Hoe laat is het?
Dutch tells time relative to the NEXT hour using "over" (past) and "voor" (to), which is the opposite of English.
| Time | Dutch | Literal meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00 | drie uur | three o'clock |
| 3:15 | kwart over drie | quarter past three |
| 3:30 | half vier | half four (= halfway to four!) |
| 3:45 | kwart voor vier | quarter to four |
| 12:00 | twaalf uur / middag / middernacht | twelve / noon / midnight |
| Time | Dutch | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| 3:05 | vijf over drie | 5 past 3 |
| 3:10 | tien over drie | 10 past 3 |
| 3:20 | tien voor half vier | 10 before half 4 (= 3:20) |
| 3:25 | vijf voor half vier | 5 before half 4 (= 3:25) |
| 3:35 | vijf over half vier | 5 past half 4 (= 3:35) |
| 3:40 | tien over half vier | 10 past half 4 (= 3:40) |
| 3:50 | tien voor vier | 10 to 4 |
| 3:55 | vijf voor vier | 5 to 4 |
In formal contexts (trains, appointments), Dutch uses 24-hour time.
Hoe laat is het?
What time is it?
Het is half acht.
It is 7:30.
De trein vertrekt om kwart over negen.
The train departs at 9:15.
Ik begin om negen uur.
I start at nine o'clock.
De winkel sluit om zes uur.
The shop closes at six o'clock.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Hoe laat? | What time? |
| om ... uur | at ... o'clock |
| 's ochtends / 's morgens | in the morning |
| 's middags | in the afternoon |
| 's avonds | in the evening |
| 's nachts | at night |
| nu | now |
| straks | later / soon |
| op tijd | on time |
| te laat | too late |
Scenario: At the office — scheduling and punctuality
De vergadering begint om half tien.
The meeting starts at 9:30.
Ik ben er om kwart voor drie.
I'll be there at 2:45.
Hoe laat is de lunch?
What time is lunch?
Sorry, ik ben te laat.
Sorry, I'm late.
"Half vier" = 3:30 (halfway to four). "Half drie" = 2:30. The number after "half" is the NEXT hour.
Use "om" for clock times: "om drie uur" (at three o'clock). "In" is used for months/seasons.