lawaai

Lawaai is the Dutch word for noise, used to describe sounds that are loud, disruptive, or unwanted. It covers environmental sounds such as road traffic, construction work, and loud music, as well as sudden or repetitive noises from machinery or events. The term can carry subjective connotations of nuisance and discomfort, depending on context and sensitivity.

Measured sound levels are expressed in decibels (dB). Because human hearing is more sensitive to some frequencies, measurements are often given as A-weighted levels (dB(A)). Common lawaai sources include traffic, trains, aircraft, industrial equipment, nightlife venues, and crowded public spaces. Prolonged exposure to high lawaai can affect sleep, concentration, blood pressure, and hearing, while short, intense bursts may cause immediate irritation or damage.

Regulation and mitigation vary by country but commonly include urban planning measures, noise barriers, speed reductions, equipment muffling, building insulation, and the adoption of quiet technologies. Personal strategies include limiting exposure and using hearing protection in loud environments. International guidelines from health and environmental agencies inform permissible exposure levels and design standards for reducing lawaai in public and workplace settings.

In Dutch language use, lawaai also relates to geluid (sound) and geluidsbelasting (noise exposure), and is contrasted with stilte (silence) as the absence of disturbing sound.