Learn Hardcore Dutch: Zullen we iets later vertrekken?

Here it makes a suggestion: roughly, Shall we leave a bit later? With zullen you can also express a future statement, but then you don’t use the question form:

Suggestion: Zullen we iets later vertrekken?
Future statement: We zullen morgen vertrekken.

Why is vertrekken at the end?

Dutch main clauses are verb-second. In a yes/no question the finite verb goes first, the subject follows, and the non-finite verb (the infinitive vertrekken) goes to the end:

Zullen (finite verb) + we (subject) + iets later (time phrase) + vertrekken (infinitive).

Can I say We zullen iets later vertrekken? as a question?

That’s a statement. You’ll hear it with rising intonation as a checking/echo question, but the neutral way to propose something is with inversion: Zullen we iets later vertrekken?

What does iets add to later?

Iets literally means something, but before an adjective/adverb it means a little/slightly. So iets later softens the proposal: a bit later rather than simply later, which can sound stronger.

Can I use wat later or een beetje later instead of iets later?

Yes:

wat later: very common, slightly informal.
een beetje later: very common, friendly/soft.
iets later: neutral, fine in any register. You’ll also hear ietsjes later or een tikje later for extra smallness.

What’s the difference between we and wij here?

we is the unstressed default. wij is stressed and adds contrast/emphasis (we, not they): Zullen wij iets later vertrekken (dan zij)? For a neutral suggestion, use we.

How can I make the suggestion more polite/indirect?

Use the conditional zouden and softeners:

Zouden we misschien iets later kunnen vertrekken?
Zouden we iets later mogen vertrekken, als dat kan? Words like misschien, eventueel, als het kan, eventueel even all soften the tone.

Can I use gaan, kunnen, or mogen instead of zullen?

Gaan: Gaan we iets later vertrekken? checks/assumes a plan (Are we going to leave later?).
Kunnen: Kunnen we iets later vertrekken? asks about feasibility.
Mogen: Mogen we iets later vertrekken? asks for permission.
Zullen proposes: Zullen we iets later vertrekken?

vertrekken vs weggaan vs gaan — which fits best?

vertrekken = depart/leave; neutral, common for trips/schedules and fine for people.
weggaan = go away/leave (a place); casual, everyday.
gaan = go; usually needs a destination or activity. Here vertrekken is the most idiomatic choice.

Do I need te before vertrekken?

No. After modals (zullen, kunnen, moeten, mogen, willen, hoeven) you do not use te: Zullen we vertrekken? After other verbs you might: We proberen later te vertrekken.

How would I say this in reported speech or in the past?

Use zouden (past/conditional of zullen) and subordinate word order:

Hij stelde voor dat we iets later zouden vertrekken.
We waren te vroeg; we besloten dat we de volgende keer iets later zouden vertrekken.

What are the common conjugations of zullen?

ik zal
jij/je zult (also jij/je zal informally)
hij/zij/het zal
u zult
wij/jullie/zij zullen With jij in questions, invert and drop the final -t: Zal jij komen? With we, it’s always zullen: Zullen we …?

How do people typically accept or decline this suggestion?

Accepting:

Goed idee.
Klinkt goed / Prima / Is goed.
Laten we dat doen.

Hesitating/declining:

Liever niet.
Dat komt niet zo goed uit.
Ik zou liever eerder vertrekken.

Is Zullen we niet iets later vertrekken? also natural?

Yes. Colloquially Zullen we niet …? often softens a proposal, like English Shouldn’t we …?, and usually still means Do it. If you truly mean Don’t do it, be explicit: Laten we niet later vertrekken.

Any pronunciation tips?

zullen [ˈzʏlə(n)] (short rounded vowel, like German ü)
we [ʋə] or [və]
iets [its]
later [ˈlaːtər] (long a)
vertrekken [vərˈtrɛkə(n)] (final -en often a weak schwa) Natural stress: ZÚllen we íets LÁter vertrékken?

Where should later go? Is Zullen we vertrekken later? okay?

Time adverbs belong in the middle field before the non-finite verb:

Correct: Zullen we later vertrekken? / Zullen we iets later vertrekken?
Not idiomatic: Zullen we vertrekken later?

Can I drop the pronoun we, like Iets later vertrekken?

In full sentences, no: you need we. In casual speech you might hear the fragment Iets later vertrekken? as a quick, elliptical suggestion, but it relies on context.

Could I say Laten we iets later vertrekken instead? What’s the nuance?

Yes. Laten we … = Let’s …, a bit more decisive. Zullen we … = Shall we …?, a proposal seeking agreement. Both are natural; choose based on how strong/soft you want to sound.