gelovige

Gelovige is a Dutch noun that denotes a person who believes, particularly someone who adheres to a religion. It can also function as an adjective meaning “believing” or “devout.” The singular is de gelovige or een gelovige, and the plural is gelovigen. The term is used across religious backgrounds and is not restricted to Christianity; it can refer to adherents of Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, or other belief systems, as well as individuals who profess a set of beliefs.

In sociological and journalistic contexts, gelovigen are often contrasted with niet-geloven or secular people. In the Netherlands and Flanders, surveys and discussions about religion frequently distinguish between believers and non-believers, and between levels of observance. While the share of people identifying as gelovig or belonging to a religious community has declined in recent decades due to secularization, active and culturally affiliated believers remain significant in various communities. The term can denote belief as a personal conviction as well as affiliation to a religious community and may be accompanied by qualifiers such as kerkelijk (church-related) or praktiserend (practicing) to indicate observance.

Etymologically, gelovige derives from the verb geloven (to believe). The term is neutral and descriptive, widely used in religious studies, journalism, and everyday language to refer to people who hold religious beliefs.