In English, we only have one word: “to know.” However, in Dutch, you must choose between weten and kennen depending on what you know.

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1. The Core Difference

Dutch Word	Used for…	Example
Weten	Facts, information, or answers.	“I know the time.”
Kennen	People, places, or being familiar with something.	“I know that person.”

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2. Using ‘Weten’ (Facts)

Use weten when you know a specific piece of information or data. It is often followed by words like dat (that), hoe (how), or wat (what).

• Example: “I know that he is coming.”
• Dutch: “Ik weet dat hij komt.”

3. Using ‘Kennen’ (Familiarity)

Use kennen when you are acquainted with a person, a city, a book, or a brand. If you have “experienced” it, use kennen.

• Example: “Do you know Amsterdam?”
• Dutch: “Ken jij Amsterdam?”

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4. Common Mistake Alert ⚠️

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5. Quick Practice

Try to fill in the blanks with weet or ken:

1. Ik ___ het antwoord op de vraag. (I know the answer…)
2. ___ jij een goed restaurant in de buurt? (Do you know a good restaurant…?)

Answers: 1. weet | 2. Ken