Afgekaderd

Afgekaderd is a Dutch adjective that literally means “framed” or “bounded.” The term comes from the verb kaderen, meaning to frame or to put into a frame, and it is used both literally and figuratively in Dutch vernacular. In photography and graphic design afgekaderd describes an image, composition or layout that has a visible or implied boundary around it, such as a vignette or a matte. In architecture it may refer to a building element that is framed by walls or structural supports.

Beyond the visual, afgekaderd is employed metaphorically to indicate restriction or limitation. For example, a discussion can be described as afgekaderd when it is confined to a narrow set of issues, or a project as afgekaderd when its scope is tightly defined. In journalism the phrase afgekaderde berichtgeving conveys a report that is constrained by a particular angle or perspective.

The term is common in Dutch media and academic writing. It appears in phrases such as "een afgekaderd probleem" (a narrowly defined problem) or "afgekaderd denken" (encapsulated thinking). In everyday usage the word can carry a neutral or slightly negative connotation, suggesting a lack of openness or breadth. The concept parallels English terms “framed” or “bounded” and highlights the Dutch tendency to describe both physical and conceptual limits with precision.