streken

Streken is a Dutch term used to describe geographic areas and, in a separate sense, actions or deeds. In geographical usage, a streek denotes a loosely defined region characterized by a combination of natural features, historical development and cultural identity. The boundaries are informal and may overlap with administrative borders. A streek can be defined by landscape types (coast, river valleys, hills), climate, dialects, traditional products, cuisine or architectural style. Because of its flexible nature, different sources may delineate different streken for the same country or area. The concept is common in cultural geography, tourism and regional planning, where it helps express local identity and promote regional heritage.

In the Netherlands and Belgium, the idea of streken is linked to regional branding and tourism, including the use of the term streekproducten for locally produced goods that reflect regional character. The term can also appear in historical discussions of landscape and settlement patterns, such as references to early modern region names or cultural landscapes.

A second meaning relates to deeds or pranks: in informal Dutch, "een streek uithalen" means to pull a practical joke or mischievous act. The plural "streken" therefore refers to such actions and is common in everyday speech. This dual sense of the word gives streken its distinct place in both language and regional geography.