Hoofdweg

Hoofdweg is a common Dutch toponym and street name meaning “main road.” It is used in the Netherlands and in Dutch-speaking parts of Belgium to designate a road that historically served as the principal route through a village or between towns. Because it describes function rather than a fixed category, Hoofdweg can refer to a rural lane, a village main street, or a segment that once formed the chief connection in a local road network. In some locations, the road has been bypassed or renamed, but the name often remains in local memory and address systems.

Etymology and usage are straightforward: hoofd means head or principal, and weg means road. The combination reflects a historical role as the primary way to reach markets, churches, or neighboring settlements. Over time, modernization and traffic planning have altered many routes, but the name continues to appear on maps, in postal addresses, and in municipal records as a traditional or retained designation.

Because Hoofdweg is a generic name, there are numerous instances across Dutch municipalities and rural areas. Each Hoofdweg is specific to its locality and may or may not correspond to a provincial or national road classification. In some places, the name persists alongside more descriptive or official road numbers, while in others it remains the commonly used local designation.

See also: other Dutch road and street names that indicate function or order of importance, such as Hoofdstraat or Middenweg, which reflect similar historical patterns of naming.