From what I’ve experienced during the summer school and the winter school, if you are starting to learn Dutch, asking and giving advice is one of the things that is very helpful. You can use it in a lot of situations and if you can do it in Dutch, that also helps you with your problem!

So today my blog is about asking and giving advice in Dutch.

I will give several options. My advice is, don’t study them all! Pick one or two of them, the ones that sound the most natural for you, and try to use them.

Asking for advice – Advies vragen

So here are some options if you want to ask somebody’s advice.

• Wat is jouw advies? – What’s your advice?
• Wat moet ik doen? – What should I do?
• Wat denk jij? – What do you think?
• Heb je een advies? – Do you have any advice?
• Wat zou ik kunnen doen? – What could I do?
• Wat zou jij dan? – What would you do, then?
• Wat raad je me aan? – What would you advise me?
• Wat raad je me af? – What would you advise me not to do?

Giving advice in Dutch – Advies geven

Now it’s time to give advice. And these sentences can be used in a lot of different situations. Advice for the best restaurant, places to go or movies to watch. But also things like the best road to take, or what train to take.

• Mijn advies is om [object] te [verb]

My advice is to…

• Als ik jou was, zou ik ….

If I were you, I would…

• Ik denk dat ik …

I guess I’d…

• Je zou … moeten ….

You should…

• Ik raad je aan om [object] te [verb]

I advise you to… .

• Ik raad je af om [object] te [verb]

I advise you not to…

 

Here are some examples in a context:

• Ik heb het warm

I’m hot.          

• Mijn advies is om het raam te openen.

My advice is to open the window.

 

• Ik ben op zoek naar een nieuw appartement.

I’m looking for a new apartment.

• Mijn advies is om op funda te kijken.

My advice is to look on funda.

 

• Mijn fiets is gestolen.

My bike has been stolen.

• Ik adviseer je om een beter slot te kopen.

My advice is to buy a better lock.

 

• Ik heb altijd koude voeten ´s avonds.

I always have cold feet in the evening.

• Als ik jou was, zou ik warme sokken dragen.

If I were you, I’d wear warm socks.

 

• Ik wil naar de film maar ik weet niet welke films er draaien.

I want to go to the movies, but I don’t know what movies are showing.

• Ik adviseer je om op de website te kijken.

I advise you to look at the website.

 

• Bedankt voor het advies!

Thanks for the great advice

• Bedankt voor je goede raad

Thanks for the great advice

 

Good luck trying these sentences

Bart de Pau
online Dutch teacher & founder of the Dutch Summer School & Dutch Winter School