Master List Of 100+ Animal Names In Dutch

Can you say any animal names in Dutch? Do you know what sounds the Dutch believe animals make? Different cultures actually have different sounds for each animal, especially farm animals.

Here, you will learn how to say animal names in the Dutch language because knowing how to say cat, dog, pig, cow, and even wild animals, too, is a useful skill to have when learning a new language.

We’re here teaching you the Dutch animal names so you can use these in conversation with new people and friends while you visit Dutch-speaking nations worldwide.

We’ll also look at common words for animals in Dutch that are native to The Netherlands too.

Are you ready to learn Dutch? Let’s go!

 

What Is The National Animal Of The Netherlands?

The national animal of The Netherlands is… ROAR!

A lion!

Why Is The Lion A National Symbol Of The Netherlands?

Netherlands animal symbol

A fair question, because there are no wild lions in The Netherlands and there never have been. It all comes down to local history.

During the 16th century when Spain was on its path to colonizing the world, it attempted to conquer what is today, The Netherlands. The Spanish were fervent Catholics while the Dutch were equally fervent Protestants and they pushed back strongly and strategically against the Spanish during an 80-year ‘war’.

Over this period, the Dutch region became the most powerful of the time and in 1648, after turning independent states into a single alliance, finally overcame the Spanish and a new country was born!

So that doesn’t quite answer the question of why the lion is so revered, so let’s find out.

During these rather tumultuous years, one particular figure rose to fame. His name was Willem van Oranje-Nassau and he was the leader of the resistance party against the Spanish. On his family coat of arms were two lions and this became the symbol of courage and power that has latest until today.

Today, lions are seen on the coat of arms of The Netherlands and live on with the national soccer team which has the nickname, the orange lions.

 

Which Animals Are Native To The Netherlands?

When you go to a new country you expect to see some unique creatures. As The Netherlands is located in Northern Europe, you could see some of the animals below. Many of the animal names you’ll no doubt recognize, but if you see European in front of an animal’s name, you can bet it’s way larger in size than a regular version of it.

All right, so what animals can you expect to see when you visit The Netherlands?

Mammals Native To The Netherlands

Many of these animals you’ll no doubt recognize! The most interesting native animals are below.

Mammal animal names in Dutch
EnglishDutchPronunciation
BadgersDassen
BoarsBeren
CowsKoeien
DeerHert
FoxesVossen
GoatsGeiten
PigsVarkens
Red deersEdelherten
SheepSchaap
WolvesWolven

Native Birds

If you’re into bird watching (which is a hugely popular pastime by the way), then you’ve got a few pretty cool birds to get out there and find!

Wild bird names in Dutch
EnglishDutchPronunciation
Atlantic puffinsAtlantische papegaaiduikers
ChickensKippen
Common buzzardBuizerd
DucksEenden
Eurasian eagle-owlsEuraziatische oehoe
GeeseGanzen
ParakeetsParkieten
White storksWitte ooievaars

Native Sea Animals

Here are some animals you’ll want to see! Except for the jellyfish probably. Watch out for those along the north coast at the beaches.

Sea Animal names in Dutch
EnglishDutchPronunciation
Gray sealsGrijze zeehonden
JellyfishKwallen
Risso’s dolphinRisso’s dolfijn
Weever fishPieterman vis

Native European Animals

These are animals that have a slight variation to them, enough to designate them native to Europe, and also The Netherlands. Often the versions of these animals are slightly larger to much larger in size.

Endangered Animal names in Dutch
EnglishDutchPronunciation
Central European boarsMidden-Europese beren
Eurasian ottersEuraziatische otters
European hedgehogsEuropese egels
European minksEuropese nertsen
European molesEuropese mollen
European Roe (Deer)Europese reeën

Snakes Native To The Netherlands

Here are some slithering lovelies you will likely not see on your journey. Apparently, snakes are such a rare sight, some people think they’re a myth!

Snake names in Dutch
EnglishDutchPronunciation
Common European vipersGewone Europese adders
Grass snakesRingslangen
Smooth snakesGladde slangen

Other Wild Animals In The Netherlands

These are other animals that live here that didn’t quite fit into the other categories.

English Singular/PluralDutch Singular/PluralPronunciation
Boar/BoarsZwijn/Beren
Hare/HaresHaas/Harea
Mongoose/MongeeseMangoest/Mangeese
Snail/SnailsSlak/Slakken
Snake/SnakesSlang/Slangen
Squirrel/SquirrelsEekhoorn/Eekhoorns
Weasel/WeaselsWezel/Wezels

 

Which Animals In The Netherlands Are Considered Endangered?

Endangered animals in the Netherlands

Should you get a chance to see any of these beautiful creatures, it may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! A few of these we’ve never even heard of before so we’ve linked to images so you can see what these animals actually look like. Of course, we’ve also included the Dutch animal names for each just in case you think you see one and want to ask someone.

  • European Hamster (Europese hamster)
  • European Rabbit (Europees konijn)
  • European Turtle Dove (Europese Tortelduif)
  • Sociable lapwing (Gezellige kievit)
  • Angelshark (Engelhaai)
  • Common blue skate (Gewone blauwe schaats)
  • Atlantic sturgeon Atlantische steur)
  • European mink (Europese nerts)
  • Basking shark (Reuzenhaai)
  • White-headed duck (Witkopeend)
  • Pallas’s fish-eagle (Pallas’ visarend)
  • Bramble shark (Braamhaai)

 

List Of Common Animal Names In Dutch

Now that you’ve learned more about animals in The Netherlands, let’s go over the list we’ve made of different animal names in Dutch and their meaning! Each list is divided into categories making it easier to find and learn the Dutch language and target the words you want to learn.

Zoo Animal Names In Dutch

Should you visit a zoo such as the Royal Amsterdam Zoo, you can expect to see the zoo animals below and many, many more!

Zoo animal names in Dutch
English Singular/PluralDutch Singular/PluralPronunciation
Baboon/BaboonsBaviaan/Bavianen
Bear/BearsBeer/Beren
Buffalo/BuffalosBuffels
Camel/camelsKameel/Kamelen
Chimpanzee/ChimpanzeesChimpansee/Chimpansees
Crocodile/CrocodilesKrokodil/Krokodillen
Elephant/ElephantsOlifant/Olifanten
Giraffe/GiraffesGiraffe/Giraffen
Gorilla/GorillasGorilla
Hippopotamus/HippopotamiNijlpaard/Nijlpaarden
Hyena/HyenasHyena
Iguana/IguanasLeguaan/leguanen
Jaguar/JaguarsJaguar/Jaguars
Kangaroo/KangaroosKangoeroe/Kangoeroes
Leopard/LeopardsLuipaard/Luipaarden
Lion/LionsLeeuw/Leeuwen
Monkey/Monekys (ape/apes)Aap/Apen
Panther/PanthersPanter/Panters
Porcupine/PorcupinesStekelvarken/Stekelvarkens
Rhinoceros/RhinocerosesNeushoorn/Neushoorns
Tiger/TigersTijger/Tijgers
Turtle/TurtlesSchildpad/Schildpadden
Zebra/ZebrasZebra

Farm Animals In Dutch

The Netherlands was once a traditional agriculture economy and farms are spread out all over the country where you can see these guys!

Farm animal names in Dutch
English Singular/PluralDutch Singular/PluralPronunciation
Bull/BullStier/Stier
Chicken/ChickensKip/Kippen
Cow/CowsKoe/Koeien
Donkey/DonkeysEzel/Ezels
Duck/DucksEend/Eenden
Goat/GoatsGeit/Geiten
Horse/HorsesPaard/Paarden
Lamb/LambsLam/Lammeren
Mule/MulesMuilezel/Muilezels
Ox/OxenOS ossen
Pig/PigsVarken/Varkens
SheepSchaap/Schapen

Amphibians In Dutch

Most likely to be seen while out in the woods or in a zoo. For instance, crocodiles and alligators don’t exist in the wild.

Amphibian names in Dutch
English Singular/PluralDutch Singular/PluralPronunciation
Alligator/AlligatorsAlligator/Alligators
Crocodile/CrocodilesKrokodil/Krokodillen
Frog/FrogsKikker/Kikkers
Newt/NewtsSalamander/Salamanders
Salamander/SalamandersSalamanders/Salamanders
Toad/ToadsPad/Padden

How To Say Pet Names In Dutch

Many people have pets in Dutch-speaking countries and so you may want to know how to say the names of common house pets.

Pet names in Dutch
English Singular/PluralDutch Singular/PluralPronunciation
Beetle/BeetlesKever/Kevers
Cat/CatsKat/Katten
Dog/DogsHond/Honden
Guinea pig/Guinea pigsCavia
Hamster/HamstersHamster/Hamsters
Mouse/MiceMuis/Muizen
Rabbit/RabbitsKonijn/Konijnen
Rat/RatsRat/Ratten

Bird Names In The Dutch Language

Here are some more birds to learn how to say so you can be that person getting excited and pointing, “Look! There’s a ….!”

bird animal names in Dutch
English Singular/PluralDutch Singular/PluralPronunciation
Bird of prey/Birds of preyRoofvogel/Roofvogels
Blackbird/BlackbirdsMerel/Merels
Duck/DucksEend/Eenden
Goose/GeeseGans/Ganzen
Ostrich/OstrichesStruisvogel/Struisvogels
Owl/OwlsUil/Uilen
Parrot/ParrotsPapegaai/Papegaaien
Penguin/PenguinsPinguïn/Pinguïns
Pigeon/PigeonsDuif/Duiven
Seagull/SeagullsZeemeeuw/Meeuwen
Sparrow/SparrowsMus/Mussen
Swan/SwansZwaan/Zwanen
Woodpecker/WoodpeckersSpecht/Spechten

Sea Animals In Dutch

Here are some common sea animals in Dutch.

Wild Sea animal names in Dutch
English Singular/PluralDutch Singular/PluralPronunciation
Dolphin/DolphinsDolfijn/Dolfijnen
FishVis/vissen
Killer whale (orca)/Killer whales (orcas)Orka
Otter/OttersOtter/Otters
Sealzeeleeuw
Shark/SharksHaai/Haaien

Dutch Animal Names For Insects

These are some commonly found insects. The one to watch out for is the nasty tick, which can give you Lyme Disease, which, trust us, you don’t want to get.

Insect names in Dutch
English Singular/PluralDutch Singular/PluralPronunciation
Ant/AntsMier/Mieren
Bee/BeesBij/Bjen
Butterfly/ButterfliesVlinder/Vlinders
Caterpillar/CaterpillarsRups/Rupsen
Fly/FliesVlieg/Vliegt
Mosquito/MosquitoesMug/Muggen
Spider/SpidersSpin/Spinnen
Tick/TicksDe teek
Wasp/WaspsWesp/Wespen

 

Continue Learning With The Ling App!

Now that you have the answer to your question, what are animals called in Dutch? How would you like to keep learning with us?!

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The Ling App is a language learning app designed to make learning a new language simple, convenient, and fun. And you know what’s so awesome? Besides the Dutch language, you have 60 other languages you can choose from to learn.

Ling even has an AI chatbot that you can speak with that will check your pronunciation, so you’ll sound just like a native Dutch person or whatever country’s language you’re trying to learn.

Check Ling out in the Play Store or Apple Store.

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