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Learn useful Dutch prepositions for place and direction such as binnen (inside), rond (around), tegen (against), vanuit (from), and via (through), with practical examples like 'Ik ben binnen in het winkelcentrum.' and 'We lopen rond het park.'
  1. These prepositions express a place or direction.
Voorzetsel (Preposition)Betekenis (Meaning)Voorbeeld (Example)
binnenIn of binnenin iets (In or inside something)Ik ben binnen in het winkelcentrum. (I am inside the shopping centre.)
rondOm iets heen (Around something)We lopen rond het winkelcentrum. (We walk round the shopping centre.)
rondomSynoniem voor 'rond' (Synonym for 'around')De winkels zijn rondom het park. (The shops are around the park.)
tegenAanliggend of contact (Adjacent or in contact)Hij staat tegen de muur van de bakkerij. (He is standing against the wall of the bakery.)
vanuitVanaf een plek van vertrek (From a place of departure)Ik kom vanuit de stad. (I come from the city.)
viaLangs een tussenstop of route (Along a stopover or route)We reizen via Amsterdam naar Parijs. (We travel via Amsterdam to Paris.)

Exercise 1: Voorzetsels binnen, rond, tegen, vanuit

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Binnen, rond, tegen, via, vanuit, Rondom

1.
... het winkelcentrum zijn er nog veel andere winkels.
(There are still many other shops around the shopping centre.)
2.
Je kunt ... de hoofdingang binnen in het winkelcentrum.
(You can enter the shopping centre through the main entrance.)
3.
De man leunt ... de muur van het kapsalon.
(The man is leaning against the wall of the hairdresser's.)
4.
Ik rijd met de fiets ... de stad naar de kledingzaak.
(I cycle from the city to the clothing shop.)
5.
... in het winkelcentrum is er een cadeauwinkel.
(Inside the shopping centre there is a gift shop.)
6.
De klant loopt ... het plein en zoekt een bakkerij.
(The customer is walking around the square and is looking for a bakery.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence with the correct preposition for place or direction.

1.
'Tegen' betekent dat je ergens tegenaan staat, niet dat je eromheen loopt.
'Binnen' betekent dat je je binnenin iets bevindt, niet eromheen loopt.
2.
'Tegen' betekent dat iets aanligt of contact maakt, niet het vertrekpunt.
'Rond' betekent om iets heen, niet een vertrekpunt.
3.
'Tegen' betekent dat iets direct aan iets anders grenst, maar de supermarkt is meestal in het centrum.
'Vanuit' geeft het vertrekpunt aan, niet de locatie.
4.
'Binnen' betekent binnenin, maar bank en apotheek zijn aparte gebouwen.
'Vanuit' geeft een vertrekpunt aan, geen locatie naast iets anders.

Prepositions of Place and Direction: binnen, rond, tegen, vanuit, and via

This lesson focuses on Dutch prepositions that express location and movement in relation to places: binnen, rond, rondom, tegen, vanuit, and via. These words are essential to describe where something is located or how someone moves around or away from a place.

Understanding Each Preposition

  • binnen – means inside or within something. For example, "Ik ben binnen in het winkelcentrum." (I am inside the shopping center.)
  • rond and rondom – both mean around, indicating movement or position surrounding something. For example, "We lopen rond het winkelcentrum." (We walk around the shopping center.) and "De winkels zijn rondom het park." (The shops are around the park.)
  • tegen – indicates contact or touching, often translated as against or by. Example: "Hij staat tegen de muur van de bakkerij." (He is standing against the bakery wall.)
  • vanuit – means from the perspective of a starting point or origin. Example: "Ik kom vanuit de stad." (I come from the city.)
  • via – means via or through, indicating passing through a place on the way. Example: "We reizen via Amsterdam naar Parijs." (We travel via Amsterdam to Paris.)

Key Highlights for Learners

These prepositions are often used to describe spatial relationships and directions in everyday situations such as giving directions, describing locations, or narrating travel routes. Notice how some prepositions may seem similar but have precise uses:

  • rond vs. tegen: "rond" means around something, whereas "tegen" means directly touching it.
  • binnen vs. vanuit: "binnen" places you inside something, while "vanuit" expresses a point of departure or origin.

Differences Between Dutch and English

While English prepositions like "in," "around," "against," "from," and "via" have equivalents in Dutch, the usage can differ, especially in specific spatial contexts. For example, "tegen" literally means "against," often implying direct contact, which can be slightly different from English applications. Similarly, "vanuit" stresses the concept of a starting point used in spatial or figurative senses and is more precise than the simple English "from."

Useful Dutch phrases to practice include:

  • binnen: "De kat zit binnen." (The cat is inside.)
  • rond/rondom: "We wandelen rond het meer." (We walk around the lake.)
  • tegen: "De fiets staat tegen de muur." (The bike is leaning against the wall.)
  • vanuit: "Ik werk vanuit huis." (I work from home.)
  • via: "Ik ga via Utrecht naar België." (I am going to Belgium via Utrecht.)

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Friday, 18/07/2025 00:57