Rijp

Rijp is a Dutch adjective meaning ripe or mature. It describes fruit, crops, or people that have reached full development and is used in phrases that denote readiness or suitability, such as rijp voor gebruik (ripe for use) or rijp om te beslissen. The opposite form is onrijp, meaning unripe or immature.

Origin and cognates: Rijp stems from Old Dutch and is cognate with the German reif and the English ripe, all from a common Germanic root denoting ripeness and readiness.

De Rijp: De Rijp is a historic village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It lies in the Beemster region, near Purmerend and Alkmaar. The settlement grew as a local port and market center in early modern times and preserves many 17th-century houses and a church that reflect its historical prosperity.

Heritage and landscape: The Beemster polder surrounding De Rijp was engineered in the 17th century to drain a lake and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The village sits within this landscape and is connected to nearby towns by roads and cycling routes, making it a destination for visitors exploring reclaimed polder scenery and Dutch Golden Age heritage.

Today: De Rijp is a small community known for its historic town center and cultural heritage. The word rijp remains a common Dutch term for maturity and readiness in everyday language.