Voorzetsels van tijd
Exam relevant: This topic is covered in the Inburgeringsexamen. You're studying at the required exam level.
Use "op" with days and dates, "in" with months, seasons, and years, and "om" with clock times.
| Preposition | Used with | Dutch example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| op | days of the week | op maandag | on Monday |
| op | dates | op 5 januari | on January 5th |
| op | specific days | op Kerstdag | on Christmas Day |
| in | months | in januari | in January |
| in | seasons | in de zomer | in (the) summer |
| in | years | in 2024 | in 2024 |
| in | centuries | in de 21e eeuw | in the 21st century |
| om | clock times | om drie uur | at three o'clock |
| om | specific times | om half acht | at half past seven |
Note: "in de zomer/winter/herfst/lente" uses the article "de" with seasons.
De vergadering is op dinsdag.
The meeting is on Tuesday.
Ik ben geboren in 1990.
I was born in 1990.
De les begint om negen uur.
The lesson starts at nine o'clock.
In de winter is het koud in Nederland.
In winter it is cold in the Netherlands.
Dutch uses special contracted forms for parts of the day: 's morgens (in the morning), 's middags (in the afternoon), 's avonds (in the evening), 's nachts (at night).
| Contracted form | Alternative | English | Approximate time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 's morgens | in de ochtend | in the morning | 6:00 - 12:00 |
| 's middags | in de middag | in the afternoon | 12:00 - 18:00 |
| 's avonds | in de avond | in the evening | 18:00 - 24:00 |
| 's nachts | in de nacht | at night | 0:00 - 6:00 |
Both forms are correct. The contracted forms ('s morgens, etc.) are very common in everyday Dutch.
Ik drink 's morgens altijd koffie.
I always drink coffee in the morning.
Zij werkt 's avonds in het restaurant.
She works in the evening at the restaurant.
's Nachts is het stil op straat.
At night it is quiet in the street.
When 's nachts starts the sentence, the 's is capitalized as 'S
Additional time prepositions: van...tot (from...to), sinds (since), tijdens (during), voor (before), na (after), over (in...time from now).
| Dutch | English | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| van...tot | from...to | van negen tot vijf | from nine to five |
| sinds | since | sinds januari | since January |
| tijdens | during | tijdens de vergadering | during the meeting |
| voor | before | voor de lunch | before lunch |
| na | after | na het werk | after work |
| over | in (time from now) | over een uur | in one hour |
| tot | until | tot vrijdag | until Friday |
| tegen | by / around | tegen vijf uur | by/around five o'clock |
Pay special attention to "over" which means "in (a certain amount of time from now)".
Ik werk van maandag tot vrijdag.
I work from Monday to Friday.
Zij woont hier sinds 2020.
She has been living here since 2020.
Tijdens de pauze eet ik een broodje.
During the break I eat a sandwich.
De bus komt over tien minuten.
The bus comes in ten minutes.
"over" = in (time from now)
Ik bel je na de vergadering.
I will call you after the meeting.
Scenario: Time prepositions are essential in professional settings for scheduling, deadlines, and describing work routines.
De vergadering is op maandag om tien uur.
The meeting is on Monday at ten o'clock.
Ik werk hier sinds januari.
I have been working here since January.
Kunt u het rapport voor vrijdag afmaken?
Can you finish the report before Friday?
Het kantoor is open van acht tot zes.
The office is open from eight to six.
Tijdens de lunch bespreken we het project.
During lunch we will discuss the project.
De klant komt over een half uur.
The client is coming in half an hour.
Use 'op' with days of the week, not 'in'. 'In' is for months, seasons, and years.
When referring to time from now, use 'over', not 'in'. 'Over tien minuten' = in ten minutes (from now).
'Sinds' means 'since' (ongoing from a starting point). 'Van' is used in the combination 'van...tot' (from...to).
Use 'in' with seasons: in de zomer, in de winter, in de herfst, in de lente. 'Op' is for days and dates.