Going to the grocery store (de supermarkt) is one of the first things you will do in the Netherlands. While finding food is easy, paying for it requires knowing a few standard phrases. Dutch cashiers use a very specific “script,” and learning it will stop you from freezing at the cash register!

1. Essential Grocery Vocabulary

Keep an eye out for these words on signs and packaging as you walk through the aisles.

2. The Cashier Script: What You Will Hear

When you place your items on the conveyor belt, the cashier will scan them quickly. When they are finished, they will always ask you two or three standard questions in a row.

Question 1: The Loyalty Card

• What they say: “Bonuskaart?” or “Heeft u een klantenkaart?”
• What it means: Do you have a loyalty/discount card?
• How to answer:
  • If you have one: “Ja, alstublieft.” (Yes, here you go.)
  • If you don’t: “Nee, ik heb er geen.” (No, I don’t have one.)

Question 2: The Receipt

• What they say: “Bonnetje mee?” or “Wilt u de bon?”
• What it means: Do you want the receipt with you?
• How to answer:
  • “Nee, dank je wel.” (No, thank you.)
  • “Ja, graag.” (Yes, please.)

Question 3: Shopping Bags

• What they say: “Tasje erbij?”
• What it means: Do you need a plastic bag? (Note: Bags cost extra in the Netherlands, so you must ask for one if you didn’t bring your own).
• How to answer: “Ja, graag” or “Nee, dank u wel.”

3. Handy Supermarket Phrases

If you need to find an item or prefer to use the self-scan areas, use these phrases:

• “Pardon, waar staat de melk?”
  (Excuse me, where is the milk?)
• “Mag ik een plastic tasje, alstublieft?”
  (May I have a plastic bag, please?)
• “Kan ik hier met pin betalen?”
  (Can I pay with card here? — Note: Many Dutch supermarkets do not accept credit cards or cash at self-scan stations, only Dutch debit cards/Maestro/V-Pay).

Interactive Quiz: Checkout Challenge

Imagine you are standing at the register. Click the scenarios below to see if you know how to respond to the cashier!