dichtbijheid

Dichtbijheid is a Dutch noun that denotes the state or quality of being close to something or someone. It covers physical proximity, temporal closeness, and relational or emotional closeness. The term is formed from dichtbij (near) and the suffix -heid, which turns adjectives into abstract nouns. In everyday use, dichtbijheid describes how near a person, place, or event is to a reference point.

In physical terms, dichtbijheid describes spatial nearness. It is used in everyday language and in planning to express how near locations, objects, or destinations are. In urban planning, studies of dichtbijheid assess accessibility to services such as shops, schools, or transit, often using distances, travel times, or catchment areas to quantify proximity.

In social and relational contexts, dichtbijheid refers to social proximity or emotional closeness. It captures how connected, trusted, or aligned people feel with one another. In sociology and psychology, the concept helps describe the strength of ties within a group, a sense of belonging, and perceived intimacy or solidarity.

Linguistically, dichtbijheid is typically contrasted with nearby terms such as nabijheid, which also means nearness but can carry different nuance depending on context. Dichtbijheid emphasizes the experience or quality of being close, rather than only the measurable distance.

See also: nabijheid; nabijheidssfeer; proximity in planning and analysis.