positive memories of one's youth, nostalgia for one's youth 
[noun]
[het jeugd-sen-ti-ment, <no plural>]
With 'sentiment' translating as 'sentiment' or 'emotion(s)', the word "jeugdsentiment" tries to cover the emotions that arise when being reminded of positive (defining) childhood experiences, typically those that are commonly shared. Not necessarily 'nostalgic' as in wanting things to be as they were, but thinking back to good times and experiences.
"Jeugdsentiment" is typically used as a one-word expression, covering all the above, saying something like "ah, those were the days". No further words are needed when it is a shared memory! I have some trouble finding a one word English equivalent, but hopefully the examples will help you get the gist.
Examples:
– "Ga je ook naar de nieuwe A-team film?" – "Ja man, tuurlijk; jeugdsentiment!"
("Will you also go to see the new A-team movie?" – "Yeah (man), of course; remember the original A-team? Those were the days!" Note that 'tuurlijk' is used colloquially for 'natuurlijk'.)
– "Ik kwam laatst bij het opruimen mijn Bassie-en-Adriaan-t-shirt tegen!" – "Echt waar? Wauw, jeugdsentiment!! Allememaggies!!"
("I was clearing out stuff the other day and I found my 'Bassie-and-Adriaan' t-shirt!" – "Really? Wow, Bassie and Adriaan were so cool!! Allememaggies!" Read the 'Extra' for more on 'Bassie en Adriaan' and the meaning of 'allememaggies'.)
– "Om jeugdsentiment te kunnen hebben, moet er wel een soort van positieve jeugdherinnering zijn, lijkt mij."
("In order to experience "jeugdsentiment", I'd say one must have some kind of positive childhood memory…")
– "De emotie is misschien hetzelfde, maar mijn ouders en ik delen niet hetzelfde jeugdsentiment."
("Perhaps the emotion is identical, but my parents and I do not share the same "jeugdsentiment".)
– "Jij bent volgens mij wel een nostalgisch type, niet waar?" – "Nou, het is vooral jeugdsentiment hoor…"
("You come across as quite the nostalgic type, am I right?" - "Well, I have to say it is mainly 'jeugdsentiment'.")
– "Hé, hoe was het om weer in je geboortedorp te zijn?" – "Veel kleiner dan ik me kon herinneren, maar het was echt leuk, jeugdsentiment weet je wel."
("Hey, what was it like to be back in the village where you were born?"- "A lot smaller than I could rembemer, but it was really nice, 'jeugdsentiment' you know.")
Related words:
– Sentiment: sentiment, emotion(s) [noun] [het sentiment, <no plural>].
– Sentimenteel: sentimental [adverb/adjective].
– Emotioneel: emotional [adverb/adjective].
– Nostalgisch: nostalgic [adjective].
– Herinnering: memory [noun] [de herinnering, de herinneringen].
– Vroeger: the old days, back in the days [adverb/adjective].
– Kindertijd: childhood days [noun] [de kindertijd, <no plural>].
Extra:
"Bassie en Adriaan" were a succesful circus duo with their own TV series. Their biggest success was in the late seventies and eighties. Bassie was the clown and Adriaan the 'acrobaat' (tumbler) and they had wild adventures. Well, they seemed wild to us, but then we were just kids :-) Other characters appearing in the series that drunk men in their thirties may stil impersonate are the crooks "B1" and the always deaf "B2" and their boss the 'Baron'.
Bassie introduced the expression 'allememaggies'; something like 'wow', 'oh my god', 'what now??'. One other famous phrase is "Dat ga ik aan de binnenkant van mijn ogen bekijken"; meaning he went to sleep to dream about it.
The song with which 'Bassie en Adriaan' opened every episode is famous as well, you can listen to it here. Sander's father once took him to a real circus show with Bassie and Adriaan. He bought me a 'Bassie en Adriaan' t-shirt which I wore to school with pride. Aaah, jeugdsentiment!
