Kijkzijde

Kijkzijde, from kijk meaning “to look” and zijde meaning “side,” is a Dutch term used to denote the side of an object that is intended to be viewed or presented to observers. In Dutch technical usage the exact meaning varies by context, but it generally refers to the outward-facing or visible face of something, as opposed to the opposite side.

In printing and publishing, de kijkzijde is the side of a sheet or page that displays content to the reader. It is often contrasted with de achterzijde (back side) and is important for orientation, layout, and binding.

In packaging and labeling, de kijkzijde refers to the outward-facing surface that carries branding, product information, and required markings. The reverse side may contain manufacturing data, barcodes, or compliance text. The term helps describe how a product should be oriented during display and handling.

In optics, glazing and related fields, kijkzijde can describe the side of a pane, window, or viewing surface that should be kept clean or is intended to be looked through. In quality control or inspection, the kijkzijde is the side examined for defects or alignment.

See also: recto, verso, voorzijde, achterzijde, kijkvenster.