Buitengaan

Buitengaan is a Dutch term that refers to the act of going from an indoor space to the outdoors. In common usage, the expression is typically formed as two words, “naar buiten gaan,” or simply “buiten gaan.” The form “buitengaan” appears mainly in more formal or historical contexts.

Etymology and linguistic notes: The word combines buiten, meaning outside, with gaan, meaning to go. Dutch allows both two-word phrases and occasional compound spellings with verbs, depending on syntactic tradition and register. In everyday speech, most speakers use the separable form “naar buiten gaan” rather than a fixed compound.

Usage and contexts: Buitengaan is used to describe everyday movement, such as leaving a building to enjoy fresh air or to engage in outdoor activities. In educational settings, it is common to refer to children’s breaks or recess as a time to buitengaan for fresh air and physical activity. In workplaces, it can describe steps taken to go outside for breaks, smoking areas being outside, or outdoor meetings. The term is largely neutral and descriptive, without a fixed cultural or political meaning.

See also: naar buiten gaan, buitenlucht, frisse lucht, outdoor time.

Note: While commonly understood in Dutch, buitengaan is less universal as a fixed compound than the two-word form; writers often prefer “naar buiten gaan” in contemporary usage.