When you are exploring a Dutch city, being able to ask for and give directions helps you get around with ease. In this deck, you will learn polite phrases to stop a passer-by, clear instructions for walking through streets and squares, and ways to pinpoint where a building is located.

When stopping someone on the street, you start with 'Pardon', followed by a polite request. To ask 'May I ask you something?' using the polite pronoun 'u', say 'mag ik u iets vragen?'. Together, 'Pardon, mag ik u iets vragen?' is the standard opening for approaching a stranger.

Another polite way to approach someone is to ask if they know where a specific place is. You say 'Pardon, weet u waar het station is?', which means 'Excuse me, do you know where the station is?'. Notice that the verb 'is' moves to the end of the clause.

You can also ask for destinations directly. 'Waar is de supermarkt?' means 'Where is the supermarket?'. To ask how to reach a destination, use 'hoe kom ik bij'. For example, 'Hoe kom ik bij het museum?' means 'How do I get to the museum?'. If you want to check if a service is nearby, say 'Is er een apotheek in de buurt?', which means 'Is there a pharmacy nearby?'.