Languages of the Netherlands

While most people in the Netherlands speak Dutch, there are also some recognized provincial languages and regional dialects.

The official language of the Netherlands is Dutch. It is spoken by almost all people in the Netherlands. Dutch is also spoken in Flanders and Suriname. It is a West Germanic, Low Franconian language that originated in the Early Middle Ages (c. 470) and was standardized in the 16th century.
*Frisian is a co-official language in the province of Friesland. Frisian is spoken by 453,000 speakers [Streektaal.net over Fries [http://taal.phileon.nl/fries.php] ]
*Several dialects of Dutch Low Saxon ("Nedersaksisch" in Dutch) are spoken in much of the north-east of the country and are recognised by the Netherlands as regional languages according to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Low Saxon is spoken by 1,798,000 speakers. [Streektaal.net over Nedersaksisch [http://taal.phileon.nl/nedersaksisch.php] ]
*Another Dutch dialect granted the status of regional language is Limburgish, which is spoken in the south-eastern province of Limburg. Limburgish is spoken by 825,000 speakers. [ Streektaal.net over Limburgs [http://taal.phileon.nl/lim_situatie.php] ] However, both Low Saxon and Limburgish spread across the Dutch-German border and belong to a common Dutch-Low German dialect continuum.

The Netherlands also has its separate Dutch Sign Language. This "Nederlandse Gebarentaal" (NGT) is still waiting for recognition. It is used by 17.500 users [Rapport "Meer dan een gebaar" en "actualisatie 1997-2001]

There is a tradition of learning foreign languages in the Netherlands: about 70% of the total population have good knowledge of English, 55– 59% of German and 19% of French. [ ]

Minority languages, regional languages and dialects in the Benelux

Frisian dialects

* Westlauwers Frisian
**Wood Frisian
**Clay Frisian
**Noordhoeks
**Zuidwesthoeks
**Hindelopers
**Westers
**Aasters
**Schiermonnikoogs

Low Saxon dialects

* Gronings-East Frisian
**Kollumerpompsters
**Westerkwartiers
**Hoogelandsters
**Oldambtsters
**Westerwolds
**Veenkoloniaals
**Stadsgronings
**Noordenvelds (Noord-Drents)
* Drents
** Midden-Drents
** Zuid-Drents
** Stellingwerfs
* Guelderish-Overijssels
**Urks
**Sallands
**Achterhoeks
*Twents
**Oost-Twents
** Twents-Graafschaps
** Vriezenveens (this is actually a separate dialect because of Frisian influences)
* Veluws
**Oost-Veluws
**West-Veluws

Low Franconian dialects

* West Frisian
** Mainland West Frisian
** Insular West Frisian
** Stadsfries
** Midlands
** Amelands
** Bilts

* Hollandic
** Kennemerlandic
** Zaans
** Waterlandic
** Amsterdams
** Strand-Hollands
** Haags
** Rotterdams
** Utrechts-Alblasserwaards
** Westhoeks

* Zealandic-West Flemish (including French Flemish)
** Zealandic
** Burger-Zeeuws
** Coastal West Flemish
** Continental West Flemish
* East Flemish
**East Flemish
**Gents

* South Guelderish
**Rivierenlands
**Kleverlands
**Liemers
**Nijmeegs

* Brabantian
**Northwest Brabantian
**Central north Brabantian
**East Brabantian
**Kempen Brabantian
**South Brabantian
**North Limburgian

* Limburgish
**West Limburgish
**Central Limburgish
**Southeast Limburgish
**Low Dietsch

Central Franconian dialects

* Luxembourgish
**Moselle Luxembourgish
**West Luxembourgish
**East Luxembourgish
**North Luxembourgish
**City Luxembourgish

Oïl dialects

* Walloon
**West Walloon
**Central Walloon
**East Walloon
**South Walloon

* Lorrain
** Gaumais

* Champenois

* Picard
**Tournaisis

References

↑ [http://taal.phileon.nl/fries.php]
↑ [http://taal.phileon.nl/nedersaksisch.php]
↑ [http://taal.phileon.nl/lim_situatie.php]
↑ [4] Rapport "Meer dan een gebaar" en "actualisatie 1997-2001↑ [5] cite web | last = Ginsburgh | first = Victor | authorlink = | coauthors = Ignacio Ortuño-Ortin, Shlomo Weber | title = Why Do People Learn Foreign Languages? | work = | publisher = Université libre de Bruxelles | date= February 2005 | url = http://bib17.ulb.ac.be:8080/dspace/bitstream/2013/1957/1/vg-0155.pdf | format = pdf | doi = | accessdate = 2007-10-10 - specifically, see Table 2.