Your first week in the Netherlands does not require fluency. It requires about fifteen phrases: enough to greet people, pay, ask for help, and be polite. Everyone will happily switch to English, but leading with a little Dutch makes the week smoother and lands surprisingly well. Here is the survival kit.
The absolute core
These are the lines you will use within hours of landing.
| Dutch | English | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Hoi / Goedemorgen | Hi / Good morning | Everywhere |
| Dank je wel / Bedankt | Thank you | Everywhere |
| Alsjeblieft | Please / here you go | Shops, cafes |
| Spreekt u Engels? | Do you speak English? | When stuck |
| Ik begrijp het niet | I do not understand | When stuck |
| Sorry, mijn Nederlands is nog niet goed | Sorry, my Dutch is not good yet | Disarming opener |
| Pinnen | To pay by card | Every checkout |
| Een tasje, alsjeblieft | A bag, please | Supermarket |
| De rekening, graag | The bill, please | Cafe, restaurant |
The one phrase that changes everything
Lead with “Spreekt u Engels?” rather than launching into English. It costs one sentence and signals respect, and because the Netherlands tops the EF English Proficiency Index, the reply is almost always warm and fluent. As I amsterdam highlights, English is everywhere, so this single Dutch courtesy is all the friction you need to absorb in week one.
Getting around and getting fed
At the supermarket you will hit the checkout fast; pinnen (card payment) and een tasje (a bag) cover most of it, and our guide to navigating the Albert Heijn queue goes deeper. For trains, signs, and the first day generally, survival Dutch before you land at Schiphol and the ten words that make an immediate difference on day one are the natural next reads.
Asking for help and directions
Beyond the checkout, the other week-one need is finding things and getting unstuck. Keep these ready: “Waar is de…?” (where is the…?), “Hoe laat…?” (what time…?), and “Kunt u me helpen?” (can you help me?). For health, “Ik heb een dokter nodig” (I need a doctor) and the word apotheek (pharmacy) are worth knowing from day one. Orientation services like Study in NL and your own municipality publish English newcomer guides, but a few Dutch words still smooth every counter and street encounter.
Be polite, not perfect
Dutch directness can feel blunt, but basic courtesy still matters: alsjeblieft and dank je wel go a long way, and nobody expects grammar. Getting the rhythm of these phrases beats memorising rules, which is why a situation-first approach works so well in week one. For the bigger picture of what to learn next, see our practical guide to Dutch for expats.
The bottom line
Pack fifteen phrases, not a grammar book. Greet, thank, ask if they speak English, and handle the checkout, and your first week runs smoothly. Lead with one Dutch sentence everywhere you go; it is the smallest effort with the biggest payoff in your earliest days here.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the exact survival situations of your first week, greetings, paying, asking for help, in five-minute lessons, so you walk into a shop or a gemeente desk with the right Dutch line ready instead of freezing.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most important Dutch phrases for your first week?
The survival core is greetings (hoi, goedemorgen), politeness (alsjeblieft, dank je wel), the magic question “spreekt u Engels?” (do you speak English?), “ik begrijp het niet” (I do not understand), and the checkout and cafe basics (pinnen, een tasje, de rekening). With these you handle shops, transport, and a first conversation.
Do I need Dutch in my first week in the Netherlands?
You can get by in English, since almost everyone speaks it, but a handful of Dutch phrases makes your first week smoother and signals respect that locals notice. The point is not fluency; it is having the ten or fifteen lines that cover greetings, paying, asking for help, and being polite.
How do you politely ask if someone speaks English in Dutch?
Say “Spreekt u Engels?” (formal) or “Spreek je Engels?” (informal). Leading with one Dutch sentence before switching is the polite move, and it almost always gets a warm, fluent English reply. Pair it with “Sorry, mijn Nederlands is nog niet goed” (sorry, my Dutch is not good yet).
What is the best app to learn survival Dutch for your first week?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best choice for week one because it teaches the exact survival situations, greetings, the checkout, asking for help, in five-minute lessons, so you walk into a shop or a gemeente desk with the right line ready instead of freezing.
