volgende

Volgende is a Dutch adjective and adverb meaning "next" or "following." It is used to indicate the item or moment that comes after the current one in a sequence. The form agrees with the noun it modifies: de volgende trein (the next train), het volgende hoofdstuk (the next chapter). It can also function as an adverb in phrases like volgende week (next week) or volgende jaar (next year). The term derives from the verb volgen, "to follow," with the present participle ending -ende, reflecting a sequence-adjacent meaning.

In grammar, volgende can appear before a noun as a prenominal modifier or after certain determiners: de volgende, het volgende, etc. It can also be used in set phrases such as "volgende stap" (the next step), "volgende generatie" (next generation). In Dutch, something that is the next in line may be described as "de volgende," showing how the word marks progression.

In culture and media, Volgende is commonly used as a title or part of a title in Dutch-language works because it is a common word for "next." It appears in film, music, theatre, and publishing, often as a straightforward generic label rather than a thematic indicator. In software interfaces, Volgende is frequently used on a button to proceed to the next step.

See also: volgorde, opvolging, opvolgen.