Learn Dutch: Alles in aanmerking nemende, is de vrede nu de beste optie. - Taking everything into consideration, peace is now the best option.

This is an absolute participial construction, which is exactly what this lesson focuses on. It uses the present participle nemende (taking) to frame the rest of the sentence. In Dutch, these constructions are quite formal and usually act as fixed expressions to summarize or set conditions for the main statement, much like 'taking everything into consideration' or 'all things considered' in English.

Why is there an extra -e on the end of the present participle nemend?

The base present participle is nemend. However, in formal, older Dutch, participles often took an -e ending. In modern Dutch, we still use this inflected form (nemende) in fixed, formal rhetorical phrases like Alles in aanmerking nemende or Dat gezegd hebbende (That being said).

Why does the main clause start with the verb is (...is de vrede...)?

This is the standard V2 (verb-second) rule in action. The entire participial phrase (Alles in aanmerking nemende) acts as the first element of the sentence. Therefore, the main verb (is) must take the second position, right after the comma, pushing the subject (de vrede) to the third position.

Is in aanmerking nemen a standard Dutch expression?