The dating landscape in the Netherlands is more accessible than ever, and I can confirm this from my own experience. Take a look at this guide to the leading Dutch dating sites and apps.
⭐ Best Dutch dating apps
- ✓ Uniek persoonlijkheidsrapport
- ✓ 1 op de 3 vindt hier een partner
- ✓ Makkelijk te gebruiken app
- ✓ Stuur persoonlijke berichten
- ✓ Handmatige controle van alle profielen
- ✓ Daten voor hoger opgeleide singles
LEXA
When it comes to serious relationships in the Netherlands, Lexa.nl is a name that frequently comes up. Part of the Match Group, the platform not only supports various kinds of meaningful relationships but also takes the extra step to organize events aimed at helping people connect more deeply. From my observations, Lexa.nl offers subscriptions ranging from one to six months, making it flexible for different commitment levels.
Here are some advantages and disadvantages of Lexa.nl:
| Lexa.nl Advantages: | Lexa.nl Disadvantages: |
| An in-depth website with useful information and tips | Pricey membership |
| Intelligent matching | Anonymous payment is not possible |
| Excellent features | Difficult to cancel the subscription |
| Reliable and safe |
- EMMA’S RATING: 10/10
BE2
Be2 is a global dating website that is also very popular among the Dutch. Its growing user base makes it an ideal place to meet your Mr. or Mrs. Right.
Designed mostly for finding long-term relationships, Be2 helps its users connect with the help of a unique personality test and matching algorithm.
Here are some advantages and disadvantages of Be2:
| Be2 Advantages: | Be2 Disadvantages: |
| Free partner recommendations | Subscription is automatically renewed |
| Excellent gender ratio | Low-cost transparency |
| Scientifically based compatibility Index | |
| Private and secure |
- EMMA’S RATING: 7/10
C-DATE
For those in the Netherlands interested in a more casual dating experience, C-Date serves as a popular choice. The site’s international reach lets users extend their search both locally and abroad, broadening the scope for potential connections.
I found that while basic functionalities are available in the free version, unlocking the platform’s best features does require a paid membership.
Here are some advantages and disadvantages of C-Date:
| C-Date Advantages: | C-Date Disadvantages: |
| Excellent profile protection | A 1-month subscription is not available everywhere |
| Safe photo exchange | Slow customer service |
| Matching based on compatibility | |
| 72% flirt success |
- EMMA’S RATING: 6/10
LIVING AND DATING IN THE NETHERLANDS
Perhaps the Dutch version of ‘It’s not all unicorns and rainbows’ should go ‘It’s not all tulips and windmills.’
Or something similarly sobering.
Dating in the Netherlands is both challenging and easy – depending on your expectations, that is. You will find it difficult if you are used to the traditional wooing and playing hard to get. The Dutch are not into all that.
On the other hand, you will find dating in Holland enjoyable if you are a practical person who does not like to beat much around the bush. That is what the Dutch are like too: practical and straightforward.
As far as dating people from other countries and cultures is concerned, you do not have to worry about hitting any dead ends. The Dutch are a very open-minded and diverse nation where many cultures meet and greet. So, you do not need to have any misgivings about being able to find a Dutch boyfriend or girlfriend.
If you wish to invite a Dutch person out for drinks, go ahead and do so – they favor a direct and honest approach. However, do not plan to take them (or expect to be taken) to a fancy restaurant on your first date. The Dutch prefer a laid-back atmosphere with some beer and bitterballen (meatballs, essentially).
There are more than one or two dating scenarios in the land of the Dutch, so it is really difficult to say in advance what you need to prepare yourself for. It all depends on who you meet and how things develop over time.
The Dutch prefer to let their relationships develop slowly, and it is not uncommon for them to move in and have children together before getting married. Testing a partner in all aspects of life before tying the knot says something about the nation’s commitment to pragmatism.
ARE DATING SITES POPULAR IN THE NETHERLANDS?
The Netherlands is a modern, forward-looking country that welcomes everything there to make their lives even more practical. So naturally, dating websites are very popular.
According to one of Statista’s surveys, around 60% of the Dutch use dating websites and apps to find a relationship. Free dating services are widely popular, and many websites are available only in Dutch. However, if you are an ex-pat or somebody going to the Netherlands for work or study, your best bet is one of the global dating services.
FINDING A PARTNER ONLINE
Finding a partner online can be much easier than finding one in person. For example, when you walk into a store and see a person you like, you do not know if they are available or even looking for a partner. But when you are on a dating site or app, there is no mistake.
Another good reason to try dating websites is if you have a problem approaching people. Online dating services provide a great shield for shy people who find it hard to open up. They allow them to get to feel comfortable around someone before they decide to meet them in person.
If you are one of those people who really like to hang out but are too busy to go out, dating apps are a real treasure. Being on your smartphone device, dating apps are accessible to you at all times. You can literally talk or exchange messages with someone while taking a break from work, commuting to work or school, or lying on your couch in the living room.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT DATING SERVICE
Even though all the information about dating websites and apps is available on the Internet, the sheer volume of them can be your first stumbling block upon stepping into the world of online dating.
Usually, the best way to narrow your search is to define the type of relationship you want. Most dating websites and apps focus on one type of relationship. If time is of the essence and you want to find a suitable partner as soon as possible, it is better to go to the website that offers what you want. If you are not in a hurry, you can test different sites and see which one you like best.
Either way, you will have much better chances of finding your match if you decide to purchase a membership. Even though all of the sites allow you to sign up for free and use their free versions, they do not allow you to send or reply to messages or exchange photos with the people you like. The sites also have many other features that significantly increase your chances of finding a partner and are only available to paid users.
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR ONLINE DATING EXPERIENCE
There are a lot of things you can do that can make your online dating experience much more successful and fun:
- Take the time to complete your profile
Of course, what detail you will go into when completing your profile really depends on the type of relationship you are looking for. The more serious the relationship, the more profile information is required.
- Choose a good profile photo
A photo is a part of your profile and should show the essence of who you are (and what you want). Choose a more provocative image if you want a casual relationship or fling. If you want something more serious, simply choose a good, well-lit photo of yourself that accents what you most like about yourself.
- Go through partner suggestions
Depending on the dating app you choose to use, you might get partner suggestions. These are usually based on some type of personality test or matching algorithm. Even though these tests and algorithms do not always get things right, it is best to consider all of them.
- Start looking and mingle
Partner suggestions are not the only way to find a partner. You can actually search for your match based on your preferences. It is also a good idea to participate in different events your website organizes.
- Make a move
Making the first move on a dating website is definitely not as intimidating as in person. So, take a deep breath and write that first message – you have nothing to lose.
FAQ
Because the date will probably be a laid-back affair, it is best to dress casually.
Yes, some of them use Tinder, but mostly for casual dating and one-night stands.
The practice of each paying for what they have ordered is not only limited to dating but also when going out with friends. The Dutch do not see anything bad in it – quite the contrary. They do not know the other person’s finances and do not wish to burden them with the cost of what they have drunk or eaten.
They can if they want to. Unlike in some other countries where asking a woman on a date is considered an act of chivalry, in the Netherlands, where pragmatism comes before all else, it is absolutely okay for it to be the other way around.
The Dutch are not necessarily known for being silent and enjoying it (although there are surely some who like it). You can even expect some unusually direct and intimate questions on your first date (e.g. ‘How many people have you slept with?’).
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