Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn essential Dutch question words like hoe (how), hoeveel (how many), waar (where), and wanneer (when) to ask about manner, quantity, place, and time in everyday conversations.
  1. Formation of a question sentence: question word + finite verb + subject + rest of the sentence.
  2. Question words usually come at the beginning of the sentence.
VraagwoordGebruikVoorbeeld
Hoe (How)Wijze of toestandHoe gaat het?
Hoeveel (How many)Aantal of hoeveelheidHoeveel broers heb je?
Waar (Where)PlaatsWaar woon je?
Wanneer (When)TijdWanneer ben je jarig?

Exceptions!

  1. "Hoeveel" is only used for quantities, not for frequency.

Exercise 1: Vraagwoorden (hoe, hoeveel, waar, wanneer)

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Wanneer, Hoeveel, Hoe, Waar

1.
... voel je je vandaag?
(How do you feel today?)
2.
... heet jouw oma?
(What is your grandmother's name?)
3.
... jaar ben je?
(How old are you?)
4.
... cadeaus heb je gekregen?
(How many presents did you receive?)
5.
... is jouw verjaardag?
(When is your birthday?)
6.
... woon jij?
(Where do you live?)
7.
... kom jij vandaan?
(Where do you come from?)
8.
... komt jouw tante op bezoek?
(When is your aunt visiting?)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. ___ oud ben jij?

(___ old are you?)

2. ___ ben je jarig?

(___ is your birthday?)

3. ___ woon je in Nederland?

(___ do you live in the Netherlands?)

4. ___ broers heb jij?

(___ brothers do you have?)

5. ___ gaat het met je verjaardag?

(___ is it going with your birthday?)

6. ___ vier jij je verjaardag?

(___ do you celebrate your birthday?)

Introduction to Dutch Interrogative Words: Vraagwoorden

This lesson focuses on four essential Dutch question words: hoe, hoeveel, waar, and wanneer. These words are fundamental for forming basic questions that help you gather specific information such as manner, quantity, place, and time.

Key Vraagwoorden and Their Uses

  • Hoe – used to ask about the manner or condition, for example, Hoe gaat het? (How are you?).
  • Hoeveel – asks about quantity or number, such as Hoeveel broers heb je? (How many brothers do you have?).
  • Waar – relates to place or location, for instance, Waar woon je? (Where do you live?).
  • Wanneer – inquires about time, example: Wanneer ben je jarig? (When is your birthday?).

Forming Questions with Vraagwoorden

In Dutch, question sentences using these words typically follow this structure: Vraagwoord + verb (persoonsvorm) + subject + rest of the sentence. Notice that the vraagwoord usually comes at the very start of the sentence.

Example: Hoe gaat het met je? (How is it going with you?)

Important Usage Notes

Unlike in English, where "how much" can sometimes relate to frequency or degree, hoeveel in Dutch is specifically used only to ask about numbers or quantity, not frequency.

Comparison with English

Many question words translate directly, but their usage in sentence structure and nuance differs. Dutch places the question word at the beginning, followed by the finite verb, which contrasts with English sentence patterns where auxiliary verbs often begin the question.

Useful phrases include:

  • Hoe oud ben jij? – How old are you?
  • Waar woon je in Nederland? – Where do you live in the Netherlands?
  • Wanneer vier jij je verjaardag? – When do you celebrate your birthday?

Understanding these words and their patterns helps build a solid foundation for everyday conversations and inquiries in Dutch.

Written by

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

Profile Picture

Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

University_Logo

Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 01:40