This NT2 grammar guide explains 5 easy rules for using the Dutch article “de”, with examples for beginners (A1–A2).
5 Easy Rules to Use the Dutch Article “De” (NT2 A1–A2 Guide)
Learning Dutch articles can be difficult for NT2 learners. Many students ask:
👉 “How do I use the Dutch article de?”
In this simple guide, you learn 5 easy rules that help you choose the article de correctly. This makes your Dutch sentences clearer and more natural.
1. What Is “De”? (Dutch article de explained)
Dutch has two articles: de and het.
There are no perfect rules, but there are helpful patterns that make learning easier.
The article de is very common in Dutch.
If you learn these rules, you can guess correctly most of the time.
2. Five Easy Rules for Using “De”
This list helps you understand when to use the Dutch article de.
Rule 1: Use “De” for people, mountains and rivers
Examples:
- de moeder (the mother)
- de kok (the cook)
- de opa (the grandfather)
- de Rijn (the Rhine)
- de Kilimanjaro
People almost always use “de”.
Rule 2: Use “De” for plural words
This rule is easy:
👉 All plural words use de, even if the singular is het.
Examples:
- de huizen (the houses)
- de boeken (the books)
- de kinderen (the children)
- de mannen (the men)
This is one of the best rules for beginners (A1–A2).
Rule 3: Use “De” for fruit and trees
Examples:
- de appel (the apple)
- de peer (the pear)
- de eik (the oak tree)
- de kastanje (the chestnut)
These are almost always de-words.
Rule 4: Use “De” for letters and numbers
Examples:
- de negen (the nine)
- de vijf (the five)
- de a, de b
You see this often in school and daily life.
Rule 5: Use “De” for many professions and common objects
Professions
- de dokter
- de student
- de directeur
- de assistent
Common objects (learn by practice)
- de auto
- de tafel
- de telefoon
- de winkel
There is no fixed rule here—practice helps you remember more de-words.
3. Common Mistakes (and how to fix them)
❌ Wrong
Het vrouw komt binnen.
✔ Correct
De vrouw komt binnen.
❌ Wrong
Het huizen zijn groot.
✔ Correct
De huizen zijn groot.
4. Quick Practice: Choose De or Het
- ___ man
- ___ appel
- ___ kinderen
- ___ dokter
- ___ huis
Answers:
- de
- de
- de
- de
- het
5. Want to Study More NT2 Grammar?
👉 Read also:
Dutch Word Order: The Basic Sentence
👉 External resource: dutchgrammar
Conclusion
The Dutch article de is used for:
✔ people
✔ plurals
✔ fruit and trees
✔ letters and numbers
✔ professions
✔ many common words
When you are not sure, choose de first — you will be right many times!
👉 Want more simple NT2 grammar lessons?
Download our free grammar sheet or read our next blog:
“How to Use the Dutch Article Het (A1–A2)”
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