In formal business and legal correspondence—such as dealing with real estate, mortgages, or contracts—Dutch often replaces the everyday preposition over (about) with highly formal alternatives. These prepositions all generally translate to "regarding," "concerning," or "pertaining to."
Inzake (Regarding / In the matter of)
The preposition inzake historically relates to the word zaak (matter/case). It is extremely common in legal contexts, official subject lines, and formal discussions about specific properties or agreements.
| The civil law notary will inform you regarding the contract. | De notaris zal u informeren inzake het contract. |
| One is busy with the investigation regarding this property. | Men is bezig met het onderzoek inzake dit pand. |
Omtrent (Concerning / About)
The preposition omtrent is another formal way to say "concerning." It is frequently used when discussing correspondence, investigations, or ongoing issues surrounding a specific topic, such as a mortgage or a parcel of land.
| I have read the correspondence concerning the mortgage. | Ik heb de correspondentie omtrent de hypotheek gelezen. |
| There seems to be a problem regarding the plot. | Er schijnt een probleem te zijn omtrent het perceel. |
Aangaande (Regarding / Pertaining to)
Similarly, aangaande translates to "regarding" or "pertaining to." Like inzake and omtrent, it instantly elevates the register of your sentence and is perfect for official communications regarding transactions, enclosed documents, or handovers.
| We are about to call the buyer regarding the transfer. | Wij staan op het punt om de koper aangaande de overdracht te bellen. |
| Have you attached the document concerning this property? | Heeft u het document aangaande dit pand bijgevoegd? |