Vincent Otto
10 Sept 2025
Machine translations – practical, but not error-free
Tools such as DeepL and Google Translate have made enormous progress in recent years. For many people, they are the first step when it comes to quickly translating a text from German to Dutch.
But be careful: even if the quality seems impressive, machine translations quickly reach their limits. They are perfectly adequate for certain applications, but for others they can be expensive or even legally risky.
When machine translation is sufficient
There are situations in which DeepL or Google Translate are useful and save time:
Private use: For a rough understanding of news articles, websites or emails.
Internal orientation: If you want to quickly grasp the gist of a Dutch text.
Non-binding texts: Short messages that have no legal or business implications.
In such cases, machine translation is sufficient to understand the content.
When it is better to hire a professional
Machine translation is not sufficient for the following types of text – in these cases, you should rely on a professional German-Dutch translator:
Contracts and legal documentsEven small inaccuracies can have major legal consequences. A contract translation into Dutch requires precision and specialist knowledge.
Marketing texts and websitesMachines can translate words, but they cannot take into account tone, target audience or culture. A slogan that works in Germany may be misunderstood in the Netherlands.
Business communicationBusiness partners expect professionalism. A clumsy translation from DeepL can appear unprofessional and cost you trust.
Technical textsWhether technical, medical or legal – technical terms must be translated correctly and consistently. Machines are often unable to do this reliably.
The limitations of machine translation
No understanding of context: Machines rarely recognise the correct meaning when words have multiple meanings.
Lack of style and tone: Texts often sound unnatural or too literal.
Lack of cultural adaptation: Local customs and expectations are not taken into account.
Risk with sensitive content: Data protection and confidentiality are not guaranteed with online tools.
Conclusion: machine or professional?
Machine translations are a useful tool – but they cannot replace the expertise of a professional translator. For important documents, contracts, marketing or business communication, it is worth relying on an experienced translator.
As a freelance translator German ↔ Dutch, I help you translate texts accurately, stylistically appropriate and culturally flawless – so that your messages arrive safely.