Dutch
· NederlandsNetherlands + Flanders (Belgium) · 25M+ speakers, top per-capita e-commerce in EU
Dutch buyers read English fine – but convert noticeably better when copy is in Dutch and payment uses iDEAL. Do not skip Dutch because they 'speak English'.
Code
nl
Region
Netherlands + Flanders (Belgium)
Shopify
High AOV, English-tolerant but converts better in Dutch
Why translate
- iDEAL accounts for 60%+ of NL checkout – payment + shipping copy must be NL
- Dutch SEO is significantly less crowded than EN – ranking is faster and cheaper
- Belgium-Flanders has its own preferences – nl-BE differs from nl-NL in tone and currency
Pitfalls
Je vs. u
Default to 'je' (informal). 'U' reads stiff outside legal copy.
False friends
'Eventueel' means 'possibly', not 'eventually'. MT misses this constantly.
nl-NL vs nl-BE
Vocabulary diverges (e.g. 'gsm' in BE for mobile). Use locale glossaries.
Glossary seed
| Source (EN) | Dutch | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cart | Winkelwagen | Universal. |
| Checkout | Afrekenen | Shopify default. |
| Free shipping | Gratis verzending | Universal. |
| Sign in | Inloggen | Not 'Login'. |
SEO tips
- Translate FAQ + reviews – Dutch buyers research before buying more than EU avg
- Use nl-NL and nl-BE hreflang separately if you ship to both
- Avoid Engrish-style headlines – Dutch buyers notice and bounce
Next playbook
Portuguese