Impersonal Commands
In English, public signs and instructions usually give commands using the imperative mood, such as "Do not touch" or "Close the door".
In Dutch, general rules and public notices often use the bare infinitive (the full, dictionary form of the verb) instead of a conjugated verb. This is called an impersonal command.
For short prohibitions, you simply place niet (not) before the infinitive.
When the instruction includes an object or more detail, the infinitive is placed at the very end of the phrase.
Separable Verbs on Signs
When an instruction uses a separable verb, the prefix stays firmly attached to the core verb. Because the impersonal command uses the bare infinitive rather than a conjugated verb, it does not split.
Polite Instructions
While these infinitive commands might feel abrupt if you were speaking to a friend, they are perfectly normal, polite, and efficient on written signs or official notices. To soften the instruction slightly, signs will sometimes include alstublieft (please).