Learning Dutch becomes much easier when you understand how common verbs can have several different meanings depending on the situation. Two useful examples are aankomen and opkomen. These verbs appear often in everyday Dutch, but their meanings can change from gaining weight to arriving somewhere, causing pain, coming to mind, standing up for someone, or even describing the rising moon.
The Dutch Verb Aankomen
The Dutch verb aankomen has several different meanings. The exact meaning depends on the sentence and the situation in which it is used.
Aankomen Means to Gain Weight
One common meaning of aankomen is to gain weight.
Ik ben 3 kilo aangekomen.
I gained 3 kilos.
In this sentence, aangekomen means that the person has gained three kilograms in weight.
Aankomen Means to Hurt or Affect Someone
Aankomen can also describe something that hurts someone physically or affects them emotionally.
Die klap kwam hard aan.
That hit hurt badly.
For example, the expression can also be used when someone hears very sad news.
Toen ik hoorde dat mijn beste vriend gestorven was, kwam dat hard aan.
When I heard that my best friend had died, it hit me hard.
Here, kwam hard aan means that something had a strong emotional impact on the person.
Aankomen Means to Touch or Come Into Contact With Something
Aankomen can also be used when someone touches a person or something, especially when telling someone not to touch a painful area.
Mijn arm doet pijn, je mag daar niet aankomen.
My arm hurts, you are not allowed to touch it.
Je mag niet aan mijn zere arm komen.
You are not allowed to touch my sore arm.
These sentences are useful in everyday conversations when someone has an injury or a sensitive area that they do not want another person to touch.
Aankomen Means to Arrive
Another very common meaning of aankomen is to arrive at a place, especially after traveling.
De trein komt om acht uur aan.
The train arrives at eight o’clock.
Je bent aangekomen in Maastricht.
You have arrived in Maastricht.
This meaning is especially common when talking about trains, buses, planes, trips, and people arriving at a destination.
Ik Heb Het Zien Aankomen
The expression ik heb het zien aankomen means that someone expected something to happen because they could see it coming.
Ik heb het zien aankomen.
I saw it coming.
The expression can be used when an event was not a complete surprise because there were signs that it was going to happen.
Nu Komt Het Erop Aan
The expression nu komt het erop aan is used when an important moment has arrived and the final result or decision is about to be determined.
Nu komt het erop aan.
Now it is decision time.
It can also be understood as saying that this is the moment when it really matters or when the final outcome will be decided.
Zal Ik Even Langskomen?
The verb aankomen can also appear in everyday expressions related to visiting or stopping by, although langskomen itself is the more direct verb for this meaning.
Zal ik even langskomen nu ik toch in Brussel ben?
Shall I stop by since I am in Brussels anyway?
This is a natural way to ask someone if they would like you to visit briefly while you are already nearby.
The Dutch Verb Opkomen
The verb opkomen also has several meanings in Dutch. It can describe an idea coming to mind, standing up for someone, something appearing or emerging, or the moon rising.
Opkomen Means to Come to Mind
The expression in me opkomen means that an idea suddenly comes into your mind.
Dat was niet in me opgekomen.
That had not occurred to me.
Daar had ik niet aan gedacht.
I had not thought of that.
These expressions are useful when you want to say that you had not considered an idea or possibility before.
Opkomen Voor Iemand
Opkomen voor iemand means to stand up for someone or defend someone when they are being treated badly.
Hij kwam op voor de gepeste jongen.
He stood up for the bullied boy.
This expression is commonly used when someone supports or defends another person who is being bullied, treated unfairly, or placed in a difficult situation.
Opkomen Means to Emerge or Appear
Opkomen can also describe the appearance or development of something new.
Het opkomen van nieuwe methoden in de landbouw.
The emergence of new methods in agriculture.
In this context, opkomen refers to something new beginning to appear or develop.
Opkomen Means to Rise
The verb opkomen is also used when talking about the moon rising.
De maan kwam op.
The moon rose.
De maan lijkt van achter de zee op te komen.
The moon seems to be rising from behind the sea.
Here, opkomen describes the movement of the moon as it appears above the horizon.
Opkomen for Plants
Opkomen can also be used when newly planted seeds begin to appear above the ground.
Het moment waarop de gezaaide plantjes uit de grond opkomen.
The moment when the planted seedlings emerge from the ground.
In this sentence, opkomen means that the young plants begin to appear and grow out of the soil.
Learn Dutch Through Common Verbs
Aankomen and opkomen are good examples of why learning Dutch is not only about memorizing individual words. One Dutch verb can have several meanings, and the surrounding words help you understand which meaning is in
