informationeel

Informationeel is a Dutch adjective used to describe content that prioritizes information content, factual accuracy, and clarity over entertainment, persuasion, or stylistic flair. In practice, it often refers to materials designed to inform an audience with data, explanations, and sources. The term is typically contrasted with more narrative or persuasive styles and with terms like informatief, which also means informative but with standard usage.

Etymology and status: The form is built from informatie (information) plus the suffix -eel, common in Dutch to form adjectives meaning “having the character of.” The word is a neologism and is not widely codified in major dictionaries; it appears mainly in media commentary, academic discussions about information design, and some journalistic contexts.

Usage: In journalism and education, informationeel may describe content that foregrounds data, explanations, and sources rather than opinion or entertainment. Examples include fact sheets, data dashboards, and explainer pieces that emphasize verifiable information. The term can carry both neutral descriptive sense and critical nuance, depending on tone: it can praise clarity and rigor or critique dryness and lack of narrative engagement.

Relation to other terms: Informatief is the standard Dutch adjective for “informative.” Informationeel shares the core meaning but signals an emphasis on the informational character, often in contexts concerned with transparency, evidence, and data literacy. In English translations, it is commonly rendered as “informational” or “information-focused.”

See also: informatiedesign, datajournalistiek, fact-based reporting, explainers. Informationeel remains a niche but recognizable descriptor within Dutch media and educational discourse.