If you like riding your bike, you’ll fit in well in the Netherlands. In fact, the country has more bicycles than it does inhabitants. But cyclist or otherwise, you’ll want to learn how to talk about what you do in your free time in Dutch.
Maybe you like to go to het theater. Or perhaps you’re into playing het voetbal (“soccer”). Whatever activities or hobbies you find enjoyment in, they’re more fun if you can share them with someone. Learning how to discuss your free time in Dutch will help build your language skills and make it easier to have conversations that are relevant to your life.
Study the words and phrases below, and press the play button to hear them pronounced by a native Dutch speaker.
Talking About Free Time In Dutch
General Hobby Vocabulary
the theater — het theater
the play — het toneelstuk
the movie — de film
to watch TV — tv kijken
to attend — bijwonen
the painting — het schilderij
the photography — de fotografie
the gallery — de galerie
the photo — de foto
to paint — schilderen
the drawing — de tekening
to dance — dansen
the book — het boek
to read — lezen
the museum — het museum
to listen to music — muziek luisteren
to sing — zingen
the instrument — het instrument
the guitar — de gitaar
the piano — de piano
the game — het spel
to play — spelen
the sport — de sport
the soccer — het voetbal
the gymnasium — het fitnesscentrum
the team — het team
to ride a bike — fietsen
to go for a walk — wandelen
to go shopping — boodschappen doen
second-hand — tweedehands
eating out — uit eten gaan
the restaurant — het restaurant
the club — de discotheek
the bar — de bar
the cafe — het café
Free Time Phrases
What do you do in your free time? — Wat doe jij in je vrije tijd?
I love going to restaurants. — Ik hou ervan om uit eten te gaan.
I like to wander around town. — Ik slenter graag door de stad.
I play soccer twice a week. — Ik speel twee keer per week voetbal.
I will sunbathe and read. — Ik ga zonnebaden en lezen.
Do you play an instrument? — Bespeel jij een instrument?
Do you like going to the theater? — Ga jij graag naar het theater?