Packing your luggage
Je koffer inpakken
- Name and describe common items to pack for a trip.
- Compare different types of luggage and suitcases.
- Explain baggage rules and restrictions.
- When not to use an article
Learn practical Dutch phrases and vocabulary for packing luggage, understanding airport baggage rules, and describing travel items. This A2-level lesson includes dialogues, verb conjugations, and a mini story to help you speak naturally about preparing for trips.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (15) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Inpakken
To pack
2
De zwembroek
The swim trunks
3
De rugzak
The backpack
4
Uitpakken
To unpack
5
De bikini
The bikini
Oefening 2: Conversation exercise
Instructie:
- What items should be packed for what type of holidays? (What items should be packed for what type of holidays?)
- What type of suitcase is best for what holiday type? (What type of suitcase is best for what holiday type?)
- Do you sometimes pack too much and go over the limit? (Do you sometimes pack too much and go over the limit?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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Een bikini, zwembroek en zonnebril zijn het beste voor een strandvakantie. A bikini, swim trunks, and sunglasses are best for a beach holiday. |
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Ik neem kleine spullen mee in mijn handbagage. I take small items in my hand luggage. |
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Voor langere vakanties check ik een extra koffer in of soms een klein trolleyskje. For longer holidays, I check in an extra suitcase or sometimes a small trolley |
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Ik neem mijn 20-liter rugzak mee met zo min mogelijk spullen. I take my 20-liter backpack with me with as little items as possible. |
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Mag je vloeistoffen meenemen in je handbagage? Can you bring liquids in your carry-on? |
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Ik ben over het gewichtslimiet van mijn handbagage gegaan. I went over the weight limit for my carry-on. |
| ... |
Exercise 3: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 4: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Ik ___ altijd een handdoek en zwemkleding mee als ik op reis ga.
(I ___ always take a towel and swimwear with me when I go traveling.)2. We ___ de koffer met kleding en schoenen voor onze vakantie.
(We ___ the suitcase with clothes and shoes for our vacation.)3. Jij ___ een rugzak mee omdat je veel wilt wandelen.
(You ___ a backpack because you want to hike a lot.)4. Zij hebben de tas al ___ voordat ze vertrokken.
(They have already ___ the bag before they left.)Exercise 5: Packing your luggage
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Nemen - Take
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
- ik neem
- jij neemt
- hij/zij/het neemt
- wij nemen
- jullie nemen
- zij nemen
Hebben - Have
Voltooid tegenwoordige tijd (VTT)
- ik heb
- jij hebt
- hij/zij/het heeft
- wij hebben
- jullie hebben
- zij hebben
Vullen - Fill
Voltooid tegenwoordige tijd (VTT)
- ik heb gevuld
- jij hebt gevuld
- hij/zij/het heeft gevuld
- wij hebben gevuld
- jullie hebben gevuld
- zij hebben gevuld
Vullen - Fill
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
- ik vul
- jij vult
- hij/zij/het vult
- wij vullen
- jullie vullen
- zij vullen
Pakken - Pack
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
- ik pak
- jij pakt
- hij/zij/het pakt
- wij pakken
- jullie pakken
- zij pakken
Exercise 6: Wanneer geen artikel gebruiken
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: When not to use an article
Show translation Show answersde, een, /
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Meenemen to bring along Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) neem mee | I bring along |
| (jij) neemt mee / neem je mee | you bring along / do you bring along |
| (hij/zij/het) neemt mee | he/she/it brings along |
| (wij) nemen mee | we bring along |
| (jullie) nemen mee | you bring along |
| (zij) nemen mee | they bring along |
Vullen to fill Share Copied!
Voltooid tegenwoordige tijd (VTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| ik heb gevuld | I have filled |
| jij hebt gevuld / heb jij gevuld | you have filled / have you filled |
| hij/zij/het heeft gevuld | He/she/it has filled |
| wij hebben gevuld | we have filled |
| jullie hebben gevuld | You have filled |
| zij hebben gevuld | They have filled |
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Packing Your Luggage: Practical Dutch for Travel
This lesson helps you learn essential Dutch vocabulary and phrases about packing your luggage and airport baggage rules. You will practice dialogues about choosing suitcases, what to pack, and understanding baggage restrictions, which are useful for real-life travel situations.
Key Topics Covered
- Choosing a Suitcase: Learn how to describe suitcases by weight, size, and features like wheels. Example phrases: "Welke koffer is licht en groot?" (Which suitcase is light and big?) and "Heeft deze koffer wieltjes?" (Does this suitcase have wheels?).
- Airport Baggage Rules: Discuss weight limits, liquid restrictions in hand luggage, and extra fees for overweight bags. For instance, "De maximale bagage is 20 kilo per koffer" (The maximum baggage weight is 20 kilos per suitcase).
- Packing Your Own Bag: Practice saying what you pack and why, using no articles where appropriate. For example, "Ik neem kleding, schoenen en een toilettas mee" (I take clothes, shoes, and a toiletry bag with me).
Grammar Focus: Verb Conjugation
The lesson emphasizes useful verbs like "nemen" (to take), "vullen" (to fill), and "inpakken" (to pack). You will practice conjugations in present tense and perfect tense with multiple-choice exercises and a mini story about packing for a weekend trip to Zeeland.
Important Language Tips
Note the Dutch practice of dropping definite or indefinite articles where English uses them, especially in expressions of packing items: for example, "Ik neem paspoort mee" instead of "Ik neem het paspoort mee." Knowing this difference helps you sound more natural in Dutch.
Useful phrases include "Welke spullen stop je in je handbagage?" (Which items do you put in your hand luggage?) and "Mag ik vloeistoffen meenemen in mijn handbagage?" (May I take liquids in my hand luggage?). These are practical for conversations at the airport.
By focusing on these everyday topics and grammar points, this lesson builds your confidence to talk about travel preparations clearly and naturally in Dutch.
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