Where something is: bij, naast, tussen, achter, onder and boven
How Dutch marks static position with bij, naast, tussen, achter, voor, onder, boven, and tegenover.
A place preposition shows one position in relation to another: De apotheek is naast de supermarkt. (The pharmacy is next to the supermarket.). The useful question is not simply what English word you see, but where the two people or things are in relation to each other.
How do you choose a place preposition?
Choose the relationship you can picture—near, next to, between, behind, in front of, below, above, or opposite—and put that preposition before the reference person, place, or thing.
- Find the person, place, or thing whose position you want to describe.
- Choose the reference point: the other person, place, or thing.
- Put the matching preposition before that reference point: De fiets staat achter het gebouw. (The bicycle is behind the building.).
| Preposition | Relationship | Example |
|---|---|---|
| bij | at, with, or near | Mijn tas staat bij de balie. (My bag is by the reception desk.) |
| naast | next to | De printer staat naast het raam. (The printer is next to the window.) |
| tussen | between | De halte ligt tussen de bank en de apotheek. (The stop is between the bank and the pharmacy.) |
| achter | behind | De fietsenstalling is achter het kantoor. (The bicycle parking area is behind the office.) |
| voor | in front of | De taxi staat voor het hotel. (The taxi is in front of the hotel.) |
| onder | under or below | De reservesleutel ligt onder de map. (The spare key is under the folder.) |
| boven | above | Het bord hangt boven de radiator. (The sign hangs above the radiator.) |
| tegenover | opposite or across from | Het gemeentehuis staat tegenover de bibliotheek. (The town hall is opposite the library.) |
Use bij for a location and naar for a destination
With a person or a professional's place, bij answers where someone is: Ik ben bij mijn buurvrouw. (I am at my neighbour's place.) and Sam is bij de tandarts. (Sam is at the dentist's.). When someone is going to that destination, use naar: Ik ga naar mijn buurvrouw. (I am going to my neighbour's place.) and Sam gaat naar de tandarts. (Sam is going to the dentist's.).
Use tussen ... en and tussen ... in
Name two reference points with tussen ... en: De ingang is tussen de lift en de trap. (The entrance is between the lift and the stairs.). You can add in after the full phrase to stress a position right in the middle: De kinderwagen staat tussen de stoelen in. (The pushchair is right between the chairs.). The final in is not required in an ordinary tussen phrase.
When to use it
- Give directions from a landmark: De pinautomaat is naast de ingang. (The cash machine is next to the entrance.).
- Describe where an object is: De kabel ligt onder het bureau. (The cable is under the desk.).
- Say where a person is waiting or visiting: Mila wacht bij de huisarts. (Mila is waiting at the GP's.).
Mistakes to avoid
- For someone's current location, use bij, not destination naar: Ik ben bij de kapper. (I am at the hairdresser's.).
- Keep spatial voor and tegenover apart. Voor het station is on the station's front side; tegenover het station is opposite or across from it.
See also
Start with core preposition meanings, then see postpositions and split position phrases and naar ... toe and ... heen for movement along a path.
- Complete: *De apotheek is ___ de bakkerij.* (The pharmacy is next to the bakery.)
- *naast*
- *achter*
- *onder*
- *naar*
*Naast* means next to: *De apotheek is naast de bakkerij.*
- You are describing Noor's current location at the dentist's. Which sentence is correct?
- *Noor is naar de tandarts.*
- *Noor is bij de tandarts.*
- *Noor is tegenover de tandarts.*
- *Noor is tussen de tandarts.*
For a current location with a professional, use *bij*: *Noor is bij de tandarts.*
- Noor is travelling to the dentist's. Which sentence is correct?
- *Noor gaat bij de tandarts.*
- *Noor gaat onder de tandarts.*
- *Noor gaat naar de tandarts.*
- *Noor gaat tegenover de tandarts.*
Movement toward a destination takes *naar*: *Noor gaat naar de tandarts.*
- Which sentence places the stool precisely in the middle of the two chairs?
- *De kruk staat boven de stoelen.*
- *De kruk staat bij de stoelen.*
- *De kruk staat tegenover de stoelen.*
- *De kruk staat tussen de stoelen in.*
*Tussen ... in* can make the middle position explicit: *De kruk staat tussen de stoelen in.*
- The hotel is on the other side of the square from the station. Complete: *Het hotel ligt ___ het station.*
- *onder*
- *tegenover*
- *achter*
- *tussen*
*Tegenover* means opposite or across from: *Het hotel ligt tegenover het station.*
Test yourself
Question 1 of 5
Complete: De apotheek is ___ de bakkerij. (The pharmacy is next to the bakery.)