Dutch Abbreviations Dictionary
From official paperwork to casual chats - decode the shorthand Dutch people actually use.
Dutch is full of abbreviations, and they show up everywhere: on government forms, in WhatsApp messages, and in everyday emails. This dictionary covers both sides of it - the official abbreviations you'll need to navigate life in the Netherlands, and the shorthand you'll see in Dutch texts, emails, and forums. Looking for student and youth slang instead? Check out our Dutch Slang Dictionary.
71 abbreviations
🏛️ Official & Practical
BSN - Burgerservicenummer - your personal citizen service number, needed for almost everything official: work, healthcare, banking, benefits.
DigiD - Your digital ID for logging into government websites - the Belastingdienst, your gemeente, and more.
IND - Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst - the Immigration and Naturalisation Service, handles visas, residence permits and citizenship.
UWV - Handles unemployment benefit (WW), sick leave, and reintegration support.
Gemeente - Your local municipality - handles registration (inschrijving), permits, and local taxes.
Belastingdienst - The Dutch tax authority - income tax, toeslagen (benefits), and more, all in one place.
GGD - Gemeentelijke Gezondheidsdienst - the regional public health service, runs vaccination programs and health checks.
Zvw - Zorgverzekeringswet - the law behind the mandatory basic health insurance every resident must have.
Eigen risico - The mandatory annual healthcare deductible you pay before insurance covers costs (GP visits are always free).
Zorgtoeslag - An income-tested government allowance that offsets your health insurance premium.
Huurtoeslag - An income-tested government allowance toward your rent, if your rent and income qualify.
Kinderopvangtoeslag - A government allowance reimbursing a large share of registered childcare costs.
Kindgebonden budget - An income-tested allowance for parents, paid on top of the standard child benefit.
AOW - Algemene Ouderdomswet - the Dutch state pension everyone living or working in NL builds up automatically.
WW - Werkloosheidswet - the unemployment benefit law (and the benefit itself).
KvK - Kamer van Koophandel - the Chamber of Commerce, where you register a business.
BTW - Belasting Toegevoegde Waarde - VAT, the sales tax added to most goods and services.
IBAN - Your international bank account number - the standard format for Dutch (and EU) bank accounts.
OV - Openbaar Vervoer - public transport in general (trains, buses, trams, metro).
OV-chipkaart - The reusable card (or phone app) used to pay for public transport across the whole country.
NS - Nederlandse Spoorwegen - the main Dutch railway operator.
RDW - The vehicle registration authority - license plates, roadworthiness (APK), and vehicle approval.
CBR - The authority that administers Dutch driving tests, both theory and practical.
ANWB - The Dutch motoring and roadside-assistance association - similar to AAA or the RAC.
BPM - A CO2-based registration tax on new or imported cars - a big reason cars cost more in NL than nearby countries.
MRB / Wegenbelasting - Ongoing road tax, based on your vehicle's weight and fuel type.
WOZ - Waardering Onroerende Zaken - the official assessed value of your home, used to calculate property tax.
OZB - Onroerendezaakbelasting - the municipal property tax based on your home's WOZ value.
Huurcommissie - The independent rent tribunal - tenants can challenge an excessive rent here, often for a small fee.
WWS - Woningwaarderingsstelsel - the points system that sets a rental's legal maximum rent.
NHG - Nationale Hypotheek Garantie - a government-backed mortgage guarantee that typically lowers your interest rate.
Inburgering - The civic integration process - Dutch language and society requirements for certain residence permit holders.
KNM - Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij - the "Knowledge of Dutch Society" exam, part of inburgering.
MBO / HBO / WO - The three main Dutch education levels: vocational, applied sciences (university of applied sciences), and academic university.
EC - European Credits - study credits; one EC roughly represents 28 hours of study.
BSA - Bindend Studieadvies - a binding first-year study advice; too few credits and a student may have to leave the program.
DUO - Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs - handles Dutch student finance (loans and grants) and study registration.
Wmo - Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning - the Social Support Act, municipal support for elderly or disabled residents.
CAK - Handles central billing for long-term and social care contributions.
💬 Chat & Texting
idd - Inderdaad - "indeed" / "exactly."
ivm - In verband met - "in connection with" / "because of."
iig - In ieder geval - "anyway" / "in any case."
oid - Of iets dergelijks - "or something like that."
zsm - Zo snel mogelijk - "as soon as possible."
mvg - Met vriendelijke groet - "kind regards," the standard formal email sign-off.
gr / grtjs - Groet(jes) - a casual "greetings" / "bye" used to end a message.
tvp - Te veel plaatjes - "too many pictures," a compliment left on a great photo.
mbt - Met betrekking tot - "regarding" / "with respect to."
agv - Als gevolg van - "as a result of."
evt - Eventueel - "possibly" / "if needed."
nvt - Niet van toepassing - "not applicable," common on forms.
vwb - Voor wat betreft - "as for" / "regarding."
itt - In tegenstelling tot - "in contrast to" / "unlike."
t/m - Tot en met - "up to and including" (very common on schedules and dates).
a.s. - Aanstaande - "upcoming" / "next," e.g. "vrijdag a.s." (this coming Friday).
bijv. - Bijvoorbeeld - "for example."
enz. - Enzovoort - "etcetera."
nl. - Namelijk - "namely" / "that is."
o.a. - Onder andere - "among other things."
resp. - Respectievelijk - "respectively."
t.a.v. - Ter attentie van - "for the attention of," used addressing letters/emails.
zg. - Zogenaamd - "so-called."
a.u.b. / svp - Alstublieft / s'il vous plaît-style abbreviation - "please."
dhr. / mevr. - De heer / mevrouw - "Mr." / "Mrs.," used in formal letters.
n.a.v. - Naar aanleiding van - "following on from" / "in response to."
d.m.v. - Door middel van - "by means of."
z.o.z. - Zie ommezijde - "see other side," written at the bottom of a physical page.
w.o. - Waaronder - "including" / "among which."
b.v. / bv. - Besloten vennootschap when capitalized (a private limited company) - lowercase "bv." is sometimes used informally like "bijv."
inclu. - Inclusief - "included" / "inclusive of."
vp - Veel plezier - "have fun."