Dutch

A language of Netherlands

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Hollands, Nederlands

Population

16,400,000 in Netherlands (2007 CBS). Population total all countries: 22,984,690.

Location

Also in Aruba, Belgium (Flemish), Brazil, Canada, Caribbean Netherlands, Curacao, Germany, Sint Maarten, South Africa, Suriname, United States.

Language Maps

Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands

Language Status

1 (National). De facto national language.

Classification

Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian

Dialects

Northern North Hollandish (Westfries). Belgian variety of Dutch (not Vlaams [vls]) only slightly different from that of the Netherlands.

Typology

No dominant word order

Language Use

Most speakers of other languages are also fluent in Dutch.

Language Development

Fully developed. Bible: 1522–2004.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Dutch

Writing

Braille script, used since 1951. Latin script, primary usage.

Also spoken in:

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Aruba

Language nameDutch

Population

5,290 in Aruba, decreasing.

Status

3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language.

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Belgium

Language nameFlemish

Population

6,000,000 in Belgium (2007 M. Belder).

Location

Oost Vlaanderen, Antwerpen, Limburg, Vlaams-Brabant, and bilingual part (10%–20%) of Brussels.

Alternate Names

Dutch, Nederlands, Vlaams

Dialects

Antwerps, Brabants, Oost-Vlaams.

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1994, Constitution, Articles 2,4,30).

Other Comments

Glossonym: Vlaams in Belgium, even though different from (West) Vlaams [vls] spoken there. In the Dutch linguistic area there are minority rights for French-speaking persons in Drogenbos, Kraainem, Linkebeek, Sint-Genesius-Rode, Wemmel, Wezembeek-Oppem, Mesen, Spiere-Helkijn, Ronse, Bever, Herstappe, Voeren.

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Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

Language nameDutch

Population

Bonaire 15,800 (Dutch and Papiamentu [pap]), St. Eustatius 3,100 (Dutch and English), Saba 2,000 (Dutch and English).

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (2010, Provisional Official Languages Law, BWBW0028827, Article 2).

View other languages of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

Curaçao

Language nameDutch

Population

11,400 in Curacao (2011 SIL).

Status

3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language.

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Sint Maarten (Dutch part)

Language nameDutch

Population

2,000 in Sint Maarten (2011 SIL).

Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (2010, Constitution, Article 1(2)).

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Suriname

Language nameDutch

Population

200,000 in Suriname (1997 C. DeKleine).

Status

1 (National). De facto national language.

Language Use

All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Sranan [srn] or Caribbean Hindustani [hns].

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools.

Other Comments

Christian.

View other languages of Suriname

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Dutch

A language of Netherlands

Also spoken in:

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Dutch

A language of Netherlands

Also spoken in: