schuilgaan

Schuilgaan is a Dutch verb meaning to hide, to seek shelter, or to take refuge. It is used for people, animals, or objects that move to conceal themselves from danger, adverse weather, or unwanted attention. In historical and everyday language, schuilgaan can describe both deliberate concealment and passive sheltering, such as ducking behind a wall, entering a shelter, or seeking shade.

Etymology and related terms: The word derives from schuilen (to shelter or hide) combined with gaan (to go). The also noun schuilgaan denotes the act itself. Related terms include schuilplaats (shelter), schuilkelder (air raid shelter), and the verb schuilen. The phrase zich schuilen or gaan schuilen is common, depending on context.

Historical usage: During World War II, civilians in the Netherlands and Belgium often sought schuilen in schuilkelders or bomb shelters to escape aerial bombardments. The term also appears in accounts of civilian protection measures and in civil defense discourse. The concept remains in modern Dutch for both emergency shelter and informal hiding.

Contemporary usage: Outside war-time contexts, schuilgaan describes hiding from rain, crowds, or other discomforts. People or animals may schuilen under trees, in doorways, or in sheltered places. In everyday language, the term emphasizes the act of moving to concealment or shelter rather than the place itself.