Learning the days of the week in Dutch is one of the most practical steps you can take toward mastering the language. Whether you’re making travel plans, setting appointments, or just trying to understand a Dutch calendar, this essential vocabulary will help you stay organized and communicate clearly.
Dutch weekday names are straightforward and consistent, often following a pattern that makes them easier to memorize. In this guide, you’ll not only learn the individual words but also how to use them naturally in everyday phrases.
Vocabulary: Days of the Week
Below is a complete list of the days of the week in Dutch. You’ll find audio pronunciation and English translations to help reinforce your learning.
| English | Dutch with pronunciation volume_down |
|---|---|
| Monday | maandag |
| Tuesday | dinsdag |
| Wednesday | woensdag |
| Thursday | donderdag |
| Friday | vrijdag |
| Saturday | zaterdag |
| Sunday | zondag |
Useful Expressions with Weekdays
Once you’re familiar with the basic words, it’s time to add useful expressions like “on Monday” or “every Friday.” These are key phrases that will help you sound more fluent in conversation and writing.
| English | Dutch with pronunciation volume_down |
|---|---|
| day | dag |
| morning | ochtend |
| today | vandaag |
| tomorrow | morgen |
| yesterday | gisteren |
| week | week |
| weekend | weekend |
How Dutch Weekday Names Are Formed
In Dutch, most days of the week end in -dag, meaning “day.” This is similar to English days like “Monday” or “Saturday.” Here’s how the Dutch weekday names break down:
- maandag – Moon day (Monday)
- dinsdag – Possibly from the god Tiw (Tuesday)
- woensdag – Wodan’s day (Wednesday)
- donderdag – Donar’s day, god of thunder (Thursday)
- vrijdag – Freya’s day (Friday)
- zaterdag – Saturn’s day (Saturday)
- zondag – Sun day (Sunday)
As you can see, many names are derived from Germanic mythology and follow similar patterns found in other Germanic languages like English and German.
Grammar Tip: Saying “On Monday” in Dutch
To say something happens on a specific day, Dutch typically uses the preposition op followed by the weekday:
- Op maandag ga ik naar school. – “On Monday, I go to school.”
- Op vrijdag werken we thuis. – “On Friday, we work from home.”
For recurring events, you might also hear the weekday used without “op”: Maandag werk ik altijd thuis. (“I always work from home on Mondays.”)
Keep Learning Dutch
Now that you’ve mastered the days of the week in Dutch, you can keep building your vocabulary with our other free lessons:
- Seasons and Months in Dutch
- Numbers in Dutch
- Colours in Dutch
All of our vocabulary lessons are free and designed to help you learn Dutch step by step — whether you’re a beginner or brushing up your skills.