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What better way to explore a culture than through its foods? You can’t say you know a country—or a language—if you don’t know something about the foods associated with it. So if you really want to get to know the Dutch, you must become familiar with Dutch food as well.

Dutch food and cuisine may not be the most famous and it may not be the most delicious either, but it does have its charm. It’s flavorful, it’s great for those chilly winter days, and it reflects how the Dutch love to enjoy life with a nice hot plate of soothing food, a savory snack, or something sweet. There’s something out there for every taste preference. 

Ready to dive into the unfamiliar world of traditional Dutch food with us?

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Dutch delicacies: from Dutch foods you must try in a restaurant to one of the best Dutch food recipes to make at home. 

Eet smakelijk! (“Enjoy your meal!”)

Table of Contents

1. Must-Try Dishes in Dutch Restaurants
2. Unique Dutch Products
3. Food Vocabulary
4. Bonus: A Simple Dutch Recipe For Those Delicious Stroopwafels
5. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. Must-Try Dishes in Dutch Restaurants

While you’re in the Netherlands, it may be hard to find traditional Dutch food in most restaurants. As typical Dutch food isn’t very classy, the Dutch often prefer going to restaurants with cuisines from other countries. However, the old Dutch food is making a comeback, and you can find it more often (sometimes with a little twist) in the more hip-and-happening restaurants and bars. 

Below are some Dutch food specialties you should absolutely try if you stumble upon them on the menu! 

A- Appetizer

Bitterballen

Do you know what bitterballen are? They’re deep-fried crispy meatballs! 

It’s a delicious Dutch pre-dinner snack that’s very popular and found on the menu in many bars and restaurants. The Dutch love to eat it when they’re having some drinks or waiting for their meal. These delicious, deep-fried crispy meatballs are traditionally served with mustard. It’s truly the ultimate Dutch pub snack!

B- Main Course

Snert

Snert (“pea soup”) is a true traditional Dutch food. It’s a thick, hearty green stew of split peas, vegetables, and meat. 

The soup is mostly served a day after its preparation because that gives it time to thicken. While snert may not be the most attractive name for a dish, it’s actually a delicious soup that’s a meal in itself. This is a typical Dutch food item during the cold winter, especially popular after ice skating. It may be hard to find in Dutch restaurants, but you can still find it in some of the older places. Another name for snert is erwtensoep.

AVG

AVG is short for Aardappel, Vlees, en Groente (“Potato, Meat, and Vegetables”). This might be the most classic thing to eat in the Netherlands as it’s the base of every traditional Dutch meal. It’s served in a lot of Dutch households, with the kind of meat or vegetables used differing from day to day. 

A lot of the traditional Dutch foods have been influenced by farmers, so the meals are quite simple yet tasty and filling—everything you need after a day of hard work in the outside air. Take the next dish, for example.

Stamppot

Stamppot literally means “mash pot” and it’s a mix of potato mash and vegetables that may or may not be leftovers. There are special combinations to accommodate different preferences. The vegetables typically used in this mix are kale, endive, cabbage, carrot, or sauerkraut. It’s often served with meat on the side (or sometimes mixed through) and gravy. This is the ultimate comfort food, and one of the most popular Dutch winter recipes. 

Hachee

Hachee is a tasty Dutch stew with meat, fish, or poultry and vegetables in a thick gravy sauce with laurel leaves and cloves. It takes quite some time to make hachee, as it simmers for a long time—but this long process also results in a very tender meat. It’s an old Dutch food that was originally a peasant dish, invented to use up leftovers. 

As you might have noticed, its name sounds French. It comes from the French verb hacher which means “to chop,” referring to the preparation of the vegetables and meat.

Pannenkoeken

Pannenkoeken, or Dutch “pancakes,” are different from any other type of pancake. They’re thinner and more crepe-like than the thick American pancakes but thicker than the French ones. 

What’s even better is that you can eat them with a wide range of toppings: syrup, powdered sugar (called poedersuiker in Dutch), apple, bacon, cheese, and a lot of other savory or sweet toppings. You can even find special all-you-can-eat pancake restaurants in the Netherlands. The Dutch typically eat pancakes for dinner, so it’s not a breakfast food like it is in some other countries.

But that’s not all! There’s another special variation of this traditional Dutch recipe: small pancakes called poffertjes. These are little fluffy round pancakes, often served with butter and powdered sugar. You may find them in pancake restaurants or street markets.

C- Dessert

Appeltaart

Appeltaart means “apple pie,” and the true Dutch “grandmother’s apple pie” (oma’s appeltaart) is a classic dessert and makes for the perfect sweet snack during the day. This apple pie has a delicious cinnamon taste and its apple filling is mixed with raisins and sometimes even walnuts. And if that’s not enough, it’s often served with whipped cream and/or vanilla ice cream. If you want to try a truly Dutch dessert, this is the way to go.

Vlaai

Vlaai is a sweet pie that originated from the province of Limburg, making it a real classic from the southern Netherlands. Its classic version has a yeast pie base, a filling of creamy custard, and a crumbly topping. However, nowadays, there are several different vlaai fillings: chocolate, rice pudding, apples, bananas, strawberries, and the list goes on. If you want to try a traditional Dutch vlaai, you have to try it in Limburg, the proud province of this special pie.

2. Unique Dutch Products

Now that you’ve learned about the must-try Dutch dishes, it’s time to dive into some lesser-known (but equally delicious!) foods in the Netherlands. The Dutch love to snack on sweet and savory foods alike, so let’s see what their favorites are! 

A- Sweet Foods

Stroopwafels

The stroopwafel (“syrup waffle”) is definitely the most famous Dutch cookie, and it’s famous for a reason! If you were in the Netherlands and could only eat one Dutch sweet treat, then it should definitely be a stroopwafel. 

This cookie consists of two thin waffles stuck together with a layer of sweet syrup. If you can find a newly baked, hot stroopwafel at a street market or bakery, then go for it. If not, the supermarkets also sell them in packages and those are quite delicious as well.

→ Would you like to learn some supermarket vocabulary? Then have a look at this list of Essential Dutch Supermarket Words and Phrases.

Hagelslag

Hagelslag are sprinkles, which the Dutch mainly use to sprinkle on their bread (although you can also use it on many other types of food). Chocolade hagelslag (“chocolate sprinkles”) are the most popular, but there are also other flavors. 

Imagine this: a nice fresh slice of bread with some butter (to keep the sprinkles on) and delicious hagelslag. Yes, the Dutchies know what they’re doing and how to enjoy their bread. They mostly eat this for breakfast or lunch. 

Drop

Drop (“liquorice”) is an old Dutch food—and it may not be the liquorice you know and love. It can either be very sweet or very salty, making it versatile as a sweet or savory food. You might have to get used to the Dutch version of liquorice due to its strong flavors. The Dutch love their drop and will probably offer some to you in informal settings. Definitely try it, but be aware and approach it with caution.

Oliebollen

Oliebollen literally translates to “oil balls.” Although it may not sound very delicious, this New Year’s Eve classic is a classic for a reason. 

They are deep-fried balls of dough dusted in powdered sugar; they taste quite like a donut. There are different varieties of the oliebol, and they can come with or without raisins inside. People make it in their homes on New Year’s Eve, but you can also buy them at food stands on the streets in December.

B- Savory Foods

Patat

Patat are thick Dutch fries, but they’re like no fries you’ve eaten before. You can’t leave the Netherlands until you’ve tried some! They come in a cone and can be eaten with great combinations of sauces. 

The Dutch make the craziest combinations. For example:

• patat speciaal (“special fries”) – fries with a mix of (curry)ketchup, mayonnaise, and onions
• patatje oorlog (literally “little war fries”) – a mix of peanut sauce, mayonnaise, and onions

Haring

The rauwe haring (“raw herring”) is not everybody’s favorite, but this raw fish is a true Dutch classic! You should definitely give it a go. 

You can spot the haringkarren (“herring carts”) on a lot of busy streets. They serve haring met ui (“herring with onion”) or on bread with pickles and onions (broodje haring). The best time to eat haring in the Netherlands is between May and July, because the haring is sweetest during this time.

Gouda kaas

Our unique Dutch food list wouldn’t be complete without the famous Dutch Goudse kaas (“Gouda cheese”). The Dutch are quite serious about their cheese and you’ll quickly notice this when visiting a Dutch cheese market, shop, or even a supermarket. 

There are a lot of tasty Dutch cheeses to try, but Gouda is the true classic. The Dutch mostly eat it on their bread, boterham met kaas (“slice of bread with cheese”), but they also enjoy it as a snack, blokjes kaas (literally “little cubes of cheese”). Needless to say, this goes perfectly with a nice cold beer.

→ Practice your pronunciation and discover more Dutch foods with this useful Dutch Food vocabulary list.

3. Food Vocabulary

Now that you’re good and hungry, let’s go over some practical words and phrases you’ll need to talk about, order, and prepare food!

A- Talking About Food

• Ik heb honger. (“I’m hungry.”)
• Ik ben vol. (“I’m full.”)
• Ik sterf van de honger! (“I’m starving!”)


• Ik houd van kaas. (“I love cheese.”)
• Ik vind kaas lekker. (“I like cheese.” / Literally: “I find cheese tasty.”)
• Ik houd niet van kaas. (“I don’t like cheese.”) – The word used here means “love,” but in a casual way.
• Ik vind kaas niet lekker. (“I don’t like cheese.”)


• Ik eet geen vlees. (“I don’t eat meat.”)
• Ik ben vegetariër/veganist. (“I am a vegetarian/vegan.”)
• Ik ben allergisch voor noten. (“I’m allergic to nuts.”)


• Mijn favoriete gerecht is stamppot. (“My favorite dish is stamppot.”)

B- Cooking

Ingredients

• Zout (“Salt”)
• Peper (“Pepper”)
• Suiker (“Sugar”)
• Water (“Water”)
• Melk (“Milk”)
• Olijfolie (“Olive oil”)
• Eieren (“Eggs”)
• Bloem (“Flour”)
• Fruit (“Fruit”)
• Groenten (“Vegetables”)
• Vlees (“Meat”)

→ When reading recipes, you’ll be glad to know the basic vocabulary for Fruits and Vegetables and Herbs and Spices!

Utensils

• Een pan (“A saucepan”)
• Een koekenpan (“A frying pan”)
• Een oven (“An oven”)
• Een mes (“A knife”)
• Een snijplank (“A cutting board”)

→ You can find much more vocabulary on Utensils and Tableware in our free vocabulary list on DutchPod101.com. You can also have a look at our list of Essential Vocabulary for the Kitchen.

Cooking Verbs

• Koken (“To cook”)
• Stoven (“To stew”)
• Bakken (“To bake”)
• Braden (“To roast”)
• Frituren (“To fry”)
• Snijden (“To cut” / “To slice”)
• Schillen (“To peel”)
• Raspen (“To grate”)

→ You can find more Essential Vocabulary About Cooking on DutchPod101.com and improve your pronunciation with the useful audio recordings.

C- Ordering Food

• Het menu. (“The menu.”)
• Een tafel voor twee. (“A table for two.”)
• Een glas water, alsjeblieft. (“A glass of water, please.”)
  
• Een voorgerecht (“A starter”)
• Een hoofdgerecht (“A main course”)
• Een dessert (“A dessert”)

A dessert can also be called nagerecht, literally meaning “after dish.” This makes sense, seeing as voorgerecht literally means “before dish.”

• De rekening. (“The bill.”)
• De fooi. (“The tip.”)

→ For more useful phrases for ordering food in Dutch restaurants, have a look at our list of the Most Useful Phrases and Vocabulary for Ordering Food and this Restaurant vocabulary list.

4. Bonus: A Simple Dutch Recipe For Those Delicious Stroopwafels

Have you tried stroopwafels already and gotten hooked? Or would you love to try them someday but won’t be traveling to the Netherlands anytime soon? Either way, treat yourself at home with one of the best Dutch food recipes you could imagine!

Hold your horses, you do need a waffle cone machine or waffle iron for this recipe. Do you have one at home? Lucky you. Now you can try this delicious Dutch recipe at home.

Preparation time: 40-65 minutes
Baking time: 10-20 minutes

Ingredients

For the waffles:

• 500 grams of flour
• 250 grams of melted butter
• 150 grams of white caster sugar
• 50 grams of yeast
• a little bit of lukewarm milk
• an egg

For the filling:

• 500 grams of syrup
• 300 grams of dark brown sugar
• 75 grams of butter
• a teaspoon of cinnamon powder

Preparation

There are two secrets to preparing the best stroopwafel:

★ You can only process the waffles warm, otherwise they break. 
★ The butter and sugar have to be worked through the syrup, making it even stiffer and stickier.

The preparation also consists of two parts: baking the waffles and making the filling. 

Make a batter with the waffle ingredients; it will be a fairly firm mass that you’ll have to knead together. Let the dough rise for 45 minutes, preferably in a moist-warm place. Knead it again and then divide the dough into small balls.

Then prepare the filling. Heat the syrup and mix in the other ingredients. 

Then put a ball of dough into a waffle iron and bake it on both sides. Use a knife to lift the waffle out of the iron and cut the waffle open while it’s still warm. Yes, this is the tricky part. If you wait too long, the waffle will break. Spread the filling on one waffle half and press the other half onto it.

Eet smakelijk! (“Enjoy your meal!”)

5. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

In this guide, you’ve learned all about Dutch cuisine, from the must-try Dutch dishes to a delicious stroopwafel recipe.

Did we forget any typical Dutch food you know of? If so, feel free to drop us a comment below! 

Would you like to learn more Dutch food recipes or receive a bit of help in discovering more about the wonderful world of Dutch food?

DutchPod101 has multiple vocabulary lists with audio recordings and other useful free resources that will help you discover traditional Dutch food and cuisine. Practice those useful words and let your taste buds take you on a wild ride of delicious Dutch food.

If you’d like to boost your language studies, you can also use DutchPod101’s Premium PLUS MyTeacher service. Your own personal teacher can help you discover even more about Dutch food and cuisine with one-on-one coaching. Through personalized feedback and pronunciation advice, your teacher will also help you increase your understanding of the Dutch language and culture. 

Happy learning (and happy dining)!

Are you thinking about learning Dutch and wondering what to study first? Or are you already studying Dutch but getting a bit lost in the Dutch grammar? 

Then you’re in the right place! This comprehensive Dutch grammar overview from DutchPod101 is the perfect place to start your studies or refresh yourself on the basics. 

This one page contains a breakdown of the concepts of Dutch grammar you really need to know, including the more difficult aspects. You’ll walk away from this lesson with a greater understanding of Dutch, from word types and tenses to tips on avoiding the most common Dutch grammar mistakes.

It may be a challenge, but we know you can face it with the best tool in town!

Table of Contents

1. General Rules
2. Verbs & Tenses
3. Dutch Nouns
4. Gender & Articles
5. Avoid the Most Common Dutch Grammar Mistakes
6. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. General Rules

Let’s start on a positive note: From a grammatical perspective, the Dutch language has a lot in common with both English and German. It has similar types of words, a lot of loanwords from these languages (but also from others, such as French and Hebrew; nearly one-third of the Dutch language is borrowed), and many similar grammatical structures.

As you can see, knowing either English or German will help you a lot when studying Dutch grammar. 

Dutch Word Types

Like most Germanic languages, Dutch has the following word types:

• Articles (indefinite or definite):
  De kat (“The cat”)

• Nouns:
  De kat (“The cat“)

• Verbs:
  Wij lopen. (“We walk.”)

• Adjectives (used to describe a noun):
  De kleine kat (“The little cat”)

• Adverbs (used to describe a verb, an adjective, or another adverb):
  Ik ga morgen naar school. (“I will go to school tomorrow.”)


• Pronouns (singular or plural):
  Wij lopen. (“We walk.”)


• Conjunctions (used to connect words or phrases)
  Een hond en een kat (“A dog and a cat”)


• Prepositions (followed by nouns, verbs, or pronouns)
  De hond is in het huis. (“The dog is in the house.”)

So when you compare Dutch grammar with English grammar, you can see that all of these word types have a direct equivalent in English.

Dutch Word Order

In Dutch grammar, the word order for the most basic sentences consists of a subject and a verb:

Subject + Verb

• Ik praat. (“I talk.”)
• De jongen verft. (“The boy paints.”)

In Dutch, the subject is almost never dropped; the sentence structure is simply not complete without the subject.

→ How do you make a negative sentence? Place the word niet (“not”) AFTER the verb.

So that’s step one. Let’s make it a bit more complicated by adding an object. The (direct) object in Dutch is usually placed right after the verb.

Subject + Verb + (Direct) Object

• Ik praat met mijn vader. (“I talk to my father.”)
• De jongen verft de deur. (“The boy paints the door.”)

These are direct objects because they’re a person or thing that is directly affected by the actions of the subject. But in Dutch, there are also indirect objects, which are a person or thing that is somehow involved in the action.

The indirect object can be placed after the direct object.

Subject + Verb + Direct object + Indirect object 

• Ik praat met mijn vader over ons huis. (“I talk to my father about our home.”)
• De jongen verft de deur met verf. (“The boy paints the door with paint.”)

DutchPod101 also has a comprehensive Dutch Word Order Guide. Make sure to check it out for more detailed information on how this works!

2. Verbs & Tenses

In Dutch grammar, verbs conjugate for number (singular and plural) and person (first, second, and third person), just like they do in English. For reference, here’s a table of the grammatical persons in singular and plural:

	Singular	Plural
First Person	Ik (“I”)	Wij (“We”)
Second Person	Jij (“You,” casual)  U (“You,” formal)	Jullie (“You”)
Third Person	Hij (“He”) Zij (“She”) Het (“It”)	Zij (“They”)

It may be a bit overwhelming at first, but let’s just go through the basics, step-by-step.

The Infinitive

What’s the infinitive in Dutch? Well, a Dutch infinitive verb is the plural and present tense of a verb (also known as the entire verb). They usually end with -en, as in lopen (“to walk”). 

Before the Dutch infinitive, you can almost always put Ik kan (“I can”): 

• Ik kan fietsen.
  “I can cycle.”

or 

• Ik kan werken.
  “I can work.”

Conjugation Basics

Let’s give you a quick overview of the eight basic tenses that exist in Dutch.

There are two main tenses: the present and the past. 

Then, there are six “semi-tenses” that appear when these two main tenses (present or past) interact with a mood (factual or hypothetical) or an aspect (temporary or continuing).

The eight tenses of the verb Praten (“To talk”)
1. Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd  (“Present Simple”)	Ik praat	“I talk”
2. Onvoltooid verleden tijd  (“Past Simple”)	Ik praatte	“I talked”
3. Voltooid tegenwoordige tijd  (“Present Perfect”)	Ik heb gepraat	“I have talked”
4. Voltooid verleden tijd  (“Past Perfect”)	Ik had gepraat	“I had talked”
5. Onvoltooid tegenwoordige toekomende tijd  (“Future Simple”)	Ik zal praten	“I will talk”
6. Voltooid tegenwoordige toekomende tijd  (“Future Perfect”)	Ik zal hebben gepraat	“I will have talked”
7. Onvoltooid verleden toekomende tijd  (“Conditional”)	Ik zou praten	“I would talk”
8. Voltooid verleden toekomende tijd  (“Conditional Perfect”)	Ik zou hebben gepraat	“I would have talked”

Please note that praten is a regular verb, meaning it follows the normal conjugation rules. Things get a bit more complicated when you throw irregular verbs into the mix!

The 2 Most Important Verbs

Now that you know the basics of Dutch conjugation, let’s have a look at two crucial verbs. The first one, unfortunately, is irregular and doesn’t follow normal conjugation rules:

• Zijn (“To be”)
  
  Ik ben (“I am”) / Jij bent (“You are,” singular) / Hij is (“He is”) / Wij zijn (“We are”) / Jullie zijn (“You are,” plural) / Zij zijn (“They are”)
  
  For example: Ik ben gelukkig. (“I’m happy.”)

The second one, luckily, is a regular verb:

• Hebben (“To have”)
  
  Ik heb (“I have”) / Jij hebt (“You have,” singular) / Hij heeft (“He has”) / Wij hebben (“We have”) / Jullie hebben (“You have,” plural) / Zij hebben (“They have”)
  
  For example: Wij hebben een kat. (“We have a cat.”)

Want to learn more? Have a look at our vocabulary list of the 50 Most Common Verbs and our Beginner’s Guide to Dutch Conjugation. 

3. Dutch Nouns

In the Dutch language, a given noun can be singular or plural, and each noun has a grammatical gender. The gender isn’t overtly marked, so it has to be learned for every case. However, we’ll give you some tips and tricks on how to recognize the gender (and thus, the correct article) in the next section.

The Dutch Plural

The Dutch plural is made by changing the end of the word, similarly to how English plurals are formed. The most common way to make a noun plural is by adding -en or -s.

Most of the time, we add -en:

Singular	Plural
Kat (“Cat”)	Katten (“Cats”)
Kus (“Kiss”)	Kussen (“Kisses”)

However, sometimes we add -s. For example, when the word ends with an -en, -el, -em, or -er:

Singular	Plural
Tante (“Aunt”)	Tantes (“Aunts”)
Appel (“Apple”)	Appels (“Apples”)

When a relatively modern noun ends in a long vowel, an -‘s (with an apostrophe) is often used in the plural. What if they end in -ee or -é? Then no apostrophe is used. Older words generally use -en or -ën (with diaeresis).

Singular	Plural
Baby (“Baby”)	Baby´s (“Babies”)
Café (“Bar”)	Cafés (“Bars”)
Ree (“Deer”)	Reeën (“Deer”)

But there are also other, less common endings for plural nouns: -eren and -a.

• Het kind (“The child”) is singular. / De kinderen (“The children”) is plural.
  Het museum (“The museum”) is singular. / De musea (“The museums”) is plural.

There are more rules and exceptions, but let’s just stick with the basics for now.

The Dutch Diminutive

The Dutch love to use the diminutive, and not only for small things. Really, it can be used for anything that’s cute, funny, sweet, young, old, or even annoying. 

The basic formula for the diminutive is noun + je:

• Het kindje (“The little child”)

Only a -je is added when the word ends with: -b, -c, -d, -f, -g, -ch, -k, -p, -q, -s, -sj, -t, -v, -x, or -z.

However, sometimes the diminutive is formed with -tje, -etje, -pje, or -kje.

Is the vowel of the last syllable both short and stressed, and followed by a sonorant? Then use -etje:

• Het dingetje (“The little thing”)
• Het vriendinnetje (“The little girlfriend”)

In almost all other cases, the basic form -tje is used:

• Het vrouwtje (“The little woman”)
• Het schooltje (“The little school”)

4. Gender & Articles

De and het are both definite articles that mean “the.” The masculine and feminine words generally get de, while all neuter words get het. Let’s have a look:

	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Definite singular	De man (“The man”)	De vrouw (“The woman”)	Het huis (“The house”)
Definite plural	De mannen (“The men”)	De vrouwen (“The women”)	De huizen (“The houses”)
Indefinite singular	Een man (“A man”)	Een vrouw (“A woman”)	Een huis (“A house”)

However, there’s not always a good explanation for why a Dutch word has a specific gender—not to mention that Dutch words don’t have a clear gender indication. Luckily, there are a few indications that can help you:

• All words referring to persons (individuals) are de-words. 
  • de voetballer (“the football player”) / de president (“the president”)
• All plural words get de. 
  • de katten (“the cats”) / de stoelen (“the chairs”)
• All words made smaller with (e)(t/d)je are neuter. 
  • het kindje (“the little child”) / het bloemetje (“the little flower”)
• Words ending with -el or -er are often de-words.
  • de tafel (“the table”) / de bakker (“the baker”)
• All infinitive verbs that are used as a noun have the neuter het.
  • het fietsen (“the cycling”) / het schrijven (“the writing”)
• Words with standard prefixes like ge-, ver-, ont-, and be- and without an -ing ending are neuter.
  • het verhaal (“the story”) / het ontslag (“the resignation”)
• Almost all words with the standard suffixes -ing, -ij, -ie, -e, and -heid are feminine.
  • de politie (“the police”) / de schoonheid (“the beauty”) / de drukkerij (“the printing company”) / de dame (“the lady”)

5. Avoid the Most Common Dutch Grammar Mistakes

Are you feeling confident with the Dutch grammar basics so far? 

If so, great! And if not, don’t worry; you’ll get the hang of it with time.

Before we close, let’s have a look at some of the most common Dutch grammar mistakes that learners make. Knowing what to watch for will greatly help you come to grips with the language!

Dt-ending

Although the Dutch present tense might look easy, one of the most common Dutch grammar mistakes is to misuse the dt-ending. The dt-ending is used on verbs that have a -d root ending, when they’re used with certain subjects. 

So how do you get the root of your verb? You simply remove the -en ending of the infinitive (the plural and present tense of the verb). So in this case, fiets is the root of fietsen and antwoord of antwoorden.

Subject	Fietsen present tense (“to cycle”)	Antwoorden present tense (“to reply”)
Ik (“I”)	fiets	antwoord
Jij, u (“You”)	fietst	antwoordt
Hij, zij, het (“He, she, it”)	fietst	antwoordt
Wij (“We”)	fietsen	antwoorden
Zij (“They”)	fietsen	antwoorden

As you can see, in the verb antwoorden, because the root ends with a -d, it becomes -dt in the “You” and “He, she, it” subjects. And in fietsen, because the root ends with an -s (and not a -d), only a -t is added.

It may be good to look over a few different conjugation charts to really get this concept ingrained in your memory! 

Yes/No Questions

One thing that tends to be difficult about Dutch grammar for English speakers is how similar the two languages are. This can make it tempting to apply English grammar rules to Dutch, even when it’s incorrect to do so. For example, using the Dutch word doe (“to do”) in yes/no questions is grammatically incorrect; the Dutch don’t use the auxiliary “do” in questions.

Let’s see some examples:

Example 1: “Do you like dancing?”

• Correct: Houd je van dansen?
• Wrong: Doe jij houden van dansen?

Example 2: “Do you want to marry me?”

• Correct: Wil je met me trouwen?
• Wrong: Doe jij met me willen trouwen?

Let’s have a look at the correct word order:

Working verb + Subject + (Object +) Other verb ?

Some simple examples:

• Kom je? (“Are you coming?”)
• Werkt hij? (“Does he work?”)

For more question examples, don’t forget to have a look at our Top 25 Questions You Need to Know!

Splitting Verbs

The Dutch love to use a lot of verbs in their sentences and split them: one part of the verb will be at the beginning of the sentence and other parts will be at the end. 

So try to be aware of this. Be cautious when using the present perfect, past perfect, future simple, future perfect, conditional, and conditional perfect verbs, as you may need to add a verb at the end of the sentence.

Let’s have a look at the sentence structure for these tenses:

Subject + Working verb + Adverb + (Adjective +) Direct object + (Adjective +) (Indirect object +) Other verb

Here’s an example for each of the six Dutch tenses that can require a verb at the end of the sentence:

• Present perfect: De jongen heeft in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf geverfd. (“The boy has painted the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)
• Past perfect: De jongen had in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf geverfd. (“The boy had painted the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)
• Future simple: De jongen zal in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf verven. (“The boy will paint the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)
• Future perfect: De jongen zal in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf hebben geverfd. (“The boy will have painted the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)
• Conditional: De jongen zou in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf verven. (“The boy would paint the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)
• Conditional perfect: De jongen zou in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf hebben geverfd. (“The boy would have painted the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)

Are you just beginning your Dutch studies? Then don’t worry too much about this! First, have a look at this useful lesson series on the Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners.

6. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

In this Dutch grammar rules guide, you’ve learned a lot of essential Dutch grammar concepts, from general rules to some useful tips on how to avoid common Dutch grammar mistakes.

Whether you’re just starting Dutch or strengthening your knowledge, you can use this overview as a useful guide whenever you need quick access to the basic Dutch grammar rules. Did we forget any important Dutch grammar topic you would like to learn more about?

Make sure to explore DutchPod101.com! Boost your studies with our useful vocabulary lists and plenty of other free resources to practice your language skills with. We are the best place to learn about Dutch grammar online!

Would you like some personal one-on-one coaching? Then check out our Premium PLUS MyTeacher service. We’ll connect you with a private teacher who will help you improve your Dutch grammar through interactive exercises and personalized feedback.

Happy learning!

Why do people love inspirational quotes so much? Life is full of them. You see them on social media, in commercials, printed on T-shirts, painted on walls, and even tattooed on people’s skin. There’s something very appealing about these quotes: they represent people’s attitudes, stories, mindsets, histories, and more. Deeper still, they represent cultures. So when you learn quotes from another language, it’s like you’re looking through a window into another culture. 

What kind of Dutch quotes would you like to learn? Whatever you want, we have it. In this article, we’ve listed thirty Dutch quotes with English translations that will teach you more about Dutch culture and traditions, as well as the typical (often down-to-earth) Dutch attitude. You’ll also find a few quotes that are popular in English and have been translated into Dutch so you can get the best of both worlds.

Table of Contents

1. Quotes About Wisdom
2. Quotes About Success
3. Quotes About Love
4. Quotes About Life
5. Quotes About Family & Friends
6. Quotes About Learning
7. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. Quotes About Wisdom

We can all reach a point where we feel stuck or unsatisfied with our lives. So let’s start with a handful of simple Dutch quotes that offer valuable words of wisdom to get you back on the right path. 

#1

Dutch	Meten is weten.
Literally	“Measuring is knowing.”
Equivalent	Measuring things brings knowledge.
This is one of the most common Dutch wisdom quotes, and it represents how the Dutch like to do things: with precision and preparation, and never too hurriedly.

#2

Dutch	Haastige spoed is zelden goed.
Literally	“Hasty speed is never good.”
Equivalent	Haste makes waste.
Another popular quote in the Netherlands, this is used in a wide variety of situations: from parents to children, from teachers to students, and among friends. It’s often used as a light reprimand, often delivered with a wink (real or imaginary).

#3

Dutch	Wees de verandering die je in de wereld wil zien gebeuren.
Literally	“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Nearly identical to its English counterpart, this is a true inspirational quote. It’s not used quite as often in Dutch as it is in English, though a true Dutch idealist would definitely love this quote.  In the Netherlands, this quote is used to inspire others to live responsibly.

#4

Dutch	Je kunt nooit een oceaan oversteken, als je niet het lef hebt om de kust uit het zicht te verliezen.
Literally	“You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
While this isn’t a very common quote in Dutch, it’s such a beauty. It’s deep, it’s true, and it tells you all about the need to sometimes take a risk and let go of your safety blanket.  As you may notice, many Dutch quotes are related to the sea and water. This is because of the Dutch’s naval history, their close relationship with water, and their expertise in water management.

2. Quotes About Success

Do you have big plans for the future or an upcoming project you’re concerned about? These motivational quotes in Dutch will inspire you and clue you in on how to achieve success.

#5

Dutch	Om te slagen in het leven heb je twee dingen nodig: onwetendheid en vertrouwen.
Literally	“To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence.”
While this quote is originally from Mark Twain, you may also hear the Dutch version in the Netherlands. It suits the Dutch attitude: confident, direct, and maybe a little bit clumsy.

#6

Dutch	Streef niet naar succes als dat is wat je wilt; gewoon doen waar je van houdt en in gelooft en de rest komt vanzelf.
Literally	“Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.”
This quote also falls in line with the Dutch attitude: understanding that success is not everything. Do something the best you can and enjoy it as much as possible. Only then will you succeed.

#7

Dutch	Voor de wind is het goed zeilen.
Literally	“Sailing is good before the wind.”
Equivalent	It is easier to be successful under favorable conditions.
Another quote that has to do with the sea, boats, and water.  It perfectly depicts the level-headedness of the Dutch, who realize that a person’s efforts alone do not result in success. Better conditions make it easier to succeed by giving you a head start.

#8

Dutch	Elk nadeel heeft zijn voordeel.
Literally	“Every disadvantage has its advantage.”
The Dutch love this inspirational quote. Every bad thing has something positive. The trick is to find the good in the bad.  The world-famous Dutch soccer player Johan Cruyff loved to use this quote with his Amsterdam dialect: Elk nadeel heb se voordeel.

#9

Dutch	Opgeven kan morgen ook nog.
Literally	“You can always give up tomorrow.”
There is some power in this Dutch quote. You can always give up another day, so why give up today? It tells you a bit about the Dutch go-getter mentality (doorzetter mentaliteit): keep on trying without giving up or making a fuss.

→ Eager for more inspiring words? Don’t miss our list of the Top 11 Quotes About Success.

3. Quotes About Love

The Dutch are not the most romantic people in the world, so there’s no overload of romantic love quotes in Dutch. The few love quotes they do have tend to possess a down-to-earth undertone. Let’s have a look at these Dutch love quotes with English translations.

#10

Dutch	De liefde is als de wind, je kunt het niet zien maar wel voelen.
Literally	“Love is like the wind; you can’t see it, but you can feel it.”
This is a beautiful love quote that, unfortunately, is not so widely used in the Netherlands. Will you be the one to change this?

#11

Dutch	Dank je dat je altijd mijn regenboog na de storm wilt zijn.
Literally	“Thank you for always being my rainbow after the storm.”
Equivalent	Thanks for always being my sunshine after the rain.

#12

Dutch	De liefde kan niet van één kant komen.
Literally	“Love cannot come from one side.”
Equivalent	It takes two to tango.
This down-to-earth love quote is quite popular in the Netherlands. It has a nice ring and some truth to it: if you want to do something together, each party will have to contribute.

#13

Dutch	De liefde van een man gaat door de maag.
Literally	“A man’s love goes through the stomach.”
Equivalent	The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.
This humorous quote, quite popular in the Netherlands, may say something about the not-so-romantic nature of the Dutch. It even has its own old Dutch song. Of course, you can replace “man” for women, children, or even animals: De liefde van een kat gaat door de maag. (“The love of a cat goes through the stomach.”)

#14

Dutch	Ongelukkig in het spel, gelukkig in de liefde.
Literally	“Unlucky in the game, happy in love.”
Equivalent	Lucky at cards, unlucky in love.
This is one of those love quotes in Dutch with a nearly identical English equivalent. Those who always lose when gambling often have a happy love life.  What do you think about that? Is it true for you?

#15

Dutch	Oude liefde roest niet.
Literally	“Old love does not rust.”
This beautiful Dutch quote has an identical English counterpart, as well as its own song from the famous Dutch eighties band VOF De Kunst. They sing: Oude liefde roest niet, maar verdwijnt net zoals jij. (“Old love does not rust, but disappears just like you.”)

→ Find more love inspiration in our free vocabulary list of Dutch Quotes About Love. Or go for those bittersweet Break-Up Quotes.

4. Quotes About Life

Life is a great mystery, and yet there are some universal truths to be found. Read through these Dutch quotes about life to gain insight into the Dutch view of this phenomenon.

#16

Dutch	Het leven gaat niet altijd over rozen.
Literally	“Life doesn’t always go over roses.”
Equivalent	Life is not always beautiful.
This Dutch life quote is a great reflection of the Dutch culture and mindset: direct, honest, and realistic.

#17

Dutch	Hoop doet leven.
Literally	“Hope makes you live.”
Equivalent	As long as you’ve got hope, there are possibilities.
This quote has a nice ring to it. It’s short but also quite powerful. The Dutch often use this quote when speaking about love, life, or dreams.

#18

Dutch	Geld maakt niet gelukkig.
Literally	“Money does not make you happy.”
Equivalent	Money can’t buy happiness.
This Dutch quote has a very similar English counterpart and is very popular in the Netherlands.  It also reflects the aspect of Dutch culture that realizes money isn’t everything, and that there’s more to life than material wealth.

#19

Dutch	Het is zoals het is.
Literally	“Things are the way they are.”
Equivalent	It is what it is.
This may be the most Dutch quote out there. It’s down-to-earth, without drama, and very realistic. Things are just the way they are and you have to accept it.

#20

Dutch	Wat er ook gebeurt, altijd blijven lachen.
Literally	“Whatever happens, always keep smiling.”
This Dutch quote became famous through a popular Dutch clown duo: Bassie & Adriaan. They had a very popular children’s TV show from the late seventies to the end of the nineties. They even have a song about this positive quote.

5. Quotes About Family & Friends

Family and friends are life’s greatest joys and necessities. These Dutch quotes about family and friendship offer some cultural perspective on how the Dutch perceive these crucial relationships.

#21

Dutch	Oost west, thuis best.
Literally	“East, West, home is best.”
This Dutch quote is very popular in the Netherlands. It emphasizes that you have to appreciate where you’re from. You can travel all you want, but there is just no place like home.

#22

Dutch	Gezelligheid kent geen tijd.
Literally	“Coziness knows no time.”
This is one of the classic Dutch quotes about friendship. It just means that when you’re having fun, you shouldn’t worry about the time. So if you’re having fun drinking with friends, don’t worry about going to sleep a bit later. Yes, the Dutch know how to have fun and be cozy together. They even have a special word for it: gezelligheid.

#23

Dutch	De appel valt niet ver van de boom.
Literally	“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
Equivalent	A chip off the old block.
This quote means that children often resemble their parents. It’s a common saying in the Netherlands, often used when a child has the same looks, interests, or talents as their parents.

#24

Dutch	In nood leert men zijn vrienden kennen.
Literally	“In distress, people get to know their friends.”
When you’re in trouble or in a difficult situation, you’ll know who your true friends are. They’re the people that will be there for you no matter what.

#25

Dutch	Elk huisje heeft z’n kruisje.
Literally	“Every house has its cross.”
Equivalent	Every home has its own worries and problems.
This quote means that there is trouble in every house or family. This Dutch expression has been used since the seventeenth century.  The house in this quote represents a family. The cross represents the difficulties and griefs that everyone inevitably faces in their life, such as illness, loss of loved ones, and setbacks. This is represented as a cross because of the horrible punishment of crucifixion from the past.

→ Would you like to learn more? Have a look at our vocabulary lists of quotes on Family and Friendship.

6. Quotes About Learning

Let’s close this article with the best quotes in Dutch for language learners: those about learning! 

#26

Dutch	Talenkennis is de deur naar wijsheid.
Literally	“Knowledge of languages is the doorway to wisdom.”

#27

Dutch	In het leven en ook in de taal zijn nuances alles.
Literally	“In life and also in language, nuances are everything.”
This Dutch quote is from Louis Couperus, a Dutch novelist and poet who lived from 1863 to 1923. His famous works span a wide variety of genres: lyric poetry, psychological and historical novels, novellas, short stories, fairy tales, feuilletons, and sketches.

#28

Dutch	Men is nooit te oud om te leren.
Literally	“People are never too old to learn.”
This is a popular Dutch learning quote, telling people to never get discouraged about learning something.  You’re never too old to learn something new. Let’s live up to this inspirational quote. You’re never too old to start learning Dutch. You can do it!

#29

Dutch	Op een oude fiets moet je het leren.
Literally	“You have to learn it on an old bicycle.”
Equivalent	Teaching materials are rarely new.
Although things may be renewed or modernized, the base often stays the same. A bike is a bike. Learning a language is learning a language. It has been done for ages and modern tools may make it a bit easier, but in the end we use the same kind of teaching materials.

#30

Dutch	Leren doe je met vallen en opstaan.
Literally	“You learn by falling and getting up.”
Equivalent	You learn by trial and error.
This Dutch learning quote reveals a lot about the Dutch mentality: you learn by doing and trying. Don’t expect to succeed at once. You’ll learn with time.

→ Would you like to discover more quotes on learning? Have a look at these useful Quotes About Language Learning and practice your pronunciation with the audio recordings.
→ To learn more inspirational Dutch quotes, have a look at our list of the Top 10 Inspirational Quotes.

7. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

In this guide, you’ve learned the most important and inspirational Dutch quotes with English translations on a variety of topics: from wisdom to success, from love to life, from family to friends, and beyond. 

Did we inspire you? Are you motivated to learn more about the Dutch culture, history, and language?

Then DutchPod101.com is the place to be. With our multiple vocabulary lists featuring audio recordings and other useful free resources, you’ll definitely boost your Dutch studies from day one. Practice is key! And remember: Leren doe je met vallen en opstaan. (“You learn by trial and error.”)

Would you like some one-on-one coaching? Remember that DutchPod101 also has the Premium PLUS MyTeacher service. Here, you can discover more about Dutch culture with your own private teacher and really master the Dutch language. Through personalized feedback and pronunciation advice, you’ll definitely get the hang of it. 

Happy learning on DutchPod101.com!

Can you imagine going to a meeting in the Netherlands’ business world without having any idea about Dutch business customs? Or going into a formal situation and not knowing how to use the formal “you”? (Yes, it’s U, but do you know how to conjugate it?) 

The business world varies from country to country, and even within a single country, there’s a big difference between the formal and informal worlds. So although you can handle yourself in the Netherlands in casual settings, you might need to study business Dutch phrases and get some useful tips on Dutch business etiquette before starting work there.

Spare yourself all of the awkward situations by getting prepared with these thirty-two useful Dutch business phrases. In this guide, you’ll learn all the phrases you need for a variety of work-related situations, from nailing your job interview to going on business trips. 

Let’s get down to business in the Netherlands!

Table of Contents

1. Formal Greetings, Introductions, and Goodbyes
2. Nailing a Job Interview
3. Interacting with Coworkers
4. Sound Smart in a Meeting
5. Handling Business Phone Calls and Emails
6. Going on a Business Trip
7. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. Formal Greetings, Introductions, and Goodbyes

Before we dive into the more-specific Dutch business phrases, let’s first cover the basics: the formal greetings, introductions, and goodbyes. We’ll even let you know which form of “you” to use.

1- Greetings

When greeting someone, a handshake is the way to go in formal situations. So, when meeting someone in a business setting, give that person a handshake and combine it with one of the following greetings:

1. Dag. (“Hello.”) 

This is the perfect basic greeting, and it works in almost any situation. It’s neither too formal nor too relaxed, so you can’t go wrong with it.

2. Dag, aangenaam kennis te maken. (“Hello, nice to meet you.”) 

This is the perfect formal greeting when you’re meeting someone for the first time.

3. Goedemorgen. / Goedemiddag. / Goedenavond. (“Good morning.” / “Good afternoon.” / “Good evening.”) 

Of course, you should use these according to the time of day (until twelve p.m., until six p.m., and until twelve a.m., respectively).

→ To learn more greetings along with their pronunciations, have a look at our vocabulary list on common ways to say hello.

2- Introductions

You’ve said your greetings, so now it’s time to let them know your name:

4. Ik ben ___. (“I am ___.”)

Simply put your name in the blank. For example: Ik ben Robert Green or Ik ben Valentina Blanco.

It’s not the most formal introduction, but it is the most common one. Using your first and last name makes it more formal (and it’s also the norm in the Netherlands’ business world to introduce yourself with your last name). 

→ To discover more Dutch introduction phrases, have a look at our vocabulary list of 10 lines you need for introducing yourself.

3- Goodbyes

The conversation is over, so make your good impression last with a smooth goodbye. In general, it’s polite to shake hands while saying one of these goodbyes:

5. Dag. (“Goodbye.”) 

Yes, this also means goodbye. It’s a basic Dutch goodbye that can be used in almost any situation, including many business settings.

6. Tot ziens. (“See you.”)

Although it doesn’t sound very formal in English, in Dutch, this goodbye can definitely be used in more-formal situations. People use this phrase when they know that they’ll see the other person again (not hypothetically; the Dutch take these things quite literally).

7. Het was leuk u te ontmoeten. (“It was nice to meet you.”) 

This is a friendly thing to add when saying your goodbyes to someone you’ve just met for the first time. But be aware that it’s not appropriate for all situations. Dutch people are not fake, so only use it when you’re being real.

→ Find more ways to say goodbye in Dutch and practice your pronunciation with our vocabulary list of common ways to say goodbye.

4- Jij or U?

You now know how to greet, introduce yourself, and say your goodbyes in Dutch. But before moving on to more-complicated Dutch business phrases, we want to clear up any doubts about the Dutch “you.”

In Dutch, there are two distinct pronouns for “you”: Jij (casual “you”) and U (formal “you”). Whenever in doubt, you can’t go wrong with U. This is especially the case when you’re talking to someone older than you.

In the Netherlands, there are no strict rules on when to use which pronoun; it depends on the people, the business, or the branch of work you’re in. A simple rule is to follow the lead of the other person. If they use Jij when addressing you, answer with Jij. Otherwise, just stick to the formal U. 

2. Nailing a Job Interview

If there’s one situation where you’ll need to up your Dutch business phrases game, it’s definitely a job interview. 

The great thing about job interviews is that you normally have a few days to prepare for it. This gives you plenty of time to look up all of the Dutch phrases for business you think you’ll need to express who you are and what you do. If you want a head-start, make sure you check out our special introduction article.

Optimize your skills even more with these useful Dutch business phrases for nailing a job interview:

8. Ik heb jarenlange ervaring met ___. (“I have years of experience with ___.”) 

9. Ik onderscheid me in mijn werk door ___. (“I distinguish myself in my work by ___.”)

10. Ik ben geïnteresseerd in deze baan omdat ___. (“I am interested in this job because ___.”)

What should you do if you don’t understand the interviewer? Ask him or her to repeat the question (but don’t ask too many times):

11. Zou u uw vraag nog een keer kunnen herhalen? (“Could you repeat your question, please?”) 

Now it’s time to end the conversation with an appropriate job interview goodbye (with a handshake, of course):

12. Bedankt voor het gesprek. (“Thank you for the conversation.”)

3. Interacting with Coworkers

You aced your interview and you’re starting your new job in the Netherlands. Hurray! Now we’ll give you some common business phrases in Dutch that you can use to interact with your coworkers.

→ First, get familiar with the most useful words for your new job with this workplace vocabulary list.

So, you’re new at work and you need some help (understanding how a system works, how to use the printer, or how to make the coffee machine work):

13. Zou je/u mij kunnen helpen? (“Could you help me?”)

Whether you use jij or u depends on your workplace, so follow your colleagues’ lead. The same applies to the next phrase, which you can use if you want to praise someone’s work:

14. Ik ben erg blij met jouw/uw werk. (“I am very happy with your work.”) 

This is a more formal compliment that you can say to some of your employees. 

15. Goed bezig! (“Doing good!”) 

This is a more casual compliment that works well with coworkers.

16. Bedankt voor de fijne samenwerking. (“Thank you for the nice collaboration.”) 

This phrase is most appropriate after you’ve finished a project with someone, and not if you’re going to keep on working with that person.

Are you feeling comfortable with a certain coworker and would like to ask them out for a drink after work sometime? Then the following phrase will come in handy:

17. Heb je zin om na werk wat te drinken? (“Would you like to have a drink after work?”)

Doing business with Dutchies isn’t all about time spent in the workplace; it’s also about forming relationships. In the Netherlands, it’s quite common to drink after work on Fridays with colleagues. There’s even a word for it: vrijdagmiddagborrel (“the Friday afternoon drinks”). Depending on where you work, though, this afternoon drinking session could take place on a different day.

4. Sound Smart in a Meeting

Would you like to sound smart in a meeting? All you need are some smooth but common business phrases in Dutch.

If you’re participating in a Dutch business meeting and would like to pitch an interesting idea or solution, throw in one of the following phrases:

18. Ik geloof dat we wel tot een compromis kunnen komen. (“I believe we can find a compromise.”)

19. Ik denk dat ik wel een oplossing kan voorstellen. (“I think I can suggest a solution.”)

If you’ve just finished your pitch or presentation, then end it with the following phrase:

20. Heel erg bedankt voor jullie aandacht. (“Thank you very much for your attention.”) 

Use jullie (“you,” plural) if there are several people in the meeting; if not, use uw in its place.

Is there something you would like to discuss in the next meeting? Then you can use this phrase:

21. Kunnen we dit tijdens de volgende vergadering bespreken? (“Can we discuss this matter during the following meeting?”)

By using even just one of these bad boys, you’ll definitely make an impression with your professional Dutch and your ability to get to the point and present your ideas.

→ Do you want to be able to prepare a meeting with a Dutch colleague? Then have a look at our Dutch listening video on preparing for a Dutch business meeting.
→ Or have a look at these phrases for Doing Business Successfully.

5. Handling Business Phone Calls and Emails

Handling communication in Dutch business settings may be challenging, and you might struggle with which words you should or shouldn’t use.

To give you a head start, here are some phrases you’ll need when writing a Dutch business email:

22. Geachte heer, mevrouw, (“Dear Sir / Madam,”) 

You can start an email this way if you don’t know the name or gender of the person you’re writing to. If you do know the person’s name, you can write, for example: Geachte meneer Janssen (“Dear Mr. Janssen”).

Now that you’ve used the perfect formal email greeting and introduced yourself, you should continue with the following phrase to explain why you’re writing this email:

23. Wij schrijven u naar aanleiding van ___. ( “We are writing to you regarding ___.”) 

And to end the email in a polite way, use the following phrase:

24. Mocht u meer informatie willen, kunt u altijd contact met mij opnemen. (“If you require any further information, feel free to contact me.”)

→ Do you want to learn more? Have a look at this useful page on writing Dutch business letters or emails.

Let’s now continue with some useful Dutch for business phone calls:

25. Hallo, u spreekt met ___. (“Hello, you are talking with ___.”)

26. Spreek ik met ___? (“Am I speaking with ___?”)

27. Ik bel u vanwege ___. (“I am calling you because ___.”)

What if someone is calling you, and you’re unsure of what to do or how to connect them with someone else? Just use this phrase and put them on hold:

28. Een momentje alstublieft. (“Please wait for a moment.”)

→ You can find more examples with audio recordings on our vocabulary list of useful phrases for a phone call.

6. Going on a Business Trip

Last but definitely not least, what phrases do you need to know for going on a business trip to the Netherlands? 

Let’s first have a look at some phrases that can be useful in your hotel or during other moments of your business trip:

29. Ik heb een kamer gereserveerd. (“I have a reservation [for a room].”)

30. Ik ben hier voor zaken. (“I’m here on business.”)

31. Accepteert u credit cards? (“Do you accept credit cards?”)

If your host has been especially helpful and kind to you, then definitely use the following phrase when saying your goodbyes:

32. Bedankt voor de gastvrijheid. (“Thank you for your hospitality.”)

→ Would you like to learn more business Dutch phrases? Have a look at our lesson library and learn business Dutch for beginners alongside other useful words and phrases.

7. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

In this guide, you’ve learned all about business Dutch phrases, from the basics to useful phrases for job interviews, interactions with coworkers, meetings, emails, phone calls, and business trips. Which of these common business phrases in Dutch will you use the most?

Are you ready to get down to business in the Netherlands? Or would you like more help first?

DutchPod101 has many free resources, such as vocabulary lists with audio recordings, to help you prepare for any business setting.

Or do you prefer a private teacher? DutchPod101 also offers personal one-on-one coaching with our Premium PLUS MyTeacher service. Boost your Dutch with your private teacher’s interactive exercises, personalized feedback, and useful tips.

Happy learning, and good luck in your business endeavors!

If you grew up celebrating Halloween, then you already have a good idea of the main component of Carnaval celebrations in the Netherlands: dressing up in costume! But what about the bar-hopping? Or the insane float parades? And how exactly did this holiday originate? 

In this article, we’ll discuss the key aspects of Carnaval in the Netherlands and provide you with a list of useful vocabulary to know for the holiday. Enjoy!

1. What is Carnival in the Netherlands?

Carnival (also spelled Carnaval) is a three-day Christian celebration observed in several countries around the world. The Dutch Carnaval is mainly celebrated in the nation’s southernmost regions—especially in Limburg and Brabant—which are largely Katholiek (Catholic). 

The holiday originated from a pagan tradition that encouraged heavy feasting prior to winter food shortages. Over time, Carnival became more associated with Catholicism and eventually came to be celebrated as a way to indulge and use up perishable food before Lent.

However, even in the more religious regions of the Netherlands, Carnival has lost most (if not all) of its religious meaning. From a social point of view, the holiday is also a time to reverse societal roles: those who are poor can mock the rich by wearing silly clothing, people can show defiance toward authorities, and everyone is expected to dress like—and become—a different person or character for the duration of the holiday. 

Carnival in the Netherlands is really just a time of fun, laughter, and letting go of one’s daily worries and frustrations. It can be a crazy time, but also an opportunity to make great memories! 

→ Does any other holiday come to mind when talking about Carnival? See our vocabulary list of the 12 Phrases You Can Use on April Fool’s Day!

→ International Talk Like a Pirate Day is another fun holiday that allows you to act like someone else. Why not pick up some Dutch vocab for it?

2. Dutch Carnival Dates

Because the dates of Carnival depend on the dates of Easter and Lent, it takes place on a different day each year. The holiday immediately precedes the other major religious holidays of Vastenavond (Shrove Tuesday) and Aswoensdag (Ash Wednesday). For your convenience, here’s an overview of its start and end dates for the next ten years. 

• 2021: February 14 – February 16
• 2022: February 27 – March 1 
• 2023: February 19 – February 21
• 2024: February 11 – February 13
• 2025: March 2 – March 4
• 2026: February 15 – February 17
• 2027: February 7 – February 9
• 2028: February 27 – February 29
• 2029: February 11 – February 13
• 2030: March 3 – March 5

3. Traditions for the Dutch Carnival 

This vibrant traditie (tradition) begins once a “key to the city” has been given to the Carnival Prince, a member of the region who has been chosen by the Carnival Committee. Once the keys have been handed over, it’s time to unlock the fun! 

From this moment on, you can find myriads of people in any given kroeg (pub). Drinking is a major part of this holiday, and rightfully so—Carnival is meant to be a time of lightheartedness and jest. It’s also the perfect occasion to feesten (party) and don a unique kostuum (costume). Many people verkleden (dress up) as clowns, jesters, royalty, animals, food items, and even as the opposite gender!

→ Costumes are a huge part of this holiday! See our vocabulary lists on Clothing and Clothing-Related Actions to get a vocabulary boost before your trip.

People perform a popular dance during this holiday called the Polonaise. This is a traditional Polish dance (Polonais is French for “Polish”), and it was first incorporated into Dutch Carnival celebrations in the 1400s. It is a slow style of dance done in triple meter. Another popular dance style is the hossen, during which a group of people jumps up and down together. 

If you want to experience a Carnival parade, the Netherlands will have plenty of them! Special Carnival associations often put on parades featuring outlandish floats, which often depict political and/or religious leaders, as well as recent events, in a less-than-stellar light. Many of the parades will start at 11:11 or 12:11 (because eleven is seen as a fool’s number), and you can find these parades in most southern and eastern regions. Keep reading for additional information on where to visit for the best experience. 

4. Best Places for Carnival in the Netherlands

Are you planning to visit the Netherlands for Carnival in the near future? Then you should prepare your trip in advance by deciding which locations you’ll want to hit! Keep in mind that, during the three days of Carnival, all participating cities change their names. 

Here are a few Limburg and Brabant Carnaval celebrations you shouldn’t miss.

Maastricht 

• Carnival Name: Mestreech 

The Maastricht Carnival celebrations are the largest in the entire country, with a range of events and activities to take part in. If you want to experience a lot of festivity in a shorter amount of time, this is the place to be! 

The most notable event is the eleven shots fired at exactly 12:11 in the afternoon of the first celebration day, which takes place after the raising of the Prince’s Flag. From that point on, you can look forward to an exciting, largely outdoor Carnival experience. From a brass band competition to dancing, parades, and family-friendly events, there’s something for everyone! A short hour’s drive away, you’ll also find plenty of celebrations going on in Eindhoven. 

Tilburg 

• Carnival Name: Kruikenstad

Tilburg is most known for its orchestras, concerts, and pub crawling—the perfect combination, don’t you think? Of course, you can also enjoy watching the Tilburg Carnaval parade with a drink (or two) in hand! 

Den Bosch

• Carnival Name: Oeteldonk

Den Bosch may simultaneously have the most family-friendly and the most unique celebrations in the Netherlands. It’s notorious for its Youth Carnival, featuring a parade geared toward younger audiences (no inappropriate floats like you’re bound to see in other parades). To end the Den Bosch celebrations, a doll dressed as a farmer is buried; this is a symbolic show of respect for someone named Knillis who is said to have founded the city. 

Venlo

• Carnival Name: Jocus Riék

The first thing you should know is that while Maastricht might have the largest celebration, Venlo has the oldest. If you visit Venlo for Carnival, you can look forward to 12+ parades, a Boétezitting event, and a farmer’s wedding event. Check it out! 

5. Vocabulary to Know Before Carnival

To conclude, let’s take a look at some useful vocabulary associated with Carnival in the Netherlands:

• Kermis (Fair) – feminine noun 
• Kroeg (Pub) – masculine noun 
• Kostuum (Costume) – neuter noun 
• Vastenavond (Shrove Tuesday) – masculine noun 
• Verkleden (Dress up) – verb
• Limburg (Limburg) – neuter proper noun 
• Praalwagen (Float) – masculine noun 
• Katholiek (Catholic) – adjective
• Traditie (Tradition) – feminine noun 
• Polonaise (Polonaise) – feminine noun 
• Aswoensdag (Ash Wednesday) – masculine proper noun 
• Feesten (Party) – verb
• Kater (Hangover) – masculine noun
• Brabant (Brabant) – neuter proper noun 

If you would like to practice your pronunciation, head over to our Carnival vocabulary list, where you’ll find recorded audio pronunciations of each word! 

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed our article on Carnival in the Netherlands and that you’re craving even more cultural knowledge now! 

Do you celebrate Carnival in your country, or maybe a similar holiday? Tell us about it in the comments! 

If you can’t wait to feel the Netherland’s soil beneath your feet, but don’t yet feel confident in your language skills or cultural know-how, you’re in the right place. Here are some more blog posts from DutchPod101.com we think you’ll enjoy:

• Pasan: Celebrating Easter Monday in the Netherlands
• Driekoningen: The Dutch Epiphany Celebration
• Prinsjesdag: Prince’s Day in the Netherlands
• DutchPod101’s Essential Dutch Travel Phrases Guide
• Essential Vocabulary for Life Events in Dutch

And this barely even scratches the surface of everything we have in store for our students! Create your free lifetime account today to gain access to hundreds of video and audio lessons, themed vocabulary lists, and our spaced repetition flashcards. It’s our aim to make learning Dutch fun, easy, and effective. 

Happy learning from the DutchPod101.com team!

Would you like to improve your Dutch while having fun? No, it’s not too good to be true. 

Learning a language is more than just cramming endless vocabulary lists into your memory or picking your brain to understand those tricky Dutch grammar rules. To really learn Dutch, it’s crucial that you find ways to make learning more fun. If you enjoy learning, you’ll stay motivated.

So what might be a fun Dutch learning method? As the title already gave away, you can have fun and learn Dutch online with YouTube. 

Yes, YouTube is a great medium for improving your Dutch. There are several Dutch YouTube channels dedicated to teaching foreigners the language, and plenty more that you can watch just for fun and still pick up the language. And due to YouTube’s infinite offering of videos, you’ll never get bored! 

In this article, you’ll discover the ten best Dutch YouTube channels in a variety of categories. Starting with the DutchPod101 channel, you’ll find everything you need to immerse yourself in the Dutch language and make quick progress.

→ Would you like to know other ways to effectively learn a language? Then have a look at these Habits for Highly Effective Language Learners.

Table of Contents

1. Learning Dutch Online with YouTube
2. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. Learning Dutch Online with YouTube

Ready to improve your Dutch on YouTube? 

To make it easy for you to find what you need, we’ll provide you with a category, a level, and a short summary of each channel. 

Have fun and learn some Dutch!

1. DutchPod101 YouTube Channel

Category: Language
Level: All levels, depending on the video

Since you’re already familiar with DutchPod101, you might also know about the DutchPod101 YouTube channel. And let’s be honest—there’s just no better YouTube channel out there for learning Dutch. 

Thanks to our wide variety of free content, you’ll surely be able to find what you’re looking for. You name it and the DutchPod101 YouTube channel has it: from grammar and vocabulary to listening, pronunciation, podcasts, and cultural insights. Our channel features some great tools for improving your Dutch, such as listening comprehension videos, new word exercises, and useful videos on how to learn Dutch online with YouTube. 

This channel really has all the resources you need, for all levels and about every topic imaginable.

2. Dutchforn00bs

Category: Language & Culture
Level: All levels, depending on the video

Don’t worry, we won’t spend the entire article tooting our own horn. There are many other Dutch language YouTube channels that will help you improve your Dutch in a diverse and interactive manner. 

Dutchforn00bs is such a place, offering insight into Dutch grammar, pronunciation, and culture.

As you learn Dutch, YouTube videos like those on Dutchforn00bs will prove to be an invaluable resource. This channel provides a diverse offering of videos on numerous language and culture topics, and breaks them down for easy comprehension. To give you some examples, this channel has videos on the pronunciation of letters, grammar tutorials, and speaking tips.

3. Learn Dutch with Niels!

Category: Language
Level: All levels, depending on the video

We continue with another channel that might just be a nice distraction from your Dutch textbooks. Learn Dutch with Niels! offers several useful video lessons on learning Dutch, from basic grammar to word order. Dutch YouTuber Niels is a former teacher with a passion for his old profession; you’ll certainly notice this in his Dutch lessons on YouTube.

On this channel, you can expect to learn more about Dutch sentence structures, grammar, and the meaning and use of verbs. In addition, you’ll learn to produce your own sentences and ultimately become a more flexible and autonomous Dutch speaker.

→ Would you like to learn more Dutch verbs? Discover everything you need to know in our vocabulary list of The 50 Most Common Verbs!

4. Learn Dutch Online With Rozemarijn

Category: Language
Level: All levels, depending on the video

Improve your Dutch by watching these videos in chronological order; we recommend starting at the bottom of the page and working your way up. This way, you’ll start with the easier lessons, and flow with the logical order of the videos. So sit back, enjoy the show, and learn more about basic Dutch words, pronunciation, spelling, and grammar. Each video features spoken and written Dutch, as well as simple English subtitles. Practice your pronunciation and really learn to speak Dutch with YouTube.

The videos on this channel are made by a Dutch YouTuber named Rozemarijn (Rosemary). She studied Dutch Language and Literature at the University of Utrecht, and started making videos for family members who grew up abroad.

→ Do you want to improve your Dutch pronunciation? Start talking like a real Dutchie with our list of The Top 10 Hardest Words to Pronounce.

5. Learn Dutch with Alain

Category: Language & Culture
Level: All levels, depending on the video

Let’s give you one more Dutch language learning YouTube channel: Learn Dutch with Alain. Dutch YouTuber Alain is a Dutch language teacher who uses his classroom experience to create diverse, fun, and interactive videos. 

You can definitely say that his channel has a wide variety of lessons, from learning new words to useful learning tools and interactive exercises—you can even listen to the news in slow Dutch! With humor and precision, he tackles all of the typical challenges you’ll face when learning Dutch. 

And with a new video out every Monday, you’ll have more than enough to see and learn.

6. The Netherlands & Dutch Culture

Category: Culture
Level: All levels; the content is in English

How can a language really be useful if you can’t understand the country’s context and culture? 

Lucky for you, if you want to brush up on Dutch culture, YouTube has you covered. 

After learning a bit about the Dutch language with the channels above, just sit back and watch something from The Netherlands & Dutch Culture. Each video works with a certain theme, often linked to topics that are hot and happening. In each video, you’ll not only get a fun and clear description of Dutch culture, but also learn some Dutch words related to the topic. 

7. Nickelodeon Nederlands

Category: TV Shows
Level: Beginner

Watching cartoons and other Dutch children’s TV shows: could learning Dutch be any more fun?

You might be familiar with Nickelodeon, the American television channel for children. But did you know that a lot of other countries (such as the Netherlands) also have their own Nickelodeon channel in the native language? 

Luckily, Nickelodeon Nederlands allows you to watch your favorite kids’ shows on YouTube in Dutch. We’re talking about such shows as SpongeBob SquarePants, The Thundermans, School of Rock, and Henry Danger!

What are you waiting for?

8. NOS Jeugdjournaal

Category: News
Level: Beginner

NOS jeugdjournaal (“NOS Youth Journal”) is a Dutch television news program for children. It presents real news in language that young viewers can understand. The presenters and reporters also speak very clearly, making it the perfect news medium for Dutch language learners. Even beginners will find much of the content comprehensible due to the simple language and fun videos! 

This Youth Journal has a daily evening program on the Dutch television, running every night at seven o’clock for twenty minutes on NPO 3, as well as a short program in the morning during the week. A lot of these stories are afterwards posted on the NOS Jeugdjournaal YouTube channel.

9. Proefkonijnen

Category: TV Shows
Level: Intermediate

Improve your Dutch listening skills by watching these entertaining and informative videos. You won’t be able to stop watching these guys and their crazy experiments.

Can you function when the world is literally turned upside-down? Can you get a mosquito drunk with blood from a drunk human? In the Dutch TV show Proefkonijnen (“Guinea pigs”), Jurre Geluk and Kaj van der Ree will give you down-to-earth answers to the craziest questions.

And luckily, you can also enjoy it on YouTube. Because these videos are very entertaining and fun, with a lot of self-explanatory images, they’re perfect for intermediate learners. Watch the show, have a laugh, and try to understand what’s going on. (Believe us, they’ll make you want to understand it all.)

→ Would you like to understand these videos better? Discover How to Improve Your Listening Skills.

10. NL Artiesten Afspeellijsten

Category: Music
Level: All levels

With these Dutch music playlists, you’ll be able to discover a lot of Dutch music. And as you might know, listening to music helps you get familiar with a language. By listening to your favorite music genres in Dutch, you’ll both familiarize yourself with the pronunciation and start to understand the lyrics. 

You can just play the music in the background or start dancing to it. And don’t forget to look up the lyrics to improve your understanding. Soon, you’ll be singing along!

→ Would you like to talk with your Dutch friends about YouTube? Then have a look at our useful vocabulary list for Talking About YouTube.

2. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

In this guide, we’ve shown you which channels you can’t miss when you want to learn Dutch online with YouTube. Your first stop should definitely be the DutchPod101 YouTube channel, with great podcasts, grammar and vocabulary lessons, and other YouTube videos dedicated to the Dutch language and culture. Be sure to explore our Playlists to easily find the category and topic you need. You’ll quickly see why we confidently say it’s the best channel out there! 

And of course, if you would like to see some additional pronunciation, culture, news, cartoons, comedy, or music videos, you have the other channels to pick from. 

So which YouTube channel will you watch first? Or would you like to improve your Dutch first so that you can really get the most from these YouTube channels?

To get a head start on your language learning, we recommend that you check out the many free resources from DutchPod101, especially our themed vocabulary lists with audio recordings.

Would you prefer a private teacher? DutchPod101 has the MyTeacher service for Premium PLUS members, through which you can get personal one-on-one coaching. Improve your Dutch quickly with your private teacher’s personalized feedback, tips, and interactive exercises.

Whatever path you choose from here, we wish you very happy Dutch learning!

How do you say goodbye in Dutch? This is a big question, because your parting words will leave a lasting impression, for better or worse. 

If you’ve been following our blog, you’ve already studied How to Say Hello in Dutch and How to Introduce Yourself in Dutch. Now it’s time to master the art of a perfect Dutch goodbye. Every situation—from leaving the office or chatting with friends, to parting ways with your Dutch lover—calls for a different type of goodbye. This article will teach you what to say, and what not to say, in any situation! 

Don’t be afraid; it doesn’t have to be that difficult. In fact, you can choose for yourself how difficult you want it to be. We’ve divided this article into sections that cover:

• The two most common ways to say goodbye in Dutch
• Six specific ways to say goodbye
• The weirdest Dutch goodbyes 
• Dutch goodbye gestures

Let’s avoid the awkward goodbyes. Make a grand exit with this useful guide on how to say goodbye in Dutch!

→ Of course, a great goodbye is nothing without a smooth hello, so be sure to check out our vocabulary lists on the Common Ways to Say Hello and 10 Lines You Need for Introducing Yourself. Once you know hello and goodbye in Dutch, there’s no stopping you!

Start with a bonus, and download the Must-Know Beginner Vocabulary PDF for FREE!(Logged-In Member Only)

Table of Contents

1. The Two Most Common Ways to Say Goodbye in Dutch
2. Specific Ways to Say Bye in Dutch
3. Untranslatable Goodbye Phrases in Dutch
4. Dutch Culture: Goodbye Gestures
5. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. The Two Most Common Ways to Say Goodbye in Dutch

While there are several ways to say goodbye in the Dutch language, there are two words we recommend you memorize right away: 

Dag	[Formal]	(“Goodbye”)
Doei	[Casual]	(“Bye”)

These two expressions can be used in almost any situation, whether formal or informal.

Are you leaving a work meeting, a dentist’s office, a fancy shop, or another type of formal environment? Then you can say Dag. Or are you saying goodbye to friends, family, colleagues, or someone else you’re casual with? Then you can say Doei.

These are two easy options, and we recommend sticking with them if you’re struggling with your Dutch. But you should still try to challenge yourself a bit more. In the next section, we’ll teach you how to use a variety of Dutch goodbye phrases for any situation. 

2. Specific Ways to Say Bye in Dutch

A- Casual Goodbyes

Let’s start with the most common way to say goodbye in a casual setting:

Doei!	[Casual]	(“Bye!”)
Instead of Doei, you can also use Doeg or Doe-Doei. These are playful alternatives with the same meaning and vibe. They’re perfect for more casual settings.

Now, let’s have a look at some alternative Dutch phrases for goodbye when dealing with friends, relatives, colleagues, or other people you know well.

Zie je (later).	[Very casual]	(“See you [later].”)
(Tot) Later.	[Very casual]	(“[See you] Later.”)
Tot gauw.	[Very casual]	(“See you soon.”)
Tot means “until,” so this basically translates to “until soon/later,” and it’s a casual way to say “See you soon/later.” It’s also common to only say Zie je or Later. Later is an easy goodbye for English-speakers, but be aware that the pronunciation is different (the a has a long sound).

Bye!	[Casual]	(“Bye!”)
Peace.	[Very casual]	(“Peace.”)
Bye and Peace have been integrated into the Dutch vocabulary. Bye is a rather common way to say goodbye. Peace is less common, and it’s mostly used by adolescents and younger people.

Houdoe!	[Casual]	(“Bye!”)
Have you been to the southern part of the Netherlands? Then you may have heard this special way of saying goodbye. It’s used in the dialects of parts of Noord-Brabant, Gelderland, and Limburg. Don’t ever say houdoe (“above the rivers“) when you’re in the northern part of the Netherlands, as people may make fun of you. But whenever you’re in the south and hear other people use it, feel free to say the cheerful Houdoe in casual settings!

B- The Formal Goodbye

Okay, let’s move on. Here’s how to say goodbye in Dutch when you’re in a more formal setting: 

Dag.	[Formal]	(“Goodbye.”)
Tot ziens.	[Formal]	(“Goodbye.” / “See you.”)
Tot ziens literally means “Until seeings,” and in English, it’s comparable to a more formal “See you.”

You can’t go wrong with these two common expressions!

C- Have a Good One

Let’s continue with this formal vibe. Another formal way to say goodbye is to wish the person a nice day, weekend, evening, etc.

Fijne dag.	[Formal]	(“Have a nice day.”)
Prettige dag.	[Very formal]	(“Have a pleasant day.”)
Prettig weekend.	[Very formal]	(“Have a pleasant weekend.”)
This is the blueprint for creating a variety of Dutch goodbye phrases. You can adjust it for any day or part of the week, keeping in mind that the adjectives Fijn/Fijne (“Nice”) and Prettig/Prettige (“Nice”) must agree with the object. You can just use Fijn(e) or Prettig(e) and add the appropriate word to the end. For example: dag (“day”), avond (“evening”), weekend (“weekend”), vakantie (“holiday”), verblijf (“stay”), etc.

D- Tot ___. (“See you ___.”)

As we already mentioned, we use tot for “see you” goodbyes. This is a very common way to say goodbye in the Netherlands, and it’s used to indicate that you’ll see, talk to, or meet the other person again. So don’t use it randomly with people you probably won’t see again, as the Dutch take this expression quite literally. 

If you will be seeing them again soon, you can use one of these Dutch goodbyes:

Tot straks.	[Neutral]	(“See you soon.”)
Tot later.	[Neutral]	(“See you later.”)
Tot gauw.	[Casual]	(“See you soon.”)
Tot zo.	[Neutral]	(“See you soon.”)
This is a friendly way to say goodbye if you know that you’re going to see the other person soon (like if you have an appointment with them or know that you’ll bump into them at work).

What if you will be seeing them again, but not very soon? Here are some phrases you can use and adjust as needed:

Tot de volgende keer.	[Neutral]	(“See you next time.”)
Tot morgen.	[Neutral]	(“See you tomorrow.”)
Tot vanavond.	[Neutral]	(“See you tonight.”)
Tot volgende week.	[Neutral]	(“See you next week.”)
Here, you can just use Tot and add the day of the week or time that’s applicable.  Learn more about Talking About Days in Dutch.

Finally, there’s another “see you” goodbye in Dutch that isn’t linked to a fixed moment. It refers, in a more general sense, to the next time you’ll see, hear, or write each other:

Tot horens.	[Neutral]	(“Until hearings.” / “Until we hear from each other again.”)
Tot mails.	[Neutral]	(“Until emailings.” / “Until we talk again by email.”)
Tot kijk.	[Neutral]	(“See you.” / “Until we see each other again.”)
As you can see, these goodbyes don’t refer to a specific moment in time. You assume that you’ll hear from, write, or see each other again, but you don’t exactly know when.

E- When in a Hurry… 

How do you say goodbye in Dutch when you’re in a hurry? You need to go soon, but you also want to be polite and say your goodbyes (you definitely don’t want to ghost your hosts and go without saying anything!). Here are some phrases you can use to excuse yourself:

Ik moet er vandoor.	[Casual]	(“I have to run.”)
Ik moet gaan.	[Neutral]	(“I have to go.”)
We recommend that you use one of these sentences, followed by one of the goodbyes we mentioned earlier. For example: Ik moet er vandoor, tot de volgende keer. (“I have to run, see you next time.”) Ik moet gaan, fijne dag! (“I have to go, have a nice day!”)

→ Would you like to practice these phrases? Have a look at our vocabulary list on The Most Common Ways to Say Goodbye in Dutch, with recorded examples to help you practice your pronunciation.

3. Untranslatable Goodbye Phrases in Dutch

Every language has its peculiarities, and Dutch is no exception. Here are some of the strangest ways to say goodbye in Dutch: 

De mazzel!	[Very casual]	(Literally, it means “The measles,” but it is used to say “Bye.”)
De ballen!	[Very casual]	(Literally, it means “The balls,” but it is used to say “Bye.”)
Aju paraplu!	[Very casual]	(“Adieu umbrella!”)
Toedeledokie!	[Very casual]	(Similar to “Cheerio”)
As you can see, these weird ways of saying goodbye in Dutch don’t have any logical direct translation in English. Take de mazzel or aju paraplu for example. They don’t make a lot of sense when translated into English, and they don’t really make much sense in Dutch either. They’re just weird and corny ways to say goodbye in Dutch.

These untranslatable goodbye phrases in Dutch aren’t used very often, so when you use them as a foreigner, you’ll definitely surprise the Dutch (and maybe even make them laugh). But remember to never use these in formal settings!

4. Dutch Culture: Goodbye Gestures

Like in many other countries, the most common gesture for saying goodbye in the Netherlands is to wave. That said, there are some settings in which it may be a bit impersonal. So what can you do if you want to make your goodbye more personal?

1- The handshake

The handshake is a perfect goodbye gesture in more formal Dutch settings: after finishing a business meeting, when saying goodbye to your physician, or for a goodbye after meeting your Dutch parents-in-law. 

Just give a firm (but not too firm!) handshake to the people present. If there are a lot of people, then it may be better to just wave; you shouldn’t shake hands with only a few people in a group, because this is seen as impolite. 

Men often shake hands in more casual settings (for example, between friends), while women only use it in more formal settings.

2- The kiss or the hug

One kiss or a hug may be given to close friends and family members when saying goodbye, but this varies between groups of friends and families. Sometimes, just saying goodbye with a wave is adequate; but in other social settings, people are used to giving each other a kiss on the cheek or a hug. 

Just try to copy the behavior of other people in the social setting. And whenever you’re in doubt, you can’t go wrong with a simple goodbye and a wave. 

→ Would you like to feel more confident speaking Dutch? Have a look at our vocabulary list on How to Improve Your Speaking Skills.

5. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

In this guide, you’ve learned everything you need to know about how to say goodbye in Dutch for a variety of situations. You even know the weirdest untranslatable Dutch goodbyes and the gestures you should do with them.

Do you know now how to say goodbye in Dutch? You’ve learned a lot, but do you feel ready to use this information to make your grand exit? 

Or would you like to improve your Dutch first? Have a look at DutchPod101’s many free resources, such as vocabulary lists with audio recordings. This way, you can practice your Dutch language skills and make sure you leave a great impression when you say hello and goodbye in Dutch.

Would you like a bit more help? DutchPod101 also offers personal one-on-one coaching through our premium MyTeacher service. Boost your Dutch speaking skills with your private teacher and the interactive exercises, personalized feedback, and useful tips he or she will provide you with.

Let’s say goodbye like a real Dutchie! Toedeledokie! 

Nearly a quarter of the Dutch population identifies as Roman Catholic, making this the most prominent religion in the country. As such, it should come as no surprise that many Dutch people celebrate the Christian holiday Driekoningen (Epiphany), also known as Three Kings Day.

In this article, you’ll learn what Epiphany is all about and explore a variety of Dutch traditions for this holiday. Let’s get started!

1. What is Epiphany?

Epiphany is a religious feestdag (holiday) on which Christians commemorate the three wise men who followed a bright star to find Baby Jesus. This is not a public holiday in the Netherlands, though it is still an important holiday for Catholic and Protestant believers in the country. 

The story behind the Epiphany holiday is as follows:

Three wise men named Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar noticed an unusual star in the sky while they traveled. Amazed by the sight, the trio decided to follow after it and were led to the birthplace of Jesus. Seeing this as the openbaring (revelation) of their Savior being born, they offered Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

Many Christians consider this a key event in the story and life of Jesus. During Christmas services several days before, many kerken (churches) read the story from the Bible or host a play outlining the story. 

→ Visit our Religion vocabulary list to learn the names of different religions in Dutch, or watch our Video Culture Class lesson on Christmas to familiarize yourself with Dutch traditions for this nearby holiday.

2. When is Epiphany Celebrated?

Each year, most countries celebrate Epiphany on January 6. Some churches, however, hold their celebrations on the Sunday following this date. 

3. How is Epiphany Celebrated?

Despite Epiphany not being a public holiday, there are plenty of celebrations each year. 

One of the most common Three Kings Day traditions is for primary schools to host plays or skits at their local church. These plays will involve kinderen (children) dressing up in costumes to represent the different characters and figures in the story: the three wise men, Mary, Joseph, King Herod, Baby Jesus, and even the animals! 

There is an annual parade in Maastricht during Epiphany, so make sure to check it out if you get a chance. The main feature is several men fully costumed to look like koningen (kings), riding on horses and donkeys. They are accompanied by people dressed as shepherds, as well as Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. Sometimes, children will march alongside the procession carrying lantaarns (lanterns).

In times past, Epiphany was associated with baptism and doop (christening). This tradition still carries over to some extent, with baptism water being consecrated on this day. This consecrated water is then used to bless people’s homes, after which the letters C+M+B are written with chalk on their doors. There are two schools of thought concerning what these letters mean: 

1. They could stand for the Latin phrase meaning, “Christ, bless this house.”

2. They could also represent the names of the three wise men (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar).

Epiphany in the Netherlands is a favorite holiday among children, if for no other reason than all of the sweets and geld (money) they receive! Similar to Halloween, children dress up in costumes representing the three wise men and go from door to door while carrying lanterns. They sing songs at each door and are then rewarded with a variety of sweets and candies (and sometimes even money). The act of carrying lanterns originates from the belief that the lantern light wards off evil; the giving of treats is rooted in the pagan tradition of sacrificial meals. 

4. King’s Cake

As most good holidays are, Epiphany is also a time to enjoy some delicious food! 

While traditional holiday foods are common on this day, the most popular food item is King’s bread. This sweet treat is a round-shaped loaf of bread made with ingredients such as flour, sugar, yeast, milk, and almond paste. 

Inside the bread, one bakes three uncooked beans: two white beans and one dark. The person who receives the dark bean in their slice of bread is considered ‘king’ or ‘queen’ for that day. Some believe this also predicts luck for the coming year.

→ We have an entire lesson dedicated to Sweets and Desserts in the Netherlands. If you have a sweet tooth on you, make sure to check it out!

5. Essential Vocabulary for Epiphany

To conclude, let’s review some of the Dutch words used in this article, plus a few more! 

• Geld (Money)
  • noun, neutral
• Snoep (Candy)
  • noun, neutral
• Kind (Child)
  • noun, neutral
• Kerk (Church)
  • noun, feminine
• Feestdag (Holiday) 
  • noun, feminine
• Bijbel (Bible) 
  • noun, feminine
• Zingen (Sing) 
  • verb
• Lied (Song) 
  • noun, neutral
• Driekoningen (Epiphany) 
  • proper noun, masculine
• Lantaarn (Lantern) 
  • noun, masculine
• Koning (King) 
  • noun, masculine
• Openbaring (Revelation) 
  • noun, feminine
• Verkleden (Disguise) 
  • verb
• Doop (Christening) 
  • noun, masculine

You can also visit our list of Dutch Vocabulary for Epiphany to hear the pronunciation of each word and practice along with the audio. 

Final Thoughts

While Epiphany is not as big a deal in the Netherlands as it is in many other European countries, there are still plenty of holiday traditions associated with this day. Do you celebrate Epiphany in your country? If so, how do your traditions compare to those in the Netherlands? 

We hope you enjoyed learning about this little slice of Dutch culture with us and that you feel inspired to continue learning. 

DutchPod101.com is the best place to learn about Dutch culture alongside the language. Most of our lessons combine grammar points, vocabulary lists, and cultural insights so that you get the most out of your study time. We provide lessons and other learning materials for learners at every level, so you can jump right in no matter where you are on your language learning journey.

Not sure where to start? How about reading more articles on popular Dutch holidays? We recommend the following:

• Sinterklaas Arrives: St. Nicholas’ Day in the Netherlands
• Pasan: Celebrating Easter Monday in the Netherlands
• Moederdag: Celebrating Mother’s Day in the Netherlands! 
• Prinsjesdag: Prince’s Day in the Netherlands
• Animal Lovers Unite! World Animal Day in the Netherlands.

Happy learning!

Are fear and uncertainty keeping you from getting started with Dutch? 

This is a common issue for many potential Dutch-learners. They tend to wonder things like: “Is Dutch hard to learn?” and “Is learning Dutch really worth it?”  

If this sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’re going to answer all of your questions and clear up any doubts you may be having. 

At first, Dutch might seem like a very difficult language, but it’s surprisingly easy for English- and German-speakers. Dutch has even been described as a combination of the English and German languages! This makes it one of the easiest languages to learn for speakers of either language. That said, learning Dutch will take some time and effort, no matter what your native language is. 

So, is Dutch hard to learn? No, it isn’t. And in this article, we’ll show you why. 

DutchPod101 will give you a clear overview of what things might make Dutch hard to learn, and which parts are easy-peasy for new learners. With the right tools, you can overcome even the more challenging aspects of the language. We’ll show you that you can master the Dutch language, and we’ll even tell you how.

Table of Contents

1. Is Dutch a Hard Language to Learn?
2. Why is Dutch Easy to Learn?
3. What are the Best Ways to Start Learning Dutch?
4. Why is DutchPod101 Great for Learning Dutch?
5. Summing it Up…

1. Is Dutch a Hard Language to Learn?

So, let’s start with the more challenging side of the Dutch language: Why is Dutch hard to learn? 

Every language has some tricky parts, and the only way to manage them is to be aware of them. In the long run, this will make learning Dutch a lot easier for you and provide you with a solid learning base. 

1. Tricky Pronunciation

Many new learners find Dutch hard to pronounce.

Even the most fluent foreign Dutch-speakers struggle with this, as the language has the weirdest combinations of letters. For example, there are consonant combinations like: nk, sch, ng, and nk. In addition, you’ll find some consonant combinations that form one sound, and others that form two sounds. 

Consonant combinations that form one sound:

Letter	(English) Pronunciation	Example
ng	It sounds like the [ng] in the English word “cling” or “thing.”	lang (“long”)
ch	The ch has three different pronunciations: 1) Like the Dutch “g,” 2) like [sh] in the English word “ship,” and 3) as [k] in the English word “Christ.”	1) licht (“light”), 2) douche (“shower”), and 3) Chris (“Chris,” the name)
sj	It’s pronounced like [sh] in the English word “ship.”	sjaal (“scarf”)

Now let’s look at the combinations that form two separate sounds:

Letter	(English) Pronunciation	Example
sch	It’s pronounced like an [s] followed by a harsh [ch], as in the Scottish word “loch.”	schaap (“sheep”)
nk	It’s the same sound as in the English word “link.”	pink (“little finger”)
kn	Unlike in English, a k before an n is pronounced. You’ll hear both sounds separately.	knoop (“button”)
ps	Unlike in English, a p before an s is pronounced. You’ll hear both sounds separately.	psycholoog (“psychologist”)

And it’s not just the consonants! There’s another tricky aspect to Dutch pronunciation: diphthongs. These are combinations of two vowels that make a fluid sound that no vowel makes on its own in Dutch:

Letter	(English) Pronunciation	Example
ai	This Dutch diphthong is pronounced  as [I] like in “I am” in English.	mais (“corn”)
au	It’s pronounced like [ow] in the English word “now.”	auto (“car”)
ei	It’s pronounced as the [i] in the English word “find.”	ei (“egg”)
eu	This sound doesn’t exist in English, but you may know it from the French word “beurre.”	leuk (“fun”)
ie	It’s pronounced like [ee] in the English word “bee.”	mier (“ant”)
ij	It’s pronounced exactly the same as the Dutch ei diphthong.	wijn (“wine”)
oe	It’s pronounced like [oo] in the English word “pool.”	moe (“tired”)
ou	This diphthong has exactly the same sound as the Dutch au diphthong.	koud (“cold”)
ui	This sound doesn’t exist in English, but it’s a combination of the [a] sound in “man” followed by a long Dutch u.	muis (“mouse”)

All you can do is practice, practice, and practice even more. Luckily, DutchPod101 is here to help.

→ Would you like to work on your Dutch pronunciation? Have a look at the Only Dutch Pronunciation Guide You’ll Ever Need or try to master this list of the Top 10 Hardest Words to Pronounce.

2. Confusing Word Order 

So let’s continue with another reason why people find the Dutch language hard to learn: the confusing word order.

Of course, simple sentences can just be made with a subject and a verb: 

Subject + Verb

• Ik praat. (“I talk.”)
• De jongen verft. (“The boy paints.”)

Adding a direct object to the mix is rather easy as well:

Subject + Verb + (Direct) Object

• Ik praat met mijn vader. (“I talk to my father.”)
• De jongen verft de deur. (“The boy paints the door.”)

The direct object in Dutch is called lijdend voorwerp (“leading entity/object”). It normally comes right after the verb.

However, when the sentences get longer, the word order gets more confusing. It becomes especially difficult when there are several verbs in the mix, because you’ll have to start splitting the verbs—something you don’t do in English. So be aware.

How do you know if you should split a verb or not? Be cautious when using the present perfect, past perfect, future simple, future perfect, conditional, and conditional perfect verbs. When you use them, you may need to put a verb at the end of a sentence:

Subject + Working verb + Adverb + (Adjective +) Direct object + (Adjective +) (Indirect object +) Other verb

Here are examples for all six Dutch tenses that can make sentences end with a verb:

• Present perfect: 
  De jongen heeft in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf geverfd. 
  (“The boy has painted the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)

• Past perfect: 
  De jongen had in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf geverfd. 
  (“The boy had painted the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)

• Future simple: 
  De jongen zal in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf verven. 
  (“The boy will paint the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)

• Future perfect: 
  De jongen zal in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf hebben geverfd. 
  (“The boy will have painted the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)

• Conditional: 
  De jongen zou in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf verven. 
  (“The boy would paint the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)

• Conditional perfect: 
  De jongen zou in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf hebben geverfd. 
  (“The boy would have painted the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)

Do you find this very confusing? Try not to worry too much about it. When you’ve just started learning Dutch, you don’t have to worry about little details like this yet. For now, just be aware that these rules exist; it will help a lot when you’re a more advanced Dutch-learner.

→ Do you want to start learning Dutch? Then you should study more about Dutch sentence patterns. Check out this useful lesson series on the Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners.

3. De vs. Het – Two Ways to Say “The”

The Dutch language has two different ways to say the word “the”: de and het. In theory, all masculine and feminine words get de while all neuter words get het:

• De vrouw (“The woman”) 
• De man (“The man”)
• Het kind (“The child,” neuter) 

However, a lot of Dutch words don’t have a clear gender indication, so it can be quite challenging to know which word to use. It’s something you just have to hear, memorize, and develop a knack for. 

Here are some tips to help you overcome this confusing ordeal:

• All words referring to persons (individuals) are de-words (de voetballer = “the football player” / de president = “the president”).
• All plural words get de (de katten = “the cats” / de stoelen = “the chairs”).
• All words made smaller with (e)(t/d)je are neuter (het kindje = “the little child” / het bloemetje = “the little flower”).
• Words ending with -el or -er are often de-words (de tafel = “the table” / de bakker = “the baker”).
• All infinitive verbs that are used as a noun have the neuter het (het fietsen = “the cycling” / het schrijven = “the writing”).
• Words with standard prefixes like ge-, ver-, ont-, and be-, and those without an -ing ending, are neuter (het verhaal = “the story” / het ontslag = “the resignation”).
• Almost all words with the standard suffixes -ing, -ij, -ie, -e, and -heid are feminine (de politie = “the police” / de schoonheid = “the beauty” / de drukkerij = “the printing company” / de dame = “the lady”).

We know, we know. Why is Dutch so hard to learn? 

Now that we’ve shown you some of the trickier aspects of the Dutch language—and how to learn them well—let’s get to the good news.

2. Why is Dutch Easy to Learn?

You’ve just survived the three most challenging parts of the Dutch language, but we promise that it’s not all bad. Dutch is actually a pretty easy language to learn with the right tools. Let’s show you why.

1. Dutch is Very Similar to English and German

As we mentioned in the introduction, Dutch is very similar to English and German. We’re guessing that you already speak one of those two languages (probably English since you’re reading this article). That’s great! It means that you have a head-start: Dutch is one of the easiest languages to learn for native English– or German-speakers. 

Why is that? 

Dutch is part of the Indo-European family of languages and belongs to the Germanic branch, as do English and German. That’s why Dutch is quite similar to those languages (but without the difficult grammar of the German language, lucky for you).

2. You Already Know Some Dutch Words

You may not realize it, but you probably already know some Dutch words. 

Back in the day, the Dutch had quite some influence all over the world, and they brought their language with them. That’s why some English words have Dutch origins, as do some other languages such as German, Spanish, and French. 

But these won’t be the only words you already know! It also works the other way around, as the Dutch language adopts a lot of foreign words and expressions. German, English, and French words are often used in Dutch conversations.

Here are some examples:

• From German: Bühne (“Stage”), Folie (“Foil”), Föhn (“Hairdryer”)
• From English: Bar, Editor, Manager
• From French: Abonnement (“Subscription”), Actrice (“Actress”), Capuchon (“Hood,” of a jacket)

And don’t forget those more modern words that the Dutch adopt into their language: whatsappen (“to whatsapp”), bad hair day, out-of-the-box denken (“to think out of the box”), netflixen (“to Netflix”).

3. Dutch People Appreciate Your Efforts

The Dutch are used to foreigners speaking English with them. They don’t really mind it, as they accept that their language isn’t very popular or widely spoken. However, when foreigners (try to) speak Dutch, native speakers are pleasantly surprised and are happy to help. They’ll appreciate your effort, try to speak extra-slow, and help you whenever you get stuck. 

You might need to make it clear first that you really prefer to speak Dutch, as they’ll switch to English out of habit if you don’t. But once that’s cleared up, their willingness to help will turn out to be one of the best things about learning the language.

4. Your Pronunciation and Grammar Don’t Have to be Perfect 

The Dutch aren’t too picky or arrogant regarding their language. Mistakes are okay, and even Dutch natives can be quite sloppy with their own language. Grammar rules aren’t always taken into account and even pronunciation isn’t always perfect. 

The Netherlands may be a small country, but it has a lot of dialects and accents from region to region. That’s why there’s no such thing as perfect Dutch pronunciation. Take, for example, the hard g sound in the north and the soft g sound in the south.

Of course, you should try to learn Dutch the best you can, but it’s simply okay to make mistakes.

3. What are the Best Ways to Start Learning Dutch?

Would you like to learn Dutch? There are many reasons why you would benefit from learning the Dutch language: it broadens your mind, gives you new opportunities, and is a great way to get to know another culture.

With the right motivation and some useful learning tips, you’ll be able to master this not-so-complicated language. So how can you learn the Dutch language quickly and easily?

1. Create a Study Schedule and Set Some Goals

Learning a new language can be quite overwhelming—there’s so much to learn! So how can you approach this big task in an orderly manner? 

Structure is key. Many new language-learners get started quite unorganized. They start off strong, but after a few weeks, they begin to lose motivation. To avoid this fate, it’s very important that you create a clear study schedule and set some goals. Goals give you motivation and something to strive for; a study schedule gives you the consistency needed to achieve those goals.

2. Use Word Lists to Build Up a Solid Vocabulary Base

If you want to speak and understand Dutch, you need a solid vocabulary base. But with so many words to learn, where should you start? Luckily, there are some tools available to help you build up your vocabulary, such as our word lists.

Just choose a topic that you find interesting and learn words related to that topic, one at a time. DutchPod101 has vocabulary lists on nationalities, animal names, occupations, and so much more. 

You may even want to set yourself some learning goals. For example, to memorize one or two vocabulary lists a week, or one new word a day. 

3. Don’t be Afraid to Make Mistakes

As we said before, it’s okay to make mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes when they start learning a language, and it’s the only way to really start understanding it. So make mistakes, learn from them, and improve your Dutch. 

The most important thing is that you practice your Dutch; with time, those mistakes will happen less frequently.

→ Would you like to learn some more study strategies? Boost your Dutch with this list of the Top 10 Language Learning Strategies.

4. Practice is Key

Learning Dutch vocabulary and grammar is great, but it’s not everything. To really learn a language, it’s important that you take every opportunity you have to practice. Whether it’s with your private teacher or with the baker in your Dutch neighborhood, just try to talk and put everything you’ve learned into practice. You don’t need that many words or extensive knowledge of complicated grammar rules to communicate. It’s okay to make mistakes, as long as you keep on speaking, listening, reading, and writing Dutch.

Practice is the only way to improve your Dutch, so go ahead and dive into the Dutch language. Watch Dutch series, read books in Dutch, listen to Dutch music, or tune in for a podcast. Talk with every Dutchie you meet and start writing stories in Dutch. Practice at every opportunity! 

5. Make Learning Dutch Fun

Learning a new language shouldn’t be boring. When it’s boring, you definitely won’t be able to stick with it. So try to make learning Dutch as enjoyable as possible. 

Of course, you can’t ignore learning the Dutch grammar rules or those endless lists of verb conjugations. But you can mix some fun into your learning by combining this dry type of studying with things you enjoy. For example, watching a Dutch TV show with subtitles, or listening to Dutch music and trying to translate or understand the lyrics.

This way, you’ll be more inclined to study!

→ Would you like to start watching Dutch TV? Luckily, the Netherlands has some great Dutch TV shows and series for beginners, intermediate learners, and advanced learners.

4. Why is DutchPod101 Great for Learning Dutch?

To summarize, let’s go back to the main question: Is Dutch a hard language to learn? No, but like any language, it has its challenging parts. However, with the right tools, you’ll be able to learn it with little problem. This is where DutchPod101 comes in. We’ll make your Dutch learning experience fun, fast, and simpler than you think!

1. An Integrated Approach

DutchPod101 works with an integrated approach by blending several skills into every lesson. So in just one lesson, you’ll be working on your reading, listening, and writing skills. This is because we provide audio recordings for you to listen to, transcripts and vocabulary words to read, and writing exercises to try it out for yourself.

This will make your Dutch learning more natural and effective. In one solid package, you’ll be able to work on all of the most crucial language skills.

2. A Massive Offering of Free Content

Whatever your learning level, DutchPod101 offers a great collection of content to help you advance. After you take the assessment test, you’ll be directed to the level that matches your needs. There, you’ll find a wide variety of free content, from vocabulary lists to customizable flashcards. 

On DutchPod101.com, you’ll find many other free tools that can be tailored to your needs. Some of these resources can even be downloaded and used offline.

3. Premium Personal Coaching

So DutchPod101 offers great content to practice your reading, writing, and listening skills, but how about those important speaking skills? To practice your Dutch speaking, you can rely on premium personal coaching with our MyTeacher service. Improve your pronunciation with feedback from your own private tutor! 

And your tutor will focus on much more than your speaking skills. They’ll also guide you through the wonders of the Dutch language with interactive assignments and personalized exercises. Together, you’ll focus on the areas you need the most help with and improve your overall language skills.

5. Summing it Up…

So, is the Dutch language hard or easy? 

We’ve shown you the most challenging aspects of the Dutch language, and why it might be easier than you think, from similarities with English to patient Dutchies. Learning a language is always a challenge, but we think you’ll agree that Dutch’s lighter side will make the learning process fairly simple for you. 

Do you feel ready to start learning Dutch? Or do you need some more guidance?

Another important aspect of mastering a language is having the right learning tools. 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 learn new words.

Remember that you can also use our premium MyTeacher service for personal one-on-one coaching. This way, you can really practice your Dutch speaking skills with your own private teacher through interactive exercises and personalized feedback.

Get started with DutchPod101!

Are you afraid to make mistakes in Dutch? In your studies, you’re bound to make a few. And that’s no big deal! 

Making mistakes is human, and even Dutch natives make some of the mistakes we’ll cover in this article. It’s through expressing yourself and making mistakes that you’ll really master the language. So making mistakes in the first place is no problem, but always try to learn from them!

That said, wouldn’t it be nice to be aware of some of the most common mistakes in learning Dutch? 

This is exactly what DutchPod101 has in mind for you with this guide. Have a look at the ten most common Dutch mistakes and impress your new Dutch friends with your great language skills.

Table of Contents

1. Dutch Pronunciation Mistakes
2. Vocabulary – Dutch Word Mistakes
3. Word Order Mistakes
4. Common Dutch Grammar Errors
5. A Special Dutch Mistake
6. The Biggest Mistake in Dutch Language-Learning
7. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. Dutch Pronunciation Mistakes

Dutch pronunciation is tricky, even for fluent Dutch-speakers. Dutch is known for its weird sounds and long words with the strangest combinations of letters.

So, let’s have a look at two common pronunciation mistakes for Dutch-learners. 

1. Pronouncing diphthongs incorrectly

Do you remember those tricky diphthongs? A diphthong is the combination of two vowels that, together, make a particular sound—a sound that no vowel in Dutch makes on its own. 

A common mistake Dutch-learners make is to pronounce the letters separately, rather than as one fluid sound.

So let’s recap and master, once and for all, the challenging sounds of the nine Dutch diphthongs:

Letter	(English) Pronunciation	Example
ai	Pronounced as [I], as in “I am” in English	mais (“corn”)
au	Pronounced like [ow] in the English word “now”	auto (“car”)
ei	Pronounced as the [i] in the English word “find”	ei (“egg”)
eu	This sound doesn’t exist in English, but you may know it from the French word “beurre.”	leuk (“fun”)
ie	Pronounced like [ee] in the English word “bee”	mier (“ant”)
ij	Pronounced exactly the same as the Dutch ei diphthong	wijn (“wine”)
oe	Pronounced like [oo] in the English word “pool”	moe (“tired”)
ou	This diphthong has exactly the same sound as the Dutch au diphthong.	koud (“cold”)
ui	This sound doesn’t exist in English, but it’s a combination of the [a] sound in “man” followed by a long Dutch u.	muis (“mouse”)

2. Pronouncing sch as sk

As you’ve probably noticed, Dutch is a language with a lot of g-sounds, more than you’re probably used to in your own language. And those g-sounds may surprise you, as they even occur in the ch and sch consonant combinations. Well, you’re not alone in your struggle. The pronunciation of sch as sk is one of the most common pronunciation mistakes for Dutch-learners (who often make too much of a k-sound).

Let’s have a look at how you should pronounce this: 

Letter	(English) Pronunciation	Example
sch	Pronounced like an [s] followed by a harsh [ch], as in the Scottish word “loch.”	schaap (“sheep”)

→ Would you like to improve your Dutch pronunciation? Then read this list on How to Improve Your Speaking Skills or have a look at our Top 10 Hardest Words to Pronounce.

2. Vocabulary – Dutch Word Mistakes

You’re learning your Dutch vocabulary and are feeling quite confident. However, confusion is near. It may be because of words with multiple meanings or because of those extremely long Dutch words.

Let’s have a look at two common mistakes in learning Dutch vocabulary.

3. Confusing words with multiple meanings 

The Dutch language is full of words with multiple meanings (homonymes), so a common mistake of Dutch-learners is to not learn the different meanings of a Dutch word. Only by mastering the multiple meanings can you use and understand them correctly in a given context. 

Here are some funny examples:

Word	Meaning 1	Meaning 2
Arm	“Arm” (the body part)	“Poor”
Gerecht	“Dish”	“Court”
Kussen	“Pillow”	“To kiss” / “Kisses”
Kater	“Male cat”	“Hangover”
Weer	“Weather”	“Again”

→ Having trouble remembering the meaning of words? Then have a look at our useful tips and tricks on remembering Dutch words.

4. Splitting up compound words 

Okay, let’s now continue with those confusing compound words. The Dutch language is known for its long words, so be aware of this common mistake of Dutch-learners: splitting up the compound words. 

All you can do here is be aware of this peculiar characteristic of the Dutch language and keep on improving your Dutch vocabulary. 

Here are some examples of compound words consisting of two, three, and even five parts:

Parts	Dutch Compound Word	Meaning in English
2	Broodmes	“Breadknife”
3	Langeafstandloper	“Long-distance runner”
… to 5	Kindercarnavalsoptochtvoorbereidingswerkzaamheden (This is the longest word in the Dutch language.)	“Preparation activities plan for a children’s carnival procession”

→ Are you having difficulties understanding compound words? Try to divide them into smaller parts and see if you can understand the different parts. 

3. Word Order Mistakes

Dutch word order can be confusing, possibly because of its similarities to English or because of its weird habit of splitting up verbs.

5. Using the word doe in yes/no questions

Dutch can be quite similar to English, so you’re bound to mix the rules up sometimes. This fifth most common Dutch mistake is to use the Dutch word doe (“to do”) in yes/no questions. 

Contrary to English, Dutch doesn’t use the auxiliary “do” in questions. So don’t use it, otherwise your Dutch question word order will be incorrect.

Here are some examples:

Example 1: “Do you like dancing?”

• Correct: Houd je van dansen?
• Wrong: Doe jij houden van dansen?

Example 2: “Do you want to marry me?”

• Correct: Wil je met me trouwen?
• Wrong: Doe jij met me willen trouwen?

Let’s have a look at the word order:

Working verb + Subject + (Object +) Other verb

Some simple examples:

• Kom je? (“Are you coming?”)
• Werkt hij? (“Does he work?”)

→ For more question examples, don’t forget to have a look at our list of the Top 25 Questions You Need to Know!

6. Not knowing when to split the verbs in sentences

Dutch word order can be even more confusing when a sentence has many words. Even more so when there are several verbs in the mix, in which case one part of the verb will be at the beginning of the sentence and other parts will be at the end. 

How do you know when to split a verb? Be cautious when using the present perfect, past perfect, future simple, future perfect, conditional, and conditional perfect verbs. Here, you may need to add a verb to the end of a sentence.

Let’s have a look at the sentence structure for these tenses:

Subject + Working verb + Adverb + (Adjective +) Direct object + (Adjective +) (Indirect object +) Other verb

Let’s give you an example for each of the six aforementioned Dutch tenses:

• Present perfect: 
  De jongen heeft in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf geverfd. 
  “The boy has painted the yellow door in the house with black paint.”

• Past perfect:
  De jongen had in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf geverfd. 
  “The boy has painted the yellow door in the house with black paint.”

• Future simple: 
  De jongen zal in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf verven. 
  “The boy will paint the yellow door in the house with black paint.”

• Future perfect: 
  De jongen zal in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf hebben geverfd. 
  “The boy will have painted the yellow door in the house with black paint.”

• Conditional: 
  De jongen zou in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf verven. 
  “The boy would paint the yellow door in the house with black paint.”

• Conditional perfect: 
  De jongen zou in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf hebben geverfd. 
  “The boy would have painted the yellow door in the house with black paint.”

→ Try to think of easy sentences that you can use like this. This way, you can improve your own Dutch sentence structures and learn how to avoid this common mistake of Dutch-learners.

→ Are you struggling with Dutch sentence patterns? Then have a look at this useful list of the Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners.

4. Common Dutch Grammar Errors

Grammar is a challenge in every language, and Dutch is no exception. Let’s learn from our mistakes! 

7. Mixing up the dt ending

Although the Dutch present tense might look easy, be aware of one of the most common Dutch grammar mistakes: mixing up the dt ending. 

So when should you use the dt ending? It has to be used with certain subjects when the verb used has a -d root ending.

Let’s take this mistake in Dutch grammar step-by-step:

How do you get the infinitive in Dutch? Well, Dutch infinitives are the plural and present tense verbs. They usually end with -en, as in lopen (“to walk”). Sometimes, they end with only -n, as in zijn (“to be”).

Before the Dutch infinitive, you can almost always put Ik kan (“I can”): 

• Ik kan fietsen.
  “I can cycle.”

Or:

• Ik kan antwoorden.
  “I can answer.”

So how do you get the root of your verb? You simply remove the -en ending. So in this case, fiets is the root of fietsen and antwoord of antwoorden.

Subject	Fietsen present tense (“to cycle”)	Antwoorden present tense (“to reply”)
Ik (“I”)	fiets	antwoord
Jij, u (“You”)	fietst	antwoordt
Hij, zij, het (“He, she, it”)	fietst	antwoordt
Wij (“We”)	fietsen	antwoorden
Zij (“They”)	fietsen	antwoorden

As you can see, in the verb antwoorden, because the root ends with a -d, it becomes -dt for the “you” and “he, she, it” subjects. So when in doubt, look at the conjugation of a verb that doesn’t end with a -d (such as fietsen), and you’ll know what to do. 

8. Making words plural with an -s instead of -en

English and Dutch have many similarities. Just like English, Dutch makes words plural by changing that word’s ending. However, avoid the common mistake in Dutch of making plural words with an -s instead of -en. 

There are some cases where we can add an -s, but most of the time, we add -en.

Singular	Plural
Kat (“Cat”)	Katten (“Cats”)
Kus (“Kiss”)	Kussen (“Kisses”)
Stoel (“Chair”)	Stoelen (“Chairs”)
Bord (“Plate”)	Borden (“Plates”)
Banaan (“Banana”)	Bananen (“Bananas”)

5. A Special Dutch Mistake

Every culture has its own peculiarities. So what’s a Dutch-learning mistake that’s closely connected to Dutch culture?

9. Switching to English every time you struggle speaking Dutch

This may not be a grammar or vocabulary blunder, but it’s a common mistake in learning Dutch. 

Many Dutch people speak English very well, so it might be tempting to switch from Dutch to English every time you start to struggle. Try not to do that too much, as you’ll only master Dutch if you really practice the language.

This impulse to switch to English may not even come from you, as the Dutch are always happy to speak English. When they see you struggle, or even notice the littlest hint of an accent, they’ll try to “help” you by suggesting you switch to English. So it can definitely be called a typical cultural challenge that Dutch-learners face. 

Instead of switching, just try to explain that you’re practicing their beautiful language. They’ll be patient, and maybe even flattered that you’re trying to speak their language (as a lot of foreigners don’t even bother). 

6. The Biggest Mistake in Dutch Language-Learning

Last, but definitely not least, try to avoid the biggest mistake: mixing up de and het.

10. “The” in Dutch: het vs. de

Mixing up articles: this is seen as the most common and most typical mistake of Dutch-learners.

In Dutch, there are two options for “the”: de and het. It’s very common to hear Dutch-learners mix them up, and for a good reason: the Dutch language lacks a clear explanation of which one to use in what situations. In theory, all masculine and feminine words get de, while all neuter words get het:

• De vrouw (“The woman”) 
• De man (“The man”)
• Het kind (“The child” – is neuter) 

However, in practice, this won’t help you that much as there’s not always a good explanation as to why a word is feminine, masculine, or neuter. Dutch words don’t have a clear gender indication. 

Luckily, there are a few indications that can help you:

• All words referring to people are de-words (de voetballer [“the football player”] / de president [“the president”]).
• All plural words get de (de katten [“the cats”] / de stoelen [“the chairs”]).
• All words made smaller with (e)(t/d)je are neuter (het kindje [“the little child”] / het bloemetje [“the little flower”]).
• Words ending with -el or -er are often de-words (de tafel [“the table”] / de bakker [“the baker”]).
• All infinitive verbs that are used as a noun have the neuter het (het fietsen [“the cycling”] / het schrijven [“the writing”]).
• Words with standard prefixes like ge-, ver-, ont-, and be-, and without an -ing ending, are neuter (het verhaal [“the story”] / het ontslag [“the resignation”]).
• Almost all words with the standard suffixes -ing, -ij, -ie, -e, and -heid are feminine (de politie [“the police”] / de schoonheid [“the beauty”] / de drukkerij [“the printing company”] /, de dame [“the lady”]).

Practice is key. When in doubt, look up the word in the dictionary (it will say [m], [v], or [o] behind the word). This way, you’ll learn the combinations, and with time, you’ll develop the instinct of when to use de and when to use het. 

In the meantime, remember that it’s okay to make mistakes in Dutch, because it means that you’re learning.

→ Would you like to improve your Dutch? Get active and boost your Dutch studies with our list of the Top 10 Language-Learning Strategies.

7. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

In this guide, you’ve learned all about the ten most common mistakes in Dutch. You know what to do and what not to do. We’ve made you aware of the most common mistakes and gave you some hints on how to avoid them. 

Yes, you’re bound to make mistakes in Dutch, but this guide has given you some tools to recognize them. From the common pronunciation mistakes for Dutch-learners, vocabulary word mistakes, and word order mistakes, to the “biggest mistake of all.”

So are you already feeling more confident about your Dutch? Which one of the mistakes do you make the most and how can you avoid it in the future?

Start avoiding these mistakes today with the help of DutchPod101.com. Boost your studies with our useful vocabulary lists with audio recordings and other free resources.

Would you like some personal one-on-one coaching? Check out our premium MyTeacher service. We’ll connect you with a private teacher who will help you improve your Dutch through interactive exercises and personalized feedback.

Practice Dutch and learn from your mistakes with DutchPod101!