-How To Say Thank You In Dutch: 17 + Ways
Original blog post: https://ling-app.com/nl/how-to-say-thank-you-in-dutch/ (with audio🔊)
You’re off to the Netherlands! While visiting, you’ll need to know a bit about the Dutch language to help you get by. Learning basic vocabulary and phrases in Dutch to help you get around and fit into the cultural norms.
Knowing how to say pleasantries such as thank you in Dutch will help you make a good impression in a foreign country. It might be quite different from your language and culture.
Ling App is a great tool to have with you in your pocket as you explore the world of Dutch! Our blog also has useful articles such as how to introduce yourself in Dutch when you meet some new friends. You can also get the all-important information about how to read and say time and dates in Dutch.
This article is all about being polite in formal and informal situations. It offers you diverse ways to say thank you in Dutch.
Click the blue-button beside each phrase to hear the pronunciation.
Let’s begin!
How To Say “Thank You” In Dutch In Informal Situations
In Dutch, these ways to thank you are perfect for informal situations when you know the people well, such as close friends, close workers, or family.
1. Thank You
Dank je wel
It is a quick way to say thank you in Dutch. You can use it anytime, from the concierge helping you with your hotel room to the barista who makes your coffee to someone who holds a door open for you.
Although, most Dutch people will remove the suffix -wel and say dank je
Dank je is probably the most common way to say thank you in the Netherlands. Still, it’s only appropriate around people you know.
2. Thank You Very Much
Echt heel erg bedank
Although this phrase is used in casual situations, it’s best reserved for when you truly feel grateful for something someone did for you.
Examples of situations for when to use this phrase are after someone gives you a meaningful gift or helps you when your car is broken down.
The literal translation is close to “Really, very much thanks.”
3. Thank You For Everything
Bedankt voor alles
Like “thank you very much;” this would be reserved for special situations such as when a friend helps you out with a medical problem or takes care of you when you’re sick.
You might also use it with a close coworker when one of you leaves your job for a new opportunity.
4. Super Thanks
Superbedankt
This is a rather adorable way to say thank you in Dutch, but it’s not that common. It’s more often used in a sarcastic sense when someone is trying to help but ends up messing things up instead.
5. Thanks
Tanks
The Dutch are incorporating English into their daily vernacular more and more.
Thanks are just one of those appropriations with their little twist. Remove the ‘h,’ and you end up with tanks (which, don’t be alarmed if you hear this on the streets in a conversation. It doesn’t mean tanks are coming!)
6. Thanks
Bedankt
Like tanks, bedankt has become a popular way to express thanks among younger generations within friendship circles.
7. Thank You. That’s Very Kind Of You
Dank je. Dat is erg aardig van u
You would use this phrase when a family member or close friend goes out of their way to help you or support you.
8. Thanks For Your Kind Words!
Bedankt voor je vriendelijke woorden!
This would be an appropriate answer to a compliment well-received.
It’s always nice to give thanks when someone says something nice about you, making you feel good!
9. Thanks A Lot!
Ontzettend bedankt!
This is similar to thank you so much! It has a much more positive spin than simply saying thank you.
You might use this if someone picks something up for you that you dropped, or add extra whip cream to your coffee, or when a teacher teaches you something new.
How To Say “Thank You” In Dutch In A Formal Situation
When would you use formal ways of saying thank you in Dutch? Well, let’s take a look at some cultural formalities:
- With someone who’s older than you
- With someone who’s in a higher “authority” position (doctors, police officers, teachers, or your boss)
- At a formal occasion, such as a wedding, funeral, office party, or business function
- If you’re the host of a party
1. Thank You For Coming Today
Dank jullie wel dat jullie wilden komen vandaag
This phrase can be used when greeting people at an event or seeing them off.
2. Thank You For Your Consideration
Bedankt voor uw begrip
A native speaker would use this formal phrase most commonly in written form. It could be used at the end of a cover letter for a job application, in an email, or proposal.
It’s used to thank someone for taking the time to consider you. If you want to sound more formal, you can use this phrase to thank someone for their sensitivity and thoughtfulness towards you.
3. Heartfelt Thanks
Hartelijk dank
A presenter or host of an event would use this phrase to add more emotion to thank you, to show appreciation, and make it hold more meaning at the end of a presentation or speech.
4. Thank You For Spending Time With Us
Dank jullie wel dat jullie de tijd met ons wilden doorbrengen
This is a Dutch phrase every speaker, presenter, or host should know when at an event with Dutch speakers. It’s used to close out a speech or presentation or say goodbye to guests.
5. Thank You For Being Patient And Helping Me Improve
Dank u wel voor uw geduld en om me te helpen beter te worden
Use this to thank your teacher! Maybe you have a Dutch tutor, and you’d like to show your appreciation for all their efforts. Say this and show them how well you speak Dutch!
6. Thanks In Advance
Very formal: bij voorbaat dank
A little less formal: alvast bedankt
When writing an email requesting someone take action, you’ll want to end your email or text in this formal way.
7. Thank You For The Gift
Bedankt voor het cadeau
You would say this to a Dutch person who gives you a gift you don’t know very well to show respect.
How To Say “Thank You For…” Something In Dutch
Sometimes you’ll want to be specific about what you are thanking a Dutch person for to show your gratitude.
Dank je voor….(noun)
The saying has the same grammatical context as English, so you would say:
Thank you for the (noun)
Thank you for (verb)
Doing this adds a more personal touch and appreciation.
Important Tips!
Thank You Can Mean No
Specifically in Holland, the Dutch are so polite they use thank you for saying no! Thanks in Dutch or thank you actually have a negative connotation if offered something at a market or shop.
For example, if you’re offered a free sample, and you say dank je wel (thank you), the Dutch person will assume you mean no thank you; you don’t want any even if you do.
Be sure to add ja (yes) BEFORE you say dank je wel (thank you) to imply that you would like some!
Thank Like A Young Person
A dead giveaway that you’re a non-native Dutch speaker is if you say:
Dank u zeer
This means thanks a lot and is used mainly by the older generations to express gratitude.
How To Say You’re Welcome In Dutch
You can’t say thank you in Dutch without knowing how to say you’re welcome!
So here you go:
graag gedaan
This translates to, “It’s my pleasure.”
You can also respond with:
geen dank
This means, “Don’t mention it.”
Bedankt om dit te lezen
Thank you for reading this! We hope you learn a lot, especially the tips and tricks. Who knew that thank you could mean no thanks at the same time!
Ling would like to help you on your journey of learning Dutch. We know it’s a challenge to learn any new language, but our team strives to make it easy. We’d love for you to make some Dutch friends and the fastest way to do that is to show interest in learning their language. So head over to Ling and learn how to get started!
We also recommend an excellent and effective resource that you can begin using immediately! A free online course that covers greetings and introductions in Dutch, specially designed for beginners to start their journey and start getting familiar with the Dutch language. And if you like it, you can immerse in the rest of the courses available and start practicing your Dutch speaking, listening, and writing skills! Interested? Try it out now!
