Bedeutung
A positive change.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The Dutch have a cultural obsession with 'frisse lucht' (fresh air). It is common to see people opening windows even in the middle of winter to 'luchten' (air out) their homes. This idiom perfectly captures that national value of refreshing one's environment. In Dutch corporate culture, which is relatively flat and non-hierarchical, a 'frisse wind' is often a junior employee or an outsider who is encouraged to speak up and challenge old ways of working. While also used in Flanders, Flemish speakers might more frequently use 'een nieuwe wind' or 'een frisse bries'. The meaning remains identical, but the choice of words can be slightly softer. Given the Netherlands' history as a seafaring nation, many idioms involve wind. A 'frisse wind' was historically a good wind for sailing—not a storm, but enough to move the ship forward quickly.
Use with 'waaien'
To sound more native, use the verb 'waaien'. Instead of saying 'Het is een frisse wind', say 'Er waait een frisse wind door...'
Positive only!
Never use this for a change you dislike. It implies that the change was needed and is better than what was there before.
Bedeutung
A positive change.
Use with 'waaien'
To sound more native, use the verb 'waaien'. Instead of saying 'Het is een frisse wind', say 'Er waait een frisse wind door...'
Positive only!
Never use this for a change you dislike. It implies that the change was needed and is better than what was there before.
Office Talk
This is the perfect phrase to use in a job interview when asked what you can bring to the company: 'Ik hoop voor een frisse wind te zorgen op deze afdeling.'
Teste dich selbst
Vul het juiste woord in om de idioom compleet te maken.
De nieuwe plannen van de regering zijn een ___ wind voor de economie.
'Frisse' is the only adjective that fits this specific idiom meaning positive change.
Welk werkwoord wordt het meest gebruikt met 'een frisse wind'?
Er ___ een frisse wind door het kantoor.
Wind 'waait' (blows) in Dutch, both literally and figuratively.
In welke situatie gebruik je 'een frisse wind'?
Kies de beste situatie:
The idiom specifically refers to positive renewal and new ideas.
Maak de dialoog af.
A: 'Wat vind je van de nieuwe trainer?' B: 'Ik ben enthousiast! ___'
This is the natural way to express that a new person is a positive change.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenDe nieuwe plannen van de regering zijn een ___ wind voor de economie.
'Frisse' is the only adjective that fits this specific idiom meaning positive change.
Er ___ een frisse wind door het kantoor.
Wind 'waait' (blows) in Dutch, both literally and figuratively.
Kies de beste situatie:
The idiom specifically refers to positive renewal and new ideas.
A: 'Wat vind je van de nieuwe trainer?' B: 'Ik ben enthousiast! ___'
This is the natural way to express that a new person is a positive change.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes! It is very common to call a person 'een frisse wind' if they bring new energy to a group.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss, in a newspaper, or with your friends.
There isn't one direct idiom, but you could say something is 'muf' (stuffy) or 'vastgeroest' (rusted solid/stuck in its ways).
Because 'wind' is a de-word, and after 'een', the adjective gets an -e ending.
No, that sounds like a literal translation from English. Use 'zorgen voor een frisse wind'.
Yes, it is common in both the Netherlands and Flanders.
Rarely. Only if you are talking about literal winds. Figuratively, it's almost always singular.
Yes, it usually implies the previous state was a bit boring, old, or stagnant.
Yes, if the product is very different and better than what was already on the market.
Yes, but 'frisse wind' sounds more positive and energetic.
Verwandte Redewendungen
de wind mee hebben
similarTo have luck on your side / things are going well.
met alle winden meewaaien
contrastTo have no opinion of your own / to change your mind constantly.
een frisse blik
similarA fresh perspective.
de bezem erdoor halen
builds onTo do a major cleanup/reorganization.
