hernieuwen

Hernieuwen is a Dutch verb meaning to renew or to refresh a previously established arrangement, subscription, license, or status. The prefix her- indicates repetition or restoration to a renewed condition, combined with nieuw (new). The infinitive is hernieuwen and the past participle is hernieuwd. Conjugation can be observed in forms such as ik hernieuw, jij hernieuwt, hij/zij hernieuwt, wij hernieuwen, jullie hernieuwen, zij hernieuwen; in the past tense: ik hernieuwde, wij hernieuwden; and in perfect tense: ik heb het contract hernieuwd.

Usage and context: Hernieuwen is most common in formal or administrative language. It is used when something reaches the end of a term and is initiated again for a new period, such as contracts, subscriptions, licenses, permits, or official statuses. It can also appear in adjectival form as een hernieuwd contract, meaning a renewed contract.

Relation to synonyms and nuance: Vernieuwen is a closely related, more widely used term in everyday language. In many contexts they can be interchangeable, but hernieuwen often carries a connotation of reestablishing validity for a new term, typically in legal or institutional settings. Verlenging focuses more on extending the duration of an existing term rather than creating a new term.

Examples: Het abonnement is hernieuwd voor een jaar. De vergunning is hernieuwd voor twee jaar. De contracten zijn hernieuwd nadat beide partijen akkoord gingen. Een hernieuwde samenwerking werd aangekondigd.