Excessen

Excessen is the plural form of the Dutch noun exces, meaning excess or overage. It refers to amounts, actions, or phenomena that exceed what is considered necessary, appropriate, or permitted. The term is a loanword from French excès, adopted into Dutch as exces, with the plural form excessen following standard Dutch pluralization.

In Dutch usage, excessen can describe overindulgence, overspending, regulatory breaches, or any form of excess in social, economic, or cultural contexts. In academic and media discourse, excessen are discussed as problematic when they undermine norms, rights, or sustainability. Examples include excessen in consumer behavior (overconsumption), public spending (budgetoverschrijding), or environmental impact (pollution beyond permitted levels). The concept is often contrasted with moderation, sufficiency, or restraint.

Since its adoption, excessen has remained a generic descriptor rather than a specialized term, and its precise connotations depend on context and tone. In Dutch-language dictionaries, excessen is recognized as the plural form corresponding to excess (singular).

See also: excess (English); overdaad; matiging.