Nederlandsk

Nederlandsk, in this context referring to the Dutch language, is a West Germanic language spoken mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium, with smaller communities worldwide. It descends from Old Dutch and Middle Dutch and belongs to the Low Franconian branch of West Germanic. The standard written form is Algemeen Nederlands, used in education, media, and administration. In Belgium, the language is often described locally as Flemish (Vlaams), with regional varieties such as Hollandic, Brabantian, and Flemish, while Limburgish is commonly treated as a distinct language.

Geographic distribution and status: Dutch is an official language of the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders and Brussels). It is also an official language in Suriname and the Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba). It is widely spoken by expatriate communities and taught in schools around the world. Dutch is one of the official languages of the European Union.

Writing system and standardization: Dutch uses the Latin alphabet. Orthography is coordinated by the Dutch Language Union (Taalunie) together with national language bodies, ensuring standardized spelling and grammar in formal contexts. Local usage in Belgium and the Netherlands reflects regional pronunciation and vocabulary while maintaining mutual intelligibility.

Relation and features: Dutch is closely related to Afrikaans, its daughter language developed from 17th-century Dutch in southern Africa. Major dialect groups include Hollandic (basis of Standard Dutch), Brabantian, and Flemish varieties. Phonology features final obstruent devoicing, a rich vowel system, and consonants such as the velar and glottal fricatives. The language shares substantial vocabulary with German and English and has incorporated loanwords from French and English.