Gerichten

Gerichten is the Dutch plural of gerecht and can refer to two main concepts: dishes served as part of a meal and judicial bodies such as courts. In everyday language, the culinary sense is most common. A gerecht denotes a portion of food prepared and served as a course. Common categories on a menu include voorgerecht (starter), hoofdgerecht (main course), and nagerecht (dessert). Side dishes, sauces, and garnishes are often described as bijgerechten. Dutch and Flemish regional cuisines offer diverse gerechten, ranging from simple everyday staples to refined specialties, such as erwtensoep, stamppot, or seafood dishes. Menus typically group gerechten by course and may indicate dietary options like vegetarisch or vegan.

In legal language, gerecht also means a court or tribunal. The plural gerechten can appear in formal or historical texts referring to multiple courts, though modern Dutch usually prefers terms such as rechtbank, gerechtshof, or hof van beroep. In phrases like "de gerechten hebben uitspraak gedaan" the word retains its sense of an institution with judicial authority.

The word gerecht derives from Dutch and Germanic roots related to what is due or proper and to the act of decision in a meal or a trial. The dual culinary and juridical senses reflect the broad semantic range of the term in Dutch.