sestenen

Sestenen is a Dutch compound that literally means "six stones." In modern Dutch, the ordinary expression for this quantity is zes stenen; sestenen appears in dialects, historical texts, and some specialized or regional usages.

In archaeology and folklore contexts, sestenen can refer to a small group or ritual assemblage of six stones. The stones may have been arranged as markers, charms, or symbolic objects, but the exact significance varies by culture and site, and concrete interpretations are often the subject of scholarly debate.

In traditional games or toys, sestenen may denote a set of six stones used as playing pieces, counting aids, or decorative tokens. Rules and practices differ between communities, and the term does not denote a single standardized game.

As a place name or surname, sestenen can occur in Dutch-speaking regions, though such uses are uncommon. The term is primarily a descriptive noun rather than a widely recognized proper noun.