Writing in Dutch: Structure, Register and Accuracy
What this domain tests
Writing in Dutch asks you to produce a text of a specified type, length and purpose: an email, a letter, an article, a notice or a short report. You are assessed on task fulfilment, coherence and cohesion, range and accuracy of language, and appropriateness of register.
Concepts you must master
Know the conventions of Dutch correspondence. A formal letter opens with Geachte mevrouw Jansen, and closes with Met vriendelijke groet, followed by your name. An informal email uses Beste Sanne, or Hoi Sanne, and Groetjes. Learn sentence connectors (omdat, hoewel, daarom, bovendien, ten slotte) and subordinate clause word order, where the verb moves to the end: Ik kom later, omdat ik nog moet werken. Master inversion after a fronted adverbial: Morgen ga ik naar Utrecht.
Traps that appear
- Ignoring bullet points in the prompt; each one must be covered.
- Wrong register: using jij in a formal letter or u with a friend.
- Word order errors in subordinate clauses and after inversion.
- Over-long sentences that lose control of the verb position.
- Filling the word count with repetition instead of developing points.
Worked example
Prompt: write an email to a Dutch host family thanking them and explaining you will arrive a day later. A strong opening is: Beste familie De Vries, Hartelijk dank voor uw uitnodiging. Helaas moet ik u laten weten dat ik een dag later aankom, omdat mijn vlucht is omgeboekt. Note the formal uw, the omdat clause with the verb at the end, and the clear statement of the problem. Rule of thumb: plan three or four sentences per bullet point, use a connector in each, and reserve two minutes to check verb endings, de/het and capitalisation.