leefbare

Leefbare is a Dutch adjective meaning liveable or habitable, used to describe conditions that support a good standard of living. In urban planning and housing policy, the term is frequently used to assess and discuss the quality of life in cities and neighborhoods, including factors such as housing affordability, safety, access to amenities, transport, and green spaces. The related noun leefbaarheid denotes livability.

Etymology: leefbare is formed from leef (to live) and the suffix baar (capable of). In Dutch, compounds such as meer leefbaar (more liveable) or het leefbaarheidsgevoel (the sense of livability) are common. The concept is parallel to the English terms livable city or habitable.

Usage and politics: Beyond planning jargon, leefbare is a familiar political trope in the Netherlands. Several local and national groups have used the name Leefbaar in their titles to emphasize livability as a policy priority. A notable example is Leefbaar Nederland, a national party active in the early 2000s; various municipalities have or had local lists such as Leefbaar Rotterdam or Leefbaar Utrecht that framed campaigns around livability and safety.

The concept is related to broader ideas such as the livable city and quality of life, and to the Dutch term leefbaarheid.