17 Dutch towns with the funniest names

The Netherlands has countless cities and villages, each with its unique atmosphere. While some towns gain fame due to their attractions, others are loved for their hilarious names. 

After looking at the map of the Netherlands, you may think some places are fake (yes, we’re talking about you, De Hulk). But we assure you that these towns are real.

1. The Stink Corner (Stinkhoek)

📍 Rijkerbeek, 5469 SR

You’ll find this hamlet in the North Brabant province of the Netherlands. Its name has now been changed to Rijkerbeek for “unknown reasons.” We have a good guess as to why they made that decision.

The older generation of today’s Rijkerbeek remembers the good old days when the stink corner was still known for its stench. 🤢

2. Women’s Grief (Vrouwenverdriet)

📍 Vrouwenverdriet, 1566 PM

This name originates from an inn that existed at this location back in the 1630s. The bar of this inn was supposedly where the diggers of the Nauernasche Vaart canal went to spend their wages. 🍻

Of course, this made the workers’ wives so sad that the entire village became known for their feelings of despair. At least, that’s our take on the situation. 

3. Weird (Raar)

📍 Raar, 6231 RR

This Dutch town is located in Limburg. It reminds us of that one kid in high school who wanted to be different from everyone else. 🙄

The origin of the name probably derives from “rade,” which means “cultivation,” as the area was used to host many farmers and agriculturists. 

Although the Netherlands is no stranger to farming culture, maybe this place really is the high school weirdo. After all, it’s so close to the Southern border — who knows what goes on down there?

4. Hell Mouth (Helmond)

📍 Helmond, Netherlands

This municipality in the Netherlands doesn’t sound like much to the non-Dutch speaker, but it literally means “mouth of hell” in Dutch. Imagine putting that on your postcard! 📩

READ MORE | What your favourite Dutch city says about you

The name “Helmond” can be traced back to a combination of Hel, which means “low-lying,” and Mond, which refers to a higher, more secure place. 

The name has nothing to do with today’s literal translation of “Hell Mouth,” but we like to think a fiery beast used to haunt the village a hundred years ago. 

5. Suffering (Leiden)

📍 Leiden, Netherlands

What could we possibly have to say about Leiden?

Well, it technically means “suffering” in German, which doesn’t sound all that inviting.

Despite the name, plenty of German students come to study among the countless bridges and historical buildings.

READ MORE | Living in Leiden: 5 things to do when you move to Leiden

It’s also home to the DutchReview headquarters, so maybe you can forgive us for being a bit biased here. 😉

6. Head Village (Hoofddorp)

📍 Hoofddorp, Netherlands

The name of this area isn’t that outrageous, but the word itself sounds funny to many English speakers. Try saying it!

The bad news is that in Dutch, the name loses its humour. It’s actually pronounced Hofe-dorp and not hoof-dorp. The more you know! 🤓

READ MORE | Living in Hoofddorp as an international: everything you need to know

Hoofddorp also means “head village,” something the city constantly tries to use to its advantage since many of its hotels try to make you think you’re staying in the main village: Amsterdam. 

7. America

📍 America, Limburg

Do we even need to explain this one? You’ve probably heard of Holland in Michigan; now we have America itself in the lowlands. 

America is a Dutch province of Limburg, in the south of the Netherlands. It was most likely named after the Americas and is known for its history of peat extraction. 

Unsurprisingly, the Netherlands and the United States share similar town names with such a long history together. After all, New York was once New Amsterdam. 🤷🏻‍♀️

8. Dead quiet (Doodstil)

📍 Doodstil, 9997 PA

This hamlet is located in Groningen, where just a couple of hundred people live.

With so few residents, the name’s literal translation rings pretty accurate.

In May 2005, it won the “most beautiful place name” recognition in the Netherlands thanks to its meaning: perfectly still. 

This success ironically put an end to the “dead quiet” atmosphere, as this attracted many tourists to the area.

9. Dirt Pan (Vuilpan)

📍 Vuilpan, 4529 JS

Vuilpan is a hamlet near the Dutch-Belgian border in the municipality of Sluis. 

Sluis is built on fortified grounds and looks like your traditional Dutch town with churches, windmills, and flowing canals. 

What’s funnier than this hamlet’s name is that there’s barely any information about it online. We’re sure people visit the area just to say they’ve fallen in the Dutch dirt pan. 🍳

10. Mud Hole (Moddergat)

📍 Moddergat, Netherlands

This fishing village was voted the second most beautiful place in the Netherlands in 2004. Who knew a mudhole could be so good-looking? 

Fun fact: Moddergat’s name is three centuries old! It was first called “Modde Gat” (muddy pool) and was home to only 220 people in 1840. 

As of 2025, the population of Moddergat rose all the way up to 225 residents. It seems Moddergat has won the hearts of its locals, who are happy to stay in their muddy hole! 

11. Mosquito Bite (Muggenbeet)

📍 Muggenbeet, 8356 VK

Muggenbeet is quite a small village with only 25 permanent residents. Perhaps the others left because of the mosquito bites!

No need to start scratching your legs, because the name actually has nothing to do with annoying insects. 

In 1313, the village was spelt “Mugghenbete.” This refers to the Old Saxon way of saying “Mücken Beecke,” which means “small stream.” It was named after a small stream flowing through the village.

12. Loser (Losser)

📍 Losser, Netherlands

Losser is a Dutch municipality in the province of Overijssel, in the east of the Twente region and near the German border. 

There’s not much to say about this town, other than the fact that it’s the designated area for all Dutch losers…

All jokes aside, the municipality is home to 13,405 locals. We’re sure they have won at least something in their life! 😃

13. Trousers in Waterland (Broek in Waterland)

📍 Broek in Waterland, Netherlands

While there’s no accurate reason as to why this village is called Trousers in Waterland, maybe they just wanted people to know: in Waterland, we wear trousers. 😎

The village was quite the tourist hotspot! In the 1600s, the area was popular among sea captains who would spend their holidays here. Other travellers who visited in the 17th century recalled the cleanliness and tidiness of the village in their travel books. 

READ MORE | The 8 greatest forests in the Netherlands for a nature escape

Ironically, in 1927, Broek in Waterland was host to a major landfill where toxic chemicals were dumped. Today, it’s been partially reopened as a nature reserve.

14. The Hulk (De Hulk)

📍 De Hulk, Netherlands

Unfortunately, this Dutch hamlet isn’t a homage to the green Marvel superhero.

De Hulk derives its name from an old inn that stood along the canals Hoorn-Alkmaar and Hoorn-Amsterdam. 

The inn had a sign on the front featuring a large maritime ship, also known as a hulk in English.

The hamlet is great for canoe trips, hiking trails, and, of course, scavenging for the superhero’s house hidden somewhere in the Dutch woodlands. 

15. Sex, Beer, Rum (Sexbierum)

📍 Sexbierum, Netherlands

If Ozzy Osbourne were in charge of naming a town, this is probably what he would come up with. 

Sexbierum is a village in the northern-central part of the Netherlands, in the municipality of Waadhoeke. 

Its original name, “Sixtisberen,” which dates back to the 13th century, means “Houses of Sixtus” and refers to Pope Sixtus II.

Ironically, in Dutch, the contemporary name groups up three words — sex, beer, and rum. And yes, the Sexbierum place name signs get stolen from time to time. No surprise there!

16. Rectum

📍 Rectum, 7642 NA

Imagine this: You live in Rectum, and your friend is coming over to your place and asks you where your house is: “Sorry, say that again, please?!”

Back to serious talk, Rectum (haha) is a hamlet located in Overijssel, a Dutch province in the eastern part of the Netherlands. 

Though Rectum’s etymology is unclear, the first part of the name is likely named after the nearby river “Regge.”

We don’t mean to be anal, but naming a town Rectum sounds like you just pulled that name out of your *ss. 🍑

17. Number One (Nummer Een)

📍 Nummer Eén, 4513 KS

Oh wait, maybe we should’ve put this Dutch town at the top of this list…?

Number one is a small hamlet located in the municipality of Sluis in Zeeland with a nearby nature reserve (Staatsbosbeheer), perfect for camping, hiking, and droppings! 

Contrary to its successful name, Nummer Eén doesn’t actually have the title of the “best hamlet in the Netherlands.” 

It gets its name because the hamlet was the first plot of the Hoofdplaatpolder at the end of the 18th century. How’s that for a mini history lesson?

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There you have it, everyone! The 17 Dutch towns with the funniest names.

Perhaps this list also makes for one of the funniest national Dutch road trips! Get in the car. We’re going to the Stink corner! 🛻

Which hilarious Dutch town name made you laugh the most? Tell us in the comments below!