Asking for directions
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| Could you show me the way to the/a … ? | Kunt u mij de weg wijzen naar de/het/een … ? |
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| amusement park | pretpark |
| bank | bank |
| bus stop | bushalte |
| bus terminal | busstation |
| cathedral | kathedraal, dom |
| centre | centrum |
| doctor | dokter |
| exit | uitgang |
| hospital | ziekenhuis |
| market | markt |
| museum | museum |
| open-air museum | openluchtmuseum |
| police station | politiebureau n |
| post office | postkantoor n |
| this address | dit adres |
| station | station n |
| tourist information | VVV-kantoor n |
| underground station | metrostation |
No, I’m afraid I’m a stranger here
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| No, I’m afraid I’m a stranger here | Nee, ik ben hier helaas niet bekend |
From here you go …
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| You go here … | U gaat hier … |
| straight on | rechtdoor |
| to the right | rechtsaf |
| to the left | linksaf |
| round the corner | de hoek om |
Direction phrases
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| as far as/up to … | … en dan tot aan … |
| the crossing | de kruising |
| the large square | het grote plein |
| the roundabout | de rotonde |
| the bridge | de brug |
| the church | de kerk |
| the first turning on the right | de eerste zijstraat rechts |
| the third turning on the left | de derde zijstraat links |
| on your left | aan uw linkerkant |
| on your right | aan uw rechterhand |
| right in front of you | recht vóór u |
| across the road and on | schuin (links/rechts) aan |
| to the left/right | de overzijde |
| behind/beyond that | daarachter |
| next to that | daarnaast |
| 200 meters* from here/there | na 200 meter |
| half an hour on foot | een half uur lopen |
| round the corner | om de hoek |
Questions and common phrases
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| You’d better ask again from there | Vraag het dan nog maar een keer |
| How far is it on foot? | Hoe ver is het lopen? |
| Is it far from here? | Is het ver van hier? |
| You had better take bus number 4** | U kunt beter met bus nummer 4 gaan |
| You had better take a taxi/cab | U kunt beter een taxi nemen |
| You have taken the wrong way | U bent verkeerd gelopen |
| I am lost | Ik ben de weg kwijt |
| They’ve sent you in the wrong direction | Men heeft u de verkeerde weg gewezen |
Note
-
- On the continent meters and kilometers are used instead of feet, yards, and miles
(1 kilometer = 0.62 miles).
- On the continent meters and kilometers are used instead of feet, yards, and miles
- All bus and tram numbers are indicated by numbers; the underground is named after its destination (for example “Gaasperplas”).
Map and directions
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| Can you show me on the map where I am now? | Kunt u op de plattegrond aanwijzen waar ik nu ben? |
| You are now here | U staat nu hier |
| Could you walk part of the way with me? | Kunt u een eindje met mij meelopen? |
Accidents / Police
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| A fire has broken out / There has been an accident | Er is brand uitgebroken / Er is een ongeluk gebeurd |
| I urgently need help | Ik heb snel hulp nodig |
| Would you please call the police/an ambulance/the fire brigade? | Wilt u de politie/ambulance/brandweer bellen? |
| Help! Stop thief! | Help! Houd de dief! |
| Where is the police station? | Waar is het politiebureau? |
I’d like to report (a/an) …
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| arson | brandstichting |
| assault | aanrading |
| battery | mishandeling |
| breaking and entering | inbraak |
| damage | schade |
| fraud | oplichting |
| loss | verlies |
| pickpocketing | zakkenrollerij |
| rape | verkrachting |
| robbery/theft | beroving/diefstal |
| shoplifting | winkeldiefstal |
| my car has been broken into | openbreken van de auto |
| vandalism | vernieling |
My … has been stolen / I lost my …
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| I’ve been robbed of my … / I lost my … | Ik ben beroofd van mijn … / Ik ben mijn … verloren |
| English Item | Dutch Item |
|---|---|
| bank card | pinpas |
| banker’s card | betaalpas |
| camera | fototoestel |
| car radio | autoradio |
| cell phone | mobiele telefoon |
| cheques | cheques |
| credit card | creditcard |
| digital camera | digitale camera |
| hand bag | handtasje |
| luggage | bagage |
| passport | paspoort |
| purse | portemonnee |
| suitcase | koffer |
| travel documents | reisdocumenten |
| videocamera | videocamera |
| wallet | portefeuille |
Reporting Stolen Vehicles
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| My car/bicycle/caravan/trailer/motor scooter has been stolen | Mijn auto/fiets/caravan/aanhanger/scooter is gestolen |
Crimes and Reporting
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| I have been harassed | Ik ben lastiggevallen |
| I am being followed | Ik word achtervolgd |
| Do you want to report a crime / make a statement? | Wilt u aangifte doen / een verklaring afleggen? |
Legal Procedure
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| We will make a report | Wij zullen proces-verbaal opmaken |
| Are there any witnesses? | Hebt u getuigen? |
| We can’t do anything just yet | Wij kunnen er voorlopig niets aan doen |
| We will take the matter into investigation | Wij zullen de zaak onderzoeken |
Lost & Found / Forms / Assistance
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| You can inquire at the lost and found office | U kunt navraag doen bij het bureau voor gevonden voorwerpen |
| Would you fill in/sign this form? | Wilt u dit formulier invullen/ondertekenen? |
| I can’t read it | Ik kan het niet lezen |
| I can’t sign this | Ik kan dit niet ondertekenen |
| I’d like to have an interpreter / see a police woman | Kan er een tolk / politievrouwelijke agent bijkomen? |
| I retract my report/statement | Ik trek de aangifte/verklaring in |
Towed Vehicle
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| Your car has been towed away | Uw auto is weggesleept |
| You can collect it there | U kunt hem daar afhalen |
Arrest and Suspicion
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| You are suspected of … / arrested for … | U wordt verdacht van … / gearresteerd wegens … |
| English Offense | Dutch Equivalent |
|---|---|
| an act of violence | geweldpleging |
| being accused of causing an accident | schuld aan een ongeval |
| having illegally entered the country | illegale grensoverschrijding |
| possession of drugs | bezit van verdovende middelen |
| public drunkenness | openbare dronkenschap |
| smockel | smokkelen |
| theft | diefstal |
| violation of the public order | verstoring van de openbare orde |
Documents Check
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| May I see your passport / driving license / ID? | Mag ik uw paspoort / rijbewijs / een legitimatie zien? |
Police Procedures and Legal Rights
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| You must come along to the police station | U moet mee naar het bureau |
| You are trespassing | U bevindt zich op verboden terrein |
| You’re not allowed to take pictures here | U mag hier niet fotograferen |
| I’d like to see a lawyer / someone from the embassy | Ik wil een advocaat / iemand van de ambassade spreken |
Arrest and Custody
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| We’re placing you under arrest | Wij nemen u in voorlopige hechtenis |
| We’re taking you into custody | Wij nemen u in hechtenis |
| You will have to go to court | U wordt voorgeleid |
| I’m innocent / have nothing to do with this | Ik ben onschuldig / heb hier niets mee te maken |
Law and Order Terminology
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| accused, defendant | beklaagde |
| criminal investigation department | recherche |
| judge | rechter |
| magistrate in a juvenile court | kinderrechter |
| public prosecutor | officier van justitie |
| suspect | verdachte |
| traffic police | verkeerspolitie |
| vice squad | zedenpolitie |