Openingspunt

Openingspunt is a Dutch term that refers to the starting point or reference point from which something begins, is measured, or is analyzed. The word combines opening and punt (point) and is used in various contexts to denote the initial position, condition, or premise that frames a discussion, project, or process.

In research and analysis, the openingspunt serves as the baseline from which data are collected or comparisons are made. In project planning and management, it can designate the initial goals, constraints, or starting conditions that shape subsequent steps. In problem solving and design, the openingspunt marks the first step or the earliest position in a sequence of actions. In narrative or rhetorical contexts, the term may refer to the opening premise or statement used to orient an audience.

Usage notes: the term is primarily found in Dutch-language writing and tends to appear in more formal, technical, or methodological texts. Its precise meaning is context-dependent; the openingspunt is defined by the framework or problem under consideration. Because it denotes a conceptual starting point, it often interacts with related ideas such as baseline, reference point, and initial condition.

See also: start point, baseline, reference point, anchor, initial condition.