Business & Work

1. Ik heb een afspraak met de directeur

   I have an appointment with the director

   Usage

   Used at reception to announce a scheduled business appointment

   Grammar Note

   "Afspraak" works for both business appointments and casual meetups. Dutch business culture values punctuality highly

2. Mag ik uw visitekaartje?

   May I have your business card?

   Usage

   Polite way to ask for someone's business card in a professional setting

   Grammar Note

   "Visitekaartje" = "visite" (visit) + "kaartje" (small card). The diminutive "-tje" is fixed in the word; it does not soften the tone

3. Kunnen we een vergadering plannen?

   Can we schedule a meeting?

   Usage

   Used to propose scheduling a business meeting

   Grammar Note

   Dutch business culture often involves sharing an agenda in advance. "Overleg" (consultation) is also common for informal meetings

4. Stuur mij alstublieft het voorstel per e-mail

   Please send me the proposal by email

   Usage

   Used to request that a proposal be sent by email after a business discussion

   Grammar Note

   "Stuur" is the imperative of "sturen" (to send). Adding "alstublieft" makes it a polite request

5. Wat zijn de betalingsvoorwaarden?

   What are the payment terms?

   Usage

   Used in business negotiations to clarify invoice and payment conditions

   Grammar Note

   "30 dagen netto" (net 30 days) is a common Dutch payment term. Seen on most B2B invoices

6. Wij zijn geïnteresseerd in een samenwerking

   We are interested in a collaboration

   Usage

   Used to express interest in a potential business partnership or joint venture

   Grammar Note

   "Samenwerking" = "samen" (together) + "werking" (working). Dutch is famous for long compound nouns

7. Kunt u de offerte aanpassen?

   Can you adjust the quotation?

   Usage

   Used to request modification of a business quotation or bid

   Grammar Note

   "Aanpassen" is separable (aan + passen). "Offerte" and "prijsopgave" (price quote) are interchangeable in business Dutch

8. Heeft u een BTW-nummer?

   Do you have a VAT number?

   Usage

   Used to request a company's Dutch VAT registration number for invoicing purposes

   Grammar Note

   BTW = Belasting Toegevoegde Waarde (VAT). Standard rate is 21%; reduced rate (food, medicines) is 9%

9. We streven naar een win-winsituatie

   We aim for a win-win situation

   Usage

   Used in negotiations to express a cooperative, mutually beneficial approach

   Grammar Note

   Dutch business embodies the "poldermodel" — consensus-seeking culture. Direct but collaborative negotiation style

10. Ik stuur u de factuur zo snel mogelijk

    I will send you the invoice as soon as possible

    Usage

    Used to promise prompt delivery of an invoice after providing a service

    Grammar Note

    "Zo … mogelijk" = "as … as possible". "Zo spoedig mogelijk" is more formal than "zo snel mogelijk"

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