rapporten

Rapporten are formal documents that describe findings, analyses, or evaluations about a subject, project, event, or process. They are used to inform decision-making, support accountability, and provide a permanent record. A rapport can be prepared for internal use, for external stakeholders, or for regulatory requirements, and may vary in length and level of detail.

Etymology and sense: the Dutch word rapport comes from French rapport, meaning relation or report. In Dutch, rapporten refer specifically to written reports that communicate results and recommendations; in English, the word rapport can also denote a personal relationship, but in Dutch the primary sense is a documented account.

Structure and typical content: a rapport often follows a conventional structure, including a samenvatting (executive summary), een inleiding (introduction), opgenomen methoden (methods), bevindingen (findings), concludies (conclusions), and aanbevelingen (recommendations). Bijlagen (appendices) and referenties may accompany the main text. Clarity, objectivity, and verifiability are valued characteristics, with evidence, data, and sources clearly cited.

Contexts and varieties: rapporten appear in many domains, such as onderzoeksrapporten (research reports), evaluatierapporten (evaluation reports), auditrapporten (audit reports), incidentrapporten (incident reports), technical rapporten (technical reports), and beleidsrapporten (policy reports). In the Netherlands and Flanders they are common tools in government, business, education, health, and science.

Relation to other terms: while related terms include verslag (report) and jaarverslag (annual report), rapporten emphasize a formal, often evaluative document intended to convey conclusions and guidance for action.