054. The Notion of Gezelligheid

You say "gezellig" when the beer you drink is gezellig, meaning tasty, savoury
You say "gezellig" when a person you meet is gezellig, meaning entertaining, funny
You say "gezellig" when a house you visit has a cosy, inviting atmosphere.

Gezelligheid is a meaningful word in Dutch which is hardly translatable into other languages but is in the same time is a key word to understanding the heart of traditional Dutch culture. Witold Rybczynski in his book entitled "Home" is devoting a whole chapter for investigation on how the concept of Gezelligheid has developed in the Netherlands starting from early 17th century. When tracing historical, social and economical factors one precisely learns about the origins of every architectural element of a traditional Dutch house. Logical growth and organic evolution of the vernacular can be then easily translated and perceived within the Dutch architecture of the modern times.

My investigation into Dutch culture will continue and will conclude with a book "Homo Ludens" by local historian Johan Huizinga. On the basis of observations of the Dutch he discusses the importance of the play element of culture and society. Huizinga uses the term "Play Theory" within the book to define the conceptual space in which play occurs. Huizinga suggests that play is primary to and a necessary (though not sufficient) condition of the generation of culture.