Dutchman
der Holländer, die Holländer
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Dutchman
A colloquial but widely used term for a male resident of the Netherlands. Strictly speaking, it refers only to a person from the provinces of North or South Holland.
Unser neuer Kollege ist Holländer und spricht perfekt Deutsch.
Our new colleague is Dutch and speaks perfect German.
Flying Dutchman
The name of a legendary ghost ship that is doomed to sail the seas forever without ever being able to reach a harbor.
Die Legende vom fliegenden Holländer hat viele Künstler inspiriert.
The legend of the Flying Dutchman has inspired many artists.
Dutch windmill
A short form for a Dutch windmill, a specific type of windmill with a rotating cap.
Der alte Holländer auf dem Feld ist das Wahrzeichen des Dorfes.
The old Dutch windmill in the field is the village's landmark.
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Holländer |
| genitive | des Holländers |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Holländer | die Holländer |
| accusative | den Holländer | die Holländer |
| dative | dem Holländer | den Holländern |
| genitive | des Holländers | der Holländer |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
The word 'Holländer' (Dutchman) is derived directly from the region 'Holland' in the Netherlands. The ending '-änder' is also used with other nationalities derived from the name of a country.
Er kommt aus Amsterdam, also ist er Holländer.
He comes from Amsterdam, so he is Dutch.
'Der Holländer' (the Dutchman) belongs to the N-declension. This means it takes the ending '-n' in the accusative, dative, and genitive singular. This is a common mistake among learners.
Ich habe gestern mit dem Holländer gesprochen.
I spoke with the Dutchman yesterday.
Kennst du den Holländer, der neu im Team ist?
Do you know the Dutchman who is new on the team?
Although 'Holländer' (Dutchman) is often used for all people from the Netherlands, it is a colloquial and geographically imprecise term. However, it is very common in everyday language and is usually meant neutrally.
Im Urlaub haben wir viele nette Holländer kennengelernt.
On vacation, we met many nice Dutch people.
The term 'der fliegende Holländer' (the Flying Dutchman) is a fixed expression from a famous sailors' legend. The word 'fliegende' (flying) is always included here.
Richard Wagner hat eine berühmte Oper über den fliegenden Holländer geschrieben.
Richard Wagner wrote a famous opera about the Flying Dutchman.
When 'Holländer' (Dutch windmill) is used in connection with architecture, landscape, or technology, it usually means a windmill. Watch for words like 'Mühle' (mill), 'Wind' (wind), or 'Feld' (field).
Die Gemeinde will den alten Holländer restaurieren lassen.
The municipality wants to have the old Dutch windmill restored.
Dutchman
„Niederländer“ is the neutral term for a man from any part of the Netherlands. „Holländer“ is often used in the same way in colloquial speech, but geographically speaking, it refers only to someone from North or South Holland. For people from other provinces, „Niederländer“ is therefore more precise.
Im lockeren Gespräch nennt sie den Mann aus Utrecht einen Holländer.
In casual conversation, she calls the man from Utrecht Dutch.
Der Mann aus Utrecht ist Niederländer.
The man from Utrecht is Dutch.
