Dutch Food & Restaurant Vocabulary
Eating out is one of the best reasons to use Dutch. Here's the food and restaurant vocabulary you need — plus the phrases to order with confidence.
Eet smakelijk!
From the supermarket to the restaurant, food vocabulary is among the most useful — and most fun — Dutch to learn.
Meals & basics
De maaltijden.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| het ontbijt | breakfast |
| de lunch | lunch |
| het avondeten | dinner |
| het brood | bread |
| de kaas | cheese |
| het water | water |
| de koffie | coffee |
| het bier | beer |
Ordering phrases
In het restaurant.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Mag ik de kaart? | May I have the menu? |
| Ik wil graag… | I would like… |
| Wat raadt u aan? | What do you recommend? |
| De rekening, alstublieft | The bill, please |
| Het was heerlijk | It was delicious |
| Eet smakelijk! | Enjoy your meal! |
The word you'll use most: lekker
Lekker means ‘tasty’ but the Dutch use it for almost anything pleasant — food, weather, a nap, even a person. ‘Dit is lekker’ (this is delicious), ‘lekker weer’ (nice weather). Try Dutch classics and their names: stroopwafel, bitterballen, poffertjes, haring, patat met mayonaise.
Order in Dutch with confidence
Dutch Daily's scenario trainer lets you practise ordering food in real restaurant situations. Free to start.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How do you order food in Dutch?
Start with 'Mag ik de kaart?' (menu please), then 'Ik wil graag…' (I would like…). Ask 'Wat raadt u aan?' (what do you recommend) and finish with 'De rekening, alstublieft' (the bill, please).
What does lekker mean in Dutch?
'Lekker' means tasty or delicious, but the Dutch use it for anything pleasant — nice weather ('lekker weer'), a good nap, even a person. It's one of the most-used Dutch words.
What are typical Dutch foods to know?
stroopwafel, bitterballen, poffertjes, haring (herring), patat met mayonaise (fries), kaas (cheese) and erwtensoep (pea soup) are Dutch classics worth knowing by name.
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