berging

Berging is a Dutch term referring to the act of salvaging, recovering or removing something from danger, wreck or inaccessibility, and to the goods or property that is recovered. The term is used across contexts: road and water transportation, as well as general storage.

In road traffic, berging denotes the process of removing a damaged or immobile vehicle from the scene by a bergingsbedrijf, using tow trucks, cranes, or winches. The operation includes securing the site, preventing leaks, and transporting the vehicle to a garage or storage yard.

In a maritime context, berging describes salvage or recovery of ships, cargo, or other objects from water, often carried out by professional salvage services or authorities. The term encompasses both emergency rescue and subsequent recovery operations.

In everyday Dutch, berging also means storage or the place where items are kept, such as a berging in a house (storage room) or a warehouse.

Etymology and usage: berging derives from bergen, meaning to save or rescue. The term is widely used in the Netherlands and Belgium and appears in legal, insurance, media, and everyday language to denote both the action of recovering items and the facilities where items are stored.