Difference between revisions of "Borrels (Netherlands)"

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|style="font-size:1.1em;"| The literal meaning of a borrel is a small glass of strong liquor (Van Dale, 2018 <ref> Van Dale. (2018). Borrel. Van Dale Online Woordenboek, from http://www.vandale.nl/gratis-woordenboek/nederlands/betekenis/borrel <ref> ). The oldest known reference to the word is in a play from 1685, others appear on tavern signs from 1693 (Sanders, 1997 <ref> Sanders, E. (1997). Borrelwoordenboek. Antwerpen: Standaard.</ref>in: Sijs, 2010 <ref> Sijs, N. (2010). Borrel (glas sterke drank). Etymologiebank.nl. Retrieved 28 April 2018, from http://www.etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/borrel </ref>). This meaning of the word has generally remained unchanged, although over time it has come to refer to alcoholic beverages in general, including wine and beer. Een borrel drinken therefore roughly translates as 'to have a drink'. Over time, the word borrel increasingly came to refer to the practice of having a drink rather than the drink itself (WNT, 1894a <ref> Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal (WNT). (1894a). borrel. Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal. Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal (IvdNT). Retrieved from http://gtb.inl.nl/iWDB/search?actie=article&wdb=WNT&id=M010439&lemmodern=borrel&domein=0&conc=true (Accessed January 2025)</ref>). Rather than being a name for a particular type of event, borrels refer to a broad category of gatherings. The word is often contextualised to specify its setting, occasion and meaning. Examples include bedrijfsborrel (at work), afstudeerborrel (on the occasion of graduating from university or high school) and vrijdagmiddagborrel (Friday afternoon drinks) - although they could all be referred to simply as borrels.