Meaning
Wishing someone a happy birthday.
Cultural Background
The 'Kringverjaardag' (Circle Birthday) is a famous tradition where guests sit in a circle of chairs. You must congratulate everyone in the circle, not just the birthday person. If it is your birthday, you are expected to bring cake (trakteren) for your colleagues. They will not buy it for you! Flemish people prefer 'Gelukkige verjaardag'. Using 'Gefeliciteerd' can sound very 'Hollands' (from the Netherlands). Many Dutch people keep a 'verjaardagskalender' (birthday calendar) in the toilet. It's a practical way to never forget a date.
Congratulate the family
If you are at a party, don't just congratulate the birthday person. Congratulate their partner and parents too!
Shorten it
In a rush? Just saying 'Gefeliciteerd!' is perfectly fine and very common.
Meaning
Wishing someone a happy birthday.
Congratulate the family
If you are at a party, don't just congratulate the birthday person. Congratulate their partner and parents too!
Shorten it
In a rush? Just saying 'Gefeliciteerd!' is perfectly fine and very common.
Don't say 'Happy'
Avoid saying 'Blijde verjaardag' or 'Vrolijke verjaardag'. They sound very unnatural.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing preposition.
Gefeliciteerd ___ je verjaardag!
In Dutch, you are always congratulated 'met' (with) something.
Which phrase is most common in the Netherlands?
How do you wish someone a happy birthday?
'Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag' is the standard Dutch greeting.
Complete the dialogue for a belated birthday wish.
A: Ik was het gisteren vergeten. ___ gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag! B: Dank je wel, geen probleem!
'Alsnog' is used for belated wishes.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at a party and want to congratulate the father of the birthday girl.
In Dutch culture, you congratulate the parents on their child's birthday.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Birthday Vocabulary
Food
- • Taart
- • Gebak
- • Slagroom
Decorations
- • Slingers
- • Ballonnen
- • Kaarsjes
Practice Bank
4 exercisesGefeliciteerd ___ je verjaardag!
In Dutch, you are always congratulated 'met' (with) something.
How do you wish someone a happy birthday?
'Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag' is the standard Dutch greeting.
A: Ik was het gisteren vergeten. ___ gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag! B: Dank je wel, geen probleem!
'Alsnog' is used for belated wishes.
You are at a party and want to congratulate the father of the birthday girl.
In Dutch culture, you congratulate the parents on their child's birthday.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsYes, it is very common to use the shortened version, especially in casual conversation.
It's not grammatically wrong, but it's Flemish. In the Netherlands, it sounds like a translation from English.
It's a Dutch tradition that acknowledges the birthday as a shared family milestone.
It means 'from the heart' and makes the wish sound more sincere and formal.
Related Phrases
Van harte gefeliciteerd
similarHeartfelt congratulations
Fijne verjaardag
similarHave a nice birthday
Nog vele jaren
builds onMany more years
Alsnog gefeliciteerd
specialized formBelated happy birthday
