Home Dating Best Dating App in the Netherlands. Which is Best For You?

Best Dating App in the Netherlands. Which is Best For You?

by Micaela Zaslabsky

The Netherlands is no exception to this online dating trend that for years now has been taking over any other conventional dating process. Dating and meeting people through Apps is the most common way of meeting people in the Netherlands and one of the easiest ways to socialize and get to know Dutch people at a more intimate level.

  • Tinder
  • Badoo
  • Bumble
  • Happn
  • Expatica
  • More…

The best dating app for you depends a lot on what your expectations are, what you are looking for, what type of person you are, how much time you will like to invest in this dating app and many other factors. There are many dating apps that are popular in the Netherlands, so maybe this article will help you figure out which one is the best one for you and what you should try, no matter what you are looking for.

Best Dating Apps

Moving to a new country can be a very isolating process, not knowing many people, where to go, who to hang out with and of course how to get to know people when you are not acquainted with almost anyone. Well… dating apps are very commonly used in the Netherlands, not only by newcomers and lonely people but literally by everybody who is not on a relationship (and sometimes also by those who are).

No matter what type of relationship you are looking for, there will be an app for you and, of course, everybody is allowed to use the apps as they want for what they want without being judged, so you just be you.

TINDER

Tinder has to be the most popular dating app in most European countries, including the Netherlands. It has the advantage of letting you choose a lot of setting such as distance, age, the gender you want no matter what gender you are and so on.

I must say that Tinder, according to my experience is far from everybody else’s experience: I have met many of my nowadays friends on Tinder, people who actually appreciate a proper friendship and who are far from looking for a one night stand. I guess if you are looking for that, you will have it even easier to find that, but it is also encouraging to people like me who also want to get to know people in a foreign country, that you can also use tinder for that. Of course, always making sure you let the other person know about this.

I guess everybody knows perfectly well how it works:

  • You can download it either on Apple Store and on the PlayStore (Google Play)
  • It is completely free (unless you want some unlimited features)
  • Swipe right or left, depending on if you like the person
  • Modify your profile as much as you want, add photos, information, age, location, etc.

BADOO

Badoo is another popular dating up, very commonly used in the Netherlands. It is an app that some of my friends and colleagues at work tend to mention when they want to meet someone just for Netflix and Chill. Once again, these apps are for you to use for whatever it is that you want to do, no judgment.

Badoo is very popular because it is easy to use and mostly used by people from 25 to 45 years old. The whole dynamics is very similar to tinder, so something everybody would understand.

BUMBLE

Bumble is another very popular dating app, mostly because this app prioritises women being the first one to make the move. If you want to know more about how this society mentality works in the Netherlands, you can read some tips to date in the Netherlands, down below.

All in all, one of the main characteristics of Dutch people is to empower women and let them feel free, decide, be themselves and have all the feminist ideas and values come true. The whole idea of Bumble is to let us women be the first ones to decide, what information we share and so on. Probably a nice app if you are a woman like me and you want to start dating around.

Happn

Have you ever experienced seeing someone on the train, walking your dog or just wondering where that handsome neighbour of your lives? Happn is for those occasions.

Happn is an app for dating that it is becoming more and more popular every day in the Netherlands. Even though that are very sociable people and they do a lot of outdoorsy activities even when it rains and it is miserable outside, it is true that they are not likely to stop you and talk to you in the street. This is something shocking for people coming from other countries, but all in all, you get used to living in your own little bubble and not minding anyone.

This little bubble can be a small inconvenience when you are trying to meet new people and Happn is the solution for that. This app will collect all the profiles of all the people you have run into or have crossed your paths during that day wherever you have been walking, cycling or running pass and if they also have a profile on that app you will be able to see them, meet them, discover more about them. A good solution for those who are always running around.

Expatica

Dating in the Netherlands doesn’t only imply Dutch people. I have never met people from so many nationalities in my life as I did living in Amsterdam. In the bigger cities in the Netherlands, there are many expats, highly educated people from different countries who willingly decide to work and live in the Netherlands: from the US, the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Italy, Israel, Poland, Belgium, Canada, Iceland… and many more.

Expatica is the ideal app for meeting people who are in the same circumstances as you, newcomers who don’t really know many people around, who are far away from their family and for whom everything around them is new and they are discovering how everything works in the Netherlands, including the dating world.

I would once again say that you can do with these apps as you please, meeting someone because you are trying to make some friends and start a social life in the country, or if you are looking for your better half and someone to spend other things with.

Besides, Expatica is not only for foreigners but also for Dutch people who are also looking for international friends, more of a curious and fun company, someone to teach what they know and help out with all the complicated bureaucracy of their country. Or just share a beer!

Tips to Date in the Netherlands

I must admit that before moving to the Netherlands I really didn’t date so most of my experience I have had while living here. Some of the things I have learnt throughout the years and also thanks to my friends and all the Dutch and expats I have asked around are:

  1. English: you can expect everybody to be able to write and speak in English, it will be almost impossible to find someone who doesn’t. If you want to practise your Dutch while dating, forget about it, I have tried it and it is really hard for a Dutch person not to talk to you in English. Who knows why… they think they are doing you a favour.
  2. First dates: if you are new in the Netherlands it is very important for you to know that Dutch people are very feminist-equality-oriented. There is nothing wrong with girls choosing where they want to have the date or deciding what to do, and there is nothing wrong with them wanting to pay for themselves or for both of you. It is a cultural habit not to take per granted the attitudes that for people from other countries like me, from Argentina, would be polite and gentlemen like.
  3. Straightforwardness: this word could define the whole society and not only the dating game. Straightforwardness for everything, to tell you they don’t like you, to tell you they are looking for a one night stand and that is it or to tell you they are on a relationship already, it happens, so be ready for it.
  4. Grab your planner: getting to meet a Dutch person can be as simple as meeting 5 minutes later or 5 weeks later. This is something that actually surprised me a lot but it is very common to have an overwhelming amount of appointments, obligations and each thing has its own time and separate slot, dedicated exclusively to it. For me, as a foreigner, if I have to go do groceries or go get a present, I would invite you to come along with me, but this is very unlikely to happen for a Dutch person. And let me tell you something, as far as my experience goes, the more time you spend with them, the more likely it is for you to start doing it too. It is not lack of interest if the person offers to meet you in 2 weeks, it is lack of time.

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