Once you can build a sentence, you want to join two of them: I’m staying home because I’m tired. In Dutch the word you choose matters, because some conjunctions leave the word order alone and others throw the verb to the end. Here is the split.
Two groups, two behaviours
Dutch conjunctions come in two kinds:
- Coordinating (join two equal main clauses): keep normal word order.
- Subordinating (introduce a dependent clause): send the verb to the end.
Knowing which group a word belongs to tells you the word order instantly, as Dutch grammar references explain.
Group 1: coordinating (normal order)
These join two full sentences and change nothing about the order:
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| en | and |
| maar | but |
| want | because / for |
| of | or |
| dus | so |
- Ik blijf thuis, want ik ben moe. (I’m staying home because I’m tired.)
- Ze belt maar hij neemt niet op. (She calls but he doesn’t pick up.)
- Ik ben moe, dus ik ga slapen. (I’m tired, so I’m going to sleep.)
Notice the verb stays in its normal second spot: …want ik ben moe.
Group 2: subordinating (verb to the end)
These introduce a dependent clause and push the conjugated verb to the end of that clause:
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| omdat | because |
| dat | that |
| als | if / when |
| toen | when (past) |
| terwijl | while |
| hoewel | although |
| zodat | so that |
- Ik blijf thuis omdat ik moe ben. (verb ben at the end)
- Ik denk dat het regent. (I think that it’s raining.)
- Bel me als je aankomt. (Call me when you arrive.)
This end-of-clause verb is one of the most distinctive features of Dutch word order, and it pairs with the way separable verbs and modal verbs load the end of a sentence.
The classic pair: want vs omdat
Both mean “because”, which is why they trip people up. The difference is purely word order:
| Word order | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| want (coordinating) | normal | …want ik ben moe. |
| omdat (subordinating) | verb to end | …omdat ik moe ben. |
A quick test from Onze Taal: if the linker is en, maar, of, want or dus, keep normal order; otherwise the verb goes to the end.
When the subordinate clause comes first
If you start with the subordinate clause, the main clause then begins with its verb (inversion):
- Omdat ik moe ben, blijf ik thuis. (verb blijf leads the main clause.)
This feels odd at first but follows the Dutch rule that the verb stays in second position overall. The Taalunie advice service covers the inversion.
Where it connects
Conjunctions are core grammar beside word order, modal verbs, and they are essential for giving reasons and opinions and telling a story.
The bottom line
Dutch conjunctions split in two: en, maar, want, of, dus keep normal word order, while omdat, dat, als, toen, terwijl, hoewel send the verb to the end of their clause. The famous pair is want (normal order) vs omdat (verb to the end), both meaning “because”. Learn which group a linker belongs to, and you can build longer, natural Dutch sentences without scrambling the verb.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that drills conjunctions and the word-order twist they trigger, want vs omdat, en, maar, dus, dat, als, in five-minute situation-based lessons, so you can join ideas without scrambling the verb.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ‘want’ and ‘omdat’ in Dutch?
Both mean ‘because’, but they change the word order differently. Want is a coordinating conjunction and keeps normal order: Ik blijf thuis, want ik ben moe (I’m staying home because I’m tired). Omdat is subordinating and sends the verb to the end of its clause: Ik blijf thuis omdat ik moe ben. So the verb ben sits in different places. Want answers ‘why’ joining two equal statements; omdat introduces a reason as a dependent clause.
Which Dutch conjunctions change the word order?
Subordinating conjunctions send the verb to the end of their clause: omdat (because), dat (that), als (if/when), toen (when, past), terwijl (while), hoewel (although), zodat (so that), of (whether). Coordinating conjunctions keep normal word order: en (and), maar (but), want (because), of (or), dus (so). A quick test: if the conjunction is en, maar, of, want or dus, the order stays normal; otherwise the verb usually goes to the end.
Why does the verb go to the end after ‘omdat’ or ‘dat’?
Because subordinating conjunctions create a dependent (subordinate) clause, and in Dutch the conjugated verb moves to the end of such a clause. So Ik denk dat het regent (I think it’s raining), Ze komt niet omdat ze ziek is (she’s not coming because she’s ill). If two verbs are present, they cluster at the end. This end-of-clause verb placement is one of the most distinctive features of Dutch word order.
What is the best app to learn Dutch conjunctions and word order?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it drills conjunctions and the word-order twist they trigger, want vs omdat, en, maar, dus, dat, als, in five-minute situation-based lessons, so you can link your ideas into longer sentences without scrambling the verb.
