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Essential Dutch phrases

Twenty phrases cover the overwhelming majority of first encounters in Dutch: greeting people, thanking them, buying things, asking where things are, and admitting you didn’t catch that. Start with the table below, then go deeper by situation.

The 20 phrases to learn first

Pronunciation hints are rough English approximations — good enough to be understood, not a substitute for the real sounds. The hardest one is the Dutch g, a throaty sound like clearing your throat softly (written “kh” below); see the pronunciation guide for how to make it properly.

U or je? Formal and informal “you”

Dutch has a formal “you” (u) and an informal one (je/jij), and several phrases above change with it: dank je wel vs dank u wel, alsjeblieft vs alstublieft. The practical rule: the Netherlands is an informal country, and je is now the default among colleagues, in shops and cafés, and with anyone roughly your age or younger. Use u for clearly older strangers, officials, customers you serve, and formal letters — in Belgium, lean formal a little longer. If someone says zeg maar je (“just say je”), switch immediately and don’t look back. The full system, including the unstressed forms, is in pronouns.

The English-switch problem

Say two words of accented Dutch in Amsterdam and many people will reply in fluent English. They mean it kindly — it’s efficiency, not judgement — but it will sabotage your practice if you let it. The fix is one polite sentence, delivered with a smile: Mag ik Nederlands oefenen? (“May I practise Dutch?”, makh ik NAY-dur-lants OO-fuh-nun). Almost everyone will oblige, often visibly pleased that you asked. Persisting in Dutch after they switch also works; answering in English never does.

Phrases by situation

• GreetingsHallo to doei: the greetings by time of day and formality, plus regional favourites like hoi.
• IntroductionsIntroducing yourself, saying where you’re from, and surviving the Dutch three-kiss greeting.
• At the restaurantOrdering, asking for the bill (they won’t bring it unasked), and tipping customs.
• ShoppingMarket and shop phrases: asking prices, sizes, and understanding “anders nog iets?”
• Asking directionsWaar is…? plus the left/right/straight-on vocabulary to understand the answer.
• EmergenciesHelp, calling 112, and the phrases for the doctor, pharmacy and police.
• Small talkWeather, weekends and hoe gaat het — the safe scripts of everyday Dutch chat.
• Business DutchMeetings, emails and phone calls, with the u-forms professional settings still expect.