Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

This lesson covers Dutch time prepositions like in (in), om (at), op (on), and voor (before), teaching you to express exact times, days, and durations clearly and naturally.
  1. Use 'om' for exact times.
  2. Use 'op' for days and specific dates.
Voorzetsel (Preposition)Voorbeeld (Example)
InDe bus rijdt in een uur naar Amsterdam. (The bus drives in an hour to Amsterdam.)
Voor
Na
We vertrekken voor het avondeten. (We leave before dinner.)
Na de les kom ik bij je langs. (After the lesson I will come by your place.)
OmIk sta om zeven uur op. (I get up at seven o'clock.)
OpWij gaan op maandag sporten. (We are going to exercise on Monday.)
OverOver een maand gaan we op vakantie. (In a month we are going on holiday.)
Vanaf
Tot
De winkel is vanaf 9 uur open. (The shop is from 9 o'clock open.)
Je mag tot zeven uur buiten spelen. (You may play outside until seven o'clock.)
TussenDe winkel sluit tussen 12 en 13 uur. (The shop closes between 12 and 13 o'clock.)
SindsWij kennen elkaar sinds de basisschool. (We have known each other since primary school.)
Tijdens

Wij praten tijdens de lunch. (We talk during lunch.)

Exceptions!

  1. Use 'in' for duration, not for a specific moment.

Exercise 1: Voorzetsels van tijd (in, om, op, voor,...)

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

om, sinds, tussen, na, over, tot, tijdens, vanaf

1.
De winkel is gesloten ... twaalf en één uur.
(The shop is closed between twelve and one o'clock.)
2.
De vergadering begint ... negen uur.
(The meeting starts at nine o'clock.)
3.
Het feest duurt ... middernacht.
(The party lasts until midnight.)
4.
Zij heeft daar gewoond ... haar jeugd.
(She lived there during her youth.)
5.
Wij wonen hier ... 2010.
(We have lived here since 2010.)
6.
Wij gaan ... een week op vakantie.
(We are going on holiday in a week.)
7.
Hij komt pas ... het werk thuis.
(He only comes home after work.)
8.
De winkel is open ... 9 uur.
(The shop is open from 9 o'clock.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Ik heb een afspraak ___ drie uur.

(I have an appointment ___ three o'clock.)

2. We gaan ___ maandag naar de markt.

(We go ___ Monday to the market.)

3. De les begint ___ half negen.

(The lesson starts ___ half past eight.)

4. Ik begin met werken ___ negen uur 's ochtends.

(I start working ___ nine o'clock in the morning.)

5. Wij hebben vakantie ___ juli.

(We have vacation ___ July.)

6. De vergadering is ___ 15 april.

(The meeting is ___ April 15.)

Prepositions of Time in Dutch (Voorzetsels van tijd)

This lesson focuses on Dutch prepositions used to indicate time, such as in, om, op, voor, and others. These prepositions help specify exact moments, periods, or durations related to events and actions.

Common Time Prepositions and Their Uses

  • Om: Used for exact times.
    Example: Ik sta om zeven uur op. (I get up at seven o'clock.)
  • Op: Used for days and specific dates.
    Example: Wij gaan op maandag sporten. (We go exercise on Monday.)
  • In: Used for durations or months, not for precise moments.
    Example: De bus rijdt in een uur naar Amsterdam. (The bus takes an hour to reach Amsterdam.)
  • Voor and Na: Indicating before or after something.
    Examples: We vertrekken voor het avondeten. (We leave before dinner.)
    Na de les kom ik bij je langs. (I’ll visit you after the lesson.)
  • Over: Expressing 'in' a future time span.
    Example: Over een maand gaan we op vakantie. (In a month, we're going on vacation.)
  • Vanaf and Tot: Indicating start time and end time.
    Examples: De winkel is vanaf 9 uur open. (The store opens from nine o’clock.)
    Je mag tot zeven uur buiten spelen. (You may play outside until seven.)
  • Tussen: Between two points in time.
    Example: De winkel sluit tussen 12 en 13 uur. (The store closes between 12 and 1 pm.)
  • Sinds: Since a certain time in the past.
    Example: Wij kennen elkaar sinds de basisschool. (We have known each other since primary school.)
  • Tijdens: During an event or period.
    Example: Wij praten tijdens de lunch. (We talk during lunch.)

Key Usage Highlights

  • Om is always used for exact times, never for durations.
  • Op is always for specific days or dates, not months or years.
  • When talking about months or long periods, in is used, never om or op.

Differences Between English and Dutch Time Prepositions

English and Dutch time prepositions overlap, but there are differences in usage. For example, English often uses "at" for exact times, which corresponds to Dutch om. Similarly, English "on" for days or dates corresponds to Dutch op. However, English uses "in" for months and longer time spans, which is similar to Dutch in.

Useful phrases to remember include:

  • Om zeven uur = At seven o'clock
  • Op maandag = On Monday
  • In juli = In July
  • Voor het avondeten = Before dinner
  • Na de les = After the lesson

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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 19:30