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How to Type in Dutch — Dutch Touch Typing on QWERTY-NL/US-Intl

How to Type in Dutch — Dutch Touch Typing on QWERTY-NL/US-Intl

· 2 min read · by Robin Érsek-Obádovics

Dutch is unique among major European languages: it uses QWERTY-NL (also called US-International) instead of a national QWERTY variant. Why? Dutch needs few special characters (mainly ë, ï in some words), so a US-style layout with AltGr dead keys works well — and is more international-compatible.

Dutch's minimal special character needs

Dutch is one of the most "QWERTY-friendly" European languages:

  • Uses regular A-Z almost entirely
  • Occasional ë (in "tweeën", "knieën")
  • Occasional ï (in "België", though Belgian)
  • Loanwords with é, ö, ü (résumé, coördinatie)
  • 's for genitive (Mariaplein-> Maria's huis)

Compare to German (ä, ö, ü, ß) or French (multiple accents) — Dutch is much simpler.

QWERTY-NL / US-International advantages

Why Dutch chose US-International:

  1. Minimal disruption — same layout as US English (compatible with international software)
  2. AltGr dead keys for occasional accents (sufficient for Dutch's small need)
  3. Bilingual compatibility — many Dutch typists also write English daily
  4. Easier learning — no Y/Z swap or major rearrangement

See QWERTY-NL layout for the full layout details.

How to type ë and other Dutch accents

Using QWERTY-NL (US-International):

  • ë: AltGr + " then e (diaeresis dead key)
  • ï: AltGr + " then i
  • é: AltGr + ' then e (acute dead key)
  • à: AltGr + ` then a (grave dead key)

The dead-key system handles all Dutch needs without dedicated keys.

Common Dutch typing patterns

  • de, het, een, en, van — common articles/prepositions
  • dank u wel, alstublieft — politeness
  • Nederland, Nederlands, Nederlander — proper nouns
  • België, tweeën, knieën — diaeresis words
  • café, scène, cliché — loanwords with accents

Touch typing tips for Dutch

  1. Mostly identical to English typing — easy transition
  2. Master the AltGr dead keys for occasional accents
  3. Don't skip diaeresis — "tweeen" is wrong; "tweeën" is correct
  4. 's for genitive — common Dutch construction

Target: 50-60 WPM in 4-6 weeks of practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dutch typing easy?

Yes — among the easiest European languages to touch type. Minimal special characters, QWERTY-compatible layout.

Should Belgian Flemish speakers use QWERTY-NL?

Yes — Flemish (Dutch in Belgium) uses the same QWERTY-NL layout. French-speaking Belgians use AZERTY-BE.

Is QWERTY-NL the same as US-International?

Yes — same layout, two names. Used by Dutch, English bilingual users, and ESL learners worldwide.

What about Frisian or other Dutch regional languages?

Frisian uses Dutch QWERTY-NL with occasional additions for Frisian-specific characters.

Do I need a Dutch-specific keyboard?

No — QWERTY-NL works on any QWERTY-US keyboard. Just set OS to "US-International" or "Dutch" layout.

Can I type Dutch on QWERTZ-DE (German)?

Functionally yes but unnecessarily complex. Stick with QWERTY-NL.

Practice Dutch typing

Practice Dutch on Typing Hero App — 19 lessons designed for QWERTY-NL.

For more: QWERTY-NL layout, How to type special characters, Touch typing for bilingual users.