Goedkoop is duurkoop — “Cheap is expensive buying.” This Dutch proverb means: buying cheap things is ultimately costly because they break and must be replaced. The Dutch have a practical, quality-oriented consumer culture that values durability over cheap price. This idiom captures a genuine Dutch cultural attitude — the Dutch are careful with money but not in a way that sacrifices quality.
The proverb appears in everyday Dutch conversation when advising against cutting corners: Koop niet die goedkope fiets — goedkoop is duurkoop. (Don’t buy that cheap bicycle — you’ll regret it.) It reflects the Dutch preference for solid, reliable, degelijk (sturdy/solid) goods over flashy but fragile ones. The Dutch word degelijk is itself culturally loaded — being degelijk is a compliment for both products and people.
Related Dutch proverbs about money and frugality: Wie het kleine niet eert, is het grote niet weerd (Who does not value the small does not deserve the great — about valuing small things), Bezint eer ge begint (Think before you act — literally “be aware before you begin”), Een ons geluk is beter dan een pond wijsheid (An ounce of luck is better than a pound of wisdom — the Dutch acknowledge the role of luck despite their planning culture).