Here are 20 Dutch sayings along with their literal English translations and their equivalent meanings:
- De appel valt niet ver van de boom.
- Literal: The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
- Meaning: Children often resemble their parents.
- Met de deur in huis vallen.
- Literal: To fall with the door into the house.
- Meaning: To get straight to the point.
- Nu komt de aap uit de mouw.
- Literal: Now the monkey comes out of the sleeve.
- Meaning: The truth is finally revealed.
- Een gegeven paard niet in de bek kijken.
- Literal: Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
- Meaning: Don’t criticize a gift.
- Zoals het klokje thuis tikt, tikt het nergens.
- Literal: The clock ticks nowhere as it does at home.
- Meaning: There’s no place like home.
- Boter op je hoofd hebben.
- Literal: To have butter on your head.
- Meaning: Criticizing others while you are not perfect yourself.
- Het regent pijpenstelen.
- Literal: It’s raining pipe stems.
- Meaning: It’s raining heavily.
- De kogel is door de kerk.
- Literal: The bullet is through the church.
- Meaning: A decision has been made.
- Wie A zegt, moet ook B zeggen.
- Literal: If you say A, you must also say B.
- Meaning: If you start something, you must finish it.
- Je kunt een oude boom niet verplanten.
- Literal: You cannot transplant an old tree.
- Meaning: Older people often don’t like change.
- Ieder huisje heeft zijn kruisje.
- Literal: Every little house has its cross.
- Meaning: Every family has its problems.
- De beste stuurlui staan aan wal.
- Literal: The best helmsmen stand on shore.
- Meaning: Critics often have no experience in the matter.
- Een ezel stoot zich geen twee keer aan dezelfde steen.
- Literal: A donkey doesn’t hit the same stone twice.
- Meaning: Smart people don’t make the same mistake twice.
- Beter een goede buur dan een verre vriend.
- Literal: Better a good neighbour than a distant friend.
- Meaning: Nearby help is better than distant friends.
- Wie niet waagt, wie niet wint.
- Literal: He who does not dare, does not win.
- Meaning: You have to take risks to achieve something.
- Het leven is geen ponykamp.
- Literal: Life is not a pony camp.
- Meaning: Life is not always fun and easy.
- Een storm in een glas water.
- Literal: A storm in a glass of water.
- Meaning: Making a big deal out of nothing.
- Achter het net vissen.
- Literal: Fishing behind the net.
- Meaning: Missing an opportunity.
- Wie het kleine niet eert, is het grote niet weerd.
- Literal: He who does not honor the small, is not worthy of the large.
- Meaning: Appreciate small things and you can be trusted with larger ones.
- Van een mug een olifant maken.
- Literal: Making an elephant out of a mosquito.
- Meaning: Making a big problem out of a small one.
Dutch sayings often provide a fascinating insight into Dutch culture and mentality. They can be quite unique and sometimes funny when translated literally!
The Apple and the Tree weaves a poetic tapestry of Dutch sayings into a reflective folk song about wisdom, growth, and the patterns that link generations. Each verse hints at a proverb—truths about family, humility, courage, and imperfection. The song captures the charm of life’s contradictions: humor in hardship, beauty in simplicity, and wisdom in everyday phrases. It’s a love letter to lessons passed down through time, reminding us that while storms may come, the roots that hold us steady remain.
