Dwarsregel

Dwarsregel is a typographic element consisting of a horizontal line drawn across the width of a page to separate blocks of text or to indicate a break in the narrative. In Dutch typography the term denotes any horizontal rule used for visual separation, regardless of its exact styling. A dwarsregel may be a single solid line, a double line, or a decorative variant such as a dotted or dashed rule; its thickness and length vary with the design and page layout.

Historically, such lines were produced with metal typesetting rules in letterpress printing and later reproduced digitally as vector graphics or CSS borders. In modern publishing they appear in books, magazines, newspapers, and digital interfaces as a lightweight way to guide the reader through transitions, mark the end of a section, or separate a caption from an illustration. They may also be used to visually separate verses in poetry or to denote a scene break in drama or journalism.

Usage considerations include ensuring sufficient contrast with the page background, avoiding overuse that can interrupt reading flow, and aligning the rule with typographic grid and margins. In digital contexts a dwarsregel can be implemented as an HTML horizontal rule element or a styled border.

See also: horizontal rule, typographic rule, separator line, HR (HTML).