Niet zozeer de wachtlijst als wel de opvangplek bepaalt onze keuze.

It is a contrast pattern.

The idea is:

not so much X as Y

So the sentence is saying that de wachtlijst is not the main thing driving the choice; de opvangplek is the more important factor.

A useful nuance: this pattern is often a bit softer than a simple correction. It does not always mean that X is completely irrelevant. It often means X matters less than Y.

No. This is a very common trap for English speakers.

In this sentence, als wel is not the English-style also / too. It belongs to the fixed expression niet zozeer ... als wel ....

Here, als wel means something like:

• but rather
• but instead
• as much as rather

So do not read als wel as the usual English-looking as well.

Zozeer is one word in Dutch. It means something like so much or to such an extent.

In the combination niet zozeer, it gives the idea of not so much.

So:

• niet zozeer X als wel Y = not so much X as Y

You should learn niet zozeer as a chunk, because it is very commonly used that way.

Because this is not an ordinary list of two things acting together.

The structure does not mean:

• the waiting list and the place together determine our choice

It means:

• not so much the waiting list, but rather the place determines our choice

So the sentence is really pointing to de opvangplek as the actual determining factor. Since de opvangplek is singular, the verb is singular: bepaalt.

Also, both nouns here are singular anyway, so singular agreement fits naturally.

The subject is the whole contrastive phrase:

Niet zozeer de wachtlijst als wel de opvangplek

Within that phrase, the real focus falls on de opvangplek.

The object is:

onze keuze

So the structure is basically:

[subject] bepaalt [object]

That can be confusing because the subject is long and starts with a contrast expression.

Because Dutch main clauses follow the verb-second rule.

The whole opening phrase

Niet zozeer de wachtlijst als wel de opvangplek

takes up the first position in the sentence. Once that first slot is filled, the finite verb must come next:

bepaalt

Then the rest follows:

onze keuze

So the order is completely normal for Dutch:

1. first element
2. finite verb
3. the rest

Yes, usually a bit more formal or polished.

Compare:

• Niet zozeer de wachtlijst als wel de opvangplek bepaalt onze keuze.
• Niet de wachtlijst maar de opvangplek bepaalt onze keuze.

Both are understandable and correct, but the first one sounds more nuanced and somewhat more formal or written.

The simpler niet ... maar ... version is more direct.

A rough difference in tone:

• niet ... maar ... = straightforward correction
• niet zozeer ... als wel ... = more refined contrast, often suggesting less X, more Y

Sometimes yes, but the nuance changes a little.

Dutch speakers do use patterns like:

niet zozeer X maar Y

But the most classic and balanced form is:

niet zozeer X als wel Y

So if you want the standard idiomatic expression, use the full pair niet zozeer ... als wel ....

If you want a more everyday, direct sentence, it is often better to switch fully to:

niet X maar Y

rather than mixing the two patterns.

Opvangplek is a compound noun, and Dutch makes compound nouns as one word.

It is built from:

• opvang = care, opvang, childcare, reception, shelter, depending on context
• plek = place, spot

So opvangplek means a place/spot in care or childcare, depending on the situation.

For English speakers, it may feel like it should be two words, but in Dutch compounds like this are normally written as one word.

Yes, but it sounds somewhat written or formal.

In everyday speech, many people would choose something simpler, such as:

• Niet de wachtlijst maar de opvangplek bepaalt onze keuze.
• Onze keuze hangt vooral af van de opvangplek, niet zozeer van de wachtlijst.

So the original sentence is perfectly good Dutch, but it has a slightly more careful, formal style.

Not necessarily.

That is one of the important nuances of niet zozeer ... als wel .... It often suggests:

• X is not the main factor
• Y is the more important factor

So de wachtlijst may still matter, just less than de opvangplek.

If the speaker wanted a stronger, more absolute contrast, they might use a blunter structure such as niet X maar Y.