Bedeutung
Professional task.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Vergadercultuur' is a real thing. Dutch people love to discuss everything until a consensus is reached. Attending is often more about being heard than being told what to do. In Flanders, 'bijwonen' is also common, but the office culture can be slightly more hierarchical than in the Netherlands. However, the linguistic usage remains identical. In Surinamese Dutch, 'bijwonen' is used in formal government and educational contexts, maintaining the high-register feel of the phrase. In modern tech startups in Amsterdam, you might hear 'meeting' more than 'vergadering', but 'bijwonen' is still used to sound professional in contracts or official invites.
Email Etiquette
When declining a meeting in an email, use: 'Helaas kan ik de vergadering niet bijwonen.' It sounds very professional.
Separable Verb Trap
Remember that in the present tense, 'bij' goes to the very end of the sentence, even after the object.
Bedeutung
Professional task.
Email Etiquette
When declining a meeting in an email, use: 'Helaas kan ik de vergadering niet bijwonen.' It sounds very professional.
Separable Verb Trap
Remember that in the present tense, 'bij' goes to the very end of the sentence, even after the object.
Punctuality
If you are attending a meeting in the Netherlands, 'bijwonen' starts exactly on the minute. Don't be late!
Teste dich selbst
Vul de juiste vorm van 'bijwonen' in.
Ik ___ de vergadering morgen ___.
In the present tense, the prefix 'bij' moves to the end.
Welke zin is correct voor een zakelijke e-mail?
Kies de meest professionele optie:
'Bijwonen' is perfect for professional requests.
Combineer de werkwoordsvormen.
Match de tijd met de vorm:
These are the three main forms you need to know.
Maak de dialoog af.
A: 'Heb je de vergadering van gisteren ___?' B: 'Ja, het was erg interessant.'
The past participle 'bijgewoond' is needed with 'heb'.
In welke situatie gebruik je 'bijwonen'?
Kies de juiste situatie:
'Bijwonen' is for formal/professional events.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
5 AufgabenIk ___ de vergadering morgen ___.
In the present tense, the prefix 'bij' moves to the end.
Kies de meest professionele optie:
'Bijwonen' is perfect for professional requests.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are the three main forms you need to know.
A: 'Heb je de vergadering van gisteren ___?' B: 'Ja, het was erg interessant.'
The past participle 'bijgewoond' is needed with 'heb'.
Kies de juiste situatie:
'Bijwonen' is for formal/professional events.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, you can 'een concert bijwonen'. It sounds slightly formal, like you are a critic or a serious fan, but it is correct.
No, it's for any formal event: lectures, ceremonies, court cases, or official club meetings.
'Bijwonen' is a verb of action (attending), while 'aanwezig zijn' is a state of being (being present). 'Bijwonen' is more formal.
Use 'Ik heb bijgewoond'. Don't forget the 'ge' in the middle!
It is 'de vergadering'.
Absolutely. You can say 'Ik woon de vergadering digitaal bij'.
Not necessarily. 'Bijwonen' just means you are there. If you speak a lot, you are 'deelnemen' (participating).
Yes, it is standard in both the Netherlands and Flanders.
The opposite is 'afwezig zijn' (being absent) or 'afzeggen' (cancelling/declining).
No, 'bijwonen' does not take the preposition 'bij' again. It is 'Ik woon de vergadering bij'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Deelnemen aan
similarTo participate in
Aanwezig zijn
synonymTo be present
Een vergadering beleggen
builds onTo call/organize a meeting
Notuleren
specialized formTo take minutes
Afzeggen
contrastTo cancel/decline
