vaststaan

Vaststaan is a Dutch verb meaning to be fixed, settled, or established; to be certain or not subject to change. It is used for facts, agreements, plans, prices, or values that are considered definite. In mathematics, measurements, and budgeting, “vaststaan” often indicates that a value is constant or determined.

The word is formed from vast (firm, fixed) and staan (to stand) and functions as a single verb. In present tense, the form changes with the subject: het staat vast (it is fixed/settled) or de prijzen staan vast (the prices are fixed). In past tense one can say het stond vast / de prijzen stonden vast. The past participle is vastgestaan, used in compound tenses such as heeft vastgestaan or had vastgestaan. The future is expressed with zal vaststaan or zal vastgewissen? not; rather, zal vaststaan.

Vaststaan occurs in neutral, factual statements as well as in planning contexts. Examples: De datum staat vast. De prijs staat vast. Het resultaat staat vast ondanks de onzekerheden. In conversational Dutch it can convey that a decision or arrangement is final: We hebben afspraken gemaakt en die staan vast.

Related concepts include vastleggen (to fix in writing or record; to lay down) and vastzetten (to fasten or secure physically). Antonyms convey the opposite idea of variability or uncertainty, such as onduidelijk final uncertain or nog niet vast, meaning not yet fixed.

In summary, vaststaan denotes solidity and certainty in values, plans, or statements, marking what is considered fixed and not open to change.