Learn Hardcore Dutch: Zullen wij van plaats wisselen tijdens de vergadering? - Shall we change places during the meeting?

Zullen we …? to propose a joint action
Simple present for scheduled future: Morgen wisselen we van plaats.
Gaan
- infinitive for near future: We gaan van plaats wisselen. Here, Zullen we…? is the natural way to suggest doing something together.

What’s the difference between wij and we?

Both mean “we.” We is the default, unstressed form in speech. Wij is the stressed form, used for emphasis or contrast (e.g., Wij—not they—will do it). In everyday conversation you’ll most often hear: Zullen we van plaats wisselen tijdens de vergadering?

Why does the verb come first in Zullen wij …?

Yes–no questions in Dutch typically start with the finite verb (verb-first order). Compare:

Statement (verb-second): Wij zullen van plaats wisselen.
Question (verb-first): Zullen wij van plaats wisselen?

Why is it van plaats wisselen? Why the preposition van?

With wisselen, Dutch often uses the pattern wisselen van + noun to mean “change/switch [category/position].” Examples:

van baan wisselen (change jobs)
van onderwerp wisselen (change the subject)
van plaats wisselen (change/swap places) If you want to specify the person you swap with, add met: van plaats wisselen met iemand.

Is there a difference between wisselen and ruilen?

Yes, nuance:

wisselen = to change/switch (focus on the change itself, can be general).
ruilen = to swap/exchange (focus on exchanging one thing/person’s position with another). Both work here:
van plaats wisselen (neutral/common)
van plaats ruilen (emphasizes swapping with someone) If you name the other person, ruilen met is very common: van plaats ruilen met jou/u.

Should it be singular plaats or plural plaatsen?

The fixed expression is typically singular: van plaats wisselen. You may also see:

van plaats ruilen (common)
plaatsen ruilen (also heard, especially with ruilen) Using singular with van sounds most idiomatic with wisselen.

Can I move tijdens de vergadering earlier in the sentence?

Yes. All are correct, with slight differences in emphasis:

Zullen we van plaats wisselen tijdens de vergadering? (neutral)
Zullen we tijdens de vergadering van plaats wisselen? (focuses a bit more on the timeframe) Dutch allows some flexibility with adverbials.

Is tijdens the best preposition here? What about in or gedurende?

tijdens de vergadering = during the meeting (most natural/neutral).
gedurende de vergadering = during the meeting (more formal).
in de vergadering usually means “in/at the meeting” as an event, not specifically “during.” If you want to switch before it starts, say voor de vergadering or voorafgaand aan de vergadering.

Does saying “during the meeting” imply switching mid-meeting?

Yes, tijdens de vergadering suggests the switch happens while the meeting is in progress. If you mean before it begins, prefer voor (de start van) de vergadering.

How would I ask this more politely to one person I don’t know well?

Use u and a conditional/volitional phrasing:

Zou u met mij van plaats willen wisselen (tijdens de vergadering)?
Zou u misschien met mij van plaats willen ruilen? These are softer and more polite than a direct Zullen we…?

Are there more informal or alternative word choices for plaats?

Yes:

plek (colloquial): van plek wisselen
zitplaats (explicitly “seat”): van zitplaats ruilen
stoel (chair): van stoel ruilen Plaats is neutral and suits a meeting context well.

How do I say this in a subordinate clause?

In subordinate clauses, verbs go to the end:

Ik stel voor dat we tijdens de vergadering van plaats wisselen. You can include zullen, but many speakers omit it: …dat we … wisselen (preferred and concise). With zullen, both verbs go to the end: …dat we … van plaats zullen wisselen.

What are the past forms of wisselen and ruilen?

Both are regular:

wisselen → wisselde, gewisseld: We hebben van plaats gewisseld.
ruilen → ruilde, geruild: We hebben van plaats geruild.

Pronunciation tips for the whole sentence?

Approximate Dutch pronunciation (Netherlands):

Zullen [ZUL-lun] (short u like French “u” in “lune” but centralized)
wij [way] (diphthong like “ay” in “day,” starting with a light w/ʋ)
van [van] (a as in “father,” short)
plaats [plahts] (long aa, like “ah” held; final ts)
wisselen [WIS-suh-lun]
tijdens [TAY-duns] (ei/ij like “ay”)
de [duh]
vergadering [ver-GAH-duh-ring] (hard g/ɣ in the throat) Natural rhythm groups words into small chunks: Zullen we | van plaats wisselen | tijdens de vergadering?