A shortlist of 10 words has been drawn up for the annual word of the year competition organised by the Onze Taal society, which promotes the Dutch language.

The selection includes weigerambtenaar – literally, refusing civil servant – the word used to describe civil servants who refuse to carry out same sex weddings.

Wordfeud – the online word game based on Scrabble – is also on the list, as is plaszak – pee bag – a word which came into use when Dutch Rail said it planned to issue plastic bags to travellers caught short on trains without a toilet.
The 1,400 visitors to the society’s annual meeting on Saturday will pick the winner.
A poll by the Dutch lexicology institute earlier this month put wildbreien (graffiti knitting) on the top of its new word list.