From: http://www.geocities.com/stevenedw/gedogen.html
The Dutch verb gedogen is not really translatable, to English nor to any other language. The term is Dutch; the idea behind it is Dutch; and it only works in Holland. Gedogen, a verb, translates most closely to "tolerate." Tolerance is passive, though. Gedogen is active. Gedogen is an open-eyed tolerance, and a matter of governmental policy. If there is a social matter that will not allow a concrete solution, the Dutch will "gedogen" it. They will allow the exception to the rule — not by turning a blind eye to the violation of law, but by allowing the violation of law.
The examples of official tolerance that foreigners typically recognize concern prostitution and "soft drugs." The Dutch know that these are never going to go away. Everybody knows that. The Dutch acknowledge it officially. Eradication of the problem is not practical — and so, for the Dutch, it is not the goal. Indeed, the concept of "problem" is a matter subject to interpretation. Predisposed morality colors the debate about the "problem" of sex and drugs. Predisposed morality is a factor — there are many others. The act of "gedogen" acknowledges this.
[The author's] Dutch friend Kim gave me the best definition of "gedogen" that [he's] heard: "not legal, but not illegal."
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