Jezelf voorstellen aan je nieuwe team
Introducing yourself to a team · a free Dutch immersion capsule
Useful sentences · 10
Phrases you'll actually use today. Tap Explain for the why behind each one.
Hallo, ik ben Sara en ik ben de nieuwe projectmanager.
Hello, I am Sara and I am the new project manager.
Literal Hello, I am Sara and I am the new project-manager.
A classic Dutch self-introduction using 'ik ben' (I am) twice: once for name and once for role. The structure is direct and completely natural in both formal and informal settings.
- 'Ik ben' is the first-person present tense of 'zijn' (to be)
- Dutch word order: subject + verb + complement (SVC)
Ik kom uit Amsterdam, maar ik woon nu in Utrecht.
I come from Amsterdam, but I live in Utrecht now.
Literal I come from Amsterdam, but I live now in Utrecht.
'Komen uit' expresses origin, while 'wonen in' expresses current residence. 'Maar' (but) links the contrasting ideas in a natural, conversational way.
- 'Komen uit' = to come from (indicates origin)
- 'Wonen in' = to live in (indicates current location)
- 'Maar' = but (conjunction for contrast)
Ik heb vijf jaar gewerkt bij een marketingbureau.
I have worked at a marketing agency for five years.
Literal I have five years worked at a marketing agency.
Dutch present perfect: 'heb' + past participle 'gewerkt' placed at the end of the clause. 'Bij' is used for employers and organizations, not 'in' or 'op.'
- Present perfect: 'hebben' (conjugated) + past participle at clause end
- 'Gewerkt' is the past participle of 'werken' (to work)
- 'Bij' = at / with (used for companies and employers)
In mijn vorige functie was ik verantwoordelijk voor de communicatiestrategie.
In my previous role, I was responsible for the communication strategy.
Literal In my previous function was I responsible for the communication strategy.
When the sentence opens with a place or time phrase, the verb must come second (V2 rule), pushing the subject after the verb: 'was ik' instead of 'ik was.'
- V2 word order: verb stays in second position regardless of what comes first
- 'Vorige' = previous / former
- 'Verantwoordelijk voor' = responsible for (fixed preposition 'voor')
Ik ben erg blij om deel uit te maken van dit team.
I am very happy to be part of this team.
Literal I am very happy to part out to make of this team.
'Deel uitmaken van' is an idiomatic phrase meaning 'to be part of.' The 'om...te + infinitive' construction is the Dutch way to attach an infinitive clause to an adjective.
- 'Deel uitmaken van' = to be part of (fixed idiom)
- 'Om...te + infinitive' = to do something (Dutch infinitive clause)
- 'Erg' = very (intensifier for adjectives)
Ik werk graag samen met anderen aan creatieve projecten.
I enjoy working together with others on creative projects.
Literal I work gladly together with others on creative projects.
'Graag' placed directly after the verb expresses that you enjoy or prefer an activity. The separable verb 'samenwerken' is split: 'werk' stays near the subject, 'samen' moves to the end.
- 'Graag' after the verb = to enjoy / like doing something
- Separable verb: 'samenwerken' splits into 'werk...samen'
- 'Aan' = on (used with tasks and projects)
Ik interesseer me voor digitale marketing en innovatie.
I am interested in digital marketing and innovation.
Literal I interest myself in digital marketing and innovation.
'Interesseren voor' is a reflexive verb construction. The reflexive pronoun 'me' (myself) is obligatory. 'Voor' (in/for) always follows this verb to introduce the topic of interest.
- Reflexive verb: 'zich interesseren voor' = to be interested in
- 'Me' is the reflexive pronoun for 'ik' (unstressed form of 'mezelf')
- 'En' = and (conjunction connecting two nouns)
Als je vragen hebt, kun je altijd bij mij terecht.
If you have any questions, you can always come to me.
Literal If you questions have, can you always at me (to/for help).
'Bij iemand terecht kunnen' is a set phrase meaning 'to be able to go to someone for help.' In the 'als' (if) clause, the verb moves to the end: 'vragen hebt' instead of 'hebt vragen.'
- 'Als' = if (introduces a conditional clause)
- Subordinate clause: verb goes to the end ('als je vragen hebt')
- 'Bij mij terecht kunnen' = to be able to come to me for help (fixed phrase)
Ik kijk ernaar uit om jullie allemaal beter te leren kennen.
I look forward to getting to know all of you better.
Literal I look there-toward out to you-all everyone better to learn to know.
'Uitkijken naar' (to look forward to) is a separable verb: 'kijk' stays with the subject, 'uit' moves to the end. 'Ernaar' is a contracted anticipatory pronoun replacing 'naar het.' 'Leren kennen' means 'to get to know.'
- Separable verb: 'uitkijken' splits into 'kijk...uit'
- 'Ernaar' = anticipatory pronoun (er + naar), pointing forward to the 'om...te' clause
- 'Leren kennen' = to get to know (two-verb infinitive phrase)
Ik verheug me op een fijne samenwerking met jullie.
I look forward to a pleasant working relationship with all of you.
Literal I rejoice myself on a fine collaboration with you all.
'Zich verheugen op' is another expression for 'to look forward to,' slightly more formal than 'uitkijken naar.' 'Fijne samenwerking' (pleasant collaboration) is a natural professional closing phrase in Dutch.
- Reflexive verb: 'zich verheugen op' = to look forward to (formal register)
- 'Fijne' is the inflected attributive form of 'fijn' (pleasant/nice) before a de-word
- 'Samenwerking' is the noun form of the separable verb 'samenwerken'
New words · 10
Themed vocabulary, each with an example you can borrow.
voorstellen
to introduce (oneself)
Mag ik me even voorstellen?
May I introduce myself?
Separable verb; also means 'to imagine' in other contexts
verantwoordelijk
responsible
Ik was verantwoordelijk voor de planning.
I was responsible for the planning.
Always followed by 'voor' (for)
samenwerking
collaboration / working together
Ik kijk uit naar een goede samenwerking.
I look forward to a good collaboration.
Noun form of the separable verb 'samenwerken'
ervaring
experience
Ik heb veel ervaring met projectmanagement.
I have a lot of experience with project management.
Plural: ervaringen
collega
colleague
Mijn nieuwe collega's zijn erg vriendelijk.
My new colleagues are very friendly.
Plural: collega's (apostrophe before s is standard Dutch spelling)
functie
role / position
In mijn vorige functie werkte ik als ontwerper.
In my previous role I worked as a designer.
Standard professional term for a job role or position
graag
gladly / with pleasure
Ik help je graag.
I am happy to help you.
Key word for expressing preferences: 'ik doe iets graag' = I enjoy doing something
uitkijken naar
to look forward to
Ik kijk uit naar ons eerste project samen.
I look forward to our first project together.
Splits into 'kijk...uit'; use 'ernaar' when the object is an 'om...te' clause
blij
happy / glad
Ik ben blij om hier te zijn.
I am happy to be here.
'Blij met' = happy with/about something; very common in everyday speech
terecht kunnen
to be able to go to someone for help
Je kunt altijd bij mij terecht.
You can always come to me for help.
Fixed phrase: 'bij [person] terecht kunnen'; highly useful in professional and social contexts
Short reading
A tiny story stitched from today's words. Translation is hidden, tap to peek.
Goedemorgen iedereen, mijn naam is Sara en ik ben de nieuwe projectmanager. Ik kom oorspronkelijk uit Amsterdam, maar ik woon nu al een paar jaar in Utrecht. De afgelopen vijf jaar heb ik gewerkt bij een groot marketingbureau in Rotterdam, waar ik verantwoordelijk was voor de digitale communicatiestrategie van verschillende klanten. Ik werk graag samen met anderen en ik interesseer me erg voor innovatieve oplossingen. Ik kijk ernaar uit om jullie allemaal beter te leren kennen en ik verheug me op een fijne samenwerking.
Sentence by sentence
mijn naam is Sara en ik ben de nieuwe projectmanager
my name is Sara and I am the new project manager
Standard self-introduction formula: name first, then role. 'De nieuwe' uses the definite article with a common-gender noun requiring the -e adjective ending.
Ik kom oorspronkelijk uit Amsterdam, maar ik woon nu al een paar jaar in Utrecht
I originally come from Amsterdam, but I have been living in Utrecht for a few years now
'Oorspronkelijk' (originally) adds nuance between place of origin and current home. 'Nu al' (already now) implies the move is not recent, making the statement feel grounded and natural.
De afgelopen vijf jaar heb ik gewerkt bij een groot marketingbureau in Rotterdam
Over the past five years I worked at a large marketing agency in Rotterdam
The time phrase 'de afgelopen vijf jaar' fronts the sentence, triggering the V2 rule: 'heb ik' (verb before subject) instead of 'ik heb.' This is one of the most important Dutch word-order patterns.
waar ik verantwoordelijk was voor de digitale communicatiestrategie van verschillende klanten
where I was responsible for the digital communication strategy for various clients
'Waar' (where) introduces a relative clause. In Dutch subordinate clauses, the verb moves to the end of the clause: 'verantwoordelijk was' comes after the subject 'ik,' not before it.
Ik werk graag samen met anderen en ik interesseer me erg voor innovatieve oplossingen
I enjoy working together with others and I am very interested in innovative solutions
Two key professional self-description structures: 'graag + separable verb' for enjoyment, and the reflexive 'interesseer me voor' for interests. Both are highly reusable templates.
Ik kijk ernaar uit om jullie allemaal beter te leren kennen en ik verheug me op een fijne samenwerking
I look forward to getting to know all of you better and I am looking forward to a pleasant working relationship
Two ways to express 'look forward to': the separable 'uitkijken naar' (everyday) and the reflexive 'zich verheugen op' (slightly more formal). Using both in closing shows natural range.
Pattern of the day
One grammar move, explained once, that unlocks dozens of sentences.
Present Perfect for Professional Background: 'Ik heb ... gewerkt'
To describe past work experience in Dutch, use the present perfect: the conjugated form of 'hebben' (to have) + the past participle at the very end of the clause. This tense is used far more broadly in Dutch than in English, covering both 'I worked' and 'I have worked.' It is the standard tense for professional introductions.
Subject + hebben (conjugated) + [time / place expression] + past participle (gewerkt / gedaan / geleerd)
Ik heb vijf jaar gewerkt bij een consultancybedrijf.
I worked at a consulting firm for five years.
Zij heeft als ontwerper gewerkt bij een reclamebureau.
She worked as a designer at an advertising agency.
Wij hebben samengewerkt aan grote internationale projecten.
We worked together on large international projects.
Hij heeft drie jaar in Berlijn gewerkt.
He worked in Berlin for three years.
Mini practice · 5
Low-pressure, never graded. Just enough to make it stick.
Translate to Dutch: 'Hello, I am the new project manager and I come from Amsterdam.'
Hint Use 'ik ben' for 'I am' and 'ik kom uit' for 'I come from'.
Ik ben erg blij om deel uit te maken van dit team.
Hint 'Deel uitmaken van' is a fixed phrase meaning 'to be part of'.
Complete the sentence using the present perfect: 'Ik heb vijf jaar ___ bij een marketingbureau.'
Hint What is the past participle of 'werken' (to work)?
Which sentence means 'I look forward to getting to know you all better'?
Rewrite in first person (change 'Sara' to 'ik'): 'Sara interesseert zich voor digitale marketing en innovatie.'
Hint The reflexive pronoun changes: 'zich' (her/himself) becomes 'me' (myself).
That’s today’s phraseberry.
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