Netherlands

Summary

Official Name: Kingdom of the Netherlands
Population: 17,401,000
Principal Languages: Dutch
Literacy Rate: 99% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ECRML (1992), FCPNM (1998), ICCPR (1966), (), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Campbell and King 2011, Comrie 1987, Kooij 1987, Stephens 1976
Deaf Population: 28,000–932,000 (1998)
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Netherlands is 18. All are living languages. Of these, 13 are indigenous and 5 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 11 are developing, 2 are vigorous, and 2 are in trouble. Also listed are 38 unestablished languages.

Languages

Achterhoeks act: Gelderland province. Users: 211,000 (Herweijer and Jans 2009). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Aachterhoeks, Achterhoek, Winterwiek Autonym: Achterhooks Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Saxon
Afrikaans afr: Users: 14,500 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
Akan aka: Users: 18,700 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Kwa, Nyo, Potou-Tano, Tano, Central, Akan
Arabic, Algerian Spoken arq: Users: 90,300 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Egyptian Spoken arz: Users: 16,600 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken acm: Users: 41,500 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Moroccan Spoken ary: Users: 481,000 in Netherlands, all users. L1 users: 361,000 in Netherlands (2019). L2 users: 120,000. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc: Users: 3,400 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Tunisian Spoken aeb: Users: 86,100 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Bengali ben: Users: 6,000 in Netherlands (2018), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese
Chinese, Mandarin cmn: Users: 78,900 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Wu wuu: Users: 3,900 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Drents drt: Drenthe province: near German border; Overijssel province: Steenwijkerland municipality. Users: 255,000 (Herweijer and Jans 2009). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Dreins, Dreints, Drente, Drenthe Autonym: Drèents Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Saxon
Dutch nld: Users: 16,000,000 in Netherlands (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 24,448,250 (as L1: 22,843,250; as L2: 1,605,000). Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Autonym: Nederlands Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
English eng: Widespread. Users: 15,577,800 in Netherlands, all users. L1 users: 77,800 in Netherlands (2019). L2 users: 15,500,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Engels Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Widespread. Users: 3,227,900 in Netherlands, all users. L1 users: 27,900 in Netherlands (2019). L2 users: 3,200,000 (2018). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Frisian fry: Friesland province; Groningen province: De Marne municipality. Users: 873,000 in Netherlands (2019), decreasing. Total users in all countries: 875,100. Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Friesland Province (1996, Ratification Act, ECRML, No. 136). Alternate Names: Fries, Westlauwers Fries Autonym: Frysk Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Frisian
German, Standard deu: Users: 12,373,300 in Netherlands, all users. L1 users: 73,300 in Netherlands (2017 Eurostat), based on nationality. L2 users: 12,300,000 (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Deutsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Greek ell: Users: 5,200 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
Gronings gos: Drenthe and Groningen provinces: Bellingwedde, Delfzijl, and Oldambt municipalties. Users: 262,000 (Herweijer and Jans 2009). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Groningen, Grunnings, Grönnegs Autonym: Grunnegs Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Saxon
Guinea-Bissau Creole pov: Users: 13,500 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, Portuguese based
Hindustani, Sarnami hns: Users: 119,000 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bihari
Hungarian hun: Users: 12,500 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic
Indonesian ind: Users: 137,000 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay
Italian ita: Users: 17,600 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
Javanese jav: Users: 42,900 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Javanese
Kabuverdianu kea: Users: 20,800 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, Portuguese based
Korean kor: Users: 8,600 in Netherlands (2019 Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Koreanic
Kurdish, Northern kmr: Users: 74,700 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish
Limburgish lim: Limburg province: Heerlen, Maastricht, Roermond, Venlo. Users: 700,000 in Netherlands (2001). Total users in all countries: 1,300,000. Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Limburg Province (1996, Ratification Act, ECRML, No. 136), effective 1997. Alternate Names: Limberger, Limburgan, Limburgian, Limburgic, Limburgs, Limburgs Plat Autonym: Lèmburgs Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
Macedonian mkd: Users: 13,500 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
Malay, Ambonese abs: Users: 50,900 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, Malay based
Papiamentu pap: Users: 133,000 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: Papiments Classification: Creole, Iberian based
Persian, Iranian pes: Users: 31,100 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Polish pol: Users: 32,200 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
Portuguese por: Users: 16,600 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
Romani, Sinte rmo: Scattered. Users: 1,300 in Netherlands (2010 J. Leclerc). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Romanes, Sinte, Sinti Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
Romani, Vlax rmy: Users: 1,000 in Netherlands. 500 Kalderash, 500 Lovari. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Vlax
Russian rus: Users: 5,200 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Sallands sdz: Overijssels province: Sallands. Users: 347,000 (Herweijer and Jans 2009). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Sallan, Salland Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Saxon
Serbian srp: Users: 2,230 in Netherlands (2015 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Sign Language of the Netherlands dse: Scattered. Users: 20,500 in Netherlands, all users. L1 users: 15,000 in Netherlands (2019 EUD). Population estimates vary widely, in part because they count different things: 15,000 deaf sign language users (2019 EUD), about 0.1% of total population; 10,000–13,000 deaf or severely hard of hearing (Dovenschap brochure); 10,500 deaf and 5,500 hearing sign language users (Crasborn 2001); 45,000 deaf, 495,000 hard of hearing (2005 National Hearing Foundation); 86,500 deaf (2014 IMB). L2 users: 5,500 (1997 Commissie Nederlandse Gebarentaal). Total users in all countries: 22,800 (as L1: 17,300; as L2: 5,500). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Dutch Sign Language, NGT, Nederlandse Gebarentaal, SLN Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Somali som: Major cities. Users: 15,600 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Somali
Spanish spa: Users: 705,700 in Netherlands, all users. L1 users: 18,700 in Netherlands (2019). L2 users: 687,000 (2019). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Sranan Tongo srn: Users: 361,000 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Suriname
Stellingwerfs stl: Friesland province: Stellingwerven region, Oosterwolde and Wolvega centers. Users: 5,000 (2016 J. Feenstra), decreasing. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Stellingwerf Autonym: Stellingwarfs Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Saxon
Tagalog tgl: Users: 11,400 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog
Tamil tam: Users: 20,800 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Tamil
Tarifit rif: Users: 159,000 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, Riff
Turkish tur: Users: 400,000 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Turoyo tru: Users: 4,000 in Netherlands (1994). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northwestern
Twents twd: Overijssels province. Users: 334,000 (Herweijer and Jans 2009). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Twente Autonym: Twents Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Saxon
Veluws vel: Gelderland province. Users: 175,000 (Herweijer and Jans 2009). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Veluwe Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Saxon
Vietnamese vie: Users: 8,600 in Netherlands (2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Viet-Muong, Vietnamese
West Flemish vls: Zeeland province. Users: 132,000 in Netherlands (2016). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Vlaams, West Vlaams, West-Vlams Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
Zeeuws zea: South Holland and Zeeland provinces. Rhine-Scheldt Delta islands have their own dialects. Users: 220,000. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Zeaws, Zeelandic Autonym: Zeêuws Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Dutch

[nld] 1 (National). De facto national language. 16,000,000 in Netherlands (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 24,448,250 (as L1: 22,843,250; as L2: 1,605,000).

2 (Provincial)

Frisian

[fry] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Friesland Province (1996, Ratification Act, ECRML, No. 136). 873,000 in Netherlands (2019), decreasing. Total users in all countries: 875,100.

Limburgish

[lim] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Limburg Province (1996, Ratification Act, ECRML, No. 136), effective 1997. 700,000 in Netherlands (2001). Total users in all countries: 1,300,000.

4 (Educational)

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 15,577,800 in Netherlands, all users. L1 users: 77,800 in Netherlands (2019). L2 users: 15,500,000 (European Commission 2012).

5 (Dispersed)

French

[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 3,227,900 in Netherlands, all users. L1 users: 27,900 in Netherlands (2019). L2 users: 3,200,000 (2018).

German, Standard

[deu] 5* (Dispersed). 12,373,300 in Netherlands, all users. L1 users: 73,300 in Netherlands (2017 Eurostat), based on nationality. L2 users: 12,300,000 (2019).

Romani, Sinte

[rmo] 5* (Dispersed). 1,300 in Netherlands (2010 J. Leclerc).

Spanish

[spa] 5* (Dispersed). 705,700 in Netherlands, all users. L1 users: 18,700 in Netherlands (2019). L2 users: 687,000 (2019).

5 (Developing)

Achterhoeks

[act] 5* (Developing). 211,000 (Herweijer and Jans 2009).

Drents

[drt] 5* (Developing). 255,000 (Herweijer and Jans 2009).

Gronings

[gos] 5* (Developing). 262,000 (Herweijer and Jans 2009).

Sign Language of the Netherlands

[dse] 5 (Developing). 20,500 in Netherlands, all users. L1 users: 15,000 in Netherlands (2019 EUD). Population estimates vary widely, in part because they count different things: 15,000 deaf sign language users (2019 EUD), about 0.1% of total population; 10,000–13,000 deaf or severely hard of hearing (Dovenschap brochure); 10,500 deaf and 5,500 hearing sign language users (Crasborn 2001); 45,000 deaf, 495,000 hard of hearing (2005 National Hearing Foundation); 86,500 deaf (2014 IMB). L2 users: 5,500 (1997 Commissie Nederlandse Gebarentaal). Total users in all countries: 22,800 (as L1: 17,300; as L2: 5,500).

Stellingwerfs

[stl] 5* (Developing). 5,000 (2016 J. Feenstra), decreasing.

Twents

[twd] 5* (Developing). 334,000 (Herweijer and Jans 2009).

Zeeuws

[zea] 5* (Developing). 220,000.

6a (Vigorous)

Sallands

[sdz] 6a* (Vigorous). 347,000 (Herweijer and Jans 2009).

Veluws

[vel] 6a* (Vigorous). 175,000 (Herweijer and Jans 2009).

6b (Threatened)

West Flemish

[vls] 6b (Threatened). 132,000 in Netherlands (2016).

Unestablished

Afrikaans

[afr] Unestablished. 14,500 in Netherlands (2019).

Akan

[aka] Unestablished. 18,700 in Netherlands (2019).

Arabic, Algerian Spoken

[arq] Unestablished. 90,300 in Netherlands (2019).

Arabic, Egyptian Spoken

[arz] Unestablished. 16,600 in Netherlands (2019).

Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken

[acm] Unestablished. 41,500 in Netherlands (2019).

Arabic, Moroccan Spoken

[ary] Unestablished. 481,000 in Netherlands, all users. L1 users: 361,000 in Netherlands (2019). L2 users: 120,000.

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken

[apc] Unestablished. 3,400 in Netherlands (2019).

Arabic, Tunisian Spoken

[aeb] Unestablished. 86,100 in Netherlands (2019).

Bengali

[ben] Unestablished. 6,000 in Netherlands (2018), based on nationality.

Chinese, Mandarin

[cmn] Unestablished. 78,900 in Netherlands (2019).

Chinese, Wu

[wuu] Unestablished. 3,900 in Netherlands (2019).

Greek

[ell] Unestablished. 5,200 in Netherlands (2019).

Guinea-Bissau Creole

[pov] Unestablished. 13,500 in Netherlands (2019).

Hindustani, Sarnami

[hns] Unestablished. 119,000 in Netherlands (2019).

Hungarian

[hun] Unestablished. 12,500 in Netherlands (2019).

Indonesian

[ind] Unestablished. 137,000 in Netherlands (2019).

Italian

[ita] Unestablished. 17,600 in Netherlands (2019).

Javanese

[jav] Unestablished. 42,900 in Netherlands (2019).

Kabuverdianu

[kea] Unestablished. 20,800 in Netherlands (2019).

Korean

[kor] Unestablished. 8,600 in Netherlands (2019 Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs), based on nationality.

Kurdish, Northern

[kmr] Unestablished. 74,700 in Netherlands (2019).

Macedonian

[mkd] Unestablished. 13,500 in Netherlands (2019).

Malay, Ambonese

[abs] Unestablished. 50,900 in Netherlands (2019).

Papiamentu

[pap] Unestablished. 133,000 in Netherlands (2019).

Persian, Iranian

[pes] Unestablished. 31,100 in Netherlands (2019).

Polish

[pol] Unestablished. 32,200 in Netherlands (2019).

Portuguese

[por] Unestablished. 16,600 in Netherlands (2019).

Romani, Vlax

[rmy] Unestablished. 1,000 in Netherlands. 500 Kalderash, 500 Lovari.

Russian

[rus] Unestablished. 5,200 in Netherlands (2019).

Serbian

[srp] Unestablished. 2,230 in Netherlands (2015 census).

Somali

[som] Unestablished. 15,600 in Netherlands (2019).

Sranan Tongo

[srn] Unestablished. 361,000 in Netherlands (2019).

Tagalog

[tgl] Unestablished. 11,400 in Netherlands (2019).

Tamil

[tam] Unestablished. 20,800 in Netherlands (2019).

Tarifit

[rif] Unestablished. 159,000 in Netherlands (2019).

Turkish

[tur] Unestablished. 400,000 in Netherlands (2019).

Turoyo

[tru] Unestablished. 4,000 in Netherlands (1994).

Vietnamese

[vie] Unestablished. 8,600 in Netherlands (2019).

Maps

Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Netherlands with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Netherlands is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Netherlands with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Netherlands is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Netherlands in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Netherlands ($149.95, 24 page PDF)

Netherlands

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action