roZe

Roze is the Dutch word for the color pink, a pale red hue that lies between red and white on the color spectrum. In Dutch, the term functions as both a noun and an adjective (for example, de roze kleur or een roze jurk). The word is cognate with the French rose and the English rose, all ultimately deriving from Latin rosa, the name of the rose flower. In everyday usage, many shades are described with modifiers such as lichtroze (light pink), donkerroze (dark pink), or pastelroze (pastel pink).

In fashion, design, and everyday language, roze covers a broad range of pink tones. It is used to describe clothing, interior décor, branding, and art, with distinctions like pale, bright, or fluorescent pink common in color naming. The term is versatile and appears in both consumer products and cultural contexts, often conveying softness, playfulness, or femininity, though it is also employed in neutral or bold design palettes.

Cultural associations with roze vary by era and region. In Western culture, pink has long been linked to femininity and youth, but its use has broadened in contemporary design and fashion. In LGBTQ history, pink has played a symbolic role: the pink triangle, historically used by the Nazis to mark gay men, has been reclaimed by LGBTQ movements as a symbol of pride and resilience. In the Netherlands and other countries, roze imagery and terminology appear in LGBTQ advocacy, events, and branding as part of broader efforts to promote inclusion and visibility.