats, rabbits, or guinea pigs). 

Check out this Dutch animals list to learn the names of common pets (and a few fun expressions that mention them):

Kat	“Cat”
Dutch expression: Een kat in de zak kopen Literally: “To buy a cat in the bag” Meaning: To make a bad purchase

Hond	“Dog”
Dutch expression: De hond in de pot vinden Literally: “To find the dog in the pot” Meaning: To arrive just too late for supper

Konijn

“Rabbit”

Muis	“Mouse”
Dutch expression: Als de kat van huis is, dansen de muizen op tafel Literally: “When the cat’s away from home, the mice dance on the table.”  Meaning: If there’s no supervision, people do what they want.

Hamster	“Hamster”
Dutch expression: Hamsteren  Literally: “To hamster” Meaning: To hoard

Rat

“Rat”

Cavia

“Guinea pig”

Goudvis

“Goldfish”

Kanarie

“Canary”

The Dutch word kat is very similar to the English “cat.”

→ Are you an animal lover? Then visit our World Animal Day vocabulary list and get ready to celebrate!

2. Farm Animals

Dutch farm animals are quite similar to those in many other countries: the same-old cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, and goats. The most typical Dutch farm animal is probably the black-and-white Dutch cow, as they’re so representative of scenic landscapes in the Netherlands. 

Here are the names of common farm animals in Dutch:

Koe	“Cow”
Dutch expression: Dat is een waarheid als een koe. Literally: “That’s as true as a cow.” Meaning: Sometimes, the truth is so obvious you can’t miss it.

Varken	“Pig”
Dutch expression: Dat slaat als een tang op een varken. Literally: “That hits like pliers on a pig.” Meaning: That makes absolutely no sense.

Schaap	“Sheep”
Dutch expression: Als één schaap over de dam is, volgen er meer. Literally: “When one sheep crosses the dam, more will follow.” Meaning: If one person starts, more will follow.

Geit

“Goat”

Paard

“Horse”

Ezel	“Donkey”
Dutch expression: Zo koppig als een ezel Literally: “As stubborn as a donkey” Meaning: Being very stubborn

Are you as stubborn as a donkey?

Kip

“Chicken”

Haan

“Rooster”

3. Wild Animals

The Netherlands is a small country with relatively little nature, but don’t let that fool you into thinking there are no wild animals here. The Dutch forests, plains, and bodies of water host a variety of wild animals, such as foxes, wolves, deer, and badgers.

In this section, we’ll teach you the Dutch animal names for some of the most common wild animals you’ll find in the Netherlands. We’ll also provide the names of other wild animals, so you can talk about them when you visit the zoo! 

Beer

“Bear”

Wolf

“Wolf”

Hert

“Deer”

Vos	“Fox”
Dutch expression: Een vos verliest wel zijn haren maar niet zijn streken. Literally: A fox loses its hair but not its tricks. Meaning: People rarely really change.

Das

“Badger”

Leeuw

“Lion”

Tijger

“Tiger”

Panter

“Panther”

Olifant	“Elephant”
Dutch expression: Als een olifant in de porseleinkast Literally: “Like an elephant in the china shop”  Meaning: Being extremely careless or tactless

Giraf

“Giraffe”

Aap	“Monkey”
Dutch expression: Nu komt de aap uit de mouw. Literally: “Now comes the monkey out of the sleeve.” Meaning: Now the truth (or someone’s real character) is being revealed.

Nijlpaard

“Hippopotamus”

Pinguïn

“Penguin”

IJsbeer	“Polar bear”
Dutch expression: IJsberen Literally: “To polar bear” Meaning: To pace

When you’re pacing, the Dutch say that you’re walking around like a polar bear.

4. Sea Animals

The Dutch are surrounded by water: 17% of the total surface of the country consists of water, and the Netherlands has a coastline of 230 kilometers. This is quite long, if you take the size of the country into account. 

So what kind of sea animals might you find here? There are several types of Dutch sea animals dwelling in the waters: fish, lobsters, mussels, and—the favorite Dutch sea animal—seals.

Here’s a brief list of sea animals in Dutch:

Vis	“Fish”
Dutch expression: Als een vis op het droge Literally: “Like a fish out of water” Meaning: Refers to someone who cannot find his or her place, or who does not belong

Haai	“Shark”
Dutch expression: Naar de haaien gaan  Literally: “Going to the sharks” Meaning: “To go down” or “to encounter very big problems that threaten someone’s or something’s existence”

Dolfijn	“Dolphin”
Zeehond	“Seal”
Walvis	“Whale”
Zeeleeuw	“Sealion”
Kwal	“Jellyfish”
Octopus	“Octopus”
Kreeft	“Lobster”
Zeester	“Starfish”
Mossel	“Mussel”

Mussels are a popular seafood in the Netherlands; have you ever tried them?

→ Do you want to dive deeper? Take a bite out of these Shark Week words with recorded examples.

5. Bugs and Insects

Fortunately, the Netherlands is not home to a lot of scary or dangerous insects. While there are many bugs and insects present in the Netherlands, most are not very big and you’ll probably have seen them before. 

Here’s a Dutch animal list of the most common insects and bugs:

Bij

“Bee”

Wesp

“Wasp”

Mug	“Mosquito”
Dutch expression: Van een mug een olifant maken  Literally: “To make an elephant out of a mosquito” Meaning: To make something big out of a small problem, or to blow something out of proportion

Vlieg

“Fly”

Spin

“Spider”

Sprinkhaan

“Grasshopper”

Vlinder	“Butterfly”
Dutch expression: Vlinders in je buik hebben  Literally: “To have butterflies in your stomach” Meaning: To be in love

Mier	“Ant”
Mot	“Moth”
Slak	“Snail”
Worm	“Worm”
Kever	“Beetle”
Lieveheersbeestje	“Ladybird” / “Ladybug”

As is the case in many other countries, we refer to butterflies in the stomach when someone is in love.

6. Birds

The Netherlands has quite a lot to offer bird lovers, as the country has around 300 regular migrant and resident birds and a total of 534 bird species. The most common Dutch birds are seagulls, pigeons, crows, and sparrows. But the Netherlands also has a number of waterbirds, such as swans, ducks, and geese.

Did you know that in a city like Amsterdam, you can watch a lot of birds? And not only city birds like pigeons! Because of the canals and the bodies of water that surround Amsterdam, there are many waterbirds to watch as well. 

Learn the Dutch names for these birds so that you can point them out every time you spot one!

Duif	“Pigeon”
Zeemeeuw	“Seagull”
Kraai	“Crow”
Adelaar	“Eagle”
Uil	“Owl”
Ekster	“Magpie”
Mus	“Sparrow”

Zwaluw	“Swallow”
Dutch expression: Een zwaluw maakt de lente niet. Literally: “A swallow does not make spring.” Meaning: A circumstance does not lead to a final conclusion.

Pauw	“Peacock”
Dutch expression: Trots als een pauw Literally: “To be proud as a peacock” Meaning: To be very proud

Gans

“Goose”

Zwaan

“Swan”

Eend

“Duck”

You’ll be able to see a lot of ducks in Dutch ponds.

7. Reptiles & Amphibians

The Netherlands is not home to many scary reptiles or amphibians, though you may be able to see several frogs and toads in nearby ponds. You may even be able to find a snake in the Netherlands, as the country has three snake species (only one of which is venomous). But don’t worry! It’s not that common to encounter a snake when exploring the natural surroundings here. 

Kikker

“Frog”

Pad

“Toad”

Slang

“Snake”

Krokodil	“Crocodile”
Dutch expression: Krokodillentranen huilen Literally: “To cry crocodile tears” Meaning: To feign your grief

Have you ever seen a crocodile tear?

Hagedis	“Lizard”
Kameleon	“Chameleon”
Schildpad	“Turtle”
Zeeschildpad	“Sea turtle”

→ Would you like to learn more Dutch animal names and listen to their pronunciation? Then have a look at this Animal Names vocabulary list.

8. Animal Body Parts

Now that you know several Dutch animal names, it’s time to learn some words that will help you describe them! Memorizing the animal body parts in Dutch will allow you to tell your new friends about the time you saved a bird with a broken wing, or the time your dog got its fur all dirty. Take a look:

Staart	“Tail”
Vleugel	“Wing”
Haar	“Hair”
Vacht	“Fur”
Veer	“Feather”
Tand	“Tooth”
Hoektand	“Fang”
Klauw	“Claw”
Hoorn	“Horn”
Hoef	“Hoof”
Bek	“Mouth”
Snavel	“Beak”
Vin	“Fin”
Tentakel	“Tentacle”
Maan	“Mane”
Slurf	“Trunk”
Antenne	“Antenna”
Poot	“Leg”
Schub	“Scale”

9. Animal Verbs

You can now name a variety of animals in Dutch and list their unique body parts…just one more thing is missing. Below, you’ll find several verbs related to animals that you can use in your next conversation!

Miauwen	“To meow”
Blaffen	“To bark”
Brullen	“To roar”
Zoemen	“To buzz”
Grommen	“To growl”
Spinnen	“To purr”
Galoperen	“To gallop”
Bijten	“To bite”
Steken	“To sting”
Krabben	“To scratch”
Likken	“To lick”
Aaien	“To pet”
Temmen	“To tame” / “To train”
Voeden	“To feed”
Vaccineren	“To vaccinate”

→ Would you like to learn more Dutch verbs? Have a look at our vocabulary lists 50 Most Common Verbs and 25 Most Commonly Used Verbs of Any Language.

10. Animal Sounds in Dutch

The onomatopoeia used for animal sounds varies greatly from one country to another, often resulting in hilarious situations when comparing animal sounds. Let’s take the rooster, for example: 

• English: cock-a-doodle-doo
• Swedish: kuckeliku
• Spanish: qui-qui-ri-qui

For your entertainment, here are the most popular animal sounds in Dutch.

How does barking sound in Dutch? Woef!

Miauw	(Cat)
Woef	(Dog)
Boe	(Cow)
Bêêê	(Sheep)
Roekoe	(Pigeon)
Kukeleku	(Rooster)
Kwak	(Duck)
Grrr	(Growling sound)
Oe oe	(Owl)
Kwaak	(Frog)
Knor knor	(Pig)

→ Would you like to learn more animal sounds in Dutch? Then have a look at our Sounds That Animals Make vocabulary list, and don’t forget to listen to the recorded examples of these Dutch animal sounds.

11. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

In this guide, you’ve learned many Dutch animal names for pets, farm animals, insects, and much more. Now you’ll be able to talk with your Dutch friends about their pets or ask them about their favorite animals.

Did we forget any other important animals? Or would you like to know other animal sounds in Dutch? Please share with us in the comments below!

Make sure to explore DutchPod101.com, as we have plenty of free resources to help you practice your grammar and many useful vocabulary lists with audio recordings to help you learn new words.

Remember that Premium PLUS members can also take advantage of our MyTeacher service for 1-on-1 coaching. This way, you can practice your Dutch speaking skills with your own private teacher through interactive exercises and personalized feedback.

Happy learning!

Does the thought of having a telephone conversation in Dutch make you feel nervous? It’s normal to feel this way about making or receiving a phone call in another language. There are even people who suffer from “phone anxiety” or “phone phobia.” These people already feel nervous about making a phone call in their own language, let alone in another language.

One way you can get rid of those nerves is to pick up some Dutch phone call phrases. At the very least, this will help you feel more in control of the situation and allow you to navigate those inevitable phone calls during your stay in the Netherlands. 

In this article, you’ll learn how to answer the phone in Dutch and carry a basic phone conversation. We’ll be covering everything from key vocabulary terms to the different parts of a phone call—greetings and introductions, giving the reason for your call, transferring the line, leaving a message, handling connection issues, and ending the conversation.

Once you’re done reading this article, you’ll be able to make that Dutch phone call with confidence!

Let’s make that Dutch phone call with confidence!

Table of Contents

1. Phone Vocabulary
2. Greeting
3. Checking
4. Transferring
5. Stating Your Reason for the Call
6. Experiencing Phone Call Problems
7. Leaving a Message
8. Ending
9. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn Better Dutch

1. Phone Vocabulary

Before we look at specific phrases for a telephone conversation in Dutch, let’s first go over some phone-related vocabulary. Learning these useful words will help you feel more comfortable when talking on the phone or when discussing phone calls in general.

This short vocabulary list includes everything you need, from hardware terms to related verbs.

Telefoon

Phone

Mobiele telefoon Mobieltje

Mobile phone

Batterij

Battery

Oplader

Charger

SMS SMS-bericht

Text message

Scherm

Screen

Oproep

Call

Telefoonnummer Nummer

Phone number

Bellen

To call

Terugbellen

To call back

Nummer intoetsen	To dial
You could also say nummer draaien, literally meaning “spin the number.” This term dates back to the old rotary phones.

Opnemen

To pick up

Ophangen

To hang up

Bericht achterlaten

To leave a message

Opladen

To charge

2. Greeting

Every phone call starts with a greeting of some sort; it’s just basic phone etiquette. However, the greeting used may differ between the caller and the receiver. 

Another factor that could influence the greeting is the expected formality level. You would respond to a professional phone call more formally than you would a phone call with friends. 

Let’s have a look.

Which Dutch greetings do you already know?

1 – Calling

Hallo.	Hello.
Hallo is the most common way to start a Dutch phone conversation, perfect for both casual and more formal situations.

Hoi.	Hi.
Hoi is another great phone call greeting, though it’s a bit more casual. So you can definitely use it with friends and family members, but watch out at work. Saying this to close colleagues shouldn’t be an issue, but choose one of the other greetings if you’re going for a more formal and professional vibe.

Goedemorgen. Goedemiddag. Goedenavond.	Good morning. Good afternoon. Good evening.
Want to go formal? Then these greetings are perfect for you. You say goedemorgen until 12 p.m., goedemiddag until 5 p.m., and goedenavond until 12 a.m. Do you want to use this greeting in a more casual setting? Then you can greet the receiver with goedemorgen when calling in the morning, as this one is commonly used in both formal and casual Dutch conversations.

If you’re the one calling and would like to introduce yourself directly after the greeting, then you can use one of these phrases:

• Hallo, u spreekt met David de Vries. (“Hello, you are speaking to David de Vries.”) [More formal]
• Hoi, met David. (“Hi, with David.”) [More casual]
  • You can also just say Met David, without the greeting.

Would you like to introduce yourself further? Then have a look at these 10 Lines You Need for Introducing Yourself.

2 – Answering

Hallo?	Hello?
The interrogative Hallo? is a very typical way to pick up the phone in Dutch.

Hoi?	Hi?
Like when calling, you can answer with a simple Hoi? in more casual settings.

Ja?

Yes?

Should you say your name when you answer the phone? This is up to you! However, it’s common in the Netherlands to say your name when picking up a landline telephone, or when you receive a call from an unknown number on your mobile phone. If you like to introduce yourself when answering your phone, you can use the same introduction phrases as when you’re calling.

→ There are many different ways to greet someone on the phone in Dutch. You’ll find lots of ideas on our list titled Common Ways to Say Hello.

3. Checking

When making a call or answering the phone in Dutch, you might need to ensure you’re speaking to the right person or inquire about who’s calling. Below are phrases you can use for these situations, respectively. 

1 – Calling

Imagine you’ve called someone and they’ve greeted you, but they have not yet introduced themselves. Now, you have to check to see if you’ve reached the right person or office. 

One simple way to do this is to use the person’s name:

• David? [Casual, only using their first name]
• Meneer De Vries? (“Mr. de Vries?) [Formal, only using their last name – Male]
• Mevrouw De Vries? (“Ms. de Vries?”) [Formal, only using their last name – Female]

Want to go a bit further? Here are a couple of other options:

Spreek ik met David?

Am I speaking with David?

Is dit het kantoor van meneer De Vries?

Is this the office of Mr. de Vries?

Once you know you’re at the right place, you should introduce yourself (assuming you haven’t done so already). You can use one of the introduction phrases mentioned earlier.

2 – Answering

If you don’t know who’s calling you and they haven’t introduced themselves yet, you’ll probably want to inquire about that:

Met wie spreek ik? [Formal]

Who am I speaking to?

Wie heb ik aan de lijn? [Casual]	Who is calling?
It literally means, “Who do I have on the line?”

4. Transferring

Learn how to transfer that Dutch phone call like a pro.

1 – Calling

If you’ve reached the secretary or main desk of a company, the next step is for you to be transferred to the right person or service. Below, you’ll find a variety of useful Dutch phone phrases for both formal and informal situations. 

Kan ik Cathy spreken? [Casual]

Can I talk to Cathy?

Ik zou graag met Cathy willen spreken. [Formal]

I would like to speak to Cathy.

Ik ben op zoek naar mevrouw De Vries. [Formal]

I’m trying to reach Ms. de Vries.

Ik probeer David te pakken te krijgen. [Casual]

I’m trying to reach David.

Kunt u mij doorverbinden met de klantenservice?

Could you transfer me to customer service?

2 – Answering

Met wie spreek ik?	Whom am I speaking to?
This phrase can be used for answering your phone, though it’s also typically used to ask on behalf of the person to whom you’ll transfer the caller.

Blijf aan de lijn, alstublieft.

Hold the line, please.

Een momentje, alstublieft.  Een moment geduld, alstublieft.

One moment, please. One moment of patience, please.

Ik verbind u/je nu door.

I am putting you through now.

Hij/Zij is nu niet beschikbaar.

He/She is not available right now.

Kan ik een bericht aannemen?

Can I take a message?

Ik zal vragen of hij/zij u/jou terug kan bellen.

I can ask him/her to call you back.

Mag ik uw/jouw naam en telefoonnummer noteren?

Can I take your name and number?

5. Stating Your Reason for the Call

You could be calling for any number of reasons, whether you just want a casual Dutch phone conversation with a friend or need to make a more professional call. Whatever it may be, we’ll cover a few different reasons you can give during your next telephone conversation in Dutch.

Ik bel je om te horen hoe het met je gaat.

I’m calling to check on you.

U/Je had me gebeld.

You called.

Ik bel u/je terug naar aanleiding van uw/je voicemail bericht.

I’m calling you back in response to your voicemail message.

Ik zou graag een afspraak willen maken.

I would like to make an appointment.

→ After you’ve stated your reason(s) for the call, would you like to make some small talk? Then have a look at our Using Small Talk Phrases vocabulary list.

6. Experiencing Phone Call Problems

What should you do when you experience problems during your Dutch phone conversation?

Even though we use smartphones nowadays and making phone calls is easier than ever before, we still experience issues from time to time: bad connections, dialing the wrong number, running out of battery…

Here are some Dutch phone phrases to help you handle these kinds of situations:

Ik begrijp je niet. [Casual] Ik begrijp u niet goed. [Formal]

I don’t understand you. I don’t understand you very well.

Ik versta u/je niet.

I can’t hear you.

De verbinding is slecht.

The connection is bad.

Kun je dat nog een keer zeggen? [Casual] Kunt u dat herhalen? [Formal]

Can you say that again? Could you repeat that?

De verbinding werd verbroken.

The line got cut off.

Mijn batterij is bijna op.

My battery’s almost dead.

U heeft het verkeerde nummer gebeld.

You’ve dialed the wrong number.

Sorry, verkeerd verbonden.

I’m sorry, I’ve dialed the wrong number.

7. Leaving a Message

You’re trying to reach someone but keep getting their voicemail… What will you do? You could hang up or you could summon the courage to leave a message. So, how does one leave a good voicemail? 

First, here’s a taste of what you might hear upon reaching the voicemail: 

Hallo, dit is het antwoordapparaat van Bruno. Ik kan de telefoon nu niet opnemen, maar u kunt na de piep een bericht achterlaten.

Hi, this is Bruno’s answering machine. I can’t answer the phone right now, but you can leave a message after the beep.

A way to respond to this might be:

Hoi Bruno, met Anna. Ik wil je even spreken. Kun je me terugbellen? Mijn nummer is 06-936 5657.

Hi Bruno, this is Anna. I would like to talk to you. Could you call me back? My number is 06-936 5657.

→ Do you need to state your phone number in Dutch? Then have a look at our Numbers vocabulary list to get the right word and pronunciation of each number. Good luck!

8. Ending

How do you say goodbye in Dutch on the phone?

Ending the call is probably the easiest part of a telephone conversation in Dutch, as you can use one of the goodbye phrases you already know. It’s just a quick formality that only gets a bit more complicated in professional contexts.

Dag. [Formal]

Goodbye.

Doei! [Casual]

Bye!

Tot ziens. [Formal]

Goodbye.

Tot later. [Casual]

See you later.

Fijne dag.

Have a good day.

Bedankt voor het bellen.

Thank you for calling.

Je bent erg behulpzaam geweest. Dank je.

You’ve been very helpful. Thank you.

→ For more options, be sure to check out our vocabulary list The Most Common Ways to Say Goodbye.
→ For more useful phone call phrases, check out this vocabulary list with recorded examples you can use to practice your pronunciation.

9. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn Better Dutch

In this guide, you’ve learned a variety of practical Dutch phone call phrases for both casual and professional contexts. You’re now better prepared to handle every component of a phone conversation, from the initial introductions to saying goodbye. 

Did we forget any important phrases you’d like to learn? 

DutchPod101 has much more to offer, such as our numerous vocabulary lists with audio recordings and other free resources. You’ll also enjoy a wealth of audio and video lessons hosted by native Dutch speakers; each lesson teaches practical language information and introduces you to Dutch culture. We make it fun and easy to boost your Dutch, whether you’re an absolute beginner or an advanced learner looking to take your skills up a notch.

Want more? DutchPod101 also has a special service for our Premium PLUS members: MyTeacher. Let your own private teacher help you practice Dutch grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation through personalized exercises, fun assignments, and useful recorded audio samples. With the help of an expert teacher, you’ll learn these Dutch phone call phrases—and countless other facets of the language—in no time!