Café & Drinks

1. Een pils, alstublieft

   A lager, please

   Usage

   Standard phrase to order a Dutch lager at a bar or café

   Grammar Note

   Also: "een vaasje" (small glass), "een fluitje" (small flute glass). Heineken and Amstel are the most common brands

2. Heeft u jenever?

   Do you have jenever (Dutch gin)?

   Usage

   Used to order jenever, the traditional Dutch spirit that inspired modern gin

   Grammar Note

   Jenever comes in "jonge" (young, lighter), "oude" (aged, richer), and "korenwijn" (oldest style). Served in a small tulip glass

3. Een koffie verkeerd, graag

   A café au lait, please

   Usage

   Orders "koffie verkeerd" (coffee with lots of milk), a Dutch staple

   Grammar Note

   "Koffie verkeerd" literally means "wrong coffee" — it has more milk than coffee. "Graag" is a polite softener like "please"

4. Mag ik een glas water?

   May I have a glass of water?

   Usage

   Used to ask for water at a restaurant. Tap water is safe to drink throughout the Netherlands

   Grammar Note

   "Kraanwater" (tap water) is often free. "Spa rood" (sparkling) and "spa blauw" (still) are common mineral water brands

5. Proost!

   Cheers!

   Usage

   Standard toast before drinking. Make eye contact with each person at the table — it's considered rude not to

   Grammar Note

   Dutch tradition: you must make eye contact with each person when clinking glasses. Failing to do so supposedly brings 7 years of bad luck

6. Twee biertjes, graag

   Two beers, please

   Usage

   Used to order two beers at a bar or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   The diminutive "-tje" is very common in Dutch, expressing endearment or small size. "Biertje" is just the affectionate way to say "beer"

7. Heeft u thee?

   Do you have tea?

   Usage

   Used to order tea at a café. Herbal teas (kruidenthee) are also very popular in the Netherlands

   Grammar Note

   Specify the type: "kruidenthee" (herbal tea), "groene thee" (green tea), "muntthee" (mint tea)

8. Mag ik de drankkaart zien?

   May I see the drinks menu?

   Usage

   Used to request the drinks menu at a bar or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   Also: "menukaart" (food menu), "wijnkaart" (wine list), "biermenu" (beer menu)

9. Ik wil graag een stroopwafel bij mijn koffie

   I'd like a stroopwafel with my coffee

   Usage

   Requests a stroopwafel, traditionally placed on top of a hot coffee cup to warm the syrup filling

   Grammar Note

   A stroopwafel is traditionally balanced on the coffee cup rim to soften the caramel filling with steam before eating

10. Nog een rondje?

    Another round?

    Usage

    Casual phrase to suggest buying the next round of drinks for the group

    Grammar Note

    "Een rondje geven" means to buy everyone a drink. Taking turns buying rounds is a common Dutch bar custom

11. het mineraalwater

    Mineral water

    Usage

    Point to this to order bottled water; still is "plat water", while sparkling is "bruiswater" in the Netherlands and "spuitwater" in Belgium

    Grammar Note

    A "het" word; tap water is "het kraanwater" and is safe to drink in the Netherlands

12. warm water

    Hot water

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for hot water for tea or baby formula

    Grammar Note

    For boiling-hot water say "heet water"; asking for plain hot water is unusual in Dutch cafés and may be refused

13. zonder ijs

    Without ice

    Usage

    Point to this while ordering a drink to have it served without ice

    Grammar Note

    "Het ijs" also means ice cream, but in a drinks order it reads as ice; to be explicit say "zonder ijsblokjes" (no ice cubes)

Browse all TravelPhrases languages