Netherlands — quotes, proverbs & wisdom

De appel valt niet ver van de boom.

“The apple does not fall far from the tree.”

Children tend to resemble their parents in character and behaviour.

Wie het kleine niet eert, is het grote niet waard.

“He who does not honour the small is not worthy of the great.”

If you cannot value small things you do not deserve big ones.

Oost west, thuis best.

“East, west, home is best.”

No matter where you travel, your own home is the best place to be.

Wie A zegt, moet ook B zeggen.

“He who says A must also say B.”

Once you begin something you must accept its consequences and finish it.

Al draagt een aap een gouden ring, het is en blijft een lelijk ding.

“Even if a monkey wears a golden ring, it is and remains an ugly thing.”

Outward finery cannot disguise a person's true nature or lack of worth.

Beter een vogel in de hand dan tien in de lucht.

“Better one bird in the hand than ten in the sky.”

A modest thing you securely possess is worth more than larger uncertain prospects.

Als het kalf verdronken is, dempt men de put.

“Only when the calf has drowned does one fill in the well.”

People take precautions only after a disaster has already happened, when it is too late.

Wie boter op zijn hoofd heeft, moet uit de zon blijven.

“He who has butter on his head should stay out of the sun.”

Those who are guilty themselves should not draw attention or criticise others.

Zoals het klokje thuis tikt, tikt het nergens.

“There is no clock that ticks like the one at home.”

Nowhere feels as familiar and comfortable as one's own home.

De kat uit de boom kijken.

“To watch the cat out of the tree.”

To wait cautiously and see how a situation develops before acting.

Als de kat van huis is, dansen de muizen op tafel.

“When the cat is away, the mice dance on the table.”

People misbehave or take liberties once authority or supervision is absent.

Een ongeluk komt zelden alleen.

“Misfortune rarely comes alone.”

Bad luck tends to arrive in clusters rather than as a single isolated event.

Wie het laatst lacht, lacht het best.

“He who laughs last, laughs best.”

The final outcome matters more than any early triumph or mockery.

Al is de leugen nog zo snel, de waarheid achterhaalt haar wel.

“However fast a lie may run, the truth will catch up with it.”

Deception cannot outrun the truth forever; falsehoods are eventually exposed.

Beter voorkomen dan genezen.

“Better to prevent than to cure.”

Taking precautions in advance is wiser than fixing problems after they occur.

Wie niet waagt, die niet wint.

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Without taking risks, one cannot achieve rewards or success.

Zoals de waard is, vertrouwt hij zijn gasten.

“As the innkeeper is, so he trusts his guests.”

People tend to judge and trust others based on their own character.

Een appeltje voor de dorst.

“An apple for the thirst.”

It is wise to set something aside now for a difficult time that may come later.

Wie kaatst, moet de bal verwachten.

“He who plays the ball game must expect the ball back.”

Anyone who provokes or challenges others should expect a response in kind.

Zoveel hoofden, zoveel zinnen.

“So many heads, so many minds.”

Every person has their own opinion, and widespread agreement is rare.

Wie het onderste uit de kan wil hebben, krijgt het lid op de neus.

“He who wants the last drop from the jug gets the lid on his nose.”

Excessive greed or pushing too far for more usually backfires.

Beter ten halve gekeerd dan ten hele gedwaald.

“Better to turn back halfway than to go entirely astray.”

It is wiser to abandon a wrong course early than to persist in a mistake to the end.

De aanhouder wint.

“The persistent one wins.”

Perseverance and continued effort eventually lead to success.

Boontje komt om zijn loontje.

“Every bean gets its wage.”

Wrongdoing eventually catches up with the person responsible; actions have consequences.

Wat de boer niet kent, dat vreet hij niet.

“What the farmer does not know, he will not eat.”

People are often suspicious of, or reject, things unfamiliar to them.

Het hemd is nader dan de rok.

“The shirt is closer than the coat.”

People naturally look after their own interests and those closest to them first.

Stille wateren hebben diepe gronden.

“Still waters have deep grounds.”

Quiet, reserved people often possess unexpected depth of character or hidden thoughts.

Wie voor een dubbeltje geboren is, wordt nooit een kwartje.

“He who is born a dime will never become a quarter.”

A person's humble origins or limited abilities will not let them rise far beyond them.

Als twee honden vechten om een been, loopt de derde ermee heen.

“When two dogs fight over a bone, a third runs off with it.”

While two parties quarrel over something, a third party may seize the advantage.

De pot verwijt de ketel dat hij zwart ziet.

“The pot blames the kettle for being black.”

A person criticises another for a fault they share themselves.

Meten is weten.

“To measure is to know.”

Precise measurement or evidence gives true, reliable knowledge.

Oefening baart kunst.

“Practice bears skill.”

Repeated practice develops mastery and skill over time.

Zachte heelmeesters maken stinkende wonden.

“Gentle healers make festering wounds.”

Being too lenient or avoiding hard measures allows problems to worsen.

Een goed begin is het halve werk.

“A good beginning is half the work.”

Starting a task well greatly increases the chance of finishing it successfully.

Als de blinde de blinde leidt, vallen beiden in de gracht.

“If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch.”

Being guided by someone equally uninformed leads everyone into trouble.

Haastige spoed is zelden goed.

“Hasty speed is rarely good.”

Rushing through a task usually leads to mistakes rather than good results.

Al doende leert men.

“By doing, one learns.”

Practical experience is the best way to gain skill and understanding.

Eerlijk duurt het langst.

“Honesty lasts longest.”

Being truthful and fair proves more durable and rewarding than deceit in the long run.

Geduld is een schone zaak.

“Patience is a fine thing.”

Waiting calmly and patiently is a valuable and admirable quality.

Een gewaarschuwd mens telt voor twee.

“A forewarned person counts for two.”

Someone who has been warned in advance is far better prepared to cope.

Onbekend maakt onbemind.

“The unfamiliar breeds dislike.”

People tend to distrust or dislike what they do not know or understand.

Wie zijn billen brandt, moet op de blaren zitten.

“He who burns his buttocks must sit on the blisters.”

A person must bear the consequences of their own reckless actions.

De schoenmaker moet bij zijn leest blijven.

“The shoemaker should stick to his last.”

People should stay within their own area of expertise rather than meddle elsewhere.

Wie het eerst komt, het eerst maalt.

“He who comes first, grinds first.”

Whoever arrives earliest is served or attended to before others.

Veel handen maken licht werk.

“Many hands make light work.”

A task becomes easier when many people share the effort together.

Beter een goede buur dan een verre vriend.

“Better a good neighbour than a distant friend.”

Someone nearby who can help quickly is more valuable than a friend far away.

Men moet het ijzer smeden als het heet is.

“Strike the iron while it is hot.”

One should act at the right moment, while conditions are favourable.

De laatste loodjes wegen het zwaarst.

“The last little weights weigh the heaviest.”

The final part of a task or effort often feels the most difficult to complete.

Wat niet weet, wat niet deert.

“What you do not know does not hurt you.”

A person is not troubled by problems or facts they remain unaware of.

Beter bang Jan dan dood Jan.

“Better a scared Jan than a dead Jan.”

It is wiser to act cautiously out of fear than to take a reckless risk that costs your life.