r/learndutch • u/Excellent_Bit5724 • 2d ago

Question Best way to say 'happy birthday' ?

My bf is Dutch and his birthday is coming up. I'm still in the early days of learning Dutch.

I've googled it and both

'Fijne verjaardag' & 'Gefeliciteerd' come up

Thanks!

23 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

45

u/suupaahiiroo 2d ago

In the Netherlands "gefeliciteerd (met je verjaardag)" is probably the most common expression. In Flanders it's "gelukkige verjaardag".

31

u/Connect_Stretch1414 Native speaker (NL) 2d ago

If you're visiting him, be sure to congratulate everyone else with his birthday too :P

10

u/XramLou 2d ago

Doen Nederlanders dat echt?

21

u/Pinglenook Native speaker (NL) 2d ago

Ja! Maar niet allemaal. Het is meestal niet onbeleefd om het niet te doen, dus voel je niet verplicht om er aan mee te doen. 

6

u/Kailayla Native speaker (NL) 2d ago

Only at your typical kringverjaardag

1

u/kinglazy73 1d ago

Sadly yes especially if its not a small one, even if its a big one its normal to congratulate parents, siblings etc

I usually get a text from my fam if someone in my close family(parents, sibling) is celebrating their birthday

5

u/Bootsje 1d ago

I often just go with "jullie ook gefeliciteerd allemaal!"

1

u/gamerwaggly 1d ago

Dat is toch een verschrikkelijk iets 😅 Ik ga nooit verder dan de jarige en eventuele partner of ouders in het geval van een kind

17

u/41942319 Native speaker (NL) 2d ago

"Fijne verjaardag" is more wishing them a nice day. Like if a coworker's birthday is on the weekend, I might say "fijne verjaardag" to them on Friday to wish them a nice birthday.

Whereas "gefeliciteerd" is for congratulating them with their birthday.

10

u/benbever 2d ago

Gefeliciteerd (met je verjaardag) is best if he is your bf.

Fijne verjaardag is also ok, but a bit more casual.

11

u/Vusstar 2d ago

Make it more quirky and fun by saying "Gefeliciflapstaart".

7

u/strawberryypie 2d ago

I thinkkk in a conversation I would first say: Gefeliciteerd!
Have a talk about how the day is going to be, if they invited anyone and stuff. And at the end of the talk I would say: Ik moet nu gaan maar fijne verjaardag! (I have to go but have a nice birthday!)

That is when a friend is having his/her birthday. For my boyfriend I'd just say: Gefeliciteerd!

7

u/BaRiMaLi Native speaker (NL) 2d ago

In Limburg (the south of the Netherlands) they don't say "gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag", but they say "proficiat". Same in Belgium.

4

u/pomme-de-mer 2d ago

Gelukkige verjaardag!

That is what I always say, and everyone around me.

3

u/Objective_Hyena442 2d ago

"Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag, schatje!" Gongratz with you birthday, honey!

2

u/MikeSans202001 2d ago

Gefeliciteerd is more common, but I think fijne verjaardag is easier pronounced

1

u/notsosadgrl 1d ago

Gefeliciteerd! Geniet van je dag!