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Dutch at work: meetings, tasks, feedback and safety
Dutch at work in five short game lessons: meetings, tasks and responsibilities, feedback, safety rules and handing in your notice. Every word has audio.
Good to know
Resigning?If you resign yourself, you usually have no right to a WW unemployment benefit, except in special situations.Source: UWV โ Waar u aan moet denken als u zelf ontslag neemt
Dutch at work: workplace vocabulary and phrases
All the Dutch from the five lessons, grouped by situation at work: the example conversation, then every word with its English meaning. Tap โถ to hear it.
Dutch meeting phrases
Laten we beginnen, mag ik iets voorstellen and moving a deadline.
Example conversation
- Laten we beginnen. Het eerste punt op de agenda is de planning.Let's begin. The first item on the agenda is the planning.
- Mag ik iets voorstellen?May I suggest something?
- Natuurlijk, ga je gang.Of course, go ahead.
- Kunnen we de deadline een week verschuiven?Can we move the deadline by a week?
Word list
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de agenda | agenda, diary |
| de planning | planning, schedule |
| voorstellen | to suggest, to introduce |
| het voorstel | proposal, suggestion |
| de deadline | deadline |
| verschuiven | to move, to postpone |
| het besluit | decision |
| de notulen | minutes (of a meeting) |
| laten we | let's |
โถ Practise this as a game: In a meeting
Talking about tasks and responsibilities
Who does what, and taking something on.
Example conversation
- Wie is verantwoordelijk voor de bestellingen?Who is responsible for the orders?
- Dat doe ik. Ik controleer ze elke ochtend.I do that. I check them every morning.
- Kun je ook de voorraad bijhouden?Can you keep track of the stock too?
- Ja, dat neem ik op me.Yes, I'll take that on.
Word list
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| verantwoordelijk | responsible |
| de taak | task |
| controleren | to check |
| de voorraad | stock, supply |
| de bestelling | order |
| op zich nemen | to take on |
| afmaken | to finish |
| verdelen | to divide, to share out |
โถ Practise this as a game: Tasks and responsibilities
Giving and receiving feedback in Dutch
Compliments, improving and the functioneringsgesprek.
Example conversation
- Hoe vind je dat het gaat met je werk?How do you think your work is going?
- Goed, denk ik. Maar ik wil graag beter worden in plannen.Well, I think. But I'd like to get better at planning.
- Dat zie ik ook. Je bent heel betrouwbaar.I see that too. You're very reliable.
- Dank je voor de complimenten.Thanks for the compliments.
Word list
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de feedback | feedback |
| het compliment | compliment |
| betrouwbaar | reliable |
| verbeteren | to improve |
| het functioneringsgesprek | performance review |
| de promotie | promotion |
| de salarisverhoging | pay rise |
โถ Practise this as a game: Feedback
Dutch safety words and signs at work
Verboden, verplicht and the signs you'll see.
Example conversation
- Je moet altijd veiligheidsschoenen dragen in het magazijn.You must always wear safety shoes in the warehouse.
- Ook als ik alleen even iets ophaal?Even if I'm just picking something up?
- Ja, ook dan. Het is verplicht.Yes, even then. It's compulsory.
Word list
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de veiligheid | safety |
| het magazijn | warehouse |
| beschermen | to protect |
| de handschoenen | gloves |
| het ongeval | accident |
| het voorschrift | regulation, rule |
| verboden | forbidden, prohibited |
| toegestaan | allowed, permitted |
โถ Practise this as a game: Safety at work
Handing in your notice in Dutch
Ontslag nemen, opzegtermijn and what it means for benefits. (Source: UWV โ Waar u aan moet denken als u zelf ontslag neemt)
Example conversation
- Ik heb besloten om ontslag te nemen.I've decided to resign.
- Echt? Waarom?Really? Why?
- Ik heb een baan gevonden dichter bij huis.I've found a job closer to home.
- Jammer, maar ik begrijp het. Veel succes!Pity, but I understand. Good luck!
Word list
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| ontslag nemen | to resign |
| besluiten | to decide |
| besloten | decided (past participle of besluiten) |
| gevonden | found (past participle of vinden) |
| dichter | closer |
| het succes | success, good luck |
| de opzegtermijn | notice period |
| werkloos | unemployed |
| de uitkering | benefit (payment) |
โถ Practise this as a game: Handing in your notice
How to practise Dutch at work
Start small: greet colleagues in Dutch, and use one phrase from the meeting lesson, like Mag ik iets voorstellen?, in your next meeting. Using Dutch at work a little every day works better than waiting until you are fluent.
Ask a colleague to answer you in Dutch for a few minutes at lunch. Most of the words you need are already in these five lessons.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say let's start in Dutch?
Laten we beginnen.
What is a functioneringsgesprek?
A performance review: a conversation with your manager about how your work is going.
What does ontslag nemen mean?
To resign, to hand in your notice. The notice period is the opzegtermijn.
Do I get WW if I resign?
Usually not: if you resign yourself, you normally have no right to WW, except in special situations (source: UWV).
What does Verboden toegang mean?
No entry (access prohibited).
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Word meanings checked against Wiktionary. Audio uses your deviceโs Dutch voice where available.