Meaning
To have an obligation that hinders your progress.
Cultural Background
The Dutch value efficiency and 'doorstroming' (flow). Anything that slows down the process, like bureaucracy or a lazy partner, is viewed very negatively through this idiom. In Flanders, the idiom is used similarly, but sometimes with a slightly more formal tone. Flemish speakers might also use 'een blok aan het been' in political discussions regarding the complex Belgian state structure. In Surinamese Dutch, the idiom is understood but may be used less frequently than more local expressions for burdens. However, in formal education and news, it remains standard. In the 'Poldermodel', where consensus is key, people often complain that the need for everyone to agree is a 'blok aan het been' for quick decision-making.
Use with 'zijn' for things, 'hebben' for people
If you want to complain about a thing, say 'Het is een blok aan mijn been'. If you want to talk about your own feeling of being stuck, say 'Ik heb een blok aan mijn been'.
Careful with people
Calling a person a 'blok aan het been' is quite insulting. It implies they are useless and burdensome.
Meaning
To have an obligation that hinders your progress.
Use with 'zijn' for things, 'hebben' for people
If you want to complain about a thing, say 'Het is een blok aan mijn been'. If you want to talk about your own feeling of being stuck, say 'Ik heb een blok aan mijn been'.
Careful with people
Calling a person a 'blok aan het been' is quite insulting. It implies they are useless and burdensome.
Economic News
You will see this phrase constantly in Dutch financial newspapers like the FD (Financieele Dagblad) to describe debts or failing sectors.
Test Yourself
Vul het juiste bezittelijk voornaamwoord in (mijn, jouw, zijn, haar, ons, hun).
Ik wil die nieuwe baan wel, maar mijn gebrek aan ervaring is een blok aan ___ been.
The subject is 'Ik', so the possessive pronoun must be 'mijn'.
Wat betekent de zin: 'De oude schulden zijn een blok aan zijn been'?
Kies de juiste betekenis:
The idiom refers to a hindrance to progress.
In welke situatie is 'een blok aan het been' het meest passend?
Kies de beste situatie:
A lazy colleague is a classic example of a 'blok aan het been' because they hinder the team's progress.
Maak de dialoog af met de juiste vorm van het idioom.
A: Waarom verhuis je niet naar Amsterdam? B: Ik zou wel willen, maar mijn onverkochte huis in Groningen is momenteel ___.
Speaker B is talking about their own situation, so 'mijn been' is required.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesIk wil die nieuwe baan wel, maar mijn gebrek aan ervaring is een blok aan ___ been.
The subject is 'Ik', so the possessive pronoun must be 'mijn'.
Kies de juiste betekenis:
The idiom refers to a hindrance to progress.
Kies de beste situatie:
A lazy colleague is a classic example of a 'blok aan het been' because they hinder the team's progress.
A: Waarom verhuis je niet naar Amsterdam? B: Ik zou wel willen, maar mijn onverkochte huis in Groningen is momenteel ___.
Speaker B is talking about their own situation, so 'mijn been' is required.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, that would be confusing. If you have a broken leg, just say 'Ik heb mijn been gebroken'. This idiom is strictly for figurative burdens.
Both are correct. 'Aan het been' is more general ('a hindrance to the leg'), while 'aan mijn been' is personal. In practice, 'aan mijn/zijn/haar been' is more common.
It is neutral. You can use it in a business meeting or a newspaper, but it's also common in casual conversation.
We rarely use the plural 'blokken aan onze benen'. Even for a group, we say 'Het is een blok aan ons been' to treat the burden as one single thing.
Technically yes, but it sounds very harsh, as if the parent regrets having the child because they limit their freedom.
No, this idiom is inherently negative. There is no 'feather on my leg' for something that helps you.
'Lastig zijn' means being annoying or difficult. 'Een blok aan het been zijn' is much stronger; it means you are actually stopping someone from succeeding.
No, use 'zwaar' or 'een last' for physical weights. This is for metaphorical weights like responsibilities.
Yes: 'Die oude auto was jarenlang een blok aan mijn been.'
Yes, it is a very standard idiom that every native speaker knows and uses.
Related Phrases
Een molensteen om de hals
similarA millstone around the neck.
Iemand de voet dwars zetten
relatedTo thwart someone's plans.
Ballast zijn
synonymTo be dead weight.
De rem op iets zetten
similarTo put the brakes on something.
