Voorpret

Etymology

From Dutch, a transparent compound of “voor” (before) and “pret” (fun, enjoyment), so literally “pre-fun.” It names the enjoyment of anticipation as a distinct pleasure worth savoring in its own right. Dutch treats this forward-looking delight as something concrete enough to name.

noun · /FOR-pret/
The pleasure and excitement felt in anticipation of an enjoyable event, before it happens.
What it names
The fun of looking forward — the buzz of a trip or party you haven’t had yet, sometimes better than the thing itself.
Example
Half the joy of the holiday is the voorpret — I’ve been planning the itinerary for weeks.
Related idea
General anticipation can be anxious or neutral; voorpret is specifically the pleasurable, happy kind of looking forward to something good.