Dutch culture guide · Birthdays

Who do you congratulate at a Dutch birthday party?

World 2 · Birthdays

You arrive at a Dutch birthday party. Who do you congratulate?

  1. The birthday person
  2. Nobody — a card covers it
  3. Only people you already know
  4. Everyone in the room — parents, siblings, neighbours
Correct answer: D

Everyone in the room — parents, siblings, neighbours

Yes: “Gefeliciteerd met je moeder!” A general ‘gefeliciteerd!’ to the group is fine too — but the birthday person gets it personally. Always.

Even serieus

Seriously though

Congratulating the circle is standard etiquette — a general greeting to the room is fine, but the birthday person is always congratulated personally.