Dutch has no single verb that maps onto English "to like." Instead, it spreads the job across three different constructions, and which one you reach for depends on whether you're judging a thing, loving something deeply, or enjoying an activity. English speakers instinctively look for one word and end up inventing Ik like…, which doesn't exist in real Dutch. This page lays out the three core frames — vinden + adjective, houden van, and graag + verb — so you can say what you like about anything, and pair each with the right negative.
The workhorse: Ik vind … leuk
The most common way to say you like something is Ik vind … leuk — literally "I find … nice." The verb vinden here doesn't mean "to find/locate"; it means "to think/consider," and it always pairs with an adjective at the end. The thing you're judging goes in the middle, and the adjective lands at the end of the clause.
The trick is choosing the right adjective, because Dutch splits what English flattens into "nice/good":
| Adjective | Use it for… | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| leuk | activities, people, films, plans, fun things | nice / fun / enjoyable |
| lekker | food, drink, smells, weather, comfort | tasty / pleasant |
| mooi | looks: scenery, art, clothes, music | beautiful / pretty |
| fijn | experiences, weather, comfort, feeling good | nice / pleasant |
Ik vind die film echt leuk.
I really like that film. (vinden + the thing + 'leuk' at the end — 'leuk' for fun/enjoyable things)
Ik vind Nederlandse drop niet zo lekker.
I don't really like Dutch liquorice. ('lekker' for food and taste, never 'leuk')
Vind je dit schilderij mooi?
Do you like this painting? ('mooi' for things you judge by their looks)
Deeper liking: Ik hou van…
Houden van ("to love / be fond of") is for stronger, more lasting affection — for people you love, but also for things and activities you genuinely love. The everyday spoken form contracts houd to hou: Ik hou van…. It always takes the preposition van.
The line between vinden … leuk and houden van is roughly the line between "I like" and "I love." You'd say Ik vind voetbal leuk for "football is fun to watch," but Ik hou van voetbal for a deeper, lasting passion.
Ik hou van koffie, vooral 's ochtends.
I love coffee, especially in the morning. (houden van + noun, always with 'van')
Ze houdt echt van wandelen in de bergen.
She really loves hiking in the mountains. (houden van also works with activities)
Ik hou van je.
I love you. (the standard romantic 'I love you' — note 'hou', not 'houd', in speech)
Be careful: Ik hou van je is genuine romantic love. To casually say you like someone as a person, you'd say Ik vind je aardig ("I find you nice/likeable") — using vinden keeps it friendly rather than romantic.
Liking an activity: Ik … graag
This is the construction with no English counterpart. To say you like doing something, Dutch doesn't use a separate verb at all — it slips the little word graag ("gladly/with pleasure") into the sentence with the activity verb. Ik zwem graag literally means "I swim gladly," i.e. "I like swimming." The verb stays the normal activity verb; graag does the "like" work.
Placement: in a simple sentence graag comes after the verb and any object, typically late in the clause but before a final infinitive or place phrase.
Ik zwem graag in de zee.
I like swimming in the sea. ('graag' after the verb — literally 'I swim gladly')
Hij kookt graag voor vrienden.
He likes cooking for friends. ('graag' after the verb 'kookt')
Lees je graag? — Ja, het liefst thrillers.
Do you like reading? — Yes, thrillers most of all. ('het liefst' = like best; the superlative of 'graag')
The graag family even has comparative and superlative forms for preference: graag (like) → liever (prefer) → het liefst (like best). So Ik drink liever thee means "I'd rather drink tea / I prefer tea."
Ik drink liever thee dan koffie.
I'd rather have tea than coffee. ('liever' = prefer / rather; pairs with 'dan' for the comparison)
Saying you dislike something
For dislikes, you negate the frames you already know. The mild version is Ik vind … niet leuk/lekker/mooi — just add niet before the adjective. The strong version is Ik heb een hekel aan… ("I have a loathing of…"), an idiom that always takes aan and means a real, active dislike.
Ik vind opruimen niet zo leuk.
I don't really like tidying up. (negate with 'niet' before the adjective)
Ik heb een hekel aan files.
I hate traffic jams. ('een hekel hebben aan' = to hate / loathe — always with 'aan')
Mijn zoon heeft een hekel aan spruitjes.
My son hates Brussels sprouts. (strong, active dislike — stronger than 'niet lekker vinden')
To soften a dislike, niet zo ("not so") is everyday and polite: Ik vind het niet zo leuk sounds far gentler than the blunt Ik vind het niet leuk.
Favourites: mijn favoriete…
To name a favourite, use mijn favoriete + noun ("my favourite…"). Note the -e ending on favoriete: it's an adjective before a noun, so it inflects. Favoriet without the -e would be wrong here.
Mijn favoriete seizoen is de herfst.
My favourite season is autumn. (note the -e: 'favoriete', because it sits before a noun)
Wat is je favoriete eten? — Pasta, zonder twijfel.
What's your favourite food? — Pasta, no question. (asking after someone's favourite)
Common Mistakes
❌ Ik like deze muziek.
Incorrect — Dutch has no verb 'liken'. Use 'Ik vind … leuk/mooi' or 'Ik hou van…'.
✅ Ik vind deze muziek mooi.
I like this music.
❌ Ik vind pizza leuk.
Off — 'leuk' is for fun/enjoyable things, not taste. Food is 'lekker'.
✅ Ik vind pizza lekker.
I like pizza.
❌ Ik hou voetbal.
Incorrect — 'houden' needs 'van': 'Ik hou van voetbal.'
✅ Ik hou van voetbal.
I love football.
❌ Ik graag zwem.
Incorrect word order — 'graag' goes after the verb, not before it: 'Ik zwem graag.'
✅ Ik zwem graag.
I like swimming.
❌ Ik heb een hekel van wachten.
Wrong preposition — it's 'een hekel aan', never 'van'.
✅ Ik heb een hekel aan wachten.
I hate waiting.
Key Takeaways
- There is no verb "to like" in Dutch — use vinden + adjective, houden van, or graag + verb.
- Match the adjective: leuk (fun/people), lekker (taste/comfort), mooi (looks).
- Ik hou van… (always with van) is deeper, closer to "I love"; Ik vind je aardig keeps it friendly.
- To like an activity, use graag after the verb: Ik zwem graag. Prefer = liever, like best = het liefst.
- Dislike: mild Ik vind … niet (zo) leuk; strong Ik heb een hekel aan… (with aan).
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