Baas

boss, manager, employer [noun] [de baas, de bazen] [‘baas‘]

In recent years the word “baas” has been mostly replaced by the more fashionable “manager”, but you can still hear it in small businesses and in the more production like environments. There are also a number of frequently used expressions with “baas”, some of which we listed below.

Sinterklaas_is_de_baas
In the days leading up to the Dutch tradition of “Sinterklaas” on December 5th, the Albert Heijn supermarket is using the slogan “Sinterklaas is de baas”: “Sinterklaas is in charge / is the boss”, as part of the Sinterklaas theme and activities in the supermarket (such as “de schoen zetten” for children). Read last year’s DWOTD on “Pakjesavond” for more background information.

Examples:
– “Reeds na twee dagen werd de stagair door zijn baas weggebonjourd.”
(“Already after two days, the intern was sent packing by his boss.”)

– “Sinterklaas is de baas bij Albert Heijn!”
(“Sinterklaas is in charge at Albert Heijn!”)

– “Sinds ik een eigen zaak ben begonnen, ben ik blij eindelijk mijn eigen baas te zijn.”
(“Since I started my own business, I’m glad to finally be my own boss.”)

Expressions:
– “De baas spelen”: to act the boss, to boss someone.
– “De baas in huis zijn”: to be in charge at home, to be the boss at home.
– “Iemand de baas blijven”: to keep someone under control.
– “De baas zijn over”: to be in charge of.
– “De situatie de baas zijn”: to have the situation under control.

Related words:
– “Chef”: boss, manager, usually in production environments.
– “Leidinggevende”: line management, supervisor. Literally “lead/guidance giver”.
– “Bazig”: bossy.
– “Baasje”: little man/fellow, youngster, laddie. Used informally for very young boys.