Learn Hardcore Dutch: Na de film bewonderen we een oud schilderij in de hal. - After the film we admire an old painting in the hall.

Dutch main clauses follow the so-called V2 (verb-second) rule: the finite verb occupies the second position. Because the sentence starts with the time adverbial Na de film, the finite verb bewonderen must come next, and the subject we follows it.

What is the function of Na de film here?

Na de film is a time adverbial (temporal expression) meaning “after the film.” It tells you when the action takes place. In Dutch you often place such time expressions at the front for emphasis or clarity.

Why is it Na de film and not Na film or Na een film?

Since you’re referring to a specific film (the one you just watched), you use the definite article de, giving de film. Saying na een film means “after a film” in general. Omitting the article altogether (na film) is ungrammatical in standard Dutch.

Why is it een oud schilderij and not een oude schilderij?

In Dutch adjective inflection, adjectives preceding a noun take an -e ending except when used with an indefinite singular neuter noun (a het-woord). Schilderij is neuter, so with een the adjective remains uninflected: een oud schilderij.

What is the difference between we and wij? Could I say wij bewonderen?

Both we and wij mean “we.” We is the unstressed, more common form. Wij is the full, emphatic form and can add emphasis to the subject. Formally you could say Na de film bewonderen wij een oud schilderij, but in everyday speech we is more natural.

Is in de hal part of the object or a separate adverbial phrase?

Here in de hal is a prepositional phrase indicating location and belongs to the noun phrase een oud schilderij in de hal. In other words, it tells you which painting: the one that is in the hall.

What is the overall word order pattern in this sentence?

The pattern is Time (T) – Verb (V) – Subject (S) – Object (O) – Place (P).
So we get: Na de film (T) – bewonderen (V) – we (S) – een oud schilderij (O) – in de hal (P).