>[!abstract] >*Gedogen* is a Dutch term meaning "to tolerate" or "to allow while officially remaining illegal". It refers to the pragmatic Dutch policy of *gedoogbeleid*, where certain activities—such as cannabis sales in licensed coffee shops, or prostitution in regulated zones—are technically against the law but tolerated under specific conditions. Rooted in a cultural preference for harm reduction and social compromise, *gedogen* reflects a distinction between the letter and the spirit of the law: authorities may choose non-enforcement when strict legality would produce worse outcomes. It embodies a characteristically Dutch approach to governance based on pragmatism, proportionality, and social consensus. >[!related] >- **North** (upstream): [[Legal pragmatism]] >- **West** (similar): [[De facto tolerance]] >- **East** (different): [[Zero-tolerance]] >- **South** (downstream): —