Dutch City Name Generator
Real and invented town names from the Netherlands
Generate Dutch city and town names, from real places like Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Zierikzee and Damwâld to invented settlements such as Veldersluis and Markendrecht built from authentic Dutch endings like -dam, -drecht, -wijk, -veen and -zijl. Useful for fiction, maps, games and worldbuilding set in the Low Countries.
About Dutch city names
Dutch place names describe a landscape that people built by hand, so the endings are mostly about water and reclaimed ground. A -dam was a dam across a river (Amsterdam on the Amstel, Rotterdam on the Rotte, Edam on the E), -drecht a ford or ferry crossing (Dordrecht, Zwijndrecht), -sluis a lock, -dijk a dike, -meer a lake (Zoetermeer), -veen drained peat bog (Hoogeveen, Veenendaal), and -zijl a drainage sluice, which is why so many Groningen and Friesland names end that way (Delfzijl). Dry-land endings are -wijk (settlement), -burg (fort), -lo (forest clearing, as in Almelo and Venlo), -hoven or -hove (farmstead), -woude or -wold (woodland), and -kerk.
The apostrophe in 's-Hertogenbosch and 's-Gravenhage is a clipped des, meaning 'of the': the duke's forest and the count's hedge. IJ counts as a single letter, so both halves are capitalised in IJmuiden and IJsselstein. Locators are spelled out in full: Alphen aan den Rijn, Egmond aan Zee, Bergen op Zoom. In Friesland many towns now use official Frisian spellings (Damwâld, Earnewâld, Berltsum), and Frisian village names in -um, -ga and -werd (Wommels, Mantgum, Kimswerd) sound quite different from Holland's.
The list opens with real cities, towns and villages from every province, then moves into invented names that follow the same rules, so you can lift a plausible Dutch setting straight onto a map.
How to choose Dutch city names
- Match the ending to the terrain: -dam, -drecht, -sluis and -zijl for towns on rivers and polders in the west and north; -lo, -berg and -woude for the sandy, wooded east (Veluwe, Twente, Achterhoek).
- For a Frisian setting use -um, -ga, -werd or -ryp endings (Dronryp, Kimswerd, Wergea) and consider the official Frisian spelling with â or y, which instantly signals the province.
- Write the full locator when a name needs it (aan den Rijn, aan Zee, op Zoom, aan de Vecht); Dutch speakers never abbreviate these the way English does with 'upon'.
- Capitalise both letters of IJ at the start of a name (IJmuiden, IJsselstein) and keep the lowercase 's- prefix with its apostrophe ('s-Hertogenbosch) even at the beginning of a sentence.
- Check an invented name against a map of the Netherlands and Flanders before using it for a fictional town; the suffix system is so productive that many plausible coinages already exist as real villages.
Frequently asked questions
Why do so many Dutch cities end in -dam?
Because medieval towns in Holland grew up where a river was dammed to control tides and drainage, and the dam became the market square. Amsterdam is the dam on the Amstel, Rotterdam the dam on the Rotte, Schiedam on the Schie, Edam on the E, Zaandam on the Zaan, and Monnickendam the monks' dam.
What is the difference between Den Haag and 's-Gravenhage?
They are the same city. 's-Gravenhage ('the count's hedge' or hunting enclosure) is the formal name used in official documents and on the train timetable; Den Haag is the everyday name, and the municipality itself uses Den Haag. English speakers say The Hague, a literal translation.
Are these real Dutch cities or made up?
Both. Roughly the first four hundred names are real cities, towns and villages from all twelve provinces, spelled as they appear on Dutch road signs, including Frisian official spellings. The remainder are invented names assembled from authentic Dutch and Frisian elements so they sit naturally beside the real ones on a fictional map.
How do you pronounce Dutch town names?
The hardest sounds are the guttural g and ch (Groningen is roughly KHROH-ning-en, Scheveningen SKHAY-ven-ing-en), ui as in Muiden and Uithoorn (between 'ow' and 'oy'), and the ij/ei diphthong as in IJmuiden and Leiden, close to English 'eye'. Oe is pronounced 'oo', so Hoek van Holland is 'hook', and a final -en is often reduced to a soft 'uh'.
Related generators
Dutch Name Generator
Realistic names from the Netherlands, tussenvoegsels included
German Town Name Generator
Real German towns from the Baltic to Bavaria
Belgian Name Generator
Flemish, Walloon and Brussels names
French City Name Generator
Real French cities from Paris to Perpignan
European Town Name Generator
Fictional towns and villages from every corner of Europe
Swedish Town Name Generator
Authentic Swedish town and village names
City Name Generator
Realistic modern and fictional city names
Town Name Generator
Realistic fictional town names for writers and worldbuilders
More like this
Dutch Town Name Generator
Authentic Dutch village and small-town names
Biblical City Name Generator
Bible towns plus coined names in their pattern
Estonian City Name Generator
Real Estonian towns and names built like them
Inca City Name Generator
Quechua city names from the Inca world
Dutch Angel Dragon Name Generator
Everyday words for fluffy winged dragons
Dutch Renaissance Name Generator
Period names from Bruges to Golden Age Amsterdam
All 500 Dutch city names
A: 23 names
- Aalsmeer
- Aalten
- Aardenburg
- Abcoude
- Akkrum
- Alblasserdam
- Alkmaar
- Almelo
- Almere
- Alphen aan den Rijn
- Amerongen
- Amersfoort
- Amstelveen
- Amsterdam
- Anjum
- Anna Paulowna
- Apeldoorn
- Appingedam
- Arcen
- Arnhem
- Assen
- Asten
- Axel
B: 49 names
- Baarlo
- Baarn
- Bakhuizen
- Balk
- Barneveld
- Beekhuizen
- Bennekom
- Bergeijk
- Bergen aan de Vecht
- Bergen op Zoom
- Berkel en Rodenrijs
- Berkenlo
- Berltsum
- Best
- Beverwijk
- Biezenmortel
- Bilthoven
- Bladel
- Blaricum
- Blauwhuis
- Blerick
- Bloemendaal
- Blokzijl
- Bodegraven
- Bolsward
- Borculo
- Borger
- Borne
- Boskoop
- Bosschenhoven
- Bourtange
- Boxmeer
- Boxtel
- Brakelveen
- Breda
- Breskens
- Breukelen
- Brielle
- Broek in Waterland
- Brouwershaven
- Brummen
- Brunssum
- Budel
- Buiksloot
- Buitenpost
- Burdaard
- Burgh-Haamstede
- Burgum
- Bussum
C: 7 names
- Cadzand
- Capelle aan den IJssel
- Castricum
- Claesdorp
- Coevorden
- Cuijk
- Culemborg
D: 32 names
- Dalfsen
- Damwâld
- De Bilt
- Dedemsvaart
- Delden
- Delft
- Delfzijl
- Den Burg
- Den Haag
- Den Helder
- Den Ilp
- Denekamp
- Deurne
- Deventer
- Diepenveen
- Dieren
- Dijkstede
- Dirkswoude
- Doetinchem
- Dokkum
- Domburg
- Dongen
- Doorn
- Dordrecht
- Drachten
- Driebergen
- Dronryp
- Dronten
- Drunen
- Druten
- Durgerdam
- Dwingeloo
E: 22 names
- Earnewâld
- Echt
- Edam
- Ede
- Eerbeek
- Eersel
- Egmond aan Zee
- Eibergen
- Eijsden
- Eikenhorst
- Eindhoven
- Elburg
- Elzenveen
- Emmeloord
- Emmen
- Enkhuizen
- Enschede
- Epe
- Epen
- Ermelo
- Essendrecht
- Etten-Leur
F: 2 names
- Ferwert
- Franeker
G: 22 names
- Ganzenhoek
- Garderen
- Geldermalsen
- Geldrop
- Geleen
- Gemert
- Genemuiden
- Gennep
- Giethoorn
- Goes
- Goirle
- Gorinchem
- Gorredijk
- Gouda
- Goudriaan aan de Lek
- Grave
- Grevelingenstad
- Groenlo
- Groesbeek
- Groningen
- Grou
- Gulpen
H: 46 names
- Haaksbergen
- Haarlem
- Hallum
- Hardenberg
- Harderwijk
- Haren
- Harlingen
- Harmelen
- Hasselt
- Hattem
- Hazelaarsdijk
- Heeg
- Heemskerk
- Heemstede
- Heerde
- Heerenveen
- Heerhugowaard
- Heerlen
- Heeze
- Heiloo
- Heino
- Hellevoetsluis
- Helmond
- Hendrikshoeve
- Hengelo
- Heusden
- Hillegom
- Hilvarenbeek
- Hilversum
- Hindeloopen
- Hoek van Holland
- Hollebroek
- Holten
- Holwerd
- Holysloot
- Hoofddorp
- Hoogeland
- Hoogeveen
- Hoogezand
- Hoogwoud
- Hoorn
- Hoorn aan de Maas
- Horst
- Houten
- Huizen
- Hulst
I: 4 names
- IJlst
- IJmuiden
- IJsselstein
- Ilpendam
J: 2 names
- Jorwert
- Joure
K: 15 names
- Kaatsheuvel
- Kampen
- Katwijk
- Kerkrade
- Kesterveen
- Kimswerd
- Kinderdijk
- Klundert
- Koekange
- Kolksluis
- Kollum
- Koog aan de Zaan
- Koudum
- Kraaienveen
- Krimpen aan den IJssel
L: 25 names
- Laagmeer
- Laagwoude
- Landgraaf
- Landsmeer
- Langesloot
- Laren
- Leerdam
- Leeuwarden
- Leiden
- Leiderdorp
- Leidschendam
- Lekkerkerk
- Lelystad
- Lemmer
- Leusden
- Lichtenvoorde
- Lindenhoven
- Lisse
- Lochem
- Loenen aan de Vecht
- Loon op Zand
- Loosdrecht
- Lopik
- Losser
- Lunteren
M: 29 names
- Maarssen
- Maasbracht
- Maassluis
- Maastricht
- Makkum
- Malden
- Mantgum
- Margraten
- Markelo
- Marken
- Markendrecht
- Marsum
- Medemblik
- Meerssen
- Meppel
- Middelburg
- Middelharnis
- Middenbeemster
- Mierlo
- Mijdrecht
- Minnertsga
- Moerdijk
- Moerkapelle
- Molenaarsgraaf
- Monnickendam
- Montfoort
- Mook
- Moordrecht
- Muiden
N: 20 names
- Naaldwijk
- Naarden
- Nederweert
- Nieuw-Vennep
- Nieuwegein
- Nieuwendam
- Nieuwerbrug aan den Rijn
- Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel
- Nieuwkoop
- Nieuwveld
- Nijkerk
- Nijmegen
- Nijverdal
- Noordbeemster
- Noordermeer
- Noordwijk
- Noordwolde
- Nootdorp
- Nuenen
- Nunspeet
O: 24 names
- Oegstgeest
- Oirschot
- Oisterwijk
- Oldeberkoop
- Oldebroek
- Oldenzaal
- Olst
- Ommen
- Oostburg
- Oosterbeek
- Oosterhout
- Oosterhout aan de Linge
- Oosterzand
- Oostvoorne
- Oostzaan
- Ootmarsum
- Oss
- Otterlo
- Ouddorp
- Oudemirdum
- Oudenbosch
- Ouderkerk aan de Amstel
- Oudeschild
- Oudewater
P: 9 names
- Panningen
- Papendrecht
- Pieterburen
- Pijnacker
- Pingjum
- Polderwijk
- Purmerend
- Purmerland
- Putten
R: 22 names
- Raalte
- Ransdorp
- Reduzum
- Reeuwijk
- Reigersdam
- Renesse
- Renkum
- Rheden
- Rhenen
- Ridderkerk
- Rijen
- Rijnsburg
- Rijssen
- Rijswijk
- Roden
- Rodevaart
- Roermond
- Roosendaal
- Rosmalen
- Rotterdam
- Ruigewaard
- Ruurlo
S: 40 names
- 's-Gravenveen
- 's-Gravenzande
- 's-Heerenzijl
- 's-Herenwijk
- 's-Hertogenbosch
- Sas van Gent
- Sassenheim
- Schagen
- Schapendrecht
- Schellingwoude
- Scherpenzeel
- Scheveningen
- Schiedam
- Schijndel
- Schoonhoven
- Sexbierum
- Simpelveld
- Sint-Annadrecht
- Sint-Jorishoven
- Sint-Maartensdijk
- Sint-Oedenrode
- Sittard
- Sliedrecht
- Slootermeer
- Sloten
- Sluis
- Sneek
- Soest
- Someren
- Son en Breugel
- Spakenburg
- Spijkenisse
- Stadskanaal
- Staphorst
- Stavoren
- Steenwijk
- Stein
- Stiens
- Surhuisterveen
- Susteren
T: 13 names
- Tegelen
- Ter Apel
- Terherne
- Terneuzen
- Tholen
- Thorn
- Tiel
- Tilburg
- Tolhuizen
- Torenburg
- Tubbergen
- Twello
- Tzummarum
U: 6 names
- Uden
- Uitdam
- Uithoorn
- Uithuizen
- Urk
- Utrecht
V: 31 names
- Vaals
- Vaassen
- Valkenburg aan de Geul
- Valkenswaard
- Veendam
- Veenendaal
- Veerdam
- Veere
- Veghel
- Veldersluis
- Veldhoven
- Velp
- Venhuizen
- Venlo
- Venray
- Vianen
- Vlaardingen
- Vlierzijl
- Vlietdam aan Zee
- Vlijmen
- Vlissingen
- Volendam
- Vollenhove
- Voorburg
- Voorschoten
- Voorthuizen
- Vorden
- Vossenbroek
- Vreeland
- Vriezenveen
- Vught
W: 32 names
- Waalre
- Waalwijk
- Waddinxveen
- Wageningen
- Wassenaar
- Watergang
- Waterlandskerke
- Weert
- Weesp
- Wergea
- Westbeemster
- Westerbork
- Westkapelle
- Westzaan
- Weversdam
- Wielerdam
- Wierden
- Wieringerwerf
- Wijchen
- Wijhe
- Wijlre
- Wilgenbroek
- Willemstad
- Winschoten
- Winterswijk
- Witmarsum
- Woerden
- Wolvega
- Wommels
- Workum
- Woudenberg
- Woudsend
Y: 1 name
- Yerseke