How do you formulate the date?

Grammatica: Hoe formuleer je de datum?

Learning how to correctly write a date with days, months and holidays.

Learn how to correctly formulate dates in Dutch using key expressions like 'op maandag' (on Monday) and 'in januari' (in January). Master full dates such as '12 augustus 2023' and how to mention holidays like 'Kerstmis' without a preposition.

Days of the week: Use 'op' + day name, e.g. 'op maandag'.
Months and years: Use 'in' + month or year, e.g. 'in januari', 'in 2025'.
Complete dates: Day + month + year, e.g. '21 april 2023'.

Vorm (Form)	Voorbeeld (Example)
Volledige datum (Full date)	12 augustus 2023 (12 August 2023)
Datum zonder jaartal (Date without year)	5 juli (5 July)
Datum met dag van de week (Date with day of the week)	Maandag 3 april (Monday 3 April)
Vraag (Question)	Welke dag is het vandaag? Het is donderdag 12 juli. (What day is it today? It is Thursday 12 July.)

Exceptions!

Holidays often do not have a preposition, e.g. 'Kerstmis is op 25 december'.

Exercise 1: Hoe formuleer je de datum?

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

op 5 juli 2025, op, in, op 10 maart, op 31 december 2023

Wij vieren Pasen ... april.

2. 10/03:

Wij plannen een reis ... de zomer.

De vakantie begint ... zaterdag.

4. 10/03:

Mijn verjaardag is ....

5. 05/07/2025:

Het evenement is ....

Ik ben geboren ... 2001.

De afspraak is ... woensdag.

8. 31/12/2023:

Het feest is ....

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. We hebben vakantie ___ juli.

2. De vergadering is ___ maandag.

3. Kerstmis is ___ 25 december.

4. Mijn verjaardag is ___ 10 maart.

5. We plannen het feest ___ het weekend.

6. ___ 31 december 2023 vieren we Oud en Nieuw.

How to Formulate Dates in Dutch?

This lesson focuses on how to correctly express dates in Dutch, including days, months, and holidays. You will learn the structure and necessary prepositions to use with different date formats.

Common Date Forms

Full date: day + month + year, e.g., 12 augustus 2023

Date without year: day + month, e.g., 5 juli

Date with weekday: weekday + day + month, e.g., Maandag 3 april

Question about date: e.g., Welke dag is het vandaag? Het is donderdag 12 juli.

Key Prepositions with Dates

Understanding which prepositions to use is essential for correct Dutch date expressions:

Use op + weekday, e.g., op maandag.

Use in + month or year, e.g., in januari, in 2025.

For full dates, the day and month (and year) usually stand alone or with op for specific days, e.g., 21 april 2023, or op 21 april 2023.

Holidays often do not require a preposition, e.g., Kerstmis is op 25 december.

Useful Vocabulary and Expressions

dag – day

maand – month

jaar – year

op maandag – on Monday

in juli – in July

volledige datum – full date

feestdagen – holidays

Differences Between English and Dutch Date Expressions

In Dutch, dates are commonly formulated with the day first, then the month, and finally the year, in contrast to English where the order can vary (month/day/year in US English). Dutch uses definite prepositions such as op for specific days (e.g., op maandag for "on Monday") and in for months or years (e.g., in januari, in 2025). English often omits these prepositions. Also, while holidays in English often use prepositions too (e.g., "on Christmas"), Dutch commonly does not include a preposition before a holiday name, but couples it with a date in the expression (Kerstmis is op 25 december).

Exercise 1: Hoe formuleer je de datum?

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

How to Formulate Dates in Dutch?

Common Date Forms

Key Prepositions with Dates

Useful Vocabulary and Expressions

Differences Between English and Dutch Date Expressions

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