Nastrijd

Nastrijd is a Dutch noun that refers to a post-contest duel or fight used to determine a winner or settle disputes after the main competition. The word combines na- meaning after and strijd meaning fight, and it is primarily attested in historical or literary sources rather than in everyday modern Dutch.

Etymology and context

Nastrijd appears in medieval and early modern Dutch texts, where it described a formalized post-contest confrontation conducted under the auspices of a ruler, patron, or governing body. In the context of tournaments, trials by arms, or disputes about legitimacy or conduct, a nastrijd could be arranged to finalize rankings or resolve allegations that could not be settled by the initial contest alone. The exact procedures and rules varied by region and period, reflecting local customs and codes of chivalry or competition.

Relation to modern practices

The concept of nastrijd bears resemblance to modern rematches or tiebreaking encounters, but it was not standardized and tended to be highly situational. In contemporary Dutch, nastrijd is rarely used outside historical writing or specialized scholarship. When encountered, it is typically discussed as a historical practice from a period when formal investigations, patronage, and ritual combat played a role in resolving contest outcomes.

See also

Duel, tournament, rematch, tiebreak, post-contest dispute.