Read a Dutch menu 
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Type a word from the menu in front of you. The decoder knows 243 words, from voorgerecht to laat maar zitten, and works offline once the page has loaded.
Menu sections and terms
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| menukaart | menu |
| kaart | menu (short form) "Mag ik de kaart?" means "May I have the menu?" |
| voorgerecht | starter |
| hoofdgerecht | main course |
| nagerecht | dessert course Also called dessert or toetje at home. |
| bijgerecht | side dish Often ordered separately: fries, salad, vegetables. |
| tussengerecht | in-between course A small course between starter and main on tasting menus. |
| amuse | small bite from the kitchen Usually free, served before the starter. |
| dagschotel | dish of the day Often the best-value plate on an eetcafé menu. |
| dagmenu | set menu of the day |
| dagsoep | soup of the day |
| chef’s menu | tasting menu chosen by the chef Often the whole table must order it. |
| keuzemenu | set menu with choices |
| à la carte | ordering dishes one by one |
| kindermenu | children’s menu |
| lunchkaart | lunch menu |
| borrelkaart | bar snacks menu Bitterballen, cheese cubes, nachos, served from mid-afternoon. |
| wijnkaart | wine list |
| huisgemaakt | homemade |
| dagvers | fresh today |
| seizoensgebonden | seasonal |
| biologisch | organic |
| streekproduct | regional product |
| p.p. | per person Prices for set menus are usually per person. |
| v.a. | from (starting price) |
| dagprijs | market price Ask before ordering: usually lobster, oysters or fish. |
| toeslag | supplement (extra charge) |
| inclusief | included |
Meat and poultry
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| vlees | meat |
| rundvlees | beef |
| biefstuk | steak (usually rump or sirloin) |
| ossenhaas | beef tenderloin |
| entrecote | rib-eye or sirloin steak |
| kalfsvlees | veal |
| varkensvlees | pork |
| varkenshaas | pork tenderloin |
| karbonade | pork chop |
| spek | bacon |
| spareribs | pork ribs |
| gehakt | minced meat |
| gehaktbal | meatball A large meatball, often in gravy. |
| lamsvlees | lamb |
| lamsrack | rack of lamb |
| kip | chicken |
| kipfilet | chicken breast |
| kippendij | chicken thigh |
| eend | duck |
| eendenborst | duck breast |
| kalkoen | turkey |
| wild | game On menus from autumn into winter. |
| hert | deer, venison |
| ree | roe deer |
| haas | hare (also: tenderloin) Wildhaas is hare; ossenhaas and varkenshaas are tenderloins. |
| fazant | pheasant |
| wildzwijn | wild boar |
| konijn | rabbit |
| rookworst | smoked sausage |
| worst | sausage |
| ham | ham |
| rosbief | roast beef |
| hachee | beef and onion stew |
| stoofvlees | slow-braised beef stew |
| zuurvlees | sweet and sour beef stew (Limburg) |
Fish and seafood
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| vis | fish |
| haring | herring |
| Hollandse Nieuwe | new-season soused herring Lightly salted raw herring, served with onion and pickles. |
| kabeljauw | cod |
| schelvis | haddock |
| zalm | salmon |
| tong | sole (also: tongue) |
| zeetong | Dover sole |
| schol | plaice |
| tarbot | turbot |
| zeebaars | sea bass |
| dorade | sea bream |
| makreel | mackerel |
| paling | eel Gerookte paling is smoked eel. |
| tonijn | tuna |
| wijting | whiting |
| mosselen | mussels |
| oesters | oysters |
| garnalen | shrimp, prawns Hollandse garnalen are small grey North Sea shrimp. |
| gamba’s | king prawns |
| kreeft | lobster |
| krab | crab |
| inktvis | squid |
| kibbeling | battered cod bites |
| lekkerbekje | battered fish fillet |
Vegetables, potatoes and sides
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| groente | vegetables |
| aardappel | potato |
| krieltjes | small new potatoes |
| puree | mashed potato |
| friet, patat | fries Both words mean fries; patat is used more in the north and west. |
| sla | salad, lettuce |
| rauwkost | raw vegetable salad |
| zuurkool | sauerkraut |
| boerenkool | curly kale |
| andijvie | endive |
| spruitjes | Brussels sprouts |
| rode kool | red cabbage |
| bloemkool | cauliflower |
| sperziebonen | green beans |
| doperwten | garden peas |
| wortel | carrot |
| ui | onion |
| prei | leek |
| knoflook | garlic |
| champignons | mushrooms |
| paddenstoelen | wild mushrooms |
| asperges | asparagus (usually white) |
| witlof | chicory |
| biet | beetroot |
| pompoen | pumpkin, squash |
| rijst | rice |
| stamppot | potatoes mashed with vegetables |
How it is cooked
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| gebakken | fried or baked Gebakken can mean pan-fried or oven-baked. |
| gefrituurd | deep-fried |
| gegrild | grilled |
| geroosterd | roasted, toasted |
| gestoofd | braised, stewed |
| gekookt | boiled |
| gestoomd | steamed |
| gepocheerd | poached |
| gerookt | smoked |
| gemarineerd | marinated |
| gegratineerd | baked with a cheese crust |
| rauw | raw |
| rood | rare (meat) |
| medium | medium |
| doorbakken | well done |
Sauces and seasoning
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| jus | gravy |
| saus | sauce |
| mosterd | mustard |
| mayonaise | mayonnaise |
| fritessaus | fries sauce (lighter, sweeter mayo) |
| satésaus, pindasaus | peanut sauce |
| curry | curry ketchup On a frikandel speciaal: curry ketchup, mayo and raw onion. |
| knoflooksaus | garlic sauce |
| ravigotesaus | herb mayonnaise for fish |
| hollandaisesaus | hollandaise sauce |
| pepersaus | pepper sauce |
Cheese, eggs and dairy
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| kaas | cheese |
| jong | young (cheese, about 4 weeks) |
| belegen | mature (cheese, about 4 months) |
| oud | old (cheese, about 10 months or more) |
| geitenkaas | goat’s cheese |
| boerenkaas | farmhouse cheese made from raw milk |
| ei, eieren | egg, eggs |
| spiegelei | fried egg, sunny side up |
| roerei | scrambled eggs |
| slagroom | whipped cream |
| room | cream |
| boter | butter |
| karnemelk | buttermilk |
Bread, lunch and breakfast
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| brood | bread |
| broodje | bread roll, sandwich |
| boterham | slice of bread with a topping |
| tosti | toasted sandwich, usually ham and cheese |
| uitsmijter | fried eggs on bread with ham or cheese |
| beleg | sandwich topping |
| volkoren | wholemeal |
| meergranen | multigrain |
| ontbijt | breakfast |
| lunch | lunch |
| hagelslag | chocolate sprinkles for bread |
Snacks and fried food
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| bitterballen | small fried ragout balls Dip in mustard and let them cool for a minute. |
| kroket | croquette with meat ragout |
| frikandel | skinless minced-meat sausage |
| kaassoufflé | fried cheese pastry |
| loempia | large spring roll |
| kapsalon | fries, shawarma, cheese and salad in a tray |
| portie | portion "Een portie bitterballen" is a plate of about 8. |
Desserts and sweets
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| appeltaart | apple pie Ask for "met slagroom" if you want whipped cream. |
| poffertjes | mini pancakes |
| pannenkoek | large Dutch pancake Sweet or savoury; spek (bacon) is the classic. |
| stroopwafel | syrup waffle |
| vla | custard dessert |
| ijs | ice cream |
| dame blanche | vanilla ice cream with hot chocolate sauce |
| tompouce | pink-iced custard slice |
| oliebollen | New Year’s doughnut balls |
| appelflap | apple turnover in puff pastry |
| appelbeignet | apple ring fried in batter |
| kruidnoten | small crunchy spice biscuits (Sinterklaas) Most people call them pepernoten. |
| speculaas | spiced biscuit |
| vlaai | Limburg fruit tart |
| taart | cake, tart |
| gebak | pastry |
Drinks
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| drankjes | drinks |
| kraanwater | tap water |
| spa rood | sparkling water A brand name used for any sparkling water. |
| spa blauw | still water |
| frisdrank | soft drink |
| verse jus | fresh orange juice |
| koffie | coffee |
| koffie verkeerd | coffee with lots of hot milk |
| thee | tea |
| verse muntthee | fresh mint tea |
| warme chocolademelk | hot chocolate |
| biertje | a (small) beer |
| pils | lager |
| vaasje | tall beer glass |
| fluitje | small thin beer glass |
| tap | draught |
| witbier | wheat beer |
| jenever | Dutch gin |
| huiswijn | house wine |
| rood, wit, rosé | red, white, rosé (wine) |
Allergens and dietary words
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| glutenvrij | gluten free |
| lactosevrij | lactose free |
| vegetarisch | vegetarian |
| veganistisch | vegan |
| plantaardig | plant-based |
| allergenen | allergens |
| noten | nuts |
| pinda’s | peanuts |
| schaaldieren | crustaceans |
| weekdieren | molluscs |
| selderij | celery |
| sesamzaad | sesame seeds |
| lupine | lupin |
| sulfiet | sulphites |
| soja | soy |
| melk | milk |
| halal | halal |
| pittig | spicy |
Words you will hear at the table
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| eet smakelijk | enjoy your meal |
| proost | cheers |
| de rekening, alstublieft | the bill, please |
| pinnen | to pay by card "Alleen pinnen" means card only. |
| contant | cash |
| afrekenen | to pay the bill "Mogen we afrekenen?" means "Can we pay?" |
| samen of apart? | together or separately? |
| fooi | tip |
| geen fooi | no tip The button to skip the tip on a card terminal. |
| apart betalen | paying separately |
| samen | together (one bill) |
| heeft het gesmaakt? | did you enjoy it? |
| laat maar zitten | keep the change |
| reserveren | to book a table |
| vol | full (no tables left) |
| buiten | outside (on the terrace) |
| terras | terrace |
How to use it at the table
Dutch menus follow the same order almost everywhere: voorgerechten (starters), hoofdgerechten (mains), bijgerechten (sides, often ordered separately) and nagerechten (desserts). Lunch menus add a column of broodjes and tosti's, and from mid-afternoon many cafés switch to a borrelkaart with bar snacks.
Prices already include VAT and service, so the number on the menu is the number on the bill. Read more in tipping in the Netherlands and paying in Dutch restaurants.