koesteren

Koesteren is a Dutch verb meaning to cherish, to treasure, or to nurture. It can describe affection for people, memories, values, or ideals, and it can also refer to physically cradling or nursing someone, as in holding a child in one’s arms. The figurative sense—nurturing or safeguarding something valued—has long been the primary use in everyday language.

Grammatically, koesteren is transitive. It takes a direct object and often appears with a following prepositional phrase or a noun clause, such as koesteren van iets or koesteren dat-clause. Common collocations include koesteren van herinneringen (cherishing memories), koesteren van hoop (cherishing hope), and koesteren van tradities. Examples: Zij koestert de herinneringen aan haar jeugd. Hij koestert hoop voor de toekomst. De moeder koestert haar kind in haar armen.

The term carries a warm, positive connotation and implies active care or preservation, not merely liking something. It can thus contrast with verbs like bewaren (to keep/protect) or waarderen (to value), by emphasizing emotional attachment and ongoing care.

Noun form and related terms: koestering (the act of cherishing), often used to refer to the sentiment or practice of treasuring something. In translation, koesteren is typically rendered as cherish or treasure in English, while koestering conveys the same idea as cherishing or clinging to something valued.