Signification
Asking for the date.
Contexte culturel
Dutch people use the DD-MM-YYYY format. If you ask for the date, expect the day first, then the month. In Belgium, people might be slightly more formal and use 'Welke datum is het?' more frequently than in the northern Netherlands. Punctuality and planning are key. Asking for the date is often a prelude to setting a firm 'afspraak' (appointment). It is perfectly normal to ask a stranger for the date at a bus stop or in a shop if you are filling something out.
Add 'vandaag'
Adding 'vandaag' (today) makes the question sound more natural in daily life.
Avoid 'date'
Never use the English word 'date' when you mean the calendar date; it will lead to romantic misunderstandings!
Signification
Asking for the date.
Add 'vandaag'
Adding 'vandaag' (today) makes the question sound more natural in daily life.
Avoid 'date'
Never use the English word 'date' when you mean the calendar date; it will lead to romantic misunderstandings!
Use 'De hoeveelste'
If you want to sound like a local, try using 'De hoeveelste is het vandaag?' instead.
The Agenda is King
Always have your phone or planner ready when you ask for a date; the Dutch will expect you to write it down immediately.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct Dutch translation for 'What is the date?'
You are at the bank and need to write the date on a check.
'Datum' is the correct word for calendar date, and it takes the article 'de'.
Fill in the missing word.
Wat ___ de datum vandaag?
The subject 'de datum' is third-person singular, so we use 'is'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Ik moet dit formulier tekenen. B: Vergeet de datum niet! A: Oh ja. ___?
The context is signing a form, where the date is required.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Match 'De hoeveelste is het?' to its best context.
'De hoeveelste is het?' is a common informal way to ask for the date.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Formal vs Informal
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesYou are at the bank and need to write the date on a check.
'Datum' is the correct word for calendar date, and it takes the article 'de'.
Wat ___ de datum vandaag?
The subject 'de datum' is third-person singular, so we use 'is'.
A: Ik moet dit formulier tekenen. B: Vergeet de datum niet! A: Oh ja. ___?
The context is signing a form, where the date is required.
Match 'De hoeveelste is het?' to its best context.
'De hoeveelste is het?' is a common informal way to ask for the date.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsYes, it is perfectly correct and slightly more formal than 'Wat is de datum?'.
It is a 'de-word', and in modern Dutch, most 'de-words' are treated as common gender, though historically it was masculine.
You can say 'Het is [number] [month]' (e.g., 'Het is 5 mei').
The plural is 'data' or 'datums'. 'Data' is more common in formal or technical contexts.
Dutch often uses 'wat' for identifying questions. 'Welke' is also used but 'wat' is more general.
It is always 'de datum'.
Yes, you can ask 'Wat is de datum op de verpakking?'.
Yes, it's an informal way to ask 'What is the date?'.
No, but it's very common and sounds more natural.
You would ask 'Welk jaar is het?'.
Yes, it is standard in both the Netherlands and Flanders.
No, that means 'What is the romantic date?'.
Expressions liées
De hoeveelste is het?
similarWhat is the date? (lit. The how-many-eth is it?)
Welke datum is het?
synonymWhich date is it?
Datum prikken
builds onTo pick a date
Vervaldatum
specialized formExpiration date
Geboortedatum
specialized formDate of birth
