Breakdown of Wij lopen rustig door de drukte van de markt.
wij
we
lopen
to walk
de markt
the market
rustig
calmly
van
of
door
through
de drukte
the bustle
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Questions & Answers about Wij lopen rustig door de drukte van de markt.
Why are Wij and We interchangeable in this sentence?
Both Wij and We mean “we.” Wij is slightly more emphatic or formal, while We is more colloquial. The verb conjugation (lopen) stays the same. So you can say either Wij lopen rustig door de drukte van de markt or We lopen rustig door de drukte van de markt without changing the meaning.
What does the verb lopen mean here? Is it “to run” or “to walk”?
Lopen generally means “to walk” or “to move on foot.” If you wanted “to run,” you’d use rennen. In this context, lopen indicates a calm, unhurried walk—more like a stroll through the crowd.
What nuance does the adverb rustig add?
As an adverb, rustig means “calmly,” “quietly,” or “unhurriedly.” It describes the manner of walking—you’re not rushing; you’re strolling. (When used as an adjective, rustig can also mean “quiet” or “peaceful” of a place.)
Why is rustig placed before door? Could you say lopen door de drukte rustig?
In Dutch main clauses, adverbs of manner like rustig typically come right after the finite verb: Wij lopen rustig door…. While lopen door de drukte rustig isn’t strictly ungrammatical, it sounds awkward or poetic and shifts the emphasis onto the crowd’s quietness rather than the walking.
What does the preposition door indicate in this sentence?
Here door means “through.” It shows movement across or through a space—in this case, de drukte van de markt (“the hustle and bustle of the market”).
Why not use in de drukte instead of door de drukte?
In de drukte would mean “in the midst of the bustle,” focusing on location. Door de drukte specifically conveys moving through the crowd from one side to another. Since you’re walking across the busy area, door is the correct choice.
Why is drukte accompanied by de rather than het?
Dutch nouns are either common gender (de) or neuter (het). Drukte is a common gender noun, so it takes de. There’s no foolproof rule—you learn each noun’s gender as you go.
What role does van play in van de markt?
Dutch doesn’t use a genitive case like English’s apostrophe-s. Instead, you connect nouns with van (“of”). So de drukte van de markt literally means “the bustle of the market.”
Can you simplify the sentence to Wij lopen rustig door de markt? What difference does including drukte make?
Yes, Wij lopen rustig door de markt is perfectly fine—“We walk calmly through the market.” Adding drukte emphasizes that it’s specifically the busy, crowded part of the market, highlighting the hustle and bustle you’re moving through.
Is the word order in Wij lopen rustig door de drukte van de markt fixed?
The neutral word order in a Dutch main clause is Subject – Verb – (Adverbs) – Object/Prepositional Phrases. You can front elements for emphasis, for example:
• Rustig lopen wij door de drukte van de markt (emphasizes how you walk)
• Door de drukte van de markt lopen wij rustig (emphasizes where you walk)
But for everyday speech, the original word order is the most common.