Dutch 101: The Most Important Sentences to Know in Dutch

Hoi! Did you just arrive in the Netherlands and feel completely lost in the Dutch language? Don’t worry, here are some very basic Dutch sentences that will help you survive your first few weeks in the city. You don’t need perfect Dutch, but recognising a few words will already make you feel much more at home.

 

Your earliest contact with Dutch people as an international student will probably be in the grocery store or in one of Groningen’s many great cafés and restaurants.

A very useful phrase is “Mag ik…”, which you can use when ordering something at a counter or from a waiter. For example: “Mag ik een (cappuccino, biertje, pizza,…) alstublieft?”

When you’re shopping, you’ll likely hear these two classic questions:

• “Tasje erbij?” (Do you want a bag?)
• “Bonnetje erbij?” (Do you want the receipt?)

Your answer can be simple: “Ja, graag” (Yes, please) or “Nee, dankjewel” (No, thank you).

Paying by card is very common in the Netherlands. Some shops even have a sign saying “Hier alleen pinnen”, meaning you can only pay by card. If you’re paying by card, just say: “Pinnen graag”, so they know.

When you leave a store or café, you can say “Fijne dag” or “Fijne avond” to wish someone a nice rest of their day or evening. Small phrase but very polite. When meeting Dutch people, try introducing yourself in Dutch; they’ll really appreciate it (even if they immediately switch to English to help you out).

 

Start with: “Ik ben …” + your name. If you want to say where you’re from: “Ik kom uit …” + your country. You can use the Dutch name for your country if you know it, but English is totally fine too!

Some bonus words you’ll definitely hear around Groningen:

• “Proost!” – Cheers!
• “Lekker” – Nice/tasty/good (works for basically everything)
• “Gezellig” – Cosy, fun, good vibes, best feeling ever
• “Fiets” – Bike (you’ll hear this one a lot… and you’ll see even more of them)

If you want to learn more Dutch, ask your university; there are usually plenty of beginner courses and language cafés available.

Doei!

– Written by Kea Janßen