overkant

Overkant is a Dutch noun that refers to the opposite side of something, most commonly the opposite bank or shore of a river or lake. It can also denote the far side in a broader sense, such as the other side of a street or a situation.

Etymology and usage: the word is formed from over, meaning across, and kant, meaning edge or side. It is widely used in everyday Dutch in phrases like aan de overkant or de overkant van de rivier, in both literal and figurative contexts.

Geography and urban context: in geographic descriptions, overkant indicates the far bank of a body of water. In urban settings, it can refer to the opposite side of a canal, street, or town division, sometimes marking distinct neighborhoods or zones separated by water or a roadway.

Nuance and varieties: overkant is a neutral, common term with no fixed proper noun usage. It can appear in literary or colloquial language to convey distance, separation, or difference, as in expressions describing things on the far side of the ocean or beyond a particular boundary. Synonyms in everyday speech include de andere kant and aan de andere zijde, depending on context.