Dutch · B1 (Intermediate)
Workplace in Dutch: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Dutch words for workplace are het arbeidscontract (the employment contract), de proeftijd (the probationary period) and de werksfeer (the work atmosphere). The full Dutch workplace phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Dutch vocabulary for workplace, with example sentences and English translations. This is B1 (Intermediate) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Dutch to live, work, or settle abroad.
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Key workplace vocabulary
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| het arbeidscontract | the employment contract |
| de proeftijd | the probationary period |
| de werksfeer | the work atmosphere |
| de loonsverhoging | the salary increase |
| de ziekmelding | sick leave notification |
| de ondernemingsraad | the works council |
| thuiswerken | remote work |
| de opleiding | training / course |
| het dienstverband | the employment relationship |
| het loon | the wages |
Example sentences
Ik heb een nieuw arbeidscontract ondertekend.
I have signed a new employment contract.
De proeftijd duurt twee maanden.
The probationary period lasts two months.
Ik wil over een loonsverhoging praten.
I want to talk about a salary increase.
Ik heb me ziek gemeld bij mijn werkgever.
I notified my employer of my sick leave.
De ondernemingsraad behartigt de belangen van werknemers.
The works council represents employees' interests.
Ik werk twee dagen per week thuis.
I work two days per week from home.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
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