Hoeklaken

Hoeklaken is a Dutch term that translates roughly to “corner cloth.” It is not a widely used contemporary term in standard Dutch and appears mainly in historical textile contexts. The word combines hoek (corner, angle) and laken (cloth, sheet, linen).

In historical contexts, hoeklaken referred to a small fabric patch or reinforcement placed at the corner of a textile item, such as a bed sheet, blanket, or upholstery, to prevent wear or strengthen the corner. In some cases, it could also denote a decorative corner patch sewn onto a bed covering or furniture covering to serve as a visual detail.

In archives and catalogs from the 17th to 19th centuries, hoeklaken is described as a functional element rather than a distinct product, and the term can overlap with concepts such as gussets or corner reinforcements. The exact meaning varied by region and maker, and the concept is akin to modern corner patches used in repairs, though it was less standardized.

Today, hoeklaken is largely obsolete in everyday Dutch. It may be encountered in antique textile descriptions or regional dialects. For researchers, examining the surrounding description in a document—such as material, period, and other textile terms—helps determine whether hoeklaken denotes a corner reinforcement, a decorative patch, or a specific type of textile item.