Netherlands
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Achterhoeks
Drents
[drt] Northeast, Drenthe Province, near German border. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Drente Dialects: North Drente (Noord-Drents), South Drente (Zuid-Drents).
Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Saxon Comments: Identified by the government as variant of Low Saxon [nds] (1996).
Dutch
[nld] Also in Aruba, Belgium (Flemish), Brazil, Canada, Caribbean Netherlands, Curacao, Germany, Sint Maarten, South Africa, Suriname, United States. 16,400,000 in Netherlands (2007 CBS). Population total all countries: 22,984,690. Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Alternate Names: Hollands, Nederlands Dialects: Northern North Hollandish (Westfries). Belgian variety of Dutch (not Vlaams [vls]) only slightly different from that of the Netherlands.
Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
Frisian, Western
[fry] North, Friesland. 467,000 (2001 census). Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Friesland Province (1996, Ratification Act, ECRML, No. 136). Alternate Names: Fries, Frysk Dialects: Klaaifrysk, Súdhoeksk, Wâldfrysk, Westerlauwers Fries. Linguistically between Dutch [nld] and English [eng]. Lexical similarity: 71% with Standard German [deu], 61% with English [eng], 74% with Eastern Frisian [frs].
Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Frisian
Gronings
[gos] Groningen Province. 592,000 (2003). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Groningen, Grunnings Dialects: Groningen-East Frisian (Gronings-Oostfries), Veenkoloniaals (Veen Colony), West Groningen (West Gronings), Westerwolds (Westerwold).
Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Saxon Comments: Identified by the government as variant of Low Saxon [nds] (1996).
Limburgish
[lim] Limburg Province, Maastricht, Heerlen, Roermond, Venlo. Also in Belgium, Germany. 700,000 in Netherlands (2001). Population total all countries: 1,300,000. Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Limburg Province (1996, Ratification Act, ECRML, No. 136), effective 1997. Alternate Names: Limberger, Limburgan, Limburgian, Limburgic, Limburgs Plat Dialects: A Rhenisch-Maas group of dialects, often combined with Cleves dialects (Kleverländisch) as Rheinmaasländisch. Limburgish straddles the border between, Low Franconian and Middle Franconian varieties. More-or-less mutually intelligible with Ripuarian dialects, but show fewer, High German shifts (2001 R. Hahn).
Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, West Middle German, Rhenisch Franconian Comments: Christian.
Romani, Sinte
[rmo] 1,220 in Netherlands (2000). Status: 5 (Developing). Dialects: Manouche.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Northern Comments: Christian.
Romani, Vlax
[rmy] 1,000 in Netherlands. 500 Kalderash, 500 Lovari. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Dialects: Kalderash, Lovari.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Vlax Comments: Christian.
Sallands
Sign Language of the Netherlands
[dse] Also in Aruba, Curacao, Suriname. 1,500,000 hearing impaired; 5,000 L1 out of about 20,000 profoundly deaf persons; 15,000 L2 users. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Nederlandse Gebarentaal, NGT, SLN Classification: Deaf sign language Comments: Currently 7 varieties; 6 regional variants (5 associated with the original 5 deaf schools, 1 with the unique home for deaf elderly people), and 1 standardized variety. Regional and national organizations for the deaf. Sign language courses (e.g. parents of deaf children, teachers at deaf schools, etc.). An organization for NGT teachers and 1 for NGT interpreters; official training (college level) for both. A sign center (Nederlands Gebarencentrum) develops NGT teaching materials and studies NGT lexicography. Research on NGT done at University of Amsterdam and Radboud University. Although NGT recommended for official recognition by a special committee, the Dutch government has not recognized the language. Interpreting in work situations as well as in private situations. A manual alphabet used by many deaf for spelling of (place) names and concepts that do not have a sign (yet).
Stellingwerfs
[stl] Northeast, Stellingwerven region, Friesland Province. Centers are Oosterwolde and Wolvega. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Stellingwarfs, Stellingwerf Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Saxon Comments: Identified by the government as variant of Low Saxon [nds] (1996).
Twents
Veluws
Vlaams
[vls] Province of Zeeland, southernmost island. 122,000 in Netherlands (1998 University of Ghent). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Vlaemsch, West Vlaams Dialects: Frans Vlaams (Vlaemsch), West Vlaams.
Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian Comments: Sometimes refer to Dutch as Vlaams. Dutch is language of trade, tourism, school. Difficult to understand nearby Brabant dialect of Dutch, perhaps due to Scheldt River being natural barrier. Christian.
Zeeuws
[zea] Zeeland Province, South Holland Province. Rhine-Scheldt Delta islands have their own dialects. 220,000. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Zeaws Dialects: Axels, Bevelands, Duvelands, Flakkees, Fluplands, Goerees, Kezands, Schouws, Walchers.
Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian Comments: Recognition under European Charter Part 2 requested (2001). Christian.