Are you in the Netherlands, wanting to get to know some nice Dutch people, but you don’t know how? Making friends and getting to know people can be hard, especially when you’re in another country. Luckily, there’s an easy way to break the ice: asking questions in Dutch. This is a great way to start conversations—and keep them going. 

Through asking questions, you’ll get to know your conversation partner, get personal, and maybe even become friends. And you’ll be able to practice your Dutch listening and speaking skills at the same time!

In this guide, you’ll learn everything about asking questions in Dutch, from the Dutch question words to making yes/no questions. We’ll also introduce you to the ten most common Dutch questions and the different answers you can give. By the end of this article, you’ll not only know how to make questions in Dutch, but also how to answer them!

Table of Contents

1. The Golden Rules of Dutch Questions
2. The 10 Most Common Dutch Questions
3. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. The Golden Rules of Dutch Questions

Before we go to our list of the ten most common Dutch questions, there are some basics you need to understand concerning how to make those questions in Dutch.

A- Questions Beginning with Dutch Question Words

How? What? Why? Where? Who? When? 

You know the English ones, so let’s learn more about question words in Dutch!

There’s a special Dutch question structure for questions that use interrogative words at the beginning. The question word comes first, the conjugated verb second, and the subject third: 

Question word + Verb + Subject 

Let’s have a look at two simple examples:

• Waarom lach je? (“Why do you laugh?”)
• Wanneer trouwt je zoon? (“When does your son get married?”)

Now have a look at more Dutch question words:

Hoe (“How”)	Hoe voel je je? (“How are you feeling?”)
Wat (“What”)	Wat doe je morgen? (“What are you doing tomorrow?”)
Waarom (“Why”)	Waarom is je vriendin boos? (“Why is your girlfriend mad?”)
Waar (“Where”)	Waar ligt Den Bosch? (“Where is Den Bosch?”)
Wie (“Who”)	Wie ben jij?(“Who are you?”)
Wanneer (“When”)	Wanneer is zijn verjaardag? (“When is his birthday?”)

B- Yes/No Questions

Another common question form Dutch people use is the yes/no question; as you know, these are questions that can be answered with a “yes” or a “no.” Questions like this have a different word order, with the verb coming first:

Verb + Subject 

For example:

• Kom je? (“Are you coming?”)
• Werkt hij? (“Does he work?”)

As you can see here, the subject and verb are inverted to create yes/no questions. 

Remember that when jij or je (“you”) follows the verb, the -t at the end of the verb is dropped: 

• Ga je morgen naar school? (“Are you going to school tomorrow?”)
  • Instead of: Je gaat morgen naar school. (“You are going to school tomorrow.”)
• Heb je vandaag met je oma gepraat? (“Did you talk to your grandmother today?”)
  • Instead of: Je hebt vandaag met je oma gepraat. (“You talked with your grandmother today.”)

→ For more Dutch question examples, don’t forget to have a look at our list of the top 25 questions you need to know on DutchPod101.com.

2. The 10 Most Common Dutch Questions

Now that you know the golden rules of forming basic Dutch questions, it’s time to dive into the ten most common questions in Dutch.

1. How are you?

This basic Dutch question is the most common way to start talking to someone, whether you’ve met before or not.

However, be aware that in the Netherlands, this question isn’t just a formality. In some cultures (such as Spanish or French), someone can ask this question without really expecting a comprehensive answer. This is not so much the case in the Netherlands. When the Dutch ask this question, they’re usually interested in the answer. Of course, your answer may be more or less detailed depending on how well you know the other person.

How are you?

• Hoe gaat het met je? [Casual]
• Hoe gaat het met u? [Formal]

Another informal way to ask this question is: Alles goed? (“Everything fine?”)

Possible answers for this question include:

► Het gaat goed met me. (“I am doing great.”)
► Ik voel me niet goed. (“I am not feeling well.”)
► Het gaat wel. (“I am fine.”)
► Ik heb het erg druk. (“I am very busy.”)

As you can see, we used the question word hoe (“how”), followed by the conjugated verb. 

As you go through the rest of this article, ask yourself which structure each question uses: the one with a question word at the beginning or the yes/no structure.

2. What are you doing?

If you know someone well and want to know what they’re up to, this question is perfect.

However, it’s not the way to go when talking with strangers, as this random Dutch question can seem quite invasive (especially with the sometimes distant Dutch people).

What are you doing?

• Wat doe je? [Casual]
• Wat doet u? [Formal]

Let’s see some possible answers:

► Ik lees. (“I am reading.”)
► Ik kijk een film. (“I am watching a movie.”)
► Ik ben aan het studeren. (“I am studying.”)
► Ik ben aan het koken. (“I am cooking.”)

In the ik ben aan het + verb structure, you can replace the verb (studeren or koken) with the verb that’s applicable to your situation.

→ Would you like to learn some more verbs? Have a look at these 50 most common verbs.

3. What’s your name?

Are you meeting someone new in the Netherlands? Then it’s crucial to be able to ask for their name. This is also a great ice-breaker, as it shows your interest in that person. And once the conversation’s been started, there will be plenty more questions to come! 

What’s your name?

• Wat is je naam?  [Casual]
• Wat is uw naam? [Formal]

Another way to ask this question in Dutch is: 

• Hoe heet je? [Casual]
• Hoe heet u? [Formal]

Let’s now have a look at the answers:

► Ik heet Sophie. (“My name is Sophie.”)
► Mijn naam is Sophie. (“My name is Sophie.”)
► Ik ben Sophie. (“I am Sophie.”)

4. Where are you from?

As a foreigner in the Netherlands, you’ll often hear this question. By learning how to ask this question in Dutch, you’ll have the perfect way to stimulate a conversation. While you can ask this to a foreigner, asking this to a Dutch person may help them open up about their hometown or the region they’re from.

Where are you from?

• Waar kom je vandaan? [Casual]
• Waar komt u vandaan? [Formal]

Let’s have a look at some possible answers:

Foreign answers
► Ik ben Duits. (“I’m German.”)
► Ik kom uit Frankrijk. (“I’m from France.”)

Local answers
► Ik kom uit Amsterdam. (“I’m from Amsterdam.”)
► Ik ben een Rotterdammer. (“I’m a Rotterdammer.” – a person from Rotterdam)
► Ik kom uit Brabant. (“I’m from Brabant.”)

Has your interlocutor given you the name of a place you’re not familiar with? Then you can ask this: 

Where is it?

• Waar is dat?
• Waar ligt dat?
  
  
  ► In het Zuiden van Nederland. (“In the south of the Netherlands.”)
  ► Vlakbij Den Haag. (“Close to The Hague.”)
  ► Het is een stad in Noord-Italië. (“It is a city in northern Italy.”)

→ Have a look at the Dutch name of your country. Can’t find your country on this list? Then check out this extensive list of country names in Dutch.

5. Where do you live?

It’s nice to know where someone is from, but it may be more useful to know where someone is living. Let’s have a look at this common Dutch question:

Where do you live?

• Waar woon je? [Casual]
• Waar woont u? [Formal]
  
  ► Ik woon in Breda. (“I live in Breda.”)
  ► Ik woon in de provincie Groningen. (“I live in the province of Groningen.”)

→ Do you live in the Netherlands, but still struggle with the pronunciation of city names? Then have a look at our major Dutch cities list with audio recordings.

6. Have you been to [place]?

You’ve just told someone where you’re from or where you live. Let’s keep that conversation going and ask if they’ve ever been to that place. This way, you’ll show your interest and get to know more about someone’s (traveling) past.

Have you been to [place]? 

• Bent u in [place] geweest? [Casual]
• Ben je in [place] geweest? [Formal]

→ As you can see, this is a yes/no question that starts with the verb, followed by the subject.

Other ways to ask this question are:

• Ben je ooit in Brussel geweest? (“Have you ever been to Brussel?”)
• Heb je door Zuid-Amerika gereisd? (“Have you traveled through South America?”)

Possible answers include:

► Ja, ik ken [place] erg goed. (“Yes, I know [place] very well.”)
► Ja, ik ben er vorig jaar nog geweest. (“Yes, I went there last year.”)
► Ik ben er heel lang geleden geweest. (“I was there a long time ago.”)
► Nee, ik ben daar nog nooit geweest. (“No, I’ve never been there.”)

7. Do you speak Dutch?

The language question: another crucial Dutch question for any foreigner in the Netherlands. You’ll receive this question a lot yourself, but learning this structure will be useful for you too. You never know when you’ll need to communicate in your native language or a different common language.

Do you speak Dutch? 

• Spreek je Nederlands? (“Do you speak Dutch?”) – Casual
• Spreekt u Nederlands? (“Do you speak Dutch?”) – Formal
• Spreek je Engels? (“Do you speak English?”) – Casual
• Spreekt u Engels? (“Do you speak English?”) – Formal

Let’s have a look at some possible answers:

► Ik spreek een beetje Nederland. (“I speak a little Dutch.”)
► Ik spreek vloeiend Engels. (“I speak English fluently.”)
► Min of meer. (“So-so.”)

8. What do you do?

You know how your new acquaintance is doing, you know their name, and you know where they’re from and where they live. You even know the languages they speak. What’s left to ask? A logical followup question is to ask about someone’s work or study. 

What do you do?

• Wat doe je? [Casual]
• Wat doet u? [Formal]

If you’re in a bar and you just say Wat doe je? the other person could be caught off guard by this random Dutch question, and answer “I am drinking a beer, why?” So when you ask this question out of nowhere, it may be better to be a bit more specific:

• Wat voor werk doe je? (“What kind of work do you do?”)
• Wat is jouw baan? (“What’s your job?”)
• Waar werk je? (“Where do you work?”)
• Wat voor een studie doe je? (“What kind of study do you do?”)
• Wat studeer je? (“What do you study?”)
• Waar studeer je? (“Where do you study?”)

→ The questions from this point on are in the casual, more common Jij/Je form, but you could make them more formal by using U or Uw.

→ Would you like to learn when to use the formal or casual form in Dutch? Start by finding out what to say when you do business in the Netherlands.

Some possible answers are:

► Ik ben politieagent. (“I’m a police officer.”)
► Ik werk in IT. (“I work in IT.”)
► Ik werk in een kledingwinkel. (“I work in a clothing store.”)
► Ik studeer anthropologie. (“I study anthropology.”)
► Ik studeer aan de Universiteit van Amsterdam. (“I study at the University of Amsterdam.”)

→ Not sure how to talk about your job in Dutch? Have a look at our free vocabulary list on Jobs.

9. What are your hobbies?

For the Dutch, their work is important. But many believe that their hobbies and interests define them more than their work. So a great way to show your interest in the other person and find common ground is to ask them about their hobbies.

What are your hobbies? 

• Wat zijn je hobby’s?
• Wat doe je graag in je vrije tijd? (“What do you do in your free time?”)
  
  ► Ik ga graag naar de bioscoop. (“I like going to the cinema.”)
  ► Ik hou van wandelen. (“I love hiking.”)
  ► Ik maak foto’s. (“I take pictures.”)

→ Find your favorite hobbies in our free vocabulary list with audio recordings to practice your pronunciation.

10. Do you like ___?

Let’s get personal and find out what our Dutch acquaintance here likes or dislikes. There’s no better way to get to know someone! 

The Dutch are quite direct, and you can usually say whatever you’re thinking. However, try to stay respectful toward your host country. The Dutch don’t mind a bit of criticism, but don’t be too negative or you might hurt their feelings.

Do you like ___? 

• Houd je van winkelen? (“Do you like to shop?”) 
  • Literally, it says “to love,” but in this instance, it’s more similar to the English “to like.”
• Houd je van de Nederlandse keuken? (“Do you like Dutch cuisine?”)
• Houd je van bier? (“Do you like beer?”)

And possible answers:

► Ja, ik houd ervan! (“Yes, I love it!”)
► Nee, ik vind het niet echt leuk. (“No, I don’t really like it.”)
► Nee, ik haat het. (“No, I hate it.”)
► Het ligt eraan. (“It depends.”)
This answer is vague enough to keep yourself out of trouble!

Some other ways to ask this question:

• Vind je Nederland leuk? (“Do you like the Netherlands?”)
• Vind je je werk leuk? (“Do you like your work?”)
• Heb je het naar je zin in Amsterdam? (“Do you enjoy Amsterdam?”)

► Ja, ik houd van Amsterdam. (“Yes, I love Amsterdam.”)
► Ja, maar het is wel erg druk. (“Yes, but it’s quite busy.”)
► Het gaat wel. (“It’s fine.”)
► Nee, ik vind het niet leuk. (“No, I do not like it.”)

3. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

In this guide, you’ve learned how to make questions in Dutch, with plenty of example answers to keep that conversation going. You now have the tools to make conversation with your soon-to-be new Dutch friends.

So are you ready to put this useful knowledge into action? Do you feel ready to start asking basic Dutch questions using everything you’ve learned today?

You can start using and practicing these questions with the help of DutchPod101. Boost your studies with our useful vocabulary lists with audio recordings and other free resources.

Would you like to practice with your own private teacher? Then make use of our premium MyTeacher service and get personal one-on-one coaching. Through interactive exercises, pronunciation advice, and personalized feedback, you’ll really master those Dutch questions! 

Start asking questions in Dutch (and getting answers) with DutchPod101!

Would you like to take an official Dutch language proficiency test? If that’s the case, wouldn’t you love to receive some handy tips and tricks to make sure you pass? If so, this guide will definitely come in handy.

In the Netherlands, there are two official language proficiency tests: the NT2 Dutch as a Second Language State Exam (Staatsexamen NT2) and the Certificate Dutch as a Foreign Language (Certificaat Nederlands als Vreemde Taal, CNaVT). In this guide, we’ll only focus on the NT2 Dutch State Exam, as it’s the most common one they ask for when you’re looking for a job or applying for a university or school in the Netherlands. 

We’ll go over everything you need to know about the NT2 Dutch language proficiency exam: what it is, how to sign up, and why you should care. We’ll also give you some insight into the different language levels and how they relate to the NT2 Dutch exam. 

Finally, we’ll dive into the structure and content of all four sections of the exam, and provide you with some tips on how to practice for and master this most important Dutch test.

Table of Contents

1. What is the NT2 Dutch as a Second Language State Exam?
2. A Test for Two Levels
3. How to Succeed on the NT2 Dutch State Exam
4. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. What is the NT2 Dutch as a Second Language State Exam?

The NT2 Dutch as a Second Language State Exam is the national Dutch proficiency exam for non-native adult speakers who want to work or study in the Netherlands. The diploma received after passing this test is officially recognized by the Dutch government. You can find more details about the exam right here.

1- Why Take the Exam?

There are many possible reasons why you’d want to pass the NT2 Dutch exam:

• To study at a Dutch school or university
• To find a job in the Netherlands
• To apply for a Dutch residence permit
• To request a Dutch citizenship

→ The Diploma of the NT2 Dutch State Exam meets the Dutch language requirements for integration: Inburgering (“Integration”) and Naturalisatie (“Naturalization”).

You can only take this Dutch language exam in the Netherlands.

→ Would you like to do a test just “for fun” or to discover your level? In that case, the NT2 Dutch State Exam might be too much trouble, and it would be better to take a different Dutch test. 

2- What Does the Exam Look Like?

The exam has four sections:

1. Lezen (“Reading”)

2. Schrijven (“Writing”)

3. Spreken (“Speaking”)

4. Luisteren (“Listening”)

The tests are all computer-based. To obtain the diploma, you need to pass all four sections.

→ What happens if you fail one of the sections? It’s possible to re-do any of the four parts, but you won’t be able to apply for your diploma until you receive all four certificates.

3- NT2 Exam Registration

You can register for the exams via the DUO departmental website. The examinations are held several times a year at seven different locations in the Netherlands: 

• Amsterdam
• Eindhoven
• Amersfoort (only on predetermined Saturdays)
• Oisterwijk
• Rotterdam
• Rijswijk
• Zwolle

To be able to participate, you’ll need to have a valid ID.

How much does it cost? The NT2 Dutch exam costs €45,00 per language skill. So for all four sections, it will cost you a total of €180,00.

2. A Test for Two Levels

1- The different levels of the NT2 Dutch State Exam

There are two NT2 exam levels that you can choose to take: 

• The NT2 program I – This exam is meant for people who want to work or study on a vocational education level (MBO). This is considered a Dutch B1 exam according to CEFR.
• The NT2 program II – This exam is intended for people who want to study or work on a hogeschool (“higher education,” HBO) or university level (WO). The language level of this program is B2 (CEFR).

2- Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

Before you can choose the best test for your level, you need to be familiar with the CEFR system (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). This classification shows your proficiency level in a foreign language on a six-point scale, from A1 for beginners to C2 for those who have mastered a language.

Level	Description	You can:
A1	Beginner	Understand and use everyday expressions as well as simple statements about practical needs. Introduce yourself and others. Ask and answer questions about personal matters. Use the present tense and the right word order in simple affirmative sentences and questions. Have basic conversations if the other person is talking slowly and articulates clearly.
A2	Lower-Intermediate	Understand and communicate isolated sentences and common expressions or tasks about familiar daily situations (personal information, family, shop, or work interactions) Describe your current environment and express immediate needs. Correctly use present and past tenses.  Build correct sentences and use the subordinate clause. Understand and use standard pronunciation.
B1 Level of the NT2 program I	Intermediate	Understand and communicate in common everyday situations, such as work, school, or hobbies. Handle most daily interactions when traveling in the Netherlands or through Flanders. Write simple Dutch texts about familiar topics or subjects you are interested in. Talk about events, experiences, dreams, expectations, and desires. You’re also able to express your opinions, reasons, and plans.
B2 Level of the NT2 program II	Upper-Intermediate	Understand the general ideas of complex texts (both concrete and abstract), including technical discussions in your field of specialization. Talk Dutch spontaneously and quite easily with a native speaker. Write clear and detailed texts in Dutch about various topics. Express and explain your views, giving the advantages, disadvantages, and alternatives of various options.
C1	Advanced	Understand long texts and their implicit meaning, humor, and wit. Speak spontaneously and fluently without searching for your words too much. Use the language flexibly and efficiently at home, work, or school. Express your opinion on complex topics in a clear and structured manner. Write clear, well-structured, and detailed texts about complex subjects.
C2	Proficient	Effortlessly understand anything you read or hear. Summarize verbal or written information, such as facts and arguments. Speak very fluently, argue coherently, and reconstruct explanations. Express yourself spontaneously, precisely, and subtly, even about more-complex topics.

3. How to Succeed on the NT2 Dutch State Exam

1- The Writing Test

Duration: 100 minutes

A- The Test

The Dutch writing exam (Program I and Program II) consists of completing sentences, as well as writing both short and medium texts. You can decide what order you want to do the assignments in.

• Write sentences – You must complete sentences or finish them.
• Write short text – This could be a note, a short letter, or a short description of a situation.
• Write medium text – This could be a description of a problem and a proposal for a solution. You may receive a table, graph, or images that you must use.

Most assignments are about work or education. A number of assignments are about daily life topics.

Program I	Program II
Write 10 sentences	Write 7-8 sentences
Complete 2 short texts	Write 1-2 short texts
Write 2 short texts	Write 1-2 medium texts

B- Tips on How to Practice for the Test

► Improve your grammar and vocabulary, and get familiar with the most common structures of Dutch texts by reading a lot. This way, you’ll get used to different Dutch writing styles, learn useful vocabulary, and discover connecting phrases.

► Write, write, and write even more. For the best results, try to get personal feedback from a native Dutch speaker. For example, this can be your own private DutchPod101 teacher, through our MyTeacher services.

► Take an old NT2 Dutch test and practice writing texts within a short period of time. Or study NT2 Dutch test reviews.

C- Tips on How to Take the Test

► First, read the Dutch test instructions very carefully to understand them fully.

► Remember that you’ll probably not be asked for your opinion, and will sometimes be asked to take a stand following some specific guidelines. Follow these guidelines and write accordingly.

► Adapt your text for the target audience. The style, writing, and structure must match the type of text that you’re writing.

► Make a quick outline of your text before you begin writing. This way, you can write a better-organized text.

► Re-read your text several times, focusing on grammar, conjugation, and punctuation.

► Use a dictionary, it’s allowed! You may use a maximum of three dictionaries during the writing exam (except for the Van Dale Synonyms dictionary, the Van Dale Proverb dictionary, a digital dictionary, or a digital spell checker). Your dictionaries should not contain any notes.

2- The Speaking Test

Duration: around 25 minutes

A- The Test

For this Dutch speaking exam, you’ll wear headphones and speak through your microphone to the computer. You’ll read the commands and answers on the computer screen. The Program I exam consists of two parts; The Program II exam consists of three parts. There are both short and long speaking assignments:

• Short speaking assignment – You’ll receive questions, to which you’ll give a short answer. You’ll have twenty seconds to speak per assignment.
• Medium-length speaking assignment – You’ll receive questions, to which you’ll have to give a longer answer (a few sentences or more). You’ll have thirty seconds to speak per assignment.
• Long speaking assignment – You’ll speak for two minutes on a specific topic, and will receive preparation time for this.

	Program I	Program II
Part 1	8 short speaking assignments	4 short speaking assignments
Part 2	8 medium speaking assignments	8 medium speaking assignments
Part 3	–	1 long speaking assignment

→ You can’t use a dictionary for the speaking test!

B- Tips on How to Practice for the Test

► Take some old NT2 tests and practice the short, medium, and (if you plan on taking the Program II) long speaking assignments. This is the best way to get familiar with the “real” test conditions.

► Practice your speaking skills with Dutch natives as often as you can. Practice with your Dutch friends or colleagues. Don’t have any yet? Talking to strangers also helps a lot; it gets you out of your comfort zone and exposes you to different ways of speaking.

► Don’t have any natives around to talk with? Try to practice with other Dutch learners, or even alone. If practicing alone, record yourself and try to correct your own mistakes. 

► Would you like to improve your pronunciation? Then have a look at Our Ultimate Dutch Pronunciation Guide.

► Are you just learning Dutch? Have a look at this page on Conversational Dutch for Absolute Beginners.

► Use MyTeacher and send your recordings to your private teacher. He or she will give you some great feedback on your grammar and pronunciation!

C- Tips on How to Do the Test

► Read the Dutch test instructions carefully, as many times as necessary to understand them perfectly.

► Try to use examples to illustrate your ideas or opinions. You can use examples from your own experiences, current events, or texts that you’ve read.

► Try to articulate your thoughts clearly, and don’t scatter your ideas too much.

3- The Reading Test 

Duration: 110 minutes in Program I and 100 minutes in Program II

A- The Test

For the Dutch reading exam, you’ll receive a booklet containing texts. The questions and answer options are on the computer. For the seven texts, you must answer 35-38 multiple-choice questions. 

There are different types of assignments:

• There are assignments where you have to choose the subject of the text, the source, or the audience.
• There are assignments where you have to choose the meaning of a text, the relationship between two pieces of text, or the conclusion of the text.
• There are questions where you need to look something up in the text.

B- Tips on How to Practice for the Test

► Practice by reading a wide variety of materials, from newspaper articles, books, and essays to short stories.

► Practice the reading test from a past NT2 Dutch test. This way, you’ll get a good idea of what to expect in terms of length and difficulty. You can also have a look at NT2 Dutch test reviews.

► Are you still a Dutch language beginner? Then have a look at this Extensive Reading in Dutch for Absolute Beginners page or this Reading Comprehension for Absolute Beginners page.

C- Tips on How to Do the Test

► Read the text carefully before you read the questions. This way, you won’t be biased and you’ll be able to better understand the text.

► Then, read the Dutch test instructions and questions attentively and make sure you understand them perfectly. After that, you can read the text one more time in this new light.

► Stay alert and prepare yourself for word play and traps. 

► You can use up to three dictionaries for the reading test, as long as they are free of any notes. You can’t use the Van Dale Synonyms dictionary, the Van Dale Proverb dictionary, a digital dictionary, or a digital spell checker.

4- The Listening Test

Duration: 90 minutes

A- The Test

The Dutch listening exam consists of about 40 different assignments. There are five or more audio texts and 1-3 videos, each with questions. All questions are multiple-choice.

You’ll hear speakers talk about daily life situations, in addition to recordings of “normal life conversations.” These will feature different voices, repetitions, accents, and noises in the background.

For each question, you get twenty-five seconds to read the question and the three possible answers. 

You can’t use a dictionary for the listening test.

B- Tips on How to Practice for the Test

► Listen to Dutch radio or watch Dutch TV, movies, or series every day. A Dutch podcast may also be useful.

► Do you have some Dutch native speakers close by? Listen to them speak by asking them many questions.

► Any listening exercise on DutchPod101.com can be a great way to practice your listening skills. We also have a page on Listening Comprehension for Absolute Beginners.

► Practice an NT2 test with listening assignments; this way, you’ll know what to expect. You can find old NT2 Dutch State Exams on the official website, where you can also have a look at their recommended study materials.

C- Tips on How to Do the Test

► Read the test instructions attentively.

► Make the best of the short time you’re given to read the questions.

► Stay alert and don’t jump to conclusions too fast—appearances may be deceiving. Don’t choose your answer until you’ve heard the entire text. 

4. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

In this guide, you’ve learned everything you need to know about the NT2 Dutch State Exam. We’ve shown you some useful information on the structure and the different levels of the test. You’ve also received some useful tips on the writing, speaking, reading, and listening sections of this Dutch language proficiency test.

Do you feel ready to start practicing for the NT2 Dutch Exam? A good exercise is to practice an official NT2 test, from the beginning to the end. It will take some time, but it’s the only way to learn what to expect.

Would you like to practice your Dutch? DutchPod101.com has many free resources, such as vocabulary lists with audio recordings which are great for practicing your listening and speaking skills.

Or do you prefer some private teaching? DutchPod101 also offers personal one-on-one coaching with our premium MyTeacher service. Through interactive exercises, personalized feedback, and useful tips, you can really master this Dutch language proficiency test!

Learning a new language can be tricky; there’s so much to learn. Where should you start? And what should you focus on? 

You may already be learning grammar rules, memorizing conjugation tables, and studying vocabulary lists. However, to really learn Dutch, it’s important that you speak it as early as you can. That’s the only way you’ll really improve your Dutch language skills.

Are you still hesitant to speak Dutch? Then try to learn some useful and easy Dutch sentence patterns. This will allow you to form hundreds of natural sentences that you can use in many daily situations. You’ll be able to communicate your thoughts, doubts, or opinions to your Dutch friends or colleagues with ease and confidence. Sure, it won’t enable you to express the most complicated lines of thought, but it will cover a wide range of typical day-to-day interactions. Moreover, it will give you the confidence boost you need to start speaking Dutch.

In this article, you’ll learn ten easy Dutch sentence patterns, covering situations from giving a description to expressing your desires. For each of these Dutch-to-English sentence patterns, we’ll include many examples. This way you’ll really have the tools to master the Dutch sentence structure and sentence patterns.

Good luck!

Table of Contents

1. Linking Two Nouns
2. Using Adjectives to Describe Something
3. Making a Comparison
4. Expressing Your Desires
5. Expressing Your Needs
6. Expressing Your Preferences
7. Giving Orders
8. Asking for Information
9. Asking About Time
10. Asking About Location or Position
11. How DutchPod101.com Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. Linking Two Nouns

We’ll start with an easy Dutch sentence pattern that will allow you to link two nouns: the “A is B” pattern. 

This can also be called the [A] [B] [C] pattern: A (noun/subject) + B (verb) + C (noun/object).

A noun (subject) is linked by a verb to a noun (object), giving substance to a sentence. The way to do this is to use the verb zijn (“to be”). You can find details about its conjugation right here.

Let’s have a look at some examples:

• Jan is mijn vriend. (“Jan is my friend.”)
• Charlotte was mijn baas. (“Charlotte was my boss.”)
• Mijn broer is politieagent. (“My brother is a police officer.”)
• Dit horloge is een cadeau van mijn vrouw geweest. (“This watch was a gift from my wife.”)
• Nederland is het land van mijn dromen. (“The Netherlands is the country of my dreams.”)

→ Would you like to learn some more nouns? Have a look at these 50 Most Common Nouns.

2. Using Adjectives to Describe Something

Okay, let’s continue with another basic Dutch sentence structure, similar to the one above. This sentence pattern has the same kind of structure (A is B). However, the verb zijn (“to be”) here doesn’t connect two nouns; instead, it connects a noun and an adjective. 

So the pattern is: A (noun/subject) is B (adjective).

Let’s look at some examples:

• Marlies is mooi. (“Marlies is beautiful.”)
• Kai is heel jong. (“Kai is very young.”)
• Deze baan was erg belangrijk voor mij. (“This job was very important to me.”)
• Hij zou nu erg oud zijn geweest. (“He would have been very old now.”)
• De film die we gisteravond hebben bekeken was eng. (“The movie we watched last night was scary.”)
  

→ Learn more useful adjectives with DutchPod101’s list of the 50 Most Common Adjectives. Or have a look at “Which Adjective Describes Your Personality Best?”

3. Making a Comparison

Let’s take it one step further with this more complex (but still easy) Dutch sentence pattern: A is [adjective] than B. 

Use this sentence pattern to make a comparison.

Let’s have a look at the different parts of this sentence pattern, that again is connected by the verb zijn (“to be”): A (noun/subject) + zijn (“to be”) + B (adjective in comparative form) + dan (“than”) + C (noun).

Let’s now see some examples of how to form Dutch sentences like this with the verb zijn:

• Ik ben mooier dan mijn zus. (“I am more beautiful than my sister.”)
• Mijn man was slimmer dan ik. (“My husband was smarter than me.”)
• Hij is grappiger dan mijn vader. (“He’s funnier than my dad.”)
• Nederland is leuker dan België. (“The Netherlands is nicer than Belgium.”)
• De vorige minister-president was beter dan de huidige. (“The previous prime minister was better than the current one.”)

However, you can also make comparisons with other verbs. For example:

• Mijn kat rent harder dan mijn hond. (“My cat runs faster than my dog.”)
• Hij loopt beter dan ik. (“He walks better than me.”)
• Deze achtbaan ging sneller dan de vorige. (“This roller coaster went faster than the last one.”)
• In Amsterdam praten ze duidelijker dan in Limburg. (“In Amsterdam, they talk more clearly than in Limburg.”)
  

4. Expressing Your Desires

Now let’s go another way and see a different kind of Dutch sentence structure. 

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could express your desires in Dutch? To be able to say things like “I want to go to the bathroom” or “I want a sandwich with gouda cheese.” Crucial stuff to know in the Netherlands.

For this Dutch sentence pattern, we use the verb willen (“to want”), and it works quite similarly to how it does in English. It uses the indicative mood for something you WANT and the subjunctive mood for something you WOULD LIKE:

• Ik wil (“I want”)
• Ik zou willen (“I would like”)

This sentence structure follows the pattern:

A [object] + willen + B (noun) 

or  

A [object] + willen + B (noun) + C (verb)

For example:

• Ik wil koffie. (“I want coffee.”)
• Ik wil je zien. (“I want to see you”.)
• Mijn broer wil Nederland bezoeken. (“My brother wants to visit the Netherlands.”)
• Ik zou van de wc gebruik willen maken. (“I would like to use the toilet.”)
• Hij zou graag de hond willen aaien. (“He would like to pet the dog.”)

And let’s not forget “I don’t want,” as the Dutch have no problem at all saying what they don’t want…

• Ik wil geen fruit. (“I don’t want fruit.”)
• Ik zou niet naar Groningen willen verhuizen. (“I would not want to move to Groningen.”) 

→ You can find the full conjugation table for willen right here.

5. Expressing Your Needs

Let’s add some urgency and learn one of the most important Dutch sentence structures: how to express your needs. This is something you’re likely to do daily, on a variety of occasions: at work (Ik heb meer tijd nodig – “I need more time”), at home (Ik moet de vaat nog wassen – “I need to wash the dishes”) or with friends (Ik heb echt een biertje nodig – “I really need a beer”). 

As you can see in these examples, there are different ways in Dutch to express your needs:

• Moeten (“To have to”)
  

Ik moet + Infinitive verb

Ik moet plassen. (“I have to pee.”)

• Nodig hebben (“To need to”)
  

Ik heb + Nominal + nodig

Ik heb jou nodig. (“I need you.”)

Here are some more Dutch sentence examples:

• Ik heb rust nodig. (“I need to rest.”)
• Ik moet met je praten. (“I need to talk to you.”)
• Ik heb een nieuwe jas nodig. (“I need a new jacket.”)
• We hadden gisteren jouw hulp nodig. (“We needed your help yesterday.”)
• Zij moesten vorige week onverwachts naar Duitsland reizen. (“They had to travel to Germany unexpectedly last week.”)
  

6. Expressing Your Preferences

You’ve expressed your desires and needs, now it’s time to talk about the things that you like or even love… 

Just like in English, we have a verb for “to like” (leuk vinden) and a verb for “to love” (houden van). In general, the Dutch are quite careful with their expressions of love; it’s quickly seen as dramatic or overdone to use this word. However, if you really like something or someone, you can use it, of course. 

• Leuk vinden (“To like [to]”)
  

Ik vind + Nominal + leuk	Ik vind mijn collega leuk. (“I like my colleague.”)
Ik vind + Infinitive verb + leuk	Ik vind tekenen leuk. (“I like to draw.”)

• Houden van (“To love [to]”)
  

Ik houd van + Nominal or Noun	Ik houd van jou. (“I love you.”)
Ik houd van + Infinitive verb	Ik houd van fietsen. (“I love to bike.”)

Let’s have a look at some examples:

• Ik vind deze film leuk. (“I like this movie.”)
• Ik vind je leuk. ( “I like you.”)
• Mijn vader houdt veel van mijn moeder. (“My father loves my mother a lot.”)
• De kinderen hielden vroeger van buiten spelen. (“In the past, the children loved playing outside.”)
• Ik vind bier lekker, maar ik houd meer van wijn. (“I like beer, but I prefer wine.” Literally: “I love wine more.”)
  

7. Giving Orders

Would you like to get bossy in Dutch? Or just be able to express your limits? Then you need this sentence pattern with the Dutch imperative. For this, we use the present tense of the first person singular. However, in the case of regular verbs, the imperative is the verb stem.

This is the sentence pattern: A (imperative verb) + niet (+ B [noun]). In English, this means: Don’t + A (conjugated verb).

Let’s see this Dutch sentence construction in action:

Ga niet weg! (“Don’t go away!”)
• Lach niet. (“Don’t laugh.”)
• Wees niet onbeleefd. (“Don’t be rude.”)
• Vertel me niet wat ik moet doen. (“Don’t tell me what to do.”)
• Doe de deur niet dicht. (“Don’t close the door.”)
  

→ When you’re angry, it’s always good to know how to give negative orders. However, you should also look at these Phrases to Use When You’re Angry.

8. Asking for Information

Let’s now move on to some questions. Especially as a foreigner, it’s so important to be able to ask basic questions; you need to know how to ask for information. So what’s an easy way to do this in Dutch?

• Wat + zijn + A (noun)? (“What + to be + A [noun]?”)

As you can see, it’s quite similar to its English counterpart. Let’s see a few examples of this Dutch language sentence structure:

• Wat is dat? (“What is this?”)
• Wat is jouw naam? (“What is your name?”)
• Wat was haar beroep? (“What was her profession?”)
• Wat was het gerecht dat we de vorige keer aten? (“What was the dish we ate last time?”)
• Wat zou je ideale feest zijn geweest? (“What would have been your ideal party?”)

In the sentences above, note the conjugation of the verb zijn (“to be”). 

9. Asking About Time

After the “what” questions, it’s time to look at the “when” questions:

• Wanneer + zijn + A (noun)? (“When + to be + A [noun]?”)

This Dutch sentence pattern is also quite similar to the English version. The zijn (“to be”) conjugation is also crucial for this question. Let’s see some examples:

Wanneer is je verjaardag? (“When is your birthday?”)
• Wanneer is de vergadering? (“When is the meeting?”)
• Wanneer was jouw feest? (“When was your party?”)
• Wanneer was je boos op je zus? (“When were you angry with your sister?”)
• Wanneer zou jouw trein aankomen? (“When would your train arrive?”)
  

→ Would you like to learn more about the vocabulary for the days in Dutch? Have a look at this useful vocabulary list on Talking About Days with audio recordings.

10. Asking About Location or Position

Last, but definitely not least, a very useful Dutch sentence pattern is that for asking “where” questions. 

These are crucial for when you get lost and need to ask for directions, or when you just want to socialize with someone and ask them where in the Netherlands they’re from:

• Waar + zijn + A (noun)? (“Where + to be + A [noun]?”)

This question can also use different conjugations of the verb zijn (“to be”):

• Waar is dat? (“Where is that?”)
• Waar is de wc? (“Where is the toilet?”)
• Waar was ik gebleven? (“Where was I?”)
• Waar ben jij geboren? (“Where were you born?”)
• Waar ben jij het liefste op jouw verjaardag? (“Where do you prefer to be on your birthday?”)

→ Want to see more Dutch-to-English sentence patterns? Make sure to visit our vocabulary list on the Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners, with useful audio recordings to improve your pronunciation.

11. How DutchPod101.com Can Help You Learn More Dutch

You’ve just learned the top ten Dutch sentence patterns. You can use these patterns to form sentences for just about any situation! 

Are you ready to put this knowledge into practice? Do you feel like speaking in Dutch to complete strangers using these Dutch sentence patterns?

Make sure to explore DutchPod101.com, as we have many free resources that will help you form perfect sentences. Have a look at our vocabulary lists with audio recordings; they’re a great way to practice Dutch words and their pronunciation.

Remember that DutchPod101 also offers personal one-on-one coaching with our premium MyTeacher service. This way, you can practice the Dutch sentence structures with your own private teacher, through interactive exercises, personalized feedback, and much more.

Happy learning!

Adverbs bring some clarity, fun, and emotion to a language. Could you imagine a language without them? It would surely make everything much more ambiguous and boring. We need adverbs to form phrases, to express our emotions, to give some perspective, and to spice up our conversations. 

Luckily, there are plenty of Dutch adverbs to choose from. From adverbs describing time and frequency, to those useful adverbs that help you connect your thoughts. Through these fun adverbs, you’ll be able to explain yourself better and more clearly express your mood, opinions, and feelings.

Are you already intrigued? Then let’s start with a short guide on the use of Dutch adverbs. After this, we’ll continue with a useful Dutch adverbs list with 100 must-know adverbs. Enjoy!

Table of Contents

1. Dutch Adverbs User Guide
2. Adverbs of Time
3. Adverbs of Frequency
4. Adverbs of Place
5. Adverbs of Manner
6. Adverbs of Degree
7. Adverbs to Connect Thoughts
8. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. Dutch Adverbs User Guide

1- What are Adverbs?

Adverbs give more information about the words they’re connected to. They work together with a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, to change its meaning or to make its meaning more precise. Adverbs can change the tone of the sentence completely or set another mood.

So let’s show you some examples to help you understand the Dutch grammar of adverbs:

Combination of an adverb and a verb:

• Ik ga morgen naar school. (“I will go to school tomorrow.”)

Here, the adverb morgen (“tomorrow”) defines the verb gaan (“to go”).

Combination of Dutch adjectives and adverbs:

• Ik ben zeer goed in het leren van talen. (“I am very good at learning languages.”)

The Dutch adverb zeer (“very”) influences the word goed, which is an adjective.

→Learn more about the difference between adverbs and adjectives.

→Would you like to learn more Dutch adjectives? Have a look at this list of the 50 Most Common Adjectives. Want to take it a step further? Let’s have some fun and see Which Adjective Describes Your Personality Best.

Combination of an adverb with another adverb:

• Later deze week reis ik naar Nederland. (“Later this week, I travel to the Netherlands.”)

Here, you can see how the adverb later (“later”) and the adverb deze week (“this week”) define each other.

2- Dutch Adverb Order

For the Dutch adverb placement, it’s very common to place the adverb as closely as possible after the verb. For example:

• Ik spreek zachtjes. (“I speak softly.”)

However, if you’d like to emphasize the adverb, you can put it at the beginning of the sentence:

• Bovendien, heb ik al plannen. (“Moreover, I already have plans.”)

Do you want to use more than one adverb? Then the following Dutch adverb placement is most common:

Time-Manner-Place

So adverbs of time come before adverbs of manner, and adverbs of manner come before adverbs of place.

Now that you’ve learned something about the Dutch grammar of adverbs, let’s start with our Dutch adverbs list and dive into the different adverbs. In the following sections, we’ll be covering adverbs in Dutch related to time, frequency, place, manner, degree, and those special thought connectors.

2. Adverbs of Time

Adverbs of time will tell you when something takes place.

1.

Gisteren “Yesterday”

Gisteren was ik erg moe. “Yesterday, I was very tired.”

2.

Deze week “This week”

Deze week begin ik met mijn nieuwe baan. “This week, I start with my new job.”

3.

Straks “Later”

Ik bel je straks. “I’ll call you later.”

4.

Vandaag “Today”

Mijn zus gaat vandaag trouwen. “My sister gets married today.”

5.

Morgen “Tomorrow”

Ik kan niet werken morgen. “I can’t work tomorrow.”

6.

Dan “Then”

Hij komt dan naar huis. “He then comes home.”

7.

Later “Later”

Later als ik groot ben… “Later, when I grow up…”

8.

Vanavond “Tonight”

Ik heb een date vanavond. “I have a date tonight.”

9.

Nu “Right now”

Kom nu naar huis. “Come home right now.”

10.

Gisteravond “Last night”

Gisteravond gingen we laat slapen. “Last night we went to bed late.”

11.

Vanmorgen “This morning”

Vanmorgen kon ik mijn bed niet uit komen. “This morning, I couldn’t get out of bed.”

12.

Volgende week “Next week”

Volgende week reizen we naar Amsterdam. “Next week, we will travel to Amsterdam.”

13.

Al “Already”

Ik wacht al een uur op je. “I’ve already been waiting for you for an hour.”

14.

Onlangs “Recently”

Ik ben onlangs oma geworden. “I recently became a grandmother.”

15.

De laatste tijd “Lately”

De laatste tijd kan ik niet goed slapen. “Lately, I can’t sleep very well.”

16.

Snel “Soon”

Ik zie je snel. “I will see you soon.”

17.

Meteen “Immediately”

Ik duik meteen in het zwembad. “I immediately dive into the pool.”

18.

Nog “Still”

Hij is nog aan het bellen. “He is still calling.”

19.

Nog steeds “Still”

Ik ben nog steeds verliefd op jou. “I am still in love with you.”

As you can see, nog and nog steeds both mean “still.” However, nog steeds in general refers to a longer time, so something that continues over a longer time period.

20.

Geleden “Ago”

Zeven jaar geleden ging ik naar Argentinië. “Seven years ago, I went to Argentina.”

→Make sure to visit our vocabulary list on Talking about Time and discover the pronunciation of various Dutch adverbs of time.

3. Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of frequency will give you some information on how often something takes place.

21.

Bijna “Almost”

Ik ga bijna nooit uit eten. “I almost never eat out.”

22.

Altijd “Always”

Zaterdag ga ik altijd winkelen. “I always go shopping on Saturday.”

23.

Vaak “Often”

Hij is vaak boos. “He is often angry.”

24.

Gewoonlijk “Usually”

Ik werk gewoonlijk tot zes uur. “Usually, I work until six.”

25.

Soms “Sometimes”

Ik kijk soms het nieuws. “I sometimes watch the news.”

26.

Af en toe “Occasionally”

Mijn vriend en ik gaan af en toe naar de bioscoop. “My boyfriend and I occasionally go to the movies.”

27.

Zelden “Rarely”

Mijn broer reist zelden met de auto. “My brother rarely travels by car.”

28.

Nooit “Never”

Ik ga nooit trouwen. “I will never get married.”

29.

Ooit “Someday”

Ooit wil ik graag de wereld over reizen. “Someday, I want to travel all over the world.”

30.

Meestal “Usually”

Ik ben meestal wel thuis. “I’m usually at home.”

31.

Bijna nooit “Almost never”

Ze liegt bijna nooit tegen me. “She almost never lies to me.”

32.

Regelmatig “Regularly”

Hij gaat regelmatig voetballen. “He plays football regularly.”

4. Adverbs of Place

Adverbs of place tell you more about where something takes place.

33.

Hier “Here”

Kom hier! “Come here!”

34.

Daar “There”

Ik ga daar niet naartoe. “I’m not going there.”

35.

Daarginds “Over there”

Daarginds woont mijn moeder. “My mother lives over there.”

36.

Overal “Everywhere”

Er zijn overal camera’s. “There are cameras everywhere.”

37.

Nergens “Nowhere”

De hond is nergens te vinden. “The dog is nowhere to be found.”

38.

Thuis “Home”

Hij is thuis. “He is at home.”

39.

Buiten “Outside”

Ik zit buiten. “I’m sitting outside.”

40.

Binnen “Inside”

Binnen is het lekker warm. “Inside, it’s nice and warm.”

41.

Ergens “Somewhere”

De sleutels liggen ergens in de la. “The keys are somewhere in the drawer.”

5. Adverbs of Manner

How does something happen? That’s what the adverbs of manner describe. 

42.

Nogal “Quite”

Ze was nogal boos. “She was quite mad.”

43.

Echt “Really”

Hij is echt geschrokken. “He is really shocked.”

44.

Snel “Quickly”

De man rijdt snel naar huis. “The man drives home quickly.”

45.

Voorzichtig “Carefully”

Ik maak de kast voorzichtig open. “I carefully open the cupboard.”

46.

Langzaam “Slowly”

Langzaam fietsen we door de sneeuw. “Slowly, we cycle through the snow.”

47.

Goed “Well”

Het gaat goed met mij. “I am doing well.”

48.

Hard “Fast”

Hij fietst hard door de bossen. “He cycles fast through the woods.”

49.

Liefdevol “Lovingly”

Ze kijkt liefdevol naar haar vriendje. “She looks lovingly at her boyfriend.”

50.

Nauwelijks “Hardly”

Ik kan je nauwelijks bijhouden. “I can hardly keep up with you.”

51.

Merendeels “Mostly”

De zoon woont merendeels bij zijn moeder. “The son mostly lives with his mother.”

52.

Samen “Together”

Wij gaan samen winkelen. “We go shopping together.”

53.

Alleen “Alone”

Ik ben niet graag alleen. “I don’t like to be alone.”

54.

Stom “Stupidly”

Hij lachte stom om haar flauwe grap. “He laughed stupidly at her silly joke.”

55.

Slecht “Badly”

Ik dans slecht. “I dance badly.”

56.

Mooi “Beautifully”

De vrouw zingt mooi. “The woman sings beautifully.”

57.

Kwaad “Angrily”

Hij liep kwaad weg. “He walked away angrily.”

6. Adverbs of Degree

Adverbs of degree tell you to what extent something happens or is true. 

58.

Heel “Very”

Onze hond is heel lief. “Our dog is very sweet.”

59.

Erg “Very”

Ik ben erg gelukkig met jou. “I am very happy with you.”

60.

Zeer “Very”

Ik vind mijn studie zeer interessant. “I find my study very interesting.”

As you can see, there are (at least) three different ways to say “very” in Dutch. Heel and erg are the most common ones. Zeer is a more serious way of saying “very.”

61.

Helemaal “Completely”

Hij eet zijn bord helemaal leeg. “He eats his plate completely empty.”

62.

Graag “Like” / “Gladly”

Zij wil graag met hem trouwen. “She would like to marry him.”

63.

Redelijk “Quite”

Het is al redelijk laat. “It is already quite late.”

64.

Vrij “Quite”

Ik ben vrij moe. “I am quite tired.”

65.

Absoluut “Absolutely”

Hij kan absoluut het beste koken. “He can definitely (absolutely) cook the best.”

66.

Veel “A lot”

In de doos zitten veel bloemen. “There are a lot of flowers in the box.”

67.

Weinig “Not much”

Ik zie hem weinig. “I don’t see him much.”

68.

Min of meer “More or less”

Ik ga min of meer twee keer per jaar op vakantie. “I go on holiday twice a year, more or less.”

69.

Genoeg “Enough”

Dat is genoeg. “That’s enough.”

70.

Nauwelijk “Hardly”

Je kunt het nauwelijks zien. “You can hardly see it.”

71.

Een beetje “A bit”

Ik ben een beetje teleurgesteld in jou. “I am a bit disappointed in you.”

72.

Wat “Something”

Ik heb zeker wat geleerd van mijn Nederlandse les. “I definitely learned something from my Dutch class.”

73.

Niets “Nothing”

Ik heb niets verkeerd gedaan. “I have done nothing wrong.”

74.

Minder “Less”

Hij is minder grappig. “He is less funny.”

75.

Onvoldoende “Not enough”

Ik heb onvoldoende gestudeerd. “I have not studied enough.”

→Learn How to Express Quantity with DutchPod101.com and have a look at which words are adverbs (see the words with “adv”).

7. Adverbs to Connect Thoughts

Some adverbs help you connect thoughts. With these, you’ll be able to form sentences and express opinions.

76.

Ook “Also”

Ik ben ook moe. “I am also tired.”

77.

Natuurlijk “Of course”

Hij is natuurlijk weer te laat. “He is, of course, too late again.”

78.

Echter “However”

Ik ben echter wel benieuwd. “However, I am curious.”

79.

Daarom “Therefore”

Daarom ga ik vandaag naar de dokter. “Therefore, I am going to the doctor today.”

80.

Aan de andere kant “On the other hand”

Aan de andere kant wil zij liever vrij zijn. “On the other hand, she would rather be free.”

81.

Ongetwijfeld “Undoubtedly”

Mexicaans eten is ongetwijfeld heel lekker. “Mexican food is undoubtedly very tasty.”

82.

In feite “In fact”

In feite is het helemaal niet zo ingewikkeld. “In fact, it’s not that complicated at all.”

83.

Eindelijk “Finally”

Ik studeer vandaag eindelijk af. “I’m finally graduating today.”

84.

Niettemin “Nevertheless”

Niettemin zal ik proberen vandaag plezier te hebben. “Nevertheless, I will try to have fun today.”

85.

Inderdaad “Indeed”

Het is inderdaad een uitdaging. “It is indeed a challenge.”

86.

In plaats van “Instead”

Zij kiest voor hem in plaats van haar beste vriendin. “She chooses him instead of her best friend.”

87.

Bovendien “Moreover”

Ik ga bovendien al over 2 dagen op vakantie. “Moreover, I will go on holiday in two days.”

88.

Ondertussen “Meanwhile”

Zij is ondertussen al getrouwd. “Meanwhile, she already got married.”

89.

Uiteindelijk “Eventually” / “In the end”

Uiteindelijk hebben ze gekozen voor iets nieuws. “In the end, they opted for something new.”

90.

Trouwens “Besides” / “By the way”

Trouwens, wist je al dat Bob en Kim uit elkaar zijn? “By the way, did you know Bob and Kim separated?”

91.

Zeker “Certainly”

Zij is zeker heel mooi. “She is certainly very beautiful.”

92.

Daarbij “In addition”

Daarbij ga ik graag naar school. “In addition, I like to go to school.”

93.

Niet “Not”

Dat is niet grappig. “That’s not funny.”

94.

Misschien “Maybe”

Ik ben misschien wel wat voorbarig geweest. “I was maybe a bit presumptuous.”

95.

Helaas “Unfortunately”

Helaas kan ik je niet verder helpen. “Unfortunately, I can’t help you further.”

96.

Eigenlijk “Actually”

Ik ben eigenlijk wel opgelucht. “Actually, I’m relieved.”

97.

Toch “Anyway”

Zij gaat toch naar huis. “She’s going home anyway.”

98.

Hè? “Huh?”

Dat vind je wel leuk, hè? “You like that, huh?”

Hè is a common Dutch catchword, and it’s a popular way to end a question.

99.

Zeg “Say”

Dat heeft ze goed gedaan, zeg. “She did well, I say.”

Zeg means “say,” and it’s usually used to put emphasis on something said before.

100.

Blijkbaar “Apparently”

Blijkbaar is zij verliefd op hem. “Apparently, she is in love with him.”

→Would you like to learn the pronunciation of some of the Adverbs and Phrases for Connecting Thoughts? Have a look here and practice your pronunciation with the audio recordings. It’s freely available on DutchPod101.com.

8. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

In this guide, we’ve shown you the ins and outs of Dutch adverbs: Dutch adverb order, Dutch adverb placement in sentences, and a massive Dutch adverbs list. In our list of the 100 most useful Dutch adverbs, you learned all about the Dutch grammar of adverbs as well.

Are you ready now to take this new knowledge into your daily life? Are you ready to put these adverbs into practice? To do this, you need to be able to form sentences with Verbs and Pronouns.

Would you like some special attention? Remember that we also offer a Premium PLUS service with personal one-on-one coaching: MyTeacher. Let your private teacher help you with Dutch adjectives and adverbs, verbs, pronunciation, and much more. You’ll receive personalized exercises, constructive feedback, and interactive assignments.

Happy learning on DutchPod101.com!

You asked, so we provided—easy-to-follow instructions on how to set up your electronic devices to write in Dutch! We’ll also give you a few excellent tips on how to use this keyboard, as well as some online and app alternatives if you prefer not to set up a Dutch keyboard.

Table of Contents

1. Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in Dutch
2. Setting up Your Computer and Mobile Devices for Dutch
3. How to Activate an Onscreen Keyboard on Your Computer
4. How to Change the Language Settings to Dutch on Your Computer
5. Activating the Dutch Keyboard on Your Mobile Phone and Tablet
6. Dutch Keyboard Typing Tips
7. How to Practice Typing Dutch

1. Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in Dutch

Learning a new language is made so much easier when you’re able to read and write/type it. This way, you will:

• Get the most out of any dictionary and Dutch language apps on your devices
• Expand your ability to find Dutch websites and use the various search engines
• Be able to communicate much better online with your Dutch teachers and friends, and look super cool in the process! 

2. Setting up Your Computer and Mobile Devices for Dutch

It takes only a few steps to set up any of your devices to read and type in Dutch. It’s super-easy on your mobile phone and tablet, and a simple process on your computer.

On your computer, you’ll first activate the onscreen keyboard to work with. You’ll only be using your mouse or touchpad/pointer for this keyboard. Then, you’ll need to change the language setting to Dutch, so all text will appear in Dutch. You could also opt to use online keyboards instead. Read on for the links!

On your mobile devices, it’s even easier—you only have to change the keyboard. We also provide a few alternatives in the form of online keyboards and downloadable apps.

3. How to Activate an Onscreen Keyboard on Your Computer

1- Mac

1. Go to System Preferences > Keyboard.

2. Check the option “Show Keyboard & Character Viewers in Menu Bar.”

3. You’ll see a new icon on the right side of the main bar; click on it and select “Show Keyboard Viewer.”

2- Windows

1. Go to Start > Settings > Easy Access > Keyboard.

2. Turn on the option for “Onscreen Keyboard.”

3- Online Keyboards

If you don’t want to activate your computer’s onscreen keyboard, you also have the option to use online keyboards. Here are some good options:

• Branah
• Gate2Home
• vkboard

4- Add-ons of Extensions for Browsers

Instead of an online keyboard, you could also choose to download a Google extension to your browser for a language input tool. The Google Input Tools extension allows users to use input tools in Chrome web pages, for example.

4. How to Change the Language Settings to Dutch on Your Computer

Now that you’re all set to work with an onscreen keyboard on your computer, it’s time to download the Dutch language pack for your operating system of choice:

• Windows 8 (and higher)
• Windows 7
• Mac (OS X and higher)

1- Windows 8 (and higher)

1. Go to Settings > Change PC Settings > Time & Language > Region & Language.

2. Click on “Add a Language” and select “Dutch.” This will add it to your list of languages. It will appear as Dutch with the note “language pack available.”

3. Click on “Dutch” > “Options” > “Download.” It’ll take a few minutes to download and install the language pack.

4. As a keyboard layout, you’ll only need the one marked as “Dutch.” You can ignore other keyboard layouts.

2- Windows 7

1. Go to Start > Control Panel > Clock, Language, and Region.

2. On the “Region and Language” option, click on “Change Keyboards or Other Input Methods.”

3. On the “Keyboards and Languages” tab, click on “Change Keyboards” > “Add” > “Dutch.”

4. Expand the option of “Dutch” and then expand the option “Keyboard.” Select the keyboard layout marked as “Dutch.” You can ignore other keyboard layouts. Click “OK” and then “Apply.”

3- Mac (OS X and higher)

If you can’t see the language listed, please make sure to select the right option from System Preferences > Language and Region

1. From the Apple Menu (top left corner of the screen) go to System Preferences > Keyboard.

2. Click the Input Sources tab and a list of available keyboards and input methods will appear.

3. Click on the plus button, select “Dutch,” and add the “Dutch” keyboard (not the “Belgian” one).

5. Activating the Dutch Keyboard on Your Mobile Phone and Tablet

Texting and searching in Dutch will greatly help you master the language! Adding a Dutch keyboard on your mobile phone and/or tablet is super-easy.

You could also opt to download an app instead of adding a keyboard. Read on for our suggestions.

Below are the instructions for both iOS and Android mobile phones and tablets.

1- iOS

1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard.

2. Tap “Keyboards” and then “Add New Keyboard.”

3. Select “Dutch” from the list.

4. When typing, you can switch between languages by tapping and holding on the icon to reveal the keyboard language menu.

2- Android

1. Go to Settings > General Management > Language and Input > On-screen Keyboard (or “Virtual Keyboard” on some devices) > Samsung Keyboard.

2. Tap “Language and Types” or “ + Select Input Languages” depending on the device and then “MANAGE INPUT LANGUAGES” if available.

3. Select “Dutch” from the list.

4. When typing, you can switch between languages by swiping the space bar.

3- Applications for Mobile Phones

If you don’t want to add a keyboard on your mobile phone or tablet, these are a few good apps to consider:

• Gboard – The Google Keyboard
• Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard
• Typiora Keyboard

6. Dutch Keyboard Typing Tips

Typing in Dutch can be very challenging at first! Therefore, we added here a few useful tips to make it easier to use your Dutch keyboard.

1- Computer

You can use Alt codes to enter specific characters. Here are some examples that are useful when using a Microsoft Windows device: 

Grave (capital letters)	À 0192	È  0200	Ì 0204	Ò 0210	Ù  0217	—
Grave	à 0224	è 0232	ì 0236	ò 0242	ù 0249	—
Acute (capital letters)	Á 0193	É 0201	Í 0205	Ó 0211	Ú 0218	Ý 0221
Acute	á 0225	é 0233	í 0237	ó 0243	ú 0250	ý 0253
Circumflex (capital letters)	Â 0194	Ê 0202	Î 0206	Ô 0212	Û 0219	—
Circumflex	â 0226	ê 0234	î 0238	ô 0244	û 0251	—
Tilde (capital letters)	Ã 0195	—	—	Õ 0213	—	—
Tilde	ã 0227	—	—	õ 0245	—	—
Umlaut (capital letters)	Ä 0196	Ë 0203	Ï 0207	Ö 0214	Ü  0220	Ÿ 0159
Umlaut	ä 0228	ë 0235	ï 0239	ö 0246	ü 0252	ÿ 0255

When using a macOS, the Alt key changes into the Option key and the combinations change as well. For more information, check the Alt key page on Wikipedia.

2- Mobile Phones

On mobile devices, the process is much simpler. Just hold the vowel key and select the type of accentuation from the menu that pops up!

7. How to Practice Typing Dutch

As you probably know by now, learning Dutch is all about practice, practice, and more practice! Strengthen your Dutch typing skills by writing comments on any of our lesson pages, and our teacher will answer. If you’re a DutchPod101 Premium PLUS member, you can directly text our teacher via the My Teacher app—use your Dutch keyboard to do this!

Why is it so important to study Dutch verb conjugation? Verbs are a crucial aspect of any language, and Dutch is no exception. But to be able to use verbs well, you have to understand their conjugation. What verb form should you use, when and why? 

First, it’s important to understand the concept of conjugation and how it influences the Dutch language. After that, you can proceed to learning the different types of Dutch verbs. And with that information, you’ll have the tools to start understanding Dutch verb conjugation. 

Conjugation is a basic skill that you need to really understand the Dutch language. But don’t panic; we’re here to help you. In this Beginner’s Guide, we’ll take you by the hand and explain everything you need to know about Dutch verb conjugation.

Is making Dutch sentences still a challenge for you? Then have a look at our Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners.

Table of Contents

1. What is Conjugation?
2. The Five Types of Verbs
3. Present Simple
4. Past Simple
5. The Present & Past Perfect
6. Future Simple
7. Future Perfect
8. Conditional
9. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. What is Conjugation?

Dutch verb conjugation defines how the verbs change depending on the person, the number of subjects, the politeness level, and the tense.

Okay, but what does that mean? Let’s give you some examples.

1- Persons, number of subjects, and politeness level

1st person singular	ik	“I”
2nd person singular	jij / u	“you” (casual) / “you” (formal)
3rd person singular	hij / zij	“he” / “she”
1st person plural	wij	“we”
2nd person plural	jullie	“you”
3rd person plural	zij	“they”

Quite similarly to English, Dutch regular verbs don’t change with every different person. However, irregular verbs are a different story.

For example, the irregular verb zijn (“to be”) in present tense:

• Ik ben (“I am”)
• Hij is (“He is”)
• U/Jij bent (“You are” formal/casual)
• Wij zijn (“We are”)
• Jullie zijn (“You are”)
• Zij zijn (“They are”)

As you can see, the Dutch verb conjugation also changes because of the number of subjects (for example, see the difference between “you” and “they”).

The politeness level doesn’t have such a big influence on the Dutch language, unless you use hebben (“to have”) in the present tense. Take a look at this brief Dutch conjugation table:

Dutch conjugation of hebben (“to have”)

Jij hebt (“you have” casual)

U heeft (“you have” formal)

2- The Dutch verb tenses

The Dutch language has two main tenses: the present simple and the past simple. Besides these two tenses, there are also some “semi-tenses.” The six semi-tenses appear when the present or past tense interacts with an aspect (temporary or continuing) or a mood (factual or hypothetical). 

Thus, the Dutch language has, in total, eight tenses. Each one has a different use:

The eight tenses of the regular verb praten (“to talk”)
1. Onvoltooid Tegenwoordige Tijd (“Present Simple”)	Used to describe something that is happening now.	Ik praat.	“I talk.”
2. Onvoltooid Verleden Tijd (“Past Simple”)	Used to describe a situation that happened in the past.	Ik praatte.	“I talked.”
3. Voltooid Tegenwoordige Tijd (“Present Perfect”)	Used to describe something that happened in the past and has already ended.	Ik heb gepraat.	“I have talked.”
4. Voltooid Verleden Tijd (“Past Perfect”)	Used to describe an action or event that happened in the past and ended in the past.	Ik had gepraat.	“I had talked.”
5. Onvoltooid Tegenwoordige Toekomende Tijd (“Future Simple”)	Used to talk about something that will happen in the future.	Ik zal praten.	“I will talk.”
6. Voltooid Tegenwoordige Toekomende Tijd (“Future Perfect”)	Used to describe an action that will have been completed before another action in the future.	Ik zal hebben gepraat.	“I will have talked.”
7. Onvoltooid Verleden Toekomende Tijd (“Conditional”)	Used in a “what if” scenario; used to speculate about something.	Ik zou praten.	“I would talk.”
8. Voltooid Verleden Toekomende Tijd (“Conditional Perfect”)	Used to describe a future hypothetical situation in the past.	Ik zou hebben gepraat.	“I would have talked.”

The Dutch verb praten is a regular (weak) verb, which makes the above exercise a bit easier. Let’s have a look at all of the five types of Dutch verbs.

2. The Five Types of Verbs

In the Dutch language, there exist five types of verbs:

• Irregular verbs
• Weak verbs of the T-class
• Weak verbs of the D-class
• Strong verbs
• Mixed verbs

1- Irregular verbs

Irregular verbs are difficult as they’re quite unpredictable. Unfortunately, several important Dutch verbs are irregular. We already showed this before with the irregular verb zijn (“to be”). Another example of Dutch irregular verbs conjugation is the Dutch hebben (“to have”) conjugation:

• Ik heb (“I have”)
• Jij hebt (“You have” casual)
• U heeft (“You have” formal)
• Hij heeft (“He has”)
• Wij hebben (“We have”)
• Jullie hebben (“You have”)
• Zij hebben (“They have”)

Some other irregular Dutch verbs are willen (conjugation in Dutch) and mogen (conjugation in Dutch).

2- Weak verbs of the T-class

Luckily, not everything is irregular in the Dutch language. A great example of this are the weak verbs. 

Weak verbs are the most common type of verb in Dutch. They’re regular and end with -d or -t. Let’s first show you the Dutch weak verbs of the T-class; these always have a –t in the past tense:

Fietsen (“to bike”)

Ik fiets (“I bike”)

Ik fietste (“I biked”)

Ik heb gefietst (“I have biked”)

3- Weak verbs of the D-class

Let’s continue and have a look at the weak verbs of the D-class. These are regular verbs that always have a -d in the past tense:

Redden (“to save”)

Ik red (“I save”)

Ik redde (“I saved”)

Ik heb gered (“I have saved”)

4- Strong verbs

In strong verbs, the vowel changes when going from the simple present tense to other tenses. You can also recognize a strong verb in the past participle, which often ends with -en.

Let’s have a look at some examples in this Dutch verb conjugation chart:

Geven (“to give”)	Ik geef (“I give”)	Ik gaf (“I gave”)	Ik heb gegeven (“I have given”)
Lopen (“to walk”)	Ik loop (“I walk”)	Ik liep (“I walked”)	Ik heb gelopen (“I have walked”)
Sluiten (“to close”)	Ik sluit (“I close”)	Ik sloot (“I closed”)	Ik heb gesloten (“I have closed”)

5- Mixed verbs

Last but not least, there are also verbs that have a mixture of strong and weak elements. These so-called “mixed verbs” are quite common in the Dutch language.

The most common mixed verb form is the one that has a weak past tense, but a strong past participle ending with -en:

Vouwen (“to fold”)	Ik vouw (“I fold”)	Ik vouwde (“I folded”)	Ik heb gevouwen (“I have folded”)
Lachen (“to laugh”)	Ik lach (“I laugh”)	Ik lachte (“I laughed”)	Ik heb gelachen (“I have laughed”)

However, there also exist a smaller group of verbs with the reverse situation: a strong past tense, but a weak past participle.

Vraag (“to ask”)	Ik vraag (“I ask”)	Ik vroeg (“I asked”)	Ik heb gevraagd (“I have asked”)
Jagen (“to hunt”)	Ik jaag (“I hunt”)	Ik joeg (“I hunted”)	Ik heb gejaagd (“I have hunted”)

Okay, we know all about the different types of Dutch verbs. Let’s now dive into the wonderful world of Dutch verb conjugation. 

→Would you like to improve your Dutch vocabulary so you can really use the verb conjugation? Visit our vocabulary lists on the Most Useful Pronouns, 50 Most Common Adjectives, and 50 Most Common Nouns.

3. Present Simple

→Used to describe something that is happening now.

1- Weak and strong verbs

In the present simple tense, you can’t see the difference between strong verbs, weak verbs of the T-class, or weak verbs of the D-class. Let’s have a look at the Dutch present tense conjugation of weak and strong verbs. 

To conjugate the singular form (I, you, he, she, it), you can take the infinitive, remove the -en to get the crude stem, and add the -t. However, it’s not always this easy. There are some exceptions:

• Does the crude stem end with a -z? Then the first person singular ends with an -s. For example: Reizen – ik reis (“To travel” – “I travel”).
• Does the crude stem end with a -v? Then the first person singular ends with an -f. For example: Schrijven – ik schrijf (“To write” – “I write”).
• Is there a double-consonant ending? Then remove one of the consonants. For example: Vallen – ik val (“To fall” – “I fall”).
• Does the vowel of the crude stem sound different than the vowel of the infinitive? Then this must be adapted by changing the vowel. For example, a becomes aa or o becomes oo. Let’s have a look: Lopen – ik loop (“To walk” – “I walk”).

In the case of the plural form (we, you, they), you can use the infinitive directly.

Simple Present – Dutch verb conjugation chart For weak and strong verbs  Example: voelen (“to feel”)
Singular		Plural
I + stem (“I feel”)	Ik + stem (Ik voel)	We + infinitive (“We feel”)	We/Wij + infinitive (We/Wij voelen)
Casual –  You + stem + t  (“You feel”) Formal –  You + stem + t  (“You feel”)	Jij + stem + t (Jij voelt) U + stem + t (U voelt)	You (plural) + infinitive (“You feel”)	Jullie + infinitive  (Jullie voelen)
He/She/It + stem + t (“He/She/It feels)	Hij/Zij/Het + stem + t  (Hij/Zij/Het voelt)	They + infinitive (“They feel”)	Zij + infinitive (Zij voelen)

→Do you need some help recognizing the infinitive of a Dutch verb? When you look up a verb in the Dutch dictionary, you’ll find the infinitive. The Dutch infinitives are the plural and present tense verbs. They usually end with en, like in praten (“to talk”), and sometimes with only n, like in zijn (“to be”). 

→Is the verb separable? Then remove the separable prefix from the verb, and add it to the end of the phrase as a separate word (for example: aanbellen (“to ring”) – ik bel aan).

2- Verbs having an –aan ending

Does the infinitive of a verb have an -aan ending? Then remove the -n to get the stem.

Let’s look at an example of a verb with an -aan ending:

Gaan (“to go”) in simple present
Singular		Plural
“I go”	Ik ga	“We go”	We gaan
“You go”	Jij gaat	“You go”	Jullie staan
“He goes”	Hij gaat	“They go”	Ze gaan

In the first person conjugation, it looks like a letter is missing, but the pronunciation of a or aa is the same in Dutch. Therefore, this is the correct spelling.

3- Irregular verbs

Irregular verbs are unpredictable. All you can do is memorize them. The Dutch language has six completely irregular verbs. 

Let’s have a look at them in the present simple tense in this Dutch verb conjugation chart:

Subject	Hebben conjugation Dutch (“to have”)	Kunnen conjugation Dutch (“can”)	Mogen conjugation Dutch (“to be allowed to”)	Willen conjugation Dutch (“to want”)	Zijn conjugation Dutch (“to be”)	Zullen conjugation Dutch (“shall”)
Ik	heb	kan	mag	wil	ben	zal
Jij, u	hebt	kunt	mag	wilt	bent	zult
Hij, zij, het	heeft	kan	mag	wil	is	zalzal
Wij	hebben	kunnen	mogen	willen	zijn	zullen
Jullie	hebben	kunnen	mogen	willen	zijn	zullen
Zij	hebben	kunnen	mogen	willen	zijn	zullen

→Do you find it difficult to memorize verbs? Find some useful tips on remembering words.

4. Past Simple

→Used to describe a situation that happened in the past.

1- Weak verbs

A weak verb can either belong to the T-class or D-class. But how can you recognize which class a weak verb belongs to?

• Step 1: Remove the -en to get the crude stem.
• Step 2: Have a look at the last letter of the crude stem.
• Step 3: Check if it is one of the following: f, ch, s, t, k, p. 
• Step 4: Is it? Then it’s a T-verb. If not, it’s a D-verb. 

For example, see the verb voelen (“to feel”). The crude stem is voel, the last letter of the crude stem is –l, and this isn’t one of the endings mentioned. Therefore, it belongs to the D-class: Ik voelde (“I felt”).

Another example is the verb haten (“to hate”). The crude stem is haat (add an a to make the vowel sound the same as in the infinitive), and the last letter of the crude stem is -t, making it a T-verb: Ik haatte (“I hated”).

Simple Past for Weak Verbs of the T-class – Dutch Verb Conjugation Chart Stem + te (singular) or Stem + ten (plural)
Singular		Plural
I stem + te	Ik stem + te	We stem + ten	We stem + ten
You stem + te (casual) You stem + te (formal)	Je stem + te  U stem + te	You stem + ten (plural)	Jullie stem + ten
He stem + te She stem + te It stem + te	Hij stem + te  Ze stem + te  Het stem + te	They stem + ten	Ze stem + ten

You can replace the stem with the stem of a T-class verb. For example, zet from the verb zetten (“to put”): 

• Ik zette 
• Je zette 
• Hij zette 
• We zetten 
• Jullie zetten 
• Ze zetten

Simple Past for Weak Verbs of the D-class – Dutch Verb Conjugation Chart Stem + de (singular) or Stem + den (plural)
Singular		Plural
I stem + de	Ik stem + de	We stem + den	We stem + den
You stem + de (casual) You stem + de (formal)	Je stem + de  U stem + de	You stem + den (plural)	Jullie stem + den
He stem + de She stem + de It stem + de	Hij stem + de  Ze stem + de  Het stem + de	They stem + den	Ze stem + den

You can replace the stem with the stem of a D-class verb. For example, voel from the verb voelen (“to feel”): 

• Ik voelde 
• Je voelde 
• Hij voelde 
• We voelden 
• Jullie voelden 
• Ze voelden

2- Strong verbs

As in the present tense, vowel changes can also occur in the past tense. The Dutch language has a lot of different strong verbs; however, we’ve divided them into groups in this Dutch verb conjugation table.

Groups of strong verbs	Verb	Example
e in the infinitive gets ie in the past form.	Werpen (“to throw”)	Ik wierp (“I threw”)
ij in the infinitive gets ee in the past form.	Blijven (“to stay”)	Ik bleef (“I stayed”)
e in the infinitive gets o in the past form.	Vechten (“to fight”)	Ik vocht  (“I fought”)
e in the infinitive gets a in the past form.	Nemen (“to take”)	Ik nam (“I took”)
i in the infinitive gets a in the past form.	Bidden (“to pray”)	Ik bad (“I prayed”)
a in the infinitive gets ie in the past form.	Slapen (“to sleep”)	Ik sliep  (“I slept”)
ui in the infinitive gets oo in the past form.	Sluiten (“to close”)	Ik sloot (“I closed”)
a in the infinitive gets oe in the past form.	Dragen  (“to carry”)	Ik droeg  (“I carried”)
Ik droeg  (“I carried”)	Vergeten   (“to forget”)	Ik vergat  (“I forgot”)
a in the infinitive gets i in the past form.	Vangen (“to catch”)	Ik ving  (“I caught”)
o in the infinitive gets ie in the past form.	Lopen (“to walk”)	Ik liep (“I walked”)
iez in the infinitive gets oor in the past form.	Vriezen  (“to freeze”)	Ik vroor  (“I froze”)
i in the infinitive gets o in the past form.	Drinken  (“to drink”)	Ik dronk  (“I drank”)
ends in -cht in the past form.	Denken  (“to think”)	Ik dacht  (“I thought”)

3- Irregular verbs

This Dutch verb conjugation chart shows you the conjugation of the six Dutch irregular verbs in the past tense:

Subject	Hebben conjugation Dutch (“to have”)	Kunnen conjugation Dutch (“can”)	Mogen  conjugation Dutch (“to be allowed to”)	Willen conjugation Dutch (“to want”)	Zijn conjugation Dutch (“to be”)	Zullen conjugation Dutch (“shall”)
Ik (“I”)	had	kon	mocht	wilde	was	zou
Jij, u (“you”)	had	kon	mocht	wilde	was	zou
Hij, zij, het (“he, she, it”)	had	kon	mocht	wilde	was	zou
Wij (“we”)	hadden	konden	mochten	wilden	waren	zouden
Jullie (“you”)	hadden	konden	mochten	wilden	waren	zouden
Zij (“they”)	hadden	konden	mochten	wilden	waren	zouden

5. The Present & Past Perfect

1- The past participle

There are different rules for the past participle of weak and strong verbs.

Let’s start with the weak verbs. Here, the following rule applies:

ge- (prefix) + stem + -t/-d (ending)

→Regarding the prefix, if the verb already starts with a prefix (ge-, be-, er-, her-, ver-, ont-), then you don’t have to add the ge-.
→Regarding the ending, have a look at the stem of the verb. Does it end with one of these letters: f, ch, s, t, k, p? Then the past participle ends with a -t. If not, then it ends with a -d.
→Does the stem end in -t or –d? Then no extra -t or -d has to be added.

For example, the verb voelen (“to feel”): voel is the stem and gevoeld is the past participle.

For example, the verb fietsen (“to bike”): fiets is the stem and gefietst is the past participle.

The strong verbs have the following past participle rule:

ge- (prefix) + stem + -en (ending)

For example, the verb lopen (“to walk”): loop is the stem and gelopen is the past participle.

For example, the verb zingen (“to sing”): zing is the stem and gezongen is the past participle.

→Remember, in strong verbs, the vowel may change! 
→Remember, if the verb already starts with a prefix (ge-, be-, er-, her-, ver-, ont-), then you don’t have to add the ge-.

2- Present perfect

→Used to describe something that happened in the past and has already ended. 

To master the Dutch verb conjugation rules for present perfect, you need to know the following things:

• The present tense of zijn (“to be”) or hebben (“to have”).
• The past participle of your verb.

So, the present perfect is:

Subject + present tense of zijn/hebben + past participle

Let’s have a look at some examples:

Ik heb gelezen (“I have read”) — Present tense of the Dutch hebben conjugation + past participle of strong verb lezen

Hij is gegroeid (“He has grown”) — Present tense of zijn (notice that in Dutch, we say “He is grown”) + past participle of weak verb groeien

3- Past perfect

→Used to describe an action or event that happened in the past and ended in the past. 

To be able to use the past perfect, you need to know:

• The past tense of zijn (“to be”), hebben (“to have”), or worden (“to become”).
• The past participle of your verb.

So, the past perfect is:

Subject + past tense of zijn/hebben/worden + past participle

Let’s give you some examples:

Hij had gewacht (“He had waited”) — Past tense of the Dutch hebben conjugation + past participle of weak verb wachten

We zijn begonnen (“We have started”) — Past tense of zijn (in Dutch, we say “We are started”) + past participle of strong verb beginnen

Ik werd gebracht (“I was brought”) — Past tense of worden + past participle of weak verb brengen

6. Future Simple

→Used to talk about something that will happen in the future. 

Follow this simple rule to make the Dutch simple future:
Present tense zullen (“shall”) + infinitive

Subject	Form	Schrijven  (“to write”)	Kijken  (“to watch”)
Ik (“I”)	zal + infinitive	Ik zal schrijven	Ik zal kijken
Jij, u (“you”)	zult + infinitive	Jij zult schrijven	Jij zal kijken
Hij, zij, het (“he, she, it”)	zal + infinitive	Zij zal schrijven	Zij zal kijken
Wij (“we”)	zullen + infinitive	Wij zullen schrijven	Wij zullen kijken
Jullie (“you”)	zullen + infinitive	Jullie zullen schrijven	Jullie zullen kijken
Zij (“they”)	zullen + infinitive	Zij zullen schrijven	Zij zullen kijken

7. Future Perfect

→Used to describe an action that will have been completed before another action in the future.

Knowing the simple future, you can now also make the future perfect:

Future simple of Dutch conjugation hebben or zijn + past participle 

Or…

Zullen (“shall”) + Dutch conjugation of hebben or zijn + past participle

Subject	Form	Lachen (“to laugh”)	Gaan (“to go”)
Ik (“I”)	zal + hebben/zijn + past participle	Ik zal hebben gelachen	Ik zal zijn gegaan
Jij, u (“you”)	zult + hebben/zijn + past participle	Jij zult hebben gelachen	Jij zult zijn gegaan
Hij, zij, het (“he, she, it”)	zal + hebben/zijn + past participle	Hij zal hebben gelachen	Hij zal zijn gegaan
Wij (“we”)	zullen +hebben/zijn + past participle	Wij zullen hebben gelachen	Wij zullen zijn gegaan
Jullie (“you”)	zullen +hebben/zijn + past participle	Jullie zullen hebben gelachen	Jullie zullen zijn gegaan
Zij (“they”)	zullen +hebben/zijn + past participle	Zij zullen hebben gelachen	Zij zullen zijn gegaan

8. Conditional

→Used in a “what if” scenario; used to speculate about something.

Follow the following rule to make the Dutch conditional tense:

Zouden (“would”) + infinitive

Subject	Form	Rennen (“to run”)
Ik (“I”)	zou + infinitive	Ik zou rennen
Jij, u (“you”)	zou + infinitive	Jij zou rennen
Hij, zij, het (“he, she, it”)	zou + infinitive	Hij zou rennen
Wij (“we”)	zouden + infinitive	Wij zouden rennen
Jullie (“you”)	zouden + infinitive	Jullie zouden rennen
Zij (“they”)	zouden + infinitive	Zij zouden rennen

1- Dutch conditional perfect 

→Used to describe a future hypothetical situation in the past.

The conjugation of the Dutch conditional perfect is very similar to the conjugation of the future perfect tense. The following rule is used to form the conditional perfect:

Zouden (past tense of zullen [“shall”]) + Dutch conjugation of hebben/zijn + past participle

Subject	Form	Schreeuwen (“to scream”)	Verdronken (“to drown”)
Ik (“I”)	zou + hebben/zijn + infinitive	Ik zou hebben geschreeuwd	Ik zou zijn verdronken
Jij, u (“you”)	zou + hebben/zijn + infinitive	Jij zou hebben geschreeuwd	U zou zijn verdronken
Hij, zij, het (“he, she, it”)	zou + hebben/zijn + infinitive	Zij zou hebben geschreeuwd	Hij zou zijn verdronken
Wij (“we”)	zouden + hebben/zijn + infinitive	Wij zouden hebben geschreeuwd	Wij zouden zijn verdronken
Jullie (“you”)	zouden + hebben/zijn + infinitive	Jullie zouden hebben geschreeuwd	Jullie zouden zijn verdronken
Zij (“they”)	zouden + hebben/zijn + infinitive	Zij zouden hebben geschreeuwd	Zij zouden zijn verdronken

→Would you like to learn more verbs and their pronunciation? Then listen to this podcast on twenty-five verbs that are used every day in Dutch.
→Do you want to conjugate more verbs? Use an online verb conjugator.

9. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

In this guide, you’ve learned all about the Dutch verb conjugations, from the five different types of Dutch verbs to the eight Dutch tenses. You now know how to deal with all of them.

Are you ready to rumble and start using the Dutch verb conjugation in your daily life? Or would you like to get some more help?

Make sure to explore DutchPod101.com as it has a lot to offer, such as the multiple vocabulary lists with audio recordings and other useful free resources. Start practicing Dutch conjugations with DutchPod101’s tools, and learn new words and verbs while you’re at it. Practice is key! 

Would you like some one-on-one coaching? Remember that DutchPod101 also has the MyTeacher Premium PLUS service. Here, you can practice Dutch verb conjugation with your own private teacher and really master the Dutch tenses. Through personalized feedback and pronunciation advice, you can master the Dutch language in no time.

Have you read DutchPod101’s articles on 100 Nouns, 100 Adjectives, and Pronouns? By reading this series of articles, you’ll slowly but surely learn more and more about the Dutch language. Learning a language is like completing a big puzzle, piece by piece. Nouns, adjectives, and pronouns are of course crucial pieces, but how can you use them without knowing some common Dutch verbs? 

Have you ever been in a situation where you were trying to speak Dutch using the words that you just learned, but you were incapable of expressing yourself because you didn’t remember a verb? Verbs are a vital part of speech for connecting words. By learning some key Dutch verbs, you’ll expand your capacity to build phrases, creating a good basis for your daily interactions in Dutch. 

Don’t despair, the help of DutchPod101 is near! We present to you this article on the top 100 most common Dutch verbs. To help you even more, we’ll start by giving you some useful tips to help you understand and master Dutch verbs. 

→ Want to improve your Dutch vocabulary? Make sure to visit our vocabulary lists on the Most Useful Pronouns, 50 Most Common Adjectives, or 50 Most Common Nouns.

Table of Contents

1. Mastering Dutch Language Verbs
2. The 100 Most Useful Verbs in Dutch
3. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn Better Dutch

1. Mastering Dutch Language Verbs

Are you a bit intimidated by Dutch verbs and grammar? Are you unsure of how to start and where to start? Don’t worry. With some easy tips and tricks, we’ll help you master Dutch verbs.

A. How can you recognize a Dutch verb? 

So, let’s start at the beginning: What is a verb? Verbs are action words. In sentences, these action words describe what the subject is doing. Therefore, verbs, together with nouns, are a crucial part of a sentence. Even the most simple sentences have a verb! For example: 

• Ik ben Tom.

“I am Tom.”

A verb can also be a sentence on its own: 

• Zing! 

“Sing!”

or 

• Kom! 

“Come!”

So how can you recognize verbs? You can recognize them by looking for the part of the sentence that explains the action taking place. This can either be something that someone is doing, such as in the words rennen (“to run”), eten (“to eat”), and gaan (“to go”), or something that happens, such as in the words sneeuwen (“to snow”) or waaien (“to blow”). 

However, there also exist verbs that don’t include such a clear action. For example, these can be verbs that describe an opinion, an emotion, a possession, or a state of being: voelen (“to feel”), zijn (“to be”), hebben (“to have”), or houden van (“to love”).

Another way to recognize a verb is to find its location compared to the subject. In sentences, verbs almost always come after a noun or pronoun (the subject): 

• Hij denkt aan school.

“He thinks about school.”

B. What is the Dutch infinitive?

What is the entire verb (the infinitive) in Dutch? Well, Dutch infinitive verbs are the plural and present tense verbs. They usually end with -en, as in lopen (“to walk”). Sometimes, they end with only -n, as in zijn (“to be”).

Before the Dutch infinitive, you can almost always put Ik kan (“I can”): 

• Ik kan fietsen.

“I can cycle.”

or 

• Ik kan werken.

“I can work.”

C. The Dutch verb tenses

So, how many tenses are there in Dutch?

Dutch has two main tenses: the present and the past. However, there exist some “semi-tenses” that appear when these two tenses (present or past) interact with a mood (factual or hypothetical) or an aspect (temporary or continuing). Through these combinations, six other tenses are created, giving Dutch a total of eight basic tenses:

The eight tenses of the verb praten (“to talk”)
1. Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (“Present Simple”)	Ik praat	“I talk”
2. Onvoltooid verleden tijd (“Past Simple”)	Ik praatte	“I talked”
3. Voltooid tegenwoordige tijd (“Present Perfect”)	Ik heb gepraat	“I have talked”
4. Voltooid verleden tijd (“Past Perfect”)	Ik had gepraat	“I had talked”
5. Onvoltooid tegenwoordige toekomende tijd (“Future Simple”)	Ik zal praten	“I will talk”
6. Voltooid tegenwoordige toekomende tijd (“Future Perfect”)	Ik zal hebben gepraat	“I will have talked”
7. Onvoltooid verleden toekomende tijd (“Conditional”)	Ik zou praten	“I would talk”
8. Voltooid verleden toekomende tijd (“Conditional Perfect”)	Ik zou hebben gepraat	“I would have talked”

Is this Dutch conjugation table a bit intimidating? Praten is one of the Dutch regular verbs—it can get more complicated for irregular verbs. Don’t worry, let’s take it step by step. It gets easier when you start learning the logic and patterns of Dutch grammar and verbs.

D. How to learn Dutch verbs effectively

So let’s take a step back and first give you an idea of the most common Dutch verbs. Don’t worry yet about Dutch verb conjugation, the rules and the exceptions. Pass through this Dutch verbs list of 100 must-know verbs and ask yourself the following questions: 

• How does the infinitive end?
• How does it end now that it’s conjugated with a pronoun?
• Is it like one of the Dutch regular verbs, or could it be irregular?

To keep it easy, we’ll stick to the Tegenwoordige tijd (“Present Simple”) for all of the examples in this article.

Last but not least, look for the basic and most useful Dutch verbs, like the verb “to have” in Dutch (hebben), or “to be” (zijn). These are the first verbs you should know when you start to learn Dutch.

→ Would you like to learn by listening to the verbs? Listen to this podcast on twenty-five verbs that are used every day in Dutch.

2. The 100 Most Useful Verbs in Dutch

Let’s start diving into the 100 most useful Dutch verbs. To create a logical Dutch verb list, we’ve listed the verbs in alphabetical order (based on the Dutch spelling). This way, you can easily find the verb you’re looking for.

1.

Accepteren “To accept”

Ik accepteer het aanbod. “I accept the offer.”

2.

Annuleren “To cancel”

Wij annuleren onze vakantie. “We cancel our holiday.”

3.

(Be)antwoorden “To answer”

Ik antwoord je bericht nu. “I answer your message now.”

4.

Arriveren “To arrive”

De trein arriveert. “The train arrives.”

5.

Beginnen “To start”

Hij begint vandaag met zijn nieuwe werk. “He starts today with his new work.”

6.

Begrijpen “To understand”

Zij begrijpt haar vriendje. “She understands her boyfriend.”

7.

Bijten “To bite”

De hond bijt de kat. “The dog bites the cat.”

8.

Blijven “To stay”

Ik blijf vandaag thuis. “I stay at home today.”

9.

Bouwen “To build”

De bouwvakkers bouwen mijn huis. “The builders build my home.”

10.

Brengen “To bring”

De bezorger brengt ons onze pizza. “The delivery driver brings us our pizza.”

11.

Denken “To think”

Ik denk aan jou. “I think about you.”

12.

Doen “To do”

De man doet huishoudelijk werk. “The man does housework.”

13.

Douchen “To shower”

Het kind doucht niet graag. “The child doesn’t like to shower.”

14.

Draaien “To turn”

Ik draai me om. “I turn around.”

15.

Eten “To eat”

Wij eten altijd om 6 uur ‘s avonds. “We always eat at six o’clock in the evening.”

16.

Foto’s maken “To take pictures”

De jongen maakt foto’s van bands. “The boy takes pictures of bands.”

17.

Gaan “To go”

Wij gaan morgen op vakantie. “We go on holiday tomorrow.”

18.

Gebruiken “To use”

Ik gebruik voor mijn werk de nieuwste gadgets. “I use the newest gadgets for my work.”

19.

Geloven “To believe”

Zij gelooft in mij. “She believes in me.”

20.

Geven “To give”

Hij geeft me altijd cadeautjes voor mijn verjaardag. “He always gives me presents for my birthday.”

21.

Halen “To get”

De vrouw haalt brood bij de bakker. “The woman gets bread at the bakery.”

22.

Hangen “To hang”

De klok hangt aan de muur. “The clock hangs on the wall.”

23.

Hebben “To have”	De vrouw heeft te veel spullen in haar handen. “The woman has too many things in her hands.”
Here it is, the verb “to have” in Dutch. Learn this to improve your basic speaking skills!

24.

Helpen “To help”

We helpen het oude vrouwtje met oversteken. “We help the old lady with crossing the road.”

25.

Herinneren “To remember”

Ik herinner me het als de dag van gisteren. “I remember it as if it were yesterday.”

26.

Heten “To be called”

Hij heet Mathias. “He is called Mathias.”

27.

Horen “To hear”

We horen heel veel roddels over jou. “We hear a lot of gossip about you.”

28.

Vasthouden “To hold”	Het meisje houdt een baby vast. “The girl is holding a baby.”
Vasthouden is one of the Dutch separable verbs. Let’s see if you can find more of them!

29.

Houden van “To love”

Hij houdt van zijn werk. “He loves his work.”

30.

Kennen “To know”

Zij kennen hun buren al sinds jaren. “They’ve known their neighbors for many years.”

31.

Kijken naar “To watch”

Wij kijken naar het programma op tv. “We watch the show on the television.”

32.

Klimmen “To climb”

Het jongetje klimt in de boom. “The boy climbs the tree.”

33.

Koken “To cook”

Hij kookt erg goed. “He cooks very well.”

34.

Komen “To come”

We komen vandaag niet naar huis. “We are not coming home today.”

35.

Kopen “To buy”

Ik koop mijn kleding altijd online. “I always buy my clothes online.”

36.

Kunnen “Can”

Wij kunnen goed samenwerken. “We can work together very well.”

37.

Kwetsen “To hurt”

Ik kwets je niet graag. “I don’t like to hurt you.”

38.

Lachen “To laugh”Lachen “To laugh”

Wij lachen om de grapjes van onze vader. “We laugh at our father’s jokes.”

39.

Laten “To let”

Wij laten onze kinderen hun eigen beslissingen maken. “We let our kids make their own choices.”

40.

Leren “To learn”

Ik leer Nederlands. “I learn Dutch.”

41.

Lesgeven “To teach”	Ik geef Nederlandse les. “I teach Dutch.”
Yes! Lesgeven is another one of the Dutch separable verbs!

42.

Leven “To live”

Hij leeft in alle luxe in Amsterdam. “He lives in luxury in Amsterdam.”

43.

Lezen “To read”

Wij lezen veel boeken op vakantie. “We read a lot of books on holiday.”

44.

Liggen “To lie”

De baby ligt in zijn ledikant. “The baby lies in his crib.”

45.

Lopen “To walk”

Wij lopen samen door de stad. “We walk together through the city.”

46.

Luisteren (naar) “To listen to”

Ik luister naar de muziek van de Beatles. “I listen to the music of the Beatles.”

47.

Maken “To make”

Hij maakt kunst. “He makes art.”

48.

Moeten “To have to”

Je moet naar me luisteren. “You have to listen to me.”

49.

Mogen “To be allowed to”

Mijn zoon mag in de avond TV kijken. “My son is allowed to watch television in the evening.”

50.

Nemen “To take”

Ik neem altijd zonnebrandcrème mee naar het strand. “I always take sunscreen to the beach.”

51.

Nodig hebben “To need”

Je hebt me niet nodig. “You don’t need me.”

52.

Ontvangen “To receive”

We ontvangen vandaag het pakketje. “We receive the package today.”

53.

Openen “To open”

Hij opent de brief. “He opens the letter.”

54.

Opmerken “To notice”

Zij merkt me niet op. “She doesn’t notice me.”

55.

Plannen “To plan”

Ik plan de bruiloft van mijn zus. “I plan the wedding of my sister.”

53.

Praten “To talk”

Wij praten over onze gevoelens. “We talk about our feelings.”

57.

Proberen “To try”

Mijn broer probeert zich te concentreren. “My brother tries to concentrate.”

58.

Rennen “To run”

De jongen rent door het bos. “The boy runs through the forest.”

59.

Rijden “To drive”

We rijden in de auto. “We drive the car.”

60.

Rusten “To rest”

Mijn oma rust op bed. “My grandmother rests in bed.”

61.

Schrijven “To write”

Jij schrijft hem een brief. “You write him a letter.”

62.

Slapen “To sleep”

Ik slaap 8 uur per dag. “I sleep eight hours a day.”

63.

Spelen “To play”

De kinderen spelen samen. “The kids play together.”

64.

Spreken “To speak”

De baas spreekt met zijn werknemers. “The boss speaks with his employees.”

65.

Springen “To jump”

De kat spring op de kast. “The cat jumps on the cupboard.”

66.

Staan “To stand”

Ik sta naast mijn broer. “I stand next to my brother.”

67.

Studeren “To study”

Wij studeren voor ons examen. “We study for our exam.”

68.

Sturen “To send”

Het bedrijf stuurt me de rekening per post. “The company sends me the bill by mail.”

69.

Telefoneren “To call”

Ik telefoneer elke dag met mijn zus. “I call my sister everyday.”

70.

Tekenen “To draw”

Het jongetje tekent een draak. “The boy draws a dragon.”

71.

Terugkeren “To return”	De soldaat keert terug naar huis. “The soldier returns home.”
Terugkeren is another one of the Dutch separable verbs.

72.

Tillen “To carry”

De moeder tilt haar zoon. “The mother carries her son.”

73.

Trekken “To pull”

Haar vriendin trekt aan haar jas. “Her friend pulls her jacket.”

74.

Uitleggen “To explain”	De lerares legt de Nederlandse grammatica en werkwoorden uit. “The teacher explains the Dutch grammar and verbs.”
Bingo! The verb uitleggen is also one of the Dutch separable verbs.

75.

Vallen “To fall”

Ik val van de trap. “I fall down the stairs.”

76.

Vangen “To catch”

De rugbyspeler vangt de bal. “The rugby player catches the ball.”

77.

Voelen “To feel”

Ik voel me niet lekker. “I don’t feel well.”

78.

Vergeten “To forget”

Hij vergeet zijn huiswerk. “He forgets his homework.”

79.

Verlaten “To leave”

De vrouw verlaat haar man. “The woman leaves her husband.”

80.

Verslaan “To beat”

Ik versla je gemakkelijk in dit spel. “I beat you easily in this game.”

81.

Vertellen “To tell”

Wij vertellen je de waarheid. “We tell you the truth.”

82.

Verwijzen “To refer”

De dokter verwijst haar naar een specialist. “The doctor refers her to a specialist.”

83.

Verzamelen “To collect”

De kinderen verzamelen stickers. “The kids collect stickers.”

84.

Vinden “To find”

Ik vind mijn sleutels in de la. “I find my keys in the drawer.”

85.

Vragen “To ask”

Jij vraagt me uit. “You ask me out.”

86.

Wachten op “To wait for”

De hond wacht thuis op zijn baasje. “The dog waits for his owner at home.”

87.

Wakker worden “To wake up”

Ik word wakker met een lach. “I wake up smiling.”

88.

Wassen “To wash”

Hij wast zijn handen voor het avondeten. “He washes his hands before dinner.”

89.

Wensen “To wish”

Ik wens je een leuke verjaardag. “I wish you a nice birthday.”

90.

Werken “To work”

Wij werken te veel. “We work too much.”

91.

Weten “To know”

Mijn vader weet niets van technologie. “My father knows nothing about technology.”

92.

Willen “To want”

Het stel wilt trouwen. “The couple wants to get married.”

93.

Wonen “To live”

Ik woon in Nederland. “I live in the Netherlands.”

94.

Worden “To become”

Mijn vriendin wordt binnenkort zwanger. “My girlfriend will become pregnant soon.”

95.

Zeggen “To say”

Hij zegt dat hij van haar houdt. “He says that he loves her.”

96.

Zien “To see”

Ik zie je op de foto. “I see you in the picture.”

97.

Zijn “To be”	Ik ben verdrietig. “I am sad.”
As you can see, the verb “to be” in Dutch isn’t one of the Dutch regular verbs, it’s irregular. This is one of the first verbs you should learn, as it’s one of the most basic ones! Find here the Dutch verb conjugation of the verb zijn.

98.

Zingen “To sing”

Wij zingen altijd tijdens het koken. “We always sing while cooking.”

99.

Zitten “To sit”

Jij zit op de bank. “You sit on the couch.”

100.

Zoeken “To look for”

Zij zoeken hun hond. “They look for their dog.”

→ Learn more about the pronunciation of Dutch verbs with our free Dutch verbs list with handy audio recordings: Vocabulary for the 25 Most Commonly Used Verbs of Any Language or 50 Common Dutch Verbs.

→ Do you need help with Dutch verb conjugation? Use an online verb conjugator, or check out DutchPod101’s upcoming article on how to conjugate Dutch verbs!

3. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn Better Dutch

In this guide, you’ve learned all about Dutch verbs: recognizing Dutch verbs, understanding the infinitives, and even having a little peek into the different Dutch tenses. And as the icing on the cake, this guide offered you a wide selection of the 100 must-know Dutch verbs, with some useful examples to get familiar with them.

Are you ready to start using your new Dutch verbs vocabulary in your daily conversations with the Dutch? Or do you need some more help?

DutchPod101 has much more to offer, such as the multiple vocabulary lists with audio recordings and other free resources. Boost your Dutch with these easy and useful DutchPod101 tools.

Want more? DutchPod101 also has the MyTeacher premium service. Let your own private teacher help you practice Dutch grammar, verbs, and Dutch verb conjugation, through personalized exercises, fun assignments, and useful recorded audio samples. Improve your Dutch quickly with this personal one-on-one coaching.

Happy learning!

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Do you ever struggle with the formulation of Dutch sentences? You have all the tools you need to form a sentence: You know what you want to say, and you know the words to use. However, at the moment of truth, you just can’t find a way to fit them all together.

This can be very frustrating. You’ve made some great progress learning Dutch vocabulary. You’re also starting to understand Dutch verbs and tenses more and more. But in Dutch grammar, word order is essential in putting this knowledge into practice. So, how do you form a Dutch sentence?

Help is near. Master this skill with this Dutch word order guide from DutchPod101.

Table of Contents

1. Subject + Verb
2. Adding an Object
3. Adding a Complement
4. Adding a Verb at the End of a Sentence
5. Another Conjugation: The Imperative
6. Making Questions
7. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

1. Subject + Verb

In this guide, we’ll mostly talk about the most common type of sentence: declaratives. You make a declarative sentence when you make a statement. It’s not used to give orders or to ask questions (however, we will discuss interrogative sentences later on in this guide). 

Let’s start with the most basic sentence in Dutch, consisting of only a subject and a verb:

Subject + Verb

• Ik praat. (“I talk.”)
• De jongen verft. (“The boy paints.”)

Contrary to languages like Spanish or Italian, the subject is almost never dropped in Dutch. A Dutch sentence structure is not complete without the subject.

2. Adding an Object

The (direct) object in Dutch is called lijdend voorwerp, which translates to “leading entity/object.” In Dutch language word order, it normally comes right after the verb.

Subject + Verb + (Direct) Object

• Ik praat met mijn vader. (“I talk to my father.”)
• De jongen verft de deur. (“The boy paints the door.”)

The object can be direct or indirect. In the above examples, the object is direct. However, you can also add an indirect object after the direct object.

Subject + Verb + Direct object + Indirect object 

• Ik praat met mijn vader over ons huis. (“I talk to my father about our home.”)
• De jongen verft de deur met verf. (“The boy paints the door with paint.”)

A direct object is a noun or pronoun that’s directly affected by the actions of the subject. An indirect object is a person or thing that’s involved in the actions in some way.

3. Adding a Complement

Okay, let’s make it a bit more complicated. Let’s advance and add a complement to the sentence. A complement can be, for example, an adjective or an adverb.

→ Would you like to expand your Dutch vocabulary so you can easily add a complement to your Dutch sentence? Visit our vocabulary lists on the Most Useful Pronouns, 50 Most Common Adjectives, and 50 Most Common Nouns.

1- Adding Adjectives

Adjectives describe nouns, giving extra information about them. They provide details and make the noun more interesting. So where should you place them in a sentence?

Most Dutch adjectives go BEFORE the noun they describe.

• Mijn lieve vader (“My sweet father”)
• De gele deur (“The yellow door”)

So when we add the adjective to the sentence, it looks like this:

Subject + Verb + Adjective + Direct object + Adjective + Indirect object 

• Ik praat met mijn lieve vader over ons mooie huis. (“I talk to my sweet father about our beautiful home.”)
• De jongen verft de gele deur met zwarte verf. (“The boy paints the yellow door with black paint.”)

As you can see, the adjectives are placed right before the nouns they describe. 

2- Adding Adverbs

Adverbs modify the meaning of verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, or make their meaning more precise. Thus, they describe verbs, adjectives, or adverbs.

In Dutch word order, adverbs that modify a verb usually come AFTER that verb:

Subject + Verb + Adverb

• Ik praat veel. (“I talk a lot.”)

If the adverb influences another adverb, the sentence would be: 

Subject + Verb + Adverb + Adverb

• Ik praat altijd veel. (“I always talk a lot.”)

And if the adverb modifies an adjective, the Dutch sentence structure would be:

Subject + Verb + Adverb + Adjective + Direct object

• Ik praat met mijn zeer lieve vader. (“I talk to my very sweet father.”)

So, as you can see, if the adverb modifies an adverb or adjective, it usually comes AFTER the verb and BEFORE the adverb or adjective.

There are different kinds of adverbs, from adverbs describing time, frequency, place, manner, or degree, to those that help you connect your thoughts. 

Do you want to use more than one adverb in a sentence? Then the following Dutch adverb placement is common:

Time-Manner-Place

Let’s have a look at these three specific types of adverbs, and place them in the sentences we’ve been using:

• Ik praat vandaag rustig in de tuin. (“I talk today quietly in the garden.”)
• De jongen verft al uren aandachtig thuis. (“The boy has been painting at home carefully for hours.”)

Let’s make it even more complicated:

Subject + Verb + Adverb of time + Adverb of manner + Adverb of place + Adjective + Direct object + Adjective + Indirect object 

• Ik praat vandaag rustig in de tuin met mijn lieve vader over ons mooie huis. (“I talk today quietly in the garden with my dear father about our beautiful house.”)
• De jongen verft al uren aandachtig thuis de gele deur met zwarte verf. (“The boy has been carefully painting the yellow door with black paint for hours at home.”)

→ Do you see how the Dutch sentence order differs from that in English? Have a look at the previous examples and compare the different structures. This will make a great addition to your Dutch word order exercises!

However, it’s also possible to place the time and place adverbs at the beginning of the sentence. This is generally done to put emphasis on these adverbs:

• Vandaag praat ik rustig in de tuin met mijn lieve vader over ons mooie huis. (“Today, I talk today quietly in the garden with my dear father about our beautiful house.”)
• In het huis verft de jongen al uren aandachtig de gele deur met zwarte verf. (“In the house, the boy has been painting the yellow door carefully with black paint for hours.”)

Did you notice that, in this case, the verb comes BEFORE the subject? Be sure to make a note of this difference for your future reference. 

Okay, these sentences are getting a bit crazy with all the adverbs, adjectives, and objects. Luckily, sentences don’t have to be this complicated. You can just use a subject, verb, object, and maybe one adjective or adverb to get into more detail. It’s better to keep it simple when you start learning a language.

→ Do you find it hard to differentiate adjectives from adverbs? You can learn more about this tricky subject here.

4. Adding a Verb at the End of a Sentence

Regarding the conjugation of verbs, Dutch is quite a strange language. Did you know it’s possible to add a verb at the end of a sentence? You can’t do this with all Dutch conjugations, but in the present perfect, past perfect, future simple, future perfect, conditional, and conditional perfect, verbs may be added to the end of a sentence.

Let’s have a look at the eight Dutch tenses:

The eight tenses of the regular verb praten (“to talk”)
1. Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (“Present Simple”)	Describes something that is happening now	Ik praat	“I talk”
2. Onvoltooid verleden tijd (“Past Simple”)	Describes a situation that happened in the past	Ik praatte	“I talked”
3. Voltooid tegenwoordige tijd (“Present Perfect”)	Describes something that happened in the past and has already ended	Ik heb gepraat	“I have talked”
4. Voltooid verleden tijd (“Past Perfect”)	Describes an action or event that happened in the past and ended in the past	Ik had gepraat	“I had talked”
5. Onvoltooid tegenwoordige toekomende tijd (“Future Simple”)	Talks about something that will happen in the future	Ik zal praten	“I will talk”
6. Voltooid tegenwoordige toekomende tijd (“Future Perfect”)	Describes an action that will have been completed before another action in the future	Ik zal hebben gepraat	“I will have talked”
7. Onvoltooid verleden toekomende tijd (“Conditional”)	Used in a “what if” scenario, used to speculate about something	Ik zou praten	“I would talk”
8. Voltooid verleden toekomende tijd (“Conditional Perfect”)	Describes a future hypothetical situation in the past	Ik zou hebben gepraat	“I would have talked”

So how does it work with the other components of the Dutch sentence structure?

Here’s an example for all six of the Dutch tenses that can make sentences end with a verb:

• Present perfect: De jongen heeft in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf geverfd. (“The boy has painted the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)
• Past perfect: De jongen had in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf geverfd. (“The boy had painted the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)
• Future simple: De jongen zal in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf verven. (“The boy will paint the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)
• Future perfect: De jongen zal in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf hebben geverfd. (“The boy will have painted the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)
• Conditional: De jongen zou in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf verven. (“The boy would paint the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)
• Conditional perfect: De jongen zou in het huis de gele deur met zwarte verf hebben geverfd. (“The boy would have painted the yellow door in the house with black paint.”)

As you can see, the Dutch sentence structure for these tenses will be:

Subject + Working verb + Adverb + Adjective + Direct object + Adjective + Indirect object + Other verb

Do you think this Dutch sentence word order is very complicated? Then make sentences with less components. For example:

• De jongen heeft urenlang de deur geverfd. (“The boy has painted the door for hours.”)
• Ik zou rustig in de tuin met mijn vader hebben gepraat. (“I would have talked quietly with my father in the garden.”) 

→ Try to think of easy sentences like this that you can use. 

→ Do you want to make a negative sentence that ends with a verb? The word niet (“not”) comes AFTER the working verb.

5. Another Conjugation: The Imperative

The imperative (in Dutch: de gebiedende wijs) is used for commands, orders, and suggestions. Similar to English, there’s no subject in this conjugation, and the sentences usually start with the verb.

For example:

• Verf de deur groen. (“Paint the door green.”)
• Praat rustig met je vader. (“Talk quietly with your father.”) 

Let’s have a look at the imperative word order in Dutch. These examples show two different word orders:

Verb + Direct object + Adverb

Or

Verb + Adverb + Direct object

These different word orders are caused by the fact that the first adverb is connected to the object (de deur, meaning “the door”), while the second adverb is related to the verb (praten, meaning “to talk”).

As you can notice, these sentences are often shorter than descriptive sentences. But of course, you can also add several adverbs, adjectives, or an indirect object.

Verb + Adverb + (Adjective) + Direct object + (Adverb) + (Indirect object)

For example:

• Verf nu die lelijke deur groen. (“Now paint this ugly door green.”)
• Praat rustig met je vader door de telefoon. (“Talk quietly with your father on the phone.”) 

• In the imperative mode, the word niet (“not”) also comes AFTER the verb when making negative sentences.

6. Making Questions

To make a question, turn the verb and subject of a statement around. 

Verb + Subject + Adverb + (Adjective) + Direct object + (Adjective) + (Indirect object)

For example: 

• Verf je morgen die lelijke deur groen? (“Will you paint that ugly door green tomorrow?”)
• Praat hij graag met zijn vader door de telefoon? (“Does he like to talk to his father on the phone?”) 

→ In questions, the word niet (“not”) comes AFTER the subject and verb. For example: Praat hij niet graag met zijn vader? (“Doesn’t he like to talk to his father?”)

→ Try to make your own questions as part of your Dutch word order exercises. What Dutch questions can you think of?

Another way to make questions is through question words:

• Wie (“Who”): Wie verft de deur? (“Who paints the door?”)
• Waar (“Where”): Waar verf je de deur? (“Where do you paint the door?”)
• Wanneer (“When”): Wanneer verf je de deur? (“When do you paint the door?”)
• Hoe (“How”): Hoe verf je de deur? (“How do you paint the door?”)
• Waarom (“Why”): Waarom verf je de deur? (“Why do you paint the door?”)
• Wat (“What”): Wat doe je met de deur? (“What do you do with the door?”)

As you can see, the Dutch word order with question words is:

Query word +  Verb + Subject + Direct object

The wie (“who”) question word is an exception, as there’s no subject mentioned.

→ Would you like to know more about Dutch sentence patterns? Then have a look at our Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners list.

7. How DutchPod101 Can Help You Learn More Dutch

In this guide, you’ve learned the ins and outs of the word order in Dutch sentences. You now know all about the Dutch sentence structure.

Do you feel ready to put all of this knowledge into practice? Or would you like to do more Dutch word order exercises?

Make sure to discover everything that DutchPod101.com has to offer, such as the multiple vocabulary lists with audio recordings and other useful free resources. Learn some new words and put them into practice to form your own Dutch sentences.

Would you like a private teacher? DutchPod101 also has the MyTeacher Premium PLUS service. Here, you can get private one-on-one classes about Dutch word order and other crucial language features, with personalized feedback, interactive assignments, and professional advice. 

Let’s master the Dutch language!