leesruimte

Leesruimte is a Dutch term that can refer to two related concepts in design and architecture. In typography and graphic design, leesruimte describes the amount of whitespace around and between textual content, including margins, padding, line length, and line spacing (leading). Proper leesruimte improves legibility, reduces cognitive load, and supports a comfortable reading experience. In digital media, it is a key factor in accessibility and responsive layout, influencing how text scales across devices.

In a spatial sense, leesruimte also denotes a dedicated reading area within buildings such as libraries, schools, or cultural centers. A leesruimte in this context is a quiet zone with appropriate seating, lighting, and ergonomic considerations that facilitates concentration and ease of reading. Such spaces are designed to minimize distractions and to provide convenient access to reading materials and resources.

Etymology and usage context: the term combines lees (read) with ruimte (space). It is closely related to witruimte, or white space, in the broader discussion of readability and visual comfort. Practical guidelines for leesruimte in print often emphasize balanced margins, comfortable line length (often around 45–75 characters per line), and a line height between 1.4 and 1.6 times the font size, all of which contribute to legibility. In architectural or interior contexts, leesruimte emphasizes acoustics, lighting, and furniture layout to create inviting, distraction-free areas for reading.

See also: white space, readability, typography, line length, accessibility.