If you spend any time in Flanders or around Flemish speakers, you're bound to hear the word “goesting.”
It's one of those untranslatable gems that speaks volumes about Belgian culture. Pronounced something like GOO-sting, it loosely means desire, craving, or appetite, but it’s used far beyond food.
You might say: "Ik heb goesting in frietjes" (I feel like having fries), or even "Ik heb goesting om iets te doen" (I’m in the mood to do something). It captures a spontaneous urge, a leaning toward something pleasurable, whether it’s a beer, a night out, or just relaxing on the couch.
Unlike the more formal Dutch “zin hebben in,” “goesting” has an informal, cozy feel to it — it’s everyday language rooted in real life. It’s also a word that invites empathy. If someone says they have geen goesting (no goesting), you instantly get it: they’re not up for it, and that’s fine.
In many ways, goesting reflects a very Belgian approach to life: grounded, honest, and centred around enjoying the small things. So next time you're in Belgium and feel that itch for a waffle, a walk, or a warm conversation — congratulations, you’ve got goesting.
