Ik kom later, namelijk na de lunchpauze.

I will come later, namely after the lunch break.

Breakdown of Ik kom later, namelijk na de lunchpauze.

• ik: I
• later: later
• na: after
• komen: to come
• de lunchpauze: the lunch break
• namelijk: namely

Questions & Answers about Ik kom later, namelijk na de lunchpauze.

What does the word namely (namelijk) really do here? Is it a direct translation?

In this sentence, namelijk introduces a clarification or specification: think “specifically” or “to be precise,” not the literal English “namely,” which can sound stiff. So Ik kom later, namelijk na de lunchpauze. means “I’ll come later—specifically, after the lunch break.”

Important: namelijk can also introduce the reason for something in a side-note way:

• Ik ga niet mee; ik ben namelijk moe. = “I’m not coming along; the thing is, I’m tired.”

Is the comma before namelijk required?

It’s recommended but not absolutely required. Because namelijk sets off an explanatory aside, a comma (or a dash/colon) improves readability:

• Ik kom later, namelijk na de lunchpauze.
• Ik kom later – namelijk na de lunchpauze.
• Ik kom later: namelijk na de lunchpauze.

Without the comma is possible but less clear: Ik kom later namelijk na de lunchpauze.

Can I start a sentence with namelijk?

Generally no; clause-initial namelijk sounds odd in Dutch main clauses. Prefer it after the finite verb or after what it comments on:

• Good: Ik kom namelijk later. / Ik kom later, namelijk na de lunchpauze.
• Odd: Namelijk, ik kom later.

If you really want to lead into an explanation, use a different frame, e.g. Het is namelijk zo dat…

Where does namelijk go in the sentence?

Typical positions:

• After the finite verb (common): Ik kom namelijk later.
• As a parenthetical after the main statement: Ik kom later, namelijk na de lunchpauze.
• With fronted time, keep verb-second: Later kom ik, namelijk na de lunchpauze.

Avoid putting namelijk at the very start of a main clause.

Is it normal to use the present tense (kom) for the future?

Yes. Dutch often uses the present for scheduled or clearly future events when a time reference is present:

• Ik kom later.
• Ik kom na de lunchpauze.

You can also use zullen to make the future explicit or a bit more formal/promissory:

• Ik zal later komen.

And colloquially, gaan + infinitive appears for (near) future plans:

• Ik ga later komen (less common in NL Dutch in this exact phrasing; used to stress an outcome).

Do I need both later and the na-phrase? Isn’t that redundant?

You don’t need both, but using both is natural for emphasis/clarity:

• Minimal: Ik kom na de lunchpauze.
• Vague but acceptable: Ik kom later.
• Clear and emphatic: Ik kom later, namelijk na de lunchpauze.

What’s the difference between later, straks, and zo meteen?

• later: sometime after now (can be minutes, hours, or much later; context decides).
• straks: later today/soon-ish (often within the same part of the day).
• zo meteen/zo dadelijk: very soon, in a moment.

Adding na de lunchpauze pins later down to a specific time window.

Why is it de lunchpauze and not het lunchpauze?

Because pauze is a common-gender noun (de pauze), and the compound lunchpauze inherits that: de lunchpauze. In general, compounds take the gender of the final element.

Could I say na lunchpauze without the article?

No, not idiomatically. Use na de lunchpauze. Some time-related nouns can drop the article (e.g. na school, na werk—the latter is colloquial), but na lunchpauze sounds wrong. Alternatives:

• na de lunch
• na de middagpauze (more common in BE)
• na de pauze (if the context is clear)

What are good alternatives to na de lunchpauze?

• na de lunch (very common)
• na de middagpauze (BE)
• direct na de lunchpauze (right after)
• rond de lunchpauze (around)
• tijdens de lunchpauze (during; different meaning)

When do I use na vs nadat?

• na
  • noun phrase: Ik kom na de lunchpauze.
• nadat
  • clause: Ik kom nadat de lunchpauze voorbij is. / Ik kom nadat ik geluncht heb.

Remember: with nadat, you’re introducing a subclause, so the verb goes to the end.

If I mean “come back,” should I say kom terug?

Yes:

• If you will return: Ik kom later terug (namelijk na de lunchpauze).
• If you will arrive (not necessarily return): Ik kom later (aan) or Ik arriveer later.
• If you will drop by: Ik kom later langs.

Choose the verb that matches the nuance: terug = back, aankomen = arrive, langskomen = stop by/visit.

Can I front the time phrase? What happens to word order?

Yes. Dutch main clauses are verb-second, so fronting an adverbial puts the finite verb in second position and the subject after it:

• Na de lunchpauze kom ik (later).
• Later kom ik, namelijk na de lunchpauze.

How do I pronounce namelijk and lunchpauze?

• namelijk: stress on the first syllable. Approx: NAH-muh-lik. IPA: [ˈnaːməˌlɪk] (the middle vowel is a schwa).
• lunchpauze: lunch with a short rounded vowel [ʏ] (like German “ü”), then pauze like “POW-zuh.” IPA: [ˈlʏnʃˌpɑu̯zə].