standaardspelling

Standaardspelling is the conventional orthography used for formal writing in a language, defined by agreed rules for how words are written, capitalized, hyphenated, and punctuated. In Dutch, standaardspelling covers the standard Dutch spelling used in education, media, government, and publishing and serves as a reference point for consistent written communication. It distinguishes written forms from regional dialect spellings and creative, nonstandard spellings that may appear in literature.

The Dutch standard spelling is maintained by the Dutch Language Union (Taalunie), in cooperation with language experts and publishers. The most widely referenced codification is the official list of spellings, commonly known as the Groene Boekje (Green Book). Updates and revisions reflect changes in usage, new loanwords, and evolving conventions, with the aim of balancing tradition and clarity for readers across Dutch-speaking communities in the Netherlands, Flanders, and beyond.

In practice, standaardspelling guides editors, teachers, writers, and publishers and provides a basis for spelling checks, dictionaries, and educational materials. It covers aspects such as word formation, compound words, hyphenation, capitalization, and punctuation, while not prescribing vocabulary choice or grammar. Regional variations may persist in non-formal contexts or regional media, but the standard spelling remains the normative basis for formal and cross-border Dutch communication. The concept thus supports mutual intelligibility and consistent writing across the Dutch-speaking world.