wijgenoten

Wijgenoten is a Dutch coinage used in contemporary social and urban discourse to describe a sense of shared belonging and mutual responsibility among members of a community or neighborhood. The term blends wij (we) with genoot/genoot (companion, fellow), signaling collective action and solidarity rather than purely individual outcomes. It is not a formally codified concept, but appears in local journalism, city-social programs, and participatory governance discussions as a way to frame inclusive, bottom-up collaboration.

In practice, wijgenoten is used to promote initiatives that rely on residents taking part together in decisions and actions that affect public life—such as neighbourhood safety schemes, community gardens, cultural events, or participatory budgeting. The emphasis is on agency that emerges from the community itself, rather than from external authorities.

Wijgenoten sits alongside related terms like buurtgenoten (neighbors), bewoners (residents), and medeburgers (fellow citizens). It differs in foregrounding a shared fate and mutual support among people who identify as part of the same community; critics warn that the term can become vague jargon if not anchored in concrete actions and inclusive language.

Examples of usage include policy documents or civic campaigns that address all wijgenoten to collaborate on improving public space, safety, and social cohesion. See also: wijk (neighborhood), buurtnetwerk (neighborhood network).