zondagen

Zondag is the Dutch word for Sunday, the seventh day of the week in most European calendars. The plural zondagen refers to Sundays in general. The name literally means Sun-day, reflecting the historical naming of the day after the Sun in Germanic languages rather than the Sabbath.

In Dutch-speaking regions, zondag has traditionally been associated with rest and religious observance in Christian communities. Churches typically hold services on Sundays, and families have long connected the day with meals, leisure, and social or cultural activities. The extent of religious and social observance has varied over time and by region, and in modern secular contexts Sunday is often treated as part of the weekend regardless of personal belief.

Contemporary practice around zondagen varies. In the Netherlands and Belgium, Sunday activities and business hours have liberalized considerably over the past decades, and many shops, museums, and public services operate on Sundays, though some sectors may still close or have reduced hours. Public transport and other routines commonly continue, making Sunday a mix of leisure, family time, and work for different people.

Linguistically, zondagen can be used to refer to Sundays on a calendar or to indicate recurring weekly events, as in “op zondagen.” In Dutch usage, Sunday is commonly viewed as the last day of the week in many traditional calendars, though modern international standards sometimes place Monday at the start of the week.