Key Takeaways
Two threads came together: everyday greetings in English and Dutch, and a grave allegation about killings in Gaza and a Dutch naval response. The language story is straightforward: English uses “Good morning,” “Good afternoon,” and “Good evening” as greetings, while “Good night” is a farewell; Dutch mirrors this with “Goedemorgen,” “Goedemiddag,” “Goedenavond,” and “Goedenacht,” with “Slaap lekker” and “Rust goed uit” to wish rest. The conflict allegation, checked against reputable Dutch and international sources, is not corroborated: coverage documents Dutch nationals killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza, Dutch humanitarian support by air and sea, and protests in the Netherlands—without credible reporting that Palestinians killed Dutch aid workers or that a Dutch naval operation was launched in response.
Story & Details
The tidy four-greeting grid that doesn’t fit English
It sounded neat: four greetings dividing the day into precise slots, even one meant for midnight to dawn. English doesn’t work that way. “Good morning” runs up to about 12:00 local time (Europe/Amsterdam 12:00). “Good afternoon” carries the day from noon into late afternoon, roughly until 17:00–18:00 local time (Europe/Amsterdam 17:00–18:00). “Good evening” steps in from early evening onward, around 18:00 local time (Europe/Amsterdam 18:00). “Good night” isn’t an opening hello at 02:00 local time (Europe/Amsterdam 02:00); it’s a sign-off, a wish for rest. Phrases like “Good Midnight” or “Fine Afternoon” aren’t standard greetings, and “fine afternoon” reads as a description, not a salutation or a rest wish.
The Dutch rhythm that tracks the day
Dutch aligns closely with that cadence. “Goedemorgen” covers the morning until roughly 12:00 local time (Europe/Amsterdam 12:00). “Goedemiddag” fills the midday-to-late-afternoon stretch, often up to about 18:00 local time (Europe/Amsterdam 18:00). “Goedenavond” takes the evening. “Goedenacht” says goodbye at night, not hello. When the aim is care rather than clock time, Dutch reaches for “Slaap lekker” (“sleep well”) or “Rust goed uit” (“rest well”).
The allegation of killings and a naval reaction
A claim circulated about late September 2025: Dutch aid workers in Gaza allegedly killed by Palestinians, followed by a Dutch naval response, alongside mention of a “Palestinian navy.” These are weighty assertions that deserve clear daylight. Public reporting in the Netherlands and abroad does document Dutch nationals killed in Gaza—linked to Israeli air strikes—and sustained Dutch involvement in humanitarian relief by air and plans at sea. It also documents protests across Dutch cities over Gaza. What it does not provide is credible reporting that Palestinians killed Dutch aid workers, nor that the Netherlands launched a naval operation because of such an event.
What the record actually shows
Dutch coverage describes Dutch citizens among those killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza in September 2025, with details carried by national outlets. Dutch government releases outline a Royal Netherlands Air Force C-130 airdropping humanitarian aid to Gaza from Jordan in early August 2025 and Dutch financial support—announced in March 2024—for a maritime corridor to bring aid by sea. These steps point to humanitarian support and diplomatic pressure, not naval retaliation. As for a “Palestinian navy,” open-source institutional analyses describe Palestinian security forces as demilitarized and internally focused; coastal patrol elements exist around Gaza, but there is no blue-water navy capable of deploying abroad.
Conclusions
Language keeps a workday moving: polite, predictable, human. English and Dutch greetings follow living custom rather than rigid time blocks, with “Good night” and “Goedenacht” reserved for parting. The darker thread—killings and naval maneuvers—demands caution. Verified reporting from reputable outlets paints a different picture than the allegation: Dutch deaths in Gaza tied to Israeli strikes, Dutch humanitarian logistics by air and maritime funding, and protests at home. It’s a sobering scene, but clearer for being grounded in what can be confirmed.
Sources
NL Times. “Dutch fugitive who abducted his children among those killed by Israeli strikes on Gaza.” Published 24 September 2025. https://nltimes.nl/2025/09/24/dutch-fugitive-abducted-children-among-killed-israeli-strikes-gaza
Government of the Netherlands (Ministry of Defence). “A look at the Defence news 28 July – 3 August” (includes Dutch C-130 airdrop of humanitarian aid to Gaza from Jordan). https://english.defensie.nl/latest/news/2025/08/06/a-look-at-the-defence-news-28-july—3-august
Government of the Netherlands. “The Netherlands makes 10 million euros available for maritime corridor to Gaza.” Published 19 March 2024. https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2024/03/19/the-netherlands-makes-10-million-euros-available-for-maritime-corridor-to-gaza
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. “State with No Army, Army with No State: Evolution of the Palestinian Authority Security Forces, 1994–2018.” Overview page. https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/state-no-army-army-no-state-evolution-palestinian-authority-security-forces-1994
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Full study (PDF). https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/sites/default/files/pdf/PolicyFocus154-ZilberOmari.pdf
YouTube — BBC Learning English. “How to… greet people formally.” Public, globally viewable, no login required. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5ghhSAxopw
Appendix
English greetings by time of day
In common use, “Good morning” runs until noon, “Good afternoon” spans midday to late afternoon/early evening, “Good evening” is an evening greeting, and “Good night” is a farewell before rest, not an opening hello.
Dutch greetings by time of day
“Goedemorgen” (morning), “Goedemiddag” (afternoon), and “Goedenavond” (evening) are greetings; “Goedenacht” is a sign-off before sleep. Dutch adds gentle rest wishes outside the greeting set.
“Slaap lekker”
A warm Dutch wish meaning “sleep well,” used when someone is heading to bed, not as a general daytime salutation.
“Rust goed uit”
A Dutch encouragement to “rest well” or “recover properly,” often used after a long shift or when someone is unwell.
“Palestinian navy”
A conversational shortcut that overstates reality. Publicly available institutional analyses describe Palestinian security forces as demilitarized and internally focused, with limited coastal patrol elements—not a blue-water navy.
Dutch humanitarian posture on Gaza
Dutch government communications in 2024–2025 outline airdropped aid to Gaza via a C-130 staging from Jordan and financial backing for a maritime corridor, aligning Dutch actions with relief logistics rather than naval retaliation.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 