Once Sinterklaas has left on 6 December, the focus moves to Christmas. Here is how to wish people a merry Christmas and a happy New Year in Dutch, plus the words you will hear from mid December to the first week of January.
How to say Merry Christmas in Dutch
- Fijne kerstdagen! Merry Christmas, literally nice Christmas days. The most common.
- Vrolijk kerstfeest! Merry Christmas, a little more traditional.
- Fijne feestdagen! Happy holidays, for Christmas and New Year together.
- Fijne feestdagen en een gelukkig nieuwjaar! The classic line for cards and emails.
Two Christmas days
The Netherlands has eerste kerstdag (25 December) and tweede kerstdag (26 December). Both are public holidays, and many families split them: one day with one side of the family, one day with the other.
12 festive words
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de kerstboom | the Christmas tree |
| de kerstman | Father Christmas (not Sinterklaas) |
| het kerstdiner | Christmas dinner |
| gourmetten | to cook together at the table on a tabletop grill, a Dutch Christmas favourite |
| het kerstpakket | the Christmas hamper many employers give |
| de kerstmarkt | the Christmas market |
| oudejaarsavond | New Year's Eve |
| oud en nieuw | the turn of the year |
| oliebollen | fried dough balls, eaten on New Year's Eve |
| het vuurwerk | fireworks |
| de goede voornemens | New Year's resolutions |
| de nieuwjaarsduik | the New Year's Day dip in cold outdoor water |
Happy New Year in Dutch
- Gelukkig nieuwjaar! Happy New Year!
- De beste wensen! Best wishes!
- Proost! Cheers!
Good to know: people often say gelukkig nieuwjaar when they see a colleague or neighbour for the first time in early January. Some keep doing it later in the month.
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