I can congratulate someone and their family on a birthday, wish someone good luck or a quick recovery or say “stay strong”, reply to “Prettig weekend!”, and name the main holidays in the Netherlands with their dates.
Gefeliciteerd! Who says what to whom
Congratulations, good wishes, and holidays
Good wishes are set phrases, each for its own situation (the table is next to this text). Gefeliciteerd! on a birthday is said not only to the birthday person but also to their family: Gefeliciteerd met je zus! Warmer: Van harte gefeliciteerd!
Succes! — good luck before a task: work, an exam. Sterkte! — sympathy for someone going through a hard time: a loved one is very ill, a loss; you say it to people you barely know too. To someone who is sick: Beterschap! To someone who sneezed: Gezondheid! (“Bless you!”)
When saying goodbye: Fijne dag! Prettig weekend! Fijne vakantie! The reply: Jij ook! or U ook! The ending follows the -e rule: fijne dag, fijne vakantie, but prettig weekend: a het-word with no article or after een takes no -e (after je, het, de it does: je mooie cadeau).
The holidays are in the second table. met + a holiday: met Kerst, met Sinterklaas, met oud en nieuw; Koningsdag takes op: op Koningsdag. op + a date: op vijf mei. in + a month: in mei. Replying to news: Wat leuk! Wat jammer!
Common mistakes:
• ×Gefeliciteerd met Kerst! → Prettige feestdagen!
• ×Prettige weekend! → Prettig weekend!
• ×Op Sinterklaas krijgen kinderen cadeaus. → Met Sinterklaas…
• ×Goed geluk! → Succes!
Who says what to whom
Each set phrase has its own situation and its own short reply.
| Set phrase | To whom and when | What to answer |
|---|---|---|
| Gefeliciteerd! | on a birthday: to the birthday person and their family; after a success | Dank je wel! |
| Van harte gefeliciteerd! | the same, but warmer | Bedankt! |
| Succes! | before a task: work, an exam | Dank je! |
| Sterkte! | to someone going through a hard time; also to people you barely know | Dank je. |
| Beterschap! | to someone who is sick | Dank je. |
| Gezondheid! | to someone who sneezed | Dank je. |
| Fijne dag! / Prettig weekend! | when saying goodbye: a salesclerk, a coworker | Jij ook! / U ook! |
| Fijne vakantie! | before a vacation | Dank je! |
| Gelukkig nieuwjaar! | in the first days of January | Gelukkig nieuwjaar! |
Holidays in the Netherlands
Four holidays: when they are and what people do that day.
| Holiday | When | What people do |
|---|---|---|
| Sinterklaas | December 5 | children get gifts |
| Kerst | December 25 and 26 | family, a Christmas tree, a festive dinner |
| Oud en nieuw | December 31 | a party in the evening; at midnight people say Gelukkig nieuwjaar! |
| Koningsdag | April 27 | the city turns orange, markets in the streets |
Lesson notes
Congratulations, good wishes, and holidays
Good wishes are set phrases, each for its own situation (the table is next to this text). Gefeliciteerd! on a birthday is said not only to the birthday person but also to their family: Gefeliciteerd met je zus! Warmer: Van harte gefeliciteerd!
Succes! — good luck before a task: work, an exam. Sterkte! — sympathy for someone going through a hard time: a loved one is very ill, a loss; you say it to people you barely know too. To someone who is sick: Beterschap! To someone who sneezed: Gezondheid! (“Bless you!”)
When saying goodbye: Fijne dag! Prettig weekend! Fijne vakantie! The reply: Jij ook! or U ook! The ending follows the -e rule: fijne dag, fijne vakantie, but prettig weekend: a het-word with no article or after een takes no -e (after je, het, de it does: je mooie cadeau).
The holidays are in the second table. met + a holiday: met Kerst, met Sinterklaas, met oud en nieuw; Koningsdag takes op: op Koningsdag. op + a date: op vijf mei. in + a month: in mei. Replying to news: Wat leuk! Wat jammer!
Common mistakes:
• ×Gefeliciteerd met Kerst! → Prettige feestdagen!
• ×Prettige weekend! → Prettig weekend!
• ×Op Sinterklaas krijgen kinderen cadeaus. → Met Sinterklaas…
• ×Goed geluk! → Succes!