The Dutch language, known for its unique sound and rich history, connects a fascinating variety of countries and communities across the globe. From its heartland in Europe to islands in the Caribbean and a nation in South America, the Dutch linguistic footprint is wider than many might realize.
For immigrants, travelers, and anyone with connections to these regions, understanding where Dutch is spoken and its cultural context can be both interesting and useful, especially when planning a move.
At Remitly, we make international money transfers faster, easier, more transparent, and more affordable, helping people stay connected to their loved ones and manage their finances across borders. This guide offers a quick global overview of Dutch-speaking countries, from the language’s roots to its cultural reach today.
Dutch-speaking countries and their significance
A Dutch-speaking country is any nation or territory where Dutch is an official language. This means it’s used in government, education, public administration, and media.
What makes these countries significant isn’t just the shared language—it’s the cultural, historical, and economic ties that connect them. Dutch-speaking countries play key roles in European trade and diplomacy, and many maintain strong relationships with former overseas territories.
A brief look at the Dutch language and its roots
Dutch is a West Germanic language, closely related to English and German. Its history traces back to Old Frankish dialects spoken in the early Middle Ages. Over centuries, it evolved through Old Dutch and Middle Dutch into the Modern Dutch spoken today.
Historically, the language spread far beyond Europe during the 17th century, when the Dutch Republic expanded its reach through trade, maritime exploration, and colonial activities. That era, often called the “Golden Age,” helped plant the roots of Dutch in places as far away as South America, Africa, and the Caribbean.
Geographic distribution of Dutch
Dutch is an official language and a mother tongue in several regions around the world. Here’s a look at the main areas where Dutch connects communities and cultures.
Major Dutch-speaking regions
Europe
- The Netherlands: The birthplace of Dutch, with nearly all 18.3 million residents speaking it as their first language. It’s the sole official language, used in all aspects of life.
- Belgium: In the northern region of Flanders and in Brussels, Dutch is spoken by about 6.5 million people. It’s co-official along with French and German.
South America
- Suriname: A former Dutch colony, Suriname has Dutch as its official language, spoken by about 60% of its residents, alongside other local languages like Sranan Tongo
The Caribbean
- Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire: Known as the ABC islands, these territories use Dutch officially
- Sint Maarten: Dutch is an official language here, alongside English
- St. Eustatius and Saba: These smaller Caribbean islands also recognize Dutch as an official language
Key statistics on Dutch speakers worldwide
- Approximately 24-25 million people speak Dutch as a native language, and an additional five million speak it as a second language
- Nearly everyone in the Netherlands speaks Dutch as their first language
- In Belgium, about 60% of the population, primarily in Flanders, are Dutch speakers
- Dutch is the sole official language in Suriname, and over 60% of the population speaks it as a mother tongue, with many more using it as an everyday language
- The ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao) and Sint Maarten all speak Dutch as an official language
The heartland of Dutch: the Netherlands and Belgium
These two European nations form the core of the Dutch-speaking world.
Official language status and cultural influence
The Netherlands: Dutch is the sole official language here. It’s deeply woven into all aspects of everyday life, from government and education to media and cultural traditions.
Belgium: Belgium is a multilingual country with three official languages: Dutch, French, and German. Dutch, often called Flemish or Vlaams locally, is the official language in the Flemish Region (Flanders) and one of the two official languages of the Brussels-Capital Region. It has a strong cultural presence in Flanders, with distinct media, literature, and school systems.
The Dutch Language Union and its role
Founded in 1980 by the Netherlands and Belgium’s Flemish Community, the Dutch Language Union is an international institution that works to support and promote the Dutch language across borders.
- It sets standards for spelling and grammar
- Encourages cooperation between Dutch-speaking regions
- Supports Dutch language education worldwide
- Promotes Dutch literature and culture
Suriname joined as an associate member in 2004, highlighting the Union’s global reach beyond Europe.
Dutch overseas territories and constituent countries
The legacy of Dutch colonial history means the language retains official status in several locations outside of Europe.
Dutch in the Caribbean islands
Dutch is an official language in Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten—constituent countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands—as well as in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, which are special municipalities of the Netherlands.
While Dutch is used in legal matters, government, and education, everyday life often features other languages:
- Papiamento/Papiamentu, a Creole language, dominates in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.
- English is most commonly spoken in Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius
Most residents on these islands are multilingual. If you’re learning Dutch for travel or connection, apps can be a great start. Check out our guide to the top language apps for learning Dutch.
Dutch language influence in Suriname and South Africa
Suriname: Located in South America, Suriname was a Dutch colony until its independence in 1975. Dutch remains the sole official language and is the primary language of education, government, and media.
South Africa (Afrikaans): Afrikaans, one of South Africa’s official languages, developed from the Dutch dialects spoken by settlers who arrived in the Cape region in the 17th century. Although it has evolved significantly with influences from English, Malay, Portuguese, and several African languages, it remains closely related to Dutch, especially in its written form. While considered a distinct language today, Afrikaans shares deep historical and linguistic roots with Dutch.
The evolution and influence of the Dutch language
The Dutch language has a long history shaped by centuries of change and contact with many other languages.
From Old Dutch to Modern Dutch
Dutch evolved from the Old Frankish dialects spoken in early medieval Europe. Its development can be divided into three main phases:
- Old Dutch (Oudnederlands): Spoken roughly from the 6th to the 11th century. Few written texts survive from this period. Early texts like “Maltho thi afrio lito” (c. 510 CE) show Dutch’s roots in Frankish dialects.
- Middle Dutch (Middelnederlands): Spoken from the 12th to the 15th century. This period saw the emergence of various regional dialects and literature (e.g., chivalric romances, poetry). There was no single standard language during this time.
- Modern Dutch (Nieuwnederlands): Began to develop in the 16th century, with significant standardization efforts influenced by factors like the Statenvertaling (a major Bible translation in 1637) and the dialects of influential regions like Brabant and later Holland. The Dutch Language Union continues to play a role in guiding its modern standard form.
Comparison with other Germanic languages
Dutch belongs to the West Germanic language family, alongside English, German, Frisian, and Afrikaans.
Compared to German: Dutch shares a lot of vocabulary and grammatical structure with German, but it has a simpler grammar. Dutch has mostly dropped the complex noun cases that German still uses. Pronunciation also differs, with Dutch often having softer “g” sounds (depending on the region) compared to German’s more guttural “ch.”
Compared to English: Dutch also shares a considerable amount of vocabulary with English due to their common Germanic roots. For English speakers, Dutch is often cited as one of the easier languages to learn due to grammatical similarities and shared words.
Cultural significance and language dynamics
The Dutch language isn’t just a means of communication, but an expression of cultural identity and regional pride for millions of people.
Cultural ties and regional dialects
While standard Dutch is the formal written and spoken norm, regional dialects continue to play a meaningful role in daily life and cultural identity.
- Flemish (Vlaams): In Belgium, the term “Flemish” is often used to refer to the Dutch spoken in Flanders. Although standard Dutch is the official language, Flemish dialects have their own distinct features in pronunciation and vocabulary.
- Other dialects: The Netherlands is home to a variety of dialects like Hollandic, Brabantian, and Limburgish, though their use in daily life is declining in some areas due to the prevalence of Standard Dutch. These dialects contribute to local identity and cultural richness. Cultural ties between Dutch-speaking regions are also fostered through literature, media, education, and the work of the Dutch Language Union.
- Dutch beyond Europe: In Suriname, Dutch is the language of government, education, and media, but it coexists with Sranan Tongo, Hindi, Javanese, and other languages. In the Caribbean territories of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten), Dutch is used officially, especially in legal and administrative contexts, but everyday conversation happens in Papiamento, English, or Spanish.
The future of Dutch in a global context
- Globalization and English: Like many languages, Dutch faces the increasing influence of English, especially in higher education, business, and media in the Netherlands and Flanders
- Language support and promotion: The Dutch Language Union and various cultural organizations actively work to standardize and promote the Dutch language
- Digital presence: Dutch has a strong presence online, which is vital for its continued relevance
- Diaspora communities: Dutch-speaking communities abroad contribute to the language’s global footprint. While not at risk of disappearing, the language continues to evolve in a globalized world.
FAQs
Is Dutch the same as German?
No, Dutch and German are distinct languages, although they are both from the West Germanic language family. They share some vocabulary and grammar, but Dutch grammar is generally simpler. Native Dutch speakers can often understand some written German, and vice versa, but spoken comprehension is harder without prior study due to differences in pronunciation and everyday vocabulary.
What is “Flemish,” and how does it relate to Dutch?
“Flemish” (Vlaams) refers to the Dutch spoken in Flanders, the northern region of Belgium. Officially, it is the same language, but regional dialects and differences in vocabulary and pronunciation are noticeably different from the Netherlands.
Is Afrikaans a dialect of Dutch?
Afrikaans, spoken in South Africa and Namibia, evolved from 17th-century Dutch dialects brought by settlers. It shares much of its vocabulary with Dutch and there’s a degree of mutual intelligibility (especially in written form). However, it has changed significantly in grammar and structure and includes loanwords from other languages. It is now recognized as a distinct language, separate from modern Dutch, though closely related.
How difficult is Dutch for English speakers to learn?
Dutch is considered one of the easier languages for native English speakers to learn. Both languages are West Germanic and share many cognates (words with common origins) and some grammatical structures. The US Foreign Service Institute (FSI) categorizes Dutch as a Category I language, meaning it typically takes less time for English speakers to reach proficiency compared to languages in other categories.