Prepositions in Dutch
Prepositions (in, op, aan, met…) are small words that cause big confusion — because Dutch often pairs them differently than English. Here's how to get them right.
The small words that matter
Most Dutch prepositions are learnable, but some verbs demand a specific one (like English 'depend ON'). Here's the core set plus the tricky pairings.
Common prepositions
The core set.
| Dutch | English | Dutch | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| in | in | op | on |
| aan | on/at | onder | under |
| met | with | zonder | without |
| voor | for/before | na | after |
| naar | to | van | from/of |
| tussen | between | achter | behind |
The tricky fixed combinations
The hard part isn’t the prepositions themselves — it’s that certain verbs and adjectives demand a specific one, and it rarely matches English. Examples: wachten op (wait FOR), denken aan (think OF/about), luisteren naar (listen TO), blij met (happy WITH), trots op (proud OF). These ‘vaste voorzetsels’ just have to be memorised as a pair with their verb — learn ‘wachten op’ as one unit, not two words.
Verb + preposition pairs
Learn these as units.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| wachten op | to wait for |
| denken aan | to think of/about |
| luisteren naar | to listen to |
| kijken naar | to look at / watch |
| zoeken naar | to search for |
| bang voor | afraid of |
Master Dutch prepositions in context
Dutch Daily drills preposition pairings in real sentences so they become automatic. Free to start.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common Dutch prepositions?
in (in), op (on), aan (on/at), met (with), voor (for/before), na (after), naar (to), van (from/of), onder (under), tussen (between).
Why are Dutch prepositions hard?
Many verbs and adjectives require a specific preposition that doesn't match English — 'wachten op' (wait for), 'denken aan' (think of). These fixed pairings must be memorised as units.
How do I learn Dutch verb + preposition combinations?
Learn them as single units, not separate words: memorise 'wachten op', 'luisteren naar', 'trots op' together. Practising them in real sentences makes them automatic.