Extended attributive phrases

Journalistic and formal written Dutch often packs a lot of information into a single noun phrase using an extended attributive phrase—often called the "harmonica" construction. The article and the noun are pulled apart, and a descriptive phrase anchored by a participle is squeezed in between.

The harmonica structure

Instead of using a relative clause (e.g., "the reform that was announced to the press"), Dutch can turn a past participle (aangekondigd) into an adjective (aangekondigde) and place it, along with its actors or objects, entirely between the article and the noun.

Standard adjective declension rules apply to the participle, meaning it typically takes an -e ending.

These sandwiched phrases can become quite dense, containing their own prepositions or time expressions. When reading them, look for the article, skip ahead to the noun it belongs to, and then unpack the modifying phrase in the middle.

You will frequently see these phrases constructed with door (by) to indicate who performed the action.

Present participial phrases

This structure is not limited to past actions. You can also use a present participle (the infinitive + -d) to describe an ongoing action. Like past participles, it takes an -e ending when acting as an attributive adjective. Observe how the present participle demonstrerende anchors the entire extended phrase before the noun studenten:

Combining with regular adjectives

Sometimes a noun is modified by both an extended participial phrase and a regular adjective, such as voormalig (former) or actueel (current/topical). When this happens, the regular adjective stays firmly attached to the noun, sitting directly after the participle.