You'll learn how to identify and name household problems so your landlord or a maintenance company understands exactly what's wrong. To do a reparatie melden nederlands (report a repair in Dutch) effectively, you must provide specific details about the location and type of damage. By the end of this guide, you'll be able to send a clear message or make a phone call to request a fix for common apartment issues.
Describe water and plumbing issues — Words for leaks, clogs, and pressure problems in the kitchen and bathroom.
Water damage moves quickly. If you see water on the floor, you should check if it's a lekkage (leakage) or a spill. A common issue in older Dutch houses is a druppelende kraan (dripping tap). This sounds minor but wastes a lot of water and can keep you awake at night. You should tell the plumber de kraan in de keuken lekt (the tap in the kitchen is leaking) or de kraan druppelt continu (the tap drips continuously).
When the water doesn't leave the sink, the drain is verstopt (clogged). You'll find this happens often in the badkamer (bathroom) because of hair or soap. You'll need to say de afvoer van de douche is verstopt (the shower drain is clogged). If the water comes back up, the situation is more serious. Sometimes the problem isn't the flow but the waterdruk (water pressure). If only a small stream comes out of the shower head, tell the verhuurder (landlord) that there's lage waterdruk (low water pressure).
Plumbing issues often involve the toilet (toilet) as well. If the button doesn't work, say de wc spoelt niet door (the toilet doesn't flush). If the water keeps running after you flush, explain that de wc blijft doorlopen (the toilet keeps running). These specific phrases help the worker bring the right tools. Most plumbers in the Netherlands charge by the hour, so being precise saves money and time.
Report heating and electricity failures — Essential terms for the 'verwarming', 'stroomstoring', and 'stopcontact'.
Dutch winters require a functional verwarming (heating). Most apartments use a CV-ketel (central heating boiler) to warm the water for your radiators. If your home stays cold even when the thermostat is high, you have a problem.
Telling the landlord the boiler is broken
You'll usually find the boiler in a closet or the attic. When it stops working, check the display for an foutcode (error code). Call your landlord and say de verwarming doet het niet (the heating isn't working). Mention the specific code you see on the machine. You might also need to say er is geen warm water (there is no hot water) if the shower is cold. Sometimes the radiator makes a clicking sound. This means you need to ontluchten (bleed/remove air) the system. Tell the maintenance person de radiator maakt een tikkend geluid (the radiator is making a ticking sound).
Describing flickering lights or dead outlets
Electrical issues range from a single broken light to a total stroomstoring (power outage). If your lamps don't stay bright, use the verb knipperen (to flicker). Say het licht in de gang knippert (the light in the hallway is flickering). If you plug in your phone and nothing happens, the stopcontact (socket/outlet) is likely dead. You should explain het stopcontact in de woonkamer werkt niet (the outlet in the living room doesn't work). Check your meterkast (fuse box) first to see if a switch has flipped down before calling for help.
Reporting a weird smell from an appliance
Smells can indicate dangerous electrical or gas problems. If you smell something burning near your oven or washing machine, use the word brandlucht (burning smell). Say ik ruik een brandlucht bij de oven (I smell a burning scent by the oven). If you smell gas, you must call the emergency number for the gas company immediately. For less urgent but unpleasant smells from the drains, use the verb stinken (to stink). You can tell the huismeester (caretaker) that de gootsteen stinkt (the sink stinks) to request a cleaning of the pipes.
Vocabulary for structural and exterior issues — Terms for broken windows, door locks, and roof leaks.
The exterior of your home protects you from the Dutch wind and rain. A kapotte ruit (broken window pane) is an urgent repair, especially in winter. If a crack appears, tell the glaszetter (glazier) that er zit een barst in het raam (there's a crack in the window). This is different from a window that simply won't close. For a window that's stuck, say het raam gaat niet dicht (the window won't close) or het raam klemt (the window is jamming).
Security depends on your slot (lock). If you can't turn your key, the lock might be broken or rusty. You'll need a slotenmaker (locksmith) to fix it. Tell them mijn sleutel past niet meer in het slot (my key no longer fits in the lock). If the door handle is loose, say de klink van de deur zit los (the door handle is loose).
Roof issues are common in top-floor apartments during heavy storms. If you see water marks on your ceiling, you have a daklekkage (roof leak). Explain to the woningcorporatie (housing association) that het dak lekt (the roof is leaking). They'll need to send someone to check the dakgoten (gutters) for leaves or blockages. If cold air is coming through the gaps, tell them er is veel tocht bij de voordeur (there's a lot of draft by the front door).
Action verbs for requesting a fix — Use 'maken', 'vervangen', and 'controleren' correctly in your request.
Once you've described the problem, you must ask for action. The most general verb is maken (to fix/make). You can ask kunt u de kraan maken? (can you fix the tap?). However, professionals often prefer repareren (to repair). If a part is completely dead, like a lightbulb or a thermostat, use vervangen (to replace). You might say de thermostaat is oud en moet worden vervangen (the thermostat is old and must be replaced).
Sometimes you aren't sure what's wrong. In this case, ask the technician to controleren (to check). Say kunt u de bedrading controleren? (can you check the wiring?). If you live in a rented apartment, you'll often deal with a beheerder (property manager). You should ask them wanneer komt de monteur langs? (when is the technician coming by?).
When writing an email to your landlord, start with a clear subject line like verzoek tot reparatie (request for repair). State the problem, mention how long it's been happening, and ask for a solution. Use phrases like kunt u iemand sturen om dit te repareren? (can you send someone to repair this?). If the situation is dangerous, use the word spoed (urgency/emergency) to ensure they respond quickly. Most rental contracts specify that the landlord pays for major repairs while the tenant handles small things like replacing a lamp (bulb).
Clear communication with the right Dutch nouns and verbs ensures your home repairs happen quickly and correctly.
