Learn Hardcore Dutch: Na het optreden ondertekenden we ons nieuwe huurcontract voor het appartement. - After the performance we signed our new rental contract for the apartment.

Optreden means performance or show—for example, a concert or stage appearance. In this sentence it signals that the signing happened after that event.

Why is ondertekenden placed before we in the clause?

In Dutch main clauses, the finite verb must occupy the second position. Since Na het optreden is a fronted time element, ondertekenden (the verb) comes next, and then the subject we.

Why is the simple past tense ondertekenden used instead of the present perfect?

Dutch often uses simple past in narratives and written accounts. You could say we hebben ons nieuwe huurcontract getekend, but ondertekenden we is more concise and typical in storytelling.

Why is ons used instead of onze before nieuwe huurcontract?

Possessive ons is used with neuter (het) nouns. Since huurcontract is het-woord, you say ons contract. Onze would be for de-woorden.

What does huurcontract mean, and how do you form its plural?

Huurcontract means rental contract. To make it plural, add -en, giving huurcontracten.

Why is voor used in voor het appartement? Could another preposition work?

Voor indicates purpose or relation—“the contract for the apartment.” Van (“of”) would shift the meaning to ownership, and in or op wouldn’t fit. Voor is the natural choice here.

Could you use wij instead of we in this sentence?

Yes. We is the colloquial form of wij. Both are grammatically correct, but we is more common in everyday speech.

Why is the article het used before appartement instead of de?

Appartement is a neuter noun in Dutch, so it takes the definite article het. De-words (common gender) would use de.