Bedeutung
Your own home is the best place.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase is often found on 'Delfts blauw' tiles hanging in kitchens or hallways. It represents the Dutch pride in a clean, organized, and cozy home. Flemish people also use this proverb, though they might use 'Oost west, thuis best' slightly more often. The sentiment of 'the home as a castle' is equally strong. Expats often learn this phrase early because it helps them describe the feeling of 'settling in' to their new Dutch life. On Dutch social media, people use the hashtag #zoalshetklokjethuistikt when posting photos of their interior design or a 'staycation.'
Shorten it for effect
In casual conversation, you can just say 'Zoals het klokje thuis tikt...' and nod. People will know exactly what you mean.
Don't be too literal
If you use this while pointing at a broken clock, people will think you are making a joke about the clock, not talking about home.
Bedeutung
Your own home is the best place.
Shorten it for effect
In casual conversation, you can just say 'Zoals het klokje thuis tikt...' and nod. People will know exactly what you mean.
Don't be too literal
If you use this while pointing at a broken clock, people will think you are making a joke about the clock, not talking about home.
The 'Tegeltje' factor
This is the ultimate 'tegeltjeswijsheid' (tile wisdom). Mentioning this makes you sound very integrated into Dutch culture.
Teste dich selbst
Vul het ontbrekende woord in.
Zoals het klokje thuis tikt, tikt het _______.
'Nergens' means 'nowhere,' completing the comparison that home is unique.
Welke zin is grammaticaal correct?
Kies de juiste volgorde:
The second part of the sentence requires inversion (verb before subject).
In welke situatie gebruik je dit spreekwoord?
Je komt terug van een vakantie van drie weken en je ziet je eigen woonkamer weer.
This is the classic situation for expressing the joy of being back home.
Maak de dialoog af.
A: 'Vond je het hotel niet fijn?' B: 'Jawel, maar...'
This explains that even a good hotel cannot replace the feeling of home.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenZoals het klokje thuis tikt, tikt het _______.
'Nergens' means 'nowhere,' completing the comparison that home is unique.
Kies de juiste volgorde:
The second part of the sentence requires inversion (verb before subject).
Je komt terug van een vakantie van drie weken en je ziet je eigen woonkamer weer.
This is the classic situation for expressing the joy of being back home.
A: 'Vond je het hotel niet fijn?' B: 'Jawel, maar...'
This explains that even a good hotel cannot replace the feeling of home.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, not at all! It's a purely metaphorical expression about the atmosphere of your home.
Yes, especially in a personal email to friends or family after a trip.
The diminutive '-je' makes it sound smaller, more personal, and cozier, which fits the Dutch 'gezelligheid'.
It is traditional, but it's still used very frequently today, often with a bit of a wink or a smile.
Yes, 'thuis' refers to your living space, regardless of the type of building.
They mean the same thing. 'Oost west' is shorter; 'Zoals het klokje' is more descriptive and rhythmic.
Only if you want to say your workplace feels like home, but it's usually reserved for your actual residence.
It's the tricky 'ui' sound. Try saying 'house' but keep your tongue flat and your lips rounded.
Not really. If you hate being home, you wouldn't use this proverb.
In the second part, it must be 'tikt het' because of the inversion rule.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Oost west, thuis best
synonymEast, west, home is best.
Eigen haard is goud waard
similarOne's own hearth is worth gold.
Huisje, boompje, beestje
builds onThe standard domestic life.
Ergens kind aan huis zijn
contrastTo be a frequent and welcome guest somewhere.
