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Dutch on the train, bus and bike: travel words and phrases
Dutch on the train, bus and bike in five short game lessons: buying a ticket, checking in and out, asking the way, cycling and delays. Every word has audio.
Good to know
Always check outIf you forget to check out, you pay the full boarding fare (instaptarief). You can ask NS for a refund afterwards.Source: NS โ Forgot to check in or check out
Bank card works tooYou can check in and out of all Dutch public transport with a contactless debit card.Source: NS โ Travelling with your debit card
Dutch on the train, bus and bike: words and phrases
All the Dutch from the five lessons, grouped by situation: the example conversation, then every word with its English meaning. Tap โถ to hear it.
Buying a train ticket in Dutch
Retourtje, enkele reis and which platform the train leaves from.
Example conversation
- Een retourtje Utrecht, alstublieft.A return ticket to Utrecht, please.
- Dat is vijftien euro twintig.That's fifteen euros twenty.
- Van welk perron vertrekt de trein?Which platform does the train leave from?
- Van spoor vijf. Hij vertrekt over tien minuten.From track five. It leaves in ten minutes.
Word list
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| het station | station |
| het perron | platform |
| het spoor | track, platform |
| het kaartje | ticket |
| het retourtje | return ticket |
| de enkele reis | single ticket (one way) |
| vertrekken | to leave, to depart |
| aankomen | to arrive |
| de minuut | minute |
| over | in (time), about, over |
โถ Practise this as a game: At the station
Checking in and out: OV-chipkaart words
Inchecken, uitchecken, instappen and overstappen. (Source: NS โ Forgot to check in or check out)
Example conversation
- Moet ik inchecken?Do I have to check in?
- Ja, met je OV-chipkaart of je bankpas.Yes, with your OV-chipkaart or your bank card.
- En bij het uitstappen?And when I get off?
- Dan moet je weer uitchecken.Then you have to check out again.
Word list
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| inchecken | to check in |
| uitchecken | to check out |
| instappen | to get on |
| uitstappen | to get off |
| overstappen | to change (trains, buses) |
| de bankpas | bank card, debit card |
| moeten | to have to, must |
| weer | again |
| de bus | bus |
| de tram | tram |
| de metro | metro, underground |
โถ Practise this as a game: Checking in and out
Asking for directions in Dutch
Links, rechts, rechtdoor and how far it is.
Example conversation
- Pardon, hoe kom ik bij het museum?Excuse me, how do I get to the museum?
- Ga hier rechtdoor en neem de tweede straat links.Go straight on here and take the second street on the left.
- Is het ver?Is it far?
- Nee, het is vijf minuten lopen.No, it's a five-minute walk.
Word list
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| links | left |
| rechts | right |
| rechtdoor | straight on |
| ver | far |
| dichtbij | near, close by |
| lopen | to walk |
| nemen | to take |
| de hoek | corner |
| het museum | museum |
| het kruispunt | crossroads, junction |
โถ Practise this as a game: Asking the way
Dutch cycling words
Fietspad, fietsenstalling and a lekke band.
Example conversation
- Fiets je elke dag naar je werk?Do you cycle to work every day?
- Ja, behalve als het hard regent.Yes, unless it's raining hard.
- Waar zet je je fiets neer?Where do you park your bike?
- In de fietsenstalling bij het station.In the bike park at the station.
Word list
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| fietsen | to cycle |
| het fietspad | cycle path |
| de fietsenstalling | bicycle parking |
| het slot | lock |
| de band | tyre |
| de lekke band | flat tyre |
| de helm | helmet |
| elke | every, each |
| bij | at, near |
โถ Practise this as a game: By bike
Talking about delays in Dutch
Vertraging, storing and being te laat.
Example conversation
- Mijn trein heeft vertraging.My train is delayed.
- Hoeveel minuten?How many minutes?
- Twintig minuten. Ik ben te laat voor mijn afspraak.Twenty minutes. I'm late for my appointment.
- Bel even, dan weten ze het.Give them a quick call, then they'll know.
Word list
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de vertraging | delay |
| te laat | late, too late |
| op tijd | on time |
| bellen | to call (phone) |
| even | just, for a moment |
| weten | to know (a fact) |
| de storing | breakdown, disruption |
โถ Practise this as a game: Delays
How to practise Dutch on the train
Every journey is practice. Listen to the announcements on the platform and pick out spoor, vertraging and overstappen: they come back again and again.
Before your next trip, replay the lesson about buying a ticket or checking in, and try one sentence in Dutch at the counter. Speaking Dutch on the train gets easier with the same few phrases.
Frequently asked questions
How do you ask for a return ticket in Dutch?
Een retourtje (naar) Utrecht, alstublieft. A single ticket is een enkele reis.
What does vertraging mean?
Delay. Mijn trein heeft vertraging means my train is delayed.
What happens if I forget to check out?
You pay the full boarding fare (instaptarief). You can ask NS for a refund afterwards (source: NS).
How do you ask for directions in Dutch?
Pardon, hoe kom ik bij het station? (Excuse me, how do I get to the station?)
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Word meanings checked against Wiktionary. Audio uses your deviceโs Dutch voice where available.