How to Say Thank You in Dutch
Thank you in Dutch is dank je wel (informal) or dank u wel (formal). Add bedankt for everyday use and you cover 95% of situations. This guide gives you the whole range, from a quick thanks at the supermarket to genuine gratitude, plus what to say back.
Je or u: pick your register first
Dutch has two words for ‘you’. Je for friends, colleagues and anyone your age; u for older people, officials and customers you don’t know. Your thank-you follows the same split: dank je wel versus dank u wel. When in doubt at the gemeente, pick u.
Saying thank you
| Dutch | English | When |
|---|---|---|
| Bedankt! | Thanks! | the everyday default |
| Dank je wel | Thank you (informal) | friends, shops, daily life |
| Dank u wel | Thank you (formal) | officials, older people |
| Dank je / dank u | Thanks (short) | quick and neutral |
| Hartelijk dank | Many thanks | polite, also in writing |
| Hartstikke bedankt! | Thanks a lot! | enthusiastic, informal |
| Ontzettend bedankt! | Thank you so much! | when someone really helped |
| Duizendmaal dank | A thousand thanks | a bit theatrical, warm |
| Alvast bedankt | Thanks in advance | emails and requests |
| Bedankt voor je hulp | Thanks for your help | add what you’re thanking for |
| Bedankt voor alles | Thanks for everything | goodbyes |
The bedankt-voor pattern
To thank someone for something specific, use bedankt voor + the thing: bedankt voor de koffie (thanks for the coffee), bedankt voor het meedenken (thanks for thinking along, very Dutch), bedankt voor je tijd (thanks for your time). One trap from our prepositions guide: it’s always voor, never van.
What to say back: you’re welcome
| Dutch | English | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Graag gedaan | You’re welcome (gladly done) | the safe default |
| Geen probleem | No problem | casual |
| Geen dank | Don’t mention it | neutral |
| Alsjeblieft / alstublieft | Here you go | when handing something over |
| Met plezier | With pleasure | warm |
| Daar niet van | Don’t mention it | colloquial |
One classic mix-up: alsjeblieft
Alsjeblieft means both ‘please’ AND ‘here you go’. The cashier who hands you your groceries says alsjeblieft; you answer dank je wel; the cashier may close with graag gedaan. That tiny supermarket ritual is Dutch politeness in a nutshell, and getting it right feels surprisingly good.
Hear yourself say it
Reading dank je wel is easy. Saying it at the right moment, in a real exchange, is the skill. Practice the supermarket, the gemeente and 60 other situations out loud.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How do you say thank you in Dutch?
‘Dank je wel’ (informal) or ‘dank u wel’ (formal). The everyday short version is ‘bedankt’. For stronger gratitude: ‘hartstikke bedankt’ or ‘ontzettend bedankt’.
What is the difference between dank je wel and dank u wel?
The register. ‘Dank je wel’ is informal, for friends, colleagues and peers. ‘Dank u wel’ is formal, for older people, officials and anyone you’d address with ‘u’. Unsure? ‘Bedankt’ is neutral and always safe.
How do you respond to dank je wel?
‘Graag gedaan’ (gladly done) is the standard reply. Casual alternatives: ‘geen probleem’ or ‘geen dank’.
Does alsjeblieft mean please or here you go?
Both. As a request it means ‘please’ (‘twee koffie, alsjeblieft’), and when handing something over it means ‘here you go’. Context makes it clear, and ‘alstublieft’ is the formal version of each.
How do you say thanks in advance in Dutch?
‘Alvast bedankt.’ It’s standard at the end of Dutch emails, right before the sign-off.