Plaatsbepalingen
Exam relevant: This topic is covered in the Staatsexamen NT2 (Programma I — B1 level).
Dutch prepositions of place describe where something is located. Many have a distinct form for "position" (where something is) vs. "direction" (where something goes).
| Meaning | Location (where is it?) | Direction (where does it go?) |
|---|---|---|
| in / into | in (in the box) | in / naar (into the box) |
| on / onto | op (on the table) | op / naar (onto the table) |
| at / to | bij / aan (at the desk) | naar (to the office) |
| under / beneath | onder (under the chair) | onder (under the chair) |
| above / over | boven (above the door) | over (over the bridge) |
| next to | naast (next to the window) | naast (next to the window) |
| behind | achter (behind the building) | achter (behind the building) |
| in front of | voor (in front of the door) | voor (in front of the door) |
| between | tussen (between the desks) | tussen (between the desks) |
Location prepositions answer "waar?" (where?). Direction prepositions answer "waarheen?" (where to?).
Het boek ligt op de tafel. (location) / Leg het boek op de tafel. (direction)
The book is on the table. / Put the book on the table.
Ze werkt in Amsterdam. (location) / Ze gaat naar Amsterdam. (direction)
She works in Amsterdam. / She is going to Amsterdam.
Hij zit aan zijn bureau. (location) / Hij loopt naar zijn bureau. (direction)
He is sitting at his desk. / He walks to his desk.
Use "naar" for movement toward a place. "In het kantoor" means you are already inside.
"Wonen in" is the correct collocation for living in a city or place.
"Op de grond" = on the ground/floor. "Aan de grond" has a different idiomatic meaning.
"In", "op", "aan", and "bij" all translate to English "at" or "on" in different contexts. They must be learned with their collocations.
| Collocation | Translation |
|---|---|
| in het kantoor | in the office |
| in de stad | in the city |
| in Nederland | in the Netherlands |
| in de kamer | in the room |
| in de rij | in the queue |
| in de auto | in the car |
| in bed | in bed |
| in het ziekenhuis | in hospital |
| Collocation | Translation |
|---|---|
| op de tafel | on the table |
| op de grond | on the ground/floor |
| op het werk | at work |
| op school | at school |
| op de fiets | on the bicycle |
| op straat | on the street |
| op het platteland | in the countryside |
| op de hoogte | up to date / aware |
| Collocation | Translation |
|---|---|
| aan de muur | on the wall |
| aan tafel | at the table (dining) |
| aan het bureau | at the desk |
| aan het werk | at work (working) |
| aan de rivier | on/along the river |
| aan de beurt | it's your turn |
| aan de telefoon | on the phone |
| aan de overkant | on the other side |
| Collocation | Translation |
|---|---|
| bij de ingang | near/at the entrance |
| bij het raam | by the window |
| bij de dokter | at the doctor's |
| bij mij thuis | at my place |
| bij het station | near the station |
| bij een bedrijf werken | to work at a company |
Use "bij" when working at a company (as an employee). "In" suggests you are physically inside.
Things attached/hanging use "aan" (on the wall), not "op".
"Aan tafel" = at the table (dining/working). "In" would mean inside the table.
When a preposition refers to a thing (not a person), combine "hier", "daar", or "waar" with the preposition instead of using a pronoun.
| Preposition | hier + prep | daar + prep | waar + prep |
|---|---|---|---|
| in | hierin (in this) | daarin (in that) | waarin (in which) |
| op | hierop (on this) | daarop (on that) | waarop (on which) |
| aan | hieraan (on/at this) | daaraan (on/at that) | waaraan (on/at which) |
| bij | hierbij (with this/attached) | daarbij (with that) | waarbij (at/with which) |
| voor | hiervoor (for this/in front) | daarvoor (for that) | waarvoor (for which) |
| achter | hierachter (behind this) | daarachter (behind that) | waarachter (behind which) |
| naast | hiernaast (next to this) | daarnaast (next to that) | waarnaast (next to which) |
These combinations can be split in speech: "daar … in", "hier … op", "waar … aan".
Hierbij stuur ik u de bijlage. (Formal email)
Attached herewith I send you the attachment.
Het kantoor staat daarin beschreven.
The office is described in that.
Dit is de kamer waarin ik werk.
This is the room in which I work.
Ik weet niet waar hij over praat.
I don't know what he is talking about.
Scenario: Giving directions and describing locations in the office
De vergaderruimte is aan het einde van de gang, naast de lift.
The meeting room is at the end of the corridor, next to the lift.
Mijn bureau staat tegenover de ingang.
My desk is opposite the entrance.
De printer staat in de hoek, naast het raam.
The printer is in the corner, next to the window.
U kunt het formulier vinden op de website of bij de receptie.
You can find the form on the website or at reception.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| aan het einde van | at the end of |
| tegenover | opposite / across from |
| naast | next to |
| in de buurt van | near / in the vicinity of |
| dichtbij | nearby / close to |
| ver van | far from |
| op de hoek van | on the corner of |
| in het midden van | in the middle of |
| boven op | on top of |
| rechts/links van | to the right/left of |