In the Netherlands, tegelspreuken are tiles inscribed with proverbs or aphorisms, often in blue-and-white Delftware style, used as decorative wall-hangings.

A tegeltjeswijsheid saying: "Men should be like coffee, good, strong and warm."

The first known Dutch tile with an aphorism was a floor tile from the mid-16th century. However, the tradition of hanging blue and white tiles with sayings on the wall did not arise until the 20th century.[1] Designer Arie Kortenhoff created many popular 20th-century tegelspreuken.[2][3] Though the tradition was fading at one point, tegelspreuken have recently enjoyed a kitsch revival.[3][1] Today, tegelspreuken are frequently sold in gift shops and souvenir shops.[4] A 2009 exhibition at the Dutch Tile Museum in Otterlo explored the tradition of these tiles.[5][6][7] In August 2017, 100% NL sponsored the first National Tegelspreuken Day in Volendam.[8][9]

The sayings inscribed on tegelspreuken are called tegeltjeswijsheid (Dutch: tile wisdom).[10] The term tegeltjeswijsheid is also used more generally to describe clichéd proverbs or aphorisms not inscribed on tiles. In 2016, Plus Magazine ran a contest to identify the best tegeltjeswijsheid.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b van Haelen, Quirien (May 2010). "Van het concert des levens …" (PDF). Onze Taal (in Dutch). Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  2. ^ "Een eeuw tegelkunst van Westraven, Utrecht" (PDF). Keramisch Museum Goedewaagen. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Bosman, Ingrid (December 31, 2002). "Die tijt is cort, die doot is snel". Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant.
  4. ^ "Tegelwijsheden in Tegelmuseum". Ede Stad (in Dutch). July 4, 2009. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  5. ^ "Emile's leven heeft wel een program". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). July 12, 2009.
  6. ^ "Nieuws" (in Dutch). Nederlands Tegelmuseum. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011.
  7. ^ "Tentoonstellingen" (in Dutch). Nederlands Tegelmuseum. Archived from the original on January 30, 2010.
  8. ^ "Kick-off van de Nationale Tegelspreukendag in Volendam". Nieuw-Volendam. September 1, 2017.
  9. ^ van Velzen, Joost (August 29, 2017). "Het is vandaag tegelspreukendag". Trouw.
  10. ^ Carretero, Fernando Leal (2015). Argumentación y pragma-dialéctica: Estudios en honor a Frans van Eemeren (in Spanish). Editorial Universitaria - Libros UDG. ISBN 9786077423348.
  11. ^ Bogaards, Erik (December 7, 2016). "De beste tegelwijsheden: dit zijn de winnaars!". Plus Magazine.