The Kingdom of the Netherlands, also referred to as Holland (though this is inaccurate as Holland is only a part of the Netherlands), is a picturesque destination filled with rich culture, colourful people, and unmissable attractions. Think of the widely visited tulip events as well as the iconic windmills that have become synonymous with Dutch imagery!

Are you planning a trip to picture-perfect Holland? Or are the Netherlands a stop on a tour you’ve already booked? Well, then this Dutch phrases guide is just for you! While the majority of the population in the Netherlands (roughly 90%) speaks English, it’s never a bad idea to get acquainted with some Dutch phrases and words to assist you in getting what you need when you need it while you travel.

Related: Learn more about the Keukenhof Tulip Festival in the Netherlands

Lucky for you, Expat Explore has compiled a list of useful Dutch phrases you might need to know in the Netherlands. From saying hello to getting around, you’ll have a firm grasp of the basics by the time you finish this read. Plus, you can always refer back to it on your trip.

Here are some useful Dutch phrases to use on your trip:

Greetings:

Greeting someone respectfully when you travel can sometimes be tricky to navigate. With some languages having distinctly different greetings based on the situation, relationship or authority level, saying hello isn’t always as simple as that.

However, in the Netherlands, the first and most common option for greeting someone is just that – saying “hallo”!

Hallo – Hello

Hoi – Hi (casual or close relationships)

Goedemorgen – Good morning

Goedenmiddag – Good afternoon

Goedenavond – Good evening

Dag – Bye

Tot ziens – See you later

Doei/doeg – Cheers (casual)

Related: Visiting Greece or Portugal? We have more handy phrase guides for you! 

The magic words:

Alstublieft – If you please (formal)

Alsjeblieft – If you please (informal)

Pardon – Pardon/excuse me

Dank u wel – Thank you (formal)

Dank je wel – Thank you (informal)

Bedankt – Thanks

Ja & nee – Yes & no

When travelling, it’s always best to rather be a little more polite than necessary, especially if you’re unsure whether to use formal or informal phrases in a situation. Think about it this way: would you rather address a friend a bit more politely, or accidentally address a royal like you would a buddy?

Related: Have a look at these fun tips to celebrate King’s Day 2023 in the Netherlands!

Getting around:

It’s always good to know your left from your right when you travel, especially if locals call it something different. Take a look at the list of Dutch phrases to help you get around, but don’t be surprised or take it personally if locals would rather switch over to English than force you to continue in broken Dutch. Think of it as them helping you out of your misery.

Open & gesloten – Open & closed

Kaartje – Ticket

Waar is het toilet? – Where is the toilet?

Links – Left

Rechts – Right

Rechtdoor – Straight (pronounced like “wreck-door”)

Hoeveel kost deze? – How much is this?

Geldautomaat – ATM

De bushalte – Bus stop

Treinstation – Train station

Miscommunications:

Now, all the reading in the world still won’t necessarily make you a native Dutch speaker before your trip. So, we thought it might be useful to include some common phrases to help you get out of sticky situations where miscommunication seems inevitable.

Ik spreek geen Nederlands – I don’t speak Dutch

(this one is a lifesaver if you master the other phrases so well that locals start chatting away in their home language!)

Spreekt je Engels? – Do you speak English?

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Wil je deze zinnen beproeven? (Do you want to try these phrases?) Then be sure to visit the Netherlands with Expat Explore to put your newfound Dutch knowledge to the test!