volgens

Volgens is a Dutch preposition meaning according to or as per. It is used to attribute statements, judgments, or claims to a source such as a person, document, institution, or the law. The following noun phrase after volgens typically names the source: volgens de wet, volgens het rapport, volgens de getuigen. The construction is common in journalism, law, administration, and academic writing.

Usage and function

Volgens introduces a source for a statement or finding. It does not endorse the claim itself; it signals that what follows is the perspective or information of the cited source. Volgens can also express opinion when paired with a pronoun, most notably volgens mij (in my opinion), gevolgd door a verb or clause. It can introduce quotes or summaries of someone else’s position.

Grammar notes

Volgens is a fixed preposition that governs the noun phrase that follows. It is used with definite articles, possessives, or pronouns: volgens de diplomat, volgens haar, volgens mij. There is no special case marking beyond the normal noun phrase order in Dutch. Etymologically, volgens stems from the sense of following or being in accordance with a source.

Examples

- Volgens de politie is er geen aanwijzing voor een misdrijf.

- Volgens het verslag van het comité zijn veranderingen nodig.

- Volgens mij werkt dit plan beter.

See also

Volgende preposities in Dutch that attribute information, such as op basis van, naar aanleiding van, or volgens de feiten.