vermaak

Vermaak is a Dutch noun meaning entertainment or amusement. It refers to activities or experiences intended to entertain, delight, or provide recreation, as well as the enjoyment itself. The term can apply to a wide range of leisure activities and social occasions.

Etymology and scope: Vermaak derives from the verb vermaken, from Middle Dutch vermaeken, meaning to make merry or to bring about pleasure. Historically, vermaak encompassed social recreation, music, theater, games, and other diversions. In modern usage, it is often replaced by more specific terms such as ontspanning (relaxation), amusement, or entertainment, though the older sense remains in formal or literary contexts.

Usage in sentences: The word appears in both contemporary and historical texts. It can describe organized forms of entertainment, like theater and concerts, as well as informal leisure, such as social gatherings or hobbies. Phrases like 'kindervermaak' or 'vermaak voor reizigers' illustrate its flexible meaning.

Cultural and social role: In Dutch-speaking regions, vermaak covers a broad spectrum from cinema and festivals to hobbies and family leisure. It is often discussed alongside ontspanning and vertier as dimensions of non-work time, and it may appear in policy, cultural discourse, and everyday speech to refer to the desire for pleasure and relief from routine.