stuur

Stuur is a Dutch noun with several related meanings centered on directing, guiding, or controlling movement. In everyday use it refers to the device used to steer a vehicle or vessel, as well as to the act or concept of steering in a broader sense.

In vehicles, het stuur denotes the steering mechanism that allows the driver to direct the front wheels. On bicycles and motorcycles, it can refer to the handlebars. In ships and boats, het stuur or de helm is the steering gear, and the person who steers is called de stuurman or helmsman.

Figuratively, stuur appears in phrases about leadership and control. Common expressions include het stuur in handen hebben (to have the steering in one’s hands) or het stuur vasthouden (to keep holding the steering). These uses convey governance, strategic direction, or the act of guiding a group, project, or organization rather than a physical device.

In technology and terminology, stuur forms part of compounds such as stuurwiel (steering wheel), stuurkolom (steering column), and stuurprogramma (driver software). The root sense remains directing or controlling, whether for a mechanical system or a digital interface.

Overall, stuur covers both concrete steering hardware and abstract guidance, linking physical control with metaphorical leadership. See also besturing, helm, stuurwiel, stuurman.