Hemelwegen

Hemelwegen is a Dutch term that translates to "heavenly roads" or "roads to heaven." It is not a standard modern noun in everyday Dutch, but appears in religious, literary, and toponymic contexts as a metaphor or as a proper name.

The word is formed from hemel (heaven) and wegen (roads or ways). The plural form hemelwegen can refer to multiple routes, whether literal, symbolic, or fictional.

In religious writing and poetry, hemelwegen is often used as a metaphor for spiritual journeys, moral choices, or the path toward salvation. In secular prose, it appears chiefly as a poetic or descriptive expression rather than in ordinary speech.

Many Dutch place names feature the element weg, such as Hemelweg, which is used for streets in several towns. Consequently, hemelwegen may occur as a street name in plural form or as a fictional or ceremonial toponym. Its appearance as a formal geographic term is uncommon and highly context dependent.

Related terms include hemel and weg, common elements in Dutch toponymy and place names.