Forms are unavoidable: registering, opening accounts, signing up for anything. The good news is that Dutch forms recycle the same two dozen words. Learn them once and every formulier, paper or online, becomes routine.
The fields on (almost) every form
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| voornaam | first name |
| achternaam | surname |
| tussenvoegsel | name particle (van, de, …) |
| geboortedatum | date of birth |
| geboorteplaats | place of birth |
| geslacht | sex / gender |
| adres / huisnummer | address / house number |
| postcode / woonplaats | postcode / town |
| telefoonnummer | phone number |
| e-mailadres | email address |
| nationaliteit | nationality |
| BSN | citizen service number |
The address fields connect directly to how Dutch addresses and postcodes work, and the dates use the day-month-year order, so 05-05-1990 is 5 May 1990.
The tussenvoegsel box: the one that confuses
Dutch surnames often contain a particle: van, de, van der, van den, ten, ter. Crucially, forms (and official records) usually file these separately from the main surname. So a form may have three name boxes:
- voornaam: Anna
- tussenvoegsel: van der
- achternaam: Berg
This is why a “van der Berg” is alphabetised under B (Berg), not V. If your own name has no such particle, just leave the tussenvoegsel box empty. Getting this right keeps your name filed correctly everywhere.
The action words
What the form asks you to do:
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| invullen | to fill in |
| aankruisen / aanvinken | to tick / check a box |
| ondertekenen | to sign |
| inleveren / opsturen | to hand in / send |
| verzenden | to submit (online) |
| verplicht | required (often marked *) |
| optioneel | optional |
A verplicht field, usually flagged with an asterisk, must be completed or the form bounces back. The government’s forms and services and Business.gov.nl use exactly this vocabulary, and newcomer guides such as IamExpat walk through the same fields in English.
Signing: handtekening and DigiD
Your handtekening is your signature. On paper you sign beside handtekening or ondertekening, often with plaats en datum (place and date). Online, signing is frequently replaced by ticking an agreement box, or by logging in with DiGiD, which acts as your verified government identity. Always look for a required signature step before you submit.
Where it connects
Forms tie together much of Dutch admin: they need your address and postcode, they show up at gemeente appointments, and they govern things like building up your AOW pension. The shorthand on them often includes Dutch abbreviations worth decoding.
The bottom line
Every Dutch formulier reuses the same words: voornaam, achternaam, the separate tussenvoegsel box, geboortedatum, adres, plus the actions invullen, aankruisen, ondertekenen. Verplicht means required; dates run day-month-year; your handtekening is your signature, often replaced online by DiGiD. Learn this set once and no Dutch form, on paper or screen, will trip you up again.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the words on every Dutch form, voornaam, achternaam, tussenvoegsel, geboortedatum, invullen, ondertekenen, in five-minute lessons built on real forms, so you fill in the right box the first time.
Frequently asked questions
What do voornaam, achternaam and tussenvoegsel mean on a Dutch form?
Voornaam is your first (given) name, achternaam is your surname (family name), and tussenvoegsel is the little particle between them, like van, de, van der, or van den. Dutch forms often give the tussenvoegsel its own box, separate from the surname, because Dutch records file names by the main surname, not the particle. If your name has no such particle, leave that box empty.
What does ‘invullen’ mean and what are the other key form verbs?
Invullen means to fill in or complete a form. The other essential verbs are aankruisen or aanvinken (to tick a box), ondertekenen (to sign), inleveren or opsturen (to hand in / send), and verzenden (to submit, online). A field marked verplicht (often with an asterisk *) is required; optioneel means optional. Dates are entered day-month-year, so geboortedatum 05-05-1990 is 5 May 1990.
What is a handtekening and where do I sign a Dutch form?
A handtekening is your signature. On a paper form you sign next to handtekening or ondertekening, usually with the place and date (plaats en datum) beside it. Online, ondertekenen may be replaced by ticking an agreement box or logging in with DiGiD, which acts as your verified identity for government forms. Always check for a verplicht signature field before sending.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for forms and paperwork?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the exact vocabulary on Dutch forms, voornaam, achternaam, tussenvoegsel, geboortedatum, invullen, aankruisen, ondertekenen, in five-minute real-situation lessons, so you complete any form, at the gemeente or online, without filling in the wrong box.
