Dutch is a fun language with many colorful expressions. These sayings help you understand Dutch culture better. Here are 10 popular Dutch expressions with their meanings and similar sayings in other languages.

1. Water naar zee dragen

“Water naar zee dragen”

Meaning: Doing something that is pointless or unnecessary. It’s like bringing something to a place that already has too much of it.

Equivalents:

• English: Carrying coals to Newcastle
• French: Porter de l’eau à la rivière
• German: Eulen nach Athen tragen
• Spanish: Llevar agua al mar
• Portuguese: Levar água ao mar

2. In het land der blinden is een één-oog koning

“In het land der blinden is een één-oog koning”

Meaning: When everyone around you lacks a skill, even having a little bit of that skill makes you special. It means being the best among people who are not good at something.

Equivalents:

• English: In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king
• French: Au royaume des aveugles, les borgnes sont rois
• German: Unter den Blinden ist der Einäugige König
• Spanish: En tierra de ciegos, el tuerto es rey
• Portuguese: Em terra de cego, quem tem um olho é rei

3. De kat uit de boom kijken

“De kat uit de boom kijken”

Meaning: To wait and see what happens before making a decision. Like watching a cat carefully come down from a tree.

Equivalents:

• English: To wait and see / To sit on the fence
• French: Attendre de voir venir
• German: Abwarten und Tee trinken
• Spanish: Ver venir las cosas
• Portuguese: Esperar para ver

4. Een appeltje voor de dorst

“Een appeltje voor de dorst”

Meaning: Saving something (usually money) for when you really need it later. Like keeping an apple to eat when you get thirsty.

Equivalents:

• English: A nest egg / Saving for a rainy day
• French: Avoir une poire pour la soif
• German: Einen Notgroschen haben
• Spanish: Guardar algo para cuando haga falta
• Portuguese: Guardar para a sede

5. Met de deur in huis vallen

“Met de deur in huis vallen”

Meaning: To be very direct and speak your mind right away. Not being polite or taking time to be gentle.

Equivalents:

• English: To cut to the chase / To be blunt
• French: Aller droit au but
• German: Mit der Tür ins Haus fallen
• Spanish: Ir al grano
• Portuguese: Ir direto ao assunto

6. Zoals het klokje thuis tikt, tikt het nergens

“Zoals het klokje thuis tikt, tikt het nergens”

Meaning: There is no place as good as your own home. Every place has its own way, but home is best.

Equivalents:

• English: There’s no place like home
• French: Il n’y a pas de petit chez soi
• German: Daheim ist es doch am schönsten
• Spanish: Como en casa, en ningún sitio
• Portuguese: Casa de ferreiro, espeto de pau

7. De kogel is door de kerk

“De kogel is door de kerk”

Meaning: The decision has been made and cannot be changed. The bullet has already been shot through the church.

Equivalents:

• English: The die is cast / It’s a done deal
• French: Les dés sont jetés
• German: Die Würfel sind gefallen
• Spanish: La suerte está echada
• Portuguese: A sorte está lançada

8. Met de Franse slag

“Met de Franse slag”

Meaning: Doing something quickly but not very carefully. Working fast but maybe not doing your best work.

Equivalents:

• English: A lick and a promise / Quick and dirty
• French: À la va-vite
• German: Husch-husch
• Spanish: A la ligera
• Portuguese: Nas coxas

9. Een storm in een glas water

“Een storm in een glas water”

Meaning: Making a big problem out of something small. Getting very upset about something that is not really important.

Equivalents:

• English: A storm in a teacup / A tempest in a teapot
• French: Une tempête dans un verre d’eau
• German: Ein Sturm im Wasserglas
• Spanish: Una tormenta en un vaso de agua
• Portuguese: Tempestade num copo de água

10. De aap komt uit de mouw

“De aap komt uit de mouw”

Meaning: The truth is finally revealed. Someone’s real plans or feelings come out, like a hidden monkey coming out of a sleeve.

Equivalents:

• English: The cat is out of the bag / The truth comes out
• French: Le pot aux roses est découvert
• German: Die Katze ist aus dem Sack
• Spanish: Se descubre el pastel
• Portuguese: O gato saiu do saco

Why Learn Dutch Expressions?

Learning these expressions helps you understand Dutch people better. When you use them, Dutch speakers will be happy and surprised! These sayings show how creative and fun the Dutch language can be.

Try using one of these expressions next time you speak Dutch. You will sound more natural and connect better with Dutch speakers!