Signification
The act of choosing between options.
Contexte culturel
The 'Poldermodel' means decisions are often delayed until everyone agrees. Taking a decision is a collective act. In Flanders, 'een besluit nemen' is common in official administration. Flemish people might also use 'beslissen' more frequently in casual speech. In Surinamese Dutch, the phrase is used formally, but in Sranan Tongo influenced speech, other constructions might be used for daily choices. Directness is valued, but only *after* the decision-making process. Once a 'besluit' is 'genomen', it is considered final and binding.
The 'Maken' Trap
English speakers always want to say 'een besluit maken'. Stop! Think of 'taking' a gift. A decision is a gift to your future self. Take it (neem het)!
Use it for impact
If you want to sound more professional in a Dutch office, use 'een besluit nemen' instead of 'iets kiezen'. It shows you have authority.
Signification
The act of choosing between options.
The 'Maken' Trap
English speakers always want to say 'een besluit maken'. Stop! Think of 'taking' a gift. A decision is a gift to your future self. Take it (neem het)!
Use it for impact
If you want to sound more professional in a Dutch office, use 'een besluit nemen' instead of 'iets kiezen'. It shows you have authority.
Sleeping on it
Dutch people often say 'Ik moet er een nachtje over slapen' before they 'een besluit nemen'. It's a very common cultural step.
Word Order
In the perfect tense, 'genomen' always goes to the very end of the sentence. 'Ik heb gisteren eindelijk na lang nadenken een besluit **genomen**.'
Teste-toi
Vul het juiste werkwoord in (tegenwoordige tijd).
Ik ___ vandaag een besluit over mijn nieuwe auto.
In Dutch, you 'take' (neem) a decision, you don't 'make' (maak) it.
Welke zin is correct?
Kies de juiste zin over het verleden.
The perfect tense of 'nemen' is 'heb genomen'.
Maak de dialoog af.
A: Heb je al gekozen? B: Nee, het is moeilijk om een ___ ___.
We use 'om... te nemen' in this structure.
In welke situatie gebruik je 'een besluit nemen'?
Kies de beste situatie.
'Een besluit nemen' is for important, formal, or well-considered choices.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Nemen vs Maken
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesIk ___ vandaag een besluit over mijn nieuwe auto.
In Dutch, you 'take' (neem) a decision, you don't 'make' (maak) it.
Kies de juiste zin over het verleden.
The perfect tense of 'nemen' is 'heb genomen'.
A: Heb je al gekozen? B: Nee, het is moeilijk om een ___ ___.
We use 'om... te nemen' in this structure.
Kies de beste situatie.
'Een besluit nemen' is for important, formal, or well-considered choices.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, just like 'besluit', 'beslissing' always goes with 'nemen'.
It is neutral to formal. You can use it with friends for big things, but it's the standard in business.
'Besluiten' is a verb ('I decide'), while 'een besluit nemen' is a noun-verb combination ('I take a decision'). The latter sounds slightly more formal.
You can, but it might sound a bit dramatic. For small things, 'kiezen' is better.
It's tricky! Try making an 'ah' sound and then moving your lips into a circle. It's close to the 'ou' in 'house' but more forward in the mouth.
It is 'het besluit'. However, we usually say 'een besluit'.
It's just the way the Dutch language evolved. Many European languages 'take' decisions.
No, 'besluiting' is not a word. It's either 'besluit' or 'beslissing'.
It's an idiom for making a final, often difficult decision. It's more informal than 'een besluit nemen'.
Yes, 'Ik heb een besluit genomen' is extremely common when announcing your choice.
Expressions liées
een beslissing nemen
synonymto make a decision
de knoop doorhakken
similarto cut the knot
iets besluiten
specialized formto decide something
tot een besluit komen
builds onto reach a decision
een keuze maken
similarto make a choice
