feiten

Feiten is the Dutch word for facts. The plural feiten refers to statements or propositions that describe aspects of reality and can be verified or disproven through observation, measurement, or documentation. A single feit is a fact; a claim presented as a fact may still be contested until evidence settles it.

In everyday Dutch, statements are evaluated as feiten when they can be demonstrated as true. Claims described as opinions or beliefs are not facts by themselves, though they may be based on facts.

In journalism, academia, and law, facts are distinguished from interpretations, hypotheses, or values. Fact-checking involves verifying sources, data, and the consistency of statements with reliable evidence. Context matters: a fact can be established within a framework or under certain conditions (for example, at sea level or during a specific time period).

Common examples include statements like “Het feit dat water kookt bij 100 graden Celsius op zeeniveau,” which illustrates a verifiable scientific fact, or statements about observable events that can be corroborated by records or measurements.

The concept of feiten supports clear communication by distinguishing objective description from opinion, inference, or speculation. In educational settings, students are often challenged to identify facts, assess evidence, and distinguish factual claims from interpretations.