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Dutch restaurant phrases

The basic Dutch restaurant phrases are Een tafel voor twee, alstublieft (“A table for two, please”), Ik wil graag… (“I’d like…”) and De rekening, alstublieft (“The bill, please”) — and you need that last one, because in the Netherlands the bill never arrives until you ask. Below are the phrases for each stage of the meal, from being seated to ordering, dietary requests and paying, plus how to read the receipt you get at the end.

Arriving and being seated

Waitstaff are addressed with the formal u, and they will address you the same way. Pronunciation hints are rough; “kh” is the Dutch g from the g-sound guide.

Ordering food and drink

The polite frame for any order is Ik wil graag… or Mag ik…? (“May I have…?”). Adding graag (“please / gladly”) anywhere makes a request warmer and more Dutch.

For the food words themselves — menu categories, meats, vegetables and the classic Dutch dishes worth recognising — see the food vocabulary list. Note that een biertje uses the diminutive: ordering “a little beer” is simply how Dutch asks for a standard glass, and diminutives soften almost every order (een koffietje, een wijntje).

Dietary requests and allergies

These matter, so say them clearly and, if it’s an allergy, use the word allergisch — kitchens take it seriously.

What the waiter says to you

Half the battle is understanding the questions coming back. Listen for these:

When food arrives, the standard well-wish is Eet smakelijk! (AYT SMAH-kuh-luk, “enjoy your meal”) — say it to your table companions, and the reply is a simple Jij ook! or Dank je!

Paying, splitting and tipping

The bill will not come until you flag it — hovering waiters are considered rude in the Netherlands, so catch an eye and ask.

Splitting the bill is entirely normal and unembarrassing here — so much so that the English-speaking world calls it “going Dutch.” Asking kunnen we apart betalen? is routine, and many card terminals will split a total for you.

Tipping is modest, not the American 15–20%. Service is included in the price by law, so a tip (een fooi) is a small thank-you for good service: rounding up, or roughly 5–10% for a nice sit-down meal. In cafés people often just leave the coins from their change. Because most people pay by card, you tell the waiter the total to charge — hand over the terminal and say the rounded-up figure, e.g. maak er maar 50 van (“make it 50”).

How to read a Dutch restaurant receipt

A Dutch receipt (de bon or het bonnetje; in Flanders het kasticket) follows a fixed layout: a line per item with quantity, description and amount, then the total, then a VAT breakdown and the payment method. Prices on the menu already include VAT and service, so the totaal is what you pay unless you add a tip. A typical bill looks like this:

Note the decimal comma: 7,60 is €7.60, and a thousands separator, if any, is a full stop. The terms you will meet:

Why two VAT lines? In the Netherlands food and non-alcoholic drinks carry the low VAT rate of 9%, while alcohol carries the standard 21%, so a bill with beer on it shows both. In Belgium restaurant food is taxed at 12% and drinks at 21%. The breakdown is for information only; it is already inside the total. Rates are set by each government and occasionally change, so treat these as the rates at the time of writing.

Frequently asked questions

How do you order food in Dutch?

Say Ik wil graag… (“I’d like…”) or Mag ik…? (“May I have…?”) followed by the dish, and add alstublieft (please).

How do you ask for the bill in Dutch?

De rekening, alstublieft or Mogen we afrekenen? Dutch waiters will not bring the bill until you ask for it.

Do you tip in Dutch restaurants?

Service is included in menu prices, so tipping is optional: round up, or leave about 5–10% for good service at a sit-down meal. When paying by card, tell the waiter the rounded-up total.

What does BTW mean on a Dutch receipt?

BTW is VAT. Dutch restaurant receipts show 9% on food and non-alcoholic drinks and 21% on alcohol; the amounts are already included in the total you pay.

What is the difference between de rekening and de bon?

De rekening is the bill you ask for at the table; de bon or het bonnetje is the printed receipt you get after paying. In Flanders the receipt is called het kasticket.

Can you split the bill in a Dutch restaurant?

Yes, it is completely normal. Ask Kunnen we apart betalen? (“Can we pay separately?”).