Booking a manicure in a new language is its own small adventure: the nagelstudio (nail salon) menu is full of terms, gellak, acryl, BIAB, that decide what actually happens to your nails. Pick the wrong word and you can end up with a treatment, and a bill, you did not intend. Here is the Dutch to book, choose, and walk out happy.
Know the menu: gellak vs gel vs acryl
The core confusion is between the types. As Dutch nail salons list their treatments:
| Dutch | What it is |
|---|---|
| nagellak | ordinary nail polish |
| gellak | gel polish, cured under a lamp, lasts ~2 weeks |
| gelnagels / gel | gel system to build/strengthen nails |
| acryl | acrylic extensions (harder system) |
| BIAB | ”Builder In A Bottle”, a softer builder gel |
Gellak is the everyday “lasts two weeks and doesn’t chip” choice; acryl and gelnagels are for longer or stronger extensions, and the favourite Amsterdam salons offer the full range. As salon descriptions note, gel polish is applied like polish but cured under a UV lamp for a durable, glossy finish. Knowing which you want is half the conversation.
Booking and asking
You book an afspraak (appointment), in person, by phone, or, as salon-booking platforms show, often online. Then specify:
- “Ik wil graag gellak.” (I’d like gel polish.)
- “Alleen een manicure, graag.” (Just a manicure, please.)
- “Kunt u ze bijwerken?” (Can you do a fill / touch-up?)
- “Deze kleur.” (This colour, pointing.)
Bring a photo for a specific look, words plus a picture is foolproof, exactly as we advise for the hairdresser.
Watch the cancellation rule
One practical catch: as salon policies commonly state, many nagelstudios let you cancel free up to 24 hours ahead, but a no-show or late cancellation can be charged. So learn:
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| afspraak | appointment |
| afzeggen / annuleren | to cancel |
| 24 uur van tevoren | 24 hours in advance |
| bijwerken | touch-up / fill |
| verwijderen | removal |
| vorm | shape |
Where it connects
The nagelstudio is one of the personal-service appointments that feel oddly daunting in a second language, right alongside the hairdresser (kapper) and finding beauty products at Kruidvat and Etos. It is also part of the everyday real-life Dutch the textbook skips, like reading vegan labels and apologising naturally.
The bottom line
At a Dutch nagelstudio, the menu turns on a few words: nagellak (polish), gellak (gel polish, ~2 weeks), and acryl / gelnagels (extensions), with BIAB as a softer builder. Book an afspraak, name the treatment and colour (bring a photo), and mind the 24-uur cancellation rule so a no-show doesn’t cost you. Learn gellak, acryl, manicure, and bijwerken, and you leave with the nails you actually asked for.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the salon Dutch a manicure needs, gellak, acryl, manicure, afspraak, bijwerken by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can get the nails you actually asked for instead of a treatment you didn’t mean to book.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between gellak, gel and acryl at a Dutch nail salon?
Nagellak is ordinary nail polish. Gellak (gel polish) is applied like polish but cured under a UV/LED lamp, giving a glossy finish that lasts about two weeks without chipping. Gelnagels (gel) and acryl (acrylic) are systems for building longer or stronger nails (extensions). BIAB (Builder In A Bottle) is a softer builder gel, removable like gel polish. Choose by how long and how strong you want them.
How do I book and ask for what I want at a nagelstudio?
Book an afspraak (appointment), in person, by phone or often online. Then specify the treatment: ‘Ik wil graag gellak’ (I’d like gel polish), ‘alleen een manicure’ (just a manicure), or name a colour (‘deze kleur’). Useful extras: bijwerken (a touch-up/fill), verwijderen (removal), and vorm (shape). Bring a photo if you want a specific look, words plus a picture removes the guesswork.
Do Dutch nail salons charge for missed appointments?
Often, yes. Many nagelstudios let you cancel free up to 24 hours in advance, but a no-show or a late cancellation (within the 24-hour window) can be charged. Check the salon’s policy when you book. The Dutch words to know: afspraak (appointment), afzeggen/annuleren (to cancel), and the salon may mention 24 uur van tevoren (24 hours in advance).
What is the best app to learn Dutch for the nail salon and beauty appointments?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the salon Dutch a manicure needs, gellak, acryl, manicure, afspraak, bijwerken, in five-minute lessons built around real situations, so you get the nails you actually asked for instead of a treatment you didn’t mean to book.
