First Phrases

First 48 hours · Nederlands

First 48 hours in Dutch: 25 phrases for meeting people

Introduce yourself, say you are new here and ask for tips, ask to join a table, ask where people meet, leave politely, and swap contacts. Short, natural phrases for the first two days in a new country.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Informal (friendly). In the Netherlands "je" is normal with most people, including strangers your age, at meetups and in cafés. Use "u" with older people, officials and staff in formal places. The "u" version is given in each note where it differs.

How to read the sounds: g and ch are a rough throat sound, written kh (like Scottish 'loch'), stronger than English h. ou/ui = 'ow'; ij/ei = 'ay' (as in 'say'); eu = a rounded 'uh' (like French 'peu'); uu = 'ew' (say 'ee' with rounded lips); oe = 'oo'. Stress is in CAPITALS.

Your recording stays on your device.

25 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    Hoi, ik ben …. Leuk je te ontmoeten!
    Say it like: HOY, ik ben … LURK yuh tuh ont-MOO-ten
    Hi, I'm …. Nice to meet you!
    Register: Standard and friendly. U: "Aangenaam kennis te maken."
  2. 02Neutral
    Hoe heet je?
    Say it like: hoo HAYT yuh
    What's your name?
    Register: U: "Hoe heet u?"
  3. 03Neutral
    Waar kom je vandaan?
    Say it like: vaar KOM yuh van-DAAN
    Where are you from?
    Register: U: "Waar komt u vandaan?"
  4. 04Neutral
    Ik kom uit …. En jij?
    Say it like: ik KOM owt … en YAY
    I'm from …. And you?
    Register: Add your country or city. U: "En u?"
  5. 05Neutral
    Ik ben hier net komen wonen.
    Say it like: ik ben heer net KOH-men VOH-nen
    I've just moved here.
    Register: For "I've just arrived" say "Ik ben net aangekomen."
  6. 06Neutral
    Ik ben nieuw hier. Heb je tips?
    Say it like: ik ben NEE-oo heer. HEP yuh TIPS
    I'm new here. Any tips?
    Register: "Nieuw" has no gender, so this works for everyone. U: "Heeft u tips?"
  7. 07Neutral
    Woon je hier in de buurt?
    Say it like: VOHN yuh heer in duh BEWRT
    Do you live around here?
    Register: U: "Woont u hier in de buurt?"
  8. 08Neutral
    Is deze stoel nog vrij?
    Say it like: iss DAY-zuh STOOL nokh VRAY
    Is this chair free?
    Register: Answers: "Ja hoor, ga zitten" (sure, sit down) or "Nee, die is bezet" (taken).
  9. 09Neutral
    Mag ik erbij komen zitten?
    Say it like: mahkh ik er-BAY KOH-men ZIT-ten
    May I join you?
    Register: Polite and friendly, to one person or a group.
  10. 10Neutral
    Kom gezellig bij ons zitten!
    Say it like: KOM khuh-ZEL-likh bay ons ZIT-ten
    Come and join us!
    Register: "Gezellig" = cosy and sociable, a very Dutch word. U: "Komt u gezellig bij ons zitten!"
  11. 11Neutral
    Waar spreken mensen hier meestal af?
    Say it like: vaar SPRAY-ken MEN-sen heer MAYS-tal AF
    Where do people usually meet up here?
    Register: "Afspreken" = to arrange to meet. Also "Waar ga je hier uit?" (where do you go out here?).
  12. 12Neutral
    Is er een groep of evenement voor nieuwkomers?
    Say it like: iss er un KHROOP of ay-vuh-nuh-MENT voor NEE-oo-koh-mers
    Is there a group or event for newcomers?
    Register: Also search "taalcafé" (language café) and "borrel" (drinks) meetups.
  13. 13Neutral
    Kun je een leuke plek in de buurt aanbevelen?
    Say it like: kun yuh un LUR-kuh PLEK in duh BEWRT AAN-buh-vay-len
    Can you recommend a nice place nearby?
    Register: Add what you want: "om koffie te drinken" or "om te eten". U: "Kunt u ... aanbevelen?"
  14. 14Neutral
    Sorry, mijn Nederlands is nog niet zo goed.
    Say it like: SOR-ee, mayn NAY-der-lahnts iss nokh neet zoh KHOOT
    Sorry, my Dutch isn't very good yet.
    Register: Many Dutch people switch to English; say "Ik wil graag oefenen" (I'd like to practise) if you want Dutch.
  15. 15Neutral
    Kun je dat alsjeblieft herhalen?
    Say it like: kun yuh dat ahl-suh-BLEEFT her-HAH-len
    Could you repeat that, please?
    Register: U: "Kunt u dat alsjeblieft herhalen?" Formal "please" is "alstublieft".
  16. 16Neutral
    Kun je iets langzamer praten, alsjeblieft?
    Say it like: kun yuh eets LAHNG-zah-mer PRAH-ten ahl-suh-BLEEFT
    Could you speak a little more slowly, please?
    Register: U: "Kunt u iets langzamer praten, alstublieft?"
  17. 17Neutral
    Zin om een keer koffie te gaan drinken?
    Say it like: zin om un KAYR KOF-fee tuh khaan DRIN-ken
    Fancy getting a coffee sometime?
    Register: Casual and low pressure. "Zin om" = feel like.
  18. 18Neutral
    Bedankt voor de tips, dat helpt echt.
    Say it like: buh-DAHNKT voor duh TIPS, dat HELPT ekht
    Thanks for the tips, that really helps.
    Register: Also "Dankjewel voor de tips!"
  19. 19Neutral
    Leuk om met je te praten.
    Say it like: LURK om met yuh tuh PRAH-ten
    Nice talking to you.
    Register: U: "Leuk om met u te praten."
  20. 20Neutral
    Ik ga ervandoor. Tot snel!
    Say it like: ik KHAA er-van-DOHR. tot SNEL
    I'm off. See you soon!
    Register: "Ervandoor gaan" = to head off. The everyday way to leave.
  21. 21Neutral
    Sorry, ik heb met iemand afgesproken. Leuk je ontmoet te hebben!
    Say it like: SOR-ee, ik hep met EE-mant AHF-khuh-sproh-ken. LURK yuh ont-MOOT tuh HEB-ben
    Sorry, I'm meeting someone. Nice to have met you!
    Register: A polite, honest reason to leave. U: "Leuk u ontmoet te hebben."
  22. 22Neutral
    Zullen we nummers uitwisselen?
    Say it like: ZUL-len vuh NUM-mers OWT-vis-sel-en
    Shall we swap numbers?
    Register: Casual and mutual. "Zullen we" = shall we.
  23. 23Neutral
    Heb je WhatsApp?
    Say it like: HEP yuh WOTS-ep
    Do you have WhatsApp?
    Register: U: "Hebt u WhatsApp?" Everyone in the Netherlands uses it.
  24. 24Neutral
    Laten we contact houden!
    Say it like: LAH-ten vuh kon-TAKT HOW-den
    Let's stay in touch!
    Register: Also "We spreken elkaar!" (we'll talk).
  25. 25Neutral
    Fijne avond nog!
    Say it like: FAY-nuh AH-vont nokh
    Enjoy the rest of your evening!
    Register: Earlier in the day say "Fijne dag nog!"

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Quick answers

How do you introduce yourself in Dutch?

Say: "Hoi, ik ben …. Leuk je te ontmoeten!" (Hi, I'm …. Nice to meet you!)

Should I use informal or formal Dutch with people I have just met?

In the Netherlands "je" is normal with most people, including strangers your age, at meetups and in cafés. Use "u" with older people, officials and staff in formal places. The "u" version is given in each note where it differs.

How do I ask to join a table in Dutch?

Try: "Mag ik erbij komen zitten?" (May I join you?)

How do I say I am new here in Dutch?

Try: "Ik ben nieuw hier. Heb je tips?" (I'm new here. Any tips?)

First 48 hours in another language

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Dutch, another errand

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How it works

  1. Pick the language of the country you have just moved to.
  2. Read the phrases: each has the English meaning, an easy pronunciation guide and a register note. Tap the speaker to hear it in your device's voice, or tap Practise to record yourself and compare with the model (your recording never leaves your device).
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. Native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Then open Meet & Mint to find events near you, see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group.

firstphrases.app/survival/first48/nl/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint