Dining Etiquette

You should adhere to fundamental social conventions if you are invited to a dinner party in the Netherlands. It's polite to wait until the host gives the all-clear before starting to eat. Dutch people make eye contact with each person they are toasting and say "proost" while doing so.

The standard phrase used when it's time to eat is "Eet smakelijk," which translates to "Enjoy your meal." Put the knife and fork next to one another on your plate once you've finished your meal. Raise your hand, make an effort to make eye contact, and say "meneer" or "ober" for a waiter or "mevrouw" for a waitress if you need to summon them in a restaurant.

Many Dutch couples concur that it's polite to split the bill equally when paying for a meal. People typically pay for their purchases in groups. Using bill-splitting applications like Tikkie is probably something your dinner companions will recommend. Frequently, one individual will pay the entire bill and text the others to request payment.

Typically, tips are not included in the bill, and they are not expected. Nevertheless, it is customary to provide a 10% gratuity when paying for a dinner out, especially if you experienced excellent service. When purchasing coffee or other beverages, some people also round up the price.