How (and why) the Dutch talk about time

“Time's the king of men, he's both their parent, and he is their grave, and gives them what he will, not what they crave.” (William Shakespeare, Pericles, Act II, scene 3)

Many people from other cultures who are living and working in this densely populated, and therefore busy, highly organised society have noticed that the Dutch are extremely focused on time.

Compared with Southern Europe, Latin America, or parts of the Middle East, the Netherlands stands out for its strong emphasis on planning and time management. The historical reasons are obvious. For centuries, the Netherlands has been a trading nation, and in trade, being on time and planning are essential for building trust.

Then there is a religious influence. Protestant and Calvinist traditions emphasise discipline, hard work, and the productive use of time. “Wasting time” is often frowned upon. 

Here are several phrases that the Dutch use that might come in handy:

"De tijd zal het leren" (Time will tell)

Will you be happy in your new home with your new neighbours? “De tijd zal het leren" (time will tell). You do not know the answer yet, but it will become clear later. Another way of saying “time will tell” is “komt tijd komt raad” (literally: In time you will get advice or counsel).

"Tijd is geld" (Time is money)

Especially in the context of trade, Dutch merchants are aware that time is valuable and no moment should be wasted. The greatest of all Dutch virtues is expressed by the saying “zuinigheid met vlijt” (frugality with diligence).

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"Met de tijd meegaan" (To move with the times)

In a nation that depends on its creative economy, it is essential that people adapt to new developments all the time.

"Alle tijd hebben" (To have all the time in the world)

In contrast to this saying, the Dutch usually say: “ik zit krap in de tijd” (I’m short on time). But to make you feel more comfortable, they might also say: “Relax, ik heb alle tijd” or more concisely: “Tijd zat!” (Plenty of time!), “Ik heb geen haast” (I’m not in a hurry).

"De tijd staat stil" (Time stands still)

Sometimes, it feels like everything stops for a moment (e.g. during an emotional moment). When one is having a good time, one will forget the time, and once one becomes aware that too much precious time has passed, a Dutchie will sigh as an excuse: “Gezelligheid kent geen tijd” (Good times know no time).

"Op tijd komen" (To be on time)

It is imperative in the Netherlands that things go according to schedule. If not, people complain because they think it is an absolute disgrace when a bus, tram or train is a couple of minutes late.

When you make an appointment with a medical doctor or with a friend, the rule is not to arrive too late. If you have developed the unfortunate habit of being frequently late and you finally manage to be on time, a Dutchie may ironically say: “het zal tijd worden” (it’s about time).

"Zijn tijd ver vooruit zijn" (To be ahead of one’s time) 

Especially in the arts, the Netherlands has produced many artists who died as paupers but gained worldwide fame posthumously. Johannes Vermeer (1632 – 1675) and Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890), for instance, were far ahead of their times. 

In science, it was Christiaan Huygens (1629 – 1695) who proposed the first mathematical and mechanistic explanation of light, long before other scientists found evidence for his theory.

"De tijd doden" (To kill time)

Isn't it weird that many languages use this aggressive way of passing empty moments? The French call it “tuer le temps”. The Germans “die Zeit totschlagen/töten”. The Spanish: “matar el tiempo”. Italians, however, seem to be less murderous. With their “ingannare l'attesa”, they merely decide to deceive or cheat the period of waiting.

"Even tijd maken" (To make some time)

This means making some time and freeing up space in your schedule. And scheduling plans is very important for Dutch people.

"De tijd vliegt" (Time flies)

When you’re having a good time, time seems to pass quickly. When a Dutch colleague has “tijd gemaakt” (made time) for you in their schedule and welcomed you warmly in their house for a “borrel” (drinks), beware that you do not outstay your welcome.

For the Dutch, there is “een tijd van komen en een tijd van gaan” (a time of coming, and a time of going), and things can become really awkward after several hours of overstaying your welcome.

So, it’s better to be safe than sorry (“neem het zekere voor het onzekere” or literally, take what’s certain instead of what’s uncertain) and leave in time (“op tijd”). Say: “Waar blijft de tijd?” (Literally, where remains the time? Where does the time go?) and say your “thank you’s” and your “farewells”. Your hosts will be grateful for your timely departure and may invite you again.