uncertainty 
[noun]
[de on-ze-ker-heid, de on-ze-ker-he-den]
"Onzekerheid" is both used for doubt/suspense and insecurity/contingency. The opposite is "zekerheid".
Examples:
– "Onzekerheid is een eigenschap die je kan hinderen in je ontwikkeling."
("Uncertainty/being insecure is a (character) trait that can hamper your development." Lit. " … that can hinder you in your development.")
– "Ik kan niet tegen deze onzekerheid!"
("I cannot stand this suspense/uncertainty!")
– "We moeten de onzekerheden voldoende incalculeren."
("We have to sufficiently plan for contingencies.")
– "Er is onzekerheid over het aantal overlevenden van de aardbeving."
("There is uncertainty about the number of survivors of the earthquake.")
Expressions:
– "In onzekerheid verkeren": to be in a state of suspense, to be in the dark.
Example:
– "De ouders verkeren al jaren in onzekerheid over het lot van hun vermiste zoon."
("For years the parents have been in a state of suspense regarding the fate of their missing son.")
Related words:
– (On)zeker: (un)certain [adverb/adjective].
– Onwaarschijnlijk: unlikely [adverb/adjective].
Je leest soms wel ook de uitdrukking ‘onderzekerheid’. Is dat eigenlijk fout, of is dat misschien toch niet helemaal hetzelfde?
As far as I know “onderzekerheid” does not officially exist in Dutch, as a matter of fact I have never heard about it. Google hits show me it is used instead of “onzekerheid”, but I’d say that is wrong (so only use “onzekerheid”.)
You can of course encounter “onder zekerheid” but that is grammatically different.
Sander
Yeah, I’ve been corrected a few times by my Dutch colleagues in Nederland about words Google seems to have made up.
I promptly went out and bought een woordenboek!
Great site!
-Mark