Inlichtingen

Inlichtingen is a Dutch noun meaning information or intelligence about a person, event, organization, or situation. The term covers both general information obtained through inquiry and more specialized information used for analysis and decision-making. The singular form is inlichting; the plural is inlichtingen. The verb from which it derives is inlichten, to inform. In everyday language, inlichtingen often appear in phrases like voor nadere inlichtingen, meaning for further information.

In a security and governmental context, inlichtingen refers to intelligence gathered to assess threats, risks, or opportunities. It is closely linked to the activities of intelligence services and police and military operations, with phrases such as inlichtingendienst (intelligence service) and inlichtingen verzamelen (to collect intelligence). Here the term carries a sense of information with strategic or confidential value, sometimes requiring careful handling and confidentiality.

In civilian administration and business, inlichtingen can also mean practical information or details supplied by a requester or service provider, such as contact details or clarifications needed to complete a process. The term is often contrasted with informatie, which is broader and less tied to security or investigative contexts.

Related terms include inlichting (singular) and inlichtingenplicht (duty to disclose information in certain legal or administrative contexts). The usage and interpretation of inlichtingen depend on context, ranging from everyday inquiries to formal intelligence work.