armeens

Armeens is the Dutch term used to designate Armenians, the ethnic group associated with the Armenian Highlands and the modern Republic of Armenia. In Dutch usage, the word functions to refer to people of Armenian origin as well as to things related to Armenia, including language and culture, and is commonly encountered in discussions about ethnicity, history, and diaspora communities.

The Armenian language, spoken by Armenians, forms its own branch within the Indo-European language family. It has two standardized varieties: Eastern Armenian, used in Armenia and parts of the region, and Western Armenian, which has historically been spoken by Armenian communities in the diaspora. Both varieties share a common literary and historical heritage, including the use of its own unique script.

Armenians have a long history that stretches back millennia in the Armenian Highlands. Throughout the Middle Ages, Armenian kingdoms and a rich cultural scholarly tradition developed, especially within the Armenian Apostolic Church. In the modern era, large Armenian communities developed outside the homeland, formed by migration and displacement, particularly after the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Today, Armenians live in Armenia as well as in a global diaspora with substantial populations in Russia, the United States, France, Iran, Georgia, Lebanon, and other countries, where they maintain cultural institutions, churches, schools, and media.

Religious and cultural life among Armenians is diverse, with the Armenian Apostolic Church playing a central historical role for many, alongside Armenian Catholic, Evangelical, and secular communities. Armenian cultural contributions include literature, music, art, and cuisine, which persist across both Armenia and diaspora communities.