To order politely, use a helper verb (willen, mogen, kunnen) in second position and push the main verb, unchanged, to the very end of the sentence. Add graag to make it sound friendly rather than demanding.
Examples
- Ik wil graag een koffie bestellen.
- I would like to order a coffee.
- Mag ik de rekening, alstublieft?
- May I have the bill, please?
- Kunnen we hier buiten zitten?
- Can we sit outside here?
The mistake to avoid
Do not conjugate the second verb or leave it next to the first: it is "Ik wil een broodje eten", not "Ik wil eet een broodje".
Where this fits in
Food & ordering, Dutch A1: Order at a café or restaurant, ask for the bill, and talk about basic food and drink.