kantpunten

Kantpunten is a Dutch noun meaning key points or turning points, and it refers to the essential items emphasized in a discussion, policy, or document. The term is used to summarize the principal propositions or arguments that a speaker or organization wants to highlight. The literal meaning comes from kant (edge or side) and punt (point), used metaphorically to indicate points at which a plan or argument requires attention or changes direction.

In practice, kantpunten appear in political manifestos, corporate strategy, academic agendas, and public debates. A party program might present vijf kantpunten or five kantpunten as the five core commitments. Journalists may refer to the kantpunten van het voorstel when outlining a proposed policy. The term is often interchangeable with kernpunten (core points) or hoofdpunten (main points), though kantpunten can carry a slightly more programmatic or argumentative nuance.

Outside politics, the term can be used in project management to denote pivotal items to be addressed during planning or review meetings. In rhetoric, kantpunten help structure an argument around decisive issues and aid in clear communication.

Limitations: kantpunten is colloquial in many contexts and might be considered informal in formal writing, where kernpunten or hoofdpunten are preferred. See also: kernpunt, hoofdpunten.