Dutch B1 vocabulary list: 1,500 words by theme (free PDF)

Name: Dutch B1 vocabulary list: words 1,001 to 2,500 by theme, with a free PDF
Creator: Dutch Readers
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

PDF to printthe 1,500 words by theme, about 35 pages
Anki decka text file, each card tagged with its theme: in Anki, File, then Import
Spreadsheet (CSV)for Excel, Google Sheets, Quizlet or your own flashcards

What this list is

There is no official B1 word list. The Staatsexamen NT2 and the inburgering exams test whether you can read, listen, write and speak at B1, not whether you know a set list of words. What changes on the way from A2 to B1 is how many words you recognize: about 1,000 at A2, about 2,500 at B1 (from A2 to B1 has the whole step).

The most useful 2,500 words to know are the most common ones, so this list takes the 2,500 most common Dutch words, ranked from the same frequency list as the first 1,000, and shows words 1,001 to 2,500 here, sorted by theme so you can learn the words of your own life first. The first 1,000 cover about three in four of the words in everyday Dutch; all 2,500 cover about four in five.

That step looks small, but these are the words that carry the meaning of a B1 text. In a letter from the gemeente, u and moet come from the first 1,000; de maatregel, de toestemming and de afdeling come from this list. Each of the B1 texts on this site uses more than a dozen of them.

How to learn 50 words a week

1,500 words at 50 a week is 30 weeks, about seven months. That fits inside the year the step from A2 to B1 takes at five hours a week.

Ten a day, five days a week. Import the Anki deck and add ten new cards a day. Anki brings each word back just before you would forget it, so after a few weeks the reviews take more of your time than the new words.
Start with the themes of your life. Every card carries its theme as a tag, so you can study one theme at a time: work if you are looking for a job, health before a visit to the huisarts, government and society for the letters from the gemeente.
Learn every noun with de or het. The list gives the article every time, and the page on de and het has the patterns that help.
Meet each word in a text. A word you have read in a sentence stays. Read one B1 text a week: the harder words are underlined and explained, and every text uses words from this list.
Then read a whole book. A graded reader brings the same words back across a whole story, which is where a list stops and reading takes over. The Dutch Readers series has B1 volumes in preparation; until they are out, Dutch books for B1 and B2 lists the readers and easy originals you can buy today.

Work, business and money

The words of the job, the shop and the bank: de afdeling, de werknemer, de rekening, goedkoop.

Work, business and money: 97 words, most common first. The number is the word's place in the list. Nouns are shown with de or het.
#	Dutch	English
1,002	de kosten	costs, expenses; (de kost verdienen) to earn a living
1,009	de afdeling	department, section; ward (in a hospital)
1,020	de leiding	leadership, management; lead (in a game); pipe (water, gas)
1,032	de dollar	dollar
1,052	het beroep	profession, occupation; appeal (in beroep gaan: to appeal)
1,071	de rekening	bill, check; bank account (rekening houden met: to consider)
1,073	duur	expensive; (de duur) duration, length
1,098	de baas	boss; owner (of a pet)
1,126	de werknemer	employee (employer: de werkgever)
1,133	goedkoop	cheap, inexpensive
1,136	de verkoop	sale, sales, selling
1,171	de klacht	complaint; (klachten) symptoms (health)
1,172	de koop	purchase, buy (te koop: for sale)
1,190	de ondernemer	entrepreneur, business owner
1,204	de productie	production, output
1,215	het contract	contract
1,222	het bureau	desk; office, agency; police station
1,236	de overeenkomst	agreement, contract; similarity
1,264	professioneel	professional
1,288	het personeel	staff, personnel, employees
1,336	de vergadering	meeting
1,369	het document	document
1,387	uitgeven	to spend (money); to publish; to issue
1,419	de sector	sector
1,430	de presentatie	presentation; hosting (a show)
1,433	commercieel	commercial
1,481	de winst	profit; win, victory; gain
1,489	de handel	trade, commerce; business (handel in: trade in)
1,559	het merk	brand, make (of a car); mark
1,560	de groei	growth
1,561	de industrie	industry
1,572	samenwerken	to work together, to cooperate, to collaborate
1,611	het ontslag	dismissal, firing; resignation (ontslag nemen: to resign)
1,621	de werkgever	employer
1,633	de korting	discount
1,655	de boer	farmer; burp (een boer laten: to burp)
1,674	de carrière	career
1,677	de manager	manager
1,691	het aandeel	share (in a company); part, contribution
1,703	de agenda	planner, calendar (personal); agenda (of a meeting)
1,709	het eigendom	property, possession; ownership
1,713	het bezit	possession, property (in het bezit van: in possession of)
1,728	ontslaan	to fire, to dismiss, to lay off; to discharge (from hospital)
1,729	het pensioen	pension; retirement (met pensioen gaan: to retire)
1,730	de assistent	assistant
1,749	het aanbod	offer; supply (vraag en aanbod: supply and demand); range
1,765	de service	service (to customers); serve (tennis)
1,792	het logo	logo
1,815	het beheer	management, administration; control, care (of property)
1,832	het congres	conference, convention; congress
1,838	het loon	wage(s), pay
1,861	het bedrag	amount (of money), sum
1,899	de mijn	mine (coal, gold); landmine (pronoun mijn: my)
1,901	verzekeren	to insure; to assure (someone), ensure
1,905	investeren	to invest
1,919	de fabriek	factory, plant (not "fabric": de stof)
1,920	werkzaam	working, employed (werkzaam bij: working at); effective
1,930	de cliënt	client (lawyer, care; a shop customer: de klant)
1,943	besparen	to save (money, energy, time); to spare
1,967	bedragen	to amount to, come to, be (a sum, a number)
1,975	de koers	course, direction; rate, price (currency, shares)
1,976	sparen	to save (money); to collect (stamps, points); to spare
1,989	het tekort	shortage, lack; deficit (te kort: too short)
1,992	de werkzaamheden	work, activities, duties; works (on roads, rail)
2,012	zakelijk	business (adj), businesslike; matter-of-fact
2,034	de adviseur	adviser, consultant
2,050	de klus	job, task, chore (klusjes: odd jobs)
2,063	de supermarkt	supermarket
2,069	de beurs	stock exchange; trade fair; grant, scholarship
2,073	het salaris	salary, pay
2,079	specialiseren	to specialize (reflexive: zich specialiseren in)
2,101	de uitgave	expense (uitgaven: spending); edition, publication
2,107	de aanbieding	special offer, deal (in de aanbieding: on sale)
2,163	het inkomen	income
2,180	de voorraad	stock, supply (op voorraad: in stock)
2,182	het pakket	package, parcel; package, set (of measures)
2,193	de onderneming	company, business, enterprise; undertaking
2,214	de oprichter	founder
2,215	de architect	architect
2,222	de promotie	promotion (at work; to a higher league); doctorate (PhD)
2,233	de luxe	luxury (also adjective: luxurious, fancy)
2,268	de btw	VAT (value added tax), sales tax
2,280	verkrijgbaar	available (for sale), on sale, obtainable
2,305	het overleg	consultation, talks; meeting (in overleg: in consultation)
2,309	de run	run, rush (een run op: a rush on)
2,332	administratief	administrative, clerical
2,341	de professional	professional (an expert in a field)
2,354	de lening	loan
2,356	de sessie	session
2,361	de shop	shop (in webshop, coffeeshop; usually winkel)
2,395	de munt	coin; currency; mint (the herb)
2,403	de pauze	break, pause; intermission
2,416	de inkomsten	income, earnings, revenue
2,429	de innovatie	innovation
2,438	de investering	investment
2,470	de bestelling	order (in a shop, a restaurant, online)
2,480	de order	order (from a customer); command (tidiness: orde)

Home and daily life

The house, food and the day: de tuin, het dak, koken, verhuizen.

Home and daily life: 95 words, most common first. The number is the word's place in the list. Nouns are shown with de or het.
#	Dutch	English
1,015	het restaurant	restaurant
1,059	de tuin	garden, yard
1,064	het pak	suit (clothing); carton, pack (een pak melk); package
1,072	koken	to cook; to boil
1,084	het dak	roof
1,091	de zak	bag, sack; pocket
1,094	het bier	beer
1,125	het slot	lock; end (tot slot: finally); castle
1,139	de pot	jar, pot (een pot jam: a jar of jam)
1,179	de troep	mess, junk; troop, band (de troepen: troops)
1,182	de trap	stairs, staircase; kick (a trap: de val)
1,187	de tas	bag, handbag
1,209	het brood	bread; (een brood) a loaf
1,212	verhuizen	to move (house), to relocate
1,228	de kleding	clothing, clothes
1,230	het vlees	meat; flesh
1,234	de wijn	wine
1,273	de honger	hunger; (honger hebben) to be hungry
1,282	de stoel	chair
1,291	het glas	glass
1,301	het adres	address
1,303	het raam	window
1,337	het shirt	T-shirt, top (a dress shirt: het overhemd)
1,341	het spul	stuff, things (informal)
1,377	het voedsel	food
1,384	de drank	drink; alcohol, liquor
1,392	de ring	ring; ring road (around a city)
1,402	de thee	tea
1,406	de jas	coat, jacket
1,417	het bord	plate; board, sign
1,441	de keuken	kitchen; cuisine
1,448	het ei	egg (plural: eieren)
1,455	het ontbijt	breakfast
1,457	de broek	pants, trousers (singular: een broek)
1,483	het recept	recipe; prescription (from a doctor)
1,484	de fles	bottle
1,495	het appartement	apartment
1,500	de huur	rent; rental, hire (te huur: for rent)
1,526	de bak	container, tub, bin; tray
1,550	het bad	bath, bathtub (in bad gaan: to take a bath)
1,573	de kast	cupboard, cabinet; closet, wardrobe
1,576	het vet	fat, grease
1,602	het eten	food; meal, dinner
1,605	het toilet	toilet, restroom (also: de wc)
1,609	de middag	afternoon; (tussen de middag) at lunchtime
1,626	de smaak	taste, flavor (in de smaak vallen: to be liked)
1,671	de lunch	lunch
1,681	de poort	gate, gateway; port (on a computer)
1,689	de kleren	clothes
1,694	de verdieping	floor, story (eerste verdieping: US second floor); deepening
1,732	de sleutel	key; wrench
1,785	het ijs	ice; ice cream
1,821	de doos	box
1,826	de kip	chicken; hen
1,834	het pand	building, premises (a property)
1,864	de villa	villa, large detached house
1,881	bakken	to bake; to fry (in a pan)
1,896	de klok	clock; bell (of a church)
1,916	de jurk	dress
1,944	de deken	blanket (a duvet: het dekbed)
2,033	de beker	cup, mug; (sports) cup, trophy
2,046	opstaan	to get up (out of bed), to stand up
2,067	de vloer	floor (a story of a building: de verdieping)
2,075	het mes	knife
2,109	de pijp	pipe (for smoking; a tube)
2,129	de spiegel	mirror
2,130	de kaas	cheese
2,139	wassen	to wash (zich wassen: to wash oneself)
2,140	de lift	elevator; ride (een lift geven: to give a ride)
2,141	de melk	milk
2,174	de pan	pan, pot
2,185	het complex	complex (of buildings); complex, hang-up (psychology)
2,190	vers	fresh (food, bread)
2,196	de alcohol	alcohol
2,221	de hal	hall, hallway, entrance hall
2,229	de taart	cake, tart, pie (de cake: plain pound cake)
2,237	schoonmaken	to clean
2,257	het hek	fence; gate; railing
2,261	de bel	bell, doorbell; bubble
2,271	bereiden	to prepare (food, a meal), to make
2,301	zoet	sweet; good, well-behaved (of a child)
2,310	de box	speaker; playpen; storage unit (a box: doos)
2,314	de lamp	lamp, light; light bulb
2,348	de maaltijd	meal
2,365	de douche	shower
2,375	kleden	to dress, to clothe (to get dressed: zich aankleden)
2,376	het onderhoud	maintenance, upkeep, service; (formal) talk, meeting
2,382	voeden	to feed, to nourish; to breastfeed
2,412	de soep	soup
2,432	het vat	barrel, cask, drum; grip (vat op: a hold on)
2,433	opruimen	to tidy up, to clean up, to clear away
2,437	de wc	toilet, restroom
2,468	het diner	dinner (formal; evening meal at home: avondeten)
2,471	de stok	stick, cane, pole
2,474	de slaapkamer	bedroom

Health and the body

The body and the doctor: de behandeling, het bloed, zwanger, de tand.

Health and the body: 35 words, most common first. The number is the word's place in the list. Nouns are shown with de or het.
#	Dutch	English
1,207	de behandeling	treatment; handling, processing
1,238	het haar	hair
1,255	de operatie	operation (surgery; military)
1,262	de vinger	finger
1,268	het bloed	blood
1,297	verzorgen	to take care of, look after; to provide, arrange
1,365	de arm	arm
1,451	zwanger	pregnant
1,470	het oor	ear
1,485	de neus	nose
1,523	moe	tired, weary
1,593	de tand	tooth
1,612	roken	to smoke (cigarettes; also fish, meat)
1,653	de dokter	doctor
1,727	het virus	virus
1,744	de huid	skin
1,751	de enkel	ankle (enkel as adverb: only, just)
1,755	de borst	chest; breast
1,783	blind	blind
1,806	het medicijn	medicine, medication
1,824	fysiek	physical; physically (also: in person)
1,890	de kanker	cancer (also a very offensive swear word)
1,911	pijnlijk	painful, sore; awkward, embarrassing
2,009	de buik	belly, stomach, tummy (the organ: de maag)
2,049	de stress	stress
2,093	de nek	neck, back of the neck
2,112	het bot	bone (adjective bot: blunt, rude)
2,134	geestelijk	mental; spiritual, religious
2,136	de specialist	specialist (often a medical specialist)
2,183	de zelfmoord	suicide (zelfmoord plegen: to commit suicide)
2,213	het lijf	body (informal; neutral: het lichaam)
2,224	bevallen	to give birth; to please (het bevalt me: I like it)
2,282	de knie	knee
2,304	het herstel	recovery (from illness, of the economy); repair
2,326	de hersenen	brain, the brain (informal: de hersens)

School, study and science

School, study and language: de uitspraak, de vertaling, studeren, de klas.

School, study and science: 36 words, most common first. The number is the word's place in the list. Nouns are shown with de or het.
#	Dutch	English
1,024	de uitspraak	pronunciation; statement, remark; ruling
1,118	de vertaling	translation
1,121	het college	lecture (at university, not "college"); board, council
1,124	het rapport	report; report card (school)
1,137	de studie	studies, degree program; study (research)
1,148	de wetenschap	science; knowledge (in de wetenschap dat: knowing that)
1,198	de workshop	workshop (a short practical course)
1,199	studeren	to study, to be a student (studying for a test: leren)
1,224	het papier	paper; (de papieren) documents, papers
1,295	de spraak	speech (the ability to speak)
1,306	vertalen	to translate
1,370	de klas	class (group of pupils), classroom; year, grade
1,445	de term	term, expression
1,447	de professor	professor
1,488	wetenschappelijk	scientific; academic (wetenschappelijk onderwijs: university)
1,502	de leraar	teacher
1,515	de docent	teacher, lecturer
1,645	de letter	letter (of the alphabet; a letter you send: de brief)
1,705	het vak	subject (at school); trade, profession; box, compartment
1,741	de theorie	theory; theory test (for a driver's license)
1,745	de meester	master; (male) primary school teacher; lawyer's title (mr.)
1,793	de cursus	course, class (a series of lessons)
1,794	het instituut	institute
1,841	de proef	test, experiment; trial (op proef: on a trial basis, on probation)
1,900	de onderzoeker	researcher
1,951	middelbaar	middle (middelbare school: secondary school, high school)
1,952	de samenvatting	summary
1,982	het archief	archive, archives, records
2,240	het examen	exam, examination (examen doen: to take an exam)
2,265	het experiment	experiment
2,315	het diploma	diploma, certificate (from a school, a course)
2,342	de leerkracht	teacher (especially in primary school)
2,379	de wiskunde	mathematics, math
2,423	de basisschool	elementary school, primary school (ages 4 to 12)
2,445	de oefening	exercise, practice
2,496	de wetenschapper	scientist, researcher, academic

Government, law and society

Politics, and the letters you get from the government: de maatregel, de toestemming, de samenleving, het ministerie.

Government, law and society: 85 words, most common first. The number is the word's place in the list. Nouns are shown with de or het.
#	Dutch	English
1,001	de voorzitter	chair, chairperson; president (of a club)
1,011	de maatregel	measure, step (action taken)
1,051	de vlag	flag
1,080	de toestemming	permission, consent
1,104	de premier	prime minister (a premiere is de première)
1,106	de kandidaat	candidate
1,114	landelijk	national, nationwide; rural, country-style
1,193	de samenleving	society
1,205	de campagne	campaign
1,225	de bescherming	protection
1,261	het district	district
1,276	het ministerie	ministry, government department
1,290	de vereniging	club, association, society
1,292	de commissie	committee, commission
1,294	de rechtbank	court (of law), courthouse
1,296	maatschappelijk	social, of society (maatschappelijk werk: social work)
1,305	de instelling	institution; setting (on a device); attitude, mindset
1,318	veroordelen	to sentence, convict; to condemn
1,333	het koninkrijk	kingdom
1,335	de maatschappij	society; company (insurance, airline)
1,339	de bijeenkomst	meeting, gathering
1,345	het debat	debate
1,351	regionaal	regional
1,386	de koningin	queen
1,407	de oproep	call, appeal (to the public); summons
1,414	de straf	punishment, penalty; sentence (from a court)
1,434	schuldig	guilty; (schuldig zijn) to owe
1,449	de zetel	seat (in parliament, council); seat, headquarters
1,469	de vluchteling	refugee
1,503	de stichting	foundation (non-profit organization, charity); founding
1,540	de instantie	authority, agency; in eerste instantie: at first
1,585	de gemeenschap	community; fellowship, union
1,598	publiek	public (noun het publiek: audience, the public)
1,624	juridisch	legal (to do with the law)
1,630	het parlement	parliament
1,658	de meerderheid	majority
1,684	de democratie	democracy
1,692	wettelijk	legal, statutory, by law
1,697	de aanvraag	application, request (for a permit, a visa)
1,698	de belasting	tax; load, burden, strain
1,700	de republiek	republic
1,702	het kabinet	cabinet (government ministers); cabinet (furniture)
1,736	de ambtenaar	civil servant, government official
1,763	de prins	prince
1,776	het rijk	empire, realm; the state (het Rijk: central government)
1,801	de justitie	justice system, the law (courts, prosecution)
1,816	illegaal	illegal; undocumented (without residence papers)
1,858	de privacy	privacy
1,894	particulier	private (not public or business; not "particular")
1,938	indienen	to submit, hand in, file (a request, complaint)
2,021	het toezicht	supervision, oversight (toezicht houden: to supervise)
2,025	de identiteit	identity
2,028	het akkoord	agreement, deal (akkoord gaan met: to agree to); chord
2,035	de slaaf	slave
2,041	de revolutie	revolution
2,095	de boete	fine, penalty
2,097	de gouverneur	governor
2,115	het dossier	file, record; issue, case (in politics)
2,148	de vertegenwoordiger	representative; sales rep
2,171	de subsidie	subsidy, grant
2,175	de procedure	procedure, process; legal proceedings
2,176	federaal	federal
2,179	de prinses	princess
2,188	de voorziening	facility, service, provision (voorzieningen: amenities)
2,290	het protest	protest
2,295	de ambassadeur	ambassador
2,316	de wethouder	alderman, member of the city executive
2,317	de gemeenteraad	city council, municipal council
2,323	het verbod	ban, prohibition
2,329	opleggen	to impose (een boete opleggen: to fine)
2,334	de armoede	poverty
2,337	de opkomst	turnout (at an election, an event); rise
2,339	de wetgeving	legislation, laws
2,344	democratisch	democratic
2,364	de elite	elite
2,371	de commissaris	commissioner (EU, province); police chief; board member
2,384	de resolutie	resolution (of the UN; of a screen)
2,411	de infrastructuur	infrastructure
2,424	gemeentelijk	municipal, city, local (of the gemeente)
2,434	de rechtszaak	court case, lawsuit, trial
2,447	de aanhanger	supporter, follower; trailer (behind a car)
2,465	de autoriteit	authority (de autoriteiten: the authorities)
2,472	collectief	collective
2,498	de coalitie	coalition (of parties in government)
2,500	de woonplaats	place of residence, town you live in (on forms)

News: conflict, crime and religion

Crime, conflict and religion, the words of the evening news: de gevangenis, het geweld, arresteren, de vrede.

News: conflict, crime and religion: 79 words, most common first. The number is the word's place in the list. Nouns are shown with de or het.
#	Dutch	English
1,016	de gevangenis	prison, jail
1,018	de moslim	Muslim
1,029	het ongeluk	accident; bad luck (per ongeluk: by accident)
1,144	het kamp	camp; side, camp (in a conflict)
1,258	het geweld	violence; force (met geweld: by force)
1,280	heilig	holy, sacred
1,299	bedreigen	to threaten
1,312	arresteren	to arrest
1,331	de vrede	peace
1,358	de melding	report (to police, authorities); notification; mention
1,359	plegen	to commit (a crime); (plegen te) to be in the habit of
1,366	de cel	cell (prison; biology)
1,393	de aanslag	attack (terror, bomb), attempt on a life; tax assessment
1,454	het gevecht	fight, battle, combat
1,473	de vijand	enemy
1,551	de missie	mission (a task; military, religious or trade)
1,574	bekennen	to confess, to admit (guilt)
1,592	de paus	pope
1,628	bidden	to pray
1,641	het conflict	conflict
1,652	vluchten	to flee, to escape, to run away
1,656	de crisis	crisis
1,714	religieus	religious
1,747	de misdaad	crime
1,764	de crimineel	criminal
1,786	de dader	perpetrator, offender, culprit
1,791	de officier	officer (military); (officier van justitie) public prosecutor
1,833	de islam	Islam
1,837	het geloof	faith, belief; religion
1,839	aanvallen	to attack
1,840	de beveiliging	security, protection; security staff
1,853	christelijk	Christian
1,859	de getuige	witness (also at a wedding)
1,863	de opstand	uprising, revolt, rebellion
1,875	aanhouden	to arrest, detain; to keep on (a coat); to continue, persist
1,879	de religie	religion
1,892	het verzet	resistance, opposition; the Resistance (in WWII)
1,918	islamitisch	Islamic, Muslim
1,958	de god	god (God: God; mijn god: oh my God)
1,959	de zonde	sin; (het is zonde) it's a pity, a waste
1,964	de mars	march (protest, music; the month: maart); (Mars) Mars
1,995	de bom	bomb
1,997	de bedreiging	threat
2,024	de kogel	bullet
2,027	dodelijk	deadly, fatal, lethal
2,030	de drug	(illegal) drug (a medicine is het medicijn)
2,042	het bevel	order, command
2,052	opsluiten	to lock up, to shut in; to imprison
2,055	het misbruik	abuse, misuse
2,058	de non	nun
2,059	beschuldigen	to accuse (beschuldigen van: to accuse of)
2,064	het incident	incident
2,070	de terrorist	terrorist
2,072	de ramp	disaster, catastrophe (not "ramp")
2,082	strijden	to fight, to struggle (strijden om: to compete for)
2,105	de tank	tank (army vehicle; fuel tank)
2,111	het schot	shot (from a gun; at goal)
2,128	katholiek	Catholic
2,143	bezetten	to occupy (a country, a seat); to fill (a job, a role)
2,156	de defensie	defense, the armed forces
2,166	de militair	soldier, serviceman (adjective: military)
2,177	de moordenaar	murderer, killer
2,184	de hel	hell
2,206	getuigen	to testify, to give evidence (getuigen van: to show)
2,225	verwoesten	to destroy, to devastate, to ruin
2,230	het beslag	seizure (in beslag nemen: to seize; to take up time or space); batter
2,239	de nazi	Nazi
2,247	de priester	priest
2,248	ontvoeren	to kidnap, to abduct
2,270	de verdediging	defense (in war, in court, in sport)
2,287	het graf	grave, tomb
2,293	de marine	navy
2,442	het front	front (in war, weather; front of a thing: voorkant)
2,452	vermist	missing (of a person)
2,473	joods	Jewish
2,478	de explosie	explosion
2,479	de broeder	brother (religious, formal); male nurse (sibling: broer)
2,485	de nood	need, distress; emergency (in nood: in distress)
2,492	de kolonel	colonel

Travel, traffic, places and countries

Getting around, and the countries and their languages: de boot, het vliegtuig, het vervoer, buitenlands.

Travel, traffic, places and countries: 76 words, most common first. The number is the word's place in the list. Nouns are shown with de or het.
#	Dutch	English
1,006	de boot	boat, ship
1,045	Japans	Japanese
1,055	onderweg	on the way, on the road
1,058	de hoofdstad	capital (city)
1,093	de brug	bridge
1,117	de hoek	corner; angle (om de hoek: around the corner)
1,138	de motor	engine, motor; motorcycle
1,143	het vliegtuig	airplane, plane
1,152	het vervoer	transportation (openbaar vervoer: public transit)
1,153	het zuiden	the south
1,165	de fiets	bike, bicycle
1,191	het oosten	the east
1,211	buitenlands	foreign
1,216	Italiaans	Italian
1,227	Chinees	Chinese; (de Chinees) Chinese person, Chinese restaurant
1,245	het buitenland	foreign countries (in het buitenland: abroad)
1,326	Afrikaans	African; Afrikaans (language of South Africa)
1,363	de route	route, way
1,367	varen	to sail, go by boat
1,374	Engels	English
1,410	het verkeer	traffic
1,482	het terrein	grounds, site, area; field (of knowledge); terrain
1,531	Vlaams	Flemish (from Flanders, in Belgium)
1,562	Turks	Turkish
1,565	de rand	edge, rim, border (aan de rand van: on the edge of)
1,594	de bestuurder	driver (of a vehicle); director, board member
1,620	verblijven	to stay, to reside
1,629	het voertuig	vehicle
1,642	fietsen	to cycle, to bike, to ride a bike
1,643	het boord	board (aan boord: on board); collar (of a shirt)
1,654	de haven	port, harbor
1,706	de wagen	car (informal; also de auto); cart, wagon
1,775	de chauffeur	driver (bus, taxi, truck), chauffeur
1,796	de zone	zone, area
1,798	de rit	ride, drive, trip
1,827	het noorden	north, the north
1,887	het vliegveld	airport, airfield
1,904	het kasteel	castle
1,908	zuidelijk	southern, south
1,929	de file	traffic jam (a computer file: het bestand)
1,945	de ingang	entrance, way in (met ingang van: as of, starting)
1,983	Braziliaans	Brazilian
1,991	het paleis	palace
2,002	het westen	west, the west
2,004	westers	Western (of Europe and North America)
2,006	de streek	region, area; trick, prank; (van streek) upset
2,016	Grieks	Greek
2,018	Indiaas	Indian (from India; Indisch: of the Dutch East Indies)
2,057	de kapitein	captain (of a ship, a team)
2,061	de luchthaven	airport
2,138	de tent	tent; (informal) place, bar, restaurant
2,186	de snelweg	highway, freeway
2,197	Aziatisch	Asian
2,201	de terugkeer	return, comeback
2,204	de toren	tower, steeple; rook (chess)
2,205	de toerist	tourist
2,207	boeken	to book (a trip, a room); to achieve (a result, success)
2,211	de reiziger	traveler, passenger
2,255	noordelijk	northern, northerly
2,260	het ticket	ticket
2,297	Arabisch	Arabic (language); Arab, Arabian
2,325	de vrachtwagen	truck
2,357	Hollands	from Holland, Dutch (the language: het Nederlands)
2,366	de passagier	passenger
2,374	arriveren	to arrive (more formal than aankomen)
2,386	het uitzicht	view (uitzicht op: a view of); prospect
2,387	het paspoort	passport
2,408	de tunnel	tunnel
2,414	Australisch	Australian
2,427	vervoeren	to transport, to carry
2,462	westelijk	western, westerly
2,463	het verblijf	stay; residence (de verblijfsvergunning: residence permit)
2,475	bereikbaar	reachable, accessible (by car, train, phone)
2,476	de koffer	suitcase (car trunk: kofferbak)
2,486	het transport	transport, transportation, shipping
2,488	de binnenstad	city center, downtown, old town

Nature, weather and the environment

Animals, the weather and the landscape: het paard, de zee, de regen, duurzaam.

Nature, weather and the environment: 59 words, most common first. The number is the word's place in the list. Nouns are shown with de or het.
#	Dutch	English
1,003	het paard	horse; knight (in chess)
1,012	het veld	field; pitch, field (sports)
1,040	de zee	sea (aan zee: at the seaside)
1,041	de/het bos	(het) forest, woods; (de) bunch (of flowers, keys)
1,044	de vogel	bird
1,057	duurzaam	sustainable; durable, lasting
1,067	het goud	gold
1,076	de plant	plant
1,083	het materiaal	material; materials, equipment
1,208	de wind	wind
1,210	de vis	fish
1,218	de regen	rain
1,233	het strand	beach
1,237	de bloem	flower; (in baking) flour
1,251	de kust	coast
1,269	de stroom	current, stream, flow; electricity, power
1,287	de/het pad	(het) path, track; (de) toad
1,313	de storm	storm, gale
1,334	de temperatuur	temperature
1,344	het blad	leaf; sheet (of paper); magazine
1,394	de kat	cat
1,475	de berg	mountain; pile, heap (een berg werk: loads of work)
1,516	het milieu	environment (nature); social background, milieu
1,527	gouden	gold, golden (made of gold)
1,558	de/het leer	(de) doctrine, teaching; (het) leather
1,597	het landschap	landscape, scenery
1,667	het gas	gas (gas geven: to accelerate; gasoline: de benzine)
1,687	houten	wooden (made of wood)
1,719	de/het afval	waste, garbage, trash
1,759	de olie	oil
1,766	de boerderij	farm
1,797	de rook	smoke (also: past tense of ruiken, smelled)
1,835	de winter	winter
1,854	het hout	wood (the material), timber (a forest: het bos)
1,885	de heuvel	hill
1,985	de lente	spring (season; also: het voorjaar)
1,999	jagen	to hunt; to chase, drive, rush
2,010	de maan	moon
2,011	de planeet	planet
2,026	de/het golf	(de) wave (also: gulf, bay); (het) golf (the sport)
2,040	het gras	grass
2,053	vissen	to fish, to go fishing
2,066	het ras	breed (of animal); race
2,068	de sneeuw	snow
2,090	de landbouw	agriculture, farming
2,102	het klimaat	climate
2,103	het zand	sand
2,118	de bodem	bottom (of the sea, a glass); soil, ground
2,132	regenen	to rain (het regent: it is raining)
2,151	tropisch	tropical
2,164	de bek	animal's mouth, beak; (rude) mouth (hou je bek: shut up)
2,203	het zilver	silver
2,241	de aap	monkey, ape
2,246	de hemel	sky; heaven
2,285	het beest	animal, beast; brute (of a person)
2,288	metalen	metal, made of metal (het metaal: the metal)
2,302	de koe	cow
2,349	biologisch	organic (food); biological
2,446	de/het jacht	(de) hunt, hunting; (het) yacht

Media, technology and communication

TV, the internet and the phone: de aflevering, de verbinding, de gebruiker, het tijdschrift.

Media, technology and communication: 54 words, most common first. The number is the word's place in the list. Nouns are shown with de or het.
#	Dutch	English
1,022	de camera	camera
1,038	de/het account	account (online, user; a bank account is de rekening)
1,039	de aflevering	episode; delivery
1,087	de post	mail, post; post office
1,123	de journalist	journalist
1,135	de code	code; PIN, password
1,253	de editie	edition; issue (of a magazine)
1,254	de verbinding	connection (phone, internet, train), link
1,283	de opname	recording, shot; admission (to hospital); withdrawal (cash)
1,310	de techniek	technique; technology, engineering
1,319	de televisie	television, TV
1,322	de gebruiker	user
1,330	de update	update (software, news)
1,356	het tijdschrift	magazine, journal
1,364	het verslag	report, account; minutes (of a meeting)
1,373	de communicatie	communication
1,383	de computer	computer
1,421	elektrisch	electric, electrical
1,429	de studio	studio (TV, recording, art); studio apartment
1,432	de pers	press, the media; (fruit, wine) press
1,442	de machine	machine
1,465	klikken	to click (mouse); to get on (het klikt); to tell on, snitch
1,471	uitzenden	to broadcast, air; to send (abroad, on a mission)
1,478	het profiel	profile (online, side view); tread (of a tire)
1,525	het apparaat	device, appliance, machine
1,543	de cd	CD (compact disc)
1,547	downloaden	to download
1,556	het scherm	screen (TV, computer, phone); screen, shield (protection)
1,603	de technologie	technology
1,610	de uitzending	broadcast, program (TV, radio)
1,618	de publicatie	publication
1,648	het platform	platform (online, political; at a station: het perron)
1,657	de data	data; dates (plural of datum)
1,688	de info	info (short for informatie)
1,731	het forum	forum (online, discussion; panel)
1,754	de kijker	viewer (of TV); binoculars (de verrekijker)
1,762	het commentaar	comment, comments, remarks; commentary (on TV)
1,845	het toestel	device, appliance, phone; aircraft, plane; (phone) extension
1,851	de zender	channel, station (TV, radio); transmitter (the sender of a letter: de afzender)
1,873	de laptop	laptop
1,902	filmen	to film, shoot (video)
2,000	het web	web (a spider's web); (het web) the web, internet
2,005	het bestand	file (on a computer); stock, population (of fish or game)
2,020	de software	software
2,031	de server	server (computer)
2,051	de knop	button (on a device), switch; bud (clothes button: de knoop)
2,100	de documentaire	documentary
2,108	elektronisch	electronic
2,124	de volger	follower (on social media)
2,170	de reclame	advertising, ad, commercial (reclame maken: to advertise)
2,251	zenden	to send (formal); to broadcast
2,318	de smartphone	smartphone
2,353	het kanaal	channel (TV, online); canal (for ships)
2,404	de redactie	editorial team, editors, newsroom; editing

Culture, sport and free time

Sport, music and free time: de finale, de overwinning, het festival, feliciteren.

Culture, sport and free time: 87 words, most common first. The number is the word's place in the list. Nouns are shown with de or het.
#	Dutch	English
1,023	de finale	final (in a contest); finale
1,074	de stijl	style
1,110	de fan	fan, supporter (an electric fan: de ventilator)
1,111	de show	show (on TV, on stage)
1,134	de training	training, practice (session)
1,147	het album	album
1,149	de auteur	author, writer
1,151	de overwinning	victory, win
1,155	het festival	festival
1,168	feliciteren	to congratulate (gefeliciteerd!: congratulations!)
1,192	de ronde	round; lap (in a race)
1,196	de kunstenaar	artist
1,214	de collectie	collection
1,221	de verjaardag	birthday; birthday party
1,247	het ontwerp	design; draft, plan
1,248	cultureel	cultural
1,275	dansen	to dance
1,277	het concert	concert
1,281	de kampioen	champion
1,308	de single	single (record); single person (not in a couple)
1,315	het cadeau	present, gift (iets cadeau krijgen: to get something as a present; also: to get for free)
1,328	trainen	to train, practice, work out
1,332	de hit	hit (popular song)
1,381	de bar	bar (for drinks)
1,382	zwemmen	to swim
1,438	klassiek	classical (music); classic, traditional
1,440	de trainer	coach, trainer
1,460	het museum	museum
1,517	de coach	coach (sport, personal), trainer (not a bus)
1,520	de ploeg	team (sport), crew; shift (at work); plow
1,545	scoren	to score (a goal, points); to get, to land (informal)
1,552	het optreden	performance, gig, show; action, conduct (e.g. by the police)
1,575	de artiest	performer, entertainer (visual artist: de kunstenaar)
1,581	de traditie	tradition
1,595	het café	pub, bar, café (serves alcohol too)
1,627	wandelen	to walk, to go for a walk, to hike
1,665	de race	race (a competition; ethnic race: het ras)
1,676	de tentoonstelling	exhibition, exhibit, show
1,682	het stadion	stadium
1,724	het gedicht	poem
1,750	het schilderij	painting (a picture)
1,772	de medaille	medal
1,778	jarig	having your birthday (ik ben jarig: it's my birthday)
1,782	het monument	monument; listed (historic) building
1,795	het zwembad	swimming pool
1,810	de voorstelling	show, performance; idea, picture (in your mind); introduction
1,850	het toernooi	tournament
1,857	het podium	stage (for performers); podium
1,869	de fotograaf	photographer (a photograph: de foto)
1,871	de tekening	drawing; pattern, markings
1,874	de zaal	hall, (large) room; auditorium; (hospital) ward
1,893	schilderen	to paint (a picture, a wall)
1,906	de bibliotheek	library
1,917	de zanger	singer
1,924	de literatuur	literature
1,932	de lezer	reader
1,937	de competitie	league (sports); competition, contest
1,939	het theater	theater
1,961	muzikaal	musical
1,962	het doelpunt	goal (a score in soccer; the goal itself: het doel)
1,996	de dichter	poet (adjective dichter: closer, denser)
2,019	de lol	fun (lol hebben: to have fun; voor de lol: for fun)
2,029	de roman	novel (not "Roman": Romeins)
2,032	uitgaan	to go out (at night); to go out (a light, a fire); (uitgaan van) to assume
2,085	de acteur	actor
2,089	het erfgoed	heritage
2,098	de mode	fashion (not "mode": de modus)
2,104	de scène	scene (film, play); fuss (een scène maken: to make a scene)
2,117	de verzameling	collection
2,119	het elftal	soccer team, eleven (het Nederlands elftal: the Dutch team)
2,131	de kerst	Christmas (met kerst: at Christmas)
2,147	het avontuur	adventure
2,160	het portret	portrait
2,187	het instrument	instrument (musical); tool, means
2,200	sporten	to do sports, to work out, to exercise
2,216	het drama	drama; disaster, tragedy (informal)
2,220	het duel	duel; match, game (sports)
2,223	olympisch	Olympic (de Olympische Spelen: the Olympic Games)
2,242	de draak	dragon (de draak steken met: to make fun of)
2,327	het kunstwerk	work of art, artwork
2,328	de favoriet	favorite (expected to win; liked best)
2,346	het record	record (best result; a vinyl record: plaat)
2,396	de amateur	amateur
2,425	de muzikant	musician
2,450	de poster	poster
2,482	zeilen	to sail
2,483	de score	score

People, relationships and feelings

People, and how they feel about each other: gezellig, de angst, verliefd, huilen.

People, relationships and feelings: 93 words, most common first. The number is the word's place in the list. Nouns are shown with de or het.
#	Dutch	English
1,017	de jeugd	youth, childhood; young people
1,021	gezellig	cozy, nice, sociable (fun together, hard to translate)
1,033	de angst	fear, anxiety
1,035	de bezoeker	visitor
1,049	de bewoner	resident, inhabitant; occupant
1,086	de haat	hatred, hate
1,108	de vrijwilliger	volunteer
1,127	het excuus	apology; excuse (excuses aanbieden: to apologize)
1,128	vrouwelijk	female; feminine
1,220	de generatie	generation
1,320	verliefd	in love (verliefd op: in love with)
1,353	de homo	gay man (informal), homosexual
1,360	haten	to hate
1,362	huilen	to cry; to howl (wind, wolf)
1,372	de oma	grandma, grandmother
1,388	scheiden	to separate; to divorce; to sort (waste)
1,389	het talent	talent
1,403	de meneer	gentleman, man; Mr.; sir
1,413	vriendelijk	friendly, kind
1,415	enthousiast	enthusiastic
1,426	knap	good-looking, handsome; clever, smart; skillful, well done
1,458	het karakter	character, personality, nature
1,463	de sfeer	atmosphere, mood, vibe; sphere, field
1,466	vrolijk	cheerful, happy, merry
1,480	de mevrouw	lady, woman; Mrs., Ms.; madam
1,498	tevreden	satisfied, content, pleased
1,508	de tegenstander	opponent, adversary
1,542	het stel	couple (two people); set; een stel: a bunch, a few
1,578	de spijt	regret (spijt hebben: to regret; het spijt me: I'm sorry)
1,580	de ruzie	quarrel, argument, fight (ruzie maken: to argue)
1,590	de ma	mom, ma (informal for moeder)
1,599	seksueel	sexual
1,631	de verrassing	surprise
1,640	de leugen	lie (untruth)
1,651	de papa	dad, daddy
1,670	de spanning	tension, stress; suspense, excitement; voltage
1,712	de expert	expert
1,721	de neef	nephew; cousin (male; female: de nicht)
1,723	de buur	neighbor (more often de buurman, de buurvrouw)
1,734	de ziel	soul (geen levende ziel: not a living soul)
1,767	gevoelig	sensitive; delicate, touchy (a topic); sore, tender
1,777	uitnodigen	to invite
1,780	de steek	stab, sting; stitch; (in de steek laten) to let down, abandon
1,802	mannelijk	male; masculine (also in grammar)
1,808	de ontmoeting	meeting, encounter (a work meeting: de vergadering)
1,822	de emotie	emotion
1,829	het afscheid	goodbye, farewell (afscheid nemen: to say goodbye)
1,830	benieuwd	curious, eager to know (ik ben benieuwd: I wonder)
1,855	de humor	humor
1,867	de klap	blow, slap, hit; bang (noise); shock, setback
1,872	emotioneel	emotional
1,877	de groet	greeting (met vriendelijke groet: kind regards)
1,882	creatief	creative
1,889	de echtgenoot	husband, spouse
1,942	lui	lazy
1,972	de opa	grandpa, grandfather
1,981	triest	sad; dreary, gloomy
2,003	het geheim	secret (in het geheim: secretly)
2,007	geliefd	popular, well-liked; beloved (de geliefde: loved one)
2,008	vrezen	to fear, be afraid (of)
2,062	de zuster	sister (formal); nurse; nun
2,071	het uiterlijk	appearance, looks (as adverb uiterlijk: at the latest)
2,074	de passie	passion
2,076	de geboorte	birth
2,077	de houding	attitude; posture, stance
2,091	de paniek	panic
2,110	de oom	uncle
2,127	de moed	courage (de moed opgeven: to lose heart)
2,146	de tante	aunt
2,157	de traan	tear (from crying)
2,199	de schoonheid	beauty
2,208	schamen	to be ashamed (zich schamen; schaam je!: shame on you)
2,231	de ellende	misery, trouble
2,250	teleurstellen	to disappoint (teleurgesteld: disappointed)
2,254	dankbaar	grateful, thankful; rewarding
2,269	het verdriet	sorrow, grief, sadness
2,272	de glimlach	smile
2,273	de verhouding	relationship, relation; ratio, proportion; (love) affair
2,277	de vriendschap	friendship
2,278	de vent	guy, fellow (informal)
2,303	kussen	to kiss (the noun het kussen: pillow, cushion)
2,321	de nicht	niece; cousin (female; male: neef)
2,338	de pa	dad, pa (informal)
2,369	het verlangen	longing, desire, wish (verlangen naar: longing for)
2,383	het gezelschap	company (people with you), group (a firm: bedrijf)
2,385	beledigen	to insult, to offend
2,388	de held	hero
2,392	schrikken	to get a fright, to be startled (laten schrikken: to scare)
2,393	de scheiding	divorce; separation, division
2,410	de lieverd	darling, sweetheart, dear (also a sweet child)
2,420	jaloers	jealous, envious (jaloers op: jealous of)
2,444	het duo	duo, pair (also DUO: agency for student finance, exams)
2,453	de afkomst	origin, descent, background

Ideas, amounts and other abstract words

The abstract nouns that a newspaper article is built from: het besluit, de indruk, het voordeel, het verleden.

Ideas, amounts and other abstract words: 179 words, most common first. The number is the word's place in the list. Nouns are shown with de or het.
#	Dutch	English
1,007	de steun	support, backing, help
1,010	het gelijk	being right (gelijk hebben: to be right)
1,026	het geluid	sound, noise
1,027	de inhoud	content, contents; capacity, volume
1,034	het besluit	decision; decree
1,050	de indruk	impression
1,056	de beslissing	decision
1,070	de betrekking	relation (met betrekking tot: regarding); job, post
1,078	het gegeven	fact, given; (de gegevens) data, details
1,082	de wijze	way, manner (op deze wijze: in this way); wise man
1,090	het voordeel	advantage, benefit (in het voordeel van: in favor of)
1,099	het initiatief	initiative
1,100	het verleden	the past (in het verleden: in the past)
1,107	het totaal	total (in totaal: in total, altogether)
1,122	de verklaring	statement, declaration; explanation
1,132	de discussie	discussion, debate; argument
1,140	de omstandigheid	circumstance, condition
1,142	de eenheid	unit; unity
1,159	het miljard	billion (a trillion is het biljoen)
1,166	de herinnering	memory (of an event; the faculty: het geheugen); reminder
1,170	het verlies	loss
1,185	het effect	effect
1,189	de seconde	second (of time; second in order: tweede)
1,194	het detail	detail
1,197	de kwaliteit	quality
1,223	de kritiek	criticism; review (of a book, play)
1,239	de geest	mind, spirit; ghost
1,241	de graad	degree (temperature, angle, university)
1,246	negen	nine (9)
1,252	het verzoek	request (op verzoek van: at the request of)
1,256	het thema	theme, topic
1,259	de uitslag	result (vote, match, test); rash (on the skin)
1,263	de oorzaak	cause
1,265	de hoeveelheid	amount, quantity
1,266	de eis	demand, requirement; (in court) claim, sentence demanded
1,278	de klasse	class, category, quality (school class: klas)
1,285	de bedoeling	intention, purpose, plan (het is de bedoeling: the idea is)
1,286	de poging	attempt, try
1,293	de toon	tone (of voice, of a text); note, sound (music)
1,304	de twijfel	doubt (zonder twijfel: without a doubt)
1,307	het bestaan	existence; living, livelihood
1,314	de gebeurtenis	event, occurrence, happening
1,316	de combinatie	combination
1,321	de behoefte	need (behoefte aan: need for)
1,340	de uitdaging	challenge
1,342	het opzicht	respect, way (in dit opzicht: in this respect)
1,352	de interesse	interest (in something; money interest: rente)
1,357	de eer	honor, credit
1,361	de selectie	selection; squad (sport)
1,371	het gedeelte	part, section, portion
1,399	de categorie	category
1,400	de gelegenheid	opportunity, chance; occasion
1,401	de onzin	nonsense, garbage (talk)
1,405	de/het maal	(de) time, times (twee maal: twice); (het) meal
1,420	de prestatie	achievement, performance
1,424	de optie	option, choice
1,431	de standaard	standard, norm; stand (for a bike); (adjective) standard, default
1,437	de/het blik	(de) look, glance; (het) can, tin
1,452	het geheel	whole (als geheel: as a whole); (adverb) completely, entirely
1,456	de betekenis	meaning; significance, importance
1,461	de kwestie	issue, matter, question (een kwestie van: a matter of)
1,462	het kader	framework, context (in het kader van: as part of); frame, box
1,491	de opmerking	remark, comment
1,492	de praktijk	practice (in de praktijk: in practice); (doctor's) practice
1,494	de opening	opening (event, start); gap, hole
1,497	de aanleiding	reason, cause (naar aanleiding van: following, regarding)
1,504	het concept	concept, idea; draft (version)
1,505	de reeks	series, sequence, string
1,507	de verwachting	expectation; forecast (in verwachting: expecting a baby)
1,510	de/het figuur	figure (body shape); character, person; diagram, figure
1,512	het begrip	understanding, sympathy; concept, notion
1,563	de verantwoordelijkheid	responsibility
1,566	de termijn	term, period (op korte termijn: soon); deadline; installment
1,567	de lengte	length; height (of a person)
1,568	de voorwaarde	condition, requirement (voorwaarden: terms)
1,571	de snelheid	speed
1,579	de beurt	turn (aan de beurt zijn: to be next); service (of a car)
1,584	de datum	date (day of the month; not a romantic date)
1,586	het element	element, part, component
1,588	de kijk	view, outlook (kijk op: view of, take on)
1,591	de mate	degree, extent (in grote mate: to a large extent)
1,604	het gebrek	lack, shortage (gebrek aan: lack of); defect, flaw
1,607	het lot	fate, destiny; lottery ticket
1,613	de toepassing	application, use; app (software)
1,614	het blok	block (of stone, wood, houses); bloc (politics)
1,644	de wil	will, wish (uit vrije wil: of your own free will)
1,646	de vergelijking	comparison (in vergelijking met: compared to); equation
1,647	de uitzondering	exception
1,664	de methode	method; course book, textbook series (at school)
1,666	het symbool	symbol
1,668	de analyse	analysis
1,701	de ton	metric ton (1,000 kg); barrel; 100,000 euros (informal)
1,717	het tiental	(about) ten (een tiental: about ten); a set of ten
1,720	de schaal	scale (op grote schaal: on a large scale); bowl, dish; shell
1,722	het principe	principle (in principe: in principle, basically)
1,726	de variant	variant, version, variation
1,733	de voorbereiding	preparation
1,739	de aanwezigheid	presence; attendance
1,757	de conclusie	conclusion
1,758	de kilo	kilo, kilogram (een pond: half a kilo)
1,768	de deelname	participation, taking part
1,770	de inspiratie	inspiration
1,774	de uitvoering	implementation, carrying out; performance; version, model
1,781	de fase	phase, stage
1,789	de visie	view, outlook (opinion); vision (for the future)
1,790	het aspect	aspect, side
1,804	de werkelijkheid	reality (in werkelijkheid: in reality, actually)
1,812	de belofte	promise
1,814	de status	status, standing
1,823	het kwaad	evil, harm, wrong (adjective kwaad: angry)
1,825	de structuur	structure; texture
1,828	de aanpak	approach, way of tackling (a problem)
1,843	het voorwerp	object, item, thing; object (grammar)
1,844	de beperking	restriction, limitation; disability (met een beperking: disabled)
1,846	de voorkeur	preference (bij voorkeur: preferably)
1,852	de tegenstelling	contrast, opposite (in tegenstelling tot: unlike)
1,860	het exemplaar	copy (of a book); specimen, item (an example: het voorbeeld)
1,868	de uitleg	explanation
1,876	het vermogen	ability, capacity; wealth, assets; power (engine, watts)
1,878	de beschrijving	description
1,883	de trend	trend
1,895	de daad	act, deed, action
1,898	de set	set (of things; in tennis); (film) set
1,903	de stilte	silence, quiet (in stilte: quietly, in private)
1,923	de komst	arrival, coming
1,933	het gewicht	weight
1,935	de toestand	condition, state, situation; fuss (informal)
1,936	de verbetering	improvement; correction
1,949	het zicht	view, sight; visibility (in zicht: in sight)
1,950	het object	object, thing
1,953	het wonder	miracle, wonder (geen wonder: no wonder)
1,955	het domein	domain, field; estate, grounds; (internet) domain
1,960	het inzicht	insight, understanding; view, opinion
1,963	de factor	factor
1,979	de aanwijzing	clue, indication, sign; instruction, direction
2,013	de norm	norm, standard (normen en waarden: values)
2,022	de ondersteuning	support, assistance
2,023	het hoogtepunt	highlight, high point; peak, climax
2,094	de laag	layer; coat (of paint) (adjective laag: low)
2,096	het signaal	signal, sign
2,114	het standpunt	position, point of view, stance
2,116	de stelling	statement, proposition (for debate); theorem
2,120	de waarschuwing	warning
2,133	de uitbreiding	expansion, extension
2,135	de focus	focus
2,144	het bezwaar	objection (bezwaar maken: to object); drawback
2,158	de werking	working, functioning; effect (in werking: in operation)
2,159	de zijde	side (formal); silk
2,168	de duur	duration, length (op den duur: eventually; adj.: expensive)
2,173	de definitie	definition (per definitie: by definition)
2,178	het kenmerk	characteristic, feature; reference (number)
2,195	de aard	nature, character; kind (not de aarde: earth)
2,202	het verstand	mind, sense (verstand hebben van: to know about)
2,226	het patroon	pattern; cartridge (ink, gun)
2,235	de zoektocht	search, quest, hunt
2,238	de zekerheid	certainty; security (voor de zekerheid: just in case)
2,249	het argument	argument, reason (a quarrel is de ruzie)
2,267	de belangstelling	interest, attention (belangstelling voor: interest in)
2,294	het heden	the present, present day (tot heden: until now)
2,296	het gerucht	rumor
2,298	het getal	number, figure (phone number: nummer; number of: aantal)
2,313	het oordeel	judgment, opinion; verdict
2,319	de wijziging	change, alteration, amendment
2,359	de stop	stop, halt, break; plug, stopper; fuse (electric)
2,367	de massa	mass, crowd (de massa: the masses); lots (een massa)
2,377	de realiteit	reality
2,378	het vervolg	continuation, sequel (in het vervolg: from now on)
2,401	de doelstelling	objective, goal, aim
2,407	de kern	core, heart, essence; nucleus; town center
2,415	het bereik	reach, range; (phone) signal (geen bereik: no signal)
2,417	de omvang	size, extent, scale
2,435	het perspectief	perspective; prospect, outlook
2,457	het geheugen	memory (also of a computer; a memory of: herinnering)
2,458	de grootte	size (of clothes, shoes: maat)
2,460	de oorsprong	origin, source
2,466	het alternatief	alternative
2,467	de streep	line, stripe, stroke
2,491	de eigenschap	quality, trait, property (owned property: eigendom)
2,497	de boel	a lot (een boel); stuff, things (de hele boel: the lot)

Verbs for everyday actions

Verbs you need in every theme: bespreken, weigeren, vergelijken, beloven.

Verbs for everyday actions: 240 words, most common first. The number is the word's place in the list. Nouns are shown with de or het.
#	Dutch	English
1,005	bespreken	to discuss, to talk about; to review (a book, film)
1,025	eindigen	to end, to finish
1,030	afsluiten	to lock, to close off; to end; to take out (insurance)
1,037	weigeren	to refuse, to decline
1,042	merken	to notice, to feel; to mark, to label
1,043	overtuigen	to convince, to persuade
1,047	bezorgen	to deliver; to cause, to give (trouble, worry)
1,048	overleven	to survive
1,053	stijgen	to rise, to go up, to increase; to take off (plane)
1,060	springen	to jump, to leap; to burst
1,062	ontwerpen	to design
1,065	vergelijken	to compare
1,085	plaatsvinden	to take place, to happen
1,092	beloven	to promise
1,095	verrassen	to surprise
1,096	verbieden	to forbid, to ban, to prohibit
1,101	accepteren	to accept
1,102	dwingen	to force, to compel
1,116	erkennen	to recognize, to acknowledge; to admit
1,141	produceren	to produce, to make
1,145	vullen	to fill, to fill up
1,146	treffen	to hit, to strike; to affect; to meet, to come across; to take (maatregelen treffen: to take measures)
1,154	beschouwen	to consider, to regard (beschouwen als: to see as)
1,157	aannemen	to accept, to take; to assume; to hire, to adopt
1,158	ondersteunen	to support
1,162	verslaan	to defeat, to beat
1,164	oprichten	to found, to set up, to establish
1,167	vermelden	to mention, to state
1,169	optreden	to perform (on stage); to act, to take action; to appear
1,173	verdelen	to divide, to share out, to distribute
1,181	realiseren	to achieve, to bring about; (zich realiseren) to realize
1,183	voorstellen	to introduce (zich voorstellen: to introduce yourself); to propose, to suggest; to represent; (zich iets voorstellen) to imagine
1,184	verspreiden	to spread, to distribute
1,186	aanpassen	to adjust, to adapt; to try on (clothes)
1,195	drukken	to press, to push; to print
1,203	bewegen	to move; to exercise
1,206	meenemen	to take along, to bring along
1,213	doorgaan	to continue, to go on; to go ahead, to take place
1,217	opvallen	to stand out, to be noticeable (het viel me op: I noticed)
1,232	negeren	to ignore
1,235	waarschuwen	to warn; to alert, to call (police, doctor)
1,240	vernietigen	to destroy
1,249	herkennen	to recognize
1,257	verplichten	to oblige, to require, to force
1,260	rekenen	to calculate, do math; (rekenen op) to count on; to charge
1,267	verbergen	to hide, conceal
1,289	presenteren	to present; to host (a show)
1,300	verhogen	to raise, increase (prices, taxes, speed)
1,302	bewaren	to keep, store, save (not "beware")
1,317	deelnemen	to take part, participate (deelnemen aan: in)
1,327	herstellen	to repair, restore; to recover (from illness)
1,329	inspireren	to inspire
1,338	overnemen	to take over; to copy, adopt; to take (from someone)
1,350	ervaren	to experience; (adjective) experienced, skilled
1,355	aangeven	to indicate, point out; to pass, hand; to report (to police)
1,368	beseffen	to realize, be aware of
1,390	besteden	to spend (time, money); (besteden aan) to devote to
1,395	schatten	to estimate, guess (an amount); to value, appreciate
1,398	registreren	to register, record
1,404	menen	to think, believe; to mean it (meen je dat?: are you serious?)
1,408	meedoen	to take part, join in
1,412	beslissen	to decide
1,416	beantwoorden	to answer, reply to (a question, letter)
1,427	rennen	to run
1,428	aansluiten	to connect, plug in; to join (aansluiten bij); to fit, match
1,435	inzetten	to use, deploy; (zich inzetten voor) to work hard for; to bet
1,439	wennen	to get used to (wennen aan); to settle in
1,443	achten	to consider, deem; to respect, esteem
1,450	omgaan	to deal with, handle (omgaan met); to associate with
1,459	ontsnappen	to escape
1,464	verdedigen	to defend
1,474	toenemen	to increase, grow, rise
1,476	verzinnen	to make up, invent, think up
1,479	toestaan	to allow, permit
1,490	schijnen	to shine; to seem (het schijnt: apparently, they say)
1,493	klagen	to complain (klagen over: about)
1,496	nadenken	to think, reflect (nadenken over: to think about)
1,506	uitleggen	to explain
1,509	verwijzen	to refer (verwijzen naar: to refer to, direct to)
1,511	uitkomen	to come out, be published; to come true; to suit, be convenient
1,514	begraven	to bury
1,519	dromen	to dream (dromen van: to dream of)
1,522	ontbreken	to be missing, to be lacking (ontbreken aan: to lack)
1,534	dreigen	to threaten; to be in danger of (dreigen te)
1,536	voorbereiden	to prepare (zich voorbereiden op: to prepare for)
1,537	plannen	to plan, to schedule
1,538	uitmaken	to matter (het maakt niet uit: it does not matter); to break up; to decide; deel uitmaken van: to be part of
1,539	behalen	to achieve, to obtain (a result, a diploma, a win)
1,546	eisen	to demand, to require; to claim (victims, a title)
1,549	ophalen	to pick up, to collect; to raise (money); to bring up (a memory)
1,553	meemaken	to experience, to go through, to live through
1,555	versterken	to strengthen, to reinforce; to amplify (sound)
1,557	ondernemen	to undertake, to do (something); to run a business
1,569	verbazen	to amaze, to surprise (zich verbazen over: to be amazed at)
1,570	vaststellen	to establish, to determine; to set (a date, a price)
1,577	schreeuwen	to shout, to scream, to yell
1,596	uitbrengen	to release, to bring out (an album, a product); to cast (a vote)
1,600	oefenen	to practice, to train, to rehearse (to exercise, work out: sporten)
1,606	dalen	to fall, to drop, to go down; to descend (a plane)
1,608	behouden	to keep, to retain, to preserve
1,617	benoemen	to appoint (to a post); to name, to identify
1,619	liegen	to lie, to tell lies (to lie down: liggen)
1,622	terugkeren	to return, to come back, to go back
1,632	verlopen	to go, to proceed (goed verlopen: to go well); to expire
1,636	danken	to thank; to owe (te danken hebben aan: to owe to)
1,637	vertrouwen	to trust (vertrouwen op: to rely on)
1,638	overwegen	to consider, to think about, to weigh up
1,649	duiken	to dive; to plunge
1,661	opstellen	to draw up, to draft (a letter, a plan); to set up, to position
1,662	verplaatsen	to move, to shift, to relocate
1,675	drijven	to float; to drive, to push; to run (handel drijven: to trade)
1,678	vertegenwoordigen	to represent
1,679	creëren	to create
1,680	lenen	to borrow; to lend (also uitlenen)
1,683	instellen	to set, to adjust (a device); to set up, to establish
1,695	beleven	to experience, to live through; to enjoy
1,696	beweren	to claim, to assert, to allege
1,699	grijpen	to grab, to seize (grijpen naar: to reach for)
1,704	toepassen	to apply, to use, to put into practice
1,707	meten	to measure
1,708	verlenen	to grant, to give, to provide (help, permission)
1,711	voldoen	to meet, to satisfy (voldoen aan: to comply with); to pay
1,725	verkrijgen	to obtain, to get, to acquire
1,737	opleveren	to yield, to bring in, to produce; to deliver (a building)
1,738	verwerken	to process (data, waste); to deal with, to come to terms with
1,746	oppakken	to pick up; to arrest; to take up, to tackle (a task)
1,748	bezitten	to own, to possess
1,753	snijden	to cut, to slice
1,756	herhalen	to repeat; to review (for a test)
1,760	aanpakken	to tackle, to deal with, to take on; to take (hold of)
1,773	opzetten	to set up, start (a business); to put on; to pitch (a tent)
1,779	opgeven	to give up; to state, give (details); (zich opgeven) to sign up
1,784	aanmelden	to sign up, register (zich aanmelden); to log in; to check in
1,787	stimuleren	to stimulate, encourage, promote
1,818	wisselen	to change, exchange (money, places); to switch, swap
1,819	vergroten	to enlarge, increase, make bigger
1,847	schelen	to matter (het kan me niet schelen: I don't care); to differ
1,865	verschillen	to differ, vary (verschillen van: to differ from)
1,870	uitspreken	to pronounce; to express, voice (an opinion); to finish speaking
1,886	verminderen	to reduce, decrease, cut (down)
1,907	garanderen	to guarantee
1,910	ontkennen	to deny
1,913	verbranden	to burn (up, down); to get burned (also by the sun)
1,914	opbouwen	to build up, build (a life, a career); to set up
1,921	vastleggen	to record, capture (on film, paper); to fix, lay down (rules)
1,927	opzoeken	to look up (a word); to visit, go and see (someone)
1,934	beschikken	(beschikken over) to have, have at your disposal
1,941	lanceren	to launch (a rocket, product, campaign)
1,946	waarderen	to appreciate, value; to rate
1,947	handelen	to act; to trade, deal (in); (handelen over) to be about
1,957	zwijgen	to be silent, keep quiet, say nothing
1,965	wijzigen	to change, alter, amend (formal)
1,966	voortduren	to continue, go on, last
1,968	verlengen	to extend, lengthen; to renew (a contract, passport)
1,969	blokkeren	to block
1,970	afnemen	to decrease, decline; to take (away, off); to give (an exam)
1,977	kenmerken	to characterize, mark (noun het kenmerk: feature, characteristic)
1,990	achterlaten	to leave behind; to leave (a message)
1,998	storten	to deposit, pay in (money); to dump, pour; to plunge, crash
2,014	vermissen	to miss, to be unable to find (vermist: missing)
2,036	twijfelen	to doubt, to hesitate (twijfelen aan: to doubt)
2,039	schitteren	to shine, to sparkle; to excel, to star
2,047	combineren	to combine
2,065	overkomen	to happen to; to come over (visit); to come across (as)
2,078	onderhouden	to maintain, to keep up; to support (a family)
2,106	afspreken	to arrange, to agree (on); to meet up, to make a date
2,121	invoeren	to introduce (a rule, a system); to import; to enter (data)
2,137	innemen	to take (medicine); to take up (space); to capture (a city)
2,142	vermijden	to avoid
2,145	uiten	to express, to voice (zich uiten: to express oneself)
2,150	aantreffen	to find, to come across (dood aangetroffen: found dead)
2,152	beschadigen	to damage
2,155	boeien	to fascinate; to handcuff (het boeit me niet: I don't care)
2,161	voorspellen	to predict, to forecast
2,165	duwen	to push
2,169	onderscheiden	to distinguish, to tell apart; to honor (with an award)
2,172	storen	to disturb, to bother (zich storen aan: to be annoyed by)
2,181	informeren	to inform; to inquire (informeren naar: to ask about)
2,189	oplopen	to rise, to increase; to get, to suffer (an injury, a delay)
2,191	beëindigen	to end, to terminate, to finish
2,192	vertonen	to show, to display (signs); to screen (a film)
2,194	bedekken	to cover
2,209	schuiven	to slide, to push, to shove; to move (along)
2,218	onthouden	to remember, to keep in mind; (zich onthouden) to abstain
2,228	antwoorden	to answer, to reply
2,243	toegeven	to admit; to give in
2,252	letten	to pay attention (letten op: to watch, to mind)
2,256	selecteren	to select, to choose
2,258	aankondigen	to announce
2,259	falen	to fail (failing an exam is zakken)
2,263	voorafgaan	to precede, to come before (voorafgaan aan)
2,264	bevorderen	to promote, to encourage, to further
2,274	mislukken	to fail, to go wrong (of a plan: het is mislukt)
2,275	beoordelen	to judge, to assess, to evaluate
2,276	aantrekken	to put on (clothes); to attract; (zich iets aantrekken) to mind
2,281	identificeren	to identify (zich identificeren: to show ID)
2,283	aanwijzen	to point out, to point to; to appoint, to designate
2,284	schenken	to give (as a gift), to donate; to pour (a drink)
2,289	bewerken	to edit, to adapt (a text); to work, to process (material)
2,291	scheppen	to create (schiep, geschapen); to scoop, to shovel
2,300	respecteren	to respect
2,311	streven	to strive, to aim (streven naar: to aim for)
2,312	verlagen	to lower, to reduce, to cut (prices, taxes)
2,322	profiteren	to benefit, to profit (profiteren van: benefit from)
2,331	vasthouden	to hold (on to), to keep hold of; to detain
2,333	binnenkomen	to come in, to enter; to arrive (mail, news)
2,345	blazen	to blow (wind, a horn, candles)
2,347	onthullen	to reveal, to disclose; to unveil (a statue)
2,352	vernieuwen	to renew, to renovate, to modernize
2,355	opkomen	to come up, to rise; (opkomen voor) to stand up for
2,358	opheffen	to lift (a ban), to abolish; to close down; to raise
2,360	kampen	to struggle (kampen met: to struggle with), not "to camp"
2,362	overdrijven	to exaggerate; to overdo
2,368	laden	to load; to charge (a battery, also opladen)
2,370	adviseren	to advise, to recommend
2,372	begeleiden	to accompany, to guide; to coach, to supervise
2,380	dringen	to push, to jostle; to be urgent (de tijd dringt)
2,381	slepen	to drag, to haul; to tow
2,390	weergeven	to show, to display; to reproduce, to reflect
2,391	klimmen	to climb
2,394	raden	to guess (raad eens: guess what); to advise (formal)
2,397	uitschakelen	to switch off; to eliminate, to knock out
2,399	graven	to dig (groef, gegraven)
2,400	rollen	to roll
2,406	vervullen	to fulfill (a wish, a duty), to fill (a role)
2,419	voortzetten	to continue, to carry on, to keep up
2,422	samenstellen	to put together, to compose, to compile
2,426	passeren	to pass, to go past; to overtake (in traffic)
2,428	aandoen	to put on, to switch on; to cause (pain, harm) to someone
2,431	goedkeuren	to approve
2,436	spannen	to stretch, to tighten (het spant erom: it will be close)
2,439	gedragen	to behave (zich gedragen); also worn, carried (dragen)
2,443	toelaten	to allow, to permit; to admit (to a school, a country)
2,448	branden	to burn; to be on (of a light)
2,451	vermoeden	to suspect, to presume
2,464	afleiden	to distract; to deduce, to infer (afleiden uit: from)
2,477	vervallen	to expire, to lapse; to be canceled (a train, a class); to decay (a building)
2,484	functioneren	to function, to work; to perform (in a job)
2,487	luiden	to ring (bells); to read (de tekst luidt: the text reads)
2,499	doorgeven	to pass on (a message, a ball); to forward

Describing words

Adjectives and adverbs for almost anything: leeg, raar, gemiddeld, ernstig.

Describing words: 157 words, most common first. The number is the word's place in the list. Nouns are shown with de or het.
#	Dutch	English
1,004	uniek	unique
1,008	leeg	empty; dead (battery, phone)
1,013	recht	straight, upright; directly (to the right: rechts)
1,014	oorspronkelijk	original; originally
1,019	raar	strange, weird, odd
1,031	jammer	a pity, too bad (wat jammer: what a shame)
1,036	dubbel	double
1,046	simpel	simple, easy; simple-minded
1,061	gemiddeld	average; on average
1,063	menselijk	human; humane
1,066	ernstig	serious, severe, grave
1,068	gemakkelijk	easy; comfortable
1,069	zogenaamd	so-called; supposedly, pretended (not real)
1,075	flink	considerable, sizable; a lot, hard; brave (of a child)
1,088	favoriet	favorite
1,089	afkomstig	originating, coming (afkomstig uit: from)
1,097	dom	stupid, dumb, silly
1,109	werkelijk	real, actual; really, truly
1,112	droog	dry
1,113	schoon	clean; (Flemish, poetic) beautiful
1,119	traditioneel	traditional
1,120	succesvol	successful
1,150	vreselijk	terrible, awful; terribly
1,156	bewust	aware, conscious; deliberate, on purpose
1,160	langzaam	slow; slowly
1,180	origineel	original
1,188	negatief	negative
1,202	wereldwijd	worldwide, global
1,219	licht	light (weight, color); bright (not dark); slight, mild
1,242	kapot	broken; worn out, exhausted
1,250	mis	wrong, missed (er is iets mis: something is wrong)
1,279	afhankelijk	dependent (afhankelijk van: dependent on, depending on)
1,298	extreem	extreme; extremely
1,309	scherp	sharp; hot, spicy (food); keen (eye, mind)
1,311	zacht	soft; gentle, mild; quiet (sound)
1,323	genaamd	called, named (by the name of)
1,343	apart	separate, separately; special, unusual
1,346	zwak	weak
1,347	recent	recent; recently
1,354	puur	pure; purely, sheer; neat (drink), dark (chocolate)
1,379	beroemd	famous
1,385	onmogelijk	impossible
1,391	onbekend	unknown, unfamiliar
1,396	belachelijk	ridiculous
1,409	handig	handy, useful, practical; skillful (with your hands)
1,418	ontzettend	terribly, very (intensifier); terrible, awful
1,425	geheim	secret
1,436	individueel	individual
1,453	voldoende	enough, sufficient; (een voldoende) a pass mark (school)
1,472	cool	cool, great (informal)
1,486	donker	dark (in het donker: in the dark)
1,487	nat	wet
1,501	spannend	exciting, thrilling; tense
1,513	geschikt	suitable, fit (geschikt voor: suitable for); decent (person)
1,521	privé	private, personal
1,524	relatief	relative, relatively (comparatively)
1,535	maximaal	maximum; at most, up to
1,541	specifiek	specific, specifically
1,544	gezamenlijk	joint, shared, collective; together
1,548	behoorlijk	quite, pretty (a lot); considerable; decent, proper
1,554	wild	wild; fierce, unruly
1,564	krachtig	powerful, strong, forceful
1,582	uitstekend	excellent, outstanding; sticking out
1,583	bereid	willing, prepared (bereid zijn om: to be willing to)
1,587	verschrikkelijk	terrible, awful, dreadful; terribly (very)
1,623	definitief	final, definitive; for good, permanently (not "definitely")
1,625	logisch	logical; obvious (logisch!: of course!)
1,634	letterlijk	literal, literally
1,639	kritisch	critical (judging, questioning; a critical state: kritiek)
1,650	geïnteresseerd	interested (geïnteresseerd in: interested in)
1,660	blank	white (of skin; now often wit); flooded (blank staan)
1,669	zichtbaar	visible
1,672	typisch	typical; odd, peculiar (typisch!: how odd!)
1,673	prettig	pleasant, nice (prettig weekend!: have a nice weekend!)
1,693	toevallig	by chance, coincidental; by any chance (in questions)
1,710	grijs	gray
1,718	plaatselijk	local; locally, in places
1,735	redelijk	reasonable, fair; fairly, quite (redelijk goed: pretty good)
1,743	zelfstandig	independent, on your own; self-employed
1,752	onschuldig	innocent; harmless
1,761	gaaf	cool, great (informal); intact, flawless
1,788	betrouwbaar	reliable, trustworthy
1,799	alternatief	alternative (het alternatief: an alternative)
1,805	constant	constant; constantly, all the time
1,807	ongelooflijk	incredible, unbelievable; incredibly
1,809	intern	internal, in-house (an intern: de stagiair)
1,813	effectief	effective; actual, real
1,817	toegankelijk	accessible; approachable, easy to understand
1,820	blond	blond, blonde
1,836	stom	stupid, dumb, silly; mute (old: de stomme film, silent film)
1,842	vuil	dirty (het vuil: dirt, trash)
1,849	streng	strict, severe, harsh (een strenge winter: a hard winter)
1,862	actueel	current, topical, up to date (not "actual": echt)
1,866	vergelijkbaar	comparable, similar
1,880	anoniem	anonymous
1,884	automatisch	automatic; automatically
1,909	indrukwekkend	impressive
1,912	vervelend	annoying, unpleasant; tiresome, boring
1,928	eng	scary, creepy; narrow (formal)
1,931	naakt	naked, nude, bare
1,940	rechtstreeks	direct, directly, straight; live (TV, radio)
1,954	minimaal	at least, a minimum of; minimal
1,956	stevig	firm, solid, sturdy; strong, hefty, hearty
1,974	saai	boring, dull
1,978	aanzienlijk	considerable, significant, substantial
1,993	praktisch	practical; practically, almost
1,994	nuttig	useful
2,001	toekomstig	future, prospective
2,037	plat	flat; crude, vulgar (language); broad (dialect)
2,038	exact	exact, precise (exacte vakken: math and science)
2,048	aantrekkelijk	attractive, appealing
2,054	eventueel	possible, possibly; if needed (not "eventual")
2,056	massaal	massive, large-scale; in large numbers, en masse
2,080	kwetsbaar	vulnerable, fragile
2,081	noodzakelijk	necessary, essential
2,083	zeldzaam	rare, scarce
2,084	voorzichtig	careful, cautious
2,086	gebruikelijk	usual, customary, normal
2,087	permanent	permanent; constantly, all the time
2,099	lelijk	ugly; nasty, bad (a fall, a mistake)
2,113	geldig	valid
2,149	vies	dirty; disgusting, gross (taste, smell)
2,153	zat	fed up (ik ben het zat: I'm fed up); plenty; drunk (also the past tense of zitten: sat)
2,154	dringend	urgent; urgently
2,162	bruin	brown; tanned
2,167	extern	external, outside
2,210	daadwerkelijk	actual, real; actually, really (in practice)
2,212	rot	rotten; awful, lousy (informal)
2,217	dun	thin; skinny (slim is slank)
2,227	fris	fresh; cool, chilly (weather)
2,244	onzeker	uncertain; insecure, unsure (of oneself)
2,245	gemeenschappelijk	common, shared, joint
2,253	stabiel	stable, steady
2,279	de war	only in in de war: confused; mixed up, in a mess
2,286	exclusief	exclusive; excluding (exclusief btw: VAT not included)
2,292	helder	clear, bright; lucid, clear-headed
2,299	eeuwig	eternal, everlasting; forever
2,306	regulier	regular, standard, mainstream (frequent: regelmatig)
2,320	waardevol	valuable
2,324	schattig	cute, sweet
2,330	verstandig	sensible, wise, smart
2,343	onderling	mutual; among themselves, with each other
2,350	machtig	powerful, mighty; rich, heavy (of food)
2,363	heftig	intense, fierce, violent; emotional (not "hefty")
2,389	gedeeltelijk	partial, partly
2,398	onverwacht	unexpected, unexpectedly
2,405	bloot	naked, bare (blote voeten: bare feet)
2,409	fel	fierce, intense; bright (light, color)
2,413	opmerkelijk	remarkable, striking, notable
2,421	correct	correct, right; proper (behavior)
2,430	lek	leaking, leaky; flat (een lekke band: a flat tire)
2,440	strak	tight, taut; strict, firm; sleek
2,441	akkoord	agreed, OK (akkoord gaan met: to agree to) (the noun het akkoord: agreement, deal)
2,449	gemengd	mixed
2,469	nep	fake, false, imitation
2,481	ideaal	ideal, perfect
2,494	vals	false, fake; out of tune; mean, nasty

Small words: time, place and linking

The short words that link sentences and say when and where: ondertussen, trouwens, zodra, daardoor.

Small words: time, place and linking: 128 words, most common first. The number is the word's place in the list. Nouns are shown with de or het.
#	Dutch	English
1,028	allerlei	all kinds of, all sorts of
1,054	ondertussen	meanwhile, in the meantime
1,077	erin	in it, into it, in there
1,079	momenteel	currently, at the moment
1,081	trouwens	by the way; besides, anyway
1,103	hallo	hello, hi (neutral, fine with anyone)
1,105	zodra	as soon as
1,115	zolang	as long as; for now, meanwhile
1,129	daardoor	because of that, as a result; through it
1,130	hierbij	herewith, hereby; with this
1,131	dichtbij	nearby, close by
1,161	inclusief	including, inclusive (of)
1,163	zulk	such (zulk mooi weer: such nice weather)
1,174	hiervan	of this, from this, about this
1,175	neer	down (in verbs: neerzetten, to put down)
1,176	reeds	already (formal)
1,177	tegenover	opposite, across from; compared to; toward (someone)
1,178	totdat	until, till
1,200	hiervoor	for this; before this, previously
1,201	mede	also, partly (mede door: partly due to); co-
1,226	binnenkort	soon, shortly
1,229	nogal	rather, quite, fairly
1,231	vrijwel	almost, practically, virtually
1,243	vandaan	from (waar kom je vandaan?: where are you from?)
1,244	aldus	thus, so; according to (after a quote)
1,270	beneden	downstairs; below, down
1,271	eenmaal	once; (nu eenmaal) simply, just (that's how it is)
1,272	ermee	with it, with that
1,274	waarvoor	what for, why; for which
1,284	min	minus; (min of meer) more or less
1,324	hopelijk	hopefully
1,325	zoiets	something like that, such a thing
1,348	hè	right?, isn't it? (at the end of a sentence); huh?
1,349	nauwelijks	hardly, barely
1,375	omhoog	up, upward
1,376	tenzij	unless
1,378	wellicht	perhaps, possibly (formal)
1,380	twintig	twenty (20)
1,397	alweer	again, once more (wat was het alweer?: what was it again?)
1,411	onmiddellijk	immediately, at once; immediate
1,422	tenminste	at least (correcting yourself; for amounts: ten minste)
1,423	voornamelijk	mainly, mostly, chiefly
1,444	daarop	on that, on it; after that, then
1,446	het behulp	(met behulp van) with the help of, using
1,467	ineens	suddenly, all at once; in one go
1,468	overigens	by the way, incidentally; besides, for the rest
1,477	overig	other, remaining (de overigen: the others; het overige: the rest)
1,499	uiteraard	of course, naturally
1,518	voorlopig	for now, for the time being; temporary, provisional
1,528	daarin	in it, in there, in that
1,529	erover	about it, over it (erover praten: to talk about it)
1,530	rondom	around, all around
1,532	voort	on, onward, forth (as in voortzetten: to continue)
1,533	vooruit	forward, ahead; come on! (urging)
1,589	alsjeblieft	please; here you are (informal)
1,601	indien	if, in case (formal; usually als)
1,615	tegelijkertijd	at the same time, simultaneously
1,616	twaalf	twelve (12)
1,635	eveneens	also, likewise, as well (formal)
1,659	onderstaand	below, following (onderstaande tekst: the text below)
1,663	plus	plus (in sums); and also, on top of that
1,685	gisteravond	last night, yesterday evening
1,686	hierin	in this, in here, herein
1,690	minstens	at least
1,715	hierover	about this, over this
1,716	nogmaals	once more, again (nogmaals bedankt: thanks again)
1,740	namens	on behalf of
1,742	waarna	after which, whereupon
1,769	hé	hey (to get attention); oh (surprise)
1,771	sindsdien	since then, ever since
1,800	evenals	as well as, just like (formal)
1,803	onlangs	recently, the other day
1,811	uiterst	extremely; utmost, extreme (je uiterste best: your very best)
1,831	qua	in terms of, as for, as regards (qua prijs: price-wise)
1,848	voren	(naar voren) forward, to the front; (van voren) at the front
1,856	noch	neither ... nor (noch hij noch zij: neither he nor she)
1,888	de morgen	morning ('s morgens: in the morning; morgen: tomorrow)
1,891	tegelijk	at the same time, at once
1,897	elf	eleven (11)
1,915	dertig	thirty (30)
1,922	alsnog	still, after all (later than planned)
1,925	opeens	suddenly, all of a sudden
1,926	vanmorgen	this morning
1,948	telkens	each time, every time; again and again
1,971	allebei	both (of them, of us)
1,973	vermoedelijk	probably, presumably; suspected, alleged
1,980	vijftig	fifty (50)
1,984	grotendeels	largely, mostly, for the most part
1,986	tuurlijk	sure, of course (short for natuurlijk)
1,987	vanochtend	this morning
1,988	wederom	once again, again (formal)
2,015	ach	oh, ah, oh well (resigned)
2,017	hierna	after this, afterward; below (in a text)
2,043	deels	partly, in part
2,044	hoezo	how so?, why?, what do you mean?
2,045	immers	after all, as you know (giving a reason)
2,060	liefst	preferably (het liefst: ideally); (maar liefst) no less than
2,088	alvast	in advance, already (begin maar alvast: you can start)
2,092	waaraan	to/on/of which (waaraan denk je?: what are you thinking of?)
2,122	vandaar	hence, that's why (vandaar dat: that's why); from there
2,123	vannacht	tonight (during the night); last night
2,125	gerust	feel free to, by all means; reassured, at ease
2,126	hierop	on this, to this; after this, then
2,198	gauw	soon, quickly (zo gauw: as soon as)
2,219	haast	almost, nearly (de haast: hurry, haste)
2,232	intussen	meanwhile, in the meantime; by now
2,234	ofwel	or, in other words; (ofwel ... ofwel) either ... or
2,236	zojuist	just, just now (a moment ago)
2,262	hetgeen	what, that which (formal for wat)
2,266	zelden	rarely, seldom
2,307	vlakbij	nearby, close by (vlak bij het station: near the station)
2,308	volop	plenty, in abundance, to the full
2,335	jarenlang	for years, years of (jarenlang werk: years of work)
2,336	naartoe	to, toward (waar ga je naartoe?: where are you going?)
2,340	zelfde	same (usually dezelfde, hetzelfde: the same)
2,351	nabij	near, close to (formal; de nabije toekomst: the near future)
2,373	vijftien	fifteen (15)
2,402	plotseling	sudden, suddenly
2,418	waarover	about which (waarover gaat het?: what is it about?)
2,454	amper	barely, hardly, scarcely
2,455	daaraan	to that, of that, on that (daaraan denken: think of it)
2,456	elders	elsewhere
2,459	jawel	yes (it is), oh yes (in reply to a negative)
2,461	voortaan	from now on, in the future
2,489	destijds	at the time, back then
2,490	doorheen	through (er doorheen: through it; door het bos heen)
2,493	onszelf	ourselves (stressed; unstressed: ons)
2,495	waaruit	from which, out of which; from what

Where the list comes from

The ranking comes from wordfreq, a free frequency list by Robyn Speer that counts Dutch in Wikipedia, film and TV subtitles, news, websites and social media. The word forms were grouped into words with UD Dutch Alpino, a collection of Dutch sentences annotated by hand, which also gave the word class and de or het. Names, brands, abbreviations, English words and a few vulgar words are left out. The English meanings and the themes are ours, and every line was checked in a separate review.

You may share and adapt the list, also for your classes, under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license: credit wordfreq (Robyn Speer) and Dutch Readers, and share your version under the same license.

Is there an official Dutch B1 word list?

No. The Staatsexamen NT2 and the inburgering exams do not publish one: they test whether you understand texts and conversations at B1. The most common words are the best stand-in, because they are the words those texts are made of.

How many words do I need for B1 in Dutch?

About 2,500 that you recognize when you read, against about 1,000 at A2. You need fewer to speak: reading asks for a bigger vocabulary than speaking.

How long does it take to learn 1,500 words?

At 50 words a week, 30 weeks. Words you never meet again fade, so learn them with a spaced repetition app like Anki and read at your level at the same time.

Where are the first 1,000 words?

On the page with the 1,000 most common Dutch words, in four bands by frequency, with the everyday words by topic. It has its own PDF, spreadsheet and Anki deck.

How do I study one theme in Anki?

Import the Anki file on your computer (File, then Import). Every card has its theme as a tag, such as work or health. Choose Tools, then Create Filtered Deck, and search for tag:health to study only that theme.

Can I use this list in my lessons?

Yes. The list is free under CC BY-SA 4.0: print it, copy it into your own materials, change it. Credit wordfreq (Robyn Speer) and Dutch Readers, and share your version under the same license.

Dutch B1 vocabulary list: words 1,001 to 2,500 by theme, with a free PDF

What this list is

How to learn 50 words a week

Work, business and money

Home and daily life

Health and the body

School, study and science

Government, law and society

News: conflict, crime and religion

Travel, traffic, places and countries

Nature, weather and the environment

Media, technology and communication

Culture, sport and free time

People, relationships and feelings

Ideas, amounts and other abstract words

Verbs for everyday actions

Describing words

Small words: time, place and linking

Where the list comes from

The 1,000 most common Dutch words, with English meanings

From A2 to B1 in Dutch: what changes and how long it takes

Dutch reading practice B1: longer texts, real topics

Dutch B1 exam (Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I): the reading part, practice and books

Dutch books for intermediate learners (B1 and B2): from readers to real novels

The Dutch Readers series: classics you can read at A2, then B1, then in the original

What this list is

How to learn 50 words a week

Work, business and money

Home and daily life

Health and the body

School, study and science

Government, law and society

News: conflict, crime and religion

Travel, traffic, places and countries

Nature, weather and the environment

Media, technology and communication

Culture, sport and free time

People, relationships and feelings

Ideas, amounts and other abstract words

Verbs for everyday actions

Describing words

Small words: time, place and linking

Where the list comes from

Get one short Dutch text a week

Keep reading

The 1,000 most common Dutch words, with English meanings

From A2 to B1 in Dutch: what changes and how long it takes

Dutch reading practice B1: longer texts, real topics

Dutch B1 exam (Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I): the reading part, practice and books

Dutch books for intermediate learners (B1 and B2): from readers to real novels

The Dutch Readers series: classics you can read at A2, then B1, then in the original