Meaning
To be declining in quality or health.
Cultural Background
Dutch football analysts are famous for being very direct. They often use 'op zijn retour' to describe national heroes like Arjen Robben or Wesley Sneijder in their final seasons. It's seen as 'honest' rather than 'disrespectful.' In Dutch business, acknowledging that a product is 'op zijn retour' is a sign of good management. It means you are ready to innovate rather than clinging to the past. In Flanders, the phrase is also used but sometimes 'over zijn hoogtepunt' is preferred in casual speech. However, in formal Belgian news (VRT), 'op zijn retour' is perfectly standard. The Dutch media often uses this phrase to describe the 'Verzuiling' (pillarization) of society—the old system of religious and political blocks that is now largely a thing of the past.
Match the Pronoun
Always check your subject. If you say 'De bedrijven zijn op zijn retour,' it's a grammar error. It must be 'hun retour.'
Not for Travel
Don't use this to say you are returning from vacation. Use 'Ik kom terug van vakantie.'
Meaning
To be declining in quality or health.
Match the Pronoun
Always check your subject. If you say 'De bedrijven zijn op zijn retour,' it's a grammar error. It must be 'hun retour.'
Not for Travel
Don't use this to say you are returning from vacation. Use 'Ik kom terug van vakantie.'
Polite Decline
Use this phrase when you want to be critical of someone's performance without being mean. It sounds more like a 'fact of life.'
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct possessive pronoun.
Wij hebben jarenlang gewonnen, maar nu zijn we op ______ retour.
The subject is 'Wij' (we), so the possessive pronoun must be 'onze' (our).
Which sentence is the most natural use of the phrase?
A) Ik ben op mijn retour naar huis. B) Die oude Nokia-telefoons zijn echt op hun retour. C) De trein is op zijn retour van Amsterdam.
Sentence B uses the figurative meaning (outdated technology). A and C use it literally, which is rare and usually incorrect in modern Dutch.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Ga je nog naar dat café op de hoek? B: Nee, de bediening is slecht en het is er altijd leeg. Dat café is ______.
The context of declining quality and popularity perfectly fits 'op zijn retour.'
Match the subject with the correct form of the phrase.
1. De zangeres / 2. De sporters / 3. Ik / 4. Jij
Each subject requires a matching possessive pronoun.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesWij hebben jarenlang gewonnen, maar nu zijn we op ______ retour.
The subject is 'Wij' (we), so the possessive pronoun must be 'onze' (our).
A) Ik ben op mijn retour naar huis. B) Die oude Nokia-telefoons zijn echt op hun retour. C) De trein is op zijn retour van Amsterdam.
Sentence B uses the figurative meaning (outdated technology). A and C use it literally, which is rare and usually incorrect in modern Dutch.
A: Ga je nog naar dat café op de hoek? B: Nee, de bediening is slecht en het is er altijd leeg. Dat café is ______.
The context of declining quality and popularity perfectly fits 'op zijn retour.'
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Each subject requires a matching possessive pronoun.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsYes, but it's formal and a bit detached. It's better used when talking to a doctor or about someone else, rather than directly to the person.
It functions as a noun in this prepositional phrase ('op' + possessive + 'retour').
It is always 'op'. Using 'in' is a common mistake for English speakers.
Yes! If you feel like you are losing your energy or skills, you can say it about yourself.
Not necessarily. It usually just means they are past their best years of activity or health.
Yes, it is standard Dutch and used throughout the Netherlands and Flanders.
Absolutely. It's very common in business news to describe companies losing market share.
Phrases like 'in de lift zitten' or 'aan een opmars bezig zijn'.
Yes, it can be. It implies they are no longer good at their job. Use it with caution in the office.
No, you wouldn't say the rain is 'op zijn retour.' You would say 'de regen neemt af.'
Yes. 'Zij is op haar retour.'
No, it has been used for over 200 years.
Related Phrases
Over zijn hoogtepunt heen zijn
synonymTo be past one's peak.
Zijn beste tijd gehad hebben
similarTo have had one's best time.
In verval raken
similarTo fall into decay.
Aan de winnende hand zijn
contrastTo be winning/on the rise.
In de lift zitten
contrastTo be on the rise/increasing in popularity.
