Navigating through formal and business communication in Dutch requires an understanding of specific phrases that convey professionalism and respect. This article will provide you with essential Dutch phrases and vocabulary to enhance your formal and business communication skills.
Geachte – This is a formal salutation equivalent to “Dear” in English and is typically used in both written and email correspondence.
Geachte heer/mevrouw,
Hoogachtend – This phrase means “Yours sincerely” and is used to close formal letters or emails.
Hoogachtend,
Jan de Vries
Betreft – Translates to “Regarding” or “Subject” and is used to introduce the subject of the letter or email.
Betreft: Jaarlijkse financiële rapportage
Vergadering – Meaning “meeting,” this term is vital for scheduling or discussing business meetings.
De vergadering is gepland op maandag om 10 uur.
Voorstel – This translates to “proposal” and is used when presenting or discussing suggestions or plans.
Ik zal mijn voorstel volgende week indienen.
Bevestigen – Meaning “to confirm,” this verb is used to confirm appointments, meetings, or receipt of information.
Kunt u de ontvangst van dit document bevestigen?
Afzender – Translates as “sender,” and it’s used in business communications to refer to the person sending the letter or email.
Afzender: Marieke van der Laan
Ontvanger – Meaning “recipient,” this term refers to the person receiving the communication.
Ontvanger: Afdeling Marketing
Notulen – This term means “minutes,” and is used in the context of meetings to refer to the written record of what was discussed.
De notulen van de laatste vergadering zijn bijgevoegd.
Overeenkomst – Meaning “agreement” or “contract,” it is used in legal and business contexts.
Wij hebben de overeenkomst ondertekend op 3 maart.
Factuur – This translates to “invoice” and is essential for financial transactions and billing.
U vindt de factuur in de bijlage.
Offerte – Meaning “quote” or “quotation,” this term is used when providing a price estimate for goods or services.
Ik stuur u de offerte voor de gewenste diensten.
Bijlage – Translates to “attachment,” and it’s used when referring to documents attached to an email or letter.
Zie de bijlage voor meer details.
Uitstellen – Meaning “to postpone,” this verb is used when rescheduling appointments or deadlines.
We moeten de vergadering uitstellen tot volgende week.
Afzeggen – This means “to cancel” and is used when meetings or events are called off.
Helaas moeten we onze afspraak voor morgen afzeggen.
Verzoeken – Translates to “to request” and is used to formally ask for something in a business setting.
Ik verzoek u vriendelijk om de benodigde documenten te verzenden.
Beoordelen – Meaning “to review” or “to evaluate,” this verb is commonly used in contexts where proposals, documents, or performances are being examined.
Kunt u deze verslagen beoordelen voor onze volgende bijeenkomst?
Goedkeuren – This means “to approve” and is used when formal acceptance or confirmation is needed.
Het management moet dit plan nog goedkeuren.
Volmacht – Meaning “power of attorney,” it is used in legal and business transactions where one person is authorized to act on behalf of another.
U heeft een volmacht nodig om deze overeenkomst te ondertekenen.
Jaarverslag – This translates to “annual report,” which is a comprehensive report on a company’s activities throughout the preceding year.
Het jaarverslag wordt volgende maand verwacht.
Understanding and using these formal and business communication phrases in Dutch will not only enhance your professional communication but also help you navigate through various business environments more effectively. Always remember to maintain a formal tone when using these phrases in professional settings.
