How to have a very Dutch New Year: From fireworks to good intentions

In this article, Kate Aemisegger from UvA Talen helps you celebrate New Year's Eve the Dutch way! With a handful of key phrases in your pocket, you can party like a local.

As many of you already know, New Year’s in the Netherlands is celebrated with endless champagne, fried dough and enough fireworks to make you question every safety rule you’ve ever known. However, it’s also a perfect chance to practise your Dutch, whether you’re confidently shouting “Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!” as the midnight countdown comes to an end, or quietly dropping an “oooh, lekker!” between bites at dinner.

This guide will help you survive the festivities with some essential phrases, cultural insights, and a few quick comebacks for when the topic of resolutions inevitably comes up. Let’s begin!

Essential Dutch phrases for New Year’s Eve

We're starting off with an easy one that we can translate into many different languages, “Gelukkig Nieuwjaar”. For me, being an American expat in the Netherlands, this wasn’t a hard concept to catch on to, as it’s just the Dutch version of "Happy New Year!"

This phrase is often accompanied by three cheek kisses - a Dutch tradition that can catch you off guard if you’re not prepared. Don’t panic! Just smile, kiss back (following their rhythm from cheek-to-cheek), and say “Jij ook een gelukkig nieuwjaar!” which means “You too, Happy New Year!” Trust me, you’ll be repeating this phrase all night so it’s best to start practising.

Then there’s “Proost!” - "Cheers!" Another easy one. Whether you’re holding up a glass of bubbles (champagne) at a party with friends, or from the couch watching the annual Oudejaarsconference trying to make sense of Dutch humour, make sure to make eye contact when clinking glasses! Although it may be a bit old-fashioned, skipping that step is said to bring bad luck… in more ways than one. So, fellow expat, let’s start the New Year off on a good note, okay?

Firework mayhem

You may also hear some practical phrases shouted over the sound of fireworks outside, like “Pas op voor het vuurwerk!” - "Watch out for fireworks!"

If you’re from a country with more regulated firework laws, the Dutch New Year’s might shock you. When the clock strikes midnight, the streets start filling with neighbours enthusiastically lighting up the sky with sparklers, rockets, and the occasional DIY explosion (or, masterpiece, let’s call it). To make it simple, if someone yells something at you during this moment in the night, just assume there’s something heading your way and move quickly!

Eating well

Let’s not forget the best part of the Dutch New Year’s… the food! Particularly the oliebollen. These delicious, doughy, deep-fried treats are a staple during typical Dutch New Year celebrations, as I’ve learned.

Being the expat in the room, you may hear someone ask you “Heb je de oliebollen al geprobeerd?” - "Have you tried olliebollen yet?" You can keep your answer simple with a “Ja!” or “Ja, heerlijk!” - "Yes, delicious!" And if your answer here is no… you’re really missing out.

A little more advanced: Mastering conversations about resolutions

Once the oliebollen are devoured and the chaos outside has calmed down, you may start hearing about “goede voornemens”, referring to New Year’s resolutions. When asked “Wat zijn jouw goede voornemens?” you’ll need a game plan! Here are some simple yet classic answers to help prepare for this moment:

• Mijn goede voornemen is om mijn Nederlands te verbeteren: My New Year’s resolution is to improve my Dutch.
• Mijn goede voornemen voor 2025 is om een nieuwe taal te leren: My New Year’s resolution for 2025 is to learn a new language.
• Ik wil meer sporten: I want to exercise/workout more.
• Ik wil gezonder eten en meer bewegen: I want to eat healthier and be more active.

And if you’re feeling particularly confident, you can throw in a “maar we zullen zien hoelang het duurt!” - "But we’ll see how long it lasts!" Because let’s be honest… it’s easier to start your resolutions than finish them, right?

Celebrating the Dutch way

Mastering the Dutch New Year is about more than just memorising phrases and avoiding fireworks, of course. It’s about embracing family and friends, eating lekkere food, and reflecting on the year you’ve had. I’ve personally really enjoyed New Year’s celebrations since moving to the Netherlands, and I hope this guide to a Dutch New Year helps you take on December 31 with total confidence!

And whether your resolution is to finally conquer that tricky Dutch G-sound or simply to make it through the night in one piece, remember: the Dutch appreciate effort speaking their language, a good sense of humour, and a good Proost!

Veel succes en een gelukkig nieuwjaar! (Good luck and Happy New Year!) How do you say Happy New Year in your own language?

Is improving your Dutch one of your New Year's resolutions? UvA Talen is one of the biggest schools in Amsterdam, offering language courses from beginner to advanced levels. With new courses starting in January, this is one resolution that can be easy to keep!