First Phrases

Registering at the town hall · Nederlands

Registering at the town hall in Dutch: 12 survival phrases

Register your address at the counter: say you would like to register, show your passport and rental contract, ask about forms, appointments and a certificate, and get it written down. 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.

Review pending: native-speaker review of this card has not happened yet, and the phrases marked "check" are the ones we are least sure of. Use them as a starting point and let the person you speak to correct you.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). Use "u" at the counter in the Netherlands when in doubt, though staff often reply with "je". Registering an address is "inschrijven" at the gemeente (town hall); you usually book an "afspraak" first.

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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Official names used

On this card: gemeente, inschrijven, adres, afspraak, bewijs van inschrijving. Official website checked on 2026-10-25:

12 phrases you will need

  1. 01Polite
    Goedemorgen. Ik wil me graag inschrijven op dit adres.
    Say it like: KHOO-duh-MOR-khuh. ik vil muh khrahkh IN-skhray-vuh op dit ah-DRES
    Good morning. I'd like to register at this address.
    Register: Polite opener; "inschrijven" is the verb for registering.
  2. 02Neutral
    Ik heb een afspraak om … uur.
    Say it like: ik hep un AHF-sprahk om … ewr
    I have an appointment at … o'clock.
    Register: Say the hour: "om tien uur".
  3. 03Polite
    Hier is mijn paspoort en mijn huurcontract.
    Say it like: heer is mayn PAHS-pohrt en mayn HEWR-kon-trakt
    Here is my passport and my rental contract.
    Register: Polite; hand the papers over as you say it.
  4. 04Neutral
    Heb ik nog iets anders nodig?
    Say it like: hep ik nokh eets AN-ders NOH-dukh
    Do I need anything else?
    Register: Short and neutral.
  5. 05Neutral
    Moet ik een formulier invullen?
    Say it like: moot ik un for-mew-LEER IN-vul-luh
    Do I have to fill in a form?
    Register: "Invullen" means to fill in.
  6. 06Neutralcheck
    Kan ik een bewijs van inschrijving krijgen?
    Say it like: kan ik un buh-WAYS van IN-skhray-ving KRAY-khuh
    Can I get a proof of registration?
    Register: Understood everywhere; the exact document name can differ per gemeente.
  7. 07Neutral
    Hoe lang duurt het?
    Say it like: hoo lang dewrt het
    How long does it take?
    Register: Neutral question.
  8. 08Neutral
    Moet ik een afspraak maken?
    Say it like: moot ik un AHF-sprahk MAH-kuh
    Do I need to make an appointment?
    Register: Neutral question.
  9. 09Polite
    Kunt u wat langzamer praten, alstublieft?
    Say it like: kunt ew vat LANG-zah-mer PRAH-tuh, ahl-stew-BLEEFT
    Could you speak a bit more slowly, please?
    Register: Polite; "u" form.
  10. 10Neutral
    Waar moet ik tekenen?
    Say it like: vahr moot ik TAY-kuh-nuh
    Where do I sign?
    Register: Neutral question.
  11. 11Polite
    Kunt u dat voor me opschrijven?
    Say it like: kunt ew dat vor muh OP-skhray-vuh
    Can you write that down for me?
    Register: Polite; "opschrijven" means to write down.
  12. 12Polite
    Dank u wel, nog een fijne dag.
    Say it like: dank ew vel, nokh un FAY-nuh dakh
    Thank you, have a nice day.
    Register: Polite, friendly goodbye.

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Quick answers

What do I say to start at the town hall in Dutch?

Start with: "Goedemorgen. Ik wil me graag inschrijven op dit adres." (Good morning. I'd like to register at this address.)

Should I use informal or formal Dutch at the town hall?

Use "u" at the counter in the Netherlands when in doubt, though staff often reply with "je". Registering an address is "inschrijven" at the gemeente (town hall); you usually book an "afspraak" first.

How do I say I'd like to register my address in Dutch?

Try: "Goedemorgen. Ik wil me graag inschrijven op dit adres." (Good morning. I'd like to register at this address.)

Same errand, another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands

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/townhall/nl/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint