Why is it so important to study Dutch verb conjugation? Verbs are a crucial aspect of any language, and Dutch is no exception. But to be able to use verbs well, you have to understand their conjugation. What verb form should you use, when and why? 

First, it’s important to understand the concept of conjugation and how it influences the Dutch language. After that, you can proceed to learning the different types of Dutch verbs. And with that information, you’ll have the tools to start understanding Dutch verb conjugation. 

Conjugation is a basic skill that you need to really understand the Dutch language. But don’t panic; we’re here to help you. In this Beginner’s Guide, we’ll take you by the hand and explain everything you need to know about Dutch verb conjugation.

Is making Dutch sentences still a challenge for you? Then have a look at our Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners.

Table of Contents

1. What is Conjugation?
2. The Five Types of Verbs
3. Present Simple
4. Past Simple
5. The Present & Past Perfect
6. Future Simple
7. Future Perfect
8. Conditional
9. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. What is Conjugation?

Dutch verb conjugation defines how the verbs change depending on the person, the number of subjects, the politeness level, and the tense.

Okay, but what does that mean? Let’s give you some examples.

1- Persons, number of subjects, and politeness level

1st person singular	ik	“I”
2nd person singular	jij / u	“you” (casual) / “you” (formal)
3rd person singular	hij / zij	“he” / “she”
1st person plural	wij	“we”
2nd person plural	jullie	“you”
3rd person plural	zij	“they”

Quite similarly to English, Dutch regular verbs don’t change with every different person. However, irregular verbs are a different story.

For example, the irregular verb zijn (“to be”) in present tense:

• Ik ben (“I am”)
• Hij is (“He is”)
• U/Jij bent (“You are” formal/casual)
• Wij zijn (“We are”)
• Jullie zijn (“You are”)
• Zij zijn (“They are”)

As you can see, the Dutch verb conjugation also changes because of the number of subjects (for example, see the difference between “you” and “they”).

The politeness level doesn’t have such a big influence on the Dutch language, unless you use hebben (“to have”) in the present tense. Take a look at this brief Dutch conjugation table:

Dutch conjugation of hebben (“to have”)

Jij hebt (“you have” casual)

U heeft (“you have” formal)

2- The Dutch verb tenses

The Dutch language has two main tenses: the present simple and the past simple. Besides these two tenses, there are also some “semi-tenses.” The six semi-tenses appear when the present or past tense interacts with an aspect (temporary or continuing) or a mood (factual or hypothetical). 

Thus, the Dutch language has, in total, eight tenses. Each one has a different use:

The eight tenses of the regular verb praten (“to talk”)
1. Onvoltooid Tegenwoordige Tijd (“Present Simple”)	Used to describe something that is happening now.	Ik praat.	“I talk.”
2. Onvoltooid Verleden Tijd (“Past Simple”)	Used to describe a situation that happened in the past.	Ik praatte.	“I talked.”
3. Voltooid Tegenwoordige Tijd (“Present Perfect”)	Used to describe something that happened in the past and has already ended.	Ik heb gepraat.	“I have talked.”
4. Voltooid Verleden Tijd (“Past Perfect”)	Used to describe an action or event that happened in the past and ended in the past.	Ik had gepraat.	“I had talked.”
5. Onvoltooid Tegenwoordige Toekomende Tijd (“Future Simple”)	Used to talk about something that will happen in the future.	Ik zal praten.	“I will talk.”
6. Voltooid Tegenwoordige Toekomende Tijd (“Future Perfect”)	Used to describe an action that will have been completed before another action in the future.	Ik zal hebben gepraat.	“I will have talked.”
7. Onvoltooid Verleden Toekomende Tijd (“Conditional”)	Used in a “what if” scenario; used to speculate about something.	Ik zou praten.	“I would talk.”
8. Voltooid Verleden Toekomende Tijd (“Conditional Perfect”)	Used to describe a future hypothetical situation in the past.	Ik zou hebben gepraat.	“I would have talked.”

The Dutch verb praten is a regular (weak) verb, which makes the above exercise a bit easier. Let’s have a look at all of the five types of Dutch verbs.

2. The Five Types of Verbs

In the Dutch language, there exist five types of verbs:

• Irregular verbs
• Weak verbs of the T-class
• Weak verbs of the D-class
• Strong verbs
• Mixed verbs

1- Irregular verbs

Irregular verbs are difficult as they’re quite unpredictable. Unfortunately, several important Dutch verbs are irregular. We already showed this before with the irregular verb zijn (“to be”). Another example of Dutch irregular verbs conjugation is the Dutch hebben (“to have”) conjugation:

• Ik heb (“I have”)
• Jij hebt (“You have” casual)
• U heeft (“You have” formal)
• Hij heeft (“He has”)
• Wij hebben (“We have”)
• Jullie hebben (“You have”)
• Zij hebben (“They have”)

Some other irregular Dutch verbs are willen (conjugation in Dutch) and mogen (conjugation in Dutch).

2- Weak verbs of the T-class

Luckily, not everything is irregular in the Dutch language. A great example of this are the weak verbs. 

Weak verbs are the most common type of verb in Dutch. They’re regular and end with -d or -t. Let’s first show you the Dutch weak verbs of the T-class; these always have a –t in the past tense:

Fietsen (“to bike”)

Ik fiets (“I bike”)

Ik fietste (“I biked”)

Ik heb gefietst (“I have biked”)

3- Weak verbs of the D-class

Let’s continue and have a look at the weak verbs of the D-class. These are regular verbs that always have a -d in the past tense:

Redden (“to save”)

Ik red (“I save”)

Ik redde (“I saved”)

Ik heb gered (“I have saved”)

4- Strong verbs

In strong verbs, the vowel changes when going from the simple present tense to other tenses. You can also recognize a strong verb in the past participle, which often ends with -en.

Let’s have a look at some examples in this Dutch verb conjugation chart:

Geven (“to give”)	Ik geef (“I give”)	Ik gaf (“I gave”)	Ik heb gegeven (“I have given”)
Lopen (“to walk”)	Ik loop (“I walk”)	Ik liep (“I walked”)	Ik heb gelopen (“I have walked”)
Sluiten (“to close”)	Ik sluit (“I close”)	Ik sloot (“I closed”)	Ik heb gesloten (“I have closed”)

5- Mixed verbs

Last but not least, there are also verbs that have a mixture of strong and weak elements. These so-called “mixed verbs” are quite common in the Dutch language.

The most common mixed verb form is the one that has a weak past tense, but a strong past participle ending with -en:

Vouwen (“to fold”)	Ik vouw (“I fold”)	Ik vouwde (“I folded”)	Ik heb gevouwen (“I have folded”)
Lachen (“to laugh”)	Ik lach (“I laugh”)	Ik lachte (“I laughed”)	Ik heb gelachen (“I have laughed”)

However, there also exist a smaller group of verbs with the reverse situation: a strong past tense, but a weak past participle.

Vraag (“to ask”)	Ik vraag (“I ask”)	Ik vroeg (“I asked”)	Ik heb gevraagd (“I have asked”)
Jagen (“to hunt”)	Ik jaag (“I hunt”)	Ik joeg (“I hunted”)	Ik heb gejaagd (“I have hunted”)

Okay, we know all about the different types of Dutch verbs. Let’s now dive into the wonderful world of Dutch verb conjugation. 

→Would you like to improve your Dutch vocabulary so you can really use the verb conjugation? Visit our vocabulary lists on the Most Useful Pronouns, 50 Most Common Adjectives, and 50 Most Common Nouns.

3. Present Simple

→Used to describe something that is happening now.

1- Weak and strong verbs

In the present simple tense, you can’t see the difference between strong verbs, weak verbs of the T-class, or weak verbs of the D-class. Let’s have a look at the Dutch present tense conjugation of weak and strong verbs. 

To conjugate the singular form (I, you, he, she, it), you can take the infinitive, remove the -en to get the crude stem, and add the -t. However, it’s not always this easy. There are some exceptions:

• Does the crude stem end with a -z? Then the first person singular ends with an -s. For example: Reizen – ik reis (“To travel” – “I travel”).
• Does the crude stem end with a -v? Then the first person singular ends with an -f. For example: Schrijven – ik schrijf (“To write” – “I write”).
• Is there a double-consonant ending? Then remove one of the consonants. For example: Vallen – ik val (“To fall” – “I fall”).
• Does the vowel of the crude stem sound different than the vowel of the infinitive? Then this must be adapted by changing the vowel. For example, a becomes aa or o becomes oo. Let’s have a look: Lopen – ik loop (“To walk” – “I walk”).

In the case of the plural form (we, you, they), you can use the infinitive directly.

Simple Present – Dutch verb conjugation chart For weak and strong verbs  Example: voelen (“to feel”)
Singular		Plural
I + stem (“I feel”)	Ik + stem (Ik voel)	We + infinitive (“We feel”)	We/Wij + infinitive (We/Wij voelen)
Casual –  You + stem + t  (“You feel”) Formal –  You + stem + t  (“You feel”)	Jij + stem + t (Jij voelt) U + stem + t (U voelt)	You (plural) + infinitive (“You feel”)	Jullie + infinitive  (Jullie voelen)
He/She/It + stem + t (“He/She/It feels)	Hij/Zij/Het + stem + t  (Hij/Zij/Het voelt)	They + infinitive (“They feel”)	Zij + infinitive (Zij voelen)

→Do you need some help recognizing the infinitive of a Dutch verb? When you look up a verb in the Dutch dictionary, you’ll find the infinitive. The Dutch infinitives are the plural and present tense verbs. They usually end with en, like in praten (“to talk”), and sometimes with only n, like in zijn (“to be”). 

→Is the verb separable? Then remove the separable prefix from the verb, and add it to the end of the phrase as a separate word (for example: aanbellen (“to ring”) – ik bel aan).

2- Verbs having an –aan ending

Does the infinitive of a verb have an -aan ending? Then remove the -n to get the stem.

Let’s look at an example of a verb with an -aan ending:

Gaan (“to go”) in simple present
Singular		Plural
“I go”	Ik ga	“We go”	We gaan
“You go”	Jij gaat	“You go”	Jullie staan
“He goes”	Hij gaat	“They go”	Ze gaan

In the first person conjugation, it looks like a letter is missing, but the pronunciation of a or aa is the same in Dutch. Therefore, this is the correct spelling.

3- Irregular verbs

Irregular verbs are unpredictable. All you can do is memorize them. The Dutch language has six completely irregular verbs. 

Let’s have a look at them in the present simple tense in this Dutch verb conjugation chart:

Subject	Hebben conjugation Dutch (“to have”)	Kunnen conjugation Dutch (“can”)	Mogen conjugation Dutch (“to be allowed to”)	Willen conjugation Dutch (“to want”)	Zijn conjugation Dutch (“to be”)	Zullen conjugation Dutch (“shall”)
Ik	heb	kan	mag	wil	ben	zal
Jij, u	hebt	kunt	mag	wilt	bent	zult
Hij, zij, het	heeft	kan	mag	wil	is	zalzal
Wij	hebben	kunnen	mogen	willen	zijn	zullen
Jullie	hebben	kunnen	mogen	willen	zijn	zullen
Zij	hebben	kunnen	mogen	willen	zijn	zullen

→Do you find it difficult to memorize verbs? Find some useful tips on remembering words.

4. Past Simple

→Used to describe a situation that happened in the past.

1- Weak verbs

A weak verb can either belong to the T-class or D-class. But how can you recognize which class a weak verb belongs to?

• Step 1: Remove the -en to get the crude stem.
• Step 2: Have a look at the last letter of the crude stem.
• Step 3: Check if it is one of the following: f, ch, s, t, k, p. 
• Step 4: Is it? Then it’s a T-verb. If not, it’s a D-verb. 

For example, see the verb voelen (“to feel”). The crude stem is voel, the last letter of the crude stem is –l, and this isn’t one of the endings mentioned. Therefore, it belongs to the D-class: Ik voelde (“I felt”).

Another example is the verb haten (“to hate”). The crude stem is haat (add an a to make the vowel sound the same as in the infinitive), and the last letter of the crude stem is -t, making it a T-verb: Ik haatte (“I hated”).

Simple Past for Weak Verbs of the T-class – Dutch Verb Conjugation Chart Stem + te (singular) or Stem + ten (plural)
Singular		Plural
I stem + te	Ik stem + te	We stem + ten	We stem + ten
You stem + te (casual) You stem + te (formal)	Je stem + te  U stem + te	You stem + ten (plural)	Jullie stem + ten
He stem + te She stem + te It stem + te	Hij stem + te  Ze stem + te  Het stem + te	They stem + ten	Ze stem + ten

You can replace the stem with the stem of a T-class verb. For example, zet from the verb zetten (“to put”): 

• Ik zette 
• Je zette 
• Hij zette 
• We zetten 
• Jullie zetten 
• Ze zetten

Simple Past for Weak Verbs of the D-class – Dutch Verb Conjugation Chart Stem + de (singular) or Stem + den (plural)
Singular		Plural
I stem + de	Ik stem + de	We stem + den	We stem + den
You stem + de (casual) You stem + de (formal)	Je stem + de  U stem + de	You stem + den (plural)	Jullie stem + den
He stem + de She stem + de It stem + de	Hij stem + de  Ze stem + de  Het stem + de	They stem + den	Ze stem + den

You can replace the stem with the stem of a D-class verb. For example, voel from the verb voelen (“to feel”): 

• Ik voelde 
• Je voelde 
• Hij voelde 
• We voelden 
• Jullie voelden 
• Ze voelden

2- Strong verbs

As in the present tense, vowel changes can also occur in the past tense. The Dutch language has a lot of different strong verbs; however, we’ve divided them into groups in this Dutch verb conjugation table.

Groups of strong verbs	Verb	Example
e in the infinitive gets ie in the past form.	Werpen (“to throw”)	Ik wierp (“I threw”)
ij in the infinitive gets ee in the past form.	Blijven (“to stay”)	Ik bleef (“I stayed”)
e in the infinitive gets o in the past form.	Vechten (“to fight”)	Ik vocht  (“I fought”)
e in the infinitive gets a in the past form.	Nemen (“to take”)	Ik nam (“I took”)
i in the infinitive gets a in the past form.	Bidden (“to pray”)	Ik bad (“I prayed”)
a in the infinitive gets ie in the past form.	Slapen (“to sleep”)	Ik sliep  (“I slept”)
ui in the infinitive gets oo in the past form.	Sluiten (“to close”)	Ik sloot (“I closed”)
a in the infinitive gets oe in the past form.	Dragen  (“to carry”)	Ik droeg  (“I carried”)
Ik droeg  (“I carried”)	Vergeten   (“to forget”)	Ik vergat  (“I forgot”)
a in the infinitive gets i in the past form.	Vangen (“to catch”)	Ik ving  (“I caught”)
o in the infinitive gets ie in the past form.	Lopen (“to walk”)	Ik liep (“I walked”)
iez in the infinitive gets oor in the past form.	Vriezen  (“to freeze”)	Ik vroor  (“I froze”)
i in the infinitive gets o in the past form.	Drinken  (“to drink”)	Ik dronk  (“I drank”)
ends in -cht in the past form.	Denken  (“to think”)	Ik dacht  (“I thought”)

3- Irregular verbs

This Dutch verb conjugation chart shows you the conjugation of the six Dutch irregular verbs in the past tense:

Subject	Hebben conjugation Dutch (“to have”)	Kunnen conjugation Dutch (“can”)	Mogen  conjugation Dutch (“to be allowed to”)	Willen conjugation Dutch (“to want”)	Zijn conjugation Dutch (“to be”)	Zullen conjugation Dutch (“shall”)
Ik (“I”)	had	kon	mocht	wilde	was	zou
Jij, u (“you”)	had	kon	mocht	wilde	was	zou
Hij, zij, het (“he, she, it”)	had	kon	mocht	wilde	was	zou
Wij (“we”)	hadden	konden	mochten	wilden	waren	zouden
Jullie (“you”)	hadden	konden	mochten	wilden	waren	zouden
Zij (“they”)	hadden	konden	mochten	wilden	waren	zouden

5. The Present & Past Perfect

1- The past participle

There are different rules for the past participle of weak and strong verbs.

Let’s start with the weak verbs. Here, the following rule applies:

ge- (prefix) + stem + -t/-d (ending)

→Regarding the prefix, if the verb already starts with a prefix (ge-, be-, er-, her-, ver-, ont-), then you don’t have to add the ge-.
→Regarding the ending, have a look at the stem of the verb. Does it end with one of these letters: f, ch, s, t, k, p? Then the past participle ends with a -t. If not, then it ends with a -d.
→Does the stem end in -t or –d? Then no extra -t or -d has to be added.

For example, the verb voelen (“to feel”): voel is the stem and gevoeld is the past participle.

For example, the verb fietsen (“to bike”): fiets is the stem and gefietst is the past participle.

The strong verbs have the following past participle rule:

ge- (prefix) + stem + -en (ending)

For example, the verb lopen (“to walk”): loop is the stem and gelopen is the past participle.

For example, the verb zingen (“to sing”): zing is the stem and gezongen is the past participle.

→Remember, in strong verbs, the vowel may change! 
→Remember, if the verb already starts with a prefix (ge-, be-, er-, her-, ver-, ont-), then you don’t have to add the ge-.

2- Present perfect

→Used to describe something that happened in the past and has already ended. 

To master the Dutch verb conjugation rules for present perfect, you need to know the following things:

• The present tense of zijn (“to be”) or hebben (“to have”).
• The past participle of your verb.

So, the present perfect is:

Subject + present tense of zijn/hebben + past participle

Let’s have a look at some examples:

Ik heb gelezen (“I have read”) — Present tense of the Dutch hebben conjugation + past participle of strong verb lezen

Hij is gegroeid (“He has grown”) — Present tense of zijn (notice that in Dutch, we say “He is grown”) + past participle of weak verb groeien

3- Past perfect

→Used to describe an action or event that happened in the past and ended in the past. 

To be able to use the past perfect, you need to know:

• The past tense of zijn (“to be”), hebben (“to have”), or worden (“to become”).
• The past participle of your verb.

So, the past perfect is:

Subject + past tense of zijn/hebben/worden + past participle

Let’s give you some examples:

Hij had gewacht (“He had waited”) — Past tense of the Dutch hebben conjugation + past participle of weak verb wachten

We zijn begonnen (“We have started”) — Past tense of zijn (in Dutch, we say “We are started”) + past participle of strong verb beginnen

Ik werd gebracht (“I was brought”) — Past tense of worden + past participle of weak verb brengen

6. Future Simple

→Used to talk about something that will happen in the future. 

Follow this simple rule to make the Dutch simple future:
Present tense zullen (“shall”) + infinitive

Subject	Form	Schrijven  (“to write”)	Kijken  (“to watch”)
Ik (“I”)	zal + infinitive	Ik zal schrijven	Ik zal kijken
Jij, u (“you”)	zult + infinitive	Jij zult schrijven	Jij zal kijken
Hij, zij, het (“he, she, it”)	zal + infinitive	Zij zal schrijven	Zij zal kijken
Wij (“we”)	zullen + infinitive	Wij zullen schrijven	Wij zullen kijken
Jullie (“you”)	zullen + infinitive	Jullie zullen schrijven	Jullie zullen kijken
Zij (“they”)	zullen + infinitive	Zij zullen schrijven	Zij zullen kijken

7. Future Perfect

→Used to describe an action that will have been completed before another action in the future.

Knowing the simple future, you can now also make the future perfect:

Future simple of Dutch conjugation hebben or zijn + past participle 

Or…

Zullen (“shall”) + Dutch conjugation of hebben or zijn + past participle

Subject	Form	Lachen (“to laugh”)	Gaan (“to go”)
Ik (“I”)	zal + hebben/zijn + past participle	Ik zal hebben gelachen	Ik zal zijn gegaan
Jij, u (“you”)	zult + hebben/zijn + past participle	Jij zult hebben gelachen	Jij zult zijn gegaan
Hij, zij, het (“he, she, it”)	zal + hebben/zijn + past participle	Hij zal hebben gelachen	Hij zal zijn gegaan
Wij (“we”)	zullen +hebben/zijn + past participle	Wij zullen hebben gelachen	Wij zullen zijn gegaan
Jullie (“you”)	zullen +hebben/zijn + past participle	Jullie zullen hebben gelachen	Jullie zullen zijn gegaan
Zij (“they”)	zullen +hebben/zijn + past participle	Zij zullen hebben gelachen	Zij zullen zijn gegaan

8. Conditional

→Used in a “what if” scenario; used to speculate about something.

Follow the following rule to make the Dutch conditional tense:

Zouden (“would”) + infinitive

Subject	Form	Rennen (“to run”)
Ik (“I”)	zou + infinitive	Ik zou rennen
Jij, u (“you”)	zou + infinitive	Jij zou rennen
Hij, zij, het (“he, she, it”)	zou + infinitive	Hij zou rennen
Wij (“we”)	zouden + infinitive	Wij zouden rennen
Jullie (“you”)	zouden + infinitive	Jullie zouden rennen
Zij (“they”)	zouden + infinitive	Zij zouden rennen

1- Dutch conditional perfect 

→Used to describe a future hypothetical situation in the past.

The conjugation of the Dutch conditional perfect is very similar to the conjugation of the future perfect tense. The following rule is used to form the conditional perfect:

Zouden (past tense of zullen [“shall”]) + Dutch conjugation of hebben/zijn + past participle

Subject	Form	Schreeuwen (“to scream”)	Verdronken (“to drown”)
Ik (“I”)	zou + hebben/zijn + infinitive	Ik zou hebben geschreeuwd	Ik zou zijn verdronken
Jij, u (“you”)	zou + hebben/zijn + infinitive	Jij zou hebben geschreeuwd	U zou zijn verdronken
Hij, zij, het (“he, she, it”)	zou + hebben/zijn + infinitive	Zij zou hebben geschreeuwd	Hij zou zijn verdronken
Wij (“we”)	zouden + hebben/zijn + infinitive	Wij zouden hebben geschreeuwd	Wij zouden zijn verdronken
Jullie (“you”)	zouden + hebben/zijn + infinitive	Jullie zouden hebben geschreeuwd	Jullie zouden zijn verdronken
Zij (“they”)	zouden + hebben/zijn + infinitive	Zij zouden hebben geschreeuwd	Zij zouden zijn verdronken

→Would you like to learn more verbs and their pronunciation? Then listen to this podcast on twenty-five verbs that are used every day in Dutch.
→Do you want to conjugate more verbs? Use an online verb conjugator.

9. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

In this guide, you’ve learned all about the Dutch verb conjugations, from the five different types of Dutch verbs to the eight Dutch tenses. You now know how to deal with all of them.

Are you ready to rumble and start using the Dutch verb conjugation in your daily life? Or would you like to get some more help?

Make sure to explore DutchPod101.com as it has a lot to offer, such as the multiple vocabulary lists with audio recordings and other useful free resources. Start practicing Dutch conjugations with DutchPod101’s tools, and learn new words and verbs while you’re at it. Practice is key! 

Would you like some one-on-one coaching? Remember that DutchPod101 also has the MyTeacher Premium PLUS service. Here, you can practice Dutch verb conjugation with your own private teacher and really master the Dutch tenses. Through personalized feedback and pronunciation advice, you can master the Dutch language in no time.

Have you read DutchPod101’s articles on 100 Nouns, 100 Adjectives, and Pronouns? By reading this series of articles, you’ll slowly but surely learn more and more about the Dutch language. Learning a language is like completing a big puzzle, piece by piece. Nouns, adjectives, and pronouns are of course crucial pieces, but how can you use them without knowing some common Dutch verbs? 

Have you ever been in a situation where you were trying to speak Dutch using the words that you just learned, but you were incapable of expressing yourself because you didn’t remember a verb? Verbs are a vital part of speech for connecting words. By learning some key Dutch verbs, you’ll expand your capacity to build phrases, creating a good basis for your daily interactions in Dutch. 

Don’t despair, the help of DutchPod101 is near! We present to you this article on the top 100 most common Dutch verbs. To help you even more, we’ll start by giving you some useful tips to help you understand and master Dutch verbs. 

→ Want to improve your Dutch vocabulary? Make sure to visit our vocabulary lists on the Most Useful Pronouns, 50 Most Common Adjectives, or 50 Most Common Nouns.

Table of Contents

1. Mastering Dutch Language Verbs
2. The 100 Most Useful Verbs in Dutch
3. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn Better Dutch

1. Mastering Dutch Language Verbs

Are you a bit intimidated by Dutch verbs and grammar? Are you unsure of how to start and where to start? Don’t worry. With some easy tips and tricks, we’ll help you master Dutch verbs.

A. How can you recognize a Dutch verb? 

So, let’s start at the beginning: What is a verb? Verbs are action words. In sentences, these action words describe what the subject is doing. Therefore, verbs, together with nouns, are a crucial part of a sentence. Even the most simple sentences have a verb! For example: 

• Ik ben Tom.

“I am Tom.”

A verb can also be a sentence on its own: 

• Zing! 

“Sing!”

or 

• Kom! 

“Come!”

So how can you recognize verbs? You can recognize them by looking for the part of the sentence that explains the action taking place. This can either be something that someone is doing, such as in the words rennen (“to run”), eten (“to eat”), and gaan (“to go”), or something that happens, such as in the words sneeuwen (“to snow”) or waaien (“to blow”). 

However, there also exist verbs that don’t include such a clear action. For example, these can be verbs that describe an opinion, an emotion, a possession, or a state of being: voelen (“to feel”), zijn (“to be”), hebben (“to have”), or houden van (“to love”).

Another way to recognize a verb is to find its location compared to the subject. In sentences, verbs almost always come after a noun or pronoun (the subject): 

• Hij denkt aan school.

“He thinks about school.”

B. What is the Dutch infinitive?

What is the entire verb (the infinitive) in Dutch? Well, Dutch infinitive verbs 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 werken.

“I can work.”

C. The Dutch verb tenses

So, how many tenses are there in Dutch?

Dutch has two main tenses: the present and the past. However, there exist some “semi-tenses” that appear when these two tenses (present or past) interact with a mood (factual or hypothetical) or an aspect (temporary or continuing). Through these combinations, six other tenses are created, giving Dutch a total of eight basic tenses:

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”

Is this Dutch conjugation table a bit intimidating? Praten is one of the Dutch regular verbs—it can get more complicated for irregular verbs. Don’t worry, let’s take it step by step. It gets easier when you start learning the logic and patterns of Dutch grammar and verbs.

D. How to learn Dutch verbs effectively

So let’s take a step back and first give you an idea of the most common Dutch verbs. Don’t worry yet about Dutch verb conjugation, the rules and the exceptions. Pass through this Dutch verbs list of 100 must-know verbs and ask yourself the following questions: 

• How does the infinitive end?
• How does it end now that it’s conjugated with a pronoun?
• Is it like one of the Dutch regular verbs, or could it be irregular?

To keep it easy, we’ll stick to the Tegenwoordige tijd (“Present Simple”) for all of the examples in this article.

Last but not least, look for the basic and most useful Dutch verbs, like the verb “to have” in Dutch (hebben), or “to be” (zijn). These are the first verbs you should know when you start to learn Dutch.

→ Would you like to learn by listening to the verbs? Listen to this podcast on twenty-five verbs that are used every day in Dutch.

2. The 100 Most Useful Verbs in Dutch

Let’s start diving into the 100 most useful Dutch verbs. To create a logical Dutch verb list, we’ve listed the verbs in alphabetical order (based on the Dutch spelling). This way, you can easily find the verb you’re looking for.

1.

Accepteren “To accept”

Ik accepteer het aanbod. “I accept the offer.”

2.

Annuleren “To cancel”

Wij annuleren onze vakantie. “We cancel our holiday.”

3.

(Be)antwoorden “To answer”

Ik antwoord je bericht nu. “I answer your message now.”

4.

Arriveren “To arrive”

De trein arriveert. “The train arrives.”

5.

Beginnen “To start”

Hij begint vandaag met zijn nieuwe werk. “He starts today with his new work.”

6.

Begrijpen “To understand”

Zij begrijpt haar vriendje. “She understands her boyfriend.”

7.

Bijten “To bite”

De hond bijt de kat. “The dog bites the cat.”

8.

Blijven “To stay”

Ik blijf vandaag thuis. “I stay at home today.”

9.

Bouwen “To build”

De bouwvakkers bouwen mijn huis. “The builders build my home.”

10.

Brengen “To bring”

De bezorger brengt ons onze pizza. “The delivery driver brings us our pizza.”

11.

Denken “To think”

Ik denk aan jou. “I think about you.”

12.

Doen “To do”

De man doet huishoudelijk werk. “The man does housework.”

13.

Douchen “To shower”

Het kind doucht niet graag. “The child doesn’t like to shower.”

14.

Draaien “To turn”

Ik draai me om. “I turn around.”

15.

Eten “To eat”

Wij eten altijd om 6 uur ‘s avonds. “We always eat at six o’clock in the evening.”

16.

Foto’s maken “To take pictures”

De jongen maakt foto’s van bands. “The boy takes pictures of bands.”

17.

Gaan “To go”

Wij gaan morgen op vakantie. “We go on holiday tomorrow.”

18.

Gebruiken “To use”

Ik gebruik voor mijn werk de nieuwste gadgets. “I use the newest gadgets for my work.”

19.

Geloven “To believe”

Zij gelooft in mij. “She believes in me.”

20.

Geven “To give”

Hij geeft me altijd cadeautjes voor mijn verjaardag. “He always gives me presents for my birthday.”

21.

Halen “To get”

De vrouw haalt brood bij de bakker. “The woman gets bread at the bakery.”

22.

Hangen “To hang”

De klok hangt aan de muur. “The clock hangs on the wall.”

23.

Hebben “To have”	De vrouw heeft te veel spullen in haar handen. “The woman has too many things in her hands.”
Here it is, the verb “to have” in Dutch. Learn this to improve your basic speaking skills!

24.

Helpen “To help”

We helpen het oude vrouwtje met oversteken. “We help the old lady with crossing the road.”

25.

Herinneren “To remember”

Ik herinner me het als de dag van gisteren. “I remember it as if it were yesterday.”

26.

Heten “To be called”

Hij heet Mathias. “He is called Mathias.”

27.

Horen “To hear”

We horen heel veel roddels over jou. “We hear a lot of gossip about you.”

28.

Vasthouden “To hold”	Het meisje houdt een baby vast. “The girl is holding a baby.”
Vasthouden is one of the Dutch separable verbs. Let’s see if you can find more of them!

29.

Houden van “To love”

Hij houdt van zijn werk. “He loves his work.”

30.

Kennen “To know”

Zij kennen hun buren al sinds jaren. “They’ve known their neighbors for many years.”

31.

Kijken naar “To watch”

Wij kijken naar het programma op tv. “We watch the show on the television.”

32.

Klimmen “To climb”

Het jongetje klimt in de boom. “The boy climbs the tree.”

33.

Koken “To cook”

Hij kookt erg goed. “He cooks very well.”

34.

Komen “To come”

We komen vandaag niet naar huis. “We are not coming home today.”

35.

Kopen “To buy”

Ik koop mijn kleding altijd online. “I always buy my clothes online.”

36.

Kunnen “Can”

Wij kunnen goed samenwerken. “We can work together very well.”

37.

Kwetsen “To hurt”

Ik kwets je niet graag. “I don’t like to hurt you.”

38.

Lachen “To laugh”Lachen “To laugh”

Wij lachen om de grapjes van onze vader. “We laugh at our father’s jokes.”

39.

Laten “To let”

Wij laten onze kinderen hun eigen beslissingen maken. “We let our kids make their own choices.”

40.

Leren “To learn”

Ik leer Nederlands. “I learn Dutch.”

41.

Lesgeven “To teach”	Ik geef Nederlandse les. “I teach Dutch.”
Yes! Lesgeven is another one of the Dutch separable verbs!

42.

Leven “To live”

Hij leeft in alle luxe in Amsterdam. “He lives in luxury in Amsterdam.”

43.

Lezen “To read”

Wij lezen veel boeken op vakantie. “We read a lot of books on holiday.”

44.

Liggen “To lie”

De baby ligt in zijn ledikant. “The baby lies in his crib.”

45.

Lopen “To walk”

Wij lopen samen door de stad. “We walk together through the city.”

46.

Luisteren (naar) “To listen to”

Ik luister naar de muziek van de Beatles. “I listen to the music of the Beatles.”

47.

Maken “To make”

Hij maakt kunst. “He makes art.”

48.

Moeten “To have to”

Je moet naar me luisteren. “You have to listen to me.”

49.

Mogen “To be allowed to”

Mijn zoon mag in de avond TV kijken. “My son is allowed to watch television in the evening.”

50.

Nemen “To take”

Ik neem altijd zonnebrandcrème mee naar het strand. “I always take sunscreen to the beach.”

51.

Nodig hebben “To need”

Je hebt me niet nodig. “You don’t need me.”

52.

Ontvangen “To receive”

We ontvangen vandaag het pakketje. “We receive the package today.”

53.

Openen “To open”

Hij opent de brief. “He opens the letter.”

54.

Opmerken “To notice”

Zij merkt me niet op. “She doesn’t notice me.”

55.

Plannen “To plan”

Ik plan de bruiloft van mijn zus. “I plan the wedding of my sister.”

53.

Praten “To talk”

Wij praten over onze gevoelens. “We talk about our feelings.”

57.

Proberen “To try”

Mijn broer probeert zich te concentreren. “My brother tries to concentrate.”

58.

Rennen “To run”

De jongen rent door het bos. “The boy runs through the forest.”

59.

Rijden “To drive”

We rijden in de auto. “We drive the car.”

60.

Rusten “To rest”

Mijn oma rust op bed. “My grandmother rests in bed.”

61.

Schrijven “To write”

Jij schrijft hem een brief. “You write him a letter.”

62.

Slapen “To sleep”

Ik slaap 8 uur per dag. “I sleep eight hours a day.”

63.

Spelen “To play”

De kinderen spelen samen. “The kids play together.”

64.

Spreken “To speak”

De baas spreekt met zijn werknemers. “The boss speaks with his employees.”

65.

Springen “To jump”

De kat spring op de kast. “The cat jumps on the cupboard.”

66.

Staan “To stand”

Ik sta naast mijn broer. “I stand next to my brother.”

67.

Studeren “To study”

Wij studeren voor ons examen. “We study for our exam.”

68.

Sturen “To send”

Het bedrijf stuurt me de rekening per post. “The company sends me the bill by mail.”

69.

Telefoneren “To call”

Ik telefoneer elke dag met mijn zus. “I call my sister everyday.”

70.

Tekenen “To draw”

Het jongetje tekent een draak. “The boy draws a dragon.”

71.

Terugkeren “To return”	De soldaat keert terug naar huis. “The soldier returns home.”
Terugkeren is another one of the Dutch separable verbs.

72.

Tillen “To carry”

De moeder tilt haar zoon. “The mother carries her son.”

73.

Trekken “To pull”

Haar vriendin trekt aan haar jas. “Her friend pulls her jacket.”

74.

Uitleggen “To explain”	De lerares legt de Nederlandse grammatica en werkwoorden uit. “The teacher explains the Dutch grammar and verbs.”
Bingo! The verb uitleggen is also one of the Dutch separable verbs.

75.

Vallen “To fall”

Ik val van de trap. “I fall down the stairs.”

76.

Vangen “To catch”

De rugbyspeler vangt de bal. “The rugby player catches the ball.”

77.

Voelen “To feel”

Ik voel me niet lekker. “I don’t feel well.”

78.

Vergeten “To forget”

Hij vergeet zijn huiswerk. “He forgets his homework.”

79.

Verlaten “To leave”

De vrouw verlaat haar man. “The woman leaves her husband.”

80.

Verslaan “To beat”

Ik versla je gemakkelijk in dit spel. “I beat you easily in this game.”

81.

Vertellen “To tell”

Wij vertellen je de waarheid. “We tell you the truth.”

82.

Verwijzen “To refer”

De dokter verwijst haar naar een specialist. “The doctor refers her to a specialist.”

83.

Verzamelen “To collect”

De kinderen verzamelen stickers. “The kids collect stickers.”

84.

Vinden “To find”

Ik vind mijn sleutels in de la. “I find my keys in the drawer.”

85.

Vragen “To ask”

Jij vraagt me uit. “You ask me out.”

86.

Wachten op “To wait for”

De hond wacht thuis op zijn baasje. “The dog waits for his owner at home.”

87.

Wakker worden “To wake up”

Ik word wakker met een lach. “I wake up smiling.”

88.

Wassen “To wash”

Hij wast zijn handen voor het avondeten. “He washes his hands before dinner.”

89.

Wensen “To wish”

Ik wens je een leuke verjaardag. “I wish you a nice birthday.”

90.

Werken “To work”

Wij werken te veel. “We work too much.”

91.

Weten “To know”

Mijn vader weet niets van technologie. “My father knows nothing about technology.”

92.

Willen “To want”

Het stel wilt trouwen. “The couple wants to get married.”

93.

Wonen “To live”

Ik woon in Nederland. “I live in the Netherlands.”

94.

Worden “To become”

Mijn vriendin wordt binnenkort zwanger. “My girlfriend will become pregnant soon.”

95.

Zeggen “To say”

Hij zegt dat hij van haar houdt. “He says that he loves her.”

96.

Zien “To see”

Ik zie je op de foto. “I see you in the picture.”

97.

Zijn “To be”	Ik ben verdrietig. “I am sad.”
As you can see, the verb “to be” in Dutch isn’t one of the Dutch regular verbs, it’s irregular. This is one of the first verbs you should learn, as it’s one of the most basic ones! Find here the Dutch verb conjugation of the verb zijn.

98.

Zingen “To sing”

Wij zingen altijd tijdens het koken. “We always sing while cooking.”

99.

Zitten “To sit”

Jij zit op de bank. “You sit on the couch.”

100.

Zoeken “To look for”

Zij zoeken hun hond. “They look for their dog.”

→ Learn more about the pronunciation of Dutch verbs with our free Dutch verbs list with handy audio recordings: Vocabulary for the 25 Most Commonly Used Verbs of Any Language or 50 Common Dutch Verbs.

→ Do you need help with Dutch verb conjugation? Use an online verb conjugator, or check out DutchPod101’s upcoming article on how to conjugate Dutch verbs!

3. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn Better Dutch

In this guide, you’ve learned all about Dutch verbs: recognizing Dutch verbs, understanding the infinitives, and even having a little peek into the different Dutch tenses. And as the icing on the cake, this guide offered you a wide selection of the 100 must-know Dutch verbs, with some useful examples to get familiar with them.

Are you ready to start using your new Dutch verbs vocabulary in your daily conversations with the Dutch? Or do you need some more help?

DutchPod101 has much more to offer, such as the multiple vocabulary lists with audio recordings and other free resources. Boost your Dutch with these easy and useful DutchPod101 tools.

Want more? DutchPod101 also has the MyTeacher premium service. Let your own private teacher help you practice Dutch grammar, verbs, and Dutch verb conjugation, through personalized exercises, fun assignments, and useful recorded audio samples. Improve your Dutch quickly with this personal one-on-one coaching.

Happy learning!

What’s your relationship with the clock like? Does it run your day from a morning alarm to a cut-off chime for bed, or are you more of a go-with-the-flow type, letting your mood and emotions decide how much you fall in line with time?

Understanding time in Dutch is an important part of your studies. As humans, our lives are filled with habits and schedules. From waking up and going to work or gym, to missing rush hour traffic on our way home, we’re always aware of time. We have routines around coffee breaks, meetings, soccer games and vacations. In fact, time can seem rather capricious – going slowly, going fast, sometimes against us, other times on our side – like a force that has a life of its own.

In science, time is often referred to as a fourth dimension and many physicists and philosophers think that if we understood the physics of the universe, we would see that time is an illusion. We sense an ‘arrow’ or direction of time because we have memories, but really time is just a construct that humans have created to help make sense of the world. 

On the other hand, poets through the ages have written impassioned thoughts about time, depicting it as both a relentless thief and an immensely precious resource, not to be wasted at any cost.

Well, poets and scientists may have their views, but in our everyday lives there’s the question of practicality, isn’t there? I mean, if you have plans and want things to happen your way, there’s a certain amount of conforming to the human rules of time that you can’t avoid. 

In ‘The Little Prince’ by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the prince has a rose that he falls in love with, and he tenderly protects it with a windscreen and places it under a glass dome on his tiny planet.  I love this quote from the book:  “It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.”  If we truly love something, we spend time with it and not a second of that time could ever be seen as wasted. I feel that way about horses, my children, travel and learning languages. 

With that in mind, I’d like to take you on a journey into ‘time’ from a Dutch perspective. It’s fun, it’s informative and it’s a basic necessity if you’re learning the language – especially if you plan to travel. DutchPod101 has all the vocab you need to fall in love with telling time in Dutch, and not a minute will be wasted.

Table of Contents

1. Talking about Time in Dutch
2. How to Tell the Time in Dutch
3. Conclusion

1. Talking about Time in Dutch

As a traveler, your primary need for knowing how to read the hour in Dutch will be for transportation schedules: the bus, train, airplane, ferry, taxi… whatever you plan to use to get from A to B, it won’t wait for you! Fortunately, it’s really not complicated. You already have a firm grasp of time in English and you know you’ll need to reset your watch and phone to the local time. Great – that means you’ll have the correct time on your person. 

We’re so used to just looking at our phones for the time, that it’s easy to take this convenience for granted and forget some travel basics: in a foreign country, times won’t always be written digitally. If you see the time written in words, it’ll be the same challenge to you as hearing it spoken: you’ll need to be familiar with the language. 

You may be surprised at how often ‘time’ comes into conversation. Learning the Dutch terms for time will help you when you have to call a taxi, ask about opening and closing times of events and tourist attractions, restaurants and bars and even late-night food cafes.

My biggest annoyance when traveling is not being able to get coffee and amazingly, even at nice hotels this has happened more times than I care to think about. I’ll be up late planning something, writing my blog or chatting and when I go looking for coffee downstairs, I’m told the kitchen is closed or the ‘coffee lady’ has gone to sleep. Frustrating!

If you’re doing a homestay or at a youth hostel or backpackers, there will probably also be a limited timeframe for when you can grab dinner. Do you know how to ask when it’s time to eat in Dutch? I’ve learned that it’s vital to know how to make my queries clearly understood to accommodation staff and for me to clearly understand their answers. Perfect your ‘time in Dutch’ translations early on – you’ll thank me. 

At DutchPod101, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of Dutch time words and phrases to get you going. 

1- Morning – ochtend

Morning is the time when we wake up from our dreamworld, hopefully fully rested and restored; we brew the first delicious cup of coffee for the day and watch the sunrise as we prepare for another glorious twelve hours of life. No matter what happened the day before, a new morning is a chance to make everything right. 

I like these quiet hours for language practice, as my mind is clear and receptive to learning new things. I start by writing the Dutch time, date and word of the day on my whiteboard, then get back under the covers for an engrossing lesson.

Time in the morning is written as AM or A.M., which stands for ante meridiem – meaning ‘before midday’ in Latin.

2- Evening – avond

Evening is the part of night when we’re still awake and doing things, winding down from the day. Whether you enjoy a tasty international dinner with friends, go out to see a show, or curl up on the couch with a Dutch snack and your favorite TV series, evening is a good time to forget your worries and do something that relaxes you. If you’re checking in with your Facebook friends, say hi to us, too!  

Evening is also an ideal time to catch up on your Dutch studies. The neighbourhood outside is likely to be quieter and time is yours, so grab a glass of wine or a delicious local tea, and see what’s new on your Mac App or Kindle. 

3- Daytime – dag

Daytime is defined as the period from early morning to early evening when the sun is visible outside. In other words: from sunrise to sunset.  Where you are in the world, as well as the season, will determine how many daylight hours you get. 

Interestingly, in locations north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle, in summertime the sun does not sink below the horizon within a 24-hour period, bringing the natural phenomenon of the midnight sun.  You could only experience this in the north, though, because there aren’t any permanent human settlements south of the Antarctic Circle.

4- Nighttime – nachtelijk

Nighttime is all the hours from sunset to sunrise and depending on where in the country you are, people may be partying all night, or asleep from full-dark. 

In the same northernmost and southernmost regions where you can experience a midnight sun, winter brings the opposite phenomenon: the polar night. Can you imagine a night that lasts for more than 24 hours? 

5- Hour – uur

An hour is a unit of time made up of 60 minutes and is a variable measure of one-24th of a day – also defined by geeks as 3 600 atomic seconds. Of all the ‘time’ words we use on a daily basis, the hour is the most important, as time of day is typically expressed in terms of hours. 

One of the interesting methods of keeping time that people have come up with is the hourglass. Although the origins are unclear, there’s evidence pointing to the hourglass being invented around 1000 – 1100 AD and one of the ways we know this, is from hourglasses being depicted in very old murals. These days, with clocks and watches in every direction we look, they’re really only used symbolically to represent the passage of time. Still – a powerful reminder of our mortality and to seize the day. In his private journal, the Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius, wrote: “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.”

6- Minute – minuut

Use this word when you want to say a more precise time and express minutes in Dutch. A minute is a unit of time equal to one sixtieth of an hour, or 60 seconds. A lot can happen in the next 60 seconds. For example, your blood will circulate three times through your entire vascular system and your heart will pump about 2.273 litres of blood. 

7- O’clock – uur

We use “o’clock” when there are no minutes and we’re saying the exact hour, as in “It’s two o’clock.” In Dutch, this is essentially the same as just saying “hour.”

The term “o’clock” is a contraction of the term “of the clock”. It comes from 15th-century references to medieval mechanical clocks. At the time, sundials were also common timekeepers. Therefore, to make clear one was referencing a clock’s time, they would say something like, “It is six of the clock” – now shortened to “six o’clock”.

We only use this term when talking about the 12 hour clock, though, not the 24 hour clock (more on that later!) The 12-hour clock can be traced back as far as Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. Both an Egyptian sundial for daytime use and an Egyptian water clock for nighttime use were found in the tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep I. Dating to c.1500 BC, these clocks divided their respective times of use into 12 hours each. The Romans also used a 12-hour clock. Daylight was divided into 12 equal hours and the night was divided into four watches. 

These days, the internet has made it very easy to know what the time is in any part of the world.  Speaking of which, why not add the Dutch time zone clock to your laptop?

8- Half past – een half uur na

When the time is thirty minutes past the hour, in English we say “half past”. Just like the hour, the half-hour is universally used as an orientation point; some languages speak of 30 minutes before the hour (subtraction), whereas others speak of 30 minutes after the hour (addition). 

9- AM – ‘sochtends

As mentioned earlier, AM is the abbreviation of the Latin ante meridiem and means before midday. Using ‘AM’ as a tag on your time simply tells people you’re speaking about a time in the morning. In some countries, morning is abbreviated to “AM” and you’ll see this on shop signs everywhere, announcing the opening hour. A typical shop sign might read something like this:

“Business hours are from 7AM to 6PM.” 

10- PM – ‘s avonds

PM is the abbreviation of the Latin post meridiem and means after midday. Along with ‘AM’, you’ll usually find ‘PM’ on store signs and businesses, indicating the closing hours. It’s advisable to learn the difference between the two, since some establishments might only have one or the other on the sign. For example, a night club sign might say: 

“Open from 10 PM until late.” 

11- What time is it now? – Hoe laat is het nu?

Here’s a very handy question you should memorize, as you can use it in any situation where you don’t have your watch or phone on you. This could be on the beach, in a club, or if you’re stuck anywhere with a flat phone battery. It happens at home, so it can happen when you’re traveling! 

12- One o’clock – één uur

One o’clock, or 1 PM, is the average lunch time for many people around the world – at least, we try to get a meal in at some point between midday and 2 PM.  In terms of duration, the nations vary: Brazililans reportedly take the longest lunch breaks, averaging 48 minutes, whereas Greece reports an average break of only 19 minutes. Historically, Greeks were known for their very leisurely lunch breaks, so it just goes to show how fast the world is changing. If you’re curious about what to expect in Netherlands, try asking our online community about lunch time in Dutch.

13- Two o’clock – twee uur

In his last days, Napoleon Bonaparte famously spoke of “Two o’clock in the morning courage” – meaning unprepared, spontaneous  courage. He was talking about soldiers who are brave enough to tumble out of bed in an instant, straight into action, without time to think or strategize. Do you think you have what it takes? I’m pretty sure all mothers know this feeling!

14- Three o’clock – drie uur

3 AM can be perceived as the coldest time of day and is not an hour we want to wake up, but meteorologists will tell you that the coldest time is actually half an hour after sunrise. Even though the sun is peeking over the horizon, the solar radiation is still weaker than the earth’s infrared cooling to space.

15- Four o’clock – vier uur

Do you know anyone who purposely gets up at 4 o’clock in the morning? As crazy as it sounds, there is something to be said for rising at 4 AM while the rest of the world sleeps. If you live on a farm, it might even be normal for you. I know that whenever I’m staying in the countryside, rising early is a lot easier, because there’s a satisfying reason to do so: watching a sunrise from a rooftop, with uninterrupted views, can’t be beat! It’s also likely that you’ll be woken by a cock crowing, or other animals waking to graze in the fresh pre-dawn air. 

In the world of business, you’ll find a small group of ambitious individuals – many entrepreneurs – who swear by the 4 o’clock in the morning rise. I’m not sure I like that idea, but I’d wake up at 4 AM if it was summer and I had my car packed for a vacation!

16- Five o’clock – vijf uur

What better way to signal the transition between work and play than the clock hands striking 5 o’clock? It’s the hour most working people look forward to each day – at least, those who get to stop working at 5 PM.  Meanwhile, millions of retired folks are taking out the wine glasses, as 5 PM is widely accepted as an appropriate time to pour the first glass. I don’t know how traditional your families are, but for as long as I’ve been alive, my grandparents have counted down the milliseconds to five o’clock, and the hour is announced with glee.

17- Six o’clock – zes uur

This is the time many working people and school kids wake up in the morning. In many parts of the world, 6 o’clock is also a good time to watch the sunrise, go for a run or hit the hiking trails. 

18- Seven o’clock – zeven uur

Health gurus will tell you that 7 o’clock in the morning is the best time to eat your first meal of the day, and 7 o’clock in the evening is the time you should eat your last meal. I’ve tried that and I agree, but it’s not always easy!

19- Eight o’clock – acht uur

8 o’clock in the morning is the time that most businesses open around the world, and the time most kids are in their first lesson at school – still full of energy and willing to participate. Interestingly, it’s also the time most babies are born in the world!  In the evening, 8 o’clock is many young children’s bedtime and the time for parents to watch the evening news. 

20- Nine o’clock – negen uur

It’s good to occasionally sleep late on a weekend and for me, this means waking up at 9 AM. If you’re traveling in Netherlands and staying at a hotel, planning to sleep late means politely requesting to not be woken up by room service.

21- Ten o’clock – tien uur

10 o’clock in the morning is a popular time to conduct business meetings, and for first break time at schools. We’re usually wide awake and well into our day by then.  But what about the same hour at night? Modern people are often still awake and watching TV at 10 PM, but this isn’t exactly good for us. Experts say that the deepest and most regenerative sleep occurs between 10 PM and 2 AM, so we should already be sound asleep by ten o’clock. 

In advertising, have you ever noticed that the hands of the clock usually point to 10:10? Have a look next time you see a watch on a billboard or magazine. The reason? Aesthetics. Somehow, the human brain finds the symmetry pleasing. When the clock hands are at ten and two, they create a ‘smiley’ face and don’t cover any key details, like a logo, on the clock face. 

22- Eleven o’clock – elf uur

When I see this time written in words, it makes me think of the hilarious Academy Award-winning very short film, “The Eleven O’Clock”, in which the delusional patient of a psychiatrist believes that he is actually the doctor. 

Then there’s the tradition of ‘elevenses’ – tea time at eleven o’clock in the morning. Strongly ingrained in British culture, elevenses is typically a serving of hot tea or coffee with scones or pastries on the side. It’s a great way to stave off hunger pangs before lunch time arrives. In fact, if you were a hobbit, ‘Elevenses’ would be your third meal of the day!

23- Twelve o’clock – twaalf uur

Twelve o’clock in the daytime is considered midday, when the sun is at its zenith and the temperature reaches its highest for that day; it’s written as 12 noon or 12 PM. In most parts of the world, though, this doesn’t happen at precisely 12 PM. ‘Solar noon’ is the time when the sun is actually at its highest point in the sky. The local or clock time of solar noon depends on the longitude and date. If it’s summertime, it’s advisable to stay in the shade during this hour – or at least wear good quality sunblock.

Midnight is the other ‘twelve o’clock’, of course. Midnight is written as 12 AM and is technically the first minute of the morning. On the 24-hour clock, midnight is written as 00:00. 

2. How to Tell the Time in Dutch

Using a clock to read the time in Netherlands is going to be the same as in your own country, since you’re dealing with numbers and not words. You’ll know the time in your head and be able to say it in English, but will you be able to say it out loud in Dutch? 

The first step to saying the time in Dutch is knowing your numbers. How are you doing with that? If you can count to twelve in Dutch, you’re halfway there! We’ve already covered the phrases you’ll need to say the exact hour, as in “five o’clock”, as well as how to say “half past”. What remains is the more specific phrases to describe what the minute hand is doing.

In everyday speech, it’s common to say the minutes past or before the hour. Often we round the minutes off to the nearest five. 

Then, there’s the 24-hour clock. Also known as ‘military time’, the 24-hour clock is used in most countries and, as such, is useful to understand. You’ll find that even in places where the 12-hour clock is standard, certain people will speak in military time or use a combination of the two.  No doubt you’ve also noticed that in written time, the 24-hour clock is commonly used.  One of the most prominent places you’ll have seen this is on airport flight schedules.

Knowing how to tell military time in Dutch is really not complicated if you know your numbers up to twenty-four. One advantage of using the 24-hour clock in Dutch, is there’s no chance of confusing AM and PM.

Once you know how to say the time, it will be pretty easy to also write the time in Dutch. You’re already learning what the different hours and minutes look and sound like, so give yourself some writing practice of the same. 

3. Conclusion

Now that you understand the vocabulary for telling time in Dutch, the best thing you can do to really lock it down is to just practice saying Dutch time daily. Start by replacing English with Dutch whenever you need to say the time; in fact, do this whenever you look at your watch. Say the time to yourself in Dutch and it will become a habit. When learning a new language, the phrases you use habitually are the ones your brain will acquire. It feels amazing when that turning point comes!

To help yourself gain confidence, why don’t you make use of our various apps, downloadable for iPhone and iPad, as well as Android? Choose what works best for you. In addition, we have so many free resources available to supplement your learning, that you simply can’t go wrong. Some of these are:

• Free lessons on iTunes
• A free mini lesson every day with the Innovative Language Calendar.
• Free audio books for lessons on the go.

If you prefer watching your lessons on video, check out our YouTube channel – there are hundreds of videos to browse. For those of you with Roku, we also have a TV channel you can watch.

Well, it’s time for me to say goodbye and for you to practice saying the time in Dutch. Look at the nearest clock and try to say the exact time, down to the seconds. See you again soon at DutchPod101!

What is the most defining moment you will face this year? From memories that you immortalize in a million photographs, to days you never wish to remember, one thing’s for certain: big life events change you. The great poet, Bukowski, said, “We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well, that death will tremble to take us.” The older I get, the more I agree with him!

Talking about significant events in our lives is part of every person’s journey, regardless of creed or culture. If you’re planning to stay in Netherlands for more than a quick visit, you’re sure to need at least a few ‘life events’ phrases that you can use. After all, many of these are shared experiences, and it’s generally expected that we will show up with good manners and warm wishes.

Table of Contents

1. Life Events
2. Marriage Proposal Lines
3. Talking About Age
4. Conclusion

1. Life Events

Do you know how to say “Happy New Year” in Dutch? Well, the New Year is a pretty big deal that the whole world is in on! We celebrate until midnight, make mindful resolutions, and fill the night sky with the same happy words in hundreds of languages. No doubt, then, that you’ll want to know how to say it like a local!

Big life events are not all about fun times, though. Real life happens even when you’re traveling, and certain terminology will be very helpful to know. From talking about your new job to wishing your neighbors “Merry Christmas” in Dutch, here at DutchPod101, we’ve put together just the right vocabulary and phrases for you.

1- Birthday – verjaardag

If you’re like me, any excuse to bring out a pen and scribble a note is a good one. When there’s a birthday, even better: hello, handwriting!

Your Dutch friend will love hearing you wish them a “Happy birthday” in Dutch, but how much more will they appreciate a thoughtful written message? Whether you write it on their Facebook wall or buy a cute card, your effort in Dutch is sure to get them smiling! Write it like this:

Fijne verjaardag

Now that you know the words, I challenge you to put them to music and sing your own “Happy birthday” song in Dutch! It’s not impossible to figure out even more lyrics, once you start discovering the language from scratch.

2- Buy – kopen

If there’s a special occasion, you might want to buy somebody a gift. As long as you’ve checked out Dutch etiquette on gift-giving (do a Google search for this!), it will be a lovely gesture. If you’re not sure what to buy, how about the awesome and universally-appealing gift of language? That’s a gift that won’t stop giving!

3- Retire – pensioneren

If you’re planning to expand your mind and retire in Netherlands, you can use this word to tell people why you seem to be on a perpetual vacation!

Retirement is also a great time to learn a new language, don’t you think? And you don’t have to do it alone! These days it’s possible to connect to a vibrant learning community at the click of a button. The added benefit of a Daily Dose of Language is that it keeps your brain cells alive and curious about the world. After all, it’s never too late to realize those long-ignored dreams of traveling the globe…

4- Graduation – afstuderen

When attending a graduation ceremony in Netherlands, be prepared for a lot of formal language! It will be a great opportunity to listen carefully and see if you can pick up differences from the everyday Dutch you hear.

5- Promotion – promotie

Next to vacation time, receiving a promotion is the one career highlight almost everyone looks forward to. And why wouldn’t you? Sure, it means more responsibility, but it also means more money and benefits and – the part I love most – a change of scenery! Even something as simple as looking out a new office window would boost my mood.

6- Anniversary – gedenkdag

Some anniversaries we anticipate with excitement, others with apprehension. They are days marking significant events in our lives that can be shared with just one person, or with a whole nation. Whether it’s a special day for you and a loved one, or for someone else you know, this word is crucial to know if you want to wish them a happy anniversary in Dutch.

7- Funeral – begrafenis

We tend to be uncomfortable talking about funerals in the west, but it’s an important conversation for families to have. Around the world, there are many different customs and rituals for saying goodbye to deceased loved ones – some vastly different to our own. When traveling in Netherlands, if you happen to find yourself the unwitting observer of a funeral, take a quiet moment to appreciate the cultural ethos; even this can be an enriching experience for you.

8- Travel – reizen

Travel – my favorite thing to do! Everything about the experience is thrilling and the best cure for boredom, depression, and uncertainty about your future. You will surely be forever changed, fellow traveler! But you already know this, don’t you? Well, now that you’re on the road to total Dutch immersion, I hope you’ve downloaded our IOS apps and have your Nook Book handy to keep yourself entertained on those long bus rides.

9- Graduate – afstuderen

If you have yet to graduate from university, will you be job-hunting in Netherlands afterward? Forward-looking companies sometimes recruit talented students who are still in their final year. Of course, you could also do your final year abroad as an international student – an amazing experience if you’d love to be intellectually challenged and make a rainbow of foreign friends!

10- Wedding – trouwerij

One of the most-loved traditions that humans have thought up, which you’ll encounter anywhere in the world, is a wedding. With all that romance in the air and months spent on preparations, a wedding is typically a feel-good affair. Two people pledge their eternal love to each other, ladies cry, single men look around for potential partners, and everybody has a happy day of merrymaking.

Ah, but how diverse we are in our expression of love! You will find more wedding traditions around the world than you can possibly imagine. From reciting love quotes to marrying a tree, the options leave no excuse to be boring!

11- Move – verhuizen

I love Netherlands, but I’m a nomad and tend to move around a lot, even within one country. What are the biggest emotions you typically feel when moving house? The experts say moving is a highly stressful event, but I think that depends on the circumstances. Transitional periods in our lives are physically and mentally demanding, but changing your environment is also an exciting adventure that promises new tomorrows!

12- Be born – geboren

I was not born in 1993, nor was I born in Asia. I was born in the same year as Aishwarya Rai, Akon, and Monica Lewinsky, and on the same continent as Freddy Mercury. When and where were you born? More importantly – can you say it in Dutch?

13- Get a job – een baan vinden

The thought of looking for a job in a new country can be daunting, but English speakers are in great demand in Netherlands – you just have to do some research, make a few friends and get out there! Also, arming yourself with a few Dutch introductions that you can both say and write will give you a confidence boost. For example, can you write your name in Dutch?

14- Die – sterven

Death is a universal experience and the final curtain on all other life events. How important is it, then, to fully live before we die? If all you have is a passport, a bucket list, and a willingness to learn some lingo, you can manifest those dreams!

15- Home – huis

If home is where the heart is, then my home is on a jungle island completely surrounded by the turquoise ocean. Right now, though, home is an isolation room with a view of half a dry palm tree and a tangle of telephone wires.

If you’re traveling to Netherlands for an extended stay, you’ll soon be moving into a new home quite unlike anything you’ve experienced before!

16- Job – baan

What job do you do? Does it allow you much time for travel, or for working on this fascinating language that has (so rightfully) grabbed your attention? Whatever your job, you are no doubt contributing to society in a unique way. If you’re doing what you love, you’re already on the road to your dream. If not, just remember that every single task is one more skill to add to your arsenal. With that attitude, your dream job is coming!

17- Birth – geboorte

Random question: do you know the birth rate of Netherlands?

If you’re lucky enough to be invited to see a friend’s baby just after they are born, you’ll have all my respect and all my envy. There is nothing cuter! Depending on which part of the country you’re in, you may find yourself bearing witness to some pretty unexpected birth customs. Enjoy this privilege!

18- Engaged – verloven

EE Cummings said, “Lovers alone wear sunlight,” and I think that’s most true at the moment she says “yes.” Getting engaged is something young girls dream of with stars in their eyes, and it truly is a magical experience – from the proposal, to wearing an engagement ring, to the big reveal!

In the world of Instagram, there’s no end to the antics as imaginative couples try more and more outrageous ways to share their engagement with the world. I love an airport flashmob, myself, but I’d rather be proposed to on a secluded beach – salt, sand, and all!

Engagement customs around the world vary greatly, and Netherlands is no exception when it comes to interesting traditions. Learning their unique romantic ways will inspire you for when your turn comes.

Speaking of romance, do you know how to say “Happy Valentine’s Day” in Dutch?

19- Marry – trouwen

The one you marry will be the gem on a shore full of pebbles. They will be the one who truly mirrors your affection, shares your visions for the future, and wants all of you – the good, the bad and the inexplicable.

From thinking up a one-of-a-kind wedding, to having children, to growing old together, finding a twin flame to share life with is quite an accomplishment! Speaking of which…

2. Marriage Proposal Lines

Ah, that heart-stopping moment when your true love gets down on one knee to ask for your hand in marriage, breathlessly hoping that you’ll say “Yes!” If you haven’t experienced that – well, it feels pretty darn good, is all I can say! If you’re the one doing the asking, though, you’ve probably had weeks of insomnia agonizing over the perfect time, location and words to use.

How much more care should be taken if your love is from a different culture to yours? Well, by now you know her so well, that most of it should be easy to figure out. As long as you’ve considered her personal commitment to tradition, all you really need is a few words from the heart. Are you brave enough to say them in Dutch?

3. Talking About Age

Part of the wonder of learning a new language is having the ability to strike up simple conversations with strangers. Asking about age in this context feels natural, as your intention is to practice friendly phrases – just be mindful of their point of view!

When I was 22, I loved being asked my age. Nowadays, if someone asks, I say, “Well, I’ve just started my fifth cat life.” Let them ponder that for a while.

In Netherlands, it’s generally not desirable to ask an older woman her age for no good reason, but chatting about age with your peers is perfectly normal. Besides, you have to mention your birthday if you want to be thrown a birthday party!

4. Conclusion

Well, there you have it! With so many great new Dutch phrases to wish people with, can you think of someone who has a big event coming up? If you want to get even more creative, DutchPod101 has much to inspire you with – come and check it out! Here’s just some of what we have on offer at DutchPod101:

• Free Resources: Sharing is caring, and for this reason, we share many free resources with our students. For instance, start learning Dutch with our basic online course by creating a lifetime account – for free! Also get free daily and iTunes lessons, free eBooks, free mobile apps, and free access to our blog and online community. Or how about free Vocabulary Lists? The Dutch dictionary is for exclusive use by our students, also for free. There’s so much to love about DutchPod101…!
• Innovative Learning Tools and Apps: We make it our priority to offer you the best learning tools! These include apps for iPhone, iPad, Android and Mac OSX; eBooks for Kindle, Nook, and iPad; audiobooks; Roku TV and so many more. This means that we took diverse lifestyles into account when we developed our courses, so you can learn anywhere, anytime on a device of your choice. How innovative!
• Live Hosts and One-on-One Learning: Knowledgeable, energetic hosts present recorded video lessons, and are available for live teaching experiences if you upgrade. This means that in the videos, you get to watch them pronounce those tongue-twisters, as if you’re learning live! Add octane to your learning by upgrading to Premium Plus, and learn two times faster. You can have your very own Dutch teacher always with you, ensuring that you learn what you need, when you need to – what a wonderful opportunity to master a new language in record time!
• Start Where You Are: You don’t know a single Dutch word? Not to worry, we’ve absolutely got this. Simply enroll in our Absolute Beginner Pathway and start speaking from Lesson 1! As your learning progresses, you can enroll in other pathways to match your Dutch level, at your own pace, in your own time, in your own place!

Learning a new language can only enrich your life, and could even open doors towards great opportunities! So don’t wonder if you’ll regret enrolling in DutchPod101. It’s the most fun, easy way to learn Dutch.

Did you know that every minute of the day, one billion tons of rain falls on the earth? Hard to believe, considering the climate crisis! Of course, all that rain is not equally shared across the planet.

So, would you mention this fascinating fact to your new Dutch acquaintance? Well, small talk about local weather is actually a great conversation-starter. Everyone cares about the weather and you’re sure to hear a few interesting opinions! Seasons can be quite unpredictable these days and nobody knows the peculiarities of a region better than the locals.

DutchPod101 will equip you with all the weather vocabulary you need to plan your next adventure. The weather can even be an important discussion that influences your adventure plans. After all, you wouldn’t want to get caught on an inflatable boat with a two-horsepower motor in Hurricane Horrendous!

Table of Contents

1. Talking about the weather in Netherlands
2. Words for the first day of spring
3. Do You Know the Essential Summer Vocabulary?
4. Must-Know Autumn vocabulary
5. Winter
6. DutchPod101 can prepare you for any season.

1. Talking about the weather in Netherlands

If you’re like me, your day’s activity plan is likely to begin with a strong local coffee and a chat about what the sky is doing. After all, being prepared could be the difference between an amazing day and a miserable one! Luckily, it’s not difficult to comment on Dutch weather – just start with these simple words and phrases.

1- The rain is falling on the street – De regen valt op de straat.

Watercolor artists, take out your paints! You might not be able to venture out on foot today, but just embrace the rain as part of your Dutch experience. When the rain stops, the air will be clean and colours vibrant.

2- The snow has covered everything – The snow has covered everything.

A fresh blanket of snow is irresistibly beautiful. Pull on your boots and beanie, and leave your tracks in this foreign landscape. Don’t resist the urge to build a snowman – you need this!

3- Fluffy cloud – schapenwolk

When you’re waiting for a warm beach day, fluffy white clouds in a blue sky are a good sign. Don’t forget your sunscreen, as clouds will intensify the UV rays hitting your skin.

4- The water froze on the glass – Het water bevroor op het glas.

Night temperatures can get chilly and might freeze the condensation on your windows. A good way to clear them up is with warm salt water.

5- The heavy rain could cause flash flooding – Deze hevige regen zou een stortvloed kunnen veroorzaken.

If you’re visiting Netherlands in the wet season, it’s important to stay informed when heavy rain sets in, so keep an eye on the weather radar. Avoid river activities and rather spend this time making a home-cooked meal and brushing up on your Dutch weather words.

6- Flood – overstroming

If you do get caught in a flood, your destination should no longer be ‘home’, but the nearest high ground.

7- The typhoon has hit – De tyfoon heeft toegeslagen.

Not all countries experience typhoons, but you need to know when to prepare for one! It will be very scary if you’ve never experienced one before. Your local neighbours are the best people to advise you on where to take shelter, as they’ve been doing it for generations. Be sure to get the low-down at the first sign of rough weather!

8- Check the weather report before going sailing – Check het weerbericht voor je gaat zeilen.

When planning an outdoor activity, especially on a body of water, always be prepared for a change in the weather. Ask your hotel receptionist or neighbour where you can get a reliable daily weather report, and don’t forget your sweater!

9- Today’s weather is sunny with occasional clouds – Het weer van vandaag is zonnig met soms wolken.

Sunny weather is the dream when traveling in Netherlands! Wake up early, pack the hats and sunblock and go and experience the terrain, sights and beautiful spots. You’ll be rewarded with happy vibes all around.

10- A rainy day – een regenachtige dag

Remember when you said you’d save the Dutch podcasts for a rainy day? Now’s that day!

11- Scenic rainbow – schilderachtige regenboog

The best part about the rain is that you can look forward to your first rainbow in Netherlands. There’s magic in that!

12- Flashes of lightning can be beautiful, but are very dangerous – Bliksemschichten kunnen mooi zijn maar zijn erg gevaarlijk.

Lightning is one of the most fascinating weather phenomena you can witness without really being in danger – at least if you’re sensible and stay indoors! Did you know that lightning strikes the earth 40-50 times per second? Fortunately, not all countries experience heavy electric storms!

13- 25 degrees Celsius – vijfentwintig (25) graden Celsius

Asking a local what the outside temperature will be is another useful question for planning your day. It’s easy if you know the Dutch term for ‘degrees Celsius’.

14- Water freezes at thirty-two (32) degrees Fahrenheit – Water bevriest bij tweeëndertig (32) graden Fahrenheit.

Although the Fahrenheit system has been replaced by Celsius in almost all countries, it’s still used in the US and a few other places. Learn this phrase in Dutch in case one of your companions develops a raging fever.

15- Clear sky – helder

Clear skies mean you’ll probably want to get the camera out and capture some nature shots – not to mention the great sunsets you’ll have later on. Twilight can lend an especially magical quality to a landscape on a clear sky day, when the light is not filtered through clouds.

16- Light drizzle – lichte motregen

Days when it’s drizzling are perfect for taking in the cultural offerings of Netherlands. You could go to the mall and watch a Dutch film, visit museums and art galleries, explore indoor markets or even find the nearest climbing wall. Bring an umbrella!

17- Temperature on a thermometer – temperatuur op een thermometer

Because of the coronavirus, many airports are conducting temperature screening on passengers. Don’t worry though – it’s just a precaution. Your temperature might be taken with a no-touch thermometer, which measures infrared energy coming off the body.

18- Humid – vochtig

I love humid days, but then I’m also a water baby and I think the two go
together like summer and rain. Find a pool or a stream to cool off in – preferably in the shade!

19- With low humidity the air feels dry – Bij een lage humiditeit voelt de lucht droog aan.

These are the best days to go walking the hills and vales. Just take at least one Dutch friend with you so you don’t get lost!

20- The wind is really strong – De wind is erg sterk.

A strong wind blows away the air pollution and is very healthy in that respect. Just avoid the mountain trails today, unless you fancy being blown across the continent like a hot air balloon.

21- It’s windy outside – Het is winderig buiten.

Wind! My least favourite weather condition. Of course, if you’re a kitesurfer, a windy day is what you’ve been waiting for!

22- Wet roads can ice over when the temperature falls below freezing – Natte wegen kunnen bevriezen wanneer de temperatuur beneden het vriespunt komt.

The roads will be dangerous in these conditions, so please don’t take chances. The ice will thaw as soon as the sun comes out, so be patient!

23- Today is very muggy – Vandaag is het erg benauwd.

Muggy days make your skin feel sticky and sap your energy. They’re particular to high humidity. Cold shower, anyone? Ice vest? Whatever it takes to feel relief from the humidity!

24- Fog – mist

Not a great time to be driving, especially in unknown territory, but keep your fog lights on and drive slowly.

25- Hurricane – orkaan

Your new Dutch friends will know the signs, so grab some food and candles and prepare for a night of staying warm and chatting about wild weather in Netherlands.

26- Big tornado – grote tornado

If you hear these words, it will probably be obvious already that everyone is preparing for the worst! Definitely do whatever your accommodation hosts tell you to do when a tornado is expected.

27- It’s cloudy today – Het is bewolkt vandaag.

While there won’t be any stargazing tonight, the magnificent clouds over Netherlands will make impressive photographs. Caption them in Dutch to impress your friends back home!

28- Below freezing temperatures – beneden bevriezende temperaturen

When the temperature is below freezing, why not take an Uber and go shopping for some gorgeous Dutch winter gear?

29- Wind chill is how cold it really feels outside – De gevoelstemperatuur geeft aan hoe koud het buiten aanvoelt.

Wind doesn’t change the ambient temperature of the air, it just changes your body temperature, so the air will feel colder to you than it actually is. Not all your Dutch friends will know that, though, so learn this Dutch phrase to sound really smart!

30- Water will freeze when the temperature falls below zero degrees celsius – Water zal bevriezen wanneer de temperatuur daalt tot beneden de nul graden.

If you’re near a lake, frozen water is good news! Forgot your ice skates? Don’t despair – find out where you can hire some. Be cautious, though: the ice needs to be at least four inches thick for safe skating. Personally, I just slide around on frozen lakes in my boots!

31- Waiting to clear up – wachten tot het beter word

Waiting for the weather to clear up so you can go exploring is frustrating, let’s be honest. That’s why you should always travel with two things: a scintillating novel and your Dutch Nook Book.

32- Avoid the extreme heat – vermijd extreme hitte

Is the heat trying to kill you? Unless you’re a hardened heatwave hero, definitely avoid activity, stay hydrated and drink electrolytes. Loose cotton or linen garb is the way to go!

33- Morning frost – ochtendvorst

Frost is water vapour that has turned to ice crystals and it happens when the earth cools so much in the night, that it gets colder than the air above it. Winter is coming!

34- Rain shower – regenbui

Rain showers are typically brief downpours that drench the earth with a good drink of water.

35- In the evening it will become cloudy and cold – In de avond wordt het bewolkt en koud.

When I hear this on the Dutch weather channel, I buy a bottle of wine (red, of course) and wood for the fireplace. A cold and cloudy evening needs its comforts!

36- Severe thunderstorm – hevige onweersbui

Keep an eye on the Dutch weather maps if it looks like a big storm is coming, so you’ll be well-informed.

37- Ice has formed on the window – Er heeft zich op het raam ijs gevormd.

You could try this phrase out on the hotel’s helpful cleaning staff, or fix the problem yourself. Just add a scoop or two of salt to a spray bottle of water – that should work!

38- Large hailstones – grote hagelstenen

As a kid, I found hail crazy exciting. Not so much now – especially if I’m on the road and large hailstones start pummeling my windscreen!

39- Rolling thunder – rollend onweer

The rumble of rolling thunder is that low-volume, ominous background sound that goes on for some time. It’s strangely exciting if you’re safely in your hotel room; it could either suddenly clear up, or escalate to a storm.

40- Sleet – natte sneeuw

Sleet is tiny hard pieces of ice made from a mixture of rain and melted snow that froze. It can be messy, but doesn’t cause major damage the way hail does. Pretty cool to know this word in Dutch!

2. Words for the first day of spring

You know the feeling: your heart skips a beat when you wake up and spring has sprung! Spring will reward you with new blossoms everywhere, birdsong in the air, kittens being born in the neighborhood and lovely views when you hit the trails. Pack a picnic and ask a new Dutch friend to show you the more natural sights. Don’t forget a light sweater and a big smile. This is the perfect time to practice some Dutch spring words!

3. Do You Know the Essential Summer Vocabulary?

Summer! Who doesn’t love that word? It conjures up images of blue skies, tan skin, vacations at the beach and cruising down the coast in an Alfa Romeo, sunglasses on and the breeze in your hair. Of course, in Netherlands there are many ways to enjoy the summer – it all depends on what you love to do. One thing’s for sure: you will have opportunities to make friends, go on picnics, sample delicious local ice-cream and maybe even learn to sing some Dutch songs. It’s up to you! Sail into Dutch summer with this summer vocab list, and you’ll blend in with ease.

4. Must-Know Autumn vocabulary

Victoria Ericksen said, “If a year was tucked inside of a clock, then autumn would be the magic hour,” and I agree. Who can resist the beauty of fall foliage coloring the Dutch landscape? Birds prepare to migrate; travelers prepare to arrive for the best weather in Netherlands.

The autumnal equinox marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator, making day and night almost equal in length. The cool thing about this event is that the moon gets really bright – the ‘harvest moon’, as it’s traditionally known.

So, as much as the change of season brings more windy and rainy days, it also brings celebration. Whether you honor Thanksgiving, Halloween or the Moon Festival, take some time to color your vocabulary with these Dutch autumn words.

5. Winter

Winter is the time the natural world slows down to rest and regroup. I’m a summer girl, but there are fabulous things about winter that I really look forward to. For one, it’s the only season I get to accessorize with my gorgeous winter gloves and snug down coat!

Then, of course, there’s ice skating, holiday decorations and bonfires. As John Steinbeck said, “What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?” Get ready for the cold season with our list of essential Winter words!

6. DutchPod101 can prepare you for any season.

Now that you know how to inquire and comment on the weather in Netherlands, you
can confidently plan your weather-ready travel itinerary. How about this for an idea: the next
time you’re sitting in a Dutch street café, try asking someone local this question:

“Do you think the weather will stay like this for a few days?” If you loved learning these cool Dutch weather phrases with us, why not take it a step further and add to your repertoire? DutchPod101 is here to help!

Did you know there are many different types of calendars?

As you probably know – a calendar is a system of organizing days in weeks and months for specific purposes, according to Wikipedia.

Worldwide, most countries use the Gregorian calendar. Some just work on the same framework, meaning that time is divided into units based on the earth’s movement around the sun – the “solar calendar”. Other calendars keep time by observing the moon’s movements, a combination of the moon and the sun’s movements, and seasons.

Through DutchPod101, you can learn all about this and so much more! Our themed, culturally relevant lessons are skillfully designed so you can do your planning perfectly for a holiday or a date.

Having a good plan for a visit or a trip is like studying well for an exam. You’re just so much better prepared! For that, you could well need specific phrases to plan around appointments and such, especially on business trips. Make sure to use the charts we provide here with the days of the week in Dutch, as well as the months in Dutch to navigate your way as you plan. Great resources!

Also – always remember to have fun!

Table of Contents

1. Why Will It Help To Know How To Talk About Dates in Dutch?
2. Talking About your Plans
3. Can DutchPod101 Help You In Other Ways Too?

1. Why Will It Help To Know How To Talk About Dates in Dutch?

Well, that’s not a difficult question to answer. No matter why you’re travelling, it would be best to at least know the names of days and months in Dutch. You don’t want to miss your flight or an appointment because you confused “vrijdag” (Friday) with “zaterdag” (Saturday)! Or maybe you planned a holiday for “juli” (July), but you booked a flight for “juni” (June) by accident!

Avoid this confusion by learning the Dutch calendar before you leave.

Now, as promised, the 15 phrases to help you make and discuss plans.

2. Talking About your Plans

Perhaps you’re working in Netherlands, or maybe you’re enjoying a prolonged holiday. Fabulous! Memorize these phrases so you can be sure to successfully negotiate meetings, appointments, dates, events, the list goes on!

1. Wat ga je dit weekend doen?

“What are you doing this weekend?”

This question is usually a preamble to inviting someone somewhere. Given that it’s over the weekend, it probably means a casual get-together or another social event. (But not necessarily! A manager or boss could also ask this for entirely different reasons.)

It’s a handy phrase to know when you’ve made Dutch or expat friends in the country. Or, be the one doing the inviting. Then train your ear to learn the following phrases so you can understand the response.

2. Ik ga dit weekend reis.

“I am traveling this weekend.”

This could be a reply if you’re not available because you’re doing other fun stuff.

No matter why you are visiting Netherlands, do take the time to explore the country! It’s beautiful and it has so many wonderful, interesting spots ready to be visited.

3. Ik ben van plan om thuis te blijven.

“I am planning to stay at home.”

Maybe you feel unwell, but don’t want to give too much information? Or maybe you have work to do? Perhaps you just need some quiet gardening time…it doesn’t matter. This response is polite and honest without oversharing.

It could also be a slightly open-ended response, depending on how you deliver it. Because hey, being home could still mean your plans are flexible, right?

That said – depending on your relationship with the inviter, nuances like these will probably not be so apparent in a foreign culture. So, best to use this excuse for declining an invitation only if you are truly set on staying in.

4. Dit weekend heb ik het druk.

“This week I am busy.”

Another polite phrase that gives a reason for declining an invitation but without oversharing details.

Don’t decline too many invitations, though! You don’t want people to think that you’re too busy to hang out with them. They will stop inviting you out, and you know how the saying goes – all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy…! Being social is good for the soul.

5. Ik ben morgen vrij.

“I am free tomorrow.”

Yay! Perhaps you were approached by that person and they asked about your availability for a date. This would be a fine reply. Not too eager, but still indicating that you’re interested.

Or maybe you’re just replying to a colleague or manager’s request for a meeting. Polite, honest and clear.

Alternatively, you’re just busy right now, and plans are not going the way they were…well, planned. Compromise is a lovely thing! And this phrase sounds just like that.

Use it to indicate that you want to accommodate an invitation or the inviter’s plans, despite your current unavailability. Only if you are really free, of course.

6. Kunnen we dit opnieuw plannen?

“Can we reschedule this?”

So, life happened and you are unable to meet obligations or attend a planned meeting. This is a suitable question to ask if you wish to indicate your willingness to still engage with whatever is on the table.

Obviously you should (ideally) not ask to reschedule a party or big meeting! (Unless you’re the boss or it’s your own party, of course.) But if there’s reasonable wiggle room regarding arrangements, then this one’s your question.

7. Aan het eind van de maand heb ik genoeg tijd.

“I will have enough time at the end of the month.”

A go-to phrase when events or activities are likely to take up a lot of your time, such as going away for a weekend, spending the day at a local market, or writing your manager’s quarterly report (with 20 flow-charts in Powerpoint) – anything that won’t only take an hour or two.

8. Welke tijd komt het beste bij je uit?

“When is the best time that suits you?”

Remember phrase #5? That was a possible reply to this question. Asked by your crush, very possibly! Or, it could be asked by any other person for any other reason, doesn’t matter.

If this is addressed to you, it usually means that the person respects your time and schedule, which is a good thing. It probably also means that their own schedule is flexible, another good thing.

This is also a polite question to ask when a manager or senior colleague wants to meet with you. Let them decide on the time, and be as accommodating as possible. This attitude shows respect for seniority – good for career building. (Within reason, of course. You don’t need to postpone your wedding or your paid-up holiday to Australia because your manager wants to see you.)

9. Is dit een goede datum voor je?

“Is this date OK with you?”

But – if the other party insists that you choose a time for a meeting, appointment, or date etc., then do so! Respond with this nice, somewhat casual question that leaves space for negotiation, but only needs a simple reply.

Suitable for friends, and casual acquaintances and colleagues.

10. Ben je op die dag beschikbaar?

“Are you available on that day?”

This is the a-bit-more-formal version of the previous question. Again, it has room for negotiation, but only needs a simple response – nice and neat!

Maybe this is the go-to question when you’re addressing your seniors at work, or a person much older than you.

11. Kunnen we het zo snel mogelijk doen?

“Can we do it as soon as possible?”

This question has an urgency to it that should preferably be responded to with the same. A simple reply will be good – yes or no. Less negotiable, this is still polite because it’s a question that gives you a choice.

But stand ready with one of the phrases in this article to help tie down a time and date!

12. Ik ben elke avond beschikbaar.

“I’m available every evening”

If you’re going to reply with this phrase, context is everything.

– If it’s your manager asking you to put in a bit of overtime, and you are available to – great reply! When deadlines are tight and everybody is stressing, your willingness to go the extra mile can only improve your relationship with your boss.

(Still, no need to be a doormat! If you get asked to work overtime too often, or if everyone else is goofing around while you have to graft, then re-evaluate the situation. And if you feel you’re being exploited a bit, don’t stress! Equip yourself with the diplomatic, yet assertive responses right in this article.)

– If it’s an old friend or longtime significant other asking to hang out – good reply. You know one another and appearances don’t matter any longer.

– If it’s a new crush who just asked when you’d be available for a date – stop. Not such a great reply. Tone down a bit! “Interested but not overly eager” is what you’re going for here.

Refer back to response #5, or use a counter-question, such as #1. Whatever suits you.

But if they – or anyone else – invite you to scale the Himalayas with them, then the next phrase will probably be the only sane response!

13. Ik moet dit ruim van tevoren plannen.

“I need to plan this well in advance.”

So, as said under #9, perhaps you’re invited to join someone conquer the Himalayas.

Or your company manager wants you to plan the Party that Tops All Year-End Parties Forever.

Simply – if you get asked to do something that you know will need a lot of thorough planning, this is a good phrase to respond with.

It’s an assertive phrase that demonstrates two things regarding your attitude:

a) That you know your own abilities, and respect your own schedule.
b) That your respect other people’s time and schedule too.

Then just be sure to actually do that planning well in advance!

14. We moeten een andere datum vinden

“We need to find another date.”

So, you’re in negotiations regarding a date.

This is an assertive statement that should probably not be used with a “My way or the highway” attitude.

That stuff only works in the movies – think sharp-tongued Samuel L. Jackson. Or fierce Kristen Stewart. Yea, they can be scary, so tone down that tone.

Also, be mindful that fickle people who change plans all the time don’t keep friends! Taking others’ needs into consideration, while simultaneously having your way is a delicate art that takes proper cultivation. Use this phrase sparingly – we have better ones here to negotiate with.

Of course, if your planned trip to the dentist falls on the same day as the only Billie Eilish concert close by…well, priorities are priorities. Feel free to call the dentist with this phrase. Or even better, use the next one.

15. Op die dag kan ik niet.

“I cannot do it on that day.”

This is the low-key-but-still-firm cousin of the previous phrase. You’re stating a personal fact, and depending on your tone, this can be as non-negotiable as you prefer.

Again, only use this when you really mean it, if you’re visiting Netherlands or any other foreign country.

So, that’s it, folks! Which phrase did you find the most helpful? Let us know in the comments!

3. Can DutchPod101 Help You In Other Ways Too?

Well yes, of course!

We think you will find these phrases easy to use when talking about dates and months in Dutch. But knowing how to employ them properly could help you avoid sticky situations!

DutchPod101 is uniquely geared to help you with this and so much more.

This InnovativeLanguage.com initiative is one of many online language-learning courses. With us, you’ll find it easy and fun to learn a new language, and here are a few reasons why:

• Immediately upon enrollment, you’ll receive hundreds of well-designed lessons to get you going.
• Watch superb recordings of native Dutch speakers in cool slide-shows – the easy way to practice till you sound just like a native speaker yourself!
• Also immediately upon enrollment, you’ll get access to a huge library of free resources! These include extensive, theme-based Vocabulary Lists and a Word of the Day List (For free, hot bargains!) These alone are sure to give your vocab-learning boxing gloves.
• You’ll also immediately be able to use an excellent and free Dutch online dictionary. Necessary for quick, handy translations, no matter where you find yourself.
• For the serious learner, there are numerous enrollment upgrades available, one of which offers you a personal, online Dutch host. Allow us to hold your hand and support you in your learning!

If you’re serious about mastering Dutch easily yet correctly, DutchPod101 is definitely one of, if not the best, online language learning platforms available. Talking about your plans or dates in Dutch need not ever spoil your stay.

So, hurry up—enroll today!

Did you know that only some reptiles and birds don’t parent their offspring? Except for crocodiles, all reptiles (and one family of bird species called megapodes) hatch from eggs and grow up alone, without any family.

The rest of us need family if we are to survive and thrive – humans and animals alike!

At DutchPod101, we know how important family is. Therefore, we take care to teach you all the important vocabulary and phrases pertaining to family.

Table of Contents

1. Why Is It Important to Know Dutch Vocabulary about Family?
2. Learn a New Culture? Learn its Family Vocab first
3. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn Dutch Family Terms

1. Why Is It Important to Know Dutch Vocabulary about Family?

Well, if you’re serious about studying any new language, then learning about the most important social unit in Dutch culture would be a crucial part of your education.

What is family, though? Strictly speaking, it’s a group of people who live together and are supposed to take care of one another. Some of them are genetically linked.

Family isn’t just about who we’re related to by blood, of course. It’s also one of the main influences in shaping every child’s life.

Family is Important for Children’s Healthy Development

Family is the single most important influence in a child’s life. Children depend on parents and family to protect them and provide for their needs from the day they were born.

Primary caregivers, which usually comprise parents and family, form a child’s first relationships. They are a child’s first teachers and are role models that show kids how to act and experience the world around them.

By nurturing and teaching children during their early years, families play an important role in making sure children are ready to learn when they enter school.

Families Can Take All Shapes and Sizes

However, the way families are put together is by no means standard.

Single-parent and same-gender households have become a new norm the past few decades, and there’s no shame in this. When there is love, connection and proper care, a child can thrive anywhere.

Everyone also knows that sometimes friends can become like family and remain with us for life, because it’s all about human connection.

After all, we share many commonalities simply because we’re human, and we are programmed to connect with one another and belong to a group. This is very important for our well-being and survival.

It’s All About Feeling Connected

As John Northman, a psychologist from Buffalo, NY, told WebMD – feeling connected to others contributes to mental as well as physical health.

He pointed out that when people feel connected, they feel better physically, and they’re also less likely to feel depressed.

Or, if they do feel depressed, they’d be in a better position to get out of it when they feel they are connecting with others. This is because they would be psychologically supported too, Northman said.

There has even been some links drawn between addiction and feeling disconnected from others. According to an article in Psychology Today, research indicates that addiction is not solely a substance disorder, but also affected by people feeling insecurely attached to others.

It showed that securely attached individuals tend to feel comfortable in and enjoy life, while insecurely attached people typically struggle to fit in and connect.

2. Learn a New Culture? Learn its Family Vocab first

So, it’s clear that for most of us, family is our entry point into connection and belonging. This is true of every culture, so in every country, family takes prominence.

For this reason, DutchPod101 offers culturally-relevant lessons that will equip you well to understand families in Netherlands.

Here are some of the most important Dutch vocabulary and quotes about family and parenting!

A) Dutch Family Vocabulary

Let’s start with the basic vocabulary. Without this collection of words, you’ll have a hard time describing any member of your family at all.

Family Terms
Family familie	Great grandfather overgrootvader
Mother moeder	Grandmother grootmoeder
Father vader	Grandfather grootvader
Wife vrouw	Grandchild kleinkind
Husband echtgenoot	Granddaughter kleindochter
Parent ouder	Grandson kleinzoon
Child kind	Aunt tante
Daughter dochter	Uncle oom
Sister zus	Niece nicht
Brother broer	Nephew neef
Younger sister jongere zus	Younger brother jongere broer
Older brother oudere broer	Great grandmother overgrootmoeder
Cousin nicht	Mother-in-law schoonmoeder
Father-in-law schoonvader	Sister-in-law schoonzuster
Brother-in-law zwager	Partner partner

B) Quotes About Family

One of the ways to improve your Dutch language skills is by memorizing quotes from books, or poems.

Either source some from Dutch literature, or make use of ours!

Je kiest je gezin niet zelf. Ze zijn Gods geschenk aan jou, als wat jij voor hen bent.

“You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” – Desmond Tutu

Familie is niet een belangrijk ding. Het is alles.

“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.” – Michael J. Fox

Familie betekent dat niemand wordt achtergelaten of vergeten.

“Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.” – David Ogden Stiers

Mijn familie is mijn kracht en mijn zwakte.

“My family is my strength and my weakness.” – Aishwarya Rai

Het gezin is een van de meesterwerken van de natuur.

“The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.” – George Santayana

Wanneer er problemen komen , is het je familie die je steunt.

“When trouble comes, it’s your family that supports you.” – Guy Lafleur

Het gezin is de eerste essentiële bouwsteen van de menselijke samenleving.

“The family is the first essential cell of human society.” – Pope John XXIII

Er bestaat niet zoiets als plezier voor het hele gezin.

“There is no such thing as fun for the whole family.” – Jerry Seinfeld

Je moet je eer verdedigen. En je familie.

“You have to defend your honor. And your family.” – Suzanne Vega

Alle gelukkige gezinnen lijken op elkaar; elk ongelukkig gezin is ongelukkig op zijn eigen manier.

“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” – Leo Tolstoy

C) Test Your Knowledge!

Do you feel you have learned a lot in this blog? Let’s quickly test that!

In the table below, match the Dutch vocabulary on the left with the definition of the relative in the right column.

MY RELATIVES
Relative Name	Definition
1. familie	a. My male child
2. moeder	b. My older male sibling
3. vader	c. My female sibling
4. vrouw	d. My child’s child
5. echtgenoot	e. My child’s female child
6. ouder	f. My female parent
7. kind	g. My grandparent’s mother
8. dochter	h. Mother to one of my parents
9. zoon	i. Relatives
10. zus	j. My female child
11. broer	k. My younger male sibling
12. jongere zus	l. Male spouse
13. jongere broer	m. The father of one of my parents
14. oudere broer	n. My child’s male child
15. overgrootmoeder	o. My children’s father or mother
16. overgrootvader	p. The sister of one of my parents
17. grootmoeder	q. The brother of one of my parents
18. grootvader	r. My male parent
19. kleinkind	s. My sibling’s female child
20. kleindochter	t. My sibling’s male child
21. kleinzoon	u. My male sibling
22. tante	v. My parents’ sibling’s child
23. oom	w. Female spouse
24. nicht	x. The grandfather of one of my parents
25. neef	y. The person I am a parent to
26. nicht	z. My younger female sibling

How did it go? Don’t worry if you had trouble with it – you’ll get there! With a bit of practice, and our help at DutchPod101, you’ll soon have these family terms under the belt.

3. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn Dutch Family Terms

We hope that we helped you expand your family in Dutch vocabulary!

DutchPod101, with its innovative online learning system, stands out among online learning platforms to help you master Dutch easily.

Our lessons are tailored not only to increase your language skills, but to also inform you of Dutch culture, including the Dutch family structure.

When you sign up, you will get instant access to tools like:

1 – An extensive vocabulary list, regularly updated
2 – A new Dutch word to learn every day
3 – Quick access to the Dutch Key Phrase List
4 – A free Dutch online dictionary
5 – The excellent 100 Core Dutch Word List
6 – An almost limitless Lesson Library for learners of all levels

Further speed up your learning with the help of a personal tutor, who will first assess your current Dutch language abilities to personalize your training and tailor it to your needs.

Hard work always pays off, and to help you in this, DutchPod101 will be there every step of the way toward your Dutch mastery!

Answers: 1.i. 2.f. 3.r. 4.w. 5.l. 6.o. 7.y. 8.j. 9.a. 10.c. 11.u. 12.z. 13.k. 14.b. 15.g 16.x. 17.h. 18.m. 19.d. 20.e. 21.n. 22.p. 23.q. 24.s. 25.t. 26.v.

Traveling to foreign countries is nearly always an exciting, enriching, and beneficial experience. Yet, some things can be real downers, such as boredom on a lengthy flight to Netherlands. Really, binge-watching onboard movies can only be interesting for so long! And jet lag – another huge downer. Did you know that jet lag is more severe when you travel from the West to the East?

Well, we won’t know how to beat that, but there are fortunately plenty of remedies around to investigate.

To beat flight boredom, though, we may have the answer for you at DutchPod101! Why don’t you take the time to study Dutch travel phrases? We make this super easy and fun, with great downloadables, like our PDF Cheat Sheets. Quickly memorize these, and impress your Dutch friends or travel guide with your flawless Dutch!

Table of Contents

1. Importance Of Learning Travel Phrases
2. 13 Must-Have Travel Phrases and Words
3. Good-To-Have Travel Phrases
4. Ways To Improve Communication in a Foreign Country
5. DutchPod101 Can Help You Master Travel Phrases Easily and Effortlessly!

1. Importance Of Learning Travel Phrases

Impressing Dutch people or your travel partners will be the least of the benefits you reap from learning these helpful phrases. These are greater ones:

1) Eliminate Travel Frustration: First of all, you’ll be able to cut out a good chunk of travel frustration and inconvenience due to language barriers.

Know how to pronounce and use at least the basic Dutch phrases, and then just look foreign. This should go a long way to help you get by and win you friends, because locals would be more inclined to help someone who took the trouble to learn a smidgen of their language.

2) Emergency Readiness: In case of an emergency, you will be able to get help a lot quicker if you know how to ask for what in Dutch. Imagine miming to a doctor or nurse that you have a sore ear but that you’re allergic to penicillin. Not so easy, right?

Rather, you should know basic emergency travel phrases, especially if you suffer from a serious condition. Also, information about life-threatening allergies you have should always be on your person in the language of the country you’re visiting.

3) Sight-Seeing Readiness: Hopefully, you also travel to learn more about a country’s culture. Visiting the main tourist sites in Netherlands will be more interesting if you know how to ask pertinent questions in Dutch.

In this blog, we’ll also be giving you important travel phrases to consider – from the 13 essential must-have phrases to ones that are just generally useful and good to know.

Let’s get cracking!

2. 13 Must-Have Travel Phrases and Words

Seasoned explorers of multiple countries will tell you that certain words and phrases are absolute must-knows in anyone’s travel vocabulary. Learning from them, we collated some of the most essential ones here for you.

If you know these travel phrases and words by heart in Dutch, you will be much better equipped for your visit than most of your movie-binging travel mates.

1) Dank je wel (Thank you)

As a tourist, you will be relying on the kindness of strangers to get by. Repay them with a small acknowledgment of their friendly generosity – know how to say “thank you” in Dutch.

2) Spreekt u Engels? (Do you speak English?)

While it may be a bit of a cop-out, sometimes you just can’t figure out how to communicate. Maybe you’re blanking on one specific word you need, maybe they’re speaking with a heavy accent, or maybe it’s just really late and you really want to get to the hotel. In that case, try asking if they speak English, and hopefully you can make things a little bit simpler for yourself.

Don’t abuse this phrase, though! If you just try to get by without learning any of the local language, not only will you not learn anything – you’ll be out of luck if they can’t speak English!

3) Gaat er een bus vanaf het vliegveld naar de stad? (Is there a bus from the airport to the city?)

Public transit is usually cheaper, if slower, than taking a taxi or rideshare. Use this phrase to see if you can get where you’re going when you’re strapped for cash, or just when you’d like to take the scenic route into town!

4) Is dit de juiste bus naar de luchthaven? (Is this the right bus for the airport?)

Likewise, if you’re the kind of person who can get themselves moving early (or maybe you just have a late flight), maybe you want to take the bus to the airport rather than taking a cab. If that’s the case, you’ll want to be sure you’re actually heading the right way! You wouldn’t want to end up at a lookout point half an hour away, watching your flight take off in the distance, would you?

5) Pardon, hoeveel is de ritprijs? (Excuse me, what’s the fare?)

If you are paying for a cab, you’ll want to know how much. Most legal taxis will have meters, but when dealing with a currency you’re not familiar with, it can be worth asking just to double check that you’re paying the right amount – especially if the currency has cents.

6) Ik heb gereserveerd (I have a reservation)

This one you can expect to use at least a few times throughout your trip, unless you’re the kind of person who travels by the seat of their pants and just goes to whatever hotel, motel, or hostel has rooms available.

7) Heeft u voor vanavond nog iets vrij? (Do you have any vacancies tonight?)

If that’s the case, you’ll definitely be using this phrase instead. Quite possibly a lot, depending on how lucky you are!

8 ) Waar is het treinstation? (Where is the train station?)

If you’re in a country with an expansive commuter rail system (or maybe just a fan of other types of locomotives), you may want to know where the closest station is. Just don’t go looking for pennies on the rails!

9) Ik ben allergisch voor pinda’s (I am allergic to peanuts)

Replace “peanuts” with whatever the word for your allergen may be. If your allergy is serious, you probably already know the importance of stating this very clearly in Dutch.

If the condition is life-threatening, be sure to have a letter or prescription from a medical professional in Dutch on your person at all times. Consider getting a medical alert bracelet specially made in Dutch if your stay will be longer than a month or so.

10) Heeft u ook vegetarische gerechten? (Do you have any vegetarian dishes?)

If you dislike eating certain things, or you have certain dietary restrictions, it would be best if you knew how to convey this clearly in Dutch.

Remember, though, that saying “I’m vegan” or “I’m diabetic” may not be enough to get you what you want. The rules for veganism and vegetarianism are not standard everywhere in the world. Also, your patron might not understand what “diabetic” means. If you have a medical condition, it would be best to research some in-depth vocabulary beforehand.

11) Kan ik een plattegrond krijgen? (Could I get a map?)

Planning on exploring your destination? Hopelessly lost? Maybe just an amateur cartographer? No matter the reason, this phrase is sure to come in handy. That said, you’re more likely to get use out of it at some sort of tourist or travel center than you are asking a random passerby on the street.

12) Hoeveel kost dit? (How much is this?)

Even if you’re not a big shopper, you’re probably going to need this phrase at some point. Knowing how to count in Dutch will, of course, help a lot with purchases too.

13) Accepteert u ook creditcards? (Do you take credit card?)

This is another travel phrase that will smooth your monetary transactions considerably.

3. Good-To-Have Travel Phrases

Unlike the previous phrases, these are not really essential so much as they are useful. Yet, knowing these will still smooth over some bumps on your journey, more than just knowing the crucial phrases would.

1) Is de Wi-Fi gratis? (Is the Wi-Fi free?)

If you’re abroad, your normal cellular plans probably won’t have any service, and you’ll be totally reliant on publically available Wi-Fi while you’re out and about. Just ask a server, clerk, or attendant, and they’ll be happy to let you know. Just make sure you’re paying attention when they tell you the password!

2) Mogen wij misschien de menukaart? (Could you take a picture of me please?)

What would a trip be with no photos to commemorate the event? Just be sure to ask this of someone who actually looks like they’d be willing to, unless you’re willing to risk being given the cold shoulder or worse. If you’re at a tourist attraction, you’ll find that most people are more than happy to take one for you, so long as you take one of them as well!

3) Wat raadt u mij aan? (Do you have any recommendations?)

Eating alone in a restaurant? Or going out with new Dutch friends or business colleagues? Let them help you decide what to have.

4) Ik wil graag een rookvrije plaats hebben, alstublieft (I’d like to have a non-smoking seat, please)

Though smoking has gone out of fashion in some places, it’s still popular in others. In the event you’re at a restaurant where smoking is allowed on premises, you can always ask this question to the staff and be seated elsewhere.

5) Water alstublieft (Water, please)

If you’ve emptied your glass, or are cutting yourself off after a few drinks, you can always ask for some water. It can be especially useful if the restaurant is busy to the point you need to call out to someone to get service.

6) Mag ik de rekening? (Could I have the check?)

To finish off the restaurant related phrases, if you’re eating with friends or really want to impress your colleagues, taking the bill can be a nice treat for them. Of course, this phrase could come in handy as well if you’re eating alone and you’re just impatient to leave.

7) Wat raadt u voor een souvenir aan? (What do you recommend for a souvenir?)

Now that your trip is over, what better way to cap it all off than a memento, or maybe a gift for friends and family at home? It’ll be nicer to have something recommended by the locals than a cheap bauble from the airport store, so go ahead and ask someone you’ve met what they think.

4. Ways To Improve Communication in a Foreign Country

When traveling, it’s possible to keep communication smooth when you don’t share a language.

Do so by keeping these five tips in mind. They are aimed to help you communicate with those who cannot speak English very well, and also to keep your traveling experience pleasant!

1. Keep your English simple and easy to understand.
If the person you are talking to speaks very little English, use basic verbs, adjectives, and nouns, and keep sentences short.

However, don’t patronize them by talking in pidgin or like you would address a child. Keep your speech simple but natural, and use the correct grammar.

For instance, don’t say: “You come when?”. If you say: “When will you come?”, you will very likely be understood, and may even help someone who wants to improve their English.

2. Ask someone to write information down.
Apply Rule 1 first at your hotel, where the staff is very likely to be able to speak some English. Get them to write down, in their native language, things like: “I would like to go to the airport, please,” “Please take me to the beach,” or “Where is the closest bathroom?”

These written questions are something you can then give to taxi drivers or any other people who are willing and able to help you. This simple step could make your life a lot easier when you travel to a foreign country!

3. Avoid asking leading questions!
If you want the correct information from a non-native English speaker, that is.

When you need directions, for instance, don’t ask: “To get to the bus stop, do I need to turn left here?” If the person didn’t really understand you, you will probably just get a smile and a “Yes,” which could possibly make you miss your bus.

Rather, you should ask: “Where is the bus stop?” If they understand you, you will get the correct directions.

4. Pick the right person to ask for help.
Time to look at people and think a bit about their appearance! A younger person who looks like they might be a student is more likely to have English skills than the friendly but ancient lady smiling at you from a fruit stall.

If you don’t see anyone like that, head into town to the nearest bank, hospital, pharmacy, or hotel. The staff at those places usually speak a bit of English.

5. Know when to quit.
If you stuck to the above rules, but the person you are talking to only stares at you blankly, say thank you and leave. Hanging around hoping someone will suddenly understand and respond is just wasting your time, and may irritate them as well. Go find someone else.

5. DutchPod101 Can Help You Master Travel Phrases Easily and Effortlessly!

So, reader, have you found this article helpful?

Do you feel comfortable enough to use some essential travel phrases in Dutch? We’d also love to hear if you think we left out important travel phrases. Leave your suggestions and opinions in the comments!

DutchPod101 takes the lead with many free learning tools to help you master Dutch reading and speaking easily, and in fun ways.

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– An extensive vocabulary list, regularly updated
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– The excellent 100 Core Dutch Word List
– An almost limitless Lesson Library for learners of all levels

You will also have access to topic-specific recordings like our Before You Travel: Survival Phrases lesson.

Learn even more efficiently with the help of a personal tutor, after taking an assessment test to personalize and tailor your training.

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You’re learning to speak Dutch, and it’s going well. Your confidence is growing! So much so that you feel ready to share your experiences on social media—in Dutch.

At Learn Dutch, we make this easy for you to get it right the first time. Post like a boss with these phrases and guidelines, and get to practice your Dutch in the process.

1. Talking about Your Restaurant Visit in Dutch

Eating out is fun, and often an experience you’d like to share. Take a pic, and start a conversation on social media in Dutch. Your friend will be amazed by your language skills…and perhaps your taste in restaurants!

Jan eats at a restaurant with his friends, posts an image of the group, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Jan’s post.

Uit eten met de mannen!
“Out for dinner with the guys!”

1- uit eten

First is an expression meaning “dining out.”
Thursdays and Fridays are especially popular to go out for dinner in the Netherlands. A word often related to food is “lekker,” which can be translated as “tasty” or “delicious.” In Dutch the verb “to eat” and the noun “food” are the same word: “eten”. It depends on the context and the sentence whether it is a verb or a noun.

2- met de mannen

Then comes the phrase – “with the guys.”
Note that this is only applicable to a group of guys. If you have a group of girls you would say “met de meiden,” which means “with the girls”. If the group is mixed you could say “met zijn allen,” which means “with all of us.”

COMMENTS

In response, Jan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Gezellig! Veel plezier!

His neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Fun! Enjoy yourselves!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling warmhearted towards the poster and wish him well.

2- Niet te veel eten.

His girlfriend’s nephew, Bob, uses an expression meaning – “Don’t eat too much.”
Use this expression to admonish the poster to not overeat. Could be meant in a joking, teasing way, or it could be meant seriously. However, unless you know the poster well and has a very comfortable relationship, it’s seldom a good idea to instruct people on social media like they’re your children or inferiors!

3- Dat wordt genieten!

His high school friend, Chantal, uses an expression meaning – “It will be delicious!”
Use this expression if you want to comment on what the food looks like to you.

4- Eet smakelijk!

His girlfriend, Sanne, uses an expression meaning – “Bon appetit!”
This is a French loan-expression that roughly means: “Eat well!”

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

mannen: “men”

gezellig: “fun (in social event)”

eten: “to eat”

genieten: “to enjoy”

smakelijk: “tasty”

plezier: “pleasure”

So, let’s practice a bit. If a friend posted something about having dinner with friends, which phrase would you use?

Now go visit a Dutch restaurant, and wow the staff with your language skills!

2. Post about Your Mall Visit in Dutch

Another super topic for social media is shopping—everybody does it, most everybody loves it, and your friends on social media are probably curious about your shopping sprees! Share these Dutch phrases in posts when you visit a mall.

Sanne shop with her sister at the mall, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Sanne’s post.

Wij zijn even winkelen.
“We’re out (for) shopping.”

1- wij zijn

First is an expression meaning “we are.”
Dutch people like shopping. This is done alone, with family or with friends. In the big cities, there are various shopping centers to go to. The local markets are also very popular, and you can find anything you want here: clothes, fish stands, groceries, sweets, etc. Dutch people also like to make a quick trip to Belgium or Germany for some shopping.

2- winkelen

Then comes the phrase – “go shopping.”
In most of the bigger cities, you will find that shops are open during the week, including Sundays. In the smaller cities, shops are open only one Sunday per month. Most shops are open from 9am to 5pm or 6pm, and they are also open at least one evening per week. Of course, supermarkets are open longer.

COMMENTS

In response, Sanne’s friends leave some comments.

1- Geld moet rollen!

Her high school friend, Stephanie, uses an expression meaning – “Money must flow!”
Use this expression to make a joking comment on the poster’s apparent riches.

2- Laat zien wat je hebt gekocht!

Her neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Show us what you bought!”
Use this expression to show you curious about the poster’s purchases. A good conversation starter.

3- Ik ben blij dat ik niet mee hoef.

Her boyfriend, Jan, uses an expression meaning – “I’m glad I didn’t have to join”
Use this expression when you’re not fond of shopping. Usually said in a joking, teasing manner.

4- Wat leuk! Veel plezier, dames!

Her boyfriend’s high school friend, Chantal, uses an expression meaning – “How nice! Have fun, ladies!”
Use this expression to wish someone a good time shopping.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

winkelen: “to shop”

geld: “money”

zien: “to see”

blij: “happy”

leuk: “nice”

veel: “many”

dames: “ladies”

So, if a friend posted something about going shopping, which phrase would you use?

3. Talking about a Sport Day in Dutch

Sports events, whether you’re the spectator or the sports person, offer fantastic opportunity for great social media posts. Learn some handy phrases and vocabulary to start a sport-on-the-beach conversation in Dutch.

Jan plays with his friends at the beach, posts an image of the team on the beach, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Jan’s post.

Wie gaat er mee volleyballen op het strand?
“Who wants to go play volleyball on the beach?”

1- wie gaat er mee volleyballen

First is an expression meaning “who wants to go play volleyball.”
Volleyball is a popular sport in the Netherlands. Everyone likes to play volleyball from time to time, both indoor and outdoor. Beach volleyball is played in the summertime on various beaches, and you can even join small tournaments with your friends.

2- op het strand

Then comes the phrase – “on the beach.”
The Netherlands has lovely sandy beaches all along the west coast. They are far from tropical (no clear blue water), but the sand is nice. During the year there are a lot of surfers, and during the summer there are a lot of beach clubs along the water. Throughout the year it is nice to have a stroll down the beach, and in the summer, when the weather is nice, you can go swimming. Also, every night you can enjoy a beautiful sunset.

COMMENTS

In response, Jan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Ik heb al genoeg gesport vandaag.

His supervisor, Nico, uses an expression meaning – “I already worked out enough for today.”
Use this expression to explain that you’ve done a lot of exercise already, which is why you cannot join the game.

2- Volgende keer ben ik er weer bij.

His college friend, Erik, uses an expression meaning – “I’ll be there again next time.”
Use this expression to state you intention to join in the teamsport next time.

3- Ik wil mee!

His high school friend, Chantal, uses an expression meaning – “I want to join!”
Use this expression if you’re feeling eager to join the team.

4- Het weer is geweldig!

His neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “The weather is amazing!”
Use this expression just to make conversation by adding a positive comment about the weather.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

strand: “beach”

genoeg: “enough”

volgende: “next”

keer: “time”

weer: “weather”

geweldig: “amazing”

Which phrase would you use if a friend posted something about sports?

But sport is not the only thing you can play! Play some music, and share it on social media.

4. Share a Song on Social Media in Dutch

Music is the language of the soul, they say. So, don’t hold back—share what touches your soul with your friends!

Sanne shares a song she just heard at a party, posts an image of the artist, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Sanne’s post.

Leuk nummer dit! Gisteren gehoord op een feestje.
“This is a great song! I heard it at a party yesterday.”

1- Leuk nummer dit!

First is an expression meaning “This is a great song!.”
The Dutch word “nummer” can refer to a song, but it also means “number.”

2- Gisteren gehoord op een feestje.

Then comes the phrase – “I heard it at a party yesterday..”
In the Netherlands, Thursdays are mostly student nights for partying or going out. Fridays are great for an after-work drink, followed by a party. Both Fridays and Saturdays are great for clubbing. In the summer there are a lot of outdoor festivals, both in Belgium and the Netherlands, even if the weather is not great.

COMMENTS

In response, Sanne’s friends leave some comments.

1- Lekker dansnummertje.

Her high school friend, Stephanie, uses an expression meaning – “Great song to dance to.”
Use this expression to share your opinion that you consider the song great to dance to.

2- Ik ken deze al 2 maanden.

Her nephew, Bob, uses an expression meaning – “I’ve known this already for two months.”
Use this expression to brag a bit that the song is old news for you.

3- Was het een leuk feestje?

Her neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Was it a nice party?”
Use this expression to show you are curious about the poster’s party, and want to know more.

4- Super! Fijne beat.

Her college friend, Erik, uses an expression meaning – “Great! Nice beat.”
Use this expression to agree with the poster, and think that the song has a good rhythm or percussion.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

nummer: “song”

goed: “good”

maand: “month”

feestje: “party”

dans: “dance”

Which song would you share? And what would you say to a friend who posted something about sharing music or videos?

Now you know how to start a conversation about a song or a video on social media!

5. Dutch Social Media Comments about a Concert

Still on the theme of music—visiting live concerts and shows just have to be shared with your friends. Here are some handy phrases and vocab to wow your followers in Dutch!

Jan goes to a DJ concert, posts an image of of the DJ at work, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Jan’s post.

De sfeer zit er goed in! Wat een artiest!
“Amazing atmosphere! What an artist!”

1- De sfeer zit er goed in!

First is an expression meaning “Amazing atmosphere!.”
You can use this sentence in all kinds of social contexts: parties, concerts, dinners, events, meetings. It is sometimes used sarcastically to mean that the atmosphere is not so great.

2- Wat een artiest!

Then comes the phrase – “What an artist!.”
There are a lot of well known Dutch DJs, such as DJ Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, Hardwell and Martin Garrix.

COMMENTS

In response, Jan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Ik was daar ook! Heb je niet gezien.

His college friend, Erik, uses an expression meaning – “I was there too! I didn’t see you.”
Use this expression to make conversation about a shared experience, or to joke a bit. Very often, these concerts are attended by thousands, so missing a person you know is easy.

2- Kippenvel! Zo mooi!

His girlfriend, Sanne, uses an expression meaning – “Goosebumps! Really beautiful!”
Use this phrase to express how positively you experience the song.

3- Wat bijzonder!

His neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “How special!”
Use this expression to agree with the poster that the song they posted is unique.

4- Ik heb het album. Prachtige muziek.

His high school friend, Chantal, uses an expression meaning – “I have the album. Beautiful music.”
Use this expression to agree with the poster that the artist is good, cause you have the album.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

sfeer: “atmosphere”

daar: “there”

kippenvel: “goosebumps”

bijzonder: “special”

prachtig: “wonderful”

muziek: “music”

artiest: “artist”

If a friend posted something about a concert , which phrase would you use?

6. Talking about an Unfortunate Accident in Dutch

Oh dear. You broke something by accident. Use these Dutch phrases to start a thread on social media. Or maybe just to let your friends know why you are not contacting them!

Sanne accidentally breaks her mobile phone, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Sanne’s post.

Ik ben even niet bereikbaar. Mijn telefoon is kapot!
“I’m unreachable. My phone is broken!”

1- Ik ben even niet bereikbaar

First is an expression meaning “I’m not reachable..”
You can also use this sentence for your voicemail or when you are on holiday and can’t be reached.

‘Bereikbaar’ means reachable or available. It can also be used for a location, as in: “This place is hard to reach.” In Dutch, “Deze plek is moeilijk bereikbaar”

2- Mijn telefoon is kapot

Then comes the phrase – “My phone is broken!.”
If you have some issues with your mobile phone, you could take it to one of the many small mobile phone repair shops. To replace a screen or camera, get a new charger or to have your phone made sim-free, this is the place to go if you don’t want to wait a long time at a bigger shop, or spend a lot of money on repair costs.

COMMENTS

In response, Sanne’s friends leave some comments.

1- Het komt goed.

Her neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “It’ll be alright.”
Use this expression if you want to be encouraging.

2- Ik stuur wel een kaartje.

Her nephew, Bob, uses an expression meaning – “I’ll send a postcard instead.”
Use this expression when you’re feeling humorous and want to joke with the poster about their status of unreachability.

3- Wat een drama!

Her high school friend, Stephanie, uses an expression meaning – “What a drama!”
Use this expression to agree with the poster that losing a phone (or something else) is a big deal.

4- Dat ziet er niet goed uit.

Her college friend, Erik, uses an expression meaning – “That doesn’t look good.”
Use this expression to show the poster that losing something important isn’t good, almost the same as sympathizing with them.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

telefoon: “phone”

komen: “to come”

kaartje: “postcard, entrance ticket”

drama: “drama”

kapot: “broken”

bereikbaar: “reachable, available”

If a friend posted something about having broken something by accident, which phrase would you use?

So, now you know how to discuss an accident in Dutch. Well done!

7. Chat about Your Boredom on Social Media in Dutch

Sometimes, we’re just bored with how life goes. And to alleviate the boredom, we write about it on social media. Add some excitement to your posts by addressing your friends and followers in Dutch!

Jan gets bored at home, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Jan’s post.

Ik verveel me. Iemand nog tips?
“I’m bored. Anyone have any tips?”

1- Ik verveel me

First is an expression meaning “I’m bored.”
Fun fact: in Dutch “bored” is a verb. No need to add “I am (bored)”. Bored is considered a verb in itself.

2- Iemand nog tips?

Then comes the phrase – “Anyone have any tips?.”
This sentence is great to ask for tips and advice on social media. You can use it for anything. Maybe you are planning a trip and you want tips, or you have a problem and you want some advice. Just state what you want tips about, for example, “Weekend trip to Amsterdam,” and then say ‘iemand nog tips?’

COMMENTS

In response, Jan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Het huis schoonmaken misschien?

His girlfriend, Sanne, uses an expression meaning – “Clean the house, maybe?”
Use this expression as a suggestion to while away time, thus alleviating boredom. This is probably meant in a joking manner.

2- Buiten een wandeling maken.

His supervisor, Nico, uses an expression meaning – “Take a walk outside.”
This is another suggestion to relieve boredom.

3- Kom gezellig koffie drinken!

His neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Come by for coffee!”
This is an invitation for coffee; in this context, it is meant to alleviate boredom.

4- Wil je voetballen?

His girlfriend’s nephew, Bob, uses an expression meaning – “Wanna play soccer?”
Another invitation to help the poster deal with the extra time on hand.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

tips: “recommendation”

huis: “house”

wandelen: “to take a walk”

koffie: “coffee”

voetballen: “to play a soccer”

buiten: “outside”

iemand: “anyone”

If a friend posted something about being bored, which phrase would you use?

Still bored? Share another feeling and see if you can start a conversation!

8. Exhausted? Share It on Social Media in Dutch

Sitting in public transport after work, feeling like chatting online? Well, converse in Dutch about how you feel, and let your friends join in!

Sanne feels exhausted after a long day at work, posts an image of herself looking tired, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Sanne’s post.

Wat een dag! Ik kan wel een week slapen.
“What a day! I can sleep for an entire week.”

1- Wat een dag!

First is an expression meaning “What a day!.”
“wat een dag” – “what a day” you can use this sentence in all sorts of contexts, both positive and negative. Use it when you had a rough day, a great day, if something really particular happened, or when you are really tired.

2- Ik kan wel een week slapen.

Then comes the phrase – “I can sleep for an entire week..”
Dutch and Belgian office hours usually run from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm with a 30 minute to 1 hour lunch break between 12:00 and 1pm.

COMMENTS

In response, Sanne’s friends leave some comments.

1- Ga lekker vroeg naar bed vanavond.

Her neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Go to bed early tonight.”
Use this phrase if you mean to give the poster advice about their sleeping habits.

2- Morgen weer een nieuwe dag!

Her high school friend, Stephanie, uses an expression meaning – “Tomorrow’s another day!”
Use this expression if you want to be encouraging, reminding them, in a way, that their fatigue will pass.

3- Zet hem op!

Her boyfriend, Jan, uses an expression meaning – “You can do this!”
Use this expression to be encouraging and positive.

4- Het zijn drukke tijden.

Her supervisor, Nico, uses an expression meaning – “These are busy times.”
This is a somewhat laconic statement, employed to be part of the conversation by stating the obvious.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

dag: “day”

bed: “bed”

morgen: “tomorrow”

nieuw: “new”

druk: “busy”

week: “week”

slapen: “to sleep”

tijd: “time”

If a friend posted something about being exhausted, which phrase would you use?

Now you know how to say you’re exhausted in Dutch! Well done.

9. Talking about an Injury in Dutch

So life happens, and you manage to hurt yourself during a soccer game. Very Tweet-worthy! Here’s how to do it in Dutch.

Jan suffers a painful knee injury, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Jan’s post.

Nou, even geen sport voor mij… Heb mijn knie verdraaid.
“Well, no sports for me for now… Twisted my knee.”

1- Nou, even geen sport voor mij…

First is an expression meaning “Well, no sports for me for now….”
“Nou” can’t be literally translated in English. It means something like “well” and is often used in a somewhat cynical context.

2- Heb mijn knie verdraaid.

Then comes the phrase – “Got my knee twisted..”
On social media most posts are about yourself. So people often leave out the personal pronoun “I” = “ik”. Normally, you always need a personal pronoun before or after the verb in Dutch. But in written language, when a sentence is about yourself and the setting is informal like social media, you can start straight away with the verb, without the personal pronoun.

COMMENTS

In response, Jan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Ik hoop dat het snel beter gaat.

His neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “I hope it will get better soon.”
Use this expression to show that you are encouraging and wish the poster well.

2- Wat is er gebeurd?

His college friend, Erik, uses an expression meaning – “What happened?”
Ask this question if you are curious about the details regarding the injury. Questions are a great way to keep a conversation going.

3- Beterschap.

His high school friend, Chantal, uses an expression meaning – “Get well.”
Use this short expression to demonstrate goodwill and wish the poster a speedy recovery.

4- Dus je gaat niet mee zaterdag?

His girlfriend’s nephew, Bob, uses an expression meaning – “So you’re not coming Saturday?”
This question is also asking for more details, as the poster’s injury clearly has implications.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

knie: “knee”

beter: “better”

wat: “what”

beterschap: “get well soon”

zaterdag: “Saturday”

even: “temporarily, for the time being”

If a friend posted something about being injured, which phrase would you use?

We love to share our fortunes and misfortunes; somehow that makes us feel connected to others.

10. Starting a Conversation Feeling Disappointed in Dutch

Sometimes things don’t go the way we planned. Share your disappointment about this with your friends!

Sanne feels disappointed about today’s weather, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Sanne’s post.

Wat een rotweer!
“Such horrible weather!”

1- wat een

First is an expression meaning “such a.”
The weather is probably the most favorite subject of discussion for the Dutch. It is often raining and people love to complain about it. Also, when the weather is great, people will often use this as a casual conversation starter. There is always something to say about the weather.

2- rotweer

Then comes the phrase – “horrible weather.”
Because there is so much rain in the Netherlands, people are used to it. They will still go out to ride their bikes, and there is plenty to do and see indoors, like visiting nice museums.

COMMENTS

In response, Sanne’s friends leave some comments.

1- Goed weer om binnen te blijven.

Her boyfriend’s high school friend, Chantal, uses an expression meaning – “Great weather to stay inside.”
Use this expression to put a positive spin on the situation.

2- Hier schijnt de zon.

Her college friend, Erik, uses an expression meaning – “Here, the sun is shining.”
Use this expression to share information and make conversation.

3- Morgen zou het beter worden.

Her neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “It should be better tomorrow.”
Use this expression if you want to be encouraging by pointing out the positive.

4- Wil je naar de bios?

Her boyfriend, Jan, uses an expression meaning – “Wanna go to the movies?”
Use this question to make a suggestion that will distract the poster’s attention from the weather.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

weer: “weather”

binnen: “inside”

zon: “sun”

hier: “here”

bios: “cinema (slang)”

How would you comment in Dutch when a friend is disappointed?

Not all posts need to be about a negative feeling, though! Why not talk about romance? That will lift anyone’s mood!

11. Talking about Your Relationship Status in Dutch

Don’t just change your relationship status in Settings, talk about it!

Jan changes his status to “In a relationship”, posts an image of him and Sanne together, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Jan’s post.

Heel blij met deze dame.
“Very happy with this lady.”

1- heel blij

First is an expression meaning “very happy.”
When making a happy announcement, like a promotion, engagement, marriage, or birthday, it is customary to congratulate someone by saying: ‘Gefeliciteerd!’ (English: “Congratulations!” )

2- met deze dame

Then comes the phrase – “with this lady.”
You could also wish the couple well by saying: ‘Veel geluk samen!’, which is – “Much happiness together!”

COMMENTS

In response, Jan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Gefeliciteerd!

His college friend, Erik, uses an expression meaning – “Congratulations!”
As said, this is the traditional way to congratulate anyone on positive news.

2- Geweldig nieuws!

His neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Great news!”
Use this expression if you want to make it clear that you really good about the news.

3- Veel geluk samen.

His supervisor, Nico, uses an expression meaning – “Much happiness together!”
As said, this is another traditional way to congratulate specifically a couple on their relationship.

4- Ik wil haar graag ontmoeten.

His high school friend, Chantal, uses an expression meaning – “I would love to meet her.”
This phrase indicates that you have not met the poster’s belle yet, but feel positive about the prospect.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

dame: “lady”

gefeliciteerd: “congratulations”

nieuws: “news”

geluk: “luck”

ontmoeten: “to meet”

blij: “happy”

samen: “together”

haar: “her”

What would you say in Dutch when a friend changes their relationship status?

Being in a good relationship with someone special is good news – don’t be shy to spread it!

12. Post about Getting Married in Dutch

Wow, so things got serious, and you’re getting married. Congratulations! Or, your friend is getting married, so talk about this in Dutch.

Sanne is getting married today, so she eaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Sanne’s post.

Vandaag geef ik jou het ja-woord. Dit is de mooiste dag van mijn leven!
“Today, I give you my vows. The most beautiful day of my life!”

1- Vandaag geef ik jou het ja-woord

First is an expression meaning “Today I give you my vows. .”
Instead of just “I do” to confirm your wedding vows, the Dutch say “yes, I do”. Therefore, they say, “het ja-woord,” which literally means “the yes word.”

2- De mooiste dag van mijn leven

Then comes the phrase – “The most beautiful day of my life!.”
Weddings in the Netherlands only last one day. It is usually a ceremony followed by a reception with a cake and some dancing. Sometimes, dinner is also offered, but this is usually only for a small group of close family and friends.

COMMENTS

In response, Sanne’s friends leave some comments.

1- Jullie zijn een prachtig stel!

Her neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “You’re a wonderful couple!”
Use this expression when you feel really good about this match, and compliment the couple on it.

2- Een prachtige dag voor een bruiloft. Gefeliciteerd!

Her college friend, Erik, uses an expression meaning – “A beautiful day for a wedding. Congrats! ”
Use this expression when you feel the weather is playing with for a beautiful wedding. You also congratulate the couple.

3- Je bent de mooiste bruid!

Her high school friend, Stephanie, uses an expression meaning – “You’re the most beautiful bride!”
Use this expression to compliment the bride on looking stunning.

4- Gefeliciteerd. Veel geluk samen.

Her supervisor, Nico, uses an expression meaning – “Congratulations. Much happiness together.”
This is an old-fashioned or traditional congratulatory wish for newly-weds.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

vandaag: “today”

stel: “couple”

bruiloft: “wedding”

bruid: “bride”

feliciteren: “to congratulate”

mooi: “beautiful”

dag: “day”

How would you respond in Dutch to a friend’s post about getting married?

For the next topic, fast forward about a year into the future after the marriage…

13. Announcing Big News in Dutch

Wow, huge stuff is happening in your life! Announce it in Dutch.

Jan finds out he and his wife are going to have a baby, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Jan’s post.

Het is officieel. We krijgen een kleine!
“It’s official. We’re having a little one!”

1- Het is officieel!

First is an expression meaning “It’s official! .”
You can use this expression for any big reveal: having a baby, announcing a new job, arranging travel plans, getting your diploma, etc.

2- We krijgen een kleine!

Then comes the phrase – “We are getting a little one!.”
It is custom in the Netherlands for the name of the baby to be revealed only after the baby is born. After the baby’s arrival, all the friends and family receive a postcard with the name of the baby, the time it was born, and more info about if and when you can visit.

COMMENTS

In response, Jan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Gefeliciteerd!

His college friend, Erik, uses an expression meaning – “Congratulations!”
This is the customary, traditional short way to congratulate anyone on a big, positive happening in their lives.

2- Krijg ik een neefje of een nichtje?

His nephew, Bob, uses an expression meaning – “Will I get a nephew or a niece?”
This questions shows that you are curious about the gender of the baby. Questions are good conversation starters.

3- Gefeliciteerd! Wat een geweldig nieuws!

His neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Congrats! What great news!”
This is another positive and enthusiastic way to congratulate anyone on a happy announcement.

4- Jullie eerste kindje! Gefeliciteerd!

His high school friend, Chantal, uses an expression meaning – “Your first baby! Congratulations!”
These phrases combine the traditional congratulations and an exclamation that states an obvious fact. Yet, the latter emphasizes obvious enthusiasm and happiness about the announcement.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

klein: “little”

krijgen: “to get”

neef: “nephew, cousin”

nicht: “niece, cousin”

kind: “child”

eerste: “first”

Which phrase would you choose when a friend announces their pregnancy on social media?

So, talking about a pregnancy will get you a lot of traction on social media. But wait till you see the responses to babies!

14. Posting Dutch Comments about Your Baby

Your bundle of joy is here, and you cannot keep quiet about it! Share your thoughts in Dutch.

Sanne plays with her baby, posts an image of the little one, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Sanne’s post.

Wat een schatje! Net als haar vader.
“What a sweetheart! Just like her father.”

1- Wat een schatje!

First is an expression meaning “What a sweetheart!.”
“schatje”= sweetheart is an expression you would only use for your partner, your child or a person/child very close to you.

2- Net als haar vader.

Then comes the phrase – “Just like her father..”
“net als” is used to compare one thing with another. In this example, Sanne thinks the baby is as cute as its father. Aside from using this expression with people, it can also be used for objects or places. For instance: “De zee is blauw hier, net als tuis”, which means: “The sea is blue here, just like at home”.

COMMENTS

In response, Sanne’s friends leave some comments.

1- Ze groeit zo snel.

Her college friend, Erik, uses an expression meaning – “She is growing so quickly”
This is a positive comment pertaining to the baby’s development, a pretty standard one in most languages. It’s a way to partake in the conversation.

2- Net als haar moeder!

Her neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Just like her mom!”
Use this expression to compliment the mother.

3- Ze lijkt meer op jou.

Her nephew, Bob, uses an expression meaning – “She looks more like you.”
Use this expression if you want to emphasize the similarity between the poster and the baby.

4- Zo lief! Ik kom snel weer langs.

Her high school friend, Stephanie, uses an expression meaning – “So cute! I will pass by again soon.”
These phrases expresses admiration for the baby, and announces that you will visit the family at home soon.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

schatje: “cutie”

snel: “quick”

moeder: “mother”

lijken: “to seem”

lief: “cute”

vader: “father”

If your friend is a mother or father showing off their cutie pie, which phrase would you use on social media?

Congratulations, you know the basics of chatting about a baby in Dutch! But we’re not done with families yet…

15. Dutch Comments about a Family Reunion

Family reunions – some you love, some you hate. Share about it on your feed.

Jan goes to a family gathering, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Jan’s post.

De hele familie bij elkaar, gezellig!
“The whole family together, fun!”

1- de hele familie bij elkaar

First is an expression meaning “the whole family together.”
“fam” is short for “familie”. This includes your direct family (Mom, Dad, and siblings), as well as your aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, cousins and nephews.

In Dutch there is no linguistic distinction between nephew and cousin, both mean ‘neef’. Same for niece and cousin; they both are called ‘nicht’ in Dutch.

2- gezellig

Then comes the phrase – “fun.”
Family reunions in the Netherlands are very different depending on the family. In general, the most important family events of the year are birthday parties. These are celebrated with the whole family, as well as friends and neighbors. It doesn’t matter where you live in the Netherlands, if there is a birthday party, people will make an effort to enjoy the day with friends and family.

COMMENTS

In response, Jan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Wat een grote familie!

His neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Such a big family!”
Use this expression to comment on the size of the family. A good one to post if you’re not part of the poster’s family, or if you don’t know them well.

2- Dit is zo saai.

His nephew, Bob, uses an expression meaning – “This is so boring.”
This is a personal opinion about family gatherings, and not a positive one.

3- Ziet er gezellig uit!

His high school friend, Chantal, uses an expression meaning – “Looks very cozy!”
Use this expression if you feel the family members look comfortable and relatively happy together.

4- Het was een hele leuke dag. Bedankt allemaal!

His wife, Sanne, uses an expression meaning – “It was a great day. Thanks, everyone!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling grateful for a day that went well. It can be used as is for any type of day, not only a family gathering.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

familie: “family”

groot: “big”

saai: “boring”

zien: “to see”

bedankt: “thanks”

allemaal: “everyone”

Which phrase is your favorite to comment on a friend’s photo about a family reunion?

16. Post about Your Travel Plans in Dutch

So, the family are going on holiday. Do you know how to post and leave comments in Dutch about being at the airport, waiting for a flight?

Sanne waits at the airport for her flight, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Sanne’s post.

Ik kan niet wachten! Zon, zee, strand, ik kom eraan!
“I can’t wait! Sun, sea, beach, here I come!”

1- Ik kan niet wachten!

First is an expression meaning “I can’t wait!”
You can use this sentence for any situation you anticipate with a lot of excitement.

2- Zon, zee, strand, ik kom eraan!

Then comes the phrase – “Sun, sea, beach, here I come!”
As the weather is usually not great in the Netherlands, people love to go on holidays to warmer places like the south of Europe, Turkey or Egypt.

COMMENTS

In response, Sanne’s friends leave some comments.

1- Lekker! Geniet ervan!

Her husband’s high school friend, Chantal, uses an expression meaning – “Wonderful! Enjoy it!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling excited for the poster and wish them well.

2- Fijne vakantie!

Her supervisor, Nico, uses an expression meaning – “Happy holidays!”
This phrase is an old-fashioned but often used to wish someone a good experience during the holidays.

3- Niet te bruin worden hoor.

Her high school friend, Stephanie, uses an expression meaning – “Don’t get tanned too much.”
This is an admonition for the poster to not stay in the sun for too long. Everyone knows the perils of sunburn, so this is just a reminder.

4- Goede vlucht!

Her neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Nice flight!”
Use this expression to wish the holiday-goers a pleasant flight to their destination.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

wachten: “to wait”

kunnen: “to be able”

vakantie: “holiday”

niet: “not”

goed: “good”

vlucht: “flight”

Choose and memorize your best airport phrase in Dutch!

Hopefully the trip is great!

17. Posting about an Interesting Find in Dutch

So maybe you’re strolling around at the local market, and find something interesting. Here are some handy Dutch phrases to use to share your experiences!

Jan finds an unusual item at a local market, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Jan’s post.

Wat een vondst! Misschien is het wel een miljoen waard!
“Look what I found! Maybe it’s worth a million!”

1- Wat een vondst!

First is an expression meaning “Look what I found!.”
“een vondst” is a find, a treasure. You can use it for an object but also for a place, like a really nice restaurant you found and want to share with your friends on social media. For this, you can use the sentence “wat een vondst!”

2- Misschien is het wel een miljoen waard!

Then comes the phrase – “Maybe it’s worth a million!.”
In the Netherlands it is not common to haggle in shops. At local markets it is a bit more common, but for stalls selling vintage items it is usually acceptable. The rule-of-thumb is that when items have a label with a price on it, there is very little opportunity for haggling.

COMMENTS

In response, Jan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Heel bijzonder!

His neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Very special!”
Use this expression just to leave a comment and be part of the conversation. You agree with the poster that the find is unusual.

2- Wat is het?

His nephew, Bob, uses an expression meaning – “What is it?”
Ask this question to show you are interested in the topic, and would like to know more details.

3- Misschien word je wel rijk!

His college friend, Erik, uses an expression meaning – “Maybe you’ll be rich!”
Share this opinion if you think the find may be worth something.

4- Waar was dit?

His high school friend, Chantal, uses an expression meaning – “Where was this?”
This is another question after more details, and a good way to oil the conversation.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

misschien: “maybe”

bijzonder: “particular”

heel: “very”

rijk: “rich”

waar: “where”

dit: “this”

Which phrase would you use to comment on a friend’s interesting find?

Perhaps you will even learn the identity of your find! Or perhaps you’re on holiday, and visiting interesting places…

18. Post about a Sightseeing Trip in Dutch

Let your friends know what you’re up to in Dutch, especially when visiting a remarkable place! Don’t forget the photo.

Sanne visits a famous landmark, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Sanne’s post.

Er gaat niks boven de Amsterdamse grachten!
“Nothing beats the Amsterdam canals!”

1- er gaat niks boven

First is an expression meaning “nothing beats”.
Literally translated this sentence means “there is nothing above”. You can use this when you really like or enjoy something: ‘Er gaat niks boven een koud biertje’, which means, “Nothing beats a cold beer”. Or: “Er gaat niks boven mama’s zelfgemaakte pannekoeken’, which means, “Nothing beats mom’s homemade pancakes”.

2- de Amsterdamse grachten

Then comes the phrase – “the Amsterdam canals.”
Amsterdam has three major canals that form the historic centre. There are many other canals in the city, as well as two major rivers. One of those is Amsterdam’s access point to the North sea.

COMMENTS

In response, Sanne’s friends leave some comments.

1- Ik ken nog een leuk lunchtentje, zit daar om de hoek

Her high school friend, Stephanie, uses an expression meaning – “I know a lovely place to have lunch, just around the corner from there.”
This comment shares a personal detail, demonstrating knowledge of the topic of discussion, and is a good way to stay part of the conversation.

2- Niet voor mij, veel te druk.

Her nephew, Bob, uses an expression meaning – “Not for me, way too busy.”
Use this expression to share your opinion about a destination.

3- Heerlijke stad!

Her neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Wonderful city!”
This expression is the opposite of the previous, negative one.

4- Ik ga er binnenkort heen! Heb je nog tips?

Her husband’s high school friend, Chantal, uses an expression meaning – “I will go there soon! Any tips?”
Use these phrases to indicate your intention to also visit the destination under discussion. You also ask for tips from friends about this destination.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

gracht: “canal”

hoek: “corner”

mij: “me”

stad: “city”

gaan: “to go”

hebben: “to have”

niks: “nothing”

Which phrase would you prefer when a friend posts about a famous landmark?

Share your special places with the world. Or simply post about your relaxing experiences.

19. Post about Relaxing Somewhere in Dutch

So you’re doing nothing, yet you enjoy that too? Tell your social media friends about it in Dutch!

Jan enjoys himself at a beautiful place, posts an image of him relaxing, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Jan’s post.

Koud biertje erbij. Ik ga nergens heen.
“Cold drink in my hand. I’m not going anywhere.”

1- Koud biertje erbij.

First is an expression meaning “Cold drink in my hand..”
The Dutch word “erbij” is not directly translatable in English. It is more of an informal slang word. It could be used in the context of an object that you are holding, like food or drinks as in this example. But it can also be used in a question form to ask if someone wants this particular food/drink item. For instance: “Biertje erbij?”, meaning “Would you like a beer with that?”

2- Ik ga nergens heen.

Then comes the phrase – “I’m not going anywhere…”
Literally translated, this means “I’m going nowhere.” You can use this when you really like a place or situation (like a holiday, party, event or festival) and you want to stay there.

COMMENTS

In response, Jan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Ik kom eraan gast.

His college friend, Erik, uses an expression meaning – “I’m on my way, dude.”
Use this expression to show you’re very keen to join the poster, wherever they are. This is meant to be a joke, unless you have an actual arrangement to meet, of course.

2- Ziet er goed uit!

His neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Looks great!”
Use this expression to partake in the conversation by exclaiming that the poster looks really good.

3- Waar is dit ook alweer?

His high school friend, Chantal, uses an expression meaning – “Where is this again?”
Use this question to find out more details about the poster’s destination.

4- Hoor jij niet op het werk te zijn?

His nephew, Bob, uses an expression meaning – “Shouldn’t you be at work?”
This question is probably meant as a joke, just to be part of the discussion.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

bier: “beer”

nergens: “nowhere”

helemaal: “completely”

gast: “dude”

waar: “where”

werken: “to work”

ook alweer: “again”

Which phrase would you use to comment on a friend’s feed?

The break was great, but now it’s time to return home.

20. What to Say in Dutch When You’re Home Again

And you’re back! What will you share with friends and followers?

Sanne returns home after a vacation, but posts an image of their holiday home, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Sanne’s post.

Ik mis dit nu al! Zullen we nog een weekje gaan?
“I miss this already! Let’s go for another week, agree?”

1- Ik mis dit nu al!

First is an expression meaning “I miss this already!”
You can use the phrase ‘Ik mis’, which means “I miss” for many things: a person, a situation, a job, the sun, etc. If you miss someone and you want to tell them you can say ‘Ik mis jou’ (“I miss you” ). “Ik mis” can be followed by any verb or article plus noun.

2- Zullen we nog een weekje gaan?

Then comes the phrase – “Let’s go for another week?”
“Weekje” is the diminutive of “week,” which also means “week” in English. By placing “je” or “tje” behind a noun you turn a word into the diminutive form in Dutch. For example: ‘dagje’ (“little day” ) or ‘fototje’ (“little photo” ). It is a way of expressing positive feelings about the subject under discussion, and a typically Dutch way of talking.

COMMENTS

In response, Sanne’s friends leave some comments.

1- Ik wil foto’s zien!

Her college friend, Erik, uses an expression meaning – “I want to see the pictures!”
Use this expression when you are keen to see the photos of the holiday.

2- Ik kom morgen langs en wil al je verhalen horen.

Her high school friend, Stephanie, uses an expression meaning – “I will come by tomorrow and listen to your stories.”
Use this expression to invite yourself over for a catch-up with the family.

3- Waar ben je geweest?

Her neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Where have you been?”
This is a question to ask for more details about the destination of the holiday.

4- Ik ben blij dat je het leuk hebt gehad.

Her supervisor, Nico, uses an expression meaning – “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
This is a friendly expression of gratitude for the family’s sake, and a positive way to add to the conversation.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

terug: “back”

foto: “photo”

verhalen: “stories”

zijn: “to be”

blij: “happy”

langskomen: “to come by, to visit”

horen: “to hear”

How would you welcome a friend back from a trip?

What do you post on social media during a public commemoration day such as King’s Day?

21. It’s Time to Celebrate in Dutch

It’s an historic day and you wish to post something about it on social media. What would you say?

Jan plans to partake in a King’s Day festival or party, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Jan’s post.

Koningsdag! Dat wordt weer een mooi feestje!
“King’s Day! That’s going to be a great party again!”

1- Koningsdag!

First is an expression meaning “King’s Day!.”
Traditionally King’s Day (or Queen’s day) was a holiday in the Netherlands that celebrated the birthday of the king or queen. Nowadays the king’s birthday is still celebrated but the social element is more important.

2- Dat wordt weer een mooi feestje!

Then comes the phrase – “This will be a good party!.”
On King’s Day, or in Dutch “Koningsdag”, there are big street parties and a lot of flea markets. People sell homemade foods or drinks in front of their houses. Everybody is dressed in orange, there are festivals going on everywhere, and in all the city centres there are fun activities. The atmosphere is always great.

COMMENTS

In response, Jan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Ik ga naar de vrijmarkt.

His neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “I’m going to the flea market.”
Use this expression to share your plans for the day.

2- Mijn oranje pak ligt alweer klaar.

His high school friend, Chantal, uses an expression meaning – “My orange outfit is ready for it.”
Use this expression to share a personal detail about your traditional costume for King’s Day.

3- Proost!

His college friend, Erik, uses an expression meaning – “Cheers!”
This is an enthusiastic, positive interjection that expresses enjoyment and conveys the general mood of the day.

4- Gefeliciteerd met onze koning!

His supervisor, Nico, uses an expression meaning – “Happy birthday to our King!”
This is an old-fashioned well wish of the monarch in the Netherlands on King’s Day.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

feestje: “party”

markt: “market”

oranje: “orange”

Proost: “Cheers”

Koning: “King”

onze: “our”

If a friend posted something about a holiday, which phrase would you use?

The King’s Day and other public commemoration days are not the only special ones to remember!

22. Posting about a Birthday on Social Media in Dutch

Your friend or you are celebrating your birthday in an unexpected way. Be sure to share this on social media!

Sanne goes to her birthday party, posts an image of the celebration, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Sanne’s post.

Bedankt allemaal voor de cadeaus en de verjaardagswensen!
“Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes and gifts!”

1- Bedankt allemaal

First is an expression meaning “Thanks everyone.”
Younger people will often blend Dutch with English vocabulary. It is not uncommon to replace the Dutch “bedankt” with “thanks”.

2- voor de cadeaus en verjaardagswensen!

Then comes the phrase – “for the birthday wishes and gifts!”
In the Netherlands, when it’s your birthday you have to bring your own cake to your work or birthday party. Your friends, family and colleagues will bring you gifts for your birthday. This applies not only to children but to adults also.

COMMENTS

In response, Sanne’s friends leave some comments.

1- Van harte!

Her supervisor, Nico, uses an expression meaning – “Congratulations!”
This is the traditional way to congratulate someone on their birthday.

2- Gefeliciteerd! Ik hoop dat je een heerlijke dag hebt met je familie en vrienden.

Her neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Congrats! I hope you have a wonderful day with your family and friends.”
This is a casual but warm-hearted well-wish and birthday congratulation.

3- Fijne verjaardag!

Her husband’s high school friend, Chantal, uses an expression meaning – “Happy birthday!”
The traditional birthday wish.

4- De taart was zo lekker! Ik wil meer!

Her high school friend, Stephanie, uses an expression meaning – “The cake was delicious! I want more!”
These phrases share personal details about the birthday party in a humorous manner.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

bedankt: “thanks”

verjaardag: “birthday”

vrienden: “friends”

fijn: “pleasant”

taart: “cake”

meer: “more”

cadeaus: “gifts”

If a friend posted something about birthday greetings, which phrase would you use?

23. Talking about New Year on Social Media in Dutch

Impress your friends with your Dutch New Year’s wishes this year. Learn the phrases easily!

Jan celebrates the New Year, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Jan’s post.

Gelukkig nieuwjaar iedereen! Proost!
“Happy New Year, everyone! Cheers!”

1- Gelukkig nieuwjaar iedereen

First is an expression meaning “Happy New Year, everyone!”
The words “new” and “year” have merged into one word when speaking of the new year that is about to start or has just started. Normally the words “new” and “year” are written separately. This is only relevant when you write it because in the pronunciation you don’t hear a difference.

2- Proost!

Then comes the phrase – “Cheers!”
At midnight on New Year’s eve, people usually toast with champagne. A traditional snack that is only available around New Year’s is called “oliebol,” which can be translated as “oil ball,” a deep fried dough snack with raisins.

COMMENTS

In response, Jan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Gelukkig nieuwjaar!

His neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Happy New Year!”
This is the standard response to the poster’s New Year’s wish.

2- Proost, op een mooi jaar!

His high school friend, Chantal, uses an expression meaning – “Cheers to a wonderful year!”
Use this expression to toast the year to come, wishing everyone well.

3- De beste wensen!

His supervisor, Nico, uses an expression meaning – “Best wishes!”
Use this expression for a short and traditional New Year’s wish.

4- Jij ook gelukkig nieuwjaar!

His college friend, Erik, uses an expression meaning – “Happy New Year to you too!”
Use this expression to wish the poster the same as he wishes you.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

nieuwjaar: “New Year”

gelukkig: “happy”

jaar: “year”

beste wensen: “best wishes”

ook: “also”

iedereen: “everybody”

Which is your favorite phrase to post on social media during New Year?

But before New Year’s Day comes another important day…

24. What to Post on Christmas Day in Dutch

What will you say in Dutch about Christmas?

Sanne celebrates Christmas with her family, posts an image of the group, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Sanne’s post.

Kerst vieren met de familie. Veel te veel gegeten!
“Celebrating Christmas with the family. I ate way too much!”

1- Kerst vieren met de familie

First is an expression meaning “Celebrating Christmas with the family. .”
In the Netherlands, Christmas Eve is celebrated on the 24th of December. The first Christmas day is celebrated on the 25th of December. And the second Christmas Day is celebrated on the 26th of December. So there are two days of Christmas. Christmas dinner is usually celebrated with the family and extended family on either of the two Christmas days. On the first day of Christmas, everything is closed. However, on the 2nd day of Christmas, supermarkets sometimes open for limited hours.

2- Ik heb veel te veel gegeten.

Then comes the phrase – “I ate way too much!.”
During Christmas there are so many homemade treats and family visits that people just eat all day long, and then there is also the Christmas dinner! So eating too much is a real thing.

COMMENTS

In response, Sanne’s friends leave some comments.

1- Fijne kerstdagen!

Her supervisor, Nico, uses an expression meaning – “Merry Christmas!”
Use this expression as a traditional seasonal wish.

2- Groetjes aan je ouders.

Her neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Say hi to your parents.”
Give this instruction when you know the family, in particular the poster’s parents, and are known by them.

3- Geniet ervan.

Her high school friend, Stephanie, uses an expression meaning – “Enjoy it.”
This is a short and sweet well wish.

4- Iedereen een fijne kerst!

Her college friend, Erik, uses an expression meaning – “Merry Christmas to you all!”
This is a jovial version of the traditional season wish.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

Kerst: “Christmas”

Fijne kerstdagen: “Merry Christmas”

ouders: “parents”

genieten: “to enjoy”

jullie: “you (plural)”

vieren: “to celebrate”

familie: “family”

If a friend posted something about Christmas greetings, which phrase would you use?

So, the festive season is over! Yet, there will always be other days, besides a birthday, to wish someone well.

25. Post about Your Anniversary in Dutch

Some things deserve to be celebrated, like wedding anniversaries. Learn which Dutch phrases are meaningful and best suited for this purpose!

Jan celebrates his wedding anniversary with his wife, posts an image of the two of them together, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Jan’s post.

Ik ben de gelukkigste man op aarde dat ik jou al 1 jaar mijn vrouw mag noemen!
“I’m the happiest man on earth that I may call you my wife for 1 year already!”

1- Ik ben de gelukkigste man op aarde

First is an expression meaning “I’m the happiest man on earth.”
‘Gelukkigste’, which is “happiest”, is the superlative of “gelukkig/happy”. When you are happy, you say: “Ik ben gelukkig”.

2- dat ik jou al 1 jaar mijn vrouw mag noemen!

Then comes the phrase – “that I may call you my wife for 1 year already!.”
In Dutch the word “vrouw’ means both woman and wife, depending on the context. The same goes for husband. So ‘vrouw’ is “wife” in this context. Another word for “wife” is “echtgenote”, but this is only used in formal settings. For husband it is “echtgenoot”. But you won’t use these on social media.

COMMENTS

In response, Jan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Je bent de beste! Ik hou van jou.

His wife, Sanne, uses an expression meaning – “You are the best! I love you.”
Use these phrases to express your appreciation of the couple, and tell them of your affection for them.

2- Gefeliciteerd lieverds!

His wife’s high school friend, Stephanie, uses an expression meaning – “Congrats darlings!”
This is an affectionate expression of congratulations. It could be used in settings other than this one, whenever you wish to casually congratulate more than one person.

3- De tijd vliegt! Gefeliciteerd!

His neighbor, Linda, uses an expression meaning – “Time flies! Congrats!”
These phrases express an opinion about fleeting time, and congratulations.

4- Nog vele jaren.

His supervisor, Nico, uses an expression meaning – “For many years.”
Use this expression to be old fashioned.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

jaar: “year”

Ik hou van jou: “I love you”

lieverd: “darling”

vliegen: “to fly”

veel: “many”

vrouw: “woman”

kwijt: “lost”

beste: “best”

If a friend posted something about Anniversary greetings, which phrase would you use?

Conclusion

Learning to speak a new language will always be easier once you know key phrases that everybody uses. These would include commonly used expressions for congratulations and best wishes, etc.

Master these in fun ways with Learn Dutch! We offer a variety of tools to individualize your learning experience, including using cell phone apps, audiobooks, iBooks and many more. Never wonder again what to say on social media!

Learn how to apologize in Dutch – fast and accurately! DutchPod101 makes it easy for you to make amends. Start with a bonus, and download your FREE cheat sheet – How to Improve Your Dutch Skills! (Logged-In Member Only)

Table of Contents

1. Common Ways to Say Sorry in Dutch
2. How To Refuse Something Politely in Dutch
3. Audio Lesson – Survival Phrases “How to Say Sorry”
4. Why You Will NOT Be Sorry For Learning Dutch through DutchPod101

1. Common Ways to Say Sorry in Dutch

Nobody’s perfect, not anywhere in the world. Everybody makes mistakes, and does and says regrettable things. Then it’s time to apologize, as saying ‘I’m sorry’ is not in vain. It can be very healing! Did you know that hearing a sincerely-meant apology can have a noticeable effect on a person’s body? Research has shown that it slows down breathing and heart rate, and even causes a drop in blood pressure.

Sometimes we cannot fix what’s broken, but we can make the experience a bit easier for anyone who suffered on account of our thoughtless actions or words.

Here are a number of ways to say sorry in Dutch. In any language, just make sure you really mean it! An insincere apology will not go down well with anyone.

Het spijt me.
I’m sorry

These words should precede anything else you have to say. Use them sincerely and whenever you are clearly in the wrong. Acknowledging your guilt and apologizing for any wrongdoing will lift your spirits too! Often, remorse can eat away at us, and a simple ‘I’m sorry’, in Dutch or any other language, can open the door for forgiveness and resolution of a bad situation. It can be a true gift!

Ik wil me graag verontschuldigen.
I would like to apologize.

This is a slightly more formal way to say ‘I’m sorry’ in Dutch. Use this phrase if you’re addressing your superiors and/or elders.

Ik wil mij oprecht verontschuldigen.
I sincerely apologize.

If you feel strongly about your apology, this is another slightly more formal phrase to use. Keep it handy for graver errors, or you might come across as insincere!

Ik zal het niet meer doen.
I won’t do it again.

A promise you can only make if you intend to keep it! Few things feel as bad as having to hear repeated apologies from someone for the same behavior – it means the ‘sorry’ is not sincere. Don’t be that person!

Ik zal ervoor zorgen om deze fout niet opnieuw te maken.
I’ll make sure not to make this mistake again.

A beautifully strong phrase! Again, say this only if you mean it – not just in the moment, but always! A bit more formal, this is an especially good phrase to use when apologizing to superiors and/or elders. It will make an especially good impression at the workplace, where accountability is an excellent quality to display!

Ik meende dat niet.
I didn’t mean that.

This is a tricky one… What did you mean, then?! Clear up any confusion with sincerity. Also, use this phrase only if the harm done or mistake made was due to an accident, and then admit to thoughtlessness on your part, if appropriate.

Het is mijn fout.
It’s my fault.

If the fault is really yours, own up to it. You will gain respect in the eyes of others! However, don’t take the blame when it’s not truly yours. It won’t be good for you, and ultimately you will not be respected much for it.

Het spijt me dat ik zo egoïstisch ben.
I’m sorry for being selfish.

This is a good phrase to keep handy, especially for your close relationships. It is difficult to admit you’re selfish, isn’t it?! However, it’s good to know when to be honest. We get used to our loved ones, which often means we forget that they need our good manners and unselfish behavior just as much as strangers do.

Ik hoop dat je me kunt vergeven.
I hope you will forgive me.

This is a polite and gentle wish that can smooth over many harsh feelings. It also shows that the other person’s opinion and forgiveness are important to you.

Ik neem de volledige verantwoordelijkheid op me.
I take full responsibility.

This strong statement is similar to admitting that an error or transgression was your fault. It speaks of courage and the willingness to take remedial action. Good one to use…if you mean it!

Ik had het niet moeten doen.
I shouldn’t have done it.

This phrase is fine to use if you did or said something wrong. It shows, to an extent, your regret for having done or said what you did, and demonstrates that you understand your role in the mistake.

Sorry voor het te laat teruggeven van uw geld.
Sorry for giving your money back late.

It’s rotten to have to loan money! Yet, it’s equally rotten to have to ask for the repayment of a loan. So, do your best not to pay late in the first place, but if it can’t be helped, this would be a good phrase to use!

Wees alstublieft niet boos op me.
Please don’t be mad at me.

Well, this is not a very advisable phrase to use if you are clearly in the wrong. If someone is justifiably angry with you, asking them not to be mad at you would be an unfair expectation. However, if you did something wrong by accident, and if the consequences were not too serious, this request would be OK.

Sorry dat ik te laat ben.
Sorry I’m late.

Punctuality is valued in most situations, but if you really cannot help being late, then apologize! This way you show respect for your host, and win their approval.

Het spijt me dat ik zo naar tegen je deed.
I apologize for being mean to you.

Acknowledging your own meanness towards someone is no small thing, so good for you! Use this apology only if your intention is to seriously address your mean tendencies, or these words could become meaningless over time.

2. How To Refuse Something Politely in Dutch

Congratulations! Now you know how to apologize in Dutch! After you have apologized for a mistake, focus on fixing whatever you can, and don’t punish yourself over something that cannot be taken back or reversed. That’s healthy for you! Regret can eat away at the soul, and even destroy it. It is ultimately a useless emotion if it consumes you.

However, in language, we use apologies not only when we’ve transgressed or made mistakes. They come in handy in other situations too, when there has been no wrongdoing. Sometimes we need to express regret for having to refuse a gift, an offer, or an invitation. This can be somewhat tricky. Learn from specialists at DutchPod101 about how to use the correct Dutch words for this kind of ‘sorry’!

3. Survival Phrases “How to Say Sorry”

On the run and need a quick lesson on how to say sorry in Dutch? Don’t fret, just listen and repeat! Click here for a recorded short lesson and learn how to give the perfect apology, with perfect pronunciation in Dutch. A little can go a long way, and you will sound like a native!

4. Why You Will NOT Be Sorry For Learning Dutch through DutchPod101

Online learning is here to stay, that’s a fact. In 2015, the Digital Learning Compass Partnership released a report based on surveys to determine online enrollment trends in US institutions for higher education. Thirty percent of all their students learned online! And the number is growing! However, how can you be sure you will not regret your choice of an online language learning school? First, look at the school’s credentials and what it has to offer…

• Fun and Easy Learning: It’s a commonly-known fact that when learning is made easy and fun, student motivation rises. And as motivation rises, so does the effort to learn – what a beautiful cycle! DutchPod101’s language learning system is designed to get you speaking from the onset. Learn at your own convenience and pace with our short, effective and fun audio podcast lessons. Our Learning Center is comprehensive and state-of-the-art, with a vibrant user community to connect to! Our lessons are recorded with native hosts and voice actors, providing a diverse range of dialects in your lessons. You can be confident that native speakers will understand you when speaking Dutch!
• Innovative Learning Tools and Apps: We make it our priority to offer you the best learning tools! These include apps for iPhone, iPad, Android and Mac OSX; eBooks for Kindle, Nook, and iPad; audiobooks; Roku TV and so many more. This means that we took diverse lifestyles into account when we developed our courses, so you can learn anywhere, anytime on a device of your choice. How innovative!
• Free Resources: Sharing is caring, and for this reason, we share many free resources with our students. For instance, start learning Dutch with our basic online course by creating a lifetime account – for free! Also get free daily and iTunes lessons, free eBooks, free mobile apps, and free access to our blog and online community. Or how about free Vocabulary Lists? The Dutch dictionary is for exclusive use by our students, also for free. There’s so much to love about DutchPod101…!
• Live Hosts and One-on-One Learning: Knowledgeable, energetic hosts present recorded video lessons, and are available for live teaching experiences if you upgrade. This means that in the videos, you get to watch them pronounce those tongue-twisters, as if you’re learning live! Add octane to your learning by upgrading to Premium Plus, and learn two times faster. Your can have your very own Dutch teacher always with you, ensuring that you learn what you need, when you need to – what a wonderful opportunity to master a new language in record time!
• Start Where You Are: You don’t know a single Dutch word? Not to worry, we’ve absolutely got this. Simply enroll in our Absolute Beginner Pathway and start speaking from Lesson 1! As your learning progresses, you can enroll in other pathways to match your Dutch level, at your own pace, in your own time, in your own place!

After this lesson, you will know almost every ‘sorry for’ in Dutch, but don’t let it be that you’re sorry for missing a great opportunity. Learning a new language can only enrich your life, and could even open doors towards great opportunities! So don’t wonder if you’ll regret enrolling in DutchPod101. It’s the most fun, easy way to learn Dutch!