Do you have a Dutch girlfriend or boyfriend, or has an attractive Dutchie caught your eye? Then learning how to express your feelings in the Dutch language is the first step you should take toward creating a new relationship or strengthening the bond between you and your lover.

Of course, there are the basics. For example…

How do you say “I love you,” in Dutch? That’s Ik hou van jou. And how about “my love”? That could be mijn lieverd or mijn liefje. 

The Dutch may not be the most expressive people when it comes to love, but they do have their own ways of confessing their feelings and revealing their love to someone. With the right words, you’ll come a long way in your relationship—but try not to be too dramatic or clingy. The Dutch are very down-to-earth, and they view excessive romanticism as a mark of desperation. 

Learn to talk about love in Dutch with this useful guide from DutchPod101.com. We’ve provided a variety of Dutch love phrases for every phase of your romantic relationship, from confessing your affection and falling in love all the way to getting married and starting a family. And if that’s still not enough, we’ll even introduce you to some Dutch endearment terms and must-know Dutch love quotes. 

Let’s get to it!

Impress your Dutch love with these Dutch romantic phrases.

Table of Contents

1. First Contact: Dutch Pick-up Lines and More
2. Take it to the Next Level: How Do You Say “I Love You,” in Dutch?
3. Take it One Step Further: “Will You Marry Me?” and More
4. Dutch Endearment Terms: “My Love” in Dutch and More
5. Must-know Dutch Love Quotes
6. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. First Contact: Dutch Pick-up Lines and More

You’re in a bar and you spot some nice Dutchie you’d like to get to know…but how do you make first contact? While the Dutch value a direct approach in all things, it’s still important to know how to start the conversation. Have a look at these Dutch pick-up lines and other useful Dutch love phrases for when you’ve just met someone.

Kom je hier vaker? Ik ken je ergens van.

“Do you come here often?” “I think I’ve seen you before.”

Hoe heet je?

“What’s your name?”

→ What more can you say? Have a look at these 10 Lines You Need for Introducing Yourself.

Wil je dansen? Wil je met me dansen?

“Do you want to dance?” “Do you want to dance with me?”

Wil je wat drinken? Ik betaal dit rondje.	“Can I buy you a drink?” “Let me get this round.”
In the Netherlands, it’s not customary that the man pays for everything. Rather, it’s quite common for couples to “go Dutch” and split the bill. However, when you meet someone new, offering a drink can be a good way to show your interest. While it’s less common for a girl to buy a guy a drink, this is definitely an option as well.

Heb je een vriend? Heb je een vriendin?	“Do you have a boyfriend?” “Do you have a girlfriend?”
The Dutch are direct, so they’re used to non-subtle ways of asking if someone is single. You could also ask: Ben je single? (“Are you single?”)

Het was leuk met jou.I k zou het leuk vinden om je nog een keer te zien.

“I had a great time with you.” “I’d like to see you again.”

Zullen we nog eens afspreken?  Zullen we binnenkort wat drinken?	“Shall we meet another time?” “Shall we have a drink soon?”
In the Netherlands, a common first date is to have drinks together at a bar at night. Going for dinner is far less common, as it can be viewed as awkward if you don’t know the other person very well.

Are you ready to invite someone on a date in Dutch?

Mag ik je telefoonnummer? Mag ik je mijn telefoonnummer geven?	“Can I get your phone number?” “Can I give you my number?”
It’s more common to ask for someone’s phone number than to ask if you may give your number to someone, and both men and women can do so. That said, giving your phone number to someone might be seen as more courteous. If your potential date is interested, they will either return the favor right away or call you later.

→ Now that you’ve made your move, you’ll want to know the Most Common Phrases You’ll Need for a Date.
→ Did someone ask you out on a date, but you’re not interested? Find out how to politely decline with these Ways to Reject an Invitation.

2. Take it to the Next Level: How Do You Say “I Love You,” in Dutch?

You went on that first date and many more. You’re in love and ready to take it to the next level. So, what’s “I love you,” in Dutch? And what else can you say to really win their affections? Here are several romantic Dutch phrases you can use to express your feelings.  

Ik vind je leuk.	“I like you.”
As mentioned before, the Dutch are not very expressive about their love. Saying this phrase to someone you’ve only just met may be seen as too fast or forward. It’s more common to express this after you’ve seen the other person several times.

Ik mis je.

“I miss you.”

Ik heb zin om je weer te zien.

“I look forward to seeing you again.”

Ik denk aan jou.

“I’m thinking about you.”

Ik ben gek op jou.

“I’m crazy about you.”

Je bent zo mooi.

“You’re so beautiful.”

Ik ben verliefd op jou.

“I am in love with you.”

Wil je verkering met mij? Wil je een relatie met mij? Zullen we het officieel maken?

“Do you want to be in a relationship with me?” “Do you want to be in a relationship with me?” “Shall we make it official?”

Verkering is another word used to refer to a romantic relationship. Although it’s a common word, it might be perceived as a bit childish. If you’d prefer to stay on the safe side, use the word relatie (“relationship”). It has the same meaning, but it’s a more neutral word. If you’ve been dating your Dutchie for a while but the relationship has not become “official” yet, then you might want to use the last option.

Ik houd van jou. Ik houd zielsveel van jou.	“I love you.” “I love you with heart and soul.”
Fun fact: Dutch people often use the phrase Ik hou van jou, with the d dropped from houd. Although the spelling is officially wrong, it’s a very common way to write the phrase. Where does this habit come from? The d might have been dropped simply because it’s not pronounced when the word is spoken.

Ready to write some love letters in Dutch?

→ Are you looking for some other romantic Dutch phrases to declare your undying love? Our list of Love Phrases for Valentine’s Day might be just what you need.

3. Take it One Step Further: “Will You Marry Me?” and More

You’ve expressed your feelings successfully, it’s been reciprocated, and you’re officially in a happy relationship. Are you ready to take it one step further? Here are all the Dutch love phrases you need to steer your relationship toward the future you want. We’ve gathered key phrases for expressing true love in Dutch, meeting the parents, moving in together, getting married, and even having a baby. 

Wij zijn voor elkaar bestemd. Jij bent de liefde van mijn leven. Ik kan niet zonder jou.	“We are made for each other.” “You are the love of my life.” “I can’t live without you.”
These romantic Dutch phrases are not used very often, so make sure you only say them in the right setting and that they come from the heart. The Dutch don’t take words like these lightly.

Ik wil graag dat je mijn ouders ontmoet.	“I would like for you to meet my parents.”
As the Dutch move out of their parents’ place at a relatively young age and often move to another city when going to study, meeting the parents is a big deal in Dutch culture.

Wil je met mij samenwonen?

“Would you like to move in together?”

Wil je met me trouwen?

“Do you want to marry me?”

Pop the question in Dutch.

Ik wil graag een kindje met jou.

“I would like to have a baby with you.”

4. Dutch Endearment Terms: “My Love” in Dutch and More

What’s next, then? You’ll need some Dutch endearment terms to express your love each and every day. In the Netherlands, it’s very common to use endearment terms when talking to the people you love, whether it be your partner or your friends and family.

Lieverd Schatje Liefje Dropje Lekker ding Knapperd	“Dear” “Cutie” “Little dear” “Sweetie” “Delicious thing” “Beautiful”
These are just some popular options, but there are many more! The same endearment terms also come in a lot of different forms and shapes, such as: lieffie, droppie, schatteke, knappie. It’s all a matter of preference, and many Dutch couples also use personal pet names.

What Dutch endearment term would you use?

5. Must-know Dutch Love Quotes

As you might have expected from the not-so-romantic Dutch, there is no overload of romantic love quotes in the Dutch language. And the quotes that do exist tend to have a down-to-earth undertone. That said, here are the most popular quotes about love in Dutch:

Dutch	De liefde kan niet van één kant komen.
Literally	“Love cannot come from one side.”
Equivalent	It takes two to tango.
This is one of the down-to-earth Dutch love quotes that’s quite popular in the Netherlands. It shows the Dutch attitude about love, which is that love should come from both sides: If you want to make it work, both parties will have to contribute.

Dutch	De liefde van een man gaat door de maag.
Literally	“A man’s love goes through the stomach.”
This humorous Dutch love quote may also say something about their not-so-romantic nature. This is a very popular Dutch quote, and it even has its own song. It can also be used for women, children, or even for animals. People may even say it about their own cat: De liefde van een kat gaat door de maag. (“The love of a cat goes through the stomach.”)

Dutch	Ongelukkig in het spel, gelukkig in de liefde.
Literally	“Unlucky in the game, happy in love.”
Equivalent	Lucky at cards, unlucky in love.
This love quote in Dutch is nearly identical to its English counterpart. Those who always lose in gambling often have a happy love life, and vice-versa.   What do you think about that? Is it true for you?

Dutch	Oude liefde roest niet.
Literally	“Old love does not rust.”
This beautiful Dutch quote, with an identical English counterpart, also has its own song from the famous Dutch 80s band VOF De Kunst. They sing: Oude liefde roest niet, maar verdwijnt net zoals jij. (“Old love does not rust, but disappears just like you.”)

→ Find more love inspiration in our free vocabulary list of quotes on Love. Or go for those bittersweet Break-Up quotes.

6. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

You’re ready to find some Dutch love!

In this article, you learned how to say “I love you,” in Dutch and many more useful Dutch love phrases. You’re now prepared to get your flirt on, express your love, and even take it a step further with a solid marriage proposal. You also know what endearment terms to use for your Dutch lieverd (“dear”) and have some old Dutch love quotes to fall back on when you want to spice things up. 

Did we forget any important Dutch love phrases you know? What’s your favorite romantic Dutch phrase or endearment term?

There’s still a lot more to learn, and nothing will make your Dutch lover swoon more than mastering their native tongue. Make sure to explore DutchPod101.com and take advantage of our numerous vocabulary lists with audio recordings and other useful free resources to boost your Dutch studies.

Would you like some 1-on-1 coaching? Then consider upgrading to a Premium PLUS subscription, which will give you access to our MyTeacher service. Here, you can learn more about Dutch love and life with your own private teacher and really master the Dutch language. Through personalized feedback and pronunciation advice, you’ll catch on in no time.