Dutchman

A Dutchman is a man from the Netherlands or of Dutch descent. In contemporary English, the standard demonym is “the Dutch” or “a Dutch person,” while “Dutchman” is a gendered form that can feel archaic or literary in modern usage.

Etymology and usage: The word Dutch derives from Middle Dutch duutsch, related to the sense of “people” or “nation.” Historically, English usage sometimes extended Dutch to various Germanic-speaking groups in parts of the Holy Roman Empire, but the modern sense narrows to inhabitants of the Netherlands. The masculine form “Dutchman” appears in historical texts and in certain literary or folkloric contexts, whereas neutral or female forms are more common today.

Cultural references: The Flying Dutchman is a famous legend about a ghost ship doomed to sail the seas for eternity. In literature, Amiri Baraka’s 1964 play Dutchman uses the term as a title and explores race and identity in America. The term also appears in historical descriptions of individuals from the Netherlands, especially in older or regional writings.

Notes on usage: In contemporary writing, “the Dutch” is generally preferred for neutral reference to people from the Netherlands. The term “Dutchman” may be encountered in historical, biographical, or literary contexts, but readers should be aware of its gendered and sometimes dated connotations. Related terms include Hollander, an older or regional designation, and of course references to the Netherlands or Dutch culture.