The Netherlands is covered in small signs, on doors, shop windows, toilets and machines, that are easy to glance past and easy to learn. Master a couple of dozen words and you stop pushing doors marked pull. Here they are.
On doors: duwen and trekken
The two most useful sign words:
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| duwen | push |
| trekken | pull |
A memory hook: trekken is related to “traction”, so it means pull towards you. Mixing these up is the classic newcomer fumble. Other door words:
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| open / geopend | open |
| gesloten / dicht | closed |
| ingang | entrance |
| uitgang | exit |
| nooduitgang | emergency exit |
| geen ingang | no entrance |
Ingang (in = in) and uitgang (uit = out) mirror the English logic, so they are quick to learn.
Free, occupied, out of order
On toilets, parking and machines:
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| vrij | free / vacant |
| bezet | occupied / taken |
| defect | out of order |
| buiten gebruik | out of use |
| verboden toegang | no entry / no access |
So a toilet door reading bezet is taken; a ticket machine reading defect is broken. These save you waiting at a dead machine or a closed door.
Warnings and prohibitions
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| let op | attention / note |
| pas op | caution |
| verboden te roken | no smoking |
| niet betreden | do not enter |
| gevaar | danger |
| uitsluitend voor… | only for… |
Many of these use the imperative (let op, pas op) and the abbreviations like a.u.b. (please) and t/m (up to and including) on opening-hours notices. Onze Taal, Van Dale and Dutch grammar references confirm the standard wordings.
Shop and opening signs
You will also meet:
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| geopend / gesloten | open / closed |
| koopavond | late-shopping evening |
| wegens vakantie gesloten | closed for holidays |
| gewijzigde openingstijden | changed opening hours |
These tie into Dutch shop opening hours, so a quick read of the door saves a wasted trip.
Where it connects
Everyday signs sit with the abbreviations on forms and notices, reading cycling and road signs, and shop opening hours.
The bottom line
Learn the door words, duwen (push), trekken (pull), open/gesloten, ingang/uitgang, and the status words vrij, bezet, defect, verboden toegang. Add the warnings (let op, pas op, verboden te roken) and shop signs. It is a small vocabulary that prevents a surprising number of small daily mistakes, starting with which way the door opens.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the everyday sign vocabulary, duwen, trekken, ingang, uitgang, gesloten, vrij, bezet, in five-minute lessons built on real doors and shops, so you stop making small daily mistakes.
Frequently asked questions
What do ‘duwen’ and ‘trekken’ mean on a Dutch door?
Duwen means push and trekken means pull. They are the two words you will see most on doors, and mixing them up is the classic small daily mistake. A memory hook: trekken is related to ‘traction’, so trekken means pull towards you. So if a door says trekken, pull it; if it says duwen, push it.
What are ‘ingang’ and ‘uitgang’?
Ingang means entrance (in to go in) and uitgang means exit (uit to go out). A nooduitgang is an emergency exit. You will see these in shops, stations and car parks. Related signs: geen ingang (no entrance), and arrows pointing the way. They are easy to learn because in- and uit- mirror the English in/out logic.
What do the signs ‘vrij’, ‘bezet’ and ‘gesloten’ mean?
Vrij means free or vacant (often on a toilet door or parking) and bezet means occupied or taken. Gesloten means closed and open / geopend means open, on shops and doors. Defect means out of order (on a machine or lift), and verboden toegang means no entry / no access. Buiten gebruik also means out of use. Knowing these saves you waiting at a closed shop or a broken machine.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for everyday signs and reading?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the everyday signs you meet on doors, shops and buildings, duwen, trekken, ingang, uitgang, gesloten, vrij, bezet, in five-minute real-situation lessons, so the small daily signs stop tripping you up.
