Hoi hoi! This time, we’re going Dutch! We put together a handy list of 20 different ways to say hello and goodbye in Dutch for most situations out there.

We bring you Dutch greetings

Hallo, allemaal (Hello, everyone)! Today we’re learning how to say hello and goodbye in Dutch. But before we do that, here’s a brief note on going Dutch.

In formal situations, people will usually go for a handshake when they greet each other. Among friends and family, however, the Dutch will kiss each other on the cheek three times. This isn’t customary among men, though. 

Without further ado, here are 20 ways to say hello and goodbye in Dutch. And remember, you can learn more handy Dutch words and phrases by downloading our app. 

Informal ways to say hello in Dutch 

These are used among friends, family, and acquaintances.

1) Hallo [ɦɑˈloː] 

The most common greeting in The Netherlands, hallo means hello in Dutch, and you’ll hear it alone or accompanied by phrases like “how are you?” or “how was your day?” (more on that below).

2) Hoi [ɦɔi̯]

An all-time classic and easy to use, hoi means hi in Dutch and is popular among groups of friends.

3) Hallo, allemaal [ɦɑˈloː ˈɑləˌmaːl]

Walking into a party with a room full of people in Amsterdam? Fret not! Hallo, allemaal means “hello, everyone.” 

4) Hey! [heɪ]

At times, the Dutch incorporate English words and phrases in their everyday life. Hey is another short and sweet way to say hello in Dutch.

These next informal Dutch greetings are often preceded by our first word on the list, hallo, but they work fine by themselves, too.

5) Hoe gaat het? [ɦu ɣaːt (ɦ)ət]

Hoe gaat het?, which means “How are you?” in Dutch, is a great way to greet someone and show them that you care about them.

6) Hoe is het met je? [ɦu ɪs (ɦ)ət mɛt jə] 

Haven’t seen your Dutch friend in a while? Greet them with Hoe is het met je? This means “How’s it going?” 

7) Hoe was je dag? [ɦu ʋɑs jə dɑx]

This one’s handy if you have a neighbor or partner you see at the end of every day. Hoe was je dag? translates to “How was your day?”

8) Hoe gaat het met alles? [ɦu ɣaːt (ɦ)ət mɛt ˈɑləs]

If you run into that Dutch friend you haven’t seen in 10 years, this is a fantastic way to say hello in Dutch and ask about their life in general. Hallo, hoe gaat het met alles means “Hello, how is everything?”

Formal ways to say hello in Dutch

9) Hallo, hoe gaat het met u? [ɦɑˈloː ɦu ɣaːt (ɦ)ət mɛt y]

This one also means “How are you?” in Dutch, but it’s reserved for formal situations.

Except for this last phrase, the formal ways to say hello in Dutch will vary depending on the time of day.

10) Goedemorgen [ˌɣudəˈmɔrɣə(n)] 

Goedemorgen means “good morning” in Dutch, and people in small Dutch towns will say this as they walk past each other in the morning.

11) Goedemiddag [ˌɣudəˈmɪ.dɑx] 

During the afternoon, goedemiddag, which means “good afternoon,” is the usual greeting. You can also use goedendag [ɣu.də(n)ˈdɑx] throughout the day as long as it’s not nighttime; it means “good day.” 

12) Goedenavond [ˌɣudə(n)ˈaː.vɔnt]

If the sun’s already down, go for goedenavond, or “good evening” in Dutch, to greet someone.

Here are some other Dutch greetings

These are other phrases to consider when you say hello in Dutch that add something extra to the salutation.

13) Het is goed om je weer te zien [(ɦ)ət ɪs ˌɣudə ɔm jə ʋeːr tə zin]

Use this when you run into someone again that you like. Het is goed om je weer te zien means “it is good to see you again.”

14) Tijd niet gezien [tɛi̯t nit ɣəˈzin]

A bit similar to the last one, tijd niet gezien means “haven’t seen you in a while” in Dutch.

15) Leuk om je te ontmoeten [løːk ɔm jə tə ˌɔntˈmu.tə(n)]

If you’re trying to make an impression, use leuk om je te ontmoeten to tell the person “it is nice to meet you” in Dutch.

How to say goodbye in Dutch

OK, so now you know a bunch of ways to say hello in Dutch. But you can’t just turn around and leave! Let’s go through some ways you can say goodbye in Dutch.

16) Dag [dɑx]

Dag is the shortest, most efficient, and most Dutch way to say goodbye in Dutch in informal situations.

17) Doei [dui̯] or doeg [dux]

One letter longer than the last, doeg or doei means bye and is used among friends, family, and acquaintances. 

18) Tot straks [tɔt strɑks] 

If you’re seeing the person later in the day, use tot straks to tell them “see you later.”

19) Veel succes! [veːl syksɛs]

Wish good luck to the person on your farewell by saying veel succes. 

20) Tot ziens [tɔt sins]

The one formal way to say goodbye in Dutch in this list, tot ziens means “until I see you again.”