Verlichte

Verlichte is a Dutch term that can function as both an adjective meaning “enlightened” and, when capitalized as a proper noun, as a label or name. As an adjective, verlichte describes people, ideas, or policies associated with reason, knowledge, and tolerance. In historical contexts it is linked to the European Enlightenment (de Verlichting) of the 17th and 18th centuries, and Dutch texts sometimes refer to adherents or exponents of those ideas as verlichte denkers or simply de Verlichte.

In contemporary usage, verlichte can describe individuals or initiatives guided by rational inquiry, humanist principles, or secular governance. It often appears in philosophy, political discourse, or cultural commentary to convey a preference for evidence-based, inclusive, and reform-minded approaches.

In literature and media, Verlichte may be used as a proper name for a faction, organization, or character associated with knowledge, rationalism, or humanitarian aims. The exact meaning and tone depend on the work’s setting and narrative, ranging from favorable depictions of progress to critical or ironic portrayals of technocratic authority.

See also: Verlichting (the Enlightenment); humanism; secularism. The term is primarily used in Dutch-speaking contexts, though concepts of enlightenment have analogues in many languages.