Learn Hardcore Dutch: Wij willen vanavond even bijpraten; af en toe is dat nodig. - We want to catch up for a moment tonight; now and then that is necessary.

Both are correct. wij is the stressed form and adds emphasis or a slightly more formal tone; we is the unstressed, everyday form. Wij willen... subtly highlights that it’s we (as opposed to others) who want to do this. In neutral speech you’ll most often hear We willen....

Does willen express the future like English “will”?

No. willen means “to want/would like to.” Dutch does not need a special future tense. For future meaning you can use:

Present tense with a time word: We praten vanavond bij.
gaan for plans: We gaan vanavond bijpraten.
zullen for offers/promises: We zullen vanavond bijpraten. So Wij willen... expresses desire or a polite intention, not just futurity.

What does even add?

even softens the request and often suggests the action will be brief: “just/for a bit/quickly.” It makes the sentence friendlier and less pushy. It’s not always literally short; it often functions as a politeness marker. Variants: eventjes (a tad more diminutive) and very informal effe.

Where should even go in the sentence?

Place even directly before the verb (or verb phrase) it modifies:

Natural: We willen vanavond even bijpraten.
With time fronted: Vanavond willen we even bijpraten.
When the main verb is finite and separable: We praten vanavond even bij. Less natural: We willen even vanavond bijpraten. Clearly wrong: We willen vanavond bijpraten even.

Is bijpraten a separable verb? How do I use it?

Yes, it’s separable.

Finite main verb: split it: Ik praat bij, We praten bij.
With modals/auxiliaries: keep it together: We willen bijpraten, We gaan bijpraten, We hebben bijgepraat.
Simple past: ik praatte bij, we praatten bij. Meanings:
Intransitive “to catch up (with each other)”: We hebben even bijgepraat.
Transitive “to update someone”: Ik praat je even bij (“I’ll bring you up to date”).

Could I use bijkletsen instead of bijpraten?

Yes. bijkletsen is a common, more informal synonym (“to chat/catch up”). It’s also separable:

We kletsen bij.
We hebben bijgekle—correct form is: We hebben bijgekletst.

What does af en toe mean exactly, and how is it different from soms?

af en toe = “every now and then/once in a while,” suggesting occasional, irregular repetition. soms = “sometimes,” a bit broader and more neutral. Often interchangeable, but af en toe feels a touch more idiomatic/vivid. Near-synonyms: nu en dan, zo nu en dan.

Why is it dat in “af en toe is dat nodig” and not het?

dat is a demonstrative pronoun referring back to the previously mentioned action (catching up). It explicitly ties the clauses: “That is necessary now and then.” het is more impersonal/generic. Both are acceptable, but dat makes the reference clearer here.

Why “Af en toe is dat nodig” and not “Af en toe dat is nodig”?

Dutch main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb sits in second position. With af en toe fronted, the verb is must come next, then the subject dat: Af en toe | is | dat | nodig. In a subordinate clause the verb goes to the end: ... omdat dat af en toe nodig is.

Is the semicolon necessary? Could I use a period or a conjunction?

The semicolon is optional; it neatly links two closely related main clauses. Alternatives:

Period: Wij willen vanavond even bijpraten. Af en toe is dat nodig.
Conjunctions:
- ..., want af en toe is dat nodig. (reason)
- ..., dus we doen dat af en toe. (if you rephrase) A bare comma between independent clauses is less standard in Dutch; a semicolon or period is better.

Is vanavond always one word? Any other ways to say “tonight”?

Yes, vanavond is one word. Don’t say op vanavond or vandaag avond. Alternatives:

vanavond (standard)
deze avond (more common in Belgium; a bit formal/regional)
vannacht means “tonight at night,” not the evening period.

How would I make this a suggestion instead of a statement of desire?

Use zullen or laten we:

Zullen we vanavond even bijpraten? (Shall we…?)
Laten we vanavond even bijpraten. (Let’s…) Both are friendly; even keeps it light.

Any pronunciation tips for tricky bits?

Wij: ij is like the vowel in English “eye” (but tenser); Dutch w is [ʋ], between English v and w.
vanavond: stress typically on the second syllable: va-NA-vond; word-final d can sound like [t] in isolation.
bijpraten: ij as above; the r varies by region (rolled, tapped, or uvular).
nodig: final g is the guttural [ɣ]/, not the hard English “g.”

Can I front the time for emphasis: Vanavond willen wij even bijpraten?

Yes. Fronting vanavond is perfectly natural for time emphasis: Vanavond willen we/wij even bijpraten. The verb still stays in second position.

What’s the difference between dat is nodig and we hebben dat nodig?

Dat is nodig treats nodig (“necessary/needed”) as a predicate adjective about the situation: “That is necessary.”
We hebben dat nodig uses the verb “to need”: “We need that.” Choose based on focus—general necessity vs. someone’s need.

How do I say it in the past or perfect?

Simple past: We wilden vanavond even bijpraten; af en toe is/was dat nodig. (Present is is fine for a general truth.)
Present perfect: We hebben vanavond even bijgepraat; af en toe is dat nodig.

Can I say We willen vanavond even praten bij?

No. Separation only happens when the main verb is finite. With the modal willen, the main verb stays as the infinitive bijpraten (together). When the main verb is finite you do split: We praten vanavond even bij.