naasten

Naasten is a Dutch noun meaning fellow human beings, often translated as neighbors in a moral or religious sense. In everyday usage the term is mainly found in fixed phrases and religious discourse; for ordinary, proximate neighbors, the common term is buur. The plural form heeft may be used in contexts emphasizing a collective sense of humanity, such as “de naasten” or “naasten.”

Historically the singular form is naaste and the plural naasten. Today, naaste is largely archaic or formal, while naasten remains common in religious and ethical contexts. The word is thus more likely to be encountered in sermons, liturgy, or philosophical writings than in casual conversation.

In ethical and religious contexts, naaste refers to other people in general—the persons one is responsible for or toward whom one bears a duty of love or care. The expression naastenliefde denotes love of one's neighbor, a central virtue in Christian ethics and in broader moral discussions. Phrases such as omzien naar de naasten or zorg voor de naasten appear in religious discourse and in discussions of social responsibility.

In secular modern Dutch, the term can appear in historical or formal writing and in religious or charitable contexts, where it underscores solidarity and care for others. The concept is closely related to ideas of neighborliness, social duty, and humanitarian ethics, and it remains a recognizable term in discussions of moral obligation toward fellow humans.