partnerschappelijke

Partnerschappelijke is a Dutch adjective meaning pertaining to a partnership or arising from a partnership. The base noun is partnerschap, which denotes a formal or informal association between individuals or organizations. The adjective is used to describe things that relate to, depend on, or promote partnership-based relations rather than unilateral action or competition.

Etymology and form: the word is formed from partnerschap with the adjectival suffix -elijk, yielding partnerschappelijk, and in front of feminine singular or plural nouns the form becomes partnerschappelijke. It is commonly placed before nouns to convey partnership-related qualities, for example: een partnerschappelijke relatie (a partnership relationship), partnerschappelijke normen (partnership-related norms), or partnerschappelijke samenwerking (partnership-based collaboration).

Contexts and usage: the term is most often found in formal, policy, or academic Dutch. It appears in discussions about governance, organizational design, or social programs that emphasize cooperation between partners—such as cross-sector partnerships involving government, business, and civil society. It can describe structures, agreements, or principles that prioritize shared objectives and mutual obligations rather than purely competitive or hierarchical approaches.

Relation to related terms: partnerschappelijke functions are distinct from legal entities formed as partnerships (the Dutch term for such entities is vaak vennootschap or maatskappy). As an adjective, partnerschappelijke markets or policies are contrasted with purely commercial or individual approaches. In English, the closest translations are partnership-related, partnership-based, or partnership-oriented.

Note: while compatible with legal and organizational language, partnerschappelijke is more common in formal Dutch discourse and may be less familiar in everyday usage.