Help and emergencies in Dutch
The words you hope to never need. Play the ten Dutch words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Dutch phrases in this lesson
- Help!help
- Help!
- Bel een dokterbel un DOK-tur
- Call a doctor
- Politiepoh-LEET-see
- Police
- Apotheekah-poh-TAYK
- Pharmacy
- ZiekenhuisZEE-kun-hoys
- Hospital
- Ik ben de weg kwijtik ben duh vekh kvayt
- I'm lost
- Ik voel me niet goedik vool muh neet khoot
- I don't feel well
- Het is gestolenhut is khuh-STOH-lun
- It was stolen
- Het is een noodgevalhut is un NOAT-khuh-val
- It's an emergency
- Laat me met rustlaat muh met RUST
- Leave me alone
Identical to English and universally understood. Shout clearly in an emergency. The Netherlands has a well-organized emergency response system.
The emergency number in the Netherlands is 112 for police, fire, and ambulance. A dokter is a GP. For urgent care, ask for spoedeisende hulp (emergency care).
The non-emergency police number in the Netherlands is 0900-8844. For emergencies always use 112. Police officers in major cities typically speak English.
Pharmacies are clearly marked with a green cross. Outside opening hours, a duty pharmacy (dienstdoende apotheek) is always available. Drogist shops sell basic medicines without a prescription.
Literally "sick house." Dutch hospitals are of high quality. EU travelers with an EHIC card receive care under the same terms as Dutch nationals.
Literally "I have lost the way." The Dutch are generally very willing to help and most will switch to English if needed.
Useful for communicating illness or discomfort. Ik ben ziek (I am sick) is the more direct statement if you know you are unwell.
You will need to file a report (aangifte doen) at a police station for insurance purposes. Officers will guide you through the process, often in English.
The emergency number is 112.
Literally "leave me in rest".