Weekdagen

Weekdagen is a Dutch term referring to the weekdays—the days of the week that are typically worked, usually Monday through Friday. In everyday usage it distinguishes these five days from the weekend, which comprises Saturday and Sunday.

In Dutch, the five workdays are Maandag, Dinsdag, Woensdag, Donderdag, and Vrijdag. The two weekend days are Zaterdag and Zondag. In many calendars and scheduling systems, weekdagen are treated as the working days, while weekend days are kept separate.

Etymology and naming: The Dutch names for the days mostly reflect historical Germanic roots, often linked to celestial bodies or deities. For example, Maandag derives from the Moon; Woensdag from Woden’s day; Donderdag from Donar/Thor; Zaterdag from Saturn; Zondag from the Sun. Dinsdag and Vrijdag have more varied origins in older forms of Dutch and related Germanic languages.

Usage: The concept is used in planning, work contracts, and public scheduling. In the ISO week date system used in many contexts, Monday is regarded as the first day of the week, aligning with Dutch practice in business and government.