First Phrases

Post office and parcels · Nederlands

Post office and parcels in Dutch: 12 survival phrases

Collect a parcel with your delivery notice, send a letter or parcel abroad, ask for tracking and a receipt, and find the nearest post office. Short phrases for the counter.

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: Polite (formal is safer). In the Netherlands "u" is the safe choice at a counter, although many people say "je". If you were not home, the carrier leaves a card or sends a message with a pick-up point (such as a "PostNL-punt" in a shop). Bring the message and a valid ID.

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.

Official names used

On this card: PostNL, PostNL-punt, pakket, postzegel. Operator website checked on 2026-10-24:

12 phrases you will need

  1. 01Polite
    Goedemorgen. Ik kom een pakket ophalen.
    Say it like: KHOO-duh-mor-khuh. ik kom un pa-KET OP-hah-luh
    Good morning. I've come to pick up a parcel.
    Register: Polite opener.
  2. 02Polite
    Ik heb een kaartje in de brievenbus gekregen. Alstublieft.
    Say it like: ik hep un KAR-tyuh in duh BREE-vuh-bus khuh-KRAY-khuh. AHL-stew-bleeft
    I got a card in my letterbox. Here you are.
    Register: "Alstublieft" is the polite "here you are".
  3. 03Neutral
    Ik was niet thuis. Waar kan ik het pakket ophalen?
    Say it like: ik vas neet TUH-ees. vahr kan ik het pa-KET OP-hah-luh
    I wasn't home. Where can I collect the parcel?
    Register: Neutral; works for any carrier.
  4. 04Neutral
    Hier is mijn paspoort. Is dat genoeg?
    Say it like: heer is mine PAS-pohrt. is dat khuh-NOOKH
    Here is my passport. Is that enough?
    Register: Neutral; ask if you have no Dutch ID card.
  5. 05Neutral
    Moet ik een nummertje trekken?
    Say it like: moot ik un NUM-er-tyuh TREK-uh
    Do I need to take a number?
    Register: "Een nummertje trekken" is the usual phrase.
  6. 06Neutral
    Ik wil dit pakket naar … sturen.
    Say it like: ik vil dit pa-KET nahr STEW-ruh
    I want to send this parcel to …
    Register: Direct but normal; add "graag" to soften it.
  7. 07Neutral
    Wat kost het om dit naar … te sturen?
    Say it like: vat kost het om dit nahr tuh STEW-ruh
    How much does it cost to send this to …?
    Register: Neutral question.
  8. 08Polite
    Een postzegel voor een brief, alstublieft.
    Say it like: un POST-zay-khul voor un breef, AHL-stew-bleeft
    One stamp for a letter, please.
    Register: "Postzegel" is the stamp.
  9. 09Polite
    Met track en trace, alstublieft.
    Say it like: met trek en trays, AHL-stew-bleeft
    With track and trace, please.
    Register: "Track en trace" is the everyday word for tracking.
  10. 10Neutral
    Hoeveel dagen duurt het?
    Say it like: hoo-VAYL DAH-khuh dewrt het
    How many days does it take?
    Register: Short and neutral.
  11. 11Polite
    Mag ik een bonnetje, alstublieft?
    Say it like: makh ik un BON-uh-tyuh, AHL-stew-bleeft
    May I have a receipt, please?
    Register: Polite; keep it as proof of sending.
  12. 12Neutral
    Waar is het dichtstbijzijnde PostNL-punt?
    Say it like: vahr is het dikhst-BY-zine-duh POST-en-el-punt
    Where is the nearest PostNL point?
    Register: Neutral; a PostNL-punt is often inside a shop.

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Quick answers

What do I say to start at the post office in Dutch?

Start with: "Goedemorgen. Ik kom een pakket ophalen." (Good morning. I've come to pick up a parcel.)

Should I use informal or formal Dutch at the post office?

In the Netherlands "u" is the safe choice at a counter, although many people say "je". If you were not home, the carrier leaves a card or sends a message with a pick-up point (such as a "PostNL-punt" in a shop). Bring the message and a valid ID.

How do I say I have a delivery notice in Dutch?

Try: "Ik heb een kaartje in de brievenbus gekregen. Alstublieft." (I got a card in my letterbox. Here you are.)

Same errand, another language

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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 8 × 6 survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the errand and the language of the country you are 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. The official names of offices and numbers are checked against the official sites; native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Once you are settled, open Meet & Mint to find events near you, see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group.

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