Markets & Souvenirs

1. Hoeveel kost dit?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Basic phrase for asking the price at a market or souvenir shop

   Grammar Note

   "Hoeveel kost dit?" is the standard Dutch phrase for asking the price

2. Kan ik over de prijs onderhandelen?

   Can I bargain on the price?

   Usage

   Asking whether price negotiation is possible

   Grammar Note

   "Onderhandelen" means to negotiate. Bargaining is common at Dutch flea markets (vlooienmarkt)

3. Ik bied twintig euro

   I'll offer twenty euros

   Usage

   Offering a counter-price during bargaining

   Grammar Note

   "Bied" is the first-person present of "bieden" (to offer/bid)

4. Kunt u me een korting geven?

   Can you give me a discount?

   Usage

   Politely requesting a discount

   Grammar Note

   "U" is the formal second-person singular. "Korting" is the Dutch word for discount

5. Is dit handgemaakt?

   Is this handmade?

   Usage

   Checking whether an item is handmade

   Grammar Note

   "Hand" + "gemaakt" (made). Delftware pottery and diamond cutting are famous Dutch handcrafts

6. Van welk materiaal is dit gemaakt?

   What material is this made of?

   Usage

   Asking about the material of an item

   Grammar Note

   "Van" is the preposition "of/from". Key words: zijde (silk), katoen (cotton), leer (leather)

7. Kunt u het als cadeau inpakken?

   Can you gift-wrap this?

   Usage

   Requesting gift wrapping

   Grammar Note

   "Cadeau" (gift) is borrowed from French. "Inpakken" is a separable verb meaning to wrap/pack

8. Waar is de nachtmarkt?

   Where is the night market?

   Usage

   Asking the location of a night market

   Grammar Note

   "Nacht" (night) + "markt" (market). Amsterdam's Dappermarkt and Waterlooplein are well-known markets

9. Kan ik een kassabon krijgen?

   Can I have a receipt?

   Usage

   Asking for a receipt after a purchase

   Grammar Note

   "Kassabon" combines "kassa" (cash register) + "bon" (coupon/slip). "Bonnetje" is the diminutive form

10. Wanneer is de markt open?

    When is the market open?

    Usage

    Checking when the market is open

    Grammar Note

    "Open" is used as both adjective and adverb in Dutch. "De markt" uses the common-gender definite article

11. Ik kijk alleen even, dank u

    I'm just looking, thank you

    Usage

    Politely declining a shopkeeper's approach

    Grammar Note

    "Even" softens the statement to "just briefly". "Dank u" is the formal thank you; "dankjewel" is informal

12. Accepteert u kaartbetalingen?

    Do you accept card payments?

    Usage

    Checking whether card payment is accepted

    Grammar Note

    The Netherlands is highly cashless. "Pinnen" is the colloquial term for debit card payment

13. Ik koop dit als souvenir voor een vriend

    I'm buying this as a souvenir for a friend

    Usage

    Telling the seller it is a souvenir gift

    Grammar Note

    "Als souvenir" means "as a souvenir". The word is borrowed from French and used unchanged in Dutch

14. Kan dit internationaal worden verzonden?

    Can this be shipped internationally?

    Usage

    Asking about international shipping options

    Grammar Note

    "Worden verzonden" is the passive voice construction. PostNL is the main Dutch postal service

15. Wat is uw beste artikel?

    What is your best item?

    Usage

    Asking for the seller's top recommendation

    Grammar Note

    "Beste" is the superlative of "goed/goede" (good). "Uw" is the formal possessive "your"

16. Is de prijs onderhandelbaar?

    Is the price negotiable?

    Usage

    Checking whether the price can be negotiated

    Grammar Note

    "Onderhandelbaar" combines "onderhandelen" (negotiate) + "-baar" (capable), meaning negotiable

17. Heeft u een andere maat?

    Do you have a different size?

    Usage

    Looking for a different size

    Grammar Note

    "Maat" means size. Add "grotere maat" (bigger size) or "kleinere maat" (smaller size) to specify

18. Dit is te duur

    This is too expensive

    Usage

    Expressing that the price is too high

    Grammar Note

    "Te" before an adjective means "too/overly". "Een beetje duur" (a little expensive) opens negotiation

19. de kaas

    Cheese

    Usage

    Point to this at a cheese stall; a Dutch market staple, sorted by type such as "Goudse kaas" and by age, "jong" or "oud"

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word; to taste is "proeven" and a piece is "een stukje kaas"

20. de tofu

    Tofu

    Usage

    Point to this to find tofu; in the Netherlands the Indonesian-derived word "tahoe" is equally common and is what Asian grocers usually label it

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word; tempeh is "de tempeh", a different product

21. de chilipeper

    Chilli pepper

    Usage

    Point to this for actual chillies; not to be confused with "de peper" (table pepper) or "de paprika" (bell pepper)

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word; the standard Dutch hot condiment is "sambal", of Indonesian origin

22. de koriander

    Coriander / Cilantro

    Usage

    Point to this to find or avoid cilantro; say "verse koriander" if you mean the fresh leaf, since "koriander" alone can mean the dried seed spice

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word; to have it left out, say "zonder koriander"

23. de yoghurt

    Yoghurt

    Usage

    Point to this to find yoghurt; Dutch dairy shelves also carry the similar "vla" (custard) and "karnemelk" (buttermilk)

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word; plain is "naturel" and Greek yoghurt is "Griekse yoghurt"

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