Dutch Fashion Terms
The names of many clothing and accessory items are different in Dutch than English which can be confusing to new expats in Netherlands. See Dutch fashion terms here…
It is not in any way odd that the Dutch terminology used in reference to specific clothing items and fashion accessories are different from those used in English. After all, they are two different languages. There are, however, several items that DO share the same name in both.
Dutch Fashion Terms
Learning Dutch fashion terms will take a little time so don’t get too frustrated. To help, we have listed below the equivalent Dutch and English names for common fashion items. Don’t get confused by the handful of cases where the same word is used in Dutch and English, but referring to different things…
- a ‘sweater‘ in the Netherlands refers to the item known as a ‘sweatshirt‘ in English, while a traditional heavy knit top known as a ‘sweater‘ in English is called a ‘trui‘ in Dutch
- a ‘vest‘ in the Netherlands refers to an item most English-speakers would call a ‘cardigan‘, while a sleeveless button-down top Americans call a ‘vest‘ and Brits call a ‘waist coat‘ is known as a ‘gilet‘ in Dutch
- a ‘slipper‘ in the Netherlands is the type of footwear English-speakers would call a ‘sandal‘, while the soft-bottom house shoe English-speakers call a ‘slipper‘ is referred to as a ‘pantoffel‘ in Dutch
- a ‘teenslipper‘ in the Netherlands is not a ‘slipper for a teenager‘ but rather what an English-speaker would call a ‘flip flop‘ or ‘beach thong‘ (i.e. in Dutch, toe=teen)
- a ‘boot‘ in the Netherlands is not a type of shoe but rather what English-speakers call a ‘boat‘, while the tall-shafted footwear known as a ‘boot‘ in English is called a ‘laars‘ in Dutch
Here is a list of clothing items, styles, fashion accessories, types of footwear and design elements which use different terminology in Dutch vs English. It may help non-Dutch speakers find what they need when shopping online in Netherlands.
ENGLISH <-> DUTCH
- ankle boot = enkellaarsje
- backpack = rugzak
- bag = tas
- bathrobe = badjas
- beach sandal = slipper
- beanie = muts
- belt = riem
- blazer = colbert
- boot = laars
- bra = bh/beha
- briefs = slip
- button-down shirt = overhemd
- buttons = knoppen
- cap = pet
- cardigan = vest
- coat = jas
- collar = kraag
- dress = jurk
- dress trousers = pantalons
- fannypack = heuptasje
- flip flops = teenslippers
- French cuff = dubbele manchet
- gloves = handschoenen
- hat = hoed
- hood = capuchon
- jacket = jasje
- keychain = sleutelhanger
- laces = veteren
- leather = leer
- legwear = beenmode
- long sleeves = lange mouwen
- patent leather = lakleer
ENGLISH <-> DUTCH
- pockets = zakken
- purse = portemonnee
- quilted vest = bodywarmer
- raincoat = regenjas
- scarf/shawl = sjaal
- shirt dress = overhemdjurk
- shoes = schoenen
- shorts = korte broeken
- short sleeves = korte mouwen
- shoulder bag = schoudertas
- skirt = rok
- sleeveless t-shirt = singlet
- slipons = instappers
- slipper = pantoffel
- sleepwear = nachtkleding
- snaps = knipsluitingen
- striped = gestreepte
- suit = pak
- sunglasses = zonnebrillen
- sweatshirt = sweater
- sweater = trui
- swimsuit = zwembroek
- tank top = hemd
- tie = stropdas
- trousers = broeken
- turtleneck = col-hals
- underwear = ondergoed
- v-neck = v-hals
- vest = gilet
- wallet = portemonnee
- watch = horloge
- wrap dress = overslagjurk
- zipper = rits
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