NL
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Netherlands
Summary
Official Name
Kingdom of the Netherlands
International Conventions
CDE (1966), CPPDCE (2009), CSICH (2012), ECRML (1996), FCPNM (2005), ICCPR (1978), ILOCITP (1998), UNCRPD (2016), UNDRIP (2007)
Population
17,282,000
Principal Languages
Dutch
Literacy Rate
99% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)
General References
Campbell and King 2011, Comrie 1987, Kooij 1987, Stephens 1976
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, 4 are institutional, 11 are developing, 2 are vigorous, and 1 is 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
- 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: 24,443,930 (as L1: 22,838,930; 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: 3,400 in Netherlands (2019). 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: Unestablished. 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
Dutch
[nld] 1 (National). De facto national language. 16,000,000 in Netherlands (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 24,443,930 (as L1: 22,838,930; as L2: 1,605,000).
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.
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).
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).
French
[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 3,227,900 in Netherlands, all users. L1 users: 27,900 in Netherlands (2019). L2 users: 3,200,000 (2018).
Achterhoeks
[act] 5* (Developing). 211,000 (Herweijer and Jans 2009).
Drents
[drt] 5* (Developing). 255,000 (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).
Gronings
[gos] 5* (Developing). 262,000 (Herweijer and Jans 2009).
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.
Sallands
[sdz] 6a* (Vigorous). 347,000 (Herweijer and Jans 2009).
Veluws
[vel] 6a* (Vigorous). 175,000 (Herweijer and Jans 2009).
West Flemish
[vls] 6b (Threatened). 132,000 in Netherlands (2016).
Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands
Language Vitality Profile
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Language Status Profile
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