Introduction: Klokkijken (Watching the Clock)

Knowing how to ask for and tell the time is a fundamental skill in any language. Dutch has its own specific way of expressing time, especially for half-hour intervals. This chapter covers the basics for A1 level.

Asking for the Time

The standard question is:

• Hoe laat is het? (Literally: How late is it?) - This means "What time is it?"

Telling the Time: On the Hour

This is straightforward. Use Het is [number] uur.

• Het is één uur. (It's 1 o'clock.) - Use één to be clear it's not the article.
• Het is vijf uur. (It's 5 o'clock.)
• Het is acht uur. (It's 8 o'clock.)
• Het is twaalf uur. (It's 12 o'clock.)

Telling the Time: Half Past

This is where Dutch differs significantly from English. Dutch looks forward to the next hour.

Formula: Het is half [NEXT hour number].

• 1:30 -> Het is half twee. (It's half two - i.e., half way to two)
• 4:30 -> Het is half vijf. (It's half five)
• 9:30 -> Het is half tien. (It's half ten)
• 11:30 -> Het is half twaalf. (It's half twelve)

Think: Half towards the next hour.

Telling the Time: Quarters

Quarters use the word kwart.

• Quarter Past: Use Het is kwart over [hour number].
• 3:15 -> Het is kwart over drie. (It's quarter past three.)
• 8:15 -> Het is kwart over acht. (It's quarter past eight.)

• Quarter To: Use Het is kwart voor [NEXT hour number].
• 5:45 -> Het is kwart voor zes. (It's quarter to six.)
• 10:45 -> Het is kwart voor elf. (It's quarter to eleven.)

Minutes Past and To (Simplified)

While precise digital time (e.g., tien uur achtentwintig - 10:28) exists, analogue-style time is very common, especially using multiples of 5 or 10 minutes past or before the hour or half-hour.

• Minutes PAST the Hour: Het is [minutes] over [hour].
• 6:10 -> Het is tien over zes. (It's ten past six.)
• 2:05 -> Het is vijf over twee. (It's five past two.)

• Minutes TO the Hour: Het is [minutes] voor [NEXT hour].
• 8:50 -> Het is tien voor negen. (It's ten to nine.)
• 3:55 -> Het is vijf voor vier. (It's five to four.)

• Minutes PAST the Half Hour: Het is [minutes] over half [NEXT hour].
• 7:35 -> Het is vijf over half acht. (It's five past half (towards) eight.)
• 1:40 -> Het is tien over half twee. (It's ten past half (towards) two.)

• Minutes TO the Half Hour: Het is [minutes] voor half [NEXT hour].
• 6:25 -> Het is vijf voor half zeven. (It's five to half (towards) seven.)
• 12:20 -> Het is tien voor half één. (It's ten to half (towards) one.)

A1 Focus: Master the hours, half past, quarter past, and quarter to first. The minutes past/to the half-hour are common but slightly more complex.

Adding AM/PM Context

Dutch often relies on context, but you can specify the time of day using:

• 's ochtends or 's morgens = in the morning (approx. 6 AM - 12 PM)
• 's middags = in the afternoon (approx. 12 PM - 6 PM)
• 's avonds = in the evening (approx. 6 PM - 12 AM)
• 's nachts = at night (approx. 12 AM - 6 AM)

• Example: Het is zeven uur 's avonds. (It's 7 o'clock in the evening / 7 PM.)
• Example: De vergadering is om half tien 's ochtends. (The meeting is at half past nine in the morning / 9:30 AM.) - Note: om means "at" for time.)

Ask for the time with Hoe laat is het?. Remember the common structures: [X] uur, half [Y], kwart over [X], kwart voor [Y]. Pay special attention to the "half [NEXT hour]" structure, as it's different from English.