banen

Banen is the plural of baan in Dutch. The word has two primary meanings. In most contexts, banen refers to paid work: jobs or occupations that people hold or seek. It can also mean a physical path or track, such as a road, railway line, or a dedicated lane for wheels or bicycles. The intended meaning is usually clear from context.

As a term for employment, banen are central to the labor market. People look for a baan, switch banen, or advance in their career by gaining skills or training. Discussions of vacancies, unemployment, and job protection commonly use the plural form. In policy and journalism, compounds like banenmarkt (job market) and banenbeleid (employment policy) are frequently encountered.

In a broader sense, baan also appears in expressions about life trajectories. Loopbaan denotes a career or professional path, while loopbaanbegeleiding means career guidance. For physical routes, fietsbaan refers to a bicycle lane, and racebaan or track can describe a racing circuit. Together, the different senses reflect how work and direction are conceptually linked in Dutch.