Het Kofschip Rule Explained
''t Kofschip' is the famous Dutch memory trick for the past tense — it tells you whether a verb takes -te or -de. Here it is, explained in one minute.
What is 't kofschip?
It's a mnemonic. The consonants in the made-up word ''t kofschip' (t, k, f, s, ch, p) tell you when a verb's past tense uses -te instead of -de.
How to use it
Three quick steps.
Find the stem
Infinitive minus -en: 'werken' → 'werk'.
Check the last sound
Does the stem end in t, k, f, s, ch or p?
Choose the ending
Yes → -te / -t. No → -de / -d.
Examples
See the rule in action.
| Verb | Stem ends in | Past tense |
|---|---|---|
| werken | k (in kofschip) | ik werkte |
| maken | k (in kofschip) | ik maakte |
| horen | r (not in kofschip) | ik hoorde |
| leven | v→f sound | ik leefde (voiced) |
The same rule for participles
”t Kofschip’ also decides the past participle ending: kofschip consonants → -t (gewerkt, gemaakt), others → -d (gehoord, gespeeld). One trick, two uses. Memorise ”t kofschip’ once and the whole Dutch past tense gets easier.
Nail the Dutch past tense
Dutch Daily drills the 't kofschip rule in real verbs until it's automatic. Free to start.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the 't kofschip rule?
A Dutch memory trick: if a verb stem ends in one of the consonants in ''t kofschip' (t, k, f, s, ch, p), its past tense uses -te (and participle -t). Otherwise it uses -de (and -d).
How do I remember 't kofschip?
Memorise the nonsense word ''t kofschip' (a type of ship). Its consonants — t, k, f, s, ch, p — are exactly the ones that trigger the -te/-t ending.
Does 't kofschip work for participles too?
Yes — the same consonants give a -t participle ending (gewerkt, gemaakt), while other stems take -d (gehoord, gespeeld).