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Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to tell time in Dutch using phrases like 'kwart over twaalf' (quarter past twelve), 'half één' (half past twelve), and 'kwart voor één' (quarter to one). Practice asking "Hoe laat is het?" and responding with "Het is..." followed by the time.
  1. Asking about the time with 'Hoe laat is het?'.
  2. Say the time with 'Het is...' followed by the time.
TijdNederlandse uitdrukking
12:00Het is twaalf uur
12:05Het is vijf over twaalf
12:10Het is tien over twaalf
12:15Het is kwart over twaalf
12:30Het is half één
12:45Het is kwart voor één
12:50Het is tien voor één
12:55Het is vijf voor één

Exceptions!

  1. For 'quarter past' and 'quarter to', use the nearest hour.

Exercise 1: Hoe zeg je de tijd?

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

half drie, vijf voor twaalf, kwart voor vijf, tien over twee, vier uur, tien voor vier, half acht

1. 14:10:
De afspraak is om ... in de middag.
(The appointment is at ten past two in the afternoon.)
2. 16:00:
Het is ... en de les is afgelopen.
(It is four o'clock and the lesson is over.)
3. 16:45:
Om ... begint de film.
(The film starts at quarter to five.)
4. 11:55:
Het is nu ..., bijna tijd voor lunch.
(It is now five to twelve, almost time for lunch.)
5. 15:50:
Mijn vlucht vertrekt om ....
(My flight leaves at ten to four.)
6. 14:30:
We vertrekken om ... naar het feest.
(We are leaving at half past two for the party.)
7. 7:30:
De trein vertrekt om ... 's ochtends.
(The train departs at half past seven in the morning.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Hoe laat is het? Het is ______.

(What time is it? It is ______.)

2. Hoe laat is het? Het is ______.

(What time is it? It is ______.)

3. Hoe laat is het? Het is ______.

(What time is it? It is ______.)

4. Hoe laat is het? Het is ______.

(What time is it? It is ______.)

5. Hoe laat is het? Het is ______.

(What time is it? It is ______.)

6. Hoe laat is het? Het is ______.

(What time is it? It is ______.)

Learning How to Tell Time in Dutch

This lesson teaches you how to ask and express the time in Dutch, focusing on common expressions used throughout the day. You will learn essential phrases to understand and communicate time naturally, which is fundamental for daily interactions.

Essential Vocabulary and Expressions

  • Hoe laat is het? – This is the question "What time is it?" used to ask for the time.
  • Het is... – Use this phrase to start your answer, meaning "It is..." followed by the time.
  • twaalf uur – twelve o'clock
  • vijf over twaalf – five past twelve
  • kwart over twaalf – quarter past twelve
  • half één – half past twelve (literally 'half one' meaning 12:30)
  • kwart voor één – quarter to one
  • vijf voor één – five to one

Understanding Dutch Time Expressions

Dutch time telling uses specific words for quarter and half hours:

  • 'kwart over' means quarter past the hour.
  • 'kwart voor' means quarter to the hour.
  • 'half' is used to indicate half an hour before the next hour, which is different from English. For example, half één means 12:30.

Common Time Examples

TimeDutch Expression
12:00Het is twaalf uur
12:05Het is vijf over twaalf
12:15Het is kwart over twaalf
12:30Het is half één
12:45Het is kwart voor één
12:55Het is vijf voor één

Key Differences Between English and Dutch Time

An important difference to note is how the Dutch refer to half hours. In English, "half past twelve" means 12:30. In Dutch, you say half één, literally "half one," which means it's halfway to one o'clock, or 12:30. This can be confusing but is essential for correct time telling in Dutch.

Additionally, phrases like kwart over (quarter past) and kwart voor (quarter to) are used similarly to English but always relate to the closest hour.

Practical Phrases for Daily Use

  • Hoe laat is het? – Asking "What time is it?"
  • Het is kwart over twaalf. – It is quarter past twelve.
  • Het is half één. – It is half past twelve (12:30).
  • Het is kwart voor één. – It is quarter to one.

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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:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 13:28