Telling Time and Dates in Dutch 📅

Hoi! Now that you can confidently count thanks to our lesson on Dutch numbers, it's time to apply that knowledge to something you'll use every day: telling time and talking about dates. Being able to schedule appointments, understand opening hours, and ask someone when their birthday is are all essential conversational skills. The Dutch system for time and dates is very logical and shares many similarities with English, but there are a few key differences to be aware of.

This guide will cover everything from the days of the week and months of the year to asking for the time and understanding the unique Dutch way of saying "half past." Let's make sure you're never late for a Dutch appointment! ⏰

1. The Days of the Week (De Dagen van de Week)

Many of the Dutch days of the week will look familiar to English speakers, as they share Germanic roots.

Dutch	English
maandag	Monday
dinsdag	Tuesday
woensdag	Wednesday
donderdag	Thursday
vrijdag	Friday
zaterdag	Saturday
zondag	Sunday

Note: The days of the week are not capitalized in Dutch unless they start a sentence.

Useful related words:

• vandaag - today
• gisteren - yesterday
• morgen - tomorrow
• het weekend - the weekend

2. The Months of the Year (De Maanden van het Jaar)

The months are even more recognizable than the days!

Dutch	English	Dutch	English
januari	January	juli	July
februari	February	augustus	August
maart	March	september	September
april	April	oktober	October
mei	May	november	November
juni	June	december	December

3. The Seasons (De Seizoenen)

Dutch	English
de lente	Spring
de zomer	Summer
de herfst	Autumn / Fall
de winter	Winter

4. Asking for and Stating the Date

To ask for the date, you can say:

• Welke datum is het vandaag? (What date is it today?)

To state the date, the Dutch use the format: "Het is [day] [number] [month]."

Example: Het is maandag 25 november. (It is Monday, November 25th.)

Note that the Dutch use ordinal numbers for the day of the month, but you just say the cardinal number. You write "25 november" but you think "de vijfentwintigste november".

5. Telling Time (Klokkijken)

This is where things get a little more complex, but it's all very logical.

Asking for the Time

• Hoe laat is het? (What time is it? - Literally: How late is it?)
• Hoe laat? (What time?) - A shorter, more informal version.

The Hours (De Uren)

For full hours, it's simple. You just say "Het is [number] uur."

Example: Het is drie uur. (It is three o'clock.)

Minutes Past the Hour: "Over"

For minutes in the first half of the hour, you use over (past).

• 3:05 - Het is vijf over drie. (It's five past three.)
• 3:10 - Het is tien over drie. (It's ten past three.)
• 3:15 - Het is kwart over drie. (It's a quarter past three.)

Minutes To the Hour: "Voor"

For minutes in the second half of the hour, you use voor (to/before).

• 3:55 - Het is vijf voor vier. (It's five to four.)
• 3:50 - Het is tien voor vier. (It's ten to four.)
• 3:45 - Het is kwart voor vier. (It's a quarter to four.)

The Dutch "Half Past": The Big Twist!

This is the most important and confusing difference. In English, "half past three" means 3:30. In Dutch, they look forward to the *next* hour.

This also affects the minutes around the half-hour mark.

• 3:25 - vijf voor half vier (five before half-four)
• 3:35 - vijf over half vier (five past half-four)

Formal / Digital Time

Just like in English, you can also just say the numbers directly, which is common in formal settings, travel announcements, or when reading a digital clock. This is much simpler!

• 3:30 - Het is drie uur dertig.
• 8:45 - Het is acht uur vijfenveertig.

Summary of Telling Time

Conclusion

Geweldig! (Great!) You can now navigate the Dutch calendar and clock. You've learned the days, months, and seasons, and you've tackled the intricacies of telling time. The most crucial takeaway is the Dutch way of saying "half past"—always remember to look forward to the next hour (half vier = 3:30). It will feel strange at first, but with practice, it will become second nature. Try asking your Dutch friends for the time or setting your phone's language to Dutch to get daily practice. You're one step closer to mastering everyday Dutch conversation! 🎉