Beach & Activities

1. Waar is het dichtstbijzijnde strand?

   Where is the nearest beach?

   Usage

   Asking for directions to the nearest beach

   Grammar Note

   "Dichtstbijzijnde" is the superlative of "dichtbij" (close). Scheveningen is a famous Dutch beach

2. Is het veilig om te zwemmen?

   Is it safe to swim?

   Usage

   Checking if it is safe to swim before entering the water

   Grammar Note

   "Veilig" is the adjective for safe; "onveilig" means unsafe. "Zwemmen" is the verb infinitive

3. Mag ik een ligstoel huren?

   May I rent a beach chair?

   Usage

   Asking to rent a sunbed or deck chair at the beach

   Grammar Note

   "Ligstoel" = liggen (to lie) + stoel (chair). "Huren" (rent) vs "verhuren" (to rent out)

4. Heeft u zonnebrandcrème?

   Do you have sunscreen?

   Usage

   Asking for sunscreen at a beach shop or from someone nearby

   Grammar Note

   "Zonnebrandcrème" = zon (sun) + brand (burning) + crème (cream). A true compound word

5. Hoe koud is het water?

   How cold is the water?

   Usage

   Asking about the water temperature before swimming

   Grammar Note

   "Koud" means cold. "Hoe warm is het water?" is the opposite — asking how warm the water is

6. Kunt u op onze spullen letten?

   Can you watch our belongings?

   Usage

   Asking someone to watch your belongings while you swim

   Grammar Note

   "Op ... letten" means to pay attention to / watch. "Spullen" is the plural of "spul" (thing/stuff)

7. Is er een parasol beschikbaar?

   Is a beach umbrella available?

   Usage

   Asking about beach umbrella availability at the beach

   Grammar Note

   "Parasol" is from French. Often rented at a "strandtent" (beach café bar on Dutch beaches)

8. Mogen we hier een strandbarbecue houden?

   Can we have a beach barbecue here?

   Usage

   Asking if a beach barbecue is permitted at this beach

   Grammar Note

   "Strand" = beach. "Barbecue" is borrowed from English. "Mogen we ...?" asks for permission; "houden" = to hold (an event)

9. Er zijn kwallen in het water

   There are jellyfish in the water

   Usage

   Warning others about jellyfish in the water

   Grammar Note

   "Er zijn" expresses existence (there are). Singular: "Er is". Common on Dutch North Sea beaches

10. Scheveningen is een mooi strand

    Scheveningen is a beautiful beach

    Usage

    Talking about Scheveningen, the most famous beach near The Hague in the Netherlands

    Grammar Note

    "Scheveningen" is notoriously hard to pronounce — used during WWII to identify non-Dutch speakers

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