Heengegaan

Heengegaan is a Dutch term used to indicate that someone has died or left this life. It functions as a polite, euphemistic way to refer to death and is widely found in informal condolence messages, obituaries, and devotional or respectful contexts.

Etymology and grammar: The word comes from the verb heengaan, a separable verb formed from heen (away) and gaan (to go). The past participle is heengegaan, used with the auxiliary zijn to form compound tenses, as in hij is heengegaan. The noun het heengaan refers to the act of leaving life or dying, and is used in phrases such as “het heengaan van een dierbare.”

Usage and nuance: Heengegaan is considered a gentle, considerate alternative to more direct terms like overlijden, sterven, or doodgaan. It foregrounds the transition rather than the moment of death. In many formal or journalistic contexts, overleed or overleden are common choices, while heengegaan may appear in personal messages, memorials, or religious texts. The phrase can be used for individuals and, occasionally, for groups when speaking about multiple passings.

Cultural context: The term is used in the Netherlands and in Flemish-speaking parts of Belgium, reflecting common Dutch-language conventions for speaking about death in a respectful manner. As with other euphemisms, its appropriateness depends on audience, setting, and tone.

See also: overlijden, overleden, sterven, dood, begrafenis.