When reporting news, relaying decisions, or speaking for an organization, you need ways to attribute statements to their source. In Dutch, the prepositions volgens and namens are essential for this.
"Volgens" (According to)
Volgens translates to "according to." You use it to cite the source of your information, such as a spokesperson (de woordvoerder).
If you place a volgens phrase at the very beginning of a sentence, remember to invert the subject and the verb.
| According to the spokesperson, the situation is safe. | Volgens de woordvoerder is de situatie veilig. |
"Namens" (On behalf of)
Namens means "on behalf of" or "in the name of." It is used when someone acts or speaks as a representative for another person or a group, like the management board (de directie).
| I am speaking on behalf of the management. | Ik spreek namens de directie. |
Just like with volgens, starting your sentence with a namens phrase causes the verb to come directly before the subject.
| On behalf of the management, we invite you. | Namens de directie nodigen we jullie uit. |
Sources and Official Announcements
When discussing reports or official news, you will frequently attribute information to research (het onderzoek), an expert (de deskundige), or a specific source (de bron).
| According to the research, we eat too much sugar. | Volgens het onderzoek eten we te veel suiker. |
| According to the expert, this water is not safe. | Volgens de deskundige is dit water niet veilig. |
Similarly, when decisions are officially (officieel) announced (aankondigen) by public authorities like the government (de overheid), you might speak on their behalf or cite them as a reliable source.
| On behalf of the government, we thank you. | Namens de overheid bedanken wij u. |
| The decision is announced by the government. | De beslissing wordt door de overheid aangekondigd. |