Dutch culture guide · Birthdays

How many cheek kisses do the Dutch give when greeting?

World 2 · Birthdays

Greeting time. A Dutch acquaintance leans in. How many cheek kisses?

  1. One — efficient
  2. Three — right, left, right
  3. Two — like the French
  4. Zero — firm handshake only
Correct answer: B

Three — right, left, right

Correct — three kisses, alternating cheeks. Between women, and between men and women. Men greet men with a firm handshake. Commit fully or don't start.

Even serieus

Seriously though

Three cheek kisses is the classic greeting among family and good friends — women with women, men with women. Men shake hands, and colleagues usually get a handshake too.