Meaning
Near destination.
Cultural Background
The phrase is the title of a very popular TV show on Omroep MAX where seniors travel with caravans. It reflects the Dutch love for camping and organized group travel. In Flanders, the phrase is equally common, though the intonation might differ slightly. Flemish people might also use 'We zijn er bijna' in the context of cycling races like the Tour of Flanders. There is a famous song sung by children in the car: 'We zijn er bijna, we zijn er bijna, maar nog niet helemaal.' It is often sung repeatedly to annoy parents or pass the time. During the 'Vierdaagse' in Nijmegen, spectators often hold signs saying 'We zijn er bijna' to encourage walkers in the final kilometers.
Use 'er' for natural flow
Always include 'er' to sound like a native. It's the secret ingredient to this phrase.
Don't say it too early
If you say 'we zijn er bijna' when you still have 2 hours to go, your Dutch friends will think you are being sarcastic.
Meaning
Near destination.
Use 'er' for natural flow
Always include 'er' to sound like a native. It's the secret ingredient to this phrase.
Don't say it too early
If you say 'we zijn er bijna' when you still have 2 hours to go, your Dutch friends will think you are being sarcastic.
The 'er' question
If a child asks 'Zijn we er bijna?', you can answer 'Bijna!' to be short and sweet.
The Song
Learn the little rhyme 'We zijn er bijna... maar nog niet helemaal' to impress Dutch parents.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word to complete the phrase.
We zijn ___ bijna.
The particle 'er' is necessary in this standard Dutch expression.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'Are we almost there?' in Dutch?
How do you ask if you are nearly at the destination?
'Zijn we er bijna?' is the standard question form.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
When would you say 'We zijn er bijna'?
The phrase is used when the destination is in sight or very close.
Complete the dialogue.
Kind: 'Papa, ik wil niet meer in de auto zitten!' Vader: 'Nog vijf minuutjes, ___.'
The father is reassuring the child that the trip is almost over.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesWe zijn ___ bijna.
The particle 'er' is necessary in this standard Dutch expression.
How do you ask if you are nearly at the destination?
'Zijn we er bijna?' is the standard question form.
When would you say 'We zijn er bijna'?
The phrase is used when the destination is in sight or very close.
Kind: 'Papa, ik wil niet meer in de auto zitten!' Vader: 'Nog vijf minuutjes, ___.'
The father is reassuring the child that the trip is almost over.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is very common to use it when a project or task is nearly finished.
It is a placeholder for 'at the destination'. It's a grammatical requirement in Dutch for this expression.
'We' is much more common. 'Wij' is only used for strong emphasis.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your children.
Usually it means within 5-10 minutes or within sight of the goal.
Yes, if you are traveling alone, you say 'Ik ben er bijna'.
'Bijna' means almost (time/status), 'vlakbij' means very close (distance).
You could say 'Nog een klein stukje' (Just a little bit more).
It's a traditional way for Dutch children to express their excitement or impatience.
Yes, for example: 'We zijn er bijna met de voorbereidingen.'
Related Phrases
We zijn er zo
similarWe'll be there in a moment
Het schiet op
similarIt's progressing well
Eind in zicht
similarThe end is in sight
We zijn er al
contrastWe are already there
Nog even geduld
builds onJust a little more patience
