The guide to Dutch pick-up lines, compliments and date phrases – Lekker!

A good love life in the Netherlands also requires some high-quality Dutch pick-up lines. So let us be your wingman (kinda) by teaching you some of the best ways to flirt in Holland. As there is only one way – the Dutch way!*

*Almost all other cultural ways of flirting are better than the Dutch way, we’re biased

The complete guide to pick-up lines in the Netherlands

The courtship process can be very complicated, yet exciting for homo sapiens. However, if you are not knowledgeable in the art of seduction, this might result in a dry evening, week, month, God forbid maybe even a year. The mating process can also be exceptionally difficult if your object of desire has already rejected or scared off all the other lingering predators. This is survival of the fittest!

But if you are in a desperate need of a mate, do not worry, because DutchReview and Learn Dutch have teamed up to help you turn that dry season into a fruitful one. We have selected the biggest DO’S and DON’TS of Dutch pick-up lines. Once you learn these fire sentences, your object of desire will definitely be DTF. Well, maybe. Hopefully! It doesn’t hurt to try though.

“Oh, DutchReview! How dare you assume that I need to learn Dutch just for my primary needs! This is despicable! #offended”

Well, we both know that if you clicked on this article, then you definitely need some help in your mating life. But don’t worry, we also have some pretty good tips on how to learn non-flirty (boring) Dutch. Just head on over to Bart de Pau at Learn Dutch! His website offers some amazing online courses that are easy to follow, and you choose when to follow them. You’ll speak all types of Dutch like a pro in no time!

So are you ready? Here are the 3 C’s of Dutch pick-up lines: Cheesy, cheeky and creepy! Are you from the Netherlands? Cause AmsterDAMMMN! Wooden shoe like to go out on a date? These Dutch pick-up line are so amazing that you’re almost being seduced by the article itself already!

Cheesy Dutch pick-up lines

As with any other language, Dutch losers also have a vast array of ready-to-use pickup lines that they can say, since they have no game. Here is a list of some cheesy pick-up lines that can straight out raise your sodium levels and give you a heart attack. The following Dutch pick-up lines were written while cringing painfully, just so that you – our dearest reader- know if you ever fall victim to such blasphemy.

• “Kan ik een kus lenen? Ik zal beloven hem terug te geven.” Can I borrow a kiss, I promise to give it back.


• “Ik ben een dief, en ik ben hier om je hart te stelen.” – I’m a thief, and I’m here to steal your heart.


• “Hoe voelt het om het mooiste meisje in de kamer?” – How does it feel to be the most beautiful girl in the room?


• “Geloof je in liefde op het eerste gezicht? Of moet ik weer voorbij lopen?” – Do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I walk by you again?


• “Heb je een kaart? Ik ben de weg kwijt in je ogen.” – Do you have a map? I’m lost in your eyes.


• “Bent u een camera? Want elke keer als ik naar je kijk, lach ik.” – Are you a camera? Because every time I look at you, I smile.


• “Excuseer me, ik ben mijn telefoonnummer kwijt. Kan ik die van jou lenen?” – Excuse Me, I’ve lost my phone number. Can I borrow yours?


• “Ben je vandaag gearresteerd? Het moet illegaal zijn om er zo mooi uit te zien.” – Were you arrested today? It must be illegal to look so beautiful.


• “Weet je wat me aan jou opvalt? Je ogen hebben dezelfde kleur als mijn Ferrari…” – Do you know what strikes me about you? Your eyes are the same color as my Ferrari…


• “Nee, in werkelijkheid ben ik niet zo lang, ik zit op dit moment op mijn portemonnee” -No, in reality I’m not that tall, I’m currently on my wallet


• “Uw glimlach verlicht de kamer, dus ik moest komen.” – Your smile lit up the room so I had to come over.

For a better start in dating in Dutchland, best to watch this nice little video by Learn Dutch:

Cheeky Dutch pick-up lines

Now this pick up line is quite difficult to remember. But if it ever happens that you’re approached by a specimen of the douchious bagious and your ears suddenly start bleeding, then you certainly know you’ve heard this pick-up line. Just be aware that this species doesn’t react well to rejection, so you might want to let them down easily (despite the uncontrollable urge to punch them).

• 
  
  
  
  • ‘Ik heb geen openingszin, maar jij hebt een opening en ik heb zin.’ It means: ‘I don’t have a whole lot of pick up lines, but you’ve got a hole, and I’ve got a sentence lined up.’ – !?!?!?! Trust me, it sucks just as much in Dutch as it did in English.
  
  
  
  

Creepy Dutch pick-up lines

Now, if you ever hear any of these pick-up lines just call the police straight away. The person saying these might possibly be a serial killer or a kidnapper. Ok, we might be over exaggerating, but it is a crime itself to use such terrible pick-up lines…So you should still call the police. And if you’re into that type of creepy stuff, then you might need to see a doctor to treat your Stockholm syndrome (but we won’t judge). You go ahead and get your kink on!

• 
  
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • “Als ik je zou volgen tot aan je huis… zou je me dan houden?” – If I followed you up to your house … would you keep me?
    
    
    • “Mag ik je iets vragen, jongedame, ga je ook met onbekenden naar bed? Nee? Laat ik mezelf dan even voorstellen…” – Can I ask you something, young lady, are you going to bed with strangers? No? Let me introduce myself…
    
    
    • “Ik heb mijn teddybeer verloren, wil jij mee naar bed?” – I lost my teddybear. Will you go to bed with me?
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

Dutch compliments to women

Now not all pick-up lines are bad. If you actually want to make a good impression on a girl, just keep it simple. A small compliment will probably get you a lot further, than a cheesy Dutch pick-up line. The female species tend to like simplicity, so make sure to keep it that way when flirting. If you go overboard with your compliments, females will sniff out the bullshit straight away. So whatever you do, do not trip their ‘bullshit alarm’. So without further ado, here are a few simple compliments that won’t land you a knee in the private area (well, except for the last one maybe).

• 
  
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • “Je hebt mooie benen.” – You have beautiful legs.
    
    
    • “Je bent knap.” – You are pretty.
    
    
    • “Je bent beeldschoon.” – You are very beautiful.
    
    
    • “Ik vind je lief/leuk.” – I think you’re nice.
    
    
    • “Lekkere tetten.” – Nice tits.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

Dutch compliments to men

Now let’s be honest here – the male species loves it when you indulge their egos. So if you want to pick up a man, just shower him with compliments. The best part is that even if you bullshit, the male species can’t sense a thing. After the second compliment they will be too far gone, swimming in a pool of self-admiration. So go wild with compliments, no matter how outlandish they may be.

• 
  
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • “Je bent zo romantisch.” – You are so romantic
    
    
    • “Je bent de beste.” – You are the best
    
    
    • “Je bent zo grappig.” – You are so funny
    
    
    • “Je bent zo knap” – You are so handsome
    
    
    • “Je bent zo gespierd” – You are so muscular
    
    
    • “Ben je een god?” – Are you a god?
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

Dutch date phrases

Now this part is very important. Because if you’ve actually managed to score a date, that means our Dutch pick-up lines have actually worked (not that we ever doubted ourselves). However, this also means that you have done something right and this is probably your best chance to seal the deal. Do not screw it up! Here are a few Dutch date phrases that will help you make a good long lasting impression.

• Ik kan niet geloven dat je ‘naam’ heet, mijn hond/cat heette ook ‘naam’ – I can’t believe your called ‘name’, my cat/dog was also called ‘name’


• Ik heb altijd al gehouden van luipaardprint en gescheurde spijkerbroeken – I always loved leopard print and torn up jeans


• Ik betaal de rekening wel, maakt niet uit joh – I pay the bill, don’t sweat it (if that doesn’t seal the deal with a Dutchie then please mail us at firsttimeforeverything@dutchreview.com)

Dutch pick-up lines: it’s all about the confidence

The most important thing about Dutch pick-up lines is saying them with confidence. Do not stutter or mumble like a foreign loser! Go up to that eye candy and confidently pick them up (figuratively) in Dutch. And if your accent was absolutely terrible, best case scenario you’ll make your object of desire laugh. And that is still a good thing, right? So you’re welcome! So that makes it official – DutchReview is the best wingman in the Netherlands.

If you need the TL;DR version, do not forget to watch our video on dating the Dutch!

But all jokes aside, learning Dutch will probably get you further in your Dutch love life than most of the Dutch opening lines above.

It doesn’t have to be expensive, or hard even, Bart de Pau from Learn Dutch helped us out with some lingual tricks in this article and he and his grand massive 84K subscribing Youtube channel of Learn Dutch will certainly help you along in the Dutch dating game!  

Are there any other Dutch pick-up lines that you know of? Let us know in the comments below!

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on 13 Sep 2018 but was updated for your reading pleasure on 14 February 2020. 

Feature Image: DutchReview. 

The post The guide to Dutch pick-up lines, compliments and date phrases – Lekker! appeared first on DutchReview.

The guide to Dutch pick-up lines, compliments and date phrases – Lekker!

A good love life in the Netherlands also requires some high-quality Dutch pick-up lines. So let us be your wingman (kinda) by teaching you some of the best ways to flirt in Holland. As there is only one way – the Dutch way!*

*Almost all other cultural ways of flirting are better than the Dutch way, we’re biased

The complete guide to pick-up lines in the Netherlands

The courtship process can be very complicated, yet exciting for homo sapiens. However, if you are not knowledgeable in the art of seduction, this might result in a dry evening, week, month, God forbid maybe even a year. The mating process can also be exceptionally difficult if your object of desire has already rejected or scared off all the other lingering predators. This is survival of the fittest!

But if you are in a desperate need of a mate, do not worry, because DutchReview and Learn Dutch have teamed up to help you turn that dry season into a fruitful one. We have selected the biggest DO’S and DON’TS of Dutch pick-up lines. Once you learn these fire sentences, your object of desire will definitely be DTF. Well, maybe. Hopefully! It doesn’t hurt to try though.

“Oh, DutchReview! How dare you assume that I need to learn Dutch just for my primary needs! This is despicable! #offended”

Well, we both know that if you clicked on this article, then you definitely need some help in your mating life. But don’t worry, we also have some pretty good tips on how to learn non-flirty (boring) Dutch. Just head on over to Bart de Pau at Learn Dutch! His website offers some amazing online courses that are easy to follow, and you choose when to follow them. You’ll speak all types of Dutch like a pro in no time!

So are you ready? Here are the 3 C’s of Dutch pick-up lines: Cheesy, cheeky and creepy! Are you from the Netherlands? Cause AmsterDAMMMN! Wooden shoe like to go out on a date? These Dutch pick-up line are so amazing that you’re almost being seduced by the article itself already!

Cheesy Dutch pick-up lines

As with any other language, Dutch losers also have a vast array of ready-to-use pickup lines that they can say, since they have no game. Here is a list of some cheesy pick-up lines that can straight out raise your sodium levels and give you a heart attack. The following Dutch pick-up lines were written while cringing painfully, just so that you – our dearest reader- know if you ever fall victim to such blasphemy.

• “Kan ik een kus lenen? Ik zal beloven hem terug te geven.” Can I borrow a kiss, I promise to give it back.
• “Ik ben een dief, en ik ben hier om je hart te stelen.” – I’m a thief, and I’m here to steal your heart.
• “Hoe voelt het om het mooiste meisje in de kamer?” – How does it feel to be the most beautiful girl in the room?
• “Geloof je in liefde op het eerste gezicht? Of moet ik weer voorbij lopen?” – Do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I walk by you again?
• “Heb je een kaart? Ik ben de weg kwijt in je ogen.” – Do you have a map? I’m lost in your eyes.
• “Bent u een camera? Want elke keer als ik naar je kijk, lach ik.” – Are you a camera? Because every time I look at you, I smile.
• “Excuseer me, ik ben mijn telefoonnummer kwijt. Kan ik die van jou lenen?” – Excuse Me, I’ve lost my phone number. Can I borrow yours?
• “Ben je vandaag gearresteerd? Het moet illegaal zijn om er zo mooi uit te zien.” – Were you arrested today? It must be illegal to look so beautiful.
• “Weet je wat me aan jou opvalt? Je ogen hebben dezelfde kleur als mijn Ferrari…” – Do you know what strikes me about you? Your eyes are the same color as my Ferrari…
• “Nee, in werkelijkheid ben ik niet zo lang, ik zit op dit moment op mijn portemonnee” -No, in reality I’m not that tall, I’m currently on my wallet
• “Uw glimlach verlicht de kamer, dus ik moest komen.” – Your smile lit up the room so I had to come over.

For a better start in dating in Dutchland, best to watch this nice little video by Learn Dutch:

Cheeky Dutch pick-up lines

Now this pick up line is quite difficult to remember. But if it ever happens that you’re approached by a specimen of the douchious bagious and your ears suddenly start bleeding, then you certainly know you’ve heard this pick-up line. Just be aware that this species doesn’t react well to rejection, so you might want to let them down easily (despite the uncontrollable urge to punch them).

• • ‘Ik heb geen openingszin, maar jij hebt een opening en ik heb zin.’ It means: ‘I don’t have a whole lot of pick up lines, but you’ve got a hole, and I’ve got a sentence lined up.’ – !?!?!?! Trust me, it sucks just as much in Dutch as it did in English.

Creepy Dutch pick-up lines

Now, if you ever hear any of these pick-up lines just call the police straight away. The person saying these might possibly be a serial killer or a kidnapper. Ok, we might be over exaggerating, but it is a crime itself to use such terrible pick-up lines…So you should still call the police. And if you’re into that type of creepy stuff, then you might need to see a doctor to treat your Stockholm syndrome (but we won’t judge). You go ahead and get your kink on!

• • • “Als ik je zou volgen tot aan je huis… zou je me dan houden?” – If I followed you up to your house … would you keep me?
    • “Mag ik je iets vragen, jongedame, ga je ook met onbekenden naar bed? Nee? Laat ik mezelf dan even voorstellen…” – Can I ask you something, young lady, are you going to bed with strangers? No? Let me introduce myself…
    • “Ik heb mijn teddybeer verloren, wil jij mee naar bed?” – I lost my teddybear. Will you go to bed with me?

Dutch compliments to women

Now not all pick-up lines are bad. If you actually want to make a good impression on a girl, just keep it simple. A small compliment will probably get you a lot further, than a cheesy Dutch pick-up line. The female species tend to like simplicity, so make sure to keep it that way when flirting. If you go overboard with your compliments, females will sniff out the bullshit straight away. So whatever you do, do not trip their ‘bullshit alarm’. So without further ado, here are a few simple compliments that won’t land you a knee in the private area (well, except for the last one maybe).

• • • “Je hebt mooie benen.” – You have beautiful legs.
    • “Je bent knap.” – You are pretty.
    • “Je bent beeldschoon.” – You are very beautiful.
    • “Ik vind je lief/leuk.” – I think you’re nice.
    • “Lekkere tetten.” – Nice tits.

Dutch compliments to men

Now let’s be honest here – the male species loves it when you indulge their egos. So if you want to pick up a man, just shower him with compliments. The best part is that even if you bullshit, the male species can’t sense a thing. After the second compliment they will be too far gone, swimming in a pool of self-admiration. So go wild with compliments, no matter how outlandish they may be.

• • • “Je bent zo romantisch.” – You are so romantic
    • “Je bent de beste.” – You are the best
    • “Je bent zo grappig.” – You are so funny
    • “Je bent zo knap” – You are so handsome
    • “Je bent zo gespierd” – You are so muscular
    • “Ben je een god?” – Are you a god?

Dutch date phrases

Now this part is very important. Because if you’ve actually managed to score a date, that means our Dutch pick-up lines have actually worked (not that we ever doubted ourselves). However, this also means that you have done something right and this is probably your best chance to seal the deal. Do not screw it up! Here are a few Dutch date phrases that will help you make a good long lasting impression.

• Ik kan niet geloven dat je ‘naam’ heet, mijn hond/cat heette ook ‘naam’ – I can’t believe your called ‘name’, my cat/dog was also called ‘name’
• Ik heb altijd al gehouden van luipaardprint en gescheurde spijkerbroeken – I always loved leopard print and torn up jeans
• Ik betaal de rekening wel, maakt niet uit joh – I pay the bill, don’t sweat it (if that doesn’t seal the deal with a Dutchie then please mail us at firsttimeforeverything@dutchreview.com)

Dutch pick-up lines: it’s all about the confidence

The most important thing about Dutch pick-up lines is saying them with confidence. Do not stutter or mumble like a foreign loser! Go up to that eye candy and confidently pick them up (figuratively) in Dutch. And if your accent was absolutely terrible, best case scenario you’ll make your object of desire laugh. And that is still a good thing, right? So you’re welcome! So that makes it official – DutchReview is the best wingman in the Netherlands.

If you need the TL;DR version, do not forget to watch our video on dating the Dutch!

But all jokes aside, learning Dutch will probably get you further in your Dutch love life than most of the Dutch opening lines above.

It doesn’t have to be expensive, or hard even, Bart de Pau from Learn Dutch helped us out with some lingual tricks in this article and he and his grand massive 84K subscribing Youtube channel of Learn Dutch will certainly help you along in the Dutch dating game!  

Are there any other Dutch pick-up lines that you know of? Let us know in the comments below!

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on 13 Sep 2018 but was updated for your reading pleasure on 14 February 2020. 

Feature Image: DutchReview. 

The post The guide to Dutch pick-up lines, compliments and date phrases – Lekker! appeared first on DutchReview.

Afrikaans and Dutch: the differences and similarities

Afrikaans and Dutch – what is the the history, and what are the differences and similarities between these two languages?

When my two female cousins were younger they used to dress identically. It was so cute. They’d show up at our house for a visit with my aunt and uncle, dressed in matching PowerPuff Girls tank tops and shorts, or matching dresses or dungarees. At one point we played “Fashion Show” and I was the stressed-out designer, working overtime to pull out matching, cool outfits in the short time period before their parents signalled it was time to go. Clothes were being frantically pulled out of drawers, hair and makeup had to be done, the look perfected so the girls could walk the runway timeously to an incredibly critical and bemused audience (namely my sister).

Before we get going, if you’re interested in learning Dutch – online and in real-time – you might want to check out Learn Dutch by Bart de Pau. Not only does he have a kick ass youtube-channel (with a 100K followers) with tons of handy videos about learning Dutch. But Learn Dutch also brings tons of entertainment to the interwebs with these video’s of expats talking about weird Dutch stuff:

Siblings, or twins?

Chances are if you had a sibling, your parents dressed you in identical outfits at some point too. Maybe it’s some sort of parental right of passage to do so. Or your parents just want to show that if they really wanted to, they could make you twins too. More likely than not, it was probably just easier to buy the exact same outfit for however many children you have in a similar age range because anything more than that is just too much effort.

So the world assumes you’re part of a two or a three (maybe a four or five) as opposed to being a one; as opposed to being seen as your own special self. In fact, my older sister and I have been mistaken for twins many times in our teen years- and we do not look identical. We’re siblings; not twins. Similar in appearance, but not the same.

 

 

Dutch and Afrikaans, are they similar?

It’s a bit like the whole Afrikaans- Dutch debacle. I’m almost certain that the Dutch received some sort of exposure to the history of their former colony -possibly within their school curricula (Dutch readers please confirm)- because almost every time I mention that I am South African to a Dutch person (or one who has resided here for a while), I often see the look of surprise mingled with recognition as they then usually exclaim: “Oh, so then you speak Zuid-Afrikaans, right!? That’s basically Dutch.”, to which I smile, nod and respond with what is essence a white lie: “Yes! Sort of”

But, no more white lies. No more! I’m writing this article to finally expose the truth: No. It’s not basically Dutch. In fact, much like two siblings dressed identically, Afrikaans and Dutch are similar but not twins.

Afrikaans: A brief history

I’ve had to invoke the use of the Google dictionary to best explain this:

 “Afrikaans:  a language of southern Africa, derived from the form of Dutch brought to the Cape by Protestant settlers in the 17th century. It is an official language of South Africa, spoken by around 6 million people as their first language.”

Afrikaans is a language originating in South Africa that is one of our eleven official languages (yes, eleven- hello Rainbow Nation!) . It’s a language tied to a lot of South Africa’s past and remains a very relevant language (despite informal arguments that it’s a dying language). The root of the language is Dutch: a result of the history of the country and the presence of Dutch colonisers from the 17th century. An important fact to note is that Afrikaans is not pure Dutch; it’s a language that is an amalgamation of Dutch, German, French and Indonesian. Interesting, right? At the risk of this article turning into a language documentary of sorts, I’ll simply sum this up by saying that it’s not as
simple as believing that Afrikaans= Dutch.

So… can you speak Dutch?

As noted by Google, Afrikaans is “derived from Dutch”, so the saving grace is that the language is still very relevant to the Netherlands; Dutchies haven’t had it entirely wrong all this time. If you can speak Afrikaans, you will likely understand some Dutch a bit more easily, although it’s still a challenge, even for the native Afrikaans speakers out there.

What makes it more nuanced is that not all South Africans speak Afrikaans as their first language with native proficiency. Many do, but there is a high chance that the sunny South African you do meet has another first language (Eg: English, Xhosa, Zulu as some examples) and either speaks no Afrikaans at all, or Afrikaans to a high-school level proficiency (guilty!).

Like this? You can find more at learndutch.org or Bart de Pau’s Youtube channel

Some parts of Afrikaans and Dutch are incredibly similar. The written Dutch words are often
likeable to Afrikaans words which means that it can be easy to grasp the gist of a sentence or what  is being written about. The spoken Dutch word, however, can be mind boggling! Again, a few words here and there will be easily decipherable as these are almost the exact same in Afrikaans, but the majority of Dutch is as difficult for an Afrikaans-speaking South African to learn and understand as it is for any other expat.

That said though, the basis of Afrikaans does mean South Africans will be able to pick up Dutch a bit easier- so there is that little advantage. Feel free to ask any South Africans you may know for further insight into the challenges and similarities between the languages- a popular favourite is also to do the Afrikaans-Dutch conversation exchange and see what is the same and what is different. Here’s a little taster of what I mean:

English                                          Afrikaans                                           Dutch

Understand                                     Verstaan                                      Begrijp/Verstaan

A bit                                               ’n Bietjie                                         Een beetje

Left/Right                                      Links/Regs                                      Links/Rechts

The                                                   Die                                                 Het/De

Really!?                                          Rerig?!                                                Echt?!

Of course                                       Natuurlik                                            Natuurlijk

 

I think the general gist here is that like me and my sister, Afrikaans and Dutch are not twins, but they are in fact sisters. One older, loves windmills and clogs, probably the parental favourite and one younger, has a sweet tooth (google an afrikaans koeksister!), likes travel and languages. Rooted together, but different. Part of the same family tree, but different branches on the tree. The analogies could go on and on! I hope this musing makes it easier for South Africans to explain and for Dutchies to understand- after all, in a way- we are family! *cue that Sister Sledge classic*.

Language is an intricate facet of culture all over the world. People have such a deep connection to their spoken words that picking up another language always seems daunting. So! With that said, if you’re not busy learning a language you can always read more about language on DutchReview.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on 18 February 2019 but was updated on 14 February 2020. 

Feature Image: 534131/Pixabay.

The post Afrikaans and Dutch: the differences and similarities appeared first on DutchReview.

Afrikaans and Dutch: the differences and similarities

Afrikaans and Dutch – what is the the history, and what are the differences and similarities between these two languages?

When my two female cousins were younger they used to dress identically. It was so cute. They’d show up at our house for a visit with my aunt and uncle, dressed in matching PowerPuff Girls tank tops and shorts, or matching dresses or dungarees. At one point we played “Fashion Show” and I was the stressed-out designer, working overtime to pull out matching, cool outfits in the short time period before their parents signalled it was time to go. Clothes were being frantically pulled out of drawers, hair and makeup had to be done, the look perfected so the girls could walk the runway timeously to an incredibly critical and bemused audience (namely my sister).

Before we get going, if you’re interested in learning Dutch – online and in real-time – you might want to check out Learn Dutch by Bart de Pau. Not only does he have a kick ass youtube-channel (with a 100K followers) with tons of handy videos about learning Dutch. But Learn Dutch also brings tons of entertainment to the interwebs with these video’s of expats talking about weird Dutch stuff:

Siblings, or twins?

Chances are if you had a sibling, your parents dressed you in identical outfits at some point too. Maybe it’s some sort of parental right of passage to do so. Or your parents just want to show that if they really wanted to, they could make you twins too. More likely than not, it was probably just easier to buy the exact same outfit for however many children you have in a similar age range because anything more than that is just too much effort.

So the world assumes you’re part of a two or a three (maybe a four or five) as opposed to being a one; as opposed to being seen as your own special self. In fact, my older sister and I have been mistaken for twins many times in our teen years- and we do not look identical. We’re siblings; not twins. Similar in appearance, but not the same.

 

 

Dutch and Afrikaans, are they similar?

It’s a bit like the whole Afrikaans- Dutch debacle. I’m almost certain that the Dutch received some sort of exposure to the history of their former colony -possibly within their school curricula (Dutch readers please confirm)- because almost every time I mention that I am South African to a Dutch person (or one who has resided here for a while), I often see the look of surprise mingled with recognition as they then usually exclaim: “Oh, so then you speak Zuid-Afrikaans, right!? That’s basically Dutch.”, to which I smile, nod and respond with what is essence a white lie: “Yes! Sort of”

But, no more white lies. No more! I’m writing this article to finally expose the truth: No. It’s not basically Dutch. In fact, much like two siblings dressed identically, Afrikaans and Dutch are similar but not twins.

Afrikaans: A brief history

I’ve had to invoke the use of the Google dictionary to best explain this:

 “Afrikaans:  a language of southern Africa, derived from the form of Dutch brought to the Cape by Protestant settlers in the 17th century. It is an official language of South Africa, spoken by around 6 million people as their first language.”

Afrikaans is a language originating in South Africa that is one of our eleven official languages (yes, eleven- hello Rainbow Nation!) . It’s a language tied to a lot of South Africa’s past and remains a very relevant language (despite informal arguments that it’s a dying language). The root of the language is Dutch: a result of the history of the country and the presence of Dutch colonisers from the 17th century. An important fact to note is that Afrikaans is not pure Dutch; it’s a language that is an amalgamation of Dutch, German, French and Indonesian. Interesting, right? At the risk of this article turning into a language documentary of sorts, I’ll simply sum this up by saying that it’s not as
simple as believing that Afrikaans= Dutch.

So… can you speak Dutch?

As noted by Google, Afrikaans is “derived from Dutch”, so the saving grace is that the language is still very relevant to the Netherlands; Dutchies haven’t had it entirely wrong all this time. If you can speak Afrikaans, you will likely understand some Dutch a bit more easily, although it’s still a challenge, even for the native Afrikaans speakers out there.

What makes it more nuanced is that not all South Africans speak Afrikaans as their first language with native proficiency. Many do, but there is a high chance that the sunny South African you do meet has another first language (Eg: English, Xhosa, Zulu as some examples) and either speaks no Afrikaans at all, or Afrikaans to a high-school level proficiency (guilty!).

Like this? You can find more at learndutch.org or Bart de Pau’s Youtube channel

Some parts of Afrikaans and Dutch are incredibly similar. The written Dutch words are often
likeable to Afrikaans words which means that it can be easy to grasp the gist of a sentence or what  is being written about. The spoken Dutch word, however, can be mind boggling! Again, a few words here and there will be easily decipherable as these are almost the exact same in Afrikaans, but the majority of Dutch is as difficult for an Afrikaans-speaking South African to learn and understand as it is for any other expat.

That said though, the basis of Afrikaans does mean South Africans will be able to pick up Dutch a bit easier- so there is that little advantage. Feel free to ask any South Africans you may know for further insight into the challenges and similarities between the languages- a popular favourite is also to do the Afrikaans-Dutch conversation exchange and see what is the same and what is different. Here’s a little taster of what I mean:

English                                          Afrikaans                                           Dutch

Understand                                     Verstaan                                      Begrijp/Verstaan

A bit                                               ’n Bietjie                                         Een beetje

Left/Right                                      Links/Regs                                      Links/Rechts

The                                                   Die                                                 Het/De

Really!?                                          Rerig?!                                                Echt?!

Of course                                       Natuurlik                                            Natuurlijk

 

I think the general gist here is that like me and my sister, Afrikaans and Dutch are not twins, but they are in fact sisters. One older, loves windmills and clogs, probably the parental favourite and one younger, has a sweet tooth (google an afrikaans koeksister!), likes travel and languages. Rooted together, but different. Part of the same family tree, but different branches on the tree. The analogies could go on and on! I hope this musing makes it easier for South Africans to explain and for Dutchies to understand- after all, in a way- we are family! *cue that Sister Sledge classic*.

Language is an intricate facet of culture all over the world. People have such a deep connection to their spoken words that picking up another language always seems daunting. So! With that said, if you’re not busy learning a language you can always read more about language on DutchReview.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on 18 February 2019 but was updated on 14 February 2020. 

Feature Image: 534131/Pixabay.

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