alternatieve

Alternatieve is the Dutch adjective meaning "alternative" or "another option." It is used to describe something that can be chosen instead of another possibility, or to indicate a non-standard or secondary approach. The term appears in a wide range of contexts, from everyday decision making to politics, business, and healthcare.

Etymology and form: Alternatieve shares its roots with the English word "alternative" and the French "alternatif," all derived from Latin alternativus, related to alter meaning "the other." In Dutch, the adjective is inflected according to number and definiteness; typical forms include alternatieve before definite nouns or in the plural (de alternatieve route, de alternatieve plannen). The base form alternatief is used in other informal or uninflected positions, and alternatief can also function as a noun meaning "an alternative" (een alternatief).

Usage and examples: Common collocations include alternatieve geneeswijzen (alternative medicine), een alternatieve oplossing (an alternative solution), and een alternatieve benadering (an alternative approach). The term often contrasts with mainstream or conventional options, or with something that would replace another option rather than merely offering a different one.

See also: optie, keuze, variant. While closely related to synonyms like optie and keuze, alternatieve emphasizes the availability of an additional or non-primary option. The term is widely understood in Dutch-language discourse and appears across media, policy documents, and academic writing to discuss different possible courses of action.