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Learn when to omit articles in Dutch with key examples like meervoud (kinderen), personen (Piet Jansen), and vaste uitdrukkingen (op straat). This lesson covers places, professions, and non-count nouns too.
Gebruik (Use)Voorbeelden (Examples)
Meervoud (Plural)Daar lopen kinderen. (There are children walking.)
Namen van personen (Names of people)Zijn naam is Piet Jansen. (His name is Piet Jansen.)
Namen van landen, eilanden, provincies, steden en dorpen (Names of countries, islands, provinces, cities and villages)Ik woon in Amsterdam.  (I live in Amsterdam.)
Vaste uitdrukkingen (Fixed expressions)

 

op straat (on the street)
op school (at school)
per jaar (per year)
 

Maanden en dagen (Months and days)In juli ga ik op vakantie. (In July I am going on holiday.)
Niet-telbare zelfstandige naamwoorden (Uncountable nouns)Zij drinkt water. (She drinks water.)
Beroepen (Professions)Mijn vader is agent. (My father is an officer.)
Nationaliteiten zonder lidwoord (Nationalities without article)John is Engelsman. (John is Englishman.)

Exercise 1: Wanneer geen artikel gebruiken

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

de, /, een

1.
Daar lopen ... toeristen met rugzakken.
(Daar lopen / toeristen met rugzakken.)
2.
Ik neem mijn koffer mee naar ... Amsterdam.
(Ik neem mijn koffer mee naar / Amsterdam.)
3.
Hij pakt ... handdoek uit zijn rugzak.
(Hij pakt de handdoek uit zijn rugzak.)
4.
Ze draagt ... bikini naar het zwembad.
(Ze draagt een bikini naar het zwembad.)
5.
In ... juli ga ik op vakantie naar Spanje.
(In / juli ga ik op vakantie naar Spanje.)
6.
Hij pakt ... handtas en gaat naar de winkel.
(Hij pakt de handtas en gaat naar de winkel.)
7.
Ik zie ... pet op de grond liggen.
(Ik zie een pet op de grond liggen.)
8.
Elke ochtend drink ik koffie met ... suiker.
(Elke ochtend drink ik koffie met / suiker.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence without an article according to the rules of Dutch.

1.
You do not use 'a' with plurals like 'clothes'.
For plurals, no article is needed here; the use of 'the' is incorrect.
2.
For professions, you do not use an article; 'the' is incorrect here.
For professions as a role, you usually do not use an article.
3.
Countries usually do not take an article in Dutch.
Months like July are used without an article.
4.
When 'water' is meant generally, you do not use an article.
'Water' is uncountable and does not get an article here.

Understanding When to Omit Articles in Dutch

This lesson focuses on one of the tricky parts of Dutch grammar: when not to use an article. While articles like "de" or "het" are common in Dutch, there are several important cases where no article is needed. Recognizing these situations will help you understand and speak Dutch more naturally.

Key situations without an article

  • Plural nouns: When speaking about more than one of something, articles are often left out. Example: Daar lopen kinderen.
  • Names of people: Personal names do not usually take an article.
    Example: Zijn naam is Piet Jansen.
  • Names of places: Countries, islands, provinces, cities, and villages generally appear without articles.
    Example: Ik woon in Amsterdam.
  • Fixed expressions: Common phrases like "op straat" (on the street) and "per jaar" (per year) omit articles.
    Examples: op straat, op school, per jaar
  • Months and days: When mentioning months and days, articles are not used.
    Example: In juli ga ik op vakantie.
  • Uncountable nouns: General substances or liquids, which can't be counted, don't take articles.
    Example: Zij drinkt water.
  • Professions: When talking about jobs, articles after "zijn" (to be) are usually dropped.
    Example: Mijn vader is agent.
  • Nationalities without articles: Nationalities are often used without an article.
    Example: John is Engelsman.

Important Notes on Dutch and English

In English, definite and indefinite articles (“the,” “a,” “an”) are used differently than in Dutch. For example, English often requires articles before professions or uncountable nouns (“a teacher,” “some water”), but Dutch usually omits them in these cases. While English uses articles with countries like “the Netherlands,” Dutch will sometimes omit articles, except in specific country names that include a descriptive phrase. Knowing these differences helps avoid typical mistakes.

Useful Dutch Phrases and Expressions

  • Daar lopen kinderen. (There are children walking.)
  • Zijn naam is Piet Jansen. (His name is Piet Jansen.)
  • Ik woon in Amsterdam. (I live in Amsterdam.)
  • op straat (on the street)
  • In juli ga ik op vakantie. (In July, I go on vacation.)
  • Zij drinkt water. (She drinks water.)
  • Mijn vader is agent. (My father is an officer.)
  • John is Engelsman. (John is English.)

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This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Tuesday, 02/12/2025 04:00