Geachte

Geachte is a Dutch formal salutation used at the beginning of written correspondence to show respect. It translates roughly as "esteemed" or "dear" and functions similarly to "Dear Sir/Madam" in English. The term appears most often in business letters, official correspondence, and other formal communications.

Geachte derives from geacht, meaning respected or esteemed. The capitalized form Geachte is used at the start of a letter, and the salutation is typically followed by a comma before the body of the message. In practice, the salutation is followed by a personal title and surname, such as Geachte heer Jansen or Geachte mevrouw De Vries. When the recipient is unknown or a group is addressed, Geachte heer/mevrouw or Geachte dames en heren is common. For organizations, departments, or roles one may use Geachte heer/mevrouw [title/position].

Geachte carries a formal register and is less suitable for informal correspondence, where alternatives like Beste or Hallo are preferred. The tone can vary slightly by sector and country, but Geachte remains the standard for formal introductions in Dutch-speaking contexts, including the Netherlands and Belgium.

In practice, Geachte is followed by the recipient’s designation or surname and a comma, with the body of the letter beginning on the next line. The closing of the letter then continues in a normal, polite style. The usage of Geachte signals respect and formality and is a key feature of traditional Dutch business and administrative communication.