First Phrases

Making plans with new friends · Nederlands

Making plans with new friends in Dutch: 15 phrases

Invite someone for a coffee or an event, suggest a time and a place, swap numbers, say you are new in town, decline politely, follow up after meeting at an event, and say nice to meet you and see you next time. Short, natural phrases for making friends in a new town. Pair them with Meet & Mint: find an event to go to together.

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). Between people of a similar age "je/jij" is the normal form in the Netherlands, also with someone new; "u" is for older people or formal situations. "Afspreken" is the everyday verb for arranging to meet. Dinner is often earlier than in southern Europe, so confirm the time. Phrases only: this card gives no safety or medical advice.

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.

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15 phrases you will need

  1. 01Informal
    Heb je zin om deze week koffie te drinken?
    Say it like: hep yuh zin om DAY-zuh vayk KOF-fee tuh DRING-kuh
    Do you feel like having a coffee this week?
    Register: "Zin hebben in/om" = to feel like.
  2. 02Informal
    Kom je zaterdag naar het evenement? Dan kunnen we samen gaan.
    Say it like: kom yuh ZAH-ter-dakh nar het ay-vuh-nuh-MENT. dan KUN-nuh vuh SAH-muh khaan
    Are you coming to the event on Saturday? Then we can go together.
    Register: "Samen" = together.
  3. 03Informal
    Zullen we om zeven uur afspreken om te eten?
    Say it like: ZUL-luh vuh om ZAY-vuh ewr AF-spray-kuh om tuh AY-tuh
    Shall we meet at seven to eat?
    Register: "Zullen we...?" = shall we...?
  4. 04Informal
    Past het in het centrum? Ik ken een gezellige plek.
    Say it like: past het in het SEN-trum? ik ken un khuh-ZEL-lih-khuh plek
    Does the centre suit you? I know a nice place.
    Register: "Gezellig" = cosy, pleasant, fun: a very Dutch word.
  5. 05Informal
    Welke dag past jou het beste?
    Say it like: WEL-kuh dakh past yow het BES-tuh
    Which day suits you best?
    Register: With u: "past u".
  6. 06Informal
    Mag ik je nummer? Dan stuur ik je een berichtje.
    Say it like: makh ik yuh NUM-mer? dan stewr ik yuh un buh-RIKH-tyuh
    Can I have your number? Then I'll send you a message.
    Register: Often "Heb je WhatsApp?".
  7. 07Neutral
    Ik ben nieuw in de stad en leer graag nieuwe mensen kennen.
    Say it like: ik ben neew in duh stat en layr khraakh NEE-wuh MEN-sun KEN-nuh
    I'm new in town and I'd like to get to know new people.
    Register: "Leren kennen" = to get to know.
  8. 08Neutral
    Bedankt voor de uitnodiging, maar deze keer lukt het niet.
    Say it like: buh-DANKT voor duh OWT-noh-dee-khing, mar DAY-zuh kayr lukt het neet
    Thanks for the invitation, but it won't work this time.
    Register: "Het lukt niet" = I can't manage it.
  9. 09Informal
    Vandaag past niet, maar zullen we een andere dag afspreken?
    Say it like: van-DAAKH past neet, mar ZUL-luh vuh un AN-duh-ruh dakh AF-spray-kuh
    Today doesn't work, but shall we arrange another day?
    Register: Friendly way to keep the plan alive.
  10. 10Informal
    Leuk! Ik ben erbij.
    Say it like: lurk. ik ben er-BY
    Nice! I'll be there.
    Register: "Erbij zijn" = to be part of it.
  11. 11Neutral
    Leuk dat ik je gisteren heb ontmoet op het evenement.
    Say it like: lurk dat ik yuh KHIS-tuh-run hep ont-MOOT op het ay-vuh-nuh-MENT
    Nice that I met you yesterday at the event.
    Register: With u: "u".
  12. 12Informal
    Ik stuur je de details via WhatsApp.
    Say it like: ik stewr yuh duh day-TELS VEE-ah WHATS-ap
    I'll send you the details on WhatsApp.
    Register: Or "in een berichtje".
  13. 13Informal
    Zullen we dit nog eens doen? Ik vond het erg gezellig.
    Say it like: ZUL-luh vuh dit nokh ens doon? ik vont het erkh khuh-ZEL-lukh
    Shall we do this again? I found it really fun.
    Register: "Nog eens" = again, once more.
  14. 14Neutral
    Leuk om kennis met je te maken.
    Say it like: lurk om KEN-nis met yuh tuh MAH-kuh
    Nice to meet you.
    Register: "Aangenaam" is the more formal alternative.
  15. 15Informal
    Tot de volgende keer! Tot snel.
    Say it like: tot duh VOL-khuh-duh kayr. tot snel
    Until next time! See you soon.
    Register: "Tot snel" = see you soon.

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Quick answers

How do you invite someone for a coffee in Dutch?

Say: "Heb je zin om deze week koffie te drinken?" (Do you feel like having a coffee this week?)

Should I use informal or formal Dutch with new friends?

Between people of a similar age "je/jij" is the normal form in the Netherlands, also with someone new; "u" is for older people or formal situations. "Afspreken" is the everyday verb for arranging to meet. Dinner is often earlier than in southern Europe, so confirm the time. Phrases only: this card gives no safety or medical advice.

How do I say I'm new in town in Dutch?

Say: "Ik ben nieuw in de stad en leer graag nieuwe mensen kennen." (I'm new in town and I'd like to get to know new people.)

How do I decline an invitation politely in Dutch?

Say: "Bedankt voor de uitnodiging, maar deze keer lukt het niet." (Thanks for the invitation, but it won't work this time.)

Making plans phrases in another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands Svenska

Dutch, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat Christmas market Post office and parcels Registering at the town hall

All survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the language of the country you live in.
  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 an event to go to together: see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group before you meet. Or try a phrase card for tonight first.

firstphrases.app/survival/making-plans-with-new-friends/nl/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint