tekenreeks

Tekenreeks is a Dutch term referring to a graphic narrative presented as a sequence of drawings. It describes a story told primarily through pictures, supplemented by speech balloons and captions. In the Dutch-language context, tekenreeks is used alongside stripverhaal to denote comic works, particularly long-running series published in magazines or as standalone albums. A tekenreeks is usually composed of multiple panels arranged in rows across pages, with gutters between frames guiding the reading pace.

The content spans many genres, from humor and daily life to adventure, fantasy, and science fiction. The storytelling relies on visual sequencing, character expression, timing, and onomatopoeia, with lettering as an integral part of the art. Some stories form serialized arcs that unfold across installments before being collected into albums.

In the Netherlands and Flanders, the tekenreeksen have a long-standing tradition dating back to the early 20th century, influenced by European and American comic strips. Notable Dutch-language series include Suske en Wiske, a long-running humor-adventure strip created by Willy Vandersteen; and other regional favorites. The format has evolved with modern printing, color artistry, and increasingly digital publishing, including web comics and apps.

Today, tekenreeks remains a core form of popular storytelling in Dutch-speaking regions, bridging newspaper strips, graphic novels, and online comics for diverse audiences.