weerspiegeling

Weerspiegeling is a Dutch noun that denotes the reflection of a scene in a reflective surface, most often water or glass. The term is commonly used to describe how the sky, clouds, landscape, or objects appear as a mirror image on a calm surface. Etymologically, it is a compound of weer (weather or surroundings) and spiegeling (reflection).

In physical terms, weerspiegeling refers to specular reflection: light rays strike a smooth surface and are reflected with minimal scattering, producing a clear mirror image. The strength and clarity of the weerspiegeling depend on surface smoothness, the viewing angle, and lighting conditions. Calm water can create sharp reflections, whereas wind, ripples, or waves distort the image.

Beyond the optical sense, the word is also used metaphorically in Dutch literature and journalism to denote reflection on weather-related themes or on an environment. In poetry and descriptive writing, weerspiegeling can evoke mood and atmosphere by highlighting how the surroundings mirror themselves in natural or man-made surfaces.

See also: spiegel, spiegelbeeld, reflectie, waterspiegeling.