The bike is how the Netherlands moves, and as a newcomer or even a visitor you will probably end up on one. When something breaks, the “fietsenmaker” (bike repair shop) is your friend, and you do not need much Dutch to be understood there. This is the simple, no-stress version for tourists and newbies; for the fuller vocabulary and how to avoid being overcharged, see the fietsenmaker word list.
First, the bike itself
A bike is a “fiets.” A rental bike is a “huurfiets.” The classic upright Dutch bike is an “omafiets” (grandma bike) or “opafiets” (grandpa bike). If you are just visiting, you likely rented one, and the rental shop usually handles any problem; just bring it back and say what is wrong.
The five words that cover most problems
You can describe almost any issue with a handful of words plus “kapot” (broken):
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Lekke band | Flat tyre |
| Rem | Brake |
| Ketting | Chain |
| Licht | Light |
| Slot | Lock |
| Kapot | Broken |
So “mijn rem is kapot” (my brake is broken) or “mijn band is lek” (my tyre is flat) gets the message across instantly.
The two questions that matter
Once you have pointed at the problem, two questions handle the rest:
- “Kunt u dit maken?” (Can you fix this?)
- “Wat kost het?” (What does it cost?) and “Hoe lang duurt het?” (How long does it take?)
Agreeing the price first is the simple way to avoid surprises, the same advice we give in detail in the fietsenmaker guide.
If you are on a rental or subscription bike
Many newcomers skip repairs entirely. A Swapfiets subscription includes fixing or swapping your bike when it breaks, and the OV-fiets rental bikes at train stations are maintained for you. Tourists almost always have a rental, so a quick “de fiets is kapot, kunt u helpen?” (the bike is broken, can you help?) at the rental desk is all you need.
A few safety words worth knowing
The Netherlands takes cycling seriously, and so do its rules, as the national cyclists’ union the Fietsersbond will tell you. A working “licht” (light) front and back is legally required after dark, and riding without one is an easy fine. “Bel” is your bell, “handrem” is a hand brake, and “terugtraprem” is the coaster brake (you brake by pedalling backwards), which surprises a lot of newcomers on Dutch bikes.
A sample exchange
- You: “Hoi, mijn band is lek. Kunt u dit maken?” (Hi, my tyre is flat. Can you fix this?)
- Mechanic: “Ja hoor. Tien euro, een kwartiertje.” (Sure. Ten euros, about fifteen minutes.)
- You: “Prima, dankjewel.” (Great, thank you.)
That is genuinely all the Dutch most bike repairs need. For getting around more widely, see what conductors announce on Dutch trains during delays.
Renting a bike as a visitor
Most tourists never visit a fietsenmaker at all, because they rent. Rental shops (“fietsverhuur”) are everywhere in tourist cities, and they usually want a deposit (“borg”) and some ID. Useful words: “huren” (to rent), “per dag” (per day), “borg” (deposit), and “terugbrengen” (to bring back). Always lock the bike, “op slot zetten,” with both locks where provided, because bike theft is common and you are liable for a stolen rental. If anything goes wrong, you do not even need repair vocabulary: just bring it back and say “de fiets is kapot” (the bike is broken), and the shop sorts it out.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that turns getting-around situations like this one into short, five-minute lessons with audio, built for expats in the Netherlands and Dutch-speaking Belgium.
Frequently asked questions
What Dutch do I need at a bike repair shop as a tourist?
Very little. Learn fiets (bike), lekke band (flat tyre), rem (brake), licht (light), kapot (broken), plus “kunt u dit maken?” (can you fix this?) and “wat kost het?” (what does it cost?). That covers almost any repair.
How do you say “flat tyre” in Dutch?
A flat tyre is “een lekke band.” To say yours is flat, say “mijn band is lek,” and to ask for a fix, “kunt u de band maken?” or “kunt u de band plakken?” (can you patch it?).
Do bike rental shops in the Netherlands speak English?
Almost always, especially in tourist areas and cities. You can usually explain a problem in English, but a few Dutch words help and are appreciated. Rental and subscription services typically handle repairs for you.
What is a terugtraprem?
A “terugtraprem” is a coaster brake: you brake by pedalling backwards rather than using a hand lever. Many classic Dutch bikes have one, which catches newcomers off guard, so test the brakes before you ride off.
