Bedeutung
To relax or not rush through things.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The Dutch value 'gezelligheid' and personal time. Telling someone to 'rustig aan doen' is seen as a sign of care and respect for their well-being, rather than a suggestion that they are lazy. In Dutch-speaking Belgium, the phrase is also common, but you might also hear 'kalm aan' or 'het op 't gemak doen' more frequently in certain dialects. In Surinamese Dutch, the pace of life is often described with similar phrases, but with a unique rhythmic intonation that emphasizes the relaxation. Despite being a productive nation, Dutch managers often encourage 'rustig aan doen' after a major project to prevent employee burnout, reflecting a flat organizational structure.
Add 'lekker'
Dutch people love the word 'lekker'. Saying 'Ik ga lekker rustig aan doen' makes you sound much more native and happy about your relaxation.
Don't forget the 'aan'
Saying 'Ik doe rustig' sounds like you are a child being told to behave. Always include 'aan' for the 'take it easy' meaning.
Bedeutung
To relax or not rush through things.
Add 'lekker'
Dutch people love the word 'lekker'. Saying 'Ik ga lekker rustig aan doen' makes you sound much more native and happy about your relaxation.
Don't forget the 'aan'
Saying 'Ik doe rustig' sounds like you are a child being told to behave. Always include 'aan' for the 'take it easy' meaning.
The 'Hè' factor
When saying it as a goodbye, add 'hè' at the end: 'Rustig aan doen, hè!' It turns the statement into a friendly, shared sentiment.
Use it for health
If someone tells you they are sick, 'Doe rustig aan' is the most natural and empathetic response you can give.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'doen'.
Ik ben moe, dus ik ___ vandaag rustig aan.
The subject is 'Ik', so the verb 'doen' must be conjugated as 'doe'.
Which sentence is a natural way to say goodbye to a friend?
A friend is leaving your house. What do you say?
'Doe rustig aan hè!' is the standard idiomatic way to say 'take it easy' as a farewell.
Complete the dialogue between a doctor and a patient.
Dokter: 'U heeft te veel stress.' Patiënt: 'Wat moet ik doen?' Dokter: 'U moet...'
When someone has too much stress, the standard advice is to 'rustig aan doen' (take it easy).
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are on a relaxing vacation in Spain.
Vacations are the primary time for 'rustig aan doen'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Rustig aan doen vs. Stil zijn
Synonyms and Related Words
Verbs
- • Ontspannen
- • Rusten
- • Chillen
Adjectives
- • Kalm
- • Zachtjes
- • Gemakkelijk
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenIk ben moe, dus ik ___ vandaag rustig aan.
The subject is 'Ik', so the verb 'doen' must be conjugated as 'doe'.
A friend is leaving your house. What do you say?
'Doe rustig aan hè!' is the standard idiomatic way to say 'take it easy' as a farewell.
Dokter: 'U heeft te veel stress.' Patiënt: 'Wat moet ik doen?' Dokter: 'U moet...'
When someone has too much stress, the standard advice is to 'rustig aan doen' (take it easy).
Situation: You are on a relaxing vacation in Spain.
Vacations are the primary time for 'rustig aan doen'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenIt is neutral. You can use it with friends, but also with your boss if you are discussing your workload or health.
No, that would be 'stil zijn'. 'Rustig aan doen' is about speed and energy, not noise.
They are almost identical. 'Kalm aan' is slightly more common in the imperative (as a command).
It becomes 'Wij doen rustig aan'.
Yes, this is a very common way to express future plans using 'gaan' + infinitive.
Yes, in an informal or semi-formal email, you can end with 'Doe rustig aan' or 'Rustig aan dit weekend'.
Not necessarily. It usually implies a healthy choice to avoid stress or recover from effort.
It's a particle that indicates the manner of the action. Without it, the meaning changes.
Yes, 'Doe rustig aan' is a common way to tell a driver to slow down or be careful.
It means 'to take it *easier*', implying you were doing too much before.
Yes, just saying 'Rustig!' or 'Rustig aan!' without the 'doen' is very common in casual speech.
Absolutely. It's a common way to tell children to play more gently or stop running.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Kalm aan
synonymTake it easy / stay calm
Ontspannen
similarTo relax
Gas terugnemen
idiomTo slow down / throttle back
Niksen
builds onThe art of doing nothing
Haasten
contrastTo hurry
Op je gemak
similarAt your ease
