oost

Oost is the Dutch word for east and is used as a geographic term as well as a proper name for districts and neighborhoods in Dutch-speaking areas. The term derives from Old Dutch oost, cognate with East in English, and shares its meaning with similar directional words in other Germanic languages. In municipal and urban planning, Oost is commonly used to designate the eastern part of a city or municipality. It appears in the names of districts, as well as in street and neighborhood designations to indicate location.

In the Netherlands, Oost is most prominently associated with Amsterdam-Oost, the eastern district of Amsterdam. This district lies to the east of the city center and includes neighborhoods such as Indische Buurt and the Oostelijke Eilanden. Similar uses exist in other Dutch cities, where a district or neighborhood may be called Oost to mark its eastern position within the urban fabric.

Outside city contexts, Oost is used in regional or national boundaries to describe eastern areas. In Dutch toponymy, eastward directions are common in the naming of places, rivers, and land parcels.