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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Europe > Netherlands > Dutch

Dutch

A language of Netherlands

ISO 639-3: nld

Population	16,400,000 in Netherlands (2007 CBS). Population total all countries: 21,730,290.
Region	Also in Aruba, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia (Java and Bali), Netherlands Antilles, South Africa, Suriname, United States.
Language map	Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands
Alternate names	Hollands, Nederlands
Dialects	Northern North Hollandish (Westfries). The variety of Dutch (not Vlaams [vls]) spoken in Belgium is only slightly different from the variety spoken in the Netherlands.
Classification	Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
Language use	Official language. Most speakers of other languages are also fluent in Dutch.
Language development	Fully developed. Bible: 1522–2004.
Writing system	Latin script.
Comments	SVO.

Also spoken in:

Aruba

Language name	Dutch
Population	5,290 in Aruba, decreasing.
Language use	Official language.

Belgium

Language name	Dutch
Population	4,620,000 in Belgium (1990 WA).
Region	West Vlaanderen, Oost Vlaanderen, Antwerpen, Limburg, Vlaams-Brabant, and bilingual part (10% to 20%) of Brussels.
Language map	Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands
Alternate names	Nederlands
Dialects	Brabants, Oost-Vlaams.
Language use	Official language.
Comments	Called ‘Vlaams’ in Belgium, even though different from (West) Vlaams 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.

Brazil

Language name	Dutch
Region	Paraná.

France

Language name	Dutch
Population	80,000 in France.
Region	Northeast corner, Westhoek, between Artois Hills and Belgium border.
Language use	Usage is declining.

Netherlands Antilles

Language name	Dutch
Population	4,000 in Netherlands Antilles.
Language use	Official language.
Comments	Use is decreasing in importance.

Suriname

Language name	Dutch
Population	200,000 in Suriname (1997 C. DeKleine).
Language use	Official language. All domains. All ages. Positive attitude. Also use Sranan [srn] or Sarnami Hindustani [hns].
Language development	Taught in primary and secondary schools.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

COURTZ, Henk, compiler. 1997. Karaïbs - Nederlands woordenboek.

KIEVIT, Dirk, author. 2004. Review of: The morphology of Dutch, by Geert Booij.  

MALONE, Terry, author. 2000. Review of: a reference grammar of Dutch; with exercises and key, by Carol Fehringer.

REESINK, Gerard P., author. 2010. "The difference a word makes."  

Vernacular Publications

De Nederlandse Vertaling van "Sebe Saamaka Oto". 1970.