Jul 1 / Koen Kleinstra

When to use De vs Het in Dutch: Mastering Dutch Articles

Cup of coffee with a smiley to explain the joke in the text
Koen, when should I use de and when het? If you gave me a cup of coffee for every time someone asked me this question, I probably wouldn't close an eye for the rest of my life. 👀 However, I'm going to tell you how it works.
In this post, we’ll explain de and het clearly, with practical tips, cultural notes, and examples you can actually use. Whether you’re in a self-paced Dutch course, intensive Dutch class, or learning Dutch on your own, this guide is for you.

What Are "de" and "het"?

De and het are the Dutch definite articles, both meaning “the” in English.

✅ de is for common gender nouns
✅ het is for neuter gender nouns

But in Dutch, no one knows about the gender of a word, as both feminine and masculine are "de-words"

When to use "de" or "het"?

Many languages have only one word for “the.” English learners don’t have to think about gender at all. But Dutch learners often:
  • Feel overwhelmed by memorizing vocabulary with gender
  • Worry about making mistakes in conversation
  • Get confused about exceptions
That’s why in SociaTaal’s small-group Dutch classes and self-paced Dutch courses with feedback, we always teach new nouns with their article.

Strict rules

Rule 1 - Plural nouns always have the article "de"
A singular noun can have both "de" and "het", but a plural noun always has the article "de". Examples:

  • het boek - de boeken (books)
  • het verhaal - de verhalen (stories)
  • de vrouw - de vrouwen (women)
Rule 2 - Fruits and vegetables always have the article "de"
For some unexplainable reason vegetables and fruits are always "de" words. Look at this:

  • de appel (apple)
  • de banaan (banana)
  • de sinaasappel (orange)
  • De druif (grape)
Rule 3 - Compass points always have the article "het"
  • het noorden (the North)
  • het zuiden (the South)
  • het westen (the West)
  • het oosten (the East)
Rule 4 - Nouns in the diminutive form always have the article "het"
Normal Dutch people call this a "verkleinwoord". It's pretty much to say the thing is small. For example:

  • de hond (dog)
  • het hondje (little dog)
Every word ending in "-je" is a diminutive. We learn more about this in the Nederlands Level 2 course.
Rule 5 - Nouns in the diminutive form, but also plural always have the article "de"
This basically means that plural wins over diminutive. So if it's two "little" things, then we still use "de" and not "het". Example:

  • de hond (the dog)
  • het hondje (the dog) - diminutive
  • de hondjes (orange) - diminutive & plural
Rule 6 - If we use a verb as a noun, we always use "het"
Example:
Het wachten is voorbij - (the waiting is over)

Patterns

Now we go on to some patterns. These are all cases in where the word "often has de or het".

Pattern #1 - Nouns with two syllables starting with be-, ge-, ver-, and ont- often have "het".
Example:
  • het verhaal (the story)
  • het gezicht (the face)

Pattern #2 - Nouns ending in -ing, -ij, -er, -aar, -heid, and -ie often have de article de.
Example:
  • de verzekering (the insurance)
  • de overheid (the government)

Pattern #3 - Nouns ending in "er" or "el" often have the article "de".
Example:
  • de kamer (the room)
  • de kabel (the cable)

Pattern #4 - Nouns ending in -isme, -ment, -sel, or -um often have the article "het".
Example:
  • het moment (the moment)
  • het veganisme (the veganism)

Pattern #5 - Nouns referring to a profession often get the article "de".
Example:
  • de bakker (the baker)
  • de leraar (the teacher)

Pattern #6 - Words of trees and plants always have the article "de".
Example:
  • de boom (the tree)
  • de tulp (the tulip)
study de and het by writing

My personal advice

There are no rules that fully cover the usage of "de" and "het". Therefore my personal advice to you is when you learn a new word, don't only learn the word, but also learn if it comes with "de" or "het". The only way to get "de" and "het" right is by getting a native feeling for it. Let's discuss how to practice.

How to practice

Practice by reading, writing and listening to Dutch. If you read a sentence containing "de hond" (the dog) a couple times, you will automatically know it's "de hond" instead of "het hond". Learning a language is a matter of doing and repeating.

FAQ: People Also Ask

Why does Dutch have de and het?

Dutch historically distinguishes between common (masculine and feminine) and neuter genders. "De" is used for common nouns, "het" for neuter ones. It's a feature that evolved from older Germanic languages.

How can I remember de and het?

  • Learn the noun with its article as a unit.
  • Use flashcards.
  • Practice with context.
  • Don’t stress about mistakes, just keep speaking.

Are there rules for de and het?

Yes, partial ones.
For example:
  • All plurals use de.
  • Diminutives (-je) use het.
  • Many abstract nouns ending in -ing use de.
But many nouns are exceptions, so memorization is essential.

Do I really need to master de and het?

Yes, but perfection isn’t required. Even if you mix them up sometimes, you will usually be understood. SociaTaal’s Dutch courses focus on practical communication first, while helping you learn these details over time.

Ready to Speak Dutch With Confidence?

At SociaTaal, our self-paced Dutch courses and small-group Dutch classes are designed for busy expats who want real results.
✅ Personal teacher feedback
✅ Speaking-focused practice
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