Dutch Love Phrases
Falling for someone Dutch? Here's how to express love in Dutch — including the important difference between the two ways to say 'I love you'.
Love in Dutch
Dutch has a meaningful distinction between casual affection and deep love — getting it right matters.
The two 'I love you's
This matters: ‘Ik hou van jou’ is the deep, serious ‘I love you’ — for partners and family. ‘Ik vind je leuk’ means ‘I like you’ (early dating). In between: ‘Ik ben verliefd op je’ = ‘I’m in love with you’. Don’t jump to ‘Ik hou van jou’ too early — it carries real weight in Dutch.
Romantic phrases
Sweet things to say.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Ik hou van jou | I love you (deep) |
| Ik ben verliefd op je | I’m in love with you |
| Ik vind je leuk | I like you |
| Je bent mooi | You are beautiful |
| Ik mis je | I miss you |
| Wil je met me uit? | Do you want to go out with me? |
Terms of endearment
Lieve woordjes.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| schat | darling / treasure |
| lieverd | sweetheart |
| liefje | little love |
| schatje | little darling |
Speak from the heart in Dutch
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Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How do you say I love you in Dutch?
'Ik hou van jou' is the deep, serious 'I love you' for partners and family. For early dating, 'Ik vind je leuk' (I like you) or 'Ik ben verliefd op je' (I'm in love with you).
What's the difference between 'ik hou van je' and 'ik vind je leuk'?
'Ik hou van je/jou' is serious, deep love. 'Ik vind je leuk' means 'I like you' — much lighter, suitable for early dating. The distinction matters in Dutch.
What are Dutch terms of endearment?
'schat' (darling), 'lieverd' (sweetheart), 'liefje' (little love) and 'schatje' (little darling) are the most common.