nieuwelingen

Nieuwelingen is a Dutch noun meaning people who are new to a group, organization, activity, or field. Translated as newcomers or novices, the term can describe individuals who have recently joined a club, company, neighborhood, or educational program, as well as entrants to a profession or discipline. The plural nieuwelingen is commonly used to refer to several such individuals at once.

It is formed from nieuw (new) and the suffix -eling, which creates a noun referring to a person characterized by a trait. The word carries a neutral tone in most contexts, without necessarily implying inexperience or incompetence.

In everyday use, nieuwelingen are expected to learn the norms, procedures, and culture of their new environment. Many organizations provide onboarding, orientation, or mentorship to help nieuwelingen integrate and reach a level of fluency with expectations and routines.

In sports and youth systems within Dutch-speaking regions, nieuwelingen also denotes a specific competition or age category for newer or younger participants. The precise definitions vary by sport and association, but the underlying idea is to group entrants for development and fair competition rather than to assign merit or status.

Related terms include nieuwkomer, beginner, starter, and novice.