Oost-West [East-West] is the theme of the History Month in the Netherlands this year. The Dutch terms for the cardinal directions are:
| noord | north |
| oost | east |
| zuid | south |
| west | west |
You may encounter these terms in deeds, where the location of the property is described in terms of its neighbors to the north, east, south, and west. They are also used in geographical names, like Zuid-Holland [South Holland] or Noord-Brabant [North Brabant].
Compass rose of map oriented with the north on the right. Credits: collection Nationaal Archief, 4.VEL call no. 1911.
About Yvette Hoitink
