Keyboard shortcuts
| Letter | Windows (Alt code) | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| é É | Alt + 0233 / 0201 | Option + E, then E |
| è È | Alt + 0232 / 0200 | Option + `, then E |
| ë Ë | Alt + 0235 / 0203 | Option + U, then E |
| ï Ï | Alt + 0239 / 0207 | Option + U, then I |
| ó Ó | Alt + 0243 / 0211 | Option + E, then O |
| ü Ü | Alt + 0252 / 0220 | Option + U, then U |
Mac: On a Mac, hold Option and press the first key, let go, then type the letter. Option + U gives the trema (ë, ï, ü), Option + E the acute accent (é, ó) and Option + ` the grave accent (è).
Windows: On Windows, turn on Num Lock, hold Alt and type the four-digit code on the numeric keypad. Most people in the Netherlands use the “United States-International” keyboard rather than the Dutch layout: with it, " + e gives ë and ' + e gives é.
iPhone and Android: On iPhone and Android, press and hold e, i, o or u to see the accented versions, then slide to the one you want.
The trema: ë and ï
The two dots in Dutch are called the trema, and they are required spelling. They show that a vowel starts a new syllable instead of joining the vowel before it.
- Without the trema, ee, ie and oe would be read as one sound. With it, they split: ideeën (ideas), België (Belgium), ruïne (ruin), coëfficiënt.
- Plurals of words ending in -ee or -ie often need it: zee → zeeën, knie → knieën.
- ü appears in a few words like reünie (reunion) and in loanwords.
Accents for emphasis: één and vóór
Native Dutch words don't normally take an accent, but you can add an acute accent to stress a word or tell two words apart.
- één (one) / een (a): Ik heb één broer means “I have one brother”, not “a brother”.
- vóór (before, in front of) / voor (for): stress shows which one you mean.
- dé to say “the one and only”: Dit is dé plek in Amsterdam.
- Loanwords keep their accents: café, logé, crème, scène.
The IJ: one letter or two?
IJ is a digraph that Dutch treats almost like one letter. At the start of a capitalized word, both letters are capital: IJsland (Iceland), IJssel, het IJ. Writing Ijsland is a mistake.
A single ij character exists, but it is rarely used: type i and j as two normal letters so the word can be found by search and spell-check.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type ë on a keyboard?
On Windows, hold Alt and type 0235 on the numeric keypad (0203 for Ë), or press " then e on the United States-International keyboard. On a Mac, press Option+U, then E. On a phone, press and hold e. You can also click ë on this page and copy it.
What is the difference between een and één?
een is the article “a”, and één is the number “one”. The accents are only there to show the stress and are optional when the meaning is clear, but they are standard when the difference matters.
How do you capitalize IJ?
Both letters become capitals at the start of a word or name: IJsland, IJmuiden, IJssel. Ijsland with a lowercase j is wrong.
Do Dutch words need accents?
The trema is required where the spelling rules call for it (ideeën, België). Acute accents are mostly optional and only used for emphasis (één, vóór) or in loanwords (café).