luik

Luik is a Dutch noun that denotes a hinged cover or door panel that conceals an opening. It can refer to a floor hatch, a trapdoor, a cupboard door, or any panel that opens to give access to space behind or within. The diminutive luikje refers to a small hatch or access door, such as in furniture or cabinetry.

In architecture, carpentry and related crafts, luiken are mounted on hinges and opened to inspect or reach the space behind. Floor luiken allow access to crawl spaces; cabinet luiken conceal shelves or compartments; ship hatches and similar openings are also described with luik in everyday Dutch usage.

Luik is also the Dutch name for Liège, a major city in Belgium. In Dutch-language texts, Luik is used to refer to the city and to the surrounding province (Provincie Luik), of which Liège is the capital. The city lies along the Meuse river and is known for its historical and cultural significance within the Walloon Region.

The term is thus polysemous: it describes a functional opening cover in everyday objects and, in a separate sense, a geographic name in Dutch. See also lid, deksel, klep, and luikje for related notions of openings and coverings.