Meaning
To criticize something very harshly.
Cultural Background
The Dutch 'overlegcultuur' (consultation culture) often involves very direct feedback. Using this phrase is a sign of 'polderen' gone wrong, or a moment where consensus is abandoned for blunt truth. While used in Flanders, Flemish speakers might perceive it as slightly more 'Hollands' (Northern Dutch) and aggressive. They might prefer 'iets tot de grond afbreken'. In Dutch corporate life, 'geen spaan heel laten van' is often used in 'post-mortems' of failed projects to emphasize that the failure was total. Dutch headlines love this phrase because it is punchy and dramatic. It is a favorite of 'GeenStijl' and other provocative news outlets.
Use with 'er... van'
To sound like a native, use the 'er' construction: 'Ze lieten er geen spaan heel van.' It's much more common than repeating the noun.
Don't use for people
Usually, you leave no chip whole of *something* (a plan, a book). If you use it for a *person*, it means you are criticizing their character or performance very harshly, which can be very offensive.
Meaning
To criticize something very harshly.
Use with 'er... van'
To sound like a native, use the 'er' construction: 'Ze lieten er geen spaan heel van.' It's much more common than repeating the noun.
Don't use for people
Usually, you leave no chip whole of *something* (a plan, a book). If you use it for a *person*, it means you are criticizing their character or performance very harshly, which can be very offensive.
Directness is key
Don't be shocked if you hear this in a Dutch meeting. It's often about the idea, not the person.
Test Yourself
Vul het juiste werkwoord en voorzetsel in.
De criticus ___ geen spaan heel ___ de nieuwe tentoonstelling.
De vaste uitdrukking is 'geen spaan heel laten van'.
Wat is de betekenis van deze zin: 'De leraar liet geen spaan heel van mijn opstel'?
De uitdrukking betekent dat iemand zeer grondige kritiek heeft.
Maak de dialoog af met de juiste vorm van de uitdrukking.
A: Hoe was de presentatie van de CEO? B: Nou, de aandeelhouders waren woedend. Ze ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.
In deze context is de verleden tijd 'lieten' met het verwijzingswoord 'er... van' het meest natuurlijk.
In welke situatie is deze uitdrukking het meest passend?
De uitdrukking past bij harde, grondige kritiek.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesDe criticus ___ geen spaan heel ___ de nieuwe tentoonstelling.
De vaste uitdrukking is 'geen spaan heel laten van'.
De uitdrukking betekent dat iemand zeer grondige kritiek heeft.
A: Hoe was de presentatie van de CEO? B: Nou, de aandeelhouders waren woedend. Ze ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.
In deze context is de verleden tijd 'lieten' met het verwijzingswoord 'er... van' het meest natuurlijk.
De uitdrukking past bij harde, grondige kritiek.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt is very strong, but not necessarily rude. It describes a very harsh critique. However, saying it *to* someone about their own work is very blunt.
Technically yes, but it sounds very old-fashioned. For a broken vase, just say 'kapot' or 'in duizend stukjes'.
It's a wood chip or a splinter. It comes from the verb 'spanen' (to chip wood).
Modern Dutch almost always uses 'van'. 'Aan' is archaic.
Yes, it means you criticized him or his performance completely.
No, there is no 'Elke spaan heel laten'. To be positive, you'd say 'vol lof zijn over'.
Use 'liet/lieten' or 'heeft/hebben ... gelaten'. Example: 'Hij liet er geen spaan heel van.'
Yes, very common in headlines and opinion pieces.
Only if you are describing how you analyzed a problem or a competitor's weak plan. Don't use it to describe your previous boss!
'Afkraken' is a simple verb; 'geen spaan heel laten van' is more descriptive and implies a more thorough destruction.
Related Phrases
Met de grond gelijk maken
synonymTo level with the ground.
Afkraken
similarTo bash or trash.
De vloer aanvegen met
similarTo wipe the floor with someone.
Iemand de mantel uitvegen
contrastTo give someone a scolding.
